Latest news with #HiltonHeadIsland
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman hospitalized after suspected shark attack at popular US beach: 'Major injuries'
Woman hospitalized after suspected shark attack at popular US beach: 'Major injuries' A visitor to a South Carolina resort was airlifted to a medical facility in Savannah, Georgia, after a suspected shark attack. What's happening? According to USA Today, the incident occurred on Hilton Head Island, a popular seaside destination in the southeastern part of South Carolina. After suffering "major injuries" to her leg, the unnamed victim was treated locally and transferred to a hospital in Savannah. Fortunately, her injuries were not considered life-threatening. A Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue official told the outlet, "The incident involved a patient with a leg injury consistent with lacerations typically associated with a shark bite." A second shark-related incident occurred just a few days later, on June 23, 2025, per ABC News. Once again, the victim sustained nonfatal injuries to their leg and was transported to Savannah. South Carolina ranks third nationally for shark attacks, but as The Post and Courier noted, the last fatality was way back in the 1840s. Why is increased shark activity a concern? The incidents followed reports of increased shark activity in South Carolina. As ocean temperatures rise, sharks are becoming an increasingly common sight on coastlines as they migrate to cooler waters in search of food. Although sharks do not typically view people as prey, such forced migrations caused by human activity will inevitably bring them into closer contact with humans, thereby increasing the likelihood of shark attacks. Human-animal conflicts often arise from encroachment into the animal's habitat or when the creature feels threatened. While on the rise, attacks on people by wild animals are still incredibly rare, as the BBC noted. What's being done about shark-human conflict? Some safety methods, such as anti-shark nets, are ineffective and cause significant harm to other marine life that gets caught up in them. When a shark does bite a human, it tends to be a case of mistaken identity, and the animal usually lets go. In the unlikely event that the shark doesn't let go, experts advise going for the snout. "Wallop them really squarely on the nose," Gavin Naylor, the director of the International Shark Attack File, recommended to The Sun Times. If the prospect of boxing with a Great White doesn't appeal to you, remain aware of your surroundings and exit the water if a shark is spotted. By raising awareness of climate issues, it's perfectly possible to dispel the harmful myths and leave these magnificent creatures to protect the oceans in peace. Do you think we're doing enough to clean trash from the oceans? Yes Most countries are Only some countries are Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
HHI High School announces death of athletic director
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — Hilton Head High School's Principal Steve Schidrich announced longtime Athletic Director Coach Joe Monmonier's death, in a Facebook post Thursday. Monmonier worked at the school for over 20 years and was athletic director for the last 13. 'Joe was more than an athletic director—he was a true champion for our Seahawk community. His commitment to excellence and athletics left a legacy that has helped shape the spirit of our Seahawk family. He was also a mentor and role model for Athletic Directors across the state of South Carolina,' Schidrich said in the statement. The school announced counselors will be available on campus on Monday for students and staff in need of support. HHIHS is also available to offer support at 843-689-4800. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
After 3 months, Hilton Head changes weekend parking rates. No more $20 cap, now hourly at $5
A quick weekend jog on Hilton Head beaches won't cost visitors nearly as much this summer, but a long day at the beach could break the bank. The $20 weekend flat fee for parking at Hilton Head beaches will been eliminated effective June 24. Visitors will now pay $5 per hour on weekends and $3 per hour on weekdays. The town council voted to eliminate the daily caps on parking fees at their Tuesday meeting. This summer will be the first summer that visitors will need to pay to park at Hilton Head beaches. The new paid parking fees went into effect March 1, but has remained a hot topic for residents, visitors, and council members. A proposal on the table Tuesday evening would have made parking fees at all beaches $5 per hour, on both weekends and weekdays, including at Coligny Beach. Ward 6 council member Melinda Tunner argued that the town has 'more work to do' before deciding to charge at Coligny, and the businesses would need more time to prepare for the change. 'I think we need to demonstrate that to the public, that we can handle that,' Tunner said. Instead of paying a flat $20 fee to park on weekends, visitors will now pay $5 per hour, with no daily fee cap. That means stopping by for a quick stroll on the weekend could only cost you $5, but stay all day and you could pay up to $50. Parking on weekdays will still be $3 per hour. However, the $15 daily fee cap will be eliminated, meaning visitors could pay up to $30 to park all day. Parking is enforced from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Hilton Head's parking system will continue to offer no special treatment to residents of Beaufort County. A proposal that would have created a $100 parking pass for Beaufort County residents was unanimously rejected by the town council at their Tuesday meeting. Mayor Alan Perry originally introduced the idea at an April meeting. However, some residents and council members pushed back against the idea. Hilton Head residents can park for free at all public beach parks if they apply for a resident beach parking pass online. Residents can register up to two vehicles. Currently, you can park for free on Hilton Head Island: Outside of enforcement hours: Parking is free after 5 p.m. and before 7 a.m. each day. The beach parks are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. At certain beaches: Parking at town-owned lots at Coligny Beach is currently free, including at two new parking lots opened recently on the sites of the old Aunt Chiladas and the old Wild Cafe on Pope Avenue.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Yahoo
Shark Attack Happens on Major U.S. Beach
Hilton Head Island, a popular beach in South Carolina, was the scene of an unfortunate shark attack recently. According to WSOC-TV, a woman was airlifted to a hospital in Georgia after being bitten by a shark at the popular Hilton Head Island. "The woman was bitten on the leg at around noon at marker 24, which is at Sea Pines, and airlifted to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, according to ABC affiliate WJCL." The woman was first taken to Hilton Head Island Airport before being transferred to the hospital in Georgia. Another report mentions that the victim was a 12-year-old girl and that she "sustained a leg injury consistent with lacerations typically associated with a shark bite," per Kerry Breen of CBS News. This is the second time recently that a young girl was attacked by a shark. Off the coast of Boca Grande in Florida, a 9-year-old girl lost her hand after being attacked by a shark. Now, beachgoers are a bit worried with the attacks, with one person saying it is "nerve-wracking." The attack at Hilton Head took place at The Sea Pines Resort on June 17. Hilton Head Island attracts nearly 2.5 million guests per year, so it is a popular tourist spot for visitors coming to South Carolina. It remains to be seen what the extent of the injuries is for the 12-year-old Attack Happens on Major U.S. Beach first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 19, 2025
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue pipes on 278 in Hilton Head? Here's what's happening at the site near Crazy Crab
As drivers come on and off the U.S. 278 bridge that connects Hilton Head to the mainland, they might wonder what the yellow-vested men at a construction site near the Crazy Crab are doing with bulldozers, excavators, and stacks of huge blue pipes. Is the island getting a head start on the expensive waterline relocation needed before the town can finally build that new bridge? No, the answer is a bit more boring. The underground holes bored into the island for this particular project are part of an effort to expand Hilton Head's water supply, keeping Hilton Head residents' water bills from skyrocketing as demand for water increases and saltwater intrudes into the island's freshwater supply. 'Boring isn't so boring,' said Hilton Head Public Service District's General Manager, Pete Nardi. Workers are almost done installing about 1,100 feet of bright blue pipe that will pump brackish water from deep-water well 600 feet underground to a reverse osmosis treatment plant on Jenkins Island. It's part of a project will add 2 million gallons of water per day to Hilton Head's water supply. The plant's current capacity is 4 million gallons per day, and it's currently connected to three other deep-water wells that help the town meet high demand during the summer months and store excess water during the winter months. The 12-inch wide pipes arrived onsite about a month ago. To lay them underground, workers use a machine called an auger to bore a long tunnel underground where the pipes will go. A steel casing is installed to support the tunnel and the long blue pipes are pulled through the casing. The new pipeline will connect to an existing well on Jenkins Island. Workers will finish installing the pipes by early June, but the well project likely won't be completed until next year, Nardi said. Some additional work is needed at the plant, which was built in 2009, to increase its capacity. As the island's freshwater supply dwindles, more water supply is sorely needed to meet high demand during the summer months while storing excess water in case of natural disasters. Hilton Head used to pull more freshwater straight from the ground, from layers of limestone 150 feet beneath the surface. In the last 25 years, saltwater from the ocean has slowly seeped into the island's freshwater supply, contaminating 10 of the island's 14 freshwater wells. That's why Hilton Head needs to instead rely on brackish water from 600 feet underground. The water is slightly salty, but reverse osmosis can convert it into drinkable water. The same process is used to purify bottled water for popular brands like Dasani and Aquafina. Some of that treated water gets injected back into the ground to be piped back up later, like in the summer months, when demand can peak to over 11 million gallons of water per day. Those layers of limestone deep beneath the surface can act as a bubble that stores 'astronomically' large amounts of water while keeping it fresh. 'It's a huge underground storage that you cannot build above ground,' Nardi said. Over 250 million gallons of water can be stored in the Hilton Head Public Service District's single underground storage well, and the district is building another. The project will help reduce the island's reliance on expensive water from the mainland. A thick pipeline buried deep underneath the creek beds alongside the U.S. 278 bridge can supply up to 6 million gallons of water per day to the island, at a cost of over $3.30 per one thousand gallons, Nardi said. Producing water through reverse osmosis will cost between $1 and $1.20 per one thousand gallons. It's a matter of 'economics,' Nardi said. 'Plus it's really a high quality tap water.' Between 40 to 60 percent of Hilton Head's drinking water goes towards 'residential irrigation,' according to Nardi. In other words, roughly half Hilton Head's clean water supply goes towards keeping grass green. To cut down on water demand, town ordinances limit the number of times residents are only allowed to water their yards to twice a week. Sprinkler systems must be connected to a rain sensor, so that valuable drinking water wasted on a rainy day. Planting native plants in your yard, rather than grass, can reduce the strain on Hilton Head's water supply — while saving you money on your water bill. Many golf courses on Hilton Head use recycled wastewater instead of fresh drinking water, reducing the strain on the island's water supply. Hilton Head PSD also pumps recycled water into wetlands to help maintain their size and depth. The water upgrades alone won't lower Hilton Head residents' water bills. But it does mean that more of the water that flows through the taps in the future will come from the island, rather than being at the mercy of an off-island agency. 'It's going to prevent (your water bill) from so reliant, or potentially being reliant, on more expensive drinking water,' Nardi said.
