Divorce Attorney in Bluffton SC

Two people face charges after two separate auto accidents Jan. 19 in Jasper County left two people dead, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Ashley Q. Brooks, 38, of Estill was charged Jan. 19 with felony Driving Under the Influence (DUI) after a one-vehicle accident around midnight on Cypress Branch Road, SCHP Master Trooper William Bennett said Jan. 27.

Tyrin Brooks, 39, of Estill, died after being transported to Hampton Regional Medical Center following the accident, Jasper County Coroner Jeremiah Vaigneur previously said.

The accident happened on Cypress Branch Road about eight miles west of Pineland, according to Bennett. Brooks had been one of the passengers in a 2016 BMW Sedan, Bennett said, which had been traveling south when it ran off the road to the right, striking a ditch, overturning and striking a tree.Bennett said there had been a total of five people in the car at the time of the accident and all occupants had been transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Malik Mitchell, 33, of Ridgeland was the second driver charged Jan. 19 with Felony DUI in the second accident which happened around 3a.m. on Interstate 95 about two miles north of the town of Ridgeland, Bennett said.

Quandashi Busby, 27, died following the one-car accident which happened within hours of the first accident Jan. 19 around Midnight, Jasper County Coroner Jeremiah Vaigneur previously said.

The accident involved a 2016 Audi Sedan and there were two passengers and one driver in the vehicle at the time of the crash, Bennett said. The vehicle, Bennett said, had been traveling north on Interstate 95 near mile marker 16 when it left the roadway to the right, overturning several times. Busby had been a passenger in the vehicle, Bennett said, and all other occupants had been transported to a local hospital for treatment.

BLUFFTON, SC. (WTOC) - In a long debate Tuesday, some advocated for a hospital coming to Bluffton, while others hoped it would stay away.

Novant Health is asking the South Carolina Department of Public Health for a certificate of need to move forward on the project. Beaufort Memorial, however, opposing the plan and asking the state to deny Novant’s request.

The $320 million project would bring a 50-bed hospital near the intersection of Buckwalter Parkway and Bluffton Parkway.

“Novant Health is looking forward to the opportunity to build a hospital campus that will allow those patients to stay in their local community with advanced services, said Jason Bernd, the president of Novant Health’s South Carolina region.

In a public hearing Tuesday, it was standing room only as both Novant Health and Beaufort Memorial made their case.

Novant saying there’s a clear need for healthcare in the area.

“With a growing, thriving community, we really did want to create more access,” said Bernd.

Beaufort Memorial not disagreeing with that. Bluffton’s need is actually the reason they asked for a certificate of need in the same area more than five years ago.

“Beaufort Memorial does not deny the need for more hospital beds in Beaufort County. We actually submitted an application for a new hospital in 2018 when we then identified a need for more beds in Beaufort County,” said Russell Baxley, the president and CEO of Beaufort Memorial.

That application was withdrawn by Beaufort Memorial Baxley said they received constant push-back by hospitals now owned by Novant, Like Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital.

Now, Beaufort Memorial is using that site to build a medical campus. Novant is proposing to bring its hospital directly across the street.

“What this is about is the ethics of healthcare delivery, about the duplicity of those that are saying now there’s a need when six months ago there was not a need,” said Baxley.

Novant health disagreeing with that, saying this is all about filling a void.

“Today was a conversation about whether there is a need for a hospital in Bluffton, and I think resoundingly everyone said ‘yes,’” said Bernd.

A decision needs to be made by the South Carolina Department of Public Health by March 22, 2025.

Copyright 2025 WTOC. All rights reserved.

Those who love rambling will appreciate this town's unhurried pace and walkable charm steeped in Lowcountry character

January 23, 2025

Nestled under ancient oaks and cradled by the quiet May River, Bluffton retains a sepia-toned serenity that underscores its billing as the “last true coastal village in the South.” For centuries the town, incorporated in 1852 as one square mile along its namesake bluff, remained a tucked-away enclave of oystermen and fishermen, not much more than a pass-through (or rather, speed trap) for travelers to Hilton Head. Today, Bluffton’s historic district is a destination all its own—still petite and perfectly quaint, but a haven for artists and galleries, a deliverer of culinary surprises, and home to the state’s last hand-shucking oyster company. Those who love rambling will appreciate Bluffton’s unhurried pace and walkable charm steeped in Lowcountry character.

Warm WelcomeSettle in at Old Town Bluffton Inn, a three-story, 14-room property that anchors the historic district’s main intersection. Friendly innkeepers are at the ready with a complimentary glass of wine and itinerary suggestions, or if you prefer R&R to exploring, the elegant rooms feature small balconies.

Rise and ShineFuel up for the day with breakfast or brunch at the Cottage, a coffee shop, bakery, and cafe in a historic bungalow with shady front-porch seating. Opt for the classic tomato pie, killer salads, or Crabby Bernice, a crab-loaded eggs Benedict.

Coastal ChicWhile Spartina 449’s exquisite handbags, clothing, and jewelry are in boutiques around the country, Bluffton boasts the flagship. Designed by locals, Spartina’s bespoke collections fill the delightful, tin-roofed, century-old cottage.

Sweet, Sweet SpiritThere’s salvation to be had—or at least heavenly spirits—at Burnt Church Distillery. Light pours through the stained-glass windows of the Sanctuary tasting room, where wicked cocktails featuring small-batch bourbon, gin, whiskey, and vodka tempt patrons.

Gallery HoppingCalhoun Street is creativity central, with galleries galore tucked into old cottages, including SOBA (Society of Bluffton Artists, a nonprofit co-op), which rotates original work from 100 artists, and La Petite Gallerie, showcasing jewelry, pottery, and paintings.

Golden HourIs anything as peaceful as a vermillion sunset over the May River? Beside the picturesque Church of the Holy Cross, Wright Park’s swings, benches, and dock offer the perfect perch for soaking in Bluffton’s natural beauty.

Deep RootsAt Okàn, Bluffton’s Gullah history and West African heritage come together in Chef Bennett’s James Beard–nominated dishes. Meanwhile, roots of the literal sort run deep at Farm, where seasonality reigns and locally sourced produce and seafood shine on the almost daily–changing menu.

This article appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Southbound.

BLUFFTON — The battle over Lowcountry patients took another turn as an official revealed plans for Beaufort Memorial Hospital to build a 28-bed hospital here, and its CEO declared intentions to challenge a potential award to a competitor.

These developments threaten to further delay a Bluffton hospital, which Beaufort Memorial first announced in 2018 in collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina.

Beaufort County News

Construction has still not begun because competitors engaged in legal challenges, which persisted until September, when Beaufort Memorial withdrew its application to state regulators. Plans for the facility were fought by hospitals in Hilton Head and Hardeeville, which were owned by Tenet Health until February, when Novant Health, a North Carolina nonprofit conglomerate, acquired the two locations.

A Savannah hospital also tried to thwart Beaufort Memorial's attempt.

Soon after Beaufort Memorial backed down, Novant submitted plans for its own hospital to the state Department of Health. Novant estimated the project would cost $320 million. The facility would have 50 beds and is planned for an 18-acre site at the intersection of Buckwalter Parkway and Lake Point Drive, near the location of a controversial road project. Eventually, Novant wants to double the beds at this facility.

After Beaufort Memorial opposed Novant's application, a public hearing was held Jan. 14 at a Bluffton library.

More than 80 people packed the room. Members of each hospital system presented. Hospital employees wore their identification badges. Residents offered their thoughts. State health department employees monitored on the side.

Beaufort Memorial Hospital CEO Russel Baxley spoke first, taking attendees through the hospital's 80-year history and its contributions to the community, before turning to the legal battle, which he dubbed "Novant's remarkable about-face."

Baxley accused Novant of "weaponizing" the certificate of need process, which requires providers to seek approval from the state before beginning construction on certain health care facilities. S.C. lawmakers voted to sunset this requirement for hospitals by 2027.

Jason Bernd, a Novant senior regional vice president, spoke about the $10 billion nonprofit, its record of building community hospitals in North Carolina — touting positive evaluations from quality of care agencies — and its own community-building efforts.

Criticism of Beaufort Memorial came from David Levitt, a consultant assisting Novant with its state application.

"There's a lot of disingenuous statements about inconsistencies," he told the room.

Beaufort Memorial's newly planned 28-bed hospital is planned for inside a medical office building, which is slated for groundbreaking in February. The hospital is a joint venture with MUSC. Timing for reviewing the applications will depend on whether state health department officials deem the two efforts as competing.

Baxley confirmed that Beaufort Memorial would challenge if a certificate is awarded to Novant.

"We are going to defend our position that Beaufort Memorial should have been allowed to build the hospital in question seven years ago," he told The Post and Courier after the hearing.

Novant, however, is not gearing up for a legal fight.

"We have no plans to oppose through the courts," Bernd said.