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Operation Shower and the Lowcountry Federation for Wounded Military Heroes host event for moms

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. —

One organization, Operation Shower is going above and beyond to support military moms — whether they serve in uniform themselves or support a spouse who does.

Operation Shower is a national nonprofit dedicated to honoring military families, hosted a special baby shower on Hilton Head Island for service members and spouses stationed far from home.

“Stuff like this makes you feel heard, feel seen, and it's just amazing,” said Marine mom Brenda Hall. “It’s amazing to know that there's family outside of blood.”

Hall attended the event last year as a new mom. Now, with her daughter approaching her first birthday, she returned to volunteer — offering the same care and encouragement she received just a year ago.

“It was nice because they are all other military moms,” said Mary Hutchinson, whose husband is an active-duty Marine. “We all kind of understand what the other one’s going through.”

For Hutchinson, the event was more than just gifts. It was a sense of belonging.

“It was amazing. I can’t believe how much we received,” she said.

The showers are made possible thanks to the work of local volunteers, including members of the Lowcountry Federation of Wounded Military Heroes.

“I think the attitude of the Operation Shower folks just spills over to everybody,” said Russ Spicer, CEO of the organization. “Our group of volunteers can’t wait to sign up to do this each year.”

Many of the moms in attendance are stationed hours from family and friends — and some weren’t expecting to have a baby shower at all. That’s why Hall says she feels it’s her duty to pay it forward.

“When I had her, I kind of rethought if I wanted to continue in my career,” Hall said. “But then I realized — this is the example I want to give my daughter.”

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- A male sperm whale washed ashore on Hilton Head Island over the weekend and drew dozens of onlookers to Coligny Beach days later. Crews worked throughout Monday to conduct a necropsy and bury the massive marine mammal's feet beneath the sand, WJCL reported.

According to NOAA officials, the 30-foot male whale was underweight for its size, which raised concerns about its health prior to beaching. Clay George, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA Fisheries, explained that researchers examined the whale for signs of entanglement or vessel strikes. However, it could take months to determine the exact cause of the beaching.

"It's pretty sad, but it's what any whale does," said Regina Laboe, a visitor to Hilton Head Island for the week.

For many visitors, the sight of the beached whale was a rare and somber experience.

"I've seen sharks, I've seen stingrays, you name it. But never a beached whale," Laboe said.

This marks the fifth beached whale in South Carolina since 2005. Sperm whales, known to beach themselves when in poor health, are a rare sight on the state's shores. The whale was first spotted on Saturday, with a nearby hotel staff member capturing a photo of the scene.

Tourists and locals alike gathered to watch as crews conducted the necropsy and prepared the whale for burial.

"We walked probably a mile and a half to get here," said Steve Doll, visiting from Tennessee. "I've never seen a whale up close. This is about as close as I'll ever get."

When asked by WJCL 22 News if the whale could've been put back in the ocean, George said that would've caused more harm than good for the whale. That thought led crews to the decision to euthanize the 20,000-pound adolescent male sperm whale Sunday night

Monday evening, the whale was buried deep enough to prevent other animals from disturbing it.

"I love the fact that they're doing the right thing and burying it where it came out, rather than taking it away," said Christy Doll, who was also visiting from Tennessee.

While the cause of the beaching remains unknown, NOAA researchers say the burial process ensures the whale will soon decay underneath the sand, where no other animal will reach it. They added that in a few weeks, it will be as if it never washed ashore.

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BEAUFORT — The State Infrastructure Bank has denied a key piece of funding for the long awaited Hilton Head Island bridge project.

The decision by the SIB board comes weeks after Beaufort County met a tight deadline to present a scaled back plan for the multi-million-dollar project. That solution came with a new problem: The revised plan doesn't meet the scope originally agreed to by the SIB.

The project isn't dead yet. There will be opportunity for the county to meet and discuss revisions, SIB board chairman John White said during the group's May 12 meeting.

"We understand the seriousness of this. We understand the need," White said. "We're left with passing something that is not a part of our contract. There are provisions there in violation. We'll let the lawyers deal with that and the staff."

The scaled-back project to replace Hilton Head's span of bridges was approved by Beaufort County Council in March. It took several years, hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees and a threat of rescinded funding from the SIB to reach that point.

The original scope looked to build a new six-lane bridge with corridor improvements on the island. As debate over final design dragged on, the estimated cost skyrocketed to $499 million.

The county had a plan to cover the price tag. A $950 million sales tax referendum would have implemented a 1 percent sales tax for 10 years, with the goal of improving the county's transportation infrastructure. About $90 million was earmarked for the bridge project.

About 55 percent of county voters struck the referendum down.

On Nov. 7, the State Infrastructure Bank, which pledged $120 million to the project, sent a letter requesting a plan to address the $190 million shortfall.

In early January, state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, suggested a new course of action: "Do the best we can with the money we have."

In other words, scale back the $499 million plan that called for a new six-lane bridge. Scrap the "add ons," which included features like pedestrian pathways, a breakdown lane and corridor expansion on the island. Simplify the project.

Town and county leaders have spent the past few months doing just that.

A new plan came together. It calls for demolition of the existing eastbound bridge over Mackay Creek and the construction of a new bridge from the mainland to Jenkins Island.

"It got down to the eleventh hour, but right now we've got a bridge that only has two lanes going one way," White said, "and our contract had a scope of a bridge with two lanes going both directions."

A system of two eastbound and two westbound bridges provide the only way to and from Hilton Head Island.

The S.C. Department of Transportation built the Mackay Bridge in 1956 and widened it in 1984. The state agency inspects all bridges in South Carolina at least every two years. Due to the age and condition of the MacKay Bridge, DOT inspects it annually.

An inspection in January 2024 rated the structure and substructure as “poor.” While the bridge is safe to drive over, it is approaching the end of its life and has been placed on a statewide priority list.

If the county and town fail to finalize a funding plan in a matter of weeks, it's likely the DOT will step in and replace only the deficient span of bridge. This scenario would scrap the planned project and cause serious congestion issues on and off the island while construction is underway.

County council members were briefed on the situation during their May 12 meeting. Davis once again offered a way forward.

He suggested the county address the SIB's concerns, which include clarification on when and how the secured funding will be used, and the development of a more detailed cost estimate.

"I spoke with Chairman White. He wants to figure out a way to move this project forward," Davis said. "There's some work to do in a very abbreviated period of time, but I don't want the feeling of this council to be that this project is dead. That is not the case."

South Carolina and hurricanes: It’s a relationship we’d rather not have, but one that undeniably rolls around each year.

With hurricane season right around the corner, it’s a key time for folks to refresh their evacuation plan, know their zone and pull out the emergency kits.

Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and while for many that means no more school, summer fun and family vacations, a bad weather forecast can quickly derail your plans in the sunshine.

Here’s everything South Carolina residents need to know ahead of this year’s hurricane season.

Last year, South Carolina made significant changes to its hurricane evacuation zones. These updates shrunk the total evacuation area by about 250 square miles. It was the first widespread update of the map in about a decade.

Zones are broken up into the six different areas based on proximity to the ocean and coastline. They are categorized alphabetically, from letters ‘A’ through ‘F,’ with ‘A’ zones being closest to the water.

Areas closest to the coast will get an earlier evacuation order than areas further inland. Six coastal counties border the Atlantic Ocean and cover over 200 miles of coastline.

South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states to hurricanes and tropical storms. Densely populated coastal areas, especially during peak tourist seasons, coupled with the generally low coastal elevations, increase the state’s vulnerability.

While the coast is often hardest hit, inland areas are not immune to tornadoes and catastrophic flooding.

In Beaufort County, which includes coastal communities like Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort, it’s important for folks to prepare even before a storm is on the horizon.

Knowing your zone determines whether and when you should evacuate during a hurricane.

Even if you think you know your zone, double-check by visiting the South Carolina Emergency Management Division Hurricane Guide or downloading the SC Emergency Manager mobile app.

Beaufort County is zone A. Nearby Jasper County is zone B & C.

If an evacuation is ordered, state and local authorities will announce evacuations by these designated zones.

Local offices, like the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, provide updates and information via social media platforms.

You can also follow hurricane updates from the National Hurricane Center, which issues storm watches and warnings.

If you live in a vulnerable area, don’t just know your zone, know how to leave if an emergency strikes and plan your route.

Evacuation routes are predetermined so residents can become familiar with the ones nearest them.

It’s important to note that traffic along certain sections of major evacuation routes may be adjusted to flow in one direction away from the coast. State and local law enforcement will be at traffic control points along these evacuation routes to guide you to safety.

For Lowcountry residents, or those living within zone ‘A,’ be prepared to drive at least 20 to 50 miles inland to locate a safe place.

Here are Beaufort County’s evacuation routes, according to the SCEMD:

Hilton Head Island evacuation routes:

Hilton Head Island lane assignments:

Beaufort & surrounding area evacuation & lane assignment:

Residents on Daufuskie Island will only receive one evacuation order, issued by the governor. That evacuation order will be a mandatory evacuation. There will be no voluntary evacuation order. To learn more about those protocols, click here.

Do not rely solely on GPS, as it may not reflect temporary lane reversals.

Follow the blue hurricane evacuation signs and guidance from law enforcement posted along the route.

Another critical point for all residents to stay mindful of as hurricane season nears is access to shelters.

Beaufort County offers shelter locations for tropical storms only.

No shelters will open in Beaufort County during a hurricane of Category 1 or higher.

That means residents must plan to leave the area entirely and consider hotels, inland shelters or staying with friends and family in a safe location.

Before hurricane season starts, it’s recommended by the SCEMD to conduct a safety check of your home to ensure it is prepared to withstand the effects of a hurricane.

For regular updates on preparations, road and traffic changes, evacuation orders and more, these resources are available:

Hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November 30, or for long-time residents, once the turkey hits the table on Thanksgiving Day.

An unfortunate combination of weather disruptions, air traffic controller staff shortages and out-of-date technology has caused an undeniable headache for travelers this week at the Newark Liberty International Airport and now nationwide.

Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled, causing a domino effect for travelers coming to and from the Palmetto State.

On April 28, a technical issue occurred at the Newark Liberty International Airport, where air traffic controllers lost contact with aircraft due to a system failure.

Following the system failure, air traffic controllers who were responsible for controlling the technical failure took leave to recover from “traumatic stress,” resulting in a massive staffing shortage.

While this incident itself did not directly affect South Carolina airports, it has caused a ripple effect on flight operations nationwide.

The root cause of these delays and issues stems from the outdated technology system, with some equipment dating to the ‘50s.

Some systems still use copper wires and floppy disks, which the Federal Aviation Administration and Government Accountability Office have admitted to still being in use.

Another problem is the shortage of air traffic controllers, which is an issue that has affected airports across the country for years.

In addition to unreliable technology and staffing concerns, the Newark airport has been under reconstruction, which has caused issues and a three-month closure on one of its major runways, worsening delays.

Airports across the Southeast are experiencing increased weather-related delays, with rain and storms heading to the region.

In the Lowcountry region, rain and storms are anticipated to start as early as Wednesday afternoon and continue into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Even if you’re not flying out of Newark, flight delays or cancellations there can, and have, rippled across the country.

If you have a flight connecting through Newark or flying with United Airlines, which has a major hub there, delays are expected. As of Wednesday morning, delays have expanded to larger travel areas including Dallas, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles, according to the Newark Airport Flight Tracker.

The national shortage of air traffic controllers is an ongoing issue for airports across the nation.

The FAA is currently short-staffed, with about 3,000 unfilled controller roles. Adding to the frustration, it takes up to two years to train new ones.

With this staffing shortage in conjunction with outdated technology, this means chronic delays could persist through summer and beyond, potentially impacting airports in South Carolina.

To manage risk, the FAA has slowed down arrivals and departures into Newark with ground delay programs on Tuesday morning.

This has led to 4+ hour delays in some cases. For travelers departing from a South Carolina airport with a connection through Newark, your flight may be held at the gate or canceled before even taking off.

If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, the U.S. Department of Transportation allows you to request a full refund, but only if you decline any rebooking offer.

Note that if you are offered and accept a later flight (even 36 hours later), that may waive your right to a refund. Always check for alerts and alternative routes before heading to the airport.

If you can switch flights to a different airport, like nearby LaGuardia in New York City, or book a direct flight to your destination, that is another solution to avoid Newark delays.

South Carolina is home to six different airports for passenger travel:

While only short delays have been reported, make sure to check the status of your flight often and be prepared for any disruptions.

Click on the link for each airport above to be directed to their flight tracker page.

While there’s no good estimate of when these problems will be resolved, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called for an investigation into the cause.

Americans flying in and out of Newark Airport have experienced increasing delays & disruptions.I'm demanding a full Inspector General investigation into what happened at Newark so these problems don't get worse, or spread to airports across the nation. pic.twitter.com/5O6ND4ooZR

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 5, 2025

On Tuesday evening, FlightAware reported that around 340 flights were delayed on their way into and out of Newark and 114 flights were canceled.

This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM.