According to the American Boating Association, the 4th of July holiday weekend is the busiest and often deadliest time of boating season.

SCDNR is working to improve boating safety with inspections for required safety equipment and proper boat and motor registrations.

Boaters who are not in compliance with safety regulations or registration requirements will not be ticketed during the complimentary inspections.

Boating inspections will be conducted in the following Lowcountry counties:

Saturday, July 1:

• Beaufort County: Lemon Island Landing, Chechessee River, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Charleston County: Wappoo Cut Landing, Intracoastal Waterway, 10 a.m. to Noon

Sunday, July 2:

• Charleston County: Buck Hall Landing, Intracoastal Waterway, McClellanville, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Charleston County: John P. Limehouse Landing, Intracoastal Waterway/Stono River, Johns Island, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Georgetown County: Carroll A. Campbell Landing, Sampit River, Georgetown, 10 a.m. to Noon

Tuesday, July 4:

• Berkeley County: William H. Dennis Landing, Tail Race Canal, Moncks Corner, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Charleston: Remleys Point Boat Ramp, Charleston Harbor, Mt. Pleasant, 10 a.m. to Noon

Saturday, July 15

• Beaufort County: Battery Creek Boat Landing, Beaufort Water Festival, Port Royal, 10 a.m. to Noon

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a motorcycle was traveling east on Martin Luther King Road when it collided with a Kia sedan traveling west.

Reports say the Kia was attempting to make a left-hand turn.

The motorcyclist was taken to a Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital where he died.

Georgetown County Coroner Chase Ridgeway identified the victim as Bernard Sherman, 53, of Pawleys Island.

The driver of the Kia was not injured.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating.

Deputies with the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) are working to identify an individual who allegedly used a fake $50 bill to buy items from the Circle K on Ocean Highway and Waverly Road this week.

The suspect was driving a gray Honda Pilot, according to the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Carter Weaver asked that anyone with information call GCSO at 843-546-5102.

According to the state board, Harris Smith was an auto-technology teacher at Georgetown High School in May 2021 when the incident took place.

Smith was placed on administrative leave on May 19, 2021, after allegations arose that he allowed students to race ATVs in the school's horseshoe parking lot, according to the board.

"When questioned, Mr. Smith admitted he allowed the students to race and participated himself," the suspension order reads. "He stated the racing was a reward for the students working on his personal ATVs."

Officials said Smith was reprimanded by the district for "lack of judgment and failing to properly supervise students in his class" prior to the incident.

The board voted to suspend Smith's license for a period of one year beginning on June 13, 2023, and ending on June 12, 2024.

According to deputies, Eddie Hawkins was last seen three weeks ago by his girlfriend leaving his home on Kent Road.

He is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, and weighing 130 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 843-546-5102.

In April, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) released the results of an audit conducted in October 2022. The results found that Georgetown County's stormwater management program is in need of improvement. The Director of the Georgetown County Department of Public Services, Ray Funnye said his organization is working to meet the standards.

"We took the audit report and dissect it and had a discussion with our staff about some of the findings, and it gave us a chance to learn about some of the deficient areas we had," said Funnye.

Preserve Murrells Inlet Inc. board member Gary Weinreich said their organization reported similar problems; he hasn't seen much progress made.

“Since 2018 I’m not aware of any projects the county has implemented to address shellfish closures," said Weinreich.

In addition to shellfish issues, the DHEC report cited over 30 compliance problems with Georgetown's stormwater management program. Funnye said they are working to address the concerns one by one.

“Are there areas that need improvement, yes sir, are there areas that are beyond the minimum requirement, yes sir. I think we have taken the position that we have 6 minimum measures that we have to ensure that we are compliant with," said Funnye.

Weinreich said he believes collaborations could solve many of the problems.

“Let’s just work together, a lot of good can happen when we work together," said Weinreich.

News 2 reached out to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, they said they are unable to comment on pending or ongoing enforcement actions.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP), the collision happened June 4 on Highway 17 near Litchfield Drive.

SCHP said that a pedestrian was attempting to cross the road around 9:15 p.m. when s/he was struck by the driver of a 2013 Chevy Malibu.

The driver was uninjured.

SCHP did not release the identity of either party, nor disclose whether charges have been filed.

Carolina Day is the annual commemoration of the Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776.

The celebration in Georgetown will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Francis Marion Park and proceed to the Harborwalk and the Charters of Freedom at Rainey Park.

The Charters of Freedom display was recently unveiled on May 23 in Joseph Rainey Park.

The Charters of Freedom include life-size replicas of The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, and The Bill of Rights.

The event is free and open to the public.

Organizers say colonial attire is optional.

According to GCSO, deputies responded to a shooting around 12:00 a.m. on Coquina Avenue. The incident was reported as an accidental shooting.

Deputies arrived to find a 27-year-old woman with a chest wound.

EMS transported the victim to a local hospital, where she died two hours later.

Deputies believe there is no danger to the public.

The incident remains under investigation.

According to Sheriff Carter Weaver with Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, the suspects reportedly fled a traffic stop near Andrews on Saturday.

Two men were apprehended in Williamsburg County after abandoning their vehicle and running from officials.

Deputies recovered 77 grams of "a gray-blue substance" that tested positive for fentanyl.

The driver of the vehicle, Lamont McCray, was charged with failure to stop for blue lights and trafficking more than 28 grams of heroin/fentanyl.

McCray was out of jail on bond for 2022 kidnapping and armed robbery charges.

Vincent Staggers was charged with trafficking more than 28 grams of heroin/fentanyl.

Staggers was out on bond from a May 2023 arrest for failure to stop for blue lights, possession of cocaine, and receiving stolen goods.

Both men are being held at Georgetown County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

According to GCSO, the incident happened at Hotshot Liquor on Mink Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m.

The clerk told deputies that one man approached the counter to distract him while another man stole three bottles of liquor. The clerk also said he saw a black pistol in one of the men’s waistbands.

The men fled in a Chevy Impala.

Deputies canvassed the area and arrested Tavion Ruff (19) and Dandre Boyd (21) on charges of armed robbery.

According to GCSO, the incident happened at a residence on Blossom Lane near Dunbar Road around 6:00 p.m.

At the time of the shooting, "witnesses reported seeing a small black SUV-type vehicle driving slowly past the house as the shots were fired from multiple firearms."

GCSO said that no one was injured.

Anyone with information is asked to call (843) 546-5102.

Tre'Sean Snow of Fayetteville was visiting the park with some friends when he saw the child struggling on a bodyboard, Ridgeway said. Snow tried to help but was overtaken by the current and drowned.

He was pulled from the water and taken to Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Ridgeway said.

No other details were immediately available.

Deputies with the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) are asking for help from the community in identifying a man accused of stealing the items from Victory Christian Fellowship on Wednesday morning.

The break-in and theft happened around 9:30 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office.

Stolen items include a Husqvarna string trimmer and a Poulan leaf blower.

Surveillance images released by the sheriff’s office show the suspect with a bicycle before the break-in and leaving with the stolen items afterward.

Anyone with information regarding the theft, or the suspect’s identity, is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office at 843-546-5102.

According to an online obituary, Eastham served as a paramedic for most of her life in Horry and Georgetown Counties working for various agencies including Murrells Inlet-Garden City Rescue, Midway Fire, and Georgetown County Emergency Services.

She began her career with Georgetown County in August 1991 and served as an integral part of the fire and EMS community through the years, training and educating first responders in pre-hospital emergency care.

Eastham also acted as deputy coroner and department infectious control officer of Georgetown County during her career.

She retired as a lieutenant firefighter paramedic with Georgetown County Fire-EMS in 2021 but continued to volunteer for the county.

“Lesley always went above and beyond the call of duty,” her obituary read. “Her reach spread throughout the community. Lesley loved spending time with her husband, family, friends, and her dog, Stasha. She also loved gardening and being outside on the farm - with her chickens and goats.”

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 17 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Community Center (200 Barnhill Road) in Hemingway.

A final radio call will go out at 3:00 p.m.

Hundreds of wildfires burning in western and eastern Canada have sent smoke wafting through the United States in recent weeks, leading to poorer air quality across New York, the Great Lakes region, and southern states.

Officials say the large swath of smoke is expected to create hazy skies and unhealthy breathing conditions, especially in areas where smoke is most concentrated.

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, was 80 for Georgetown as of Monday morning, which is an unhealthy level for sensitive groups. AQI levels of 50 or below are considered the healthiest, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.

Experts say that short-term exposure to air pollution caused by wildfire smoke can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Longer-term exposure can lead to several chronic health conditions including severe asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer, among others.

People in Georgetown County with respiratory illnesses or other health concerns are encouraged to limit outdoor exposure until conditions have improved.

Ridgeway said the boy was taken to Waccamaw Community Hospital before dying.

SCDNR told News13 that DNR officers responded, but a recovery had already been made when they arrived.

No other information was immediately available.

According to the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, authorities responded to a reported shooting around 8:30 p.m. on Cohen Drive in the Carvers Bay area.

Reports say a 16-year-old boy was walking along the road when his arm was grazed by a bullet.

He was transported to the Georgetown Tidelands Hospital for treatment.

GCSO is investigating. Anyone with information should call 843-546-5102.

Deputies said the individuals were captured on security cameras in two separate incidents -- at the 521 Mini-Mart on June 1 and the Valero gas station on E. Main Street in Andrews on June 2.

The suspects entered the stores after the front glass doors were shattered at both locations, according to the sheriff's office.

Authorities said the suspects were seen in a silver Hyundai four-door sedan with black wheels.

Anyone with information is asked to contact GCSO at 843-546-5102.

According to LCpl. Lena Butler with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash was reported around 10:15 p.m. along SC-707 near Old Kings Highway.

A 2017 Buick sedan was headed east on Old Kings Highway when the driver failed to yield right of way and collided with a 2013 Lexus SUV.

The driver of the Buick was the sole occupant, and later died of their injuries sustained in the crash after being transported to an area hospital.

Two passengers of the Lexus were transported to an area hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this time.

The identity of the deceased driver is due to be released by the Georgetown County Coroner's Office when appropriate.

SCHP is investigating.

The truck, a white 1999 International 4000 belonging to R&R Metals, was stolen on March 6, 2023, from the L&L Service Station in Andrews while it was being serviced.

A grainy image of the suspect was shared by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office on Friday morning.

Deputies say the truck was recovered in Kingstree and returned to R&R Metals.

A dedication ceremony was held at the Charters of Freedom site in Rainey Park. The display includes full-scale, permanent replicas of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Vance Patterson and his wife started Foundation Forward, an organization that helps install these displays nationwide, after visiting the National Archives in Washington, D.C. back in 2011.

“That’s a display of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. In addition to that, we added the Civil Rights Amendment,” he said.

A canon was fired off in commemoration of each article of the Constitution.

The display in Georgetown is the 45^th Charters of Freedom documents, but this is the first with the Civil Rights Amendments on display.

“I’ve never been to Washington to actually see these documents, and to just see the Civil Rights amendment that was responsible for the rights that I have, and that we have as a people, it’s just very emotional for me,” said Harold Jean Brown-Williams, who was moved by the display.

Brown-Williams and her good friend Steve Williams really enjoyed seeing the display, and their rights written out.

“My right to vote. My right to be here in Joseph Rainey Park … and people don’t understand the importance of Joseph Rainey. My right to be among people who don’t look like me and I’m not in the background. I’m not in the house, I’m not upstairs in the attic, I’m not in the field.”

As a matter of fact, she’s not in the back, but she sat in the front row during the ceremony, and not by coincidence.

“I’m also the first Black to graduate from Winyah High School back in 1968. And for me sitting in the back was over when my parents made me go to Winyah in 1966. So, I’m always present. I’m always upfront. Because that’s what leaders do. We are upfront,” she said.

A list of everyone who was in attendance at Thursday’s dedication is being put into a time capsule that will be opened on September 17, 2087. That’s the 300th anniversary of the Constitution.

The Leon Levine Foundation gave the $50,000 grant to the Tidelands Community Care Network, which was created "to break down barriers to medical care for uninsured and underinsured adults."

Tidelands Community Care Network has over 50 partner agencies and organizations with which it works to "foster partnership and increase cross-sector collaboration," resulting in "stronger links within the community that lead to integrated care and better health outcomes."

The network has already helped over 7,850 people access affordable healthcare, and the grant is expected to increase that number.

Kelly Kaminski, senior director of community health resources at Tidelands, said that the grant will "directly help uninsured and underinsured residents in our region gain access to the health care they need."