Personal Injury Attorney in Beaufort, SC.

With construction started last fall, we're getting much closer to the new ALDI opening at the new Beaufort Station Shopping Center.

The 21,000 square foot store is expected to open before September. This ALDI will join other retailers that opened in 2024 at the shopping center which include, including Hobby Lobby, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, and Ross Dress for Less.

In February 2025, ALDI also announced its plan to open more than 225 new store locations in 2025 as part of the next phase of its five-year national growth strategy. This is the most stores ALDI will open in one year in its nearly 50-year U.S. history.

The new stores will open through a combination of organic growth and converting select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the ALDI format. In total, ALDI will convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to the ALDI format through 2027.

ALDI has become a go-to destination for budget-conscious shoppers, known for its low prices and private-label offerings. ALDI was recently ranked as the most affordable grocery chain in the U.S., with shoppers saving an estimated $8.3 billion annually. It's said that households that switch from name brands to ALDI-branded items can save up to $4,000 annually.

With nearly 3,200 locations across the country, ALDI has surged in popularity recently, particularly as grocery costs rise.

The German-founded retailer is now the third-largest grocery chain in the U.S. by store count. In 2024 alone, ALDI attracted 19 million new customers, underscoring its growing appeal.

The new store will provide affordable groceries and create job opportunities for the local community. ALDI’s expansion continues to support our local economy while providing convenient access to budget-friendly essentials for residents.

ALDI joins several other grocers in the Beaufort area including four Food Lion locations, two Publix locations, Harris Teeter, and Piggly Wiggly.

Visit ALDI's website here.Learn more about ALDI here.Sign up for the ALDI Newsletter for its weekly ads and more.

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Col. Mark D. Bortnem was relieved of his command of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on Tuesday morning, April 15, 2025, due to a “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to command.

Bortnem had been the Commanding Officer of MCAS Beaufort for nearly two years since he took command from Col. Karl Arbogast on July 14, 2023.

1^st Lt. Lyndsay Cribb, Director of Communications and Strategy (COMMSTRAT) at MCAS Beaufort, initially confirmed Bortnem had been relieved of his command Tuesday morning, but couldn’t comment further.

Nat Fahy, Director of COMMSTRAT for Marine Corps Installations East (MCIE) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune provided The Island News with a statement Tuesday afternoon.

“Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo, Jr., commanding general, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, has relieved Col. Mark D. Bortnem of his duties as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, effective immediately. This decision was made due to a loss of trust and confidence in Bortnem’s ability to command.

“Bortnem is being reassigned to duties as directed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

“In the interim, the air station’s Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS) Executive Officer, Lt. Col. Michael R. Eubanks will serve as acting commander until one is formally appointed. There are no further details to provide at this time.”

While the statement attributes Bortnem’s removal to a “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to command, this is used as a catchall phrase by the U.S. military. In the past 10 years, dozens of officers across all branches have been removed from their commands due to a “loss of trust and confidence.”

Issues with their leadership could range from the work or training environment they establish to misconduct. Without more details, it’s impossible to know exactly why Bortnem was removed.

Bortnem, who grew up in Michigan, has been a U.S. Marine since 1991. He graduated from Ohio State University (B.A. in Political Science) in 1998 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, ending his time as an enlisted Marine and beginning his career as an officer.

Graduating flight school with distinction, he was designated as a Naval Flight Officer in 2002. He then joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 332, with which he deployed to Iraq several times.

After graduating pilot conversion training at Naval Air Stations Corpus Christi and Kingsville with distinction, he was designated as a Naval Aviator and served as a Flight Instructor.

Bortnem was assigned to MCAS Miramar where he completed F/A-18 pilot training and was assigned as the Executive Officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 and Operations Officer with Marine Aircraft Group 11. During this time, he deployed twice to Japan and achieved all advanced qualifications as an F/A-18 pilot.

From 2014-2016, Col. Bortnem was assigned to Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada where he served as an Exchange Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force, with which he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Upon his return to Canada, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron, becoming the first U.S. officer to command a Canadian squadron.

In 2016, Col. Bortnem was assigned to Camp Smith, Hawaii, where he was assigned as the Marine Forces Pacific Air Officer and Director of Aviation Operations.

From 2018 to 2020, Colonel Bortnem was the Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 in Miramar, Calif. During this time, he deployed to Japan and the squadron was recognized as the recipient of the Robert M. Hanson award as Strike Fighter Squadron of the Year.

In 2020, Col. Bortnem was assigned as a student to Air War College in Montgomery, Ala. In 2022, h was assigned as Director of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division.

Col. Bortnem has nearly 3,000 flight hours, including more than 500 hours of combat time, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s Air War College (2021, M.A. in Strategic Studies).

Bortnem’s photo and biography have been removed from the leadership page on the MCAS Beaufort website, https://www.beaufort.marines.mil/.

Lt. Col. Robert L. Steinhauser III remains the Executive Officer on board MCAS Beaufort.

Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

It’s BACK! The MCAS Beaufort Airshow is back this weekend to entertain everyone and light up the Beaufort sky. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is scheduled to host nearly 100,000 friends and neighbors at the MCAS Beaufort Air Show this Saturday and Sunday, April 12th & 13th.

There is no cost to the general public to attend the show, however special seating and VIP tickets are available.

The weekend will showcase Naval aviation at its best with a demonstration by the United States Naval Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels. It’ll be loud around the Lowcountry in the next few days, as the Blue Angels will be able to be seen in the sky around the area later this week as they practice for the show and drum up lots of excitement in the community.

But, as amazing as they are, there’s actually a lot more to the show than the Blue Angels.

According to the MSAC Beaufort Airshow, performers at the event will include Red Thunder Airshows, the nation’s only 2-ship Yak-50 demo team! Barry Hancock and Karl Gashler are veteran pilots who know how to put all their skills and precision to the test in a way that captivates audiences across the country! Between the sound of the heart pounding radial engine and their thrilling maneuvers, the Red Thunder Airshows’ performance is unforgettable!

Also included is Goulian Air Shows. Millions of air show spectators around the globe have witnessed the ferocity of a Mike Goulian air show performance. Every roll, pull, and tumble of his flight is a deliberate execution of precision. With his aggressive approach to the air show arena, Mike Goulian has mastered the ability to convey his message of passion through flight. Mike’s crisp, athletic style of flying is the evolution of his landmark career as an aerobatic competitor. Mike reached the pinnacle of the sport when he won the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Championship at only 27 years of age. He was honored to represent the United States at the World Aerobatic Championship on three separate occasions.

Also on the schedule for the weekend is Vanpire Airshows. The Vampire Airshow profile grips audiences with speed, noise and jet warbird aerobatics. While the pilots banter with the announcer, crowds are drawn into learning about this sensational aircraft.

The deHavilland Vampire is a fully aerobatic aircraft that wows audiences by performing rolls, Cuban eights, shark tooths, inverted flight, high-speed passes and all with a killer smoke system. The Vampire is awe-inspiring as the aircraft that led the way for ALL modern jet aviation.

Included in the show is the United States Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team based out of Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. This single-ship performance travels across the country to demonstrate the professionalism instilled in Air Force pilots and to show the capabilities of the F-16C Fighting Falcon.

Spectators will also be treated to several techniques possessed by the F-35B, the MCAS Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration, the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, helicopter rides, monster trucks, and the Top Gun Experience; the opportunity to dress as a real Fighter pilot complete with flight gear and helmet for a hands-on tour and experience.

For the full schedule of events at this weekend’s MCAS Beaufort Airshow, visit here.

For a list of Do’s and Dont’s while attending the show, visit here.

As always at the MCAS Beaufort Airshow, there will be lots of exhibitors to visit and food and beer vendors will also be on hand. There is also a Kids Zone featuring a variety of bounce houses, including the iconic U.S. Navy Blue Angels® Bounce House, kids can jump and play to their hearts’ content.

The mission of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show is three-fold: to promote the Marine Corps and Navy recruiting efforts, to demonstrate the full force and capabilities of our military and to say a big “THANK YOU” to all of the members of the surrounding communities who support the men and women who serve this nation and are stationed at the Beaufort Air Station and in the Tri-Command area.

For the 14th straight year, Beaufort County has ranked the healthiest county of all 46 counties in S.C., according to the County Health Rankings by Niche.com, one of the most popular rankings sites in the U.S.

Beaufort is a very active community and the findings show that Beaufort surpasses all of the other counties in South Carolina in its quality of life.

“Beaufort County is one of the best places to live in South Carolina. In Beaufort County, most residents own their homes, and many young professionals and retirees live there,” Niche.com said in the report.

Beaufort County’s grades were pretty good, and it received an overall A+.

Beaufort County received an A for Health & Fitness, Outdoor Activities, being Good For Families, and for its Public Schools.

A- were bestowed on Beaufort for Weather, and Nightlife.

Beaufort County also received a B+ for Jobs, a B+ for [daily] Commute, a B+ for Diversity.

Beaufort County did, however, receive a B- for Housing, and a C+ for Cost of Living.

According to Niche.com, the 2025 Healthiest Counties ranking is intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of the general levels of health among residents at the county level.

“This grade takes into account key indicators of personal health, such as smoking, excessive alcoholic consumption, rates of obesity, as well as the availability and proximity of fitness facilities, doctors, and mental health practitioners, in an attempt to measure an area’s performance in health and fitness.”

Other popular studies have shown that Beaufort County residents enjoy the longest life expectancy in the state as well as the best quality of life in South Carolina. They’ve also found that Beaufort County leads the Palmetto State when it comes to health behaviors. This includes a lower amount of cigarette smokers, a lower rate of adult obesity and the ease of access to many exercise opportunities.

How other counties ranked

No South Carolina counties ranked in the top 100 of the list. Beaufort came in at #155 in the U.S, and is the only county in South Carolina to be in the top 200.

According to the study, the top 5 healthiest counties in SC are (in order) Beaufort, Charleston, Greenville, York, and Spartanburg.

According to the study, the counties with the poorest health in SC are Barnwell, Allendale, Hampton, Marlboro, and Lee.

See the full list of U.S. Counties and see how they ranked here.

See the full list of South Carolina counties and see how they ranked here.

Beaufort is surrounded by sea islands and that provides an easy way for folks to enjoy the water, do some fishing or take the kayak out for a few hours. Lots of beaches, trails and parks in the area make for some fabulous long walks as well.

If you’re looking for a good quality of life….Beaufort County is your obvious choice. Beaufort is the healthiest county in S.C., after all.

BEAUFORT, SC. (WTOC) - The highest court in South Carolina has now ruled in a years-long legal battle over development in Beaufort.

The state supreme court sided with the developer, who tells us they’re looking to add an expansion to the Beaufort Inn.

WTOC reported on this story in detail back in January, before the court’s ruling. You can find that context here.

On April 2nd, the court denied petitions for a writ of certiorari filed in two cases having to do with this potential project: Historic Beaufort Foundation v. City of Beaufort, et al. and West Street Farms, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC v. City of Beaufort, et al.

You’ll notice the Historic Beaufort Foundation is the plaintiff named in one of those cases. The organization’s leaders tell WTOC they believe the project doesn’t follow city code and isn’t the right project for the area.

HBF’s efforts to stop the hotel expansion have now been denied by the highest court in the State.

WTOC has heard from several of the parties involved.

City of Beaufort

“By denying the petitions, the Supreme Court leaves in place the decisions of both the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Circuit Court. These rulings are consistent with and uphold the conclusions of the lower courts, and the City hopes that this will conclude the litigation.”

303 Associates - Dick Stewart

“We are pleased that the South Carolina Supreme Court has determined that there’s no merit to these appeals and that that confirms both our companies, and the city of Beaufort conducted themselves legally with appropriate procedures, as have been done here for decades and that these frivolous lawsuits and appeals that have wasted so many dollars for the South Carolina court system, the city, and our companies has been brought to a close. These sorts of frivolous abuses of the system when brought to their logical conclusion, confirm that the system here works and that justice and legal processes are confirmed by the courts, although in a lengthy and expensive process.”

Historic Beaufort Foundation - Cynthia Jenkins

“We’re all very disappointed. We don’t believe the parking garage, or the hotel should ever have been approved, and they do not meet the tenants of the zoning ordinance. It’s disappointing that the courts went the way they went.

The city’s zoning ordinance is not working and it’s time that it gets addressed. It’s not working inside the historic district or out for a lot of different reasons and I think it’s past time for city council to address it."

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