Good Tuesday Morning:

 

Very early Saturday morning, the almost completed Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce building set to be dedicated on December 17th,  went up in flames. It appears little if any of the building is going to be salvageable. 

 

Given the mood of the county, and the earlier "racist" graffiti posted on the pre-construction sign at the site, it would be easy to jump to conclusions.  But I beg you please do not do so.  That is not the Beaufort we love.  Let's first get the facts.

 

Thanks to the wisdom of Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department Chief Reese Bertholf and City of Beaufort Police Chief Matt Clancy, State and Federal officials were on site within hours after the fire was contained. Both agencies brought in an extensive team that began the official investigation Sunday evening and Monday.  While I do not know for sure, it could be the end of the week before we know anything. It could take even longer.

 

While I have no definitive answers, and I am not one to speculate, I can only assure you that between our public safety leadership -- coordinating with state and federal investigators -- no stone will be left unturned to determine the cause of the fire.

 

Either way it is a tragedy for the BCBCC and our community, that, after years of planning, negotiating extensive loans from the Rural Development Administration and a year of construction that the dream went up in flames.  We should reach out to the members of the BCBCC, and at the same time give the investigators the time and space they require to complete an exhaustive investigation.

 

Thanks for your patience at this difficult time for the BCBCC and for our entire community.

 

Will keep you posted on this important issue.

 

Have a good week!