Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette Blogs

That old time rock 'n' roll: The Headliners mark 24 years in the beach music business

Posted by jvrabel at 3:24 pm, Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
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By AMY COYNE BREDESON • 843-706-8134

For the past 24 years, the Headliners have entertained area audiences with their classy style and eclectic repertoire. But much has changed for the six-member band over that period of time: They’ve added a new member, picked up some new equipment, learned plenty of new songs, gotten a few gray hairs and undone some previous fashion choices.

Tom DeLay Of Game, or, Some Days You Just Gotta Dance

Posted by jvrabel at 3:23 pm, Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
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A few years back, when then-House majority leader Tom “The Hammer” DeLay was forced out of office because of charges that he violated campaign finance laws, many of us asked, “Sure, he may be the poster boy for two-faced, corrupt politicians ... but can he dance?” That question will finally be answered when the former Texas rep appears on the new season of “Dancing with the Stars,” because apparently disgraced politicians now count as stars.

Movie Review: 'Spy Kids' director Rodriguez has another for the kids

Posted by jvrabel at 3:05 pm, Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
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Robert Rodriguez channels his inner 11-year-old with “Shorts,” a childish but fun wish-fulfillment fantasy for kids that’s equal parts big messages and product placement.



‘Shorts’

★★★

Starring Jimmy Bennett, Kat Dennings. Directed by Robert Rodriguez. 1:27. PG (mild action, rude humor).

Click here for a listing of local theaters.

Movie Review: Tarantino's 'Basterds' is some serious pulp fiction

Posted by jvrabel at 3:17 pm, Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
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If only Quentin Tarantino the director weren’t so in love with Quentin Tarantino the writer, “Inglourious Basterds” might have been a great movie rather than just a good movie with moments of greatness.

Everything that’s thrilling and maddening about his films co-exists here: the visual dexterity and the interminable dialogue, the homage to cinema and the self-glorifying drive to redefine it, the bursts of energy and the numbingly draggy sections.

So you wanna be sports editor? OK, tough guy, make me a schedule

Posted by jkidd at 2:05 pm, Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
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When you’re in the newspaper business, it’s tempting to look out the window during daily budget meetings and let your mind drift to a world that knows no want. A world in which we could hire enough writers to report on everything in our coverage area that anyone might find even remotely newsworthy — from little Johnny’s first birthday party to investigative pieces uncovering massive political corruption. A world in which we have an unlimited supply of ink and paper with which to print those stories ...

Sam Pope takes shot at UFL

Posted by bparker at 2:11 am, Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
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Sam Pope, the former Beaufort High School and Hampton University standout, has a tryout this weekend with the Florida Tuskers of the new United Football League, an independent professional league with four teams.
The workout is Pope's latest attempt to realize his dream of playing pro football, a journey that has brought several disappointments of late for the 5-foot-11, 192-pounder defensive back.

USC assistant football coach Shane Beamer talks about Michael Vick and the progress of two former Beaufort High players

Posted by bparker at 1:34 am, Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
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He might only be 32 years old, but Shane Beamer has seen a lot of football in his time.

His father, Frank, has coached Virginia Tech's highly successful program since 1987, he played for his dad and with Michael Vick during the Hokies' breakout season in 1999 (which ended with a loss in the Sugar Bowl/national championship game to Florida State) and now he's entering his third year assisting Steve Spurrier at South Carolina.
So it's no small thing when a football mind like Beamer has taken a special interest in plucking talent from the Beaufort area of late.

Preseason edition of Prep Writers Poll released -- see which local team is getting some love

Posted by jjarrett at 10:41 pm, Monday, August 17th, 2009
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In case you haven't heard, IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON ... and in case you don't believe me, here's the first installment of the Prep Writers Poll, the weekly collection of the top 10 teams in each public school classification, as voted on by ink-stained wretches from throughout the state such as myself.

Beaufort County meetings and agendas for the week of Aug. 17, 2009

Posted by mcovington at 10:16 am, Monday, August 17th, 2009
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COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEES

Monday, Aug. 17
• Finance Committee: 2 p.m., executive conference room, county administration building, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, see agenda here
• Joint Community Services and Public Safety committees: 4 p.m., executive conference room, county administration building, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, see agenda here

Tuesday, Aug. 18

More notes, analysis on the Dolphins, Eagles from Friday's football scrimmage

Posted by bparker at 6:54 pm, Saturday, August 15th, 2009
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There was no doubt that Beaufort High School was on hand for Friday's Beaufort County football scrimmage at Hilton Head Island Community Center. Thing is, almost no one could find the Eagles when their first quarter of play was about to get underway.

Then, just as the clock approached zeroes and with the announcer set to make his third and final call for the team in question, here came the Eagles, jogging in formation onto the muddy field to take on Wade Hampton for the sixth quarter.