As the government shutdown enters its second month, the head of the Hilton Head Island Airport said it’s time to stop playing games with peoples’ livelihoods.

At a scheduled annual trip to meet with South Carolina officials and staffers in Washington, D.C. next week, Beaufort County Airports Director Jon Rembold said his goal is to take U.S. Transportation Security Administration workers off the table as a “bargaining chip” in government shutdowns.

For the third time in about six months, TSA employees are working without pay because of a government shutdown. There was a three-day government shutdown in late January and early February, but more significantly, a 43-day lapse in appropriations last fall was the longest in history. The current shutdown, which began on Valentine’s Day, impacts the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Three back-to-back shutdowns seemed to be the last straw for hundreds of TSA employees. DHS estimates nearly 400 TSA workers have quit their jobs.

“It’s awful,” Rembold said. “They’re getting hammered.”

Chaos at major US airports due to shut down

The shutdown has created chaos at major airports across the U.S. On Monday, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was advising passengers to arrive at least four hours ahead of their scheduled domestic and international flights because of “current federal conditions.”

Conversely, Charleston International Airport’s website showed a main checkpoint wait time of six minutes and a five-minute wait for TSA PreCheck travelers.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said he will send federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports this week to assist with TSA screenings. ABC News reported that agents will be deployed to 14 airports; other reports showed ICE agents arriving at the Atlanta airport Monday morning.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said he was told ICE agents would help TSA with line management and crowd control and wouldn’t be carrying out any immigration enforcement duties.

Wait times at Savannah-Hilton Head airport

Lori Lynah, spokesperson for Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, said the shutdown has “not affected wait times here at all.”

“We’re very lucky,” Lynah said, adding that TSA employees are the ones suffering the most since they’re working without pay.

HHH hasn’t had any staffing issues since the shutdown, Rembold said; the airport’s TSA staffing is managed by the agency’s Charleston office, which does a good job of keeping operations flowing.

“I guess we’re a little bit lucky, since we’re not insanely busy,” he said.

Still, the shutdown is “definitely taking a toll” on TSA workers at Hilton Head airport, Rembold said.

“There’s a local GoFundMe out there, which is nice. A board member is coordinating it to help TSA agents, although they’re limited on the things they can accept, because they’re government employees,” he said. “It’s just a bad position to be in.”

After a warm week of beach weather, Hilton Head residents woke up Friday morning to temperatures just over 50 degrees.

Here’s the weather forecast for this weekend, including Sunday, the day of the 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Friday

Highs on Friday are expected to reach 67 degrees, according to the seven-day forecast from the National Weather Service in Charleston. It will be sunny and slightly windy, with winds ranging between 6 and 11 miles per hour.

Friday night will be clear, with a low of 53 degrees. Jacket weather is back on the island, at least for now.

Saturday

Saturday will also be sunny, and it will be slightly warmer than Friday, with a high around 73 degrees, the weather service said.

Lows on Saturday night will hit 62 degrees, and there’s a 20% chance of rain after 2 a.m.

Sunday

Here’s when things get a little hairy.

On Sunday, when highs could reach 75 degrees, there’s a chance of showers before 11 a.m., and a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. After 2 p.m., right when the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is scheduled to start, showers are likely and a thunderstorm is possible.

The chance of precipitation on Sunday is 60%, and winds could range from 7 to 10 miles per hour.

Showers are also likely on Sunday night, with a thunderstorm possible before 8 p.m. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., and at 2 a.m., showers are “likely” and a thunderstorm is possible.

Next week

The rain will continue into Monday. Temperatures will be breezy, with a high of 75, and a thunderstorm is possible.

The rain will continue into Monday night, mostly before 8 p.m. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, and the low will be around 40 degrees.

The rain will finally stop on Tuesday, but it will leave behind colder weather, the weather service said.

Mostly sunny skies are expected from Tuesday through Thursday, but the Tuesday high will be 56 degrees. Highs will reach 59 degrees on Wednesday and 65 degrees on Thursday, the forecast said.

HILTON HEAD, S.C. (WTOC) - The 40th Annual Hilton Head St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, beginning at 2 p.m. on Pope Avenue.

The Hilton Head St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the Palmetto State, according to organizers.

Since last year’s event was rained out, the island is excited to bring back the Irish celebration bigger and better than ever.

Parade route and parking

The route begins at Lowcountry Celebration Park/Coligny Beach Parking area, turns left onto Pope Avenue, then left onto Office Park Drive and ends at the Courtyard Building/Park Plaza.

No parking will be available near the parade staging area at the Coligny Beach Parking Lot.

Attendees can park in the area of USCB Hilton Head and will be shuttled to Lowcountry Celebration Park. The Breeze Trolley will operate one-way trips from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office will begin placing cones and barricades along Pope Avenue at 11 a.m. Sunday.

What to expect

Parade Chairwoman Gabrielle Muething said the event stands out among island celebrations.

“It is the one event that is family-friendly, it’s free, you can watch from a bazillion places and enjoy all that the island offers at the same time,” Muething said.

Organizers expect 25,000 visitors to line the parade route. The marching lineup includes floats, the U.S. Marine Corps Band from Parris Island, pipe and drum bands and more. This year’s Grand Marshal is Diane Reilley.

Make sure you wear green and bring some extra rain gear just in case!

WTOC’s Stormchaser and some familiar faces will be in the parade, so keep an eye out and say hi (or Happy St. Patrick’s Day) when you see us.

They grow up so fast.

Just over two months after hatching from eggs laid by their mother, Gracie, Hilton Head Island’s beloved bald eaglets have started to branch outside the nest.

Photos shared Sunday by the Hilton Head Island Land Trust on Facebook show the two eaglets, called E3 and E4, branching outside their parents’ nest. The eaglets are shown spreading their wings and using their talons to stand on the rails near the nest, where they hatched Dec. 29 and 30.

“This is where they’re learning how to balance and use those wings. They’re doing a lot of ‘wingersizing,’ if you will,” said Robin Storey, president of the Hilton Head Island Land Trust’s board. Eaglets typically start to fledge around 12 weeks, and one starts flying before the other.

“Usually, one fledges first, and after watching them fly around in the sky, the other will take off,” Storey said. E3 and E4 are close in age and similar-looking, Storey said, so it will be interesting to see when they start to fly.

The eaglets have been local celebrities since before they were born. Their parents, Gracie and George, are the stars of the Land Trust’s HHI Eagle Cam. They live on private property in an undisclosed location on the island; the 2024-2025 nesting season produced two eaglets and was the first viewed on the Land Trust Eagle CAM.

E3 and E4 came during the couple’s 14th nesting season; the first egg appeared Nov. 21 and the second came three days later on Nov. 24. Once the first egg is laid, the next one usually follows within three to five days, according to Island Packet archives. After the eggs were laid, Gracie and George spent the next few weeks keeping the eggs warm, to protect the embryos and allow them to grow.

Davis will focus on residential properties, investment, and recreational land throughout the Lowcountry.

A Hilton Head Island native who grew up in Sea Pines, Davis has a deep appreciation for the coastal lifestyle and natural environment. Davis served as a REALTOR® in the area while also working as a professional fishing guide for the past 15 years. He brings valuable expertise in acreage evaluation, wildlife habitat, and conservation, supported by his degree in Natural Resources from Auburn University.

Davis is also part of a well-known Hilton Head Island fishing legacy. His father, legendary local fishing guide Fuzzy Davis, helped shape the Lowcountry's inshore fishing industry and inspired Drew's lifelong connection to the water. Continuing that tradition, Drew owns and operates Out of the Blue Fishing Charters.

"We're proud to welcome Drew Davis," said Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez, Broker in Charge. "Drew's local knowledge, connections throughout the community, and genuine love for the Lowcountry make him a wonderful addition to our team. Combined with his strong negotiation skills, he brings real value to the clients we serve."

"Sea Pines helped shape the Hilton Head Island lifestyle that draws people here from around the world," said Bill True, Principal Owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton Realty. "Drew understands that lifestyle firsthand, and that kind of authentic local knowledge is invaluable when helping clients buy and sell real estate in our market."

"I'm excited for the support, resources, and reputation the brand brings to both agents and clients," said Davis. "From the tip of Hilton Head Island to markets around the world, the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices name is recognized for professionalism and results, and I'm proud to represent that while serving my clients here in the Lowcountry."

More information about Davis and his services can be found at https://drewdavis.hiltonheadblufftonrealty.com/.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton RealtyBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton Realty is a market leader in the Lowcountry with a strong luxury presence and a reputation for exceptional client service. Known for innovative marketing strategies, global reach, and support for its agents, the brokerage provides buyers and sellers with a competitive edge in Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and surrounding communities. Learn more at HiltonHeadHomes.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServicesBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a global real estate brokerage franchise with a bold focus on building a personally connected future through relationship-driven business, supported by best-in-class leadership, mentorships, business tools, and a worldwide network committed to making a lasting impact through lifelong relationships. With approximately 45,000 real estate professionals and more than 1,400 offices across North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia, the network completed more than $127.7 billion in real estate sales in 2024. Visit www.berkshirehathawayhs.com.