Daily editionFriday, October 9th, 2026
Good morning, Hilton Head Island.
The 5AM Hilton Head Island Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 9th of October.
Community
Hilton Head leaders will honor retired Major General William Green on Saturday at First Presbyterian Church at 1 p.m. to recognize his journey from Army artilleryman to chaplain (his community roots shaped his commitment), marking October 10 as Major General William Green Day.
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Culture
Condé Nast Traveler readers named Hilton Head the nation’s best island for the 10th straight year, praising its strong tourism and well-kept beaches.
Coligny Beach ranked No. 12 + two local resorts earned honors in a survey of more than 798,000 responses.
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Rincon’s Lainie Barrow, an 11-year-old student at Ebenezer Middle School, was crowned USA National Preteen 2026 at the national scholarship pageant in Atlanta.
She now serves as an ambassador with Lainie’s Wild Hearts + Be Kind, Grow Good kits that promote care for nature.
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Environment
Ten years after Hurricane Matthew struck the coastal region, communities in the Lowcountry recall severe damage with mandatory evacuations, fallen trees, and long power outages.
The storm — claiming over 730 lives — left lasting scars that neighbors continue to feel today.
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Health
The American Red Cross, after responding to more than 1,800 house fires this year in Georgia, urges Hilton Head residents to prevent home fires by staying with cooking, plugging space heaters directly into wall outlets, and testing smoke alarms monthly.
Local fire departments offer assistance for installing fire prevention equipment.
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Beaufort Memorial reports a rise in fall allergies as moist conditions boost ragweed and mold growth in the Lowcountry—doctors recommend flu shots and prompt care for patients with worsening symptoms.
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