8 IslandVibesIOP.com NEWS 73-year-old does litter sweeps every day of the year, including Christmas and all other holidays. Despite two heart surgeries in 2023, which forced him to take time off, he still did 409 litter sweeps. “I’m in cardio-therapy now from another attack on March 3, but I’m still making a sweep every day,” Hogue said, while cleaning up a stretch of beach near the IOP Front Beach pier on May 6. “Sometimes I find things like $20 bills, expensive jewelry, brand new fishing gear still in their packaging and the body surfboard. But on most of my sweeps, I collect beer bottle tops, twist ties, zip ties, pull tabs, sippy straw wrappers and cigarette butts.” In addition to IOP, Hogue makes litter sweeps of 22 boat landings and four public beaches in Berkeley County, two boat landings on the Ashley River and both roadsides and parks in the tri-county of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester as needed. “I like a clean environment,” Hogue said. “I’m a retired teacher, retired manager of a hardware store and former restaurant manager and I always had to keep a clean place in all my jobs. We need to protect the environment for the wildlife and for our generations to come.” On April 29, Hogue was honored by the IOP Cleanup Crew and the South Carolina Aquarium for recording his 1 millionth litter item since 2018. That’s an average of approximately 461 items per sweep – with a six-year total of 2,168 sweeps. Sporting a real white beard and his usual garb of a red tank top and swimsuit, it’s no wonder why Hogue has acquired the nickname “Beach Santa.” “So much of the litter that he collects would likely wind up in our ocean, lakes, rivers and water supply,” Smith said. “It's difficult to calculate the value of his volunteer service or to consider the scope of the problem we would be facing without his efforts.” In 2020, Hogue's example led the IOP City Council to ban smoking on the beaches. Ordinances also ban single-use retail bags, plastic straws and stirrers, Styrofoam coolers and containers and balloons. But at the height of summer season, when day visitors can range from 20,000-60,000, Hogue said beach litter is way off the chart. “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being ugly, it’s about a 58.” “We’re starting to get a lot of teenagers, high schoolers, who are helping to become part of the solution,” Smith said. “This spring, several litter sweeps have had attendance of close to 100 or more volunteers – and I'm sure some people have joined us because they have heard of Howard." When asked how it felt to have collected 1 million litter items, Hogue simply replied, “I’m now working on my second million. My only wish is that more people would do their part to keep our beaches and environment clean because everybody can do something.” From Page 3 POINT, SCAN, CLICK Discover the Carolina Coast www.ExploreCoastalCarolina.com Tax Questions? CALL TODAY! 843.886.6218 James M.Ward, CPA, PC CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT 2207 Hartnett Blvd., Isle of Palms, SC ISLAND SOCIAL JUNE 12 5 - 8 P.M. WHERE: WHEN: Join us to celebrate our Isle of Palms community with good friends and positive vibes! Drink specials, live music and appetizers. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!
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