SC Boating Safety Education Bill Passes

By Weston Newton CONTRIBUTOR

Gwyneth J. Saunders

Joy Ross

Larry Stoller

Cinda Seamon

Rev. Christopher Thompson

Mark F. Winn

ADVERTISING

B.J. Frazier, Sales Director, 843-422-2321

Claudia Chapman 814-434-3665

Mike Garza 804-928-2151

Mary Pat Gifford 912-414-7122

VISIT: BlufftonSun.com

For more information, contact: Kevin Aylmer PO Box 2056, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-9507, 843-757-9506 (fax)

Physical address: 14D Johnston Way Bluffton, SC 29910

All contents are copyrighted by Lowcountry Local Media Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. All submissions must include name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any material, including advertisements. The Bluffton Sun does not verify for licenses, endorse nor warrant

Over the last couple of months, I have highlighted legislation we passed this year directly related to our commitment to prioritize public safety this session and to make South Carolina a safer place to live, work and play. The Governor recently signed into law the South Carolina Boating Safety Education Bill. This legislation died in the House last year but as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, working closely with a tenacious advocate who lost her father in a tragic boating accident, we were able to shepherd the bill through the Judiciary Committee and it passed on the House floor this year. This new law requires anyone under the age of 16 to have completed a boating safety course before operating a boat with 10 or more horsepower or jet ski on South Carolina waterways. The safety classes will be available in-person and online including an expediated boat renter’s course being offered. The law provides that anyone born before July 1, 2007, must have completed the safety course with non-residents being required to have the certificate in their possession when operating a boat. South Carolina residents are not required to carry the certificate as DNR is able to verify their status. According to SC DNR more than 21,000 additional vessels were registered in South Carolina in the past year, and there has been a rise in boating related accidents and fatalities here over the last 5 years with 170 boating accidents and 22 fatalities in 2022 up from 142 accidents and 15 deaths in 2018. As Governor McMaster stated at the bill signing “By educating boaters and promoting responsible practices, we protect the lives of those who use our waterways and encourage more South Carolinians and visitors alike to enjoy South Carolina’s endless natural treasures.” As I referenced earlier in my column, spring and summer 2023 has been exceptionally busy and emotional for the Newton household as our oldest and youngest graduated from college and high school respectively and both have plans away from Bluffton starting in August. Fortunately, William will be a Junior at USC in Columbia this year and will be around for all the Gamecock football games. As proud as I am of all 3 of our children and their individual

Letter to the Editor

Part of my daily routine is to bring in the mail from the box by the street. This week’s batch included my favorite paper –The Bluffton Sun. Taking a quick look at the contents in the “Inside” box, I got this sinking feeling when I saw “Welcome to our new editor.”

Oh no! Don’t tell me that Lynne Cope Hummell left! I quickly turned the page to see if her “Sunny Side Up” column was still there. Whew! It was. But the relief was short-lived. Lynne retired. This time, however, “Sunny Side Up” was written by “Her

Bluffton, Hilton Head and Sun City Sun co-workers.” And what a wonderful tribute it was to Lynne!

In 2019, as a new resident in Sun City, I began writing letters to the editor of The Bluffton Sun. And it was Lynne, The Editor, who got them ready for publication. She was always a big help to me. An unusual trait in media these days.

Never met Lynne. Came close one day when my wife and I attended the Art and Seafood Festival in Bluffton last October. Wound up meeting her husband and artist, accomplishments (including each completing the boater safety course when they were 12 or younger), I am simply not quite ready to be happy for them to move to the next step or ready for them to be gone. I have treasured each and every day this summer that we had them all home knowing that after a couple of well-planned and coordinated family vacations, Reedy would be heading out to Washington DC to start working for US Senator Tim Scott on Capitol Hill and “family time” as and when mandated by ole dad would be no more. The days of my being able to say ok gang we are all going to do x, y, and z together next week or next month are a thing of the past packed away just like her college keepsakes. Just as difficult as it was to head to separate departing gates from Reedy at the JFK airport last week, the planning discussions regarding taking Eliza Rose to Wofford in a few weeks looms large for us or at least for me. Rose seems more at peace with this whole children moving on thing. Hopefully her well thoughtful processing is contagious – but if not, I am already working to figure out the next all family adventure.

Weston Newton is the representative for District 120 in the State House of Representatives. WestonNewton@schouse.gov

Amos Hummell, instead. His artwork beautifully decorates our living room wall.

So even though our timing was off to meet Lynne, it was our good fortune to “meet” her in the Bluffton Sun twice each month and enjoy her wonderful writings.

Lynne always kept those “eggs” sunny side up – never scrambled! And hopefully now, in her “retirement,” she can prepare them at her leisure – over easy.

Best wishes to you Lynne!

Gene Ceccarelli Sun City Hilton Head