August 1 edition

Welcome to the ‘long, hot summer’

Lots of things going on in this heat of the summer.

The 68th Water Festival is behind us and the XXXIII Olympiad is underway to occupy our time in air-conditioned comfort.

With all the rain that accompanied Friday night’s Parisan opening ceremonies, comparisons could be made to the Water Festival’s planning team, which had to study the weather radar, knowing it could do little about the elements. Decisions were made to cancel two major Festival events but, as we know, the show went on and a “good time was had by all,” as they say.

An interesting note: at least two “local” men – Will Moss, son of Dean Moss and Alice Varner, and Zake Graber, son of Scott and Susan Graber – are working behind the scenes to bring the Olympics to the NBC viewing public. Both men, who grew up here in Beaufort, work in the network’s production department and were assigned to work on the Olympic coverage.

Kudos to them. They’re use to rain events.

SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A6

Optimism, uncertainty reign in Port Royal

Indications are new mystery developer’s plans a step in right direction

By Scott Graber

The Island News

In 2004 20 years ago, then-Governor Mark Sanford called for the selling of the Port of Port Royal. In that year the General Assembly passed legislation ordering the Ports Authority to sell its Port Royal Terminal and allow the Town to plan the commercial and residential future of this site.

to be built overlooking Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort.

Photo courtesy of Beaufort Design Build

By Delayna Earley

In 2005, the Town hired a design firm out of Baltimore — Design Collective — to reimagine and redesign the Port’s waterfront acreage.

Matt D’Amico, a principal in that firm, said at the time, “People wanted to make sure that the (Town) grid extended to the water, so there is a physical and visual connection to the waterfront.”

Over the past 20 years, the notion of “physical and visual connection” with Battery Creek has manifested itself in three planned improvements — a waterfront pedestrian promenade, the Spanish Moss Bike Trail and a vehicular access road that would extend into the site from Ribaut Road.

SEE PLANS PAGE A8

A rendering of the approved 2- and 3-story building that is

LOLITA HUCKABY

A vehicular access road, the 24-foot wide bike trail, and, perhaps, a waterfront walking promenade would reportedly extend through this property and then follow 8th Street in an easterly direction until it intersects with the park sometimes called the London Avenue Park. Scott Graber/The Island News

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

In the Victorian language of flowers, “amaryllis” means "love, beauty, and determination," and can also represent hope and achievement. Habersham’s Ron Callari snapped this photo in June. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.

VETERAN OF THE WEEK TIM DORRILL

Beaufort’s Tim Dorrill, 53, joined the United States Marine Corps in Charlotte, N.C., in 1991 After Boot Camp at Paris Island, he trained in Aviation Ordnance before serving at MCAS New River, N.C. While assigned there, he deployed to Twentynine Palms and aboard USS WASP (LHD-1) to Haiti during an uprising there. He next served at MCAS Kaneohe, Hawaii, from which he deployed aboard USS New Orleans (LPH-11) to the western Pacific including Australia and

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Has he no empathy?

It is almost incomprehensible to understand Gov. McMaster’s argument for not expanding Medicaid. To say he is unconvinced that the expansion is necessary or that it is fiscally responsible is to ignore the fact that research has shown that expansion would create 20 000 jobs in South Carolina and give 360 000 of our citizens healthcare coverage, while adding $4 billion in economic benefit. What possible lucid explanation can he give for this appalling ignorance?

His lack of empathy for our citizens who are bring deprived of healthcare insurance, his lack of concern for our hospitals and medical providers, his lack of understanding of how this benefit can help our state makes one wonder about his overall competence. Or is he simply a Trump lackey who cares for no one but himself?

– Barbara Temple, Beaufort

We all agree on taxes

One thing we can all agree on is that we all hate taxes.

If Donald Trump is elected President, he promises to abolish the income tax and replace it with tariffs on all imported goods. On the surface, this might look very appealing. However, if we dig deeper, this proposal is an absolute trainwreck for our economy and the middle class. If the U.S. imposes tariffs on all imported goods, certain things are guaranteed to happen: Foreign nations will retaliate, making U.S. products uncompetitive in their markets; 12% of our GDP and 40 million American jobs depend on exports.

Prices on all goods, imported and domestic, will skyrocket. If we impose a 20% tariff on imported goods, domestic producers can raise their prices 1015% and still have a price advantage over imported products.

The U.S. Treasury will suffer a huge shortfall because tariff revenues will be much lower than the current tax revenues. This will put every government-provided service at risk.

Korea. His follow-on tour was at NAS Oceana, Va., from which he deployed to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. In 2003, duty brought him to MCAS Beaufort, from which he deployed to both Iwakuni, Japan, and to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. His final active duty tour was at MCAS New River, from which he deployed to Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. He retired

The wealthy and ultrawealthy will make out like bandits because they spend a much smaller portion of their income on goods and products. The poor and the middle class will suffer disproportionately.

Please recall what happened in 2018 when Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all products imported from China ("Trade wars are easy to win.") China retaliated, imposing a tariff on American products. This devastated our agricultural sector which depended heavily on exports to China. Because farmers were a critical voting bloc for Trump's re-election bid, he spent billions of tax dollars to bail-out farmers. As taxpayers, we bailed him out. We cannot afford another four years of Trump's recklessness and gross financial incompetence.

– Peter Birschbach, Port Royal

Thank you for your journalism

I very much appreciated you printing the Statehouse piece

in 2012 as a Gunnery Sergeant with 21-plus years of service and returned to Beaufort. He is active with the Marine Corps League and the Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.

about “Project 2025.” You just demonstrated the importance of the “Fourth Estate” in its role to help inform the public that they may then act in defense of our republic!

You have planted seeds of knowledge that will help protect us all, and perhaps turn some citizenry away from the misinformation that has warped their path to the truth. Kudos. Thanks.

– Tim Dodds, Lady’s Island

Thank you

I want to thank you and your weekly columnist, Larry Dandridge, for your tenacious pursuit of accurate information on behalf of veterans. In a world where fake stories and misinformation masquerade as real, you are beacons of light and truth.

Larry’s articles on veterans’ benefits are being shared all over the U.S., helping military members, veterans, and their families better understand their state and federal veterans’ benefits and how to apply for them. Thank you.

– Jeff Jacobs, Isle of Palms

August 1

2021: Beaufort-based weightlifter Mahassen Hala Fattouh competes for Lebanon in the Women’s 76-kilogram weight class at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Fattouh completes five of her six lifts for a personal-record total of 217 kg. Fattouh, the first female weightlifter to

PAL

PETS

represent Lebanon in the Olympic Games, finishes ninth.

August 5

2021: Beaufort’s Kazoobie Kazoos, one of just two kazoo factories in the United States, holds a grand opening for its remodeled Kazoo Museum, which highlights the history of the kazoo and features, among other things, a U.S. flag made from 3 000 plastic kazoos.

August 6

2019: The Island Packet and the Beaufort Gazette announce they are discontinuing their Saturday print edition.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

OF THE WEEK

2020. Jolene was adopted as a puppy, and she knew the love and comfort of a real home for a time. Now back at PAL, she loves playing in the pool, long walks, belly rubs, and comfy beds. It takes her a moment to warm up to new people but once she does, she is extremely sweet, loyal, and very playful. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

She's not the loudest personality in the cat room, but she is one of

the warmest personalities. She was a young but sweet mama who deserves a home where she can be comfortable and learn how to act like a kitten again. She is 3 years old, spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

For more information about Jolene, Precious or any of our other pets, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

– Compiled by Lindsay Perry

Tim Dorrill

3 charged with helping escaped convict

Charges connected to Beaufort County sex trafficking ring

By Mike McCombs and Delayna Earley The Island News

Two more people have been charged in relation to a sex trafficking ring in Beaufort County.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Kalynn Jade Cloud, 20, of Port Royal; Amani Nekwan Vaughn, 30, of Port Royal; and Guy Frank Talley, III, 27, of Beaufort with Harboring an Escaped Convict.

Cloud and Vaughn were charged on Thursday, July 18 booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center and released the same day. The women each posted a $10,000 cash bond and a $10,000 surety bond, according to court records.

Cloud’s preliminary hearing

is set for 9 a.m., Friday, Aug. 9

Vaughn’s first court appearance is Friday, Sept. 20 As reported last week, Talley was charged with Harboring an Escaped Convict the next day, Friday, July 19, at the Beaufort County Detention Center, where he was already incarcerated, facing charges of Trafficking in Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor -- 2nd Degree; and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor -- 3rd Degree.

Talley’s bond was set Tuesday, July 23 at $110 000 with GPS monitoring and house detention. He can only leave home for work or medical or legal appointments. He posted bond and was released

Monday, July 29

Talley has a preliminary hearing set for 9:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 9

The Harboring an Escaped Convict charges are related to the June 9 escape of Port Royal’s Jaquan Duvall Barnes, 29, from the Jasper County Detention Center. Barnes was located on Sunday, July 7, by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville, Fla.

Barnes was extradited to South Carolina and charged by SLED on July 11, with Trafficking in Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age; two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 2nd Degree, two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor –3rd Degree; Contributing to Delin-

quency of a Minor; and Unlawful Escape. He has a preliminary hearing set for 9:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 9

According to warrants issued July 15 by Beaufort County Magistrate Robert Ferguson to SLED Special Agents Logan Fey and Tara Donahue, the defendants did, July 9 or July 10, “unlawfully and knowingly harbor an escaped inmate (Jaquan Duvall Barnes) who was confined in a local detention facility. Barnes was awaiting trial and further sentencing for additional offenses but escaped with the use of tools and a prior arranged escape plan.”

The warrant alleges these acts were arranged between Barnes,

Vaughn, Cloud and Talley, and Barnes was then harbored at a co-defendant’s Beaufort County residence.

According to a source with knowledge of the case, Talley harbored Barnes at his own Beaufort County residence before Barnes fled to Florida. These cases will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office Special Victims Prosecution Unit.

Stabbing at Sheldon’s Oyotunji African Village leaves man dead

By Mike McCombs

A stabbing Monday afternoon, July 29, at the Oyotunji African Village in Sheldon left has reportedly left the leader of the village dead. At about 2:45 p.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) Communications Center received a report of a stabbing at the Oyo-

tunji African Village located on Bryant Lane in Sheldon. According to the BCSO, deputies responded and found a 47-year-old male victim who was transported by Beaufort County EMS to an area hospital. The victim later died as a result of his injuries.

Though the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office

had not yet released the identity of the deceased on Tuesday afternoon, a source told The Island News the victim was Oba Adefunmi II, the leader of the Oyotunji African Village. The BCSO quickly identified a suspect — 53-year-old Akiba Kasale Meredith — and learned she had left the area on foot.

Additional deputies, investigators, a Patrol K9 team and the BCSO Aviation Unit were called to assist in locating Meredith. Within a short period of time, Meredith was located walking back to the scene of the incident and was taken into custody.

Meredith was arrested for murder and is currently in custody at the Beaufort

County Detention Center. The circumstances that led to this incident remain under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the investigator, Sgt. Kline at 843-255-3430. Information can also be submitted online at BCSO.NET.

The Oyotunji African Village, founded in 1970, is a community based on the culture of the Yoruba and Dahomey tribes of West Africa. The population of the village at its height was around 250. It is estimated that nine families currently reside in the village.

Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

At Beaufort Memorial, our advanced orthopedics and spine care team is committed to helping you be your best and enjoy life without pain.

Whether neck or back pain is slowing you down or your activities are limited due to hip or knee pain, our board-certified specialists will personalize your care using sophisticated diagnostic and treatment options. Our advanced techniques and technologies, including Mako SmartRoboticsTM and VELYSTM robotic-assisted joint replacement, will improve function and relieve pain quickly. Many surgical patients even go home the same day.

Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Ortho for help addressing your pain.

At Beaufort Memorial you’ll also find:

• Joint preservation therapies

• Numerous non-surgical treatment options

• A personalized approach to restoring mobility and joint function

• Pre-operative education classes that engage patients and caregivers in the healing process

• An Optimization Program that follows you through the process to ensure the best outcomes

• Outpatient and in-home rehab services to get you back to doing what you love faster

The Island News

Cloud Vaughn Talley III

County Council releases glimpse into procurement, P-Card audit

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Beaufort County Council

released report of the audit conducted to investigate purchasing and procurement issues following a Special-Called Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 23

County Council hired an outside law firm to conduct the audit into the P-Card purchases and procurement code following their decision to terminate with cause former County Administrator Eric Greenway in July 2023

In the report, it shows that the investigation done by law firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd found that 312 of 392 contracts that were signed in 2023 were not put through the competitive bid process.

The contracts that were not competitively bid totaled almost $13 million, while the 80 contracts that

did go through the bidding process totaled over $85 million.

County employees with P-Cards spent just over $6 million from 2019 to 2023 according to the report.

Beyond that, no information was given about specific contracts, employees responsible for p-card purchases nor any of the employees involved in producing the competitively bid and non-competitively bid contracts.

The report also states that “more likely than not” the Beaufort County staff’s failure to adhere to the County’s procurement and P-Card guidelines was the result of “misfeasance rather than malfeasance, and no evidence of criminal activity has been discovered.”

In addition to the summary of the investigation, the report outlines “action

items” that they intend for the new county administrator Michael Moore to ensure that county employees follow going forward.

For procurements, employees are to take steps to provide for a more robust documentation of the procurements, they are to take steps to ensure that all procurements fall within the County’s budget authority, and they are to ensure proper determination of fair and reasonable pricing.

Additionally, they are to require documented “determinations of a bidder’s responsiveness and a bidder’s responsibility,” and do a better job with checks and balances to protect against erroneous justifications for non-competitive procedures.

They are to encourage more competition and robust negotiations with

bidders and encourage participation from smaller, disadvantaged businesses.

Finally, county staff will undergo more extensive training regarding the county’s procurement system.

As for the P-Card purchases, the county plans to create a policy for the number and assignment of P-Cards to reduce the number of users and enforce the requirement that purchases receive authorization and proper documentation is submitted with the payment request.

The county also plans to change the approval process so that subordinates can no longer authorize expenses for their managers and an individual cannot authorize their own expenses.

A new travel policy will also be put into place to ensure that hotel stays and meal reimbursements have

to be a minimum distance limit from the county, to restrict how many employees can attend meetings, conferences or events, to prevent individuals from accruing loyalty points.

They plan to create a centralized purchasing policy to ensure oversight of purchases such as IT equipment, business cards, office supplies, work gear, tools, appliances and marketing materials.

While the action plan outlined in the report was put together by County Council behind closed doors, there were a few council members who argued before council entered executive session that it should be discussed openly in public.

Council members Tom Reitz and Paula Brown made a motion to hold the discussion in public and David

Bartholomew voted along with them to hold it in public, but the rest of the present council voted against having a public discussion.

“In executive session, what we did was to take the report that you see here that we just approved,” Council Chairman Joe Passiment said after the executive session. We went through the report just to correct some grammar, punctuation and a sentence or two that didn’t make sense. Once those have been done, and those will be done as quickly as we can, it will be posted in the appropriate places.”

Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

LOWCOUNTRY BOOK FAIR

book selection at

NEWS BRIEFS

August LIBPA

meeting

Attorney Samuel Bailey will be the featured speaker when the Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association meets at 8 a.m., Tuesday, August 13 at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island. Bailey is an attorney with the Gilbert Law Firm and will be discussing estate planning and real estate. Please stop by for coffee and conversation concerning the community.

Indivisible Beaufort

meeting

The documentary film “Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy” will be presented at the Saturday, Aug. 10 meeting of Indivisible Beaufort at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort at 178 Sam’s Point Road on Lady’s Island. The meet-

Building from page A1

before Waterfront Park was built.

While the building will the tallest building on Bay Street, according to Mike Sutton, the review board’s chairman, city planners argue that the height will be

ing starts at 11 a.m.

“The current assault on democracy began with the White Supremacy Movement in the 1960’s as part of a shrewd, calculated, and well executed plan that became cloaked as a religious movement. Today those white supremacists and their heirs are known as Christian Nationalists.” The documentary “Bad Faith” is their story. The event is free and open to the public.

A construction reminder

IPW Construction Group will continue to perform shoulder closures and temporary lane closures the entire length of Laurel Bay Road in Beaufort. Closures will take place between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until the end of the year. During this time, please prepare for and expect minor delays in traffic. Drivers traveling through the area are asked to please be

minimized due to the fact that the tallest part of the building will be in the middle of the property.

“We believe the building will be a sympathetic addition to downtown and appreciate all the stake holders to include city staff, the Historic Beaufort Foundation, and the HDRB for their input as we progressed within the mini-

mindful of our traffic control team and the crews working within the area. In addition, the ramp coming off U.S. 21 onto Laurel Bay Road is permanently closed.

Free Summer Tax Prep Available for Lowcountry Residents Who Missed Deadline

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering a free summer tax preparation program for qualifying residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties who missed the traditional tax filing deadline. This program – a collaboration between the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) – is designed to assist low-income individuals and families, non-English speaking taxpayers, people with disabilities, and seniors (age 60+) in accurately

mum time possible through conceptual to preliminary to final approval all because of following the Beaufort code,” Trask said about the building’s approval. According to Trask, a restaurant is planned for the first floor and a rooftop bar and possibly a second restaurant will be on the third floor.

Office space is planned

and efficiently filing their federal and state tax returns.

"We understand that filing taxes can be overwhelming, especially for those who have limited resources," United Way Volunteer and VITA Program Coordinator Sherry Halphen said. "Our summer tax preparation program allows residents to receive free assistance from IRS-certified volunteers, ensuring they receive every deduction and credit they deserve."

Program Details: What: Free tax preparation assistance by IRS-certified VITA volunteers.

• When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays, August 22 and September 26

• Where: United Way of the Lowcountry Bluffton Office (10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite D, Bluffton, S.C. 29910)

Appointments Required: Call 843 321 9071 or email lowcountryvitacoalition@

for the second floor of the building.

Trask said that he as is still in the process of securing a restaurant and rooftop bar tenant, but the construction of the building itself is expected to take about 12 months.

“We believe the restaurant scene ... is sub-par for a town like Beaufort and believe there's an opportunity for

gmail.com Visit www.uwlowcountry. org/VITA for eligibility requirements and a list of documents to bring with you to your appointment.

DNR to host free fishing clinic at Broad River Fishing Pier

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources is hosting a free fishing clinic Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 4 until 7 p.m. The clinic will be held at Beaufort's Broad River Fishing Pier, 1050 Robert Smalls Parkway (map). The fishing clinic is free and open to the public. Participants must pre-register. Only 12 participants will be accepted. Register at https://bit.ly/3Y1FPXa.

For more information, contact Pam Corwin at SCDNR at 843729-0759 or corwinp@dnr.sc.gov.

– From staff reports

a new restaurant group to come in and provide a lovely alternative to the incumbent players,” said Trask.

Currently, there is one building, YoYo’s Ice Cream, that is on the property where the new building is expected to be built.

That building will be demolished to allow for construction of the new building. The rest of the busi-

nesses there – Cook on Bay, YoYo’s Frozen

and The Rustic Pup

cuits and Boutique, will remain untouched.

Yogurt

Bis-

Delayna Earley,

Attendees peruse the

one of the tables during the Lowcountry Children’s Book Fair hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center on Saturday, July 27, at the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Weezie Educational Pavilion. Asa Aarons/The Island News

A woman reads with her son during the Lowcountry Children’s Book Fair hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center on Saturday, July 27, at the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Weezie Educational Pavilion. Asa Aarons/The Island News

By Linda Miller Special to The Island News

A lighthouse at the end of the tunnel

Reopening of Hunting Island’s crown jewel coming into focus

In honor of National Lighthouse Day on Wednesday, Aug. 7

Hunting Island State Park and the Friends of Hunting Island would like to provide the community with some updates on our beloved Lighthouse. This iconic structure is the centerpiece of Hunting Island State Park, the most visited park in the South Carolina State Park System.

After closing to tours in early 2022 due to safety concerns, structural repairs and restoration work at the Hunting Island Lighthouse have started. Over the past two years, the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has worked to secure funding and follow the state procurement process to select architects and restoration experts to manage this unique and specialized project.

Bennett Preservation Engineering is overseeing architecture and engineering, and Huss, Inc., is the project contractor. Their work requires extraordinary care to protect the historic millwork, structural wood, masonry, glass, ironwork, and distinctive decorative finishes. Much of their focus will be on stabilizing and strengthening the stair system; repairing, cleaning, and recoating the metal and iron elements of the structure; and repainting the interior and exterior of the lighthouse.

Visitors to Hunting Island will notice construction fencing and signage as crews begin working on interior repairs to the bracing,

masonry, and coatings. Exterior work is expected to begin after the hurricane season. Barring any construction, weather, or supply delays, work is expected to be complete in late 2025, at which point a timeline for reopening the lighthouse to public tours will be determined.

In the meantime, Virtual Reality headsets are available in the park’s Visitor Center that simulate the climb to the top of the lighthouse and the sweeping views of the park and Atlantic Ocean from the watch deck.

The 1875 Fresnel Lense

Currently displayed in the base of the lighthouse is an 1875 Fresnel Lens of the largest 1st Order size. The lens was received by the State of South Carolina from the U. S. Coast Guard in 1962 and has been on display in the lighthouse since. Although some parts have gone missing over the years, it continues to be a centerpiece of the lighthouse experience for visitors to the park.

The lens was originally installed in the Charleston Lighthouse on Morris Island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. In 1938, the lens was removed and stored at the Bureau of Lighthouses Lighthouse Depot in Charleston.

The lighthouse was downgraded due to the erosion of Morris Island, so the island could no longer support a lighthouse keeper staff.

The lighthouse was automated with a smaller light requiring no keeper staff.

When the U.S. Coast Guard

assumed responsibility for all U.S. lighthouses in 1939, the lens passed to the Coast Guard along with the Charleston Depot. In 1962, the State of South Carolina acquired the lens from the U.S. Coast Guard and placed it on display in the base of the Hunting Island Lighthouse. In preparation for the Lighthouse restoration, the lens was disassembled in October 2023 and has been in storage awaiting completion of an updated design which was completed in May 2024 by Artworks Florida and Dan Spinella. The design specifications use modern materials (marine grade stainless steel) that will greatly reduce or eliminate the need for maintenance to ensure quality of sustainability to the weather elements.

Friends of Hunting Island has hired Pender Brothers of Port Royal to begin the construction phase of the newly designed frame. With a new support frame and a new exhibit building to put the lens in, the reassembly of the lens is in the final staging process.

How this final phase of the Hunting Island lens project will take place, and its location, has been a subject of much discussion between Hunting Island State Park and the Friends of Hunting Island and we are thrilled to showcase it early next year at the Lighthouse Complex, for the grand re-opening of the Hunting Island Lighthouse.

‘Up Here: The Hunting Island Lighthouse and its Lightkeepers’ Everything that the public loves

and

The Hunting Island Lighthouse should reopen sometime in 2025 after restoration and repair work is completed. The lighthouse has been closed since early 2022. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Kaufmann

about a lighthouse is exquisitely portrayed in “Up Here: The Hunting Island Lighthouse and its Lightkeepers.” This volume invites the reader on a journey of the mind and heart – one that entwines the past and present to tell a one-of-akind story sure to delight even the

most casual reader.

According to Bob Trapani, Jr., Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, “‘Up Here: The Hunting Island Lighthouse and its Lightkeepers’ is a grand story about the life-changing power of light, historic engineering genius that endures, the benevolent service of lightkeepers and their families and a sparkling natural environment teeming with precious wildlife.

“Authors Theodore Panayotoff and Linda Miller have crafted the Hunting Island story in masterful fashion, while the stunning imagery throughout the book lends its own sense of wonderment to the volume. From a beckoning lighthouse to faithful guardians and precious shorebirds to an island’s glistening sands of time, Up Here: The Hunting Island Lighthouse and its Lightkeepers is a musthave.”

Book purchases benefit the Friends of Hunting Island and support the organization’s work at Hunting Island, to include the current restoration of the 1875 Fresnel Lens.

In honor of National Lighthouse Day, the Friends of Hunting Island are offering their just-released book at a 15% discount to all citizens who love the Hunting Island Lighthouse. The discount will be in effect through Thursday, Aug. 8 The book, regularly $45, is available at https://bit.ly/4dlLITs.

Linda Miller is a longtime member and current President of the Friends of Hunting Island.

for trillions of their hard-earned assets. Find out why so many people trust our advisors to help them manage their wealth with the care it deserves. Call us today.

The City of Beaufort is seeking qualified contractors to submit bids for the construction of a new open-air events pavilion, a multipurpose court, stormwater management, and associated utilities. Washington Street Park is located at 1003 Washington Street, Beaufort, SC 29902.

The RFP and additional documents may be accessed on the City’s website under Bid Opportunities - www.cityofbeaufort. org or by contacting the Procurement Administrator at 843-525-7071 or by email to procurement@cityofbeaufort.org. Sealed Proposals must be submitted by email to procurement@cityofbeaufort. org.

Submittal Deadline: All bids must be received on or before September 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Bid Opening: A Public Bid Opening will be held in person at City Hall, promptly at 10:00, September 5, 2024. Pre-Bid Meeting: A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 AM, August 8, 2024. This project is being funded in whole or in part by the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). All federal CDBG requirements will apply to the contract. All contractors and subcontractors are required to be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM). Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246 & Order No. 11375 which prohibits discrimination in employment regarding race, creed, color, sex, or national origin. Bidders must comply with Title VI if the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and 40 CFR 33.240.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

Notice is hereby given that Masala Mantra Indian Bistro intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license and/or permit that will allow the sale and on premises consumption of beer and wine, at 1000 William Hilton Pkwy., Ste. A, Hilton Head SC 29928. To object to the issuance of this license and/ or permit, you must submit an ABL-20 protest form by August 15, 2024. Submit the ABL-20 online at MyDORWAY. dor.sc.gov, or email ABL@dor.sc.gov.

BCSO: Burton, St. Helena shootings under investigation

By Mike McCombs The Island News

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is investigating a pair of shootings that occurred

Tuesday night, July 23 and early Wednesday morning, July 24

The first incident happened Tuesday night in Burton.

According to the BCSO, at approximately 9:20 p.m., Beaufort County Emergency Dispatch were notified of shots fired in the area of County Shed Road and Jennings Road. While deputies were responding to the area,

they were advised victims suffering from gunshot wounds were arriving at Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH).

Since BMH is in the City of Beaufort, Beaufort Police officers were dispatched to BMH.

It was later learned that a vehicle traveling in the area near the intersection of County Shed Road and Jennings Road was shot multiple times by another unidentified vehicle.

Four occupants of the vehicle were injured, two critically, according to BCSO spokesperson Msgt.

Danny Allen. The critically injured victims were transported to Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. One residence was also struck, but no injuries were reported from within the home.

At press time, The BCSO did not have an update on the condition of the victims.

The Sheriff's Office is also investigating another shooting that occurred around 1:50 a.m., Wednesday. An occupied residence located on No Man Land Road on St. Helena Island was struck

multiple times by an unidentified shooter. No injuries were reported in this case.

It is unknown at this time if these shootings are related. If anyone has information on either shooting, please contact Investigator Jennifer Petrone at 843-2553440. They can also submit a tip online at BCSO.NET or through the non-emergency number at 843-524-2777

Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day

Paula Brown of – objected to the discussion, described as a “legal briefing,” in closed session. They were outnumbered.

Filing continues for city elections

BEAUFORT – Speaking of summer events, the 2024 fall school sessions are about to begin and if you’re too old for school, well, you could run for Beaufort City Council.

There are 15 days left to file for the two open council seats and the mayoral office which will be on the November ballot.

Councilmen Neil Lipsitz and Mitch Mitchell are up for re-election and have filed to run again for the non-partisan office. So have Josh Gibson, who lives in the Old Commons neighborhood and ran for council in 2022, and Julie Grenshaw, who lives on the Point.

Mayor Phil Cromer has also filed for re-election to a four-year term.

County Council continues trying to prove ‘transparency’

BEAUFORT – Beaufort County Council made an attempt at transparency last week when they issued a six-page statement reportedly based on findings in a 30-page audit report for which county taxpayers paid $350 000 Their attempt has raised more questions than it answered.

The Council has still declined to release the full document and now we know Sheriff P.J. Tanner and various news organizations –including The Island News -- has asked for the full document and been denied.

Indeed, former county Administrator Eric Greenway, who lost his job with the county a year ago, has asked to see the report, as well, and his attorney told reporters he had not been interviewed by the Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd team.

We still don’t know the results of the separate investigation into Greenway’s alleged misconduct in office by the state Attorney General’s office which was requested to take over the matter after Sheriff Tanner and 14th District Solicitor Duffie Stone passed the ball. Representatives from that office had repeatedly stated they’re unable to comment on ongoing investigations.

In the meantime, we do know a hearing before the state Ethics Commission is scheduled this fall for former County Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Loper on five counts of misusing her office.

and emergency evacuations.

(FYI: the Beaufort County government website – beaufortcountyscgov.salestaxreferendum

– has a lot of information about the proposed sales tax including a FAQ section that answers a lot of questions.

If the elected officials, especially those on County Council, are hoping voters will trust them enough to endorse this newest transportation improvement plan, they’re gonna have to work for it. Getting rid of some of the former administrative team may have been a first step. Hiring a new administrator is another.

But as Dean Moss, chairman of the citizens task force that put the improvement plan together, told a group last week, the issue facing voters is not about that extra sales tax since local shoppers were already paying a one percent sales tax for the county’s green space program which will expire in December 2024. It’s about leadership.

Let’s talk some more about litter

BEAUFORT – Speaking of leadership, the goal of a cleaner, less littered roadside is being advanced by groups and private individuals sick and tired of garbage messing up the landscape.

Interesting, because these are some of the items Keep Beaufort County Beautiful are hoping the county leaders, and municipal ones as well, will help restrict. The county’s single-ply plastic bag ban has been in place since 2018 but KBCB would like that ban extended to the heavier plastic bags as well as plastic cutlery you get in take-out meals as well as Styrofoam take-out trays.

KBCB members realize they have their work cut out for them, in terms of education. While some businesses are already moving in that recyclable direction, elected officials have said publicly the problem lies more in educating the public to the negatives of littering. And the necessity for enforcing existing littering laws.

Beaufort county certainly isn’t the only local tackling the issues of litter and importance of recycling and it’s certainly been discussed at length over the years. The county has a recycling division which helps organize programs like Adopt-a-Highway cleanups and beach and river cleanups. Officials don’t have to reinvent the proverbial wheel when it comes to amended ordinances. The issue now is just getting this particular wheel to roll.

much-needed additional judge for the five-county district, was created two years ago but funding for the position went into the budget this year.

The county’s Master-in-Equity, which carries a six-year term, will be appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster.

Camp Jubilee gets green light for variance BEAUFORT – In the last Lowdown report, the activities of the county’s zoning board of appeals were highlighted.

The seven-member citizens panel was in the spotlight, for some, last week when they granted a zoning variance to the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina for Camp Jubilee a new summer camp/retreat center on Lady’s Island.

The 42-acre property project on Brickyard Point Road was delayed at the June meeting after board members questioned some of the details for the 26 building complex which will come with four docks on Broomfield Creek. While some neighbors expressed concerns about the plans for the currently wooded area, the board unanimously agreed with most citizens who crowded the meeting. They granted the needed variance.

The statement basically directed the new county administrator Michael Moore to tighten up the county procurement process especially the Purchase-card system that the report, by the Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd law firm, highlighted in their findings given to the Council in March. Last week’s statement came after a special called meeting, the majority of it held behind closed doors. Three council members –Tom Reitz of Hilton Head, David Batholomew of Lady’s Island and

Greenway, former Assistant Deputy Administrator Whitney Richland and former county Capital Projects Coordinator Eric Larson are also under investigation for ethics violations. All four are no longer on the county payroll.

Also, what we do know is that the county leaders, as well as the municipal ones, are counting on voters to support a one percent sales tax referendum in November which is designed to raise $950 million for a number of highway projects as well as bike paths, sidewalks and more open space.

One group, organized by the Coastal Conservation League and the Port Royal Sound Foundation, tackled a small stretch from the county office building at the corner of Ribaut and Boundary, down to the First S.C. Volunteers Park, former site of Wendy’s.

And their collections, after an hour, were interesting. The number of liquor mini-bottles and beer cans clustered around the county parking lot, raised questions. So did the number of plastic bags and Styrofoam cups that littered the short stretch.

Dukes becomes District’s 3rd Circuit Court Judge

BEAUFORT – The 14th Judicial District has a new Circuit Court judge seat and it belongs to the county’s Master-in-Equity.

Marvin Dukes III who has served as Master-in-Equity and a special Circuit Court Judge for the past 17 years was sworn into office earlier this month.

Dukes became the 14th District’s third sitting Circuit Judge. He serves along with Judge Robert Banks of Walterboro and Judge Carmen Mullen of Hilton Head.

Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com. Lowdown

The sales tax also has provisions for expanded bus service

In the mix were at least five mylar ballons and one lost beach ball.

The seat, which provides a

The county planning staff, which had no objections to the plans, noted that, by right, the property could be developed to accommodate new 26 single-family homes on the rapidly changing island.

Attendees listen attentively as Marquetta Goodwine, aka Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head of State for the Gullah-Geechee Nation, speaks during the Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

‘Hamar Cup’ on public display at John Mark Verdier House

Historic 1748 cup and cap awarded to British Captain Hamar for protecting Beaufort, Port Royal from Spanish

Staff reports

After bringing the Hamar Cup to Beaufort, likely for the first time, the Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) is now making sure the people of Beaufort can get a first-hand glimpse of the historic artifact.

The 278-year-old “Hamar Cup,” presented to British Captain Joseph Hamar for protecting the early commerce centers of Beaufort and Port Royal Island before the Revolutionary War, is now being displayed in the John Mark Verdier House in downtown Beaufort.

The antique cup, now owned by Historic Beaufort Foundation through the generosity of members and special donors two years ago, is expected to become a major draw at the house museum.

How it got here

In January 2023, Historic Beaufort Foundation successfully bid on the historic silver cup and cap from 1748 presented by “the Gentlemen of Port Royal” to Captain Joseph Hamar, commander of His Majesty’s ship Adventure, for protective services around Beaufort and Port Royal.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have the Hamar Cup to share with the Lowcountry community and visitors from not only across the country but from around the world,” HBF Executive Director Cynthia Cole Jenkins said in a news release.

Sotheby’s experts said the 13 5inch silver cup and cap, sold by a

family on New York City’s upper east side through Sotheby’s auction house and created by Thomas Heming of London, “is among the earliest and most sophisticated examples of rococo silver which can be linked to the American Colonies.”

According to Jenkins in 2023, there was little knowledge of the Cup among historians.

“It’s been in private hands all these years,” Jenkins said at the time, indicating someone tipped her off about its existence.

HBF bid on the silver cup and cap, item No. 828 at the Jan. 23,

2023 auction – “George II Silver Presentation Cup and Cover of South Carolina Interest. Thomas Heming, London, dated 1748” -- in partnership with a number of donors who contributed to a special fund for the purchase.

Though its estimated sale price, according to Sotheby’s, was $15 000 to $25 000, the cup and cap sold for $56 700

A good problem to have

While the Foundation obtained the silver cup more than a year ago, it took months to decide how to display it and how to upgrade

security for the cup and the Verdier House to protect the piece, Jenkins said.

“It is so fitting that this historic silver cup has found a home in Beaufort. Our research shows this may be the first time the cup has actually been in the Lowcountry since it was created and presented to Captain Hamar in London all those years ago,” she said.

Why was the Cup made?

In the first half of the 18th century, the stability and economic benefits brought by Royal Navy ships helped establish Beaufort and Port Royal Island as centers for commercial shipping and were recognized by the local “gentlemen” with the silver cup gift to the British captain of the Adventure.

Capt. Hamar and the crew of the Adventure helped close seven years of fighting for control of the region south of Charleston. With the conclusion of the fighting -- commonly referred to as King George’s War, the Seven Years War or the War for Jenkins Ear -the Port Royal region finally was safe for commercial investment by the local settlers.

Colonists from South Carolina commissioned the silver cup less than 40 years before the American Revolution. Thomas Heming later became Principal Goldsmith to King George III in 1760

Capt. Hamar left the Adventure in 1749 and served briefly as captain of the 60-gun Eagle in 1755 He retired from British service in

1758 and died in 1773, just before the American Revolution.

Two streets within Beaufort’s National Historic Landmark district, Hamar and Adventure streets, were named in honor of the 1748 heroics, and Capt. Hamar was gifted two lots on the street of his name.

The inscription on the silver cup reads:

The Gentlemen of Port Royal So: Carolina

Present this Plate to Captn: Hamar

Comdr: of his Majts Ship Adventure. in

Gratefull Acknowledgment of his Services

Done to this Port in ye Year 1748

Want to see the Cup?

HBF members and officer got a first-hand glimpse of the Hamar Cup at the April 2023 meeting. Now the public can do the same.

Admission to the John Mark Verdier House is $10 per person, but children and military personnel can enter for free.

The Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, South Carolina.

For more information on the entity's mission and history, visit historicbeaufort.org and follow HBF on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

The 1748 silver cup and cap awarded in gratitude to British Capt. Joseph Hamar for protecting Port Royal and Beaufort, as it is displayed at the John Mark Verdier House in downtown Beaufort. Photo courtesy of the Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Boar’s Head expands recall of meat, poultry products due to listeria

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., a Jarratt, Va., establishment, is expanding its July 26 2024, recall of deli meat products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday, July 30

The establishment is recalling approximately 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. Whole genome

sequencing results show that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes.

This expansion includes 71 products produced between May 10, 2024, and July 29 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. These items include meat intended for slicing at retail delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold at

retail locations. These products have “sell by” dates ranging from 29-JUL-2024 through 17-OCT-24

The full product list is available at https://bit. ly/4d6olOa. The product labels can be viewed at https://bit.ly/46qJIHg.

The products subject to recall were distributed to retail locations nationwide and some were exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. The products shipped to retailers bear establishment

number “EST. 12612” or “P12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store

for testing as part of an outbreak investigation of L. monocytogenes infections. Further testing determined the product sample tested positive for the outbreak strain. Anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate the multistate outbreak of L. monocytogenes infections linked to meats sliced at delis. As of

July 30, 2024, 34 sick people have been identified in 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Samples were collected from sick people from May 29, 2024, to July 12 2024

The investigation is ongoing, and FSIS continues to work with the CDC and state partners. The CDC Food Safety Alert at https://bit. ly/4ceJmVG will continue to be updated with the latest investigation details. For more from the USDA’s FSIS, go to https://bit.ly/46okfhP.

BCSO again earns CALEA accreditation

Staff reports

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received its fifth Law Enforcement Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) on July 27, 2024 CALEA Accreditation provides evidence of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office commitment to professional excellence in leadership, transparency, services, performance, and community trust and engagement.

Plans

from page A1

In the latter part of June 2024, Safe Harbor revealed to the Town of Port Royal that it hoped to enter into a sales contract with reputable, Beaufort-based developer who would develop the “Bluff Neighborhood” and the “Ribaut Village” properties.

The ‘Bluff Neighborhood’ and ‘Ribaut Village’

The “Bluff Neighborhood” and the “Ribaut Village” properties are wooded, heavily vegetated parcels generally located behind a high bluff just South of Ribaut Road as that road descends from the Russell Bell Bridge and passes through Port Royal.

The process of CALEA Accreditation begins with a rigorous self-assessment, requiring a review of policies, practices, and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. This is followed with an assessment by independent assessors with significant public safety experience.

ment (PUD) permits. Previously, the Beach Company was identified by Safe Harbor as the likely buyer/builder; and its spokesman indicated that Beach could only develop the residential communities as “build to rent,” citing environmental and economic problems related to the site. However, it appears that the current unknown buyer/builder doesn’t have those concerns.

The Spanish Moss Trail Safe Harbor previously assured the Town of Port Royal that “the Developer” would honor the proposed extension of the Spanish Moss Trail through the two properties. In fact, the Fish Camp on 11th Street restaurant built a small segment of the bike trail in its parking lot.

This wooded property would be the proposed home of the "Bluff Neighborhood” area in the Port of Port Royal development, which reportedly soon be sold to an as-of-yet unnamed local developer. Scott Graber/The Island News

These two parcels have always been deemed more suitable for residential development; for homes, rather than industrial activities, or commercial structures supportive of marina activities.

The sales price is unknown, however, a single appraiser was apparently agreed upon by Safe Harbor and the unknown buyer according to Town of Port Royal Mayor Kevin Phillips. According to Phillips, the unknown buyer-developer has promised to build fewer units than the planned unit develop -

In his January 9, 2024 letter Peter Clark (at Safe Harbor) wrote to Town of Port Royal Town Manager Van Willis, saying, “While neither the PUD, nor the Development Agreement obligate the Developer to do so, Developer has agreed to provide an easement across a portion of the Property for the Spanish Moss Trail.”

In a previous, reimagined rendition of the “Bluff Neighborhood” the Spanish Moss Trail meandered down the middle of a street to be built behind the first row of waterfront, top of the bluff-oriented houses.

Additionally, public feedback is received to promote community trust and engagement. Structured interviews are conducted with select agency personnel and others with knowledge to assess the agency’s effectiveness and overall service delivery capacities.

The decision to accredit is rendered by a governing body of 21

In the past, Safe Harbor has assured the Town of Port Royal that “the Developer” would honor the proposed extension of the Spanish Moss Trail.” This photo shows a small segment of the bike trail constructed in the parking lot of the Fishcamp on 11th Street restaurant. Scott Graber/The Island News

Dean Moss, President of the Spanish Moss Trail Association, has a copy of this proposed, unexecuted easement and said the trail will be 24-feet wide as it comes across Ribaut Road, eventually connecting with an existing, short segment (of the Trail) that bisects the parking lot at the Fish Camp Restaurant.

Moss believes that The Trail will then transit a narrow, unimproved stretch of land (currently featuring several picnic tables) that would presumably contain a vehicular access road, the 24-foot wide bike trail, and, perhaps, a waterfront walking promenade that is described as extending through the “Marina Village” and the “Port Village” in the PUD document dated November 9, 2011

Moss says the bike trail will eventually veer to the East (after passing through the Fish Camp parking lot and the narrow choke-point below the parking lot) and then follow 8th Street in an easterly direction until it intersects with the park sometimes called the London Avenue Park.

If this is the bike trail’s eventual route, it would not pass around (or near) the site of the massive transit shed built by the Ports Authority (Pier 21) in 1958 — a structure has since been demolished by Safe Harbor.

It is further noted that the Town has put markings on

7th Street and on the Sands Beach Road indicating that this is how current bike riders should access the Sands Beach.

The waterfront walkway

The “deeded waterfront public walkway” described in sections 5 3 3 and 5 3 4 of the PUD was briefly referenced in a letter from Willis to Safe Harbor’s Carla Ferguson dated March 20 2024

In that letter, Willis wrote, “This is further noted that Sections 5 3 3 and 5 3 4 of the PUD (as amended pursuant to the July 14, 2021, amendment thereto) set forth certain open space requirements, including a

Since June 17, 2011, the Sheriff's Office Forensic Services Laboratory has been accredited in Forensic Chemistry (Controlled Substances) and Forensic Biology (DNA) by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the FBI Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories.

commissioners following a public hearing and review of reporting documentation. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in its law enforcement services since July 31 2010. The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, which handles 9-1-1 calls for the county, has been accredited by CALEA since November 5 2016

A vehicular access road, the 24-foot wide bike trail, and, perhaps, a waterfront walking promenade would reportedly extend through this property and then follow 8th Street in an easterly direction until it intersects with the park sometimes called the London Avenue Park. Scott Graber/The Island News

deeded walkway/promenade that extends through the MV and PV Planning Districts to connect the Town’s Sands Beach Area Access Boardwalk.”

The “Marina Village” and “Port Village” segments (on the previous Grey Ghost illustrations) do not actually show where the “waterfront walking promenade" will be located, but one assumes that the PUD, as amended, still mandates a “waterside walkway/promenade” giving the public access to Battery Creek as was called for in 2005

It has also been revealed that Safe Harbor is still awaiting its permit for the Marina, that permit coming from the State of South Carolina. Notwithstanding the lack of progress, there is a feeling of optimism (at Town Hall) that something tangible will happen in the near future. However, when contacted by The Island News, officials with Safe Harbor declined to comment on details of the impending sale, the name of the “developer” of the Bluff Neighborhood and Ribaut Village properties, or the path of the pedestrian promenade below Fish Camp.

Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.

This wooded property would be the proposed home of the "Bluff Neighborhood” area in the Port of Port Royal development, which reportedly soon be sold to an as-of-yet unnamed local developer. Scott Graber/The Island News

ART

Budding Artist After-School Art Club

4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10 Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.

CALENDAR

Roots & Rivers Festival

2 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton. Presented by BlacQuity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black entrepreneurs, this Coastal Cowboy and Cowgirl-themed event will include live music, line dancing, mechanical bull riding, artisanal vendors, craft beer, food trucks, and new to the festival this year, a Kid Zone and VIP experiences. The festival is set to invigorate coastal Beaufort County by providing a bustling marketplace for small businesses, artisans, and Black entrepreneurs to showcase their products. The festival aims to support the local economy and foster community growth by offering a platform for these talented individuals, creating a positive and inclusive environment for all. The festival boasts a lively beer garden, line dancing, captivating live music performances by Deas Guyz, and more. Early Bird general admission tickets for the Roots and Rivers Festival are now available for $15. For those who prefer to purchase tickets at the gate, they will be priced at $20. A limited number of VIP experiences are also available for $125. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rootsandriversfestival.com.

Beaufort County Youth Conference

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, Technical College of The Lowcountry, 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort. Free for all Beaufort County middle and high school students. Interactive break-out sessions, music, food, fun, door prizes, and T-shirts. Parent and adult wellness workshop. Register today at 843-812-4399 or 843-592-0013.

39th annual Kiwanis Club of Hilton Head Island Chili Cook Off & Jeep Island Noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island. Event raises funding for local youth charities. Chili cooks will face off to determine the best concoctions in Professional, Amateur, and People’s Choice categories. Winners will earn cash prize donations to the local youth charity of their choice. The Jeep Island expo is a stunning array of Jeeps from around the nation – a must-see for any Jeep enthusiast. Local favorites RetroRoxx, Hilton Head Island’s explosive ‘80s party cover band, will be performing live! To sign up online to cook, sponsor, and buy tickets, go to https://hiltonheadkiwanis.com/chilicook-off. For more information, email the Hilton Head Kiwanis Club at hiltonheadislandkiwanis@gmail.com.

Karaoke with Melissa

8 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Karaoke with Melissa

7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Trivia with Tom – Fat Patties

7:30 p.m., Every Wednesday, Fat Patties, 831 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.

Trivia with Tom –

Bricks On Boundary

7 p.m., Every Thursday, Bricks on Boundary, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash and Beer Bucket prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

7 p.m., Thursdays, Amvets Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free. Public is welcome. Enjoy Karaoke. Dinner will be available.

Karaoke at Willie’s

8 p.m., Thursdays, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. Come and showcase your singing talents or just enjoy the performances. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Bluffton Night Bazaar –a Lowcountry Made Market

5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.

Habersham Farmers Market

3 to 6 p.m., Fridays, Habersham Marketplace. Vendor roster includes B&E Farm, Cottonwood Soap, Flower Power Treats, Hardee Greens, Megs Sweet Treats, Vitamin Bee, Lady’s Island Oyster Company, Pet Wants.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9 p.m., Fridays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Lt. Dan.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Fridays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Parker.

Karaoke with Melissa 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Fridays, R Bar & Grill, 70 Pennington Dr, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Port Royal Farmers Market

9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. You will find fresh, local, seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http://www. portroyalfarmersmarket.com/, visit @ portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843-295-0058.

Slip and Splash Saturdays

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Battery Creek Pool, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort, and Bluffton Pool, 55 Pritchard Street, Bluffton. $5 per person. Stay busy for hours climbing on our inflatable challenge track.

Music Bingo with Mike –Bricks On Boundary

6 p.m., Every Saturday, Bricks on Boundary, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Play with a team or alone, win house cash! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

7 p.m., Saturdays, The Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd., Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Lt. Dan. Come early at 6 p.m. for Steak Night.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Saturdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Eric.

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

9 a.m. to noon, 1st Saturday each month, Port Royal Farmer’s Market, Corner of Ribaut Road & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal. Free. DAYLO Students and other volunteers will read to young children, who are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals.

Karaoke with Melissa

8 p.m. to 12 a.m., 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, Peaceful Henry’s Cigar Bar, 181 Bluffton Rd, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

DANCE

The Beaufort Shag Club

6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free lessons for members from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

We also host a dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Lessons will run September through May only. Visit our FaceBook page (beaufortshagclub) for current events.

GOLF

Stingray Scramble

9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, Ocean Creek Golf Course, Fripp Island. Team of 4, $650. Individual, $175. Benefits Riverview Charter School. Shotgun start. 4-man scramble. Registration 8 to 8:45 a.m. Registration includes golf, gift, lunch, awards. Register at https://bit.ly/4bUzWPh.

Boy Scouts of America

LowCountry Classic

11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 30, The Cat Island Club. Hosted by the Boy Scouts of America Lowcountry District. $150 per golfer or $500 for foursome. 9 a.m. registration; 1 p.m. lunch; 5 p.m. cocktails/awards. Each player hits from the tee; team selects tee shot they wish to play from; each player may then place their ball within one club length, no nearer the hole and in the same condition (rough, bunker, etc.), and play his/her own ball from that point until holed; 2 lowest net scores will count towards teams total. Each player shall receive 75% of their published handicap; maximum handicap is 24. Proceeds benefit Scouting programs in the Lowcountry District of the Coastal Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America. All the information for players and potential sponsors can be found at https://birdease.com/ BSACharityGolfEvent or contact Dave Soloman for more information at d.c.solomon@att.net.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15 a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point Park. Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.

BEMER Circulation Therapy

10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that

enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist -- Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

HISTORY

Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 713 Craven St, Beaufort. General Admission for Adults $8, Seniors $7, Active Duty Military and College Students with ID $5. Children/Teens younger than 18 Free. Explore and experience more than 500 years of Beaufort History with knowledgeable docent guided tours.

The Historic Port Royal Museum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.

Tour Historic Fort Fremont Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, self-guided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docent-led tours. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Credit Workshop

5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street. Free credit workshop presented by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Savannah. Learn how credit reports can impact your finances and how to improve your credit score. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458.

“Lego” With Lego 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. Come see our new and improved Lego Club. Choose one of our new Lego kits and get going. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.

Career Navigator

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application assistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-255-6458.

MEETINGS

Indivisible Beaufort meeting

11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort, 178 Sam’s Point Road, Lady’s Island. The documentary film “Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy” will be presented at the Saturday, Aug. 10 meeting of Indivisible Beaufort at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort at 178 Sam’s Point Road on Lady’s Island. “The current assault on democracy began with the White Supremacy Movement in the 1960’s as part of a shrewd, calculated, and well executed plan that became cloaked as a religious movement. Today those white supremacists and their heirs are known as Christian Nationalists.” The documentary “Bad Faith” is their story. The event is free and open to the public.

Zonta Club of Beaufort

6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.

Beaufort Rotary Club

Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.

The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group

8 a.m., first Thursday each month, Herban Marketplace, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building off-road/dirt/wilderness mountain biking/jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.

Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on

the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail. com or call or text Laurie at 252- 9177082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

Rotary Club of the Lowcountry 7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Sea Island Parkway, Lady’s Island. A light breakfast is provided before the program. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit our website at www.lowcountryrotary.org or contact our President, Bob Bible at reconmc@aol.com or 843-252-8535.

MUSIC

Deas Guyz 7 p.m., Fridays, Aug. 30, Sept. 27, Nov. 1, Nov. 29; Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Beaufort Drum Circle

3:30 to 5 p.m., Sunday, July 28, Gazeebo, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Join a growing group of drummers who meet on the Beaufort River and create beautiful communal rhythms while enjoying the beautiful vista and the pleasant breezes. Everyone is welcome. No experience necessary. You don't even have to drum. Come just listen and enjoy, dance, hula hoop or whatever. Please bring a chair. Extra drums are available for your use.

Habersham Third Fridays Music on Market 5 to 8 p.m., Habersham Marketplace.

OUTDOORS

The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk” takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.

Tours of Hunting Island

Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843-838-7437. The next Tuesday is August 1.

RUNNING

4th annual Move Your Mind 5K 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, Providence Presbyterian Church on the south end of Hilton Head Island. 5K run and 1M walk on the beach. Free parking and a free pancake breakfast. During breakfast, race awards will be given, and prizes for Brain Trivia will be won. Register today at https://bit.ly/4dbP0IS.

SEWING/QUILTING

American Needlepoint

Guild Meeting

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month. The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at hiltonheadislandchapter@needlepoint.org.

Embroidery Guild of

America Meeting Second Tuesday of every month, Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in any type of embroidery including needlepoint, crossstitch, surface and beaded embroidery, hardanger, bargello, sashiko, etc., to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.

SPORTS/GAMES

Inaugural Friends of Caroline Clay Shoot Friday, Oct. 4, Turkey Hill Plantation, Ridgeland. Details are being finalized. Presenting sponsorships available at $2,500 and $5,000. Station sponsors – up to 12 – start at $500. Sponsored 4-person teams $1,000. Contact Keriann for details or to reserve your spot at keriann@fochospice.org or 843-525-6257. Proceeds benefit Friends of Caroline Hospice.

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. United Methodist Church. Games and events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541

Beaufort Masters Swim Team

6 to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, Wardle Family Port Royal YMCA. Coached practices. Ages 18 & older, all skill & speed levels, no prior swim team experience needed. Visit lowcountryswimming.com for more information.

Scurvy is on the rise in the United States

Pediatric cases have tripled in five years, but adults are also affected

Scurvy was always known from history books as a disease pirates contracted in the 1800s from being on ships at sea for long periods of time away from fresh foods. Formerly a common and often lethal disease, it was once responsible for millions of maritime deaths several centuries ago. But the dreaded disease is now making a comeback and it is often misdiagnosed as other maladies.

What is Scurvy?

Scurvy is a nutritional disorder caused by the severe and prolonged deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The condition is a problem in countries around the world where people are malnourished, but it is becoming more prevalent in the United States as adults and children rely more on processed, canned, microwaved, prepackaged, readyto-eat and unhealthy foods. Between 2016 and 2020 the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons found an alarming trend that in just five years, the incidence of Scurvy in children more than tripled from 8 2 to 26 7 cases per 100 000 children. Not eating enough fruits and vegetables is the main cause of scurvy. As Americans rely more and more on an unhealthy diet, both young and old are more prone to scurvy.

Left untreated, scurvy can lead to bleeding gums, loosened teeth and bleeding under the skin. It

can also prevent wounds from healing, cause confusion, weakness, tiredness, changes in hair thickness and hair texture, bone pain, anemia, and sore arms and legs.

What can you eat to prevent scurvy?

To avoid getting scurvy, follow these guidelines: Get plenty of vitamin C in your diet. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is a great source of vitamin C. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, strawberries and pineapples are often the best sources of vitamin C.

Papaya, guava, kiwi, and cantaloupe, although not citrus fruits, are also great sources of vitamin C.

Vegetables that contain vitamin C include tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, red cabbage, cauliflower, white potatoes and red bell peppers, which have 1 5 times that Vitamin C than green bell peppers have.

Grilled chicken is a great source of vitamin C.

Vitamin C supplements should be considered after consulting with one’s physician. For children, 100-300 mg per day is often recommended; while 5001000 mg per day is often recommended for adults.

Eat healthy, well-balanced meals. Being malnourished also contributes to scurvy. Those on severe calorie

How to avoid common smartphone injuries care TALK ©

From smartphone pinky to text neck, no one is immune to these types of injuries.

“It doesn't take too long for your muscles, joints and ligaments to get stretched and put in a position where they get strained,” explained Dominic King, DO, sports medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic. “Even just mild use of your smartphone every single day can open up patients to some of these symptoms.”

Dr. King said people can develop smartphone pinky by constantly using it to steady their phone.

The weight of the device on your pinky can compress a nerve—causing numbness and tingling—or it can even leave a small indentation in the finger.

You can also experience something dubbed as text neck if you scroll for too long.

That’s when looking down at your phone begins

to strain your neck, potentially leading to muscle pain and spasms.

Dr. King said there are an array of additional injuries that can be linked to using smartphones and other technology as well. The key to avoiding them is remembering to take a break.

“Every 20 minutes, you should take 20 seconds to look at something that is 20 feet away,” Dr. King said. “What that does is it brings your eyes up to the

horizon, it brings your neck back, it brings your shoulders back and it gives you a little bit of a break from your technology.”

Dr. King also recommended using two hands to hold your phone and suggested looking into a grip that you can attach to the back of your device to help steady it in your hands.

Source: https://newsroom. clevelandclinic.org/2024/07/23/ avoiding-smartphone-relatedinjuries

restrictive diets; those on chemotherapy; and those who have an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia are at greater risk of the disease. Smoking should be avoided, as it reduces the amount of vitamin C the human body can absorb. Alcohol and drug dependency will also contribute to scurvy. Having a poor diet during a pregnancy or while breastfeeding will also contribute to scurvy. Consult a physician if you are eating for two. Other health conditions such as Type 1 Diabetes and Inflammatory Bowel Disease will also promote scurvy.

More than 64 percent of those diagnosed with scur-

vy had other similarities including the following: autism spectrum disorder and obesity. Many were from low-income households that did not have access to fresh foods and relied more heavily on pre-packed, canned, pre-made foods.

The AAOS study highlighted the need for pediatricians and care providers to be aware of the potential for scurvy diagnoses, especially in patients with risk factors presenting vague musculoskeletal symptoms, which mimic scurvy.

Scurvy symptoms are often similar to other rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions such as juvenile arthritis, bone tumors and septic arthritis. Many pediatricians in the developed world frequently fail to diagnose scurvy correctly, resulting in delayed treatment of this otherwise easy-to-treat disease.

Other Mealtime Tips to Boost Your Nutrition and Avoid Scurvy: No one is suggesting you eat a box of lemons to get a healthy dose of vitamin C and avoid Scurvy. But what doctors are recommending is a balanced diet full of fresh foods.

Breakfast ideas include: Sauteed spinach and other vegetables such as tomatoes and red bell peppers can be the perfect addition to egg omelets. Blueberries and strawberries are a delicious addition to yogurt or protein pancakes and waffles.

Filling drinks: Skip the Starbucks and indulge in something healthier. Smoothies can be made with fresh or frozen fruit and greens such as spinach or kale. Blend with unsweetened coconut water and you will often not even notice the veggie taste.

Lunch and dinner ideas: Grilled chicken with a side of veggies. Sauteed salmon with a side of broccoli. Lamb organ meats such as heart, kidney and liver are a good source of vitamin C also.

Despite being written off as an ancient disease that no longer affects the modern world, Scurvy is back and its symptoms often mimic other diseases. Doctors, parents and caregivers need to be vigilant to make sure children eat a nutritious diet, while also taking steps to ensure their own diets are healthy.

Initial Source: https://www. news-medical.net/news/20240719/ Scurvy-on-the-rise-in-the-UnitedStates-Pediatric-cases-triple-infive-years.aspx

Snacking: Keep fresh fruit and vegetables available to snack. Yogurt, hummus and salsa make delicious dips that are also nutritious. Grapes, bananas and berries make a great ‘on the go’ snacks. While grapes and bananas don’t have as much vitamin C as many other fruits, they are packed with nutrients and are always a healthier choice than cookies.

You injured a nail: Now what?

If you've ever slammed a door on your finger or broke a nail down too low, you know how badly an injured nail feels. But do you know how to treat one?

First, do what you can to prevent one.

"To prevent a nail injury, I tell my patients to keep their nails short, so they do not bend or catch on objects," said Dr. Shari Lipner, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

"Not only do short nails stay cleaner and break less often, they’re also good for your overall health because they are less likely to harbor dirt and bacteria, which can lead to an infection," she said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release.

If you do smash your nail, here are some suggestions on how to treat it.

1 Treat your wound. If any part of your nail is hanging off, gently trim or file away the part not connected to your skin. Clean the wound using soap and water. If the wound is bleeding, apply petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist, then cover with gauze or a bandage. Repeat these steps every day while your wound heals.

2 Do not put sticky products on your nail. Only apply sticky products, such as an adhesive bandage or medical tape, to the skin around the nail. Wrapping the wound with an elastic bandage is also a good option.

3 Get relief. Apply a cool, damp washcloth to the wound to reduce swelling.

Prop the arm or leg with an injured nail on pillows so the nail is higher than your heart. This helps reduce swelling. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain and reduce swelling when your nail injury is new.

4 Protect your nail while it heals. A nail injury can take several weeks to heal completely. Keeping a light dressing on the nail provides padding and protection.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, news release, July 25 2023, https://www.aad.org; https:// www.healthday.com/a-to-z-health/general-health/ ouch-you-injured-a-nail-tips-on-best-treatment

Hypertension poses serious risks for both mothers and babies during pregnancy and after birth

Hypertension during pregnancy can put mothers and babies at serious risk for life threatening problems before and after delivery

More widely known as high blood pressure, hypertension during pregnancy is on the rise.

Occurring in more than 7 percent of all pregnancies, hypertension can result in serious complications for both mothers and babies.

Hypertensive disorders experienced as a result of pregnancy includes both pregnancy-associated hypertension that begins during or after pregnancy. It also includes chronic hypertension that begins before pregnancy and can occur up to six weeks after the baby’s delivery.

The prevalence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy is increasing. In 2017, it increased 13 percent. In 2019, it increased 16 percent. About a third of mothers who died during hospital deliveries had a pregnancy hypertensive disorder documented prior to delivery.

Overall, doctors estimate that hypertension during pregnancy has increased 25 percent over the past 20 years, with the number of pregnant women diagnosed with chronic high blood pressure doubling since 2008. This can be attributed to many factors including women having children later in life after the age of 35, obesity, kidney disease, diabetes and not having access to medical care for various reasons.

In mothers, hypertensive disorder can cause heart attacks, strokes, seizures and coma which are among the leading causes of pregnancy related deaths in the United States.

In babies, hypertensive disorder can risk premature birth, death, low birth weight and admission to the neonatal intensive

care unit.

The study supports the recognition of maternal history of hypertension as a potential cause of early-onset hypertension in their children. “The long-term effects of hypertension in pregnancy were studied to quantify the risk of chronic hypertension that is passed on genetically to children," says Virginia Dines, M.D., a nephrologist.

The study found that babies exposed to hypertension in the womb had significant health challenges as adults including having a 50 percent increased risk of de-

veloping chronic hypertension later in life. Babies whose mothers had chronic hypertension before, during or after pregnancy had a 73 percent increased risk. While babies exposed to both factors had a 140 percent increased risk.

These findings found that the children of mothers with preeclampsia during pregnancy, a condition that can include high blood pressure, had an increased risk of stroke and other cardiometabolic disorders later in life. "Pediatricians should elicit this important history from the mothers of patients," says Vesna Garovic,

M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic nephrologist and senior author.

In addition, people born from hypertensive pregnancies may need more heart health monitoring and screening and should be provided timely medical advice about diet, exercise, and other lifestyle measures to reduce their risk.

To help combat the rise in pregnancy related hypertension, doctors recommend the following preventative measures: Get early medical care. Ideally, mothers should begin seeing a doctor when they are planning to become pregnant

rather than waiting to see a doctor until they are pregnant.

Once pregnant, keep regularly scheduled medical appointments.

Pregnant mothers should monitor their blood pressure at home. Report any changes to their doctor immediately. Maintain a healthy weight. Exercise and stay physically active.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Keep salt intake low. Avoid processed foods. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

Get adequate sleep. Many pregnant mothers need more than the recommended 8 hours and may benefit from up to 10 hours of sleep or more. Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, prayer or quiet time.

Pregnancy women should talk to their doctor about the benefits of taking a low-dose aspirin. As with all medication, it should not be taken my anyone without consulting with a doctor.

Although hypertension during pregnancy is a serious and growing problem, it can be managed by mothers if they consult their doctors and follow recommended guidelines.

This research was supported by MayoClinic.org, National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Source: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic. org/discussion/hypertension-in-pregnancyposes-measurable-risks-for-babies/

Why do you keep eating after you’re full?

A new study finds that a weak connection between two regions of the brain that help regulate food intake may lead to overeating and a higher body mass index.

Ever wonder why you reach for that last piece of pizza even though you're feeling full? Researchers

say a weak connection between two areas of the brain that help regulate food intake may be to blame. One region controls our sense of smell and reward, while the other involves behavioral responses to pain and threats.

In a new 2024 study, a review of MRI brain scans found that when the connection between these areas is weak, people tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI). While our sense of smell helps spark hunger, the researchers believe it may be the pain messages that alert you when eating

doesn't feel good anymore.

One author says, "If the brain circuits that help guide this behavior are disrupted, these signals may get confused, leading to food being rewarding even when you are full. If this happens, a person's BMI could increase."

Understanding how these processes work is an important first step in the development of treatments for overeating.

Source: https://www.healthday. com/healthday-tv/general-health/ why-you-keep-eating-after-yourefull-new-study-offers-insight

You have the right to know what’s happening in your community.

Public notices – information local governments are obligated to provide citizens – are required to be published in local newspapers to provide a public record that’s accessible to everyone.

Public notices keep you informed about your government. But, in some states legislators are trying to keep public notices from appearing in local newspapers. This severely impacts government transparency and, in turn, limits the public’s right to hold them accountable for their actions.

Let your state legislators know that you value being able to access notices in your newspaper and that they are worth the investment.

Beaufort’s Scheper wins 2 ATA national championships

Seabrook’s Johnson, Beaufort teen Green also win titles

Staff reports

Beaufort tennis pro Larry Scheper won two titles at the American Tennis Association’s (ATA) 107th National Championships at the USTA’s National Campus in Orlando, Florida last week.

Along with his partner, Louisiana-based Kenny Myers, Scheper, well known in Beaufort for being both a world-ranked player and

a coach, won the ATA National Adult Age Group Championships in 50-and-over Men’s Doubles and 60-and-over Men’s Doubles.

Other champions with local ties included Seabrook resident Denton Johnson, who won the 80-and-over Men’s Doubles crown, and Beaufort native Sarah Green, 14, who won in the 16-and under Women’s Doubles age bracket.

Scheper and Myers have played together since college. Both attended Grambling State University in Louisiana. Myers graduated in 1986. Scheper didn’t finish his coursework, opting instead to make tennis his full-time career.

“There was no 55 age category,” said Scheper, who will be 61 in November, “so we had to play against much younger men (in the 50-and-

over bracket). It’s all about mind set and mind control. You think you can and you will.”

One of the hardest challenges, said Scheper, was playing against his former college teammate, Lonnie White. White was a stronger player in college, and in an ongoing rivalry, they were well aware of each

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Beaufort tennis pro Larry Scheper, right, and his partner, Louisianabased Kenny Myers, won the ATA National Adult Age Group Championships in 50-and-over Men’s Doubles and 60-andover Men’s Doubles ATA’s 107th National Championships at the USTA’s National Campus in Orlando, Fla., last week. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Margulis

Beaufort County 13U takes

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

The Dixie Baseball World Series at Burton Wells Recreation Complex started with a storm that gave way to a flurry of baseball, and one of the local teams survived a frantic weekend before falling short of the championship. Mississippi and Louisiana were the last two teams standing in both the 14-and-under Dixie Boys and 13-and-under Junior Boys brackets. Both squads from Hattiesburg (Miss.) remained undefeated going into Tuesday’s night’s championship games against teams from Jefferson Parish (La.), with the challengers from Louisiana needing to win Tuesday to force winner-take-all re-

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Beaufort County 14U first baseman Denver Jones tags Hattiesburg, Mississippi’s Devin Wilkins out Saturday, July 27, at the Dixie Boys World Series at Burton Wells Recreation Complex. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Hayes

ber of game officials used by the League’s member schools, and she will be an asset to this committee.” Hayes was at Battery Creek for almost 10 years. Athletic Director until leaving for the SCHSL in January 2023, Hayes was the Head Girls Basketball

Beaufort County 13U head coach Alex Hunt encourages pitcher Marion Simmons (center) and second baseman Hogan Wareham after Simmons worked a scoreless inning during Monday’s game against Lumberton (N.C.) at the Dixie Junior Boys World Series at Burton Wells Recreation Complex. Simmons took a shutout into the sixth, but the North Carolina team rallied for a 4-0 win. Justin Jarrett/LowcoSports

EDUCATION & SPORTS

BCSD’s Back-to-School Expo packs in students

Staff reports

The Beaufort County School District teamed up with government agencies and private-sector business partners on Saturday, July 27 at Battery Creek High School to hold its “Back-to-School Expo” designed to give students and their families a free day of fun, door prizes, and valuable information about the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

“We are excited to once again kick-off the upcoming school year with this annual event that enables families to gather a lot of practical and helpful information,” Student Services Officer Juliet White, Ph.D., said before the event “District schools are pitching in, district employees are volunteering on a Saturday, and we’re glad to have participation from our business partners, civic groups, and faithbased groups.”

Students and their families who attended experienced:

• Booths operated by district schools that can supply information about school activities. Door prizes from local restaurants and businesses.

Free school supplies for students.

Free dental and health services provided by Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). District Food Services will be available to answer questions

about the free and reduced lunch application process, and the district’s food vendor will be present. The district’s travelling preschool bus will be on site, and staff will share information with parents.

Jeffcoat Firm donates school supplies to St. Helena Elementary

Staff reports

More than 70 backpacks loaded with essential elementary school supplies were delivered last week to the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center by Kim Jeffcoat, Chief Community Officer of The Jeffcoat Firm.

The donation was part of the ongoing school supplies drive in support of the students and teachers of St. Helena Elementary School, a Title 1 school, organized by the Conroy Center, DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization), and the Storybook Shoppe children’s bookstore. Kim Jeffcoat was joined by Jeffcoat Firm director of operations Brie White and Beaufort-based Jeffcoat Firm attorney Daniel Sevcik and his family. They met with St. Helena Elementary School’s new principal Constance Goodwine-Lewis, Conroy Center executive director and DAYLO men-

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other’s weaknesses and strengths.

“It all came down to who had the stronger mind in the heat,” Scheper said.

During their match temperatures on the court were above 100 degrees.

But it was the finals of the 50-and-older that was the most difficult. Scheper taught a juniors’ clinic that morning and had played one match already. During the finals he experienced severe leg cramps caused by dehydration and the extreme heat.

A trainer was called and Scheper was told if the problem didn’t resolve in ten minutes, he would have to forfeit the match.

“I told the trainer to go back and I walked it off. I drank a lot of liquids,” Scheper said. “I had a great

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matches Wednesday. After evening thunderstorms disrupted the first round of games Friday night, Saturday and Sunday became a marathon of elimination games, and Beau-

tor Jonathan Haupt, fellow DAYLO mentor and Beaufort Academy media center coordinator Claire Bennett, and current and former DAY-

partner who never gave up on me. He talked me through it and we changed our strategy since I couldn’t run. I’m normally a rabbit but I got into a snail’s pace.” Scheper had to serve underhanded because his legs and arms were in so much pain. Myers dominated at the net and kept Scheper motivated and in a positive frame of mind.

“He did most of the running for us in that match. I placed the ball in the right spot and Kenny ended the points. He got everything back. I just stayed smooth. I set him up every time so he could win the point.”

They won the finals by 6-2 6-2 despite Scheper’s cramps.

“It was awesome,” said Leone di Properzio, 14, who watched the game. Di Properzio is one of Scheper’s students, earned Most Valuable Player at Beaufort Academy in 2023, and also competed in the tournament. “He’s always the best wherever he goes. He’s the most

fort County’s 14-and-under all-stars dropped their first two games to make an early exit with a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to Tri-County (S.C.). The Tri-County all-stars from Hampton, Bamberg, and Barnwell counties rallied from a 5-1 deficit and sealed the win with a strikeout to strand the tying run at third. Beaufort County’s

LO students Becca Bennett (Beaufort Academy), Jasmine Rivers (Beaufort High School), and Mickie Thompson (USC Beaufort).

amazing tennis player I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

The ATA was founded in 1916 in response to the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) exclusion of black players from its events. It is the oldest Black sports organization in the United States.

The ATA National Championships, which began in 1917 with three events, is an annual historic tournament that brings hundreds of players of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities to compete on a national stage. The tournaments were held from July 21 to July 28, drawing players from all over the world, including Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Scheper, who is currently ranked in the top 10 percent in the world for tennis players 60 and older, has now won 18 ATA national championships since 2012 “I’d love to do more tournaments and travel internationally,” Scheper says. “But I need sponsors.”

13-and-under all-stars dropped their opener 13-2 to Livingston (Texas) on Saturday morning but bounced back a day later, as stellar pitching performances and timely hitting carried the host team to a 7-2 win over Decatur County (Tenn.) and a 6-2 triumph over Spring Hill (Fla.) to advance to Monday.

Each colorful backpack contains a notebook, child scissors, crayons, pencils and a sharpener, a glue stick, folders, and a supplies pouch — all to help equip students for a successful and enthusiastic beginning to their new school year.

The Conroy Center, DAYLO, and the Storybook Shoppe have been collecting a wide range of donated school supplies throughout July to be given to the students and teachers of St. Helena Elementary in early August. The inspiring generosity of local donors has also filled several large bins with vital supplies for educators and their students.

The source of the school supplies drive’s large donation, The Jeffcoat Firm is a

personal injury and car accident law firm serving clients in North and South Carolina with offices in Columbia, Lexington, Blythewood, and Orangeburg. The Jeffcoat Firm is community focused, and, through their Project Backpack initiative, the Jeffcoat team is now distributing 1,000 backpacks for students ages Pre-K through 8th grade in Richland, Lexington, Calhoun, Newberry, Beaufort, Charleston, and Orangeburg counties.

The Conroy Center, DAYLO, the Storybook Shoppe, and St. Helena Elementary School are grateful to Kim Jeffcoat and The Jeffcoat Firm for selecting St. Helena Elementary as the recipient of their Project Backpack donation for Beaufort County.

Zack Szypczak, Marion Simmons, and Russell Cooler combined to stymie Tennessee in the first elimination game, and the lineup gave them plenty of support in a four-run second inning. Simmons was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Colt Spargur had two hits and scored twice, while Rawles Moore drove in two runs and Stephen Mader

had an RBI single. Beaufort County had to win a second time Sunday to stay alive, and Noah Sepulveda delivered a strong effort on the mound with seven strikeouts across 4⅔ innings before Moore finished it off by retiring all seven batters he faced. Szypczak and Simmons each had two hits at the top of the order.

It looked as if the local squad might be among the final four teams standing Tuesday when Simmons took a shutout into the sixth against Lumberton (N.C.), but Beaufort County

From left, 14-year-old Sarah Green, tennis pro Larry Scheper, and 14-year-old Beaufort Academy player Leone di Properzio, represented Beaufort last week at the ATA National Championships last week at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Margulis

Members of the Jeffcoat Firm delivered more than 70 backpacks loaded with school supplies to be delivered

the students at St. Helena Elementary School as part of a back-to-school drive led by the nonprofit Pt Conroy Literary Center, the Storybook Shoppe and the members and mentors of DAYLO. Submitted photo

The Watkins family selected back to school items offered by CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association) during the Beaufort County Back to School Expo held at Battery Creek High School on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

The Battery Creek High School Gymnasium was packed with families for the Beaufort County Back to School Expo on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

FAITH

Focus on the invisible not the impossible

Stop for a moment and closely observe this trial you’ve been going through. When you are wounded and perplexed, it seems all you can think about is the pain, but within this raging battle ask yourself (and be honest) if you’re focusing more on the circumstance than on God who has all the answers. Ask and allow Him to heal your heart.

This situation will not last forever and after a period of suffering the time will come to crawl back to your knees, stand up, dust yourself off, and try to glean wisdom from what has happened so that you will be stronger and wiser next time. Yes, there will be a next time because life is a constant classroom filled with learning opportunities. This is how God develops us to help others in their times of disappointment, and frustration.

Often the evidence that we have come to the end

of ourselves is when tears begin to fall. Weeping is a built-in pain release mechanism where God can embrace and comfort us. It’s perfectly alright to cry, as tears help cleanse the soul and bring healing. He sees every tear even in the darkest night and considers them priceless treasures within our relationship with Him.

Tears are more than alright, they are essential to maintaining a constant awareness of His presence. Crying is a result of deep emotions that God created within us and is frequently linked to surrendering our will and giving our bur-

Samuel Cannon

Okatie – Samuel “Sam” Cannon, 92, of Spring Island, Okatie, S.C., felt at home in both an executive boardroom and wading on a bonefish flat.

He was born Feb. 8 1932 in Danville, Ill. to John William Cannon and Elizabeth (née Phillips) Cannon. His love of the outdoors began early in his childhood; boating, bird hunting, games and fly fishing became his favorite pastimes. He was also introduced to golf by frequently serving as his father’s caddy and later playing whenever he could for the rest of his life.

At Danville High School, he was on the swim team and the freshman debate team, a team that bested the school’s varsity debaters. He majored in business at Northwestern University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity; he later attended the Kellogg Business School for additional graduate training. While in college, Sam joined the inaugural special Marine officer training program to recruit college students to the service. He went to basic training at Parris Island, S.C., then was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and completed his service at Quantico, Va. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant and returned to Danville to join his father at the family insurance business Cannon and Cochran. When his father retired, Sam

dens and sorrows over to Him. Our will is our most precious possession and is exactly what Jesus has always wanted from us. Those who give Him their will, are allowing Him to control them which is what Christ being our Lord is all about.

If you are an emotional and soft-hearted person, God has blessed you. Consider this spiritual sensitivity as a gift from heaven. David said in Psalm 56:8 that God collects our tears and never forgets them.

If you cry often you are in good company as we read throughout the Bible that David, Sampson, and Job wept. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because of his deep grief for sin. In Lamentations 2:10, he writes, “I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken.”

Nehemiah wept for Jerusalem, and mourned, fasted, and prayed before God. Hannah cried while praying to the Lord, and

became the CEO of the business and built it into an even more successful company. In 1978 he founded Cannon-Cochran Management Services (CCMSI), which grew into a multistate, independent third-party administrator. A true innovator, Sam established it as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. He credited the organization’s success to the excellence that comes from employees having a vested interest in providing the highest quality services to their clients.

When his two children, Steve and Anne, were grown, Sam met the love of his life, Jacqueline “Jacque” Kaler, when she joined the firm. They were married May 25 1985. Sam, Jacque, and all the great people at CCMSI

When walking through difficulty, we often wait and see what God is going to do, but maybe in this particular trial, God is waiting to see what you are going to do. ”

Joseph wept when he faced his brothers. Mordecai cried bitterly for his nation and Jacob cried when he was happy, sad, or saw beautiful things. Paul and Peter shed tears and even Jesus wept. The list goes on. Weeping can be a place of humility as we realize that God is our only hope. A secret place of trust and love that brings us joy and peace.

Arrogance doesn’t want us to be vulnerable or cry, as Proverbs 16:18 says that pride goes before a fall. When the proud weep over their sins, they learn what it means to know God. In finding the end of our own strength and intellect, we discover the beginning of freedom in His love. Your trial did not catch Him by

company as a national leader by providing their growing client base with the most innovative services available. When Sam and Jacque weren’t working, they loved to travel, exploring several continents and dozens of countries, with Africa, the British Isles, France, Italy and Greece among their shared favorites.

Sam was an industry leader and served on the board of the Self Insurance Institute of America (SIIA) for a number of years and chaired the board for a period of time. He also served on the Board of Directors of Palmer Bank, Danville’s Lakeview Hospital and First Savings and Loan Association of Danville. He was active in the United Way and later, with Jacque, in the Abaco Friends of the Environment group.

Sam and Jacque loved new experiences and places, settling at various times in the desert of California, mountains of Lake Tahoe and the coast of Florida and South Carolina. Throughout much of his life, Sam enjoyed bird hunting with his German Shorthaired Pointers. He introduced Jacque to the sport by having her wear the blaze vest that stored the day’s game, then teaching her to become a skilled markswoman herself.

Two of Sam’s passions were saltwater fly fishing and boating. Sam and Jacque took an annual fishing trip to Canada and fished in Alaska several times. They cruised the Florida Keys, the

surprise and in His compassion He waits for you to forgive. He uses our broken and contrite heart, to bring humility and maturity in a way that nothing else can. When walking through difficulty, we often wait and see what God is going to do, but maybe in this particular trial, God is waiting to see what you are going to do. “In this, you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed,” I Peter 1:6-7

I wear a T-shirt that says, “I do not believe what I see

OBITUARIES The Island News will publish obituaries up to 300 words for no charge. This service also includes a photograph. The Island News will have a charge of .25¢ per word of obituaries beyond 300 words. Please contact jeff. theislandnews@gmail.com

Bahamas and the Caribbean on their long-range Nordhavn boat, Andromeda, for three years before settling for a dozen years in a home overlooking the ocean on the island of Abaco.

The couple enjoyed cooking and fine dining, even starting a successful restaurant, the Gila Bar and Grill, in Palm Desert, Calif, with daughter Anne Cannon. That was Sam’s second restaurant, as he and a business partner had owned a restaurant in Danville years earlier.

In their most recent adventure, Sam and Jacque built a home on Spring Island, S.C., a nature conservancy where they spent many joy-filled hours perfecting their oil painting skills, shooting targets at the clay range and enjoying good food, occasional chocolates and, most of all, each other’s company.

The day Sam passed Jacque, Anne and Steve were by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William “Bill” Cannon. He is survived by his beloved Jacque; his son, Steve (Lisa) Cannon, Tenn.; his

– I see what I believe.” This was a favorite quote from Josh Christmas and I’ve had several people ask what it means. It’s simply saying the world’s voice is not the final answer. God wants us to trust Him even when we cannot see, and to know that His truth is the last word. Trust it, believe it, speak it! Replace your discouragement with His confidence. So, let the prayers and tears keep coming. Whatever trials may come, we will stand strong with God in faith and resist entertaining fear, despair, and doubt.

Billy Holland is an ordained minister, certified chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

daughter, Anne (Chuck Miller) Cannon, Nev.; his grandson, Joshua Cannon, Calif.; brotherin-law, Chris (Robin) Kaler, Ill.; nieces, Zoë Kaler, Ill.; and Emily Kaler, Colo.; sister-in-law, Kathy Kaler, Ill.; brother-in-law, Patrick Kaler, N.Y.; brother Bill’s wife, Debra Cannon, Ill.; niece Alicia (Timothy) Mullen, Fla.; nephew John (Rebecca) Cannon, Maine; niece Elizabeth (Don) Shirley, Fla.; nephew William Cannon, Fla. And many grand nieces and nephews. Sam was a great dad, husband, grandpa, uncle and friend. Sam’s friends and extended family describe him as gracious, positive, engaging, interested in people, generous, kind, witty, fun and easy to be with. They say he was a savvy businessman who seemed capable of “looking around the corner” of problems to identify solutions that others couldn’t see. He was an everyman, a servant leader who contributed his vast knowledge and many talents to make a positive impact on everyone he met.

To celebrate and remember Sam’s amazing life, the family will have a private family memorial, and then Jacque will visit their cherished friends and family who live all across the country. Memorial contributions may be made to Bonefish and Tarpon Trust https://www. bonefishtarpontrust.org/donate/. Anderson Funeral Home, Beaufort, SC https://www. andersonfhsc.com/

BILLY HOLLAND

LWV, ACLU file suit over 1st District gerrymandering

Groups argue GOP-drawn district lines unconstitutional

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — A voter advocacy group is asking the state Supreme Court to rule on whether South Carolina’s redrawn congressional maps violate the state constitution.

The U.S. Supreme Court in May issued a 6-3 ruling tossing out an earlier case brought by South Carolina chapters of the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Taiwan Scott, a Black Hilton Head Island resident who lives in the 1st District. That case argued state legislators drew the coastal 1st District, held by Republican Nancy Mace, in a way that discriminates against Black voters.

The GOP-controlled Legislature pushed back, testifying it was politics — not race — that influenced how the lines were redrawn following the 2020 Census. The nation’s high court sided with legislators, reversing a lower court ruling.

Now, the South Carolina League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union hope to use legislative leaders’ admitted partisanship against them in state court where voting protections are broader.

In a petition filed Monday asking the state Supreme Court to take up the question directly, the groups argued the redrawn map signed into law in January 2022 violates the state constitution’s guarantees of “free and open” elections and an “equal right to elect officers.” The lawsuit also argues the redrawn district lines violate voters’ rights to equal protection under law, their rights to be free from viewpoint discrimination and the South Carolina Constitution’s commitment to respecting

county boundaries during redistricting.

It’s about not only equal access to the ballot box but ensuring that all ballots cast hold equal weight, said Lynn Teague of the League of Women Voters.

“That doesn’t happen when you have gerrymandering,” she said.

“You need to have meaningful representation of the population that’s there.”

House Speaker Murrell Smith called the latest lawsuit “as baseless as other challenges to these lines have been.

“This new lawsuit is another attempt by special interests to accomplish through the courts what they cannot achieve at the ballot box — disregarding representative government,” said the Sumter Republican. He and Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, are the two legislative leaders directly named in the lawsuit.

South Carolina’s 1st District has

long been reliable for Republicans. However, a population explosion on the coast turned it more purple. In 2018, Democrat Joe Cunningham flipped the seat to blue for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Two years later, Mace ousted him by 1 percentage point, flipping the seat back to Republican control. After the post-census redrawing of lines, Mace easily won in 2022 against Democrat Annie Andrews.

Teague said gerrymandering also impacts how people think about elections. She said the League too often hears residents ask why they should bother voting and referring to the system as “rigged.”

“People should not feel like that,” Teague said.

The ACLU of South Carolina called the redrawn maps an “intentional distortion of democracy.”

“Partisan gerrymandering is cheating, plain and simple,” said

the organization’s legal director, Allen Chaney. “South Carolina voters deserve to vote with their neighbors, and to have their votes carry the same weight. This case is about restoring representative democracy in South Carolina.”

In the racial gerrymandering case, a panel of three federal judges pointed to 30 000 Black Charleston County residents who lawmakers moved into the 6th District — represented by Jim Clyburn, South Carolina’s only Democrat in Congress — in an effort to make the seat a safer bet for Republicans. The new lines swept in Republican strongholds in Beaufort and Berkeley counties while cutting out some Charleston suburbs and the entire downtown peninsula.

The ACLU, in its statement Monday, highlighted testimony from that case: “[M]y primary goal was to draw a Republican district while honoring redistricting prin-

ciples as best as I could,” said Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms.

And after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told reporters the district was still politically competitive even after lines were moved for political reasons.

“I said it would have been political malpractice for us to sacrifice the 1st (District),” the Edgefield Republican said in May. “We were not going to pass a plan that sacrificed the First, but that was all about political calculations. And that was the case because those were the rules the Supreme Court set out.”

Theresa Lee, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said that’s admission “that their congressional plan stacks the deck.

“This is not how democracy works,” she said.

The ACLU also pointed to court rulings in other states with similar constitutional language — including Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico — that said partisan gerrymandering violates voters’ rights.

Teague, whose organization has advocated for equitable and representative redistricting, recognizes that the lawsuit is unlikely to influence the November 2024 elections. But she hopes the state’s highest court will take up the matter and set standards for future redistricting.

Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

SC spending $2.5M to help families pay for child care

As federal COVID relief dollars expire, state spending not enough to cover lost funding

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA – Fewer families in South Carolina will receive help covering the cost of child care as federal COVID-19 aid dries up and the state replaces just a quarter of that lost funding. For about three years, amid the global coronavirus pandemic, the federal government raised income limits, making more parents eligible for federal dollars to pay for child care. But the last of that aid ends in about nine weeks. State legislators agreed to put several million in state taxes toward the program, but not enough to cover all the parents newly helped by the expanded rules.

About 2 250 children will no longer qualify for child care scholarships, based on data provided by Department of Social Services spokeswoman Connelly-Anne Ragley.

Those scholarships cover most, if not all, of annual daycare costs through direct payments to eligible child care providers for every child whose parents’ income qualifies. Before October 2020 working parents qualified for the federally funded daycare aid if their pay equaled 85% or less of the state median income. In South Carolina, that

meant at or below

$64,063 for a family of three. But for those applying between October 2020 and September 2023, their income had to fall below 300% of the federal poverty level, or $74 580 or less for that same family of three.

DSS estimated it would take $10 million to continue covering child care expenses for 3 000 children under the expanded eligibility rules, and agency Director Michael Leach asked for that amount in his budget request to lawmakers.

Gov. Henry McMaster, in his budget proposal, recommended $5 million instead.

In the end, legislators agreed to put $2 5 million toward the scholarships in the budget that started July 1

Based on data provided by Social Services, that’s enough to cover aid for 750 of those 3 000 children.

“A lot of families were very upset because they … grew accustomed to having this benefit,” Ragley said when parents were informed last fall that the money was expiring. When the one-year scholarships dry up depends on when parents applied. Some families’ aid may have already ended. Last September marked the end of the expanded eligibility rules. So,

the final daycare payments for scholarships awarded in September 2023 will be the end of this September.

Martha Strickland leads First Steps, which oversees private providers in the state’s full-day preschool program for poor 4-year-olds.

Parents with 4-year-olds in private preschool can also get scholarships for child care to cover the rest of their workday, both for their 4-yearold and any sibling up to 12 years old. Strickland said she knows what a godsend the aid can be for families.

She talked about one mother who cried on the phone after finding out she qualified for free child care for her children, calling it “a miracle” for her family.

While DSS didn’t get the $10 million it requested, the agency is glad it got some money to disperse. The agency is still determining the new eligibility parameters for how to distribute it, Ragley said.

“We know the need of families to receive help paying for child care is great,” she said.

Between October 2020 and July 2023, the agency granted more than 71 200 52-week scholarships for children of parents whose income fell in the expanded eligibility levels. That total

number includes children counted multiple times if they received child care aid year after year, Ragley said.

How much each scholarship is worth depends on the age of the child and how highly a child care center is rated.

For a child care center to accept children under scholarships, they have to volunteer to be part of the state’s ABC Quality Program and meet health and safety standards beyond state minimum requirements, such as background checks for all staff members.

Ragley said this gives parents a sense of security when having to leave their children in the care of others while they go to work or attend school.

As a working mother herself, Ragley said she and her husband have to scramble when they don’t have child care. Luckily, they have paid time off of work they can use.

“Not everybody has that luxury or family who can step in and help,” she said.

The rising cost of child care may also mean a parent ultimately chooses to stay home and out of the workforce, Ragley added.

“Because by the time they pay the cost of child care out of the salary they make, they either break even or the

margin is small,” she said.

“That is a population that, if they had access to affordable child care, could be additional workers that could fill the jobs that are open in the state.”

Ragley said the COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on long-standing child care issues in South Carolina and nationwide.

The agency knows it will need more funding for its programs in the next state budget and beyond.

Its budget request will likely again include money for child care scholarships, as well as wage bonuses to encourage more people to enter the child care industry, startup grants for new centers and tax incentives for employers that offer child care as a benefit to their workers.

Ragley pointed to Georgia as an example, where businesses that provide or sponsor child care for employees are eligible for a state tax credit offsetting up to 75% of the cost.

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce advocated for legislators to update South Carolina’s own long-standing but little-used tax break offered to employers that start or operate child care for workers or provide direct payments for private options. But the

issue ultimately was not taken up. In other parts of the country, Maine is subsidizing child care for those making up to 125% of the state median income, according to the Center for American Progress based in Washington, D.C.

Michigan is extending its COVID-19 relief policy, offering subsidies at 200% of the federal poverty level.

Minnesota is putting an additional $252 million this fiscal year into its scholarship program and promises to add $58 9 million more in the following budget year. And Montana is expanding child care subsidy eligibility up to 185% of the federal poverty level, according to the center.

Are you a parent losing financial aid for child care who would like to share your story about what the program has meant to you? The SC Daily Gazette would like to hear from you. Call us at 843-729-1321 or submit a news tip online.

Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier.

S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest statefocused nonprofit news organization.

The South Carolina Supreme Court in Columbia. Mary Ann Chastain /Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

How many EVs are on the road in SC? The number is growing

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — The num-

ber of electric vehicles registered in South Carolina now tops 20 000, according to state data.

While fully electric vehicles and hybrids that can be plugged in to recharge are still just a fraction of the roughly 3 5 million registered vehicles in the state, their numbers continue to rise each year, according to the Department of

Motor Vehicles. In 2022, the state had more than 9 100 registered electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. By May 2023, that number had risen 45% to nearly 13 200 vehicles. June 2024 saw a 54% rise, bringing the total to 20 300 vehicles.

The numbers include 29 electric buses that are part of the state-run school bus fleet.

The growing use of these vehicles will reignite the debate over how the state

will continue to fund road maintenance, which is largely paid for through state and federal by-the-gallon taxes on gasoline.

In 2017, the General Assembly voted to raise the state’s fuel tax by 12 cents over six years (going up incrementally by 2 cents annually through 2023) to a total of 28 75 cents of every dollar spent on fuel. At the same time, legislators enacted biennial fees on electric vehicles — $120 for

fully-electric cars and $60 for hybrids — to help cover road costs.

But those biennial fees already don’t cover the growing gap in taxes their drivers don’t pay at the gas pump.

South Carolina’s 2017 law marked the first time in 30 years legislators increased the gas tax. They also increased regular registration fees by $16 and raised the sales tax cap from $300 to $500 for every vehicle sold.

State officials presented

the data during a S.C. Department of Transportation-led meeting about the state’s electric vehicle industry where heads of various state agencies discussed plans for increasing the number of electric vehicle charging stations along South Carolina’s interstates.

The Palmetto State has received $40 2 million to date in federal funding meant to expand charging options along state roadways. An additional $30 million is still to

SC’s uber-conservative

come

GOP caucus picks new leaders

By Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com

A freshman legislator from the Lowcountry is the new leader of South Carolina’s uber-conservative House Freedom

Caucus.

Rep. Jordan Pace, R-Goose Creek, was elected chairman of the caucus that launched in 2022, replacing Rep. Adam Morgan of Greenville County, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress.

“I’m deeply energized by the gains that we’ve made,” Pace said Friday, when the caucus election results were announced. “I think we have really, really good momentum.”

He was referring to shifting debates further to the right over the last two years, rather than specific legislation.

The 2022 elections gave Republicans a beyond-supermajority in the House, with 88 of the chamber’s 124 seats. But House debates often get bogged down in a GOP civil war between Republicans in the majority and the hardline faction.

House Majority Leader Davey Hiott discounted Pace’s assessment.

“The numbers don’t prove that,” the Travelers Rest Republican said of Freedom Caucus gains. “Our majority is just as strong as it was two years ago.”

Other than Pace, the Freedom Caucus’ other leadership remains from the Upstate, where the majority of members live.

Reps. Josiah Magnuson of Spartanburg County and April Cromer of Anderson County were elected co-vice chairs of the caucus. Magnuson, R-Fingerville, previously served as secretary, a role the caucus is dropping.

All 13 members of the caucus

By Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com

seeking re-election participated in last week’s vote, Pace said. The leadership change took effect immediately. The caucus will vote again in two years.

Four Freedom Caucus members did not run for re-election to the state House, including Morgan, who last month lost his bid to oust U.S. Rep. William Timmons in the 4th District.

Rep. Stewart Jones of Laurens, another founding caucus member, ran unsuccessfully for the 3rd District seat left open by the retirement of U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan. Jones placed third in the seven-way GOP primary.

The two other members exiting the chamber are Reps. David O’Neal of Tega Cay and Ashely Trantham of Pelzer, who didn’t seek higher office.

Despite the loss of four, the cau-

cus will likely end up with 20 members after the November election, Pace said.

They may end up with slightly more than the number they started with in 2022

Pace was among just two Freedom Caucus members who didn’t face a primary opponent. He also has no Democratic opposition in November.

The House Majority Caucus tried to shrink the Freedom Caucus’ ranks in the June primary, while the Freedom Caucus sought to expand their numbers by working to help challengers oust GOP incumbents. Ultimately, all Freedom Caucus members defeated their challengers, while a few Republicans got ousted by challengers expected to join the GOP subset.

That’s exactly what got the Freedom Caucus booted from the ma-

jority after the November 2022 elections, when most caucus members refused to sign a new pledge not to work for GOP challengers. A couple of Republicans left the Freedom Caucus amid the kerfuffle to continue meeting with the majority.

Despite the caucus’ combative relationship with House leaders, Pace said the Freedom Caucus is open to working with anyone.

“We get called a lot of names, but at the end of the day our platform is the Republican party platform,” Pace said.

The focus of the caucus is conservative policy, not trying to “poke anyone in the eye,” he said.

Hiott scoffed at that too, saying video of floor debates show differently.

The Freedom Caucus celebrated big wins on the last day of the regular session May 9, as members’

procedural objections in the final hour managed to kill several bills advocated by GOP leaders in both chambers. That included proposals to streamline municipal elections and merge six agencies in an overhaul of the public health system. Gov. Henry McMaster urged legislators to resurrect the health care bill in a special session. But that debate will have to start all over next year. Abraham Kenmore is a reporter

More eligible SC mothers enrolling in nutrition assistance

More than 100 000 South Carolina mothers and children received federal aid in May through a program designed to help them eat and stay healthy, the highest number in seven years.

About 55 2% of eligible residents are part of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program in the Palmetto State, as of the second quarter of 2024. That’s up from 44 5% two years ago, according to the state Department of

Public Health. Berry Kelly, the program’s director, attributes the growth to an “amazing” team coupled with technology, as the state made it easier for parents who are eligible to get and keep the assistance.

“It’s really about convenience for our clients and meeting them where they are,” he said. The May total of 100 540 participants is the highest in a given month in the Palmetto State since March of 2017. The average monthly

number of participants last year was 92 799, according to information from the state’s public health agency.

The WIC program, which in South Carolina is entirely federally funded, provides eligible mothers and children younger than 5 with money to buy nutritious food, education about how to eat healthy, support for breastfeeding, immunization screenings and referrals to other assistance programs. Proper nutrition is important for overall health and for education, Kelly

said. Although the benefit varies from person to person, Kelly estimates eligible households get about $300 a month. The program covers pregnant women, new and breastfeeding mothers and children under 5 in families that make 185% of the federal poverty level or less. For a family of three, that is $47 767 as of July 1. People are automatically eligible if they’re enrolled in Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — what’s commonly called food stamps. Kelly said new tools have helped with outreach, such as offering the nutrition education through online classes. The WIC program now has an online application and a mobile app. And it has moved away from paper checks and vouchers to debit cards.

Kelly also said that partner organizations, from hospitals to Head Start, have been key in bringing more

eligible people into the program. Nationally about 6 7 million people received WIC across the country in September of last year.

Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit

over the next two years. SCDOT said by the end of 2024 it will start seeking contractors to install more fast-charging stations in the state.

Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier.

S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest statefocused nonprofit news organization.

Rep. Jordan Pace during the budget debate in the S.C House on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Columbia. Travis Bell/ Statehouse Carolina/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

Editor’s Note:

Laud Biden’s leadership, patriotism, duty and wisdom

I’m proud of Joe Biden. There, haters, I said it.

But you should be proud of the president, too.

Joe Biden, dogged this month by worries about the durability of his presidential reelection campaign, put our country before personal ambition to try to keep America on the path of being a real representative democracy.

Stepping away his reelection campaign was an act of selfless leadership that distinguishes Biden completely from his now-former opponent, America’s narcissist-in-chief. Former GOP President Donald Trump wouldn’t know selflessness if it hit him smack in the face with a cast-iron frying pan.

What Biden did by stepping away from the Democratic nomination and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris recalls actions of three former presidents, the first, second and the 36th, some of which was highlighted this week by historian Heather Cox Richardson:

“Biden followed the example of the nation’s first president, George Washington, who declined to run for a third term to demonstrate that the United States of America would not have a king, and of its second president, John Adams, who handed the power of the presidency over to his rival Thomas Jefferson and thus established the nation’s tradition of the peaceful transition of power. Like them, Biden gave up the pursuit of power for himself in order to demonstrate the importance of democracy.”

Biden’s intentional demonstration of putting country first also recalls President Lyndon

Johnson. In the spring of 1968 he announced to much surprise that he would not seek reelection, which was not assured as America faced divisive fissures from the U.S. war in Vietnam and racial tension. In words thematically similar to some used this week by Biden, Johnson said then, “I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office — the presidency of your country.”

In an address to the nation this week, Biden essentially turned the keys of our democracy to where it’s always been – with voters.

“We are a nation of promise and possibilities, of dreamers and doers, of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things,” Biden said with conviction. “I’ve given my heart and my soul to our nation, like so many others. …

“The great thing about America is, here kings and dictators do not rule — the people do. History is in your hands. The power’s in your

hands. The idea of America lies in your hands. You just have to keep faith — keep the faith — and remember who we are: We are the United States of America, and there is simply nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together. So let’s act together, [and] preserve our democracy.”

Strong words that followed 41 months of strong action. And if you don’t believe Biden and his team have been successful in really helping a red state like South Carolina, there’s no refuting these compelling numbers:

$5 4 billion in public investments in South Carolina manufacturing, infrastructure and clean energy, including $4 9 billion in funding for 337 infrastructure projects. Investments were in roads and bridges ($2 7 billion), public transit ($235 million), airports ($123 million) and ports and waterways ($22 million). Without Joe Biden, those investments wouldn’t have happened.

Does Donald Trump’s vice presidential choice of J.D. Vance change the dynamic of the race in November?

Only time will tell, but one thing is very apparent: this choice does not appeal to independent voters, or even traditional Republican voters.

It is no stretch to say that Vance is MAGA on steroids, and his stance on abortion alone should scare the hell out of every woman in the country.

$1 2 billion for affordable high-speed internet in the Palmetto State. $317 million for clean-water projects, including almost $100 million to replace toxic lead pipes.

Big savings for 1 2 million seniors and Medicare beneficiaries on prescription drug costs.

The state also has a 3 4% unemployment rate and 251 000 new jobs thanks, in part, to the administration’s economic policies that transformed a sputtering Covid-saturated economy into one targeted on more and better jobs.

If you don’t like Joe Biden, so be it. But you have to give him credit for a style of positive, heritage-inspired American leadership that’s been missing for awhile.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to feedback@statehousereport.com.

Why J.D. Vance, and will there be repercussions?

to inflict rape or incest upon a girl or woman, it would be a second “wrong” to permit the abortion. (Jay Kuo)

Just a little bit about his posture on this critical issue. First of all, he supports a national ban with no exceptions. When questioned in an interview about whether or not women should have a right to get an abortion if they were victims of rape or incest, he belittled the trauma, said that society shouldn’t view a pregnancy or birth resulting from rape or incest as an “inconvenience.” He argued that when it came to such exceptions, “two wrongs don’t make a right”—meaning that while it was “wrong”

If you have daughters or granddaughters or if you yourself could become pregnant, as a result of rape, your blood should boil at this arrogance.

So why would Trump pick someone as a running mate who is the antithesis of vice-President Mike Pence, conspicuously absent from the convention? To understand this “thumbing of the nose” at moderation, one needs to look at those who represent the inner circle.

I believe it is no stretch to say that far-right radicalism has overtaken the Republican party. Simply look at the other two men (note: not

a woman) who were in the running. Governor Doug Burgman, virtually unknown but certainly establishment GOP; and Marco Rubio, (you remember “little Marco”).

Either of these men would have offered some tamping down of the rhetoric that seems to permeate Trump’s campaign; yet both were denied the VP spot, something that may, upon reflection, be seen as a mistake.

One commentator observed that the choosing of the person for the VP spot was somewhat akin to Trump’s Apprentice-like reality show, everyone eagerly waiting with bated breath for the announcement. It makes one wonder if Burgum and Rubio received texts simply saying, “You’re fired!”

For decades we have seen that the position of vice president is one in the governmental hierarchy whose main duty it is to stand by in the event something happens to the president. They sometimes go around the country making speeches if there is a piece of legislation that needs hyping, but

overall their place is truly secondary. Rarely is this person an extremist.

But now we have a true radical on the Republican ticket. By choosing this man rather than either of the other two in the running, the party has effectively declared itself devoid of any of the morals so many undecided voters are seeking. Rubio would surely have garnered some of the Latino vote, and Burgum could have soothed the savage beast by representing the Old Guard Republicans.

Again, it was Jay Kuo who observed that “Vance is simply Trump with better grammar!”

There are many reasons to see Vance as a threat.

For one, he has pledged he would do what Mike Pence wouldn’t – overturn an election and illegally seize power. He has refused to say he will accept the results of the 2024 election, but then so has Trump. It causes one to ask whether or not we must gird ourselves for January 6 redoux?

Secondly, Vance has made

clear his support for Putin and where he stands against Ukraine. And then there is the issue of Project 2025 and what it intends for our country. Both of these are topics for another day.

Finally, there is the matter of telling the truth, something that seems to be problematic for the Republican ticket. Vance (or James Donald Bowman, or James Donald Hamel -- pick one) who wants to lean heavily on his Appalachian roots is not from Appalachia. Yes, his family traces their roots back to Jackson, Ky., but he was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, 30 miles north of Cincinnati. Population 51 000-plus.

So why J.D. Vance, and will there be repercussions?

It was said that Trump, himself, was leaning toward Burgum. However, sons Don Jr. and Eric, who see Vance as some kind of hero, insisted on J.D.

It was NBC who reported the following:

“The conversation quickly turned tense when the former president indicated that

he was leaning toward Doug Burgum, until recently the largely unknown governor of North Dakota — but someone whose low-maintenance, no-drama personality would never threaten to outshine Trump.

“That’s when Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump chimed in.

“‘Don Jr. and Eric went bats--- crazy: Why would you do something so stupid? He offers us nothing,’ a longtime Republican operative familiar with the discussion told NBC News.

“They were basically all like ‘J.D., J.D., J.D.,’ the operative said.

“What I find fascinating about this report is the observation of ‘why’ Trump was leaning toward Burgum … ‘he would never threaten to outshine Trump.’” On that note, let the games begin!

Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey

ANDY BRACK

Through Widowhood.”

CAROL LUCAS

VOICES

Where one will find one’s daily dose of Dopamine

It is Monday and I’m sitting in the lobby of the Fryemont Inn.

Amos and Lillian Frye were lawyers — she was the first female member of the North Carolina bar — and in the 1920s they built a rambling resort hotel on a ledge above Bryson City, N.C.

Amos Frye was in the logging business and had access to the vast oak, maple, locust and poplar forests in Western North Carolina.

Amos and Lillian used oak and maple for the floors; locust for the beams; and put poplar bark shingles on the exterior. There were also huge (stone) fireplaces in the lobby and dining room.

But this morning there is no fire in either.

“We’ve used to have one bad stretch of heat in July, but this year we’ve had 90 degree weather for 13 straight days,” said the desk clerk as I sipped my first cup of coffee.

The American South was saved by World War II when the U.S. Army found it was better to train its soldiers in say, Fayetteville, rather than in Cedar Rapids. Many of those recruits — my father among them — married Southern women, and the scar tissue from the Civil War finally began to slough-away.

Refrigeration also played a role in that our long, hot summer could be made more bearable as long as one stayed indoors; in the semi-prone position; and paid the relatively inexpensive “light bill.”

Years ago I worked for a local lawyer, GG Dowling, who told me that before air conditioning, most legal activity (in Beaufort) came to a halt in July and August. He said there was little courtroom activity and, “if there had to be a trial, it was usually scheduled at night.”

“I remember sitting at Counsel’s table, feeling the sweat run down my back; watching the sweat flow down my arms, through my fingers mixing with the ink on my legal pad,” he said.

I, myself, remember lying atop the sheets on a screened-in porch at Ocean Drive Beach. Sunburned, Noxema-slathered, all the while trying to sleep when there was no breeze off the ocean.

I also remember riding in my first air-conditioned Camaro thinking this blast of artificial coldness was as revolutionary as Streptomycin; or even Saran Wrap;

certainly it was right up there with the Panasonic, under the dash, 8-track tape stereo — then playing Neil Sedaka’s “Teenager in Love.”

Now we read about the benefits of “cold plunge” therapy. This requires a ($3 000) fiberglass bucket filled-up with 50-degree water. It then requires one to lower oneself into that water for three to five minutes at least three times a week. If one can’t pay the tab (for one’s own plunge bucket) there are several places on Hilton Head and in Savannah where one might rent such a bucket.

Studies show this weekly routine can reduce one’s heart rate, burn-off body fat, improve insulin resistance and, importantly, trigger the brain’s production of Dopamine. And, of course, Dopamine is the gateway to happiness, motivation and focus.

The production of Dopamine is essential because our constant heat drains away the gratification that comes with the operation of the Husqvarna Z254F riding lawn mower. Any notion of watching the athletic ability of Savannah Bananas quickly fades when one factors in the heat. This is, however, when we schedule our Annual Water Festival.

In my old age, I have found that my natural optimism and my innate love of infants and large black labs have largely disappeared. Once I was a lawyer and conditioned to expect rule-breaking, misadventure and human frailty. After 50 years of experience under my ever-lengthening belt, I have learned that reversal and tragedy are inescapably attached to life’s experiential mix.

“Yes, Virginia, I do need my Dopamine.”

Amos and Lillian Frye

tucked their swimming pool into the side of their mountain, surrounded it with trees that are now huge, constructing a pathway with slate pavers that give the pool a magical, hidden-garden quality. This large pool is spring-fed, cold, and allows one to cool off after a day of hiking the trail to the Alum Caves just below Mt. Leconte.

The Fryemont does not have central air conditioning, and they make that clear in their advertising. They have put fans into their historic windows, and it does dramatically cool-off at night.

However their springfed pool is where one will find one’s daily dose of Dopamine — and a sense of happiness and well-being.

Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.

Permitting reform needed to capitalize on infrastructure investments

The bipartisan federal infrastructure law that Sen. Lindsey Graham helped craft and pass in 2021 makes critical investments in building, strengthening, and modernizing America’s infrastructure, including our network of roads, bridges, and highways.

While these investments have enormous potential to help address our nation’s dire infrastructure needs, they could be wasted if Congress does not also work to reform our convoluted, overly cumbersome federal permitting process.

As it stands, the federal review and permitting process for new infrastructure projects or improvements is rife with inefficiencies and redundancies that can add years to a given project’s timeline.

Not only do the delays created by an overly bureaucratic permitting process serve to prevent the actual physical construction of new infrastructure, but they can also increase costs and risks for investors, in some cases making projects less financially

viable and leaving them stalled in a regulatory quagmire.

Congress must pass bipartisan reform to help expedite the federal environmental review and permitting process.

Doing so would allow local engineering firms like Carolina Transportation Engineers and Associates to study, design, and build out new infrastructure more efficiently and quickly, ensuring the benefits of these projects reach South Carolina communities sooner.

That includes job creation, new economic opportunities for local businesses and industries, and an improved quality of life for all South Carolinians.

Without such reform, many of

the critical investments outlined in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) could be needlessly squandered.

That is why construction, building, and engineering firms throughout the state are hoping that bipartisan permitting reform is another area in which Sen. Graham can lead. Having recently met with the senator to thank him for his work on the IIJA and other issues important to the American Council of Engineering Companies-South Carolina (ACEC-SC), I am optimistic about the future of permitting reform in Congress.

During our meeting in Washington, D.C., in May, Graham met with members of the ACECSC. Industry leaders gave him countless examples of how our current regulatory climate has stifled infrastructure projects all over our state.

ACEC-SC and its member companies support permitting reform to implement major infrastructure improvements more quickly, which benefits engineers and the public.

Graham was sympathetic to our problems and understood our frustration. His commentary on the issue encouraged us. Graham’s support for federal permitting reform should not come as a surprise. Republicans in Congress and in state capitals nationwide have long been calling for an overhaul of the federal environmental review and permitting processes to help expedite a range of infrastructure and energy projects that would help create jobs, grow our economy, and create a safer, more modern transportation infrastructure for our entire country.

Importantly, streamlining and simplifying our nation’s dysfunctional federal permitting process does not mean America would need to lessen environmental protections to any degree.

New transportation and energy projects in the United States are held to some of the highest environmental standards in the world. Bipartisan permitting reform would seek to move critical, economy-building projects for -

ward in a timelier, more efficient manner by reducing administrative hurdles that currently hinder progress. Moving forward, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle should work to advance federal permitting reform that will help maximize the full potential of the infrastructure investments South Carolina and states across the country are now receiving through the IIJA. Ultimately, bipartisan permitting reform is in the best interest of our economy, communities, and efforts to bring America’s core infrastructure into the 21 st century.

Jeff Mulliken holds a doctorate in civil engineering and is a certified professional engineer. He is a partner at Carolina Transportation Engineers & Associates, PC, where he is responsible for planning, designing, and managing transportation projects. Mulliken’s experience includes managing highway and aviation projects and overseeing environmental and traffic engineering studies, structural design and analysis, and soil-structure interaction analysis, among other engineering projects.

A few words in praise of the Vice President

Since the powers that be in the Democratic Party selected Kamala Harris as their choice to be the next President of the United States, some very disturbing things are being said about her. Many are not true. The first untruth is that she was appointed “Border Czar” by President Biden three years ago, and she has failed miserably at that job. The truth is that she did exactly what she was told to do, nothing. The result was an overwhelming success. We have a completely open border and as a result millions of illegal aliens from all over the world have flooded into the United States during her term as “Czar.” Working hand and hand with Secretary Mayorkas they have overseen what is

probably the largest influx of potential Democratic voters in the history of the country. Job well done. The second untruth is that she is a giggling, babbling mental lightweight who has failed at every job she has been given. Again nothing could be further from the truth. In 2019 when the Dems were desperate for someone to head off what looked like an almost certain Presidential nomination for Senator Bernie Sand-

ers, Joe Biden was their last best chance. With the South Carolina primary coming up, Biden was not polling well and something had to be done, so a deal was cut with powerful South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn. Without first-hand knowledge of what was said, I am guessing that one of the conditions for his help was for Biden to appoint a woman of color for Vice President. Ms. Harris had run a failed campaign for President of her own earlier that year, and had withdrawn from the race, but she still had the backing of powerful and wealthy California Progressives.

Having had many years to know and understand Mr. Biden’s shortcomings, the party leaders knew that

they had to pick someone for Vice President who would not make Joe look bad. Harris was the perfect choice.

I suspect that her instructions were to never say or do anything that would make her look smarter than the President, so she has spent the last three and a half years giggling, babbling and doing everything she can to make Joe look competent. One again she has taken the job and run with it with great success. As an added bonus she has protected the President from most people who might want to impeach him, knowing that if they do they will get her instead.

All that is now changing. She is a candidate on her own once again and can become her real self and

will show the nation that she has the intelligence, experience, and the gravitas to become the leader of the free world. We will no doubt be seeing many examples of all of that in the mainstream media both on the nightly news and The New York Times and the Washington Post editorials. I am sure that the ladies of the “View” will be extolling Ms. Harris's virtues on a daily basis while pointing out the contrast between her and the hated convicted felon and all-around bad guy, Donald Trump.

We are about to witness a transformational miracle that has never been seen before in modern politics. She will rise to the challenge much in the same vein as David and Goliath or Joan of Arc with the English, and we will see all

that played out in the media everyday until the election. So now you know the truth, don’t listen to those who want you to believe what you have seen with your own eyes for the past few years. She is not an incompetent bungler. She has been a great success at every task that was given to her, and I am sure she will be just as successful if elected President.

SCOTT GRABER

JIM DICKSON

JEFF MULLIKEN

LOCAL MILITARY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 2 August 2024

Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel C. B. McArthur

2nd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A. Yang Commander of Troops, Captain C. P. McIsaac • Parade Adjutant, First Lieutenant C. A. Caston Company “F”, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain C. P. McIsaac Drill Master • Staff Sergeant J. M. Kivett

PLATOON 2048

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt I. L. Vannavong

Pvt Bailey, Dmitri T.

PFC Banosalbornoz, Alejandro

PFC Bowers, Isaiah M.*

Pvt Brown, Justin D.

Pvt Browning, Christpher M.

Pvt Calderonalvarez, Cristian

Pvt Callahuilertora, Santiago

Pvt Castanedasosa, Miguel A.

Pvt Catoe, Joshua A.

Pvt Coleman Jr., Jeremy O.

PFC Cristobalramirez, Eliut D.

PFC Davis, Ted A.

PFC Drew, Pierce G.

Pvt Guizalira, Juan A.

Pvt Hapthey, Matthew

Pvt Harp, Alexander R.

PFC Huntington, Michael B.

Pvt Jaipaul, Sanjay M.

Pvt Jenkins, Christopher D.

PFC Johnson, Tristen N.

PFC Jones, Jaden I.*

Pvt Kincaid, Amore K.

PFC Lee, Tyler S.

PFC Lockett, Isaiah D.

PFC Mart, Caleb J.

Pvt Martinez, Derek J.

Pvt Mcnett, Benjamin D.

Pvt Meahl, Tyler D.

PFC Mleko, Cameron T.

Pvt Morgan Jr., Irvin L.

Pvt Otieno, Edwin M.

Pvt Pizarro Jr., Anthony R.

Pvt Ried, Jordan N.

PFC Rodriguez, Jonathan M.*

Pvt Sanders, Dalton J.

PFC Scheller, William S.

Pvt Schrader Jr., Christopher

Pvt Sieracki, Sawyer M.

Pvt Stafford, Preston D.

Pvt Stinchcomb, Ryan M.

Pvt Tapia, Elmer P.

Pvt Wilson, Kawan N.

PLATOON 2049

Senior Drill Instructor

Sgt J. D. Lovo

Pvt Alonso, Nicolas J.

Pvt Alvarengahernandez, Bryan N.

PFC Anderson, William L.

Pvt Arnold, Logan R.

Pvt Banda, Santiago S.

Pvt Burless, Jackson C.

PFC Burns, Michael R.

Pvt Castillo III, Jose M.

Pvt Christensen IV, Christian N.

Pvt Clough, Shawn A.

Pvt Coulter, Casey J.

Pvt Cruzramirez, Jose E.

Pvt Desjardins, Luc C.

Pvt Diazdecelis, Jaime H.

PFC Ellis, Shane S.

PFC Fernandez, jason

Pvt Frangopoolos, Kyle L.

PFC Griffith Jr., Steven W.

Pvt Harris, Devin M.

PFC Hatten, Cooper R.*

Pvt Huff, Cristian I.

Pvt Icely, Justin T.

Pvt Jimenez, Adan

PFC Lay, Brysen A.

PFC Lewis Jr., Timothy D.*

PFC Marinobezares, Alex E.

Pvt Monroe, Jacob H.

PFC Norris, Jonathan F.

Pvt Oneal, Chandler C.

Pvt Osborne, Austin J.

Pvt Ramey, Caleb A.

Pvt Ramirez, Benjamin A.

PFC Rennie Jr., Booker A.

PFC Riveracolon, Jose A.

Pvt Rowser, Micheal A.

Pvt Saez III, Tommy C.

Pvt Santiago, Diego

PFC Santiagocruz, Jaaziel O.

PFC Schatzberg, James C.

PFC Scott, Shamar L.*

Pvt Shanton II, David A.

Pvt Sterling, Joseph R.

Pvt Stevenson Jr., Floyd M.

Pvt West, Michael L.

PLATOON 2050

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt J. A. Kahl

PFC Blankinship, Alexander D.

Pvt Cady, Mattiew J.

Pvt Cain, Easton T.

Pvt Camachoflores, Jeremy

Pvt Ceron, Alex

Pvt Chmurka, Taylor M.*

PFC Connoughton, Michael P.

Pvt Costello, Seth H.

PFC Cruzsantiago, Luis A.

Pvt Farrell, Bryan R.

PFC Friend, Jeremy M.

Pvt Harlow, Anthony M.

PFC Hawkins, Kyle

PFC Herold, Avery L.

Pvt Hohmeir, Francis C.

Pvt Iturriagaturpo, Erick

Pvt Jackson, Adam P.

Pvt Johnson Jr., KennethW.

Pvt Lagares, Giovanni J.

Pvt Lamarca, Kyle C.

Pvt Lattea, Alexander H.

Pvt Lee, Arlin M.

Pvt Massoud, George

PFC Medina, Israel J.

Pvt Millette, Ryan J.

Pvt Moeller, Zachary A.

Pvt Moss, Jauntae A.

PFC Payne, Gregory W.

Pvt Pena, Ariel

Pvt Perez, Juan C.

Pvt Pimentel, Donovan M.

Pvt Price Jr., Patrick W.

Pvt Quinones, Johnny

Pvt Repp, Jacob W.

Pvt Rodriguezdiez, William Y.

Pvt Rodriguezgarcia, Rey G.

Pvt Santiago, Angel J.*

PFC Schneider, Wyatt S.

PFC Sisson, Sebastian V.

PFC Smith, Jacob A.

PFC Spurrell, Dylan R.

Pvt Toussaint, Weskerly

Pvt Wesley, Deekevion D.

Pvt Wilder III, Roger J.

Pvt Yarashus, Matthias I.*

PLATOON 2052

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt E. Sarmiento

PFC Alexander, Samuel L.

PFC Avila, Brandon A.

Pvt Barker, Garrett L.

Pvt Barnes, Kaden P.

Pvt Bowlin Jr., John W.

Pvt Brooks, Joe p.

Pvt Brooks, Matthew D.

Pvt Cenat, Charlemagne N.

Pvt Colon III, Hector L.

PFC Commisso Jr., Brian P.

Pvt Crocker, Timothy L.

Pvt Delacerda, Justin M.

Pvt Denboer, Seth X.

Pvt Dreibelbis, John P.*

PFC Estrella, Malachi S.

Pvt Fernandez, Christian

Pvt Fernandez, Juan M.

Pvt Gallardorufino, Brandow N.

Pvt Garner, Axel D.

Pvt Griffith, Jude E.

Pvt Huertapajarito, Brandon

Pvt Johnson, Maleek A.

Pvt Lange, Joshua J.

Pvt Legg, Colton D.

PFC Lewczuk, Ryan R.

Pvt Mcvay, Jaquan A.

Pvt Mendez, Angel D.

PFC Mendez, Julius R.

Pvt Miller, Kurtis R.

Pvt Navarro, Dany W.

Pvt Ortiz, Carlos A.*

PFC Ouedraogo, Abdoulaziz

Pvt Paone, James E.

Pvt Robbins, Joshua A.

PFC Rodriguez, Jaden A.

Pvt Rodriguez, Joshua J.

Pvt Rojas, Wilmer J.

Pvt Russo III, Frank C.

PFC Smith, Owen M.

PFC Tirado, Jeremiah J.

Pvt Webster, Jeremiah J.

Pvt Wood, Andrew J.*

Pvt Yado, Omariyan S.

PLATOON 2053

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt Z. R. Wick

Pvt Ayalacasco, Joel N.

Pvt Bourgeois, Daiton R.

Pvt Butelli, Robert R. *

Pvt Campbell, Ronald W.

PFC Castanon, Adrian R.

Pvt Clawson, Samuel F. *

PFC Dellinger, Austin D.

PFC Farrar, Kedd V.

PFC Fisher, Alexander W.

PFC Funches, Davarius E.

Pvt Graffius, Aiden J. *

Pvt Guerra, Robert A.

PFC Hamilton, Bryce A.

Pvt Hanenkrath, Cade M.

Pvt Hardesty, Trystan J.

Pvt Harrell, David R.

Pvt Herrera, Eliezer

PFC Kemp, Zachary T.

Pvt Koenig Jr., Randy S.

Pvt Krisko, James T.

PFC Luo, Junjie

Pvt Maldonado, Jeffrey M.

Pvt Mcclelland, Mayson A.

Pvt Mejivar, Angel R.

Pvt Paredesdorado, Juan P.

Pvt Petrosky, Rylie T.

PFC Pettijohn, Liam R.

Pvt Pinedo Jr., Cesar A.

Pvt Pojoyvicente, Michael I.

PFC Poland, Austin T.

PFC Reynoso, Victor D.

Pvt Rodriguez, Xavier J.

Pvt Rojaslopez, Jack D.

PFC Ruiz, Sebastian A.

Pvt Sanchezavila, Marcos I

Pvt Santiagogarcia, Eric S.

Pvt Schilling, Quinton l.

Pvt Surajbali, Eric

Pvt Vanpelt, Gavin P.

Pvt Warner, Michael l.

Pvt Waterbury, Gideon T.

PFC Whyte, Shacquille M.

Pvt Wolfe, Craig J.

PLATOON 2054

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt E. M. Robinson

Pvt Baker, Isaiah J.

PFC Batiz, Lawson M.

Pvt Bodkins, Zane M.

Pvt Brush, Ty A.

Pvt Carter Jr., James N.

Pvt Carty, Nathaniel R.

Pvt Castillo, Jorandy M.

Pvt Clark, Griffin H.

Pvt Cobb, Michael E.

Pvt Cooke, Ramsey A.

PFC Cordero, Johnattan L.

PFC Dabrowskiromanczuk, Jan M.

Pvt Devine, Daniel P.

Pvt Dulac, Derek J.

Pvt Ejingiri, Chizobam I.

PFC Fang, Sean M.

Pvt Franco, Miqueas E.

Pvt Furguson, Andrew L

PFC Gao, Eric

Pvt Gary, Gabriel T.

PFC Gilherrera, Yorlan Y.

Pvt Guzman, Jesus

Pvt Hernandezcrehan, Troy A.

Pvt Holguin, Jose

Pvt Jeanclaude, Robens L.

Pvt Jones, Blake A.

PFC Lau, Benjamin M.

PFC Lee, Sangmin

Pvt Marshall Jr., Brian K.

Pvt Mmportufoyarney, Caleb W.

Pvt Morales, Carlos A.

PFC Morra, Jordan E.*

PFC Olayemi, Matthew F.

Pvt Qualls, Gracin A.

Pvt Rodriguezjimenez, Angel R.*

Pvt Santosfermin, Dilber E.

Pvt Santucci, Nicholas S.

PFC Strauss II, Craig W.

PFC Tiszold, Anthony

Pvt Vargas, Jonathan E.

PFC Venezia, Chance T.

Pvt West, Kyle H.*

*Denotes Meritorious Promotion

By Lance Cpl. William Horsley USMC

SMARINE CORPS RECRUIT

DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND

taring out the window, Oluwagbemiga Omotoye saw the skyline of Washington, D.C. as his plane landed at Dulles International Airport. He and his family had traveled nearly 8,000 miles from South Africa and the city was a welcomed sight.

The United States represented change and new opportunities for Omotoye, who was 17 years old at the time. His family’s desire for coming to America was simple — to gain prosperity and be able to share that with their family members who remained in South Africa.

The family would spend a few years in the metropolitan areas around Washington, D.C., before uprooting to Boston. Omotoye began working odd and end jobs trying to climb the social ladder. Omotoye said he felt unfulfilled at the time and began to look at the military as an opportunity to challenge himself.

Growing up in South Africa, Omotoye idolized the American military due to their reputation for being one of the best in the world.

“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being in special operations, crawling through the deep of the night and executing missions,” said Omotoye. “I knew the Marine Corps was a very hardcore branch and I believed the [Marine Corps] would get me to that dream.”

Omotoye began talking to a recruiter and decided to enlist

Honor and Legacy

A South African Marine's pursuit to honor his family

U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Oluwagbemiga Omotoye, a Marine with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, stands ready for inspection July 5, 2024, during the Battalion Commander's Inspection on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The inspection is the battalion commander's last time to inspect his Marines and correct any deficiencies before the Marines complete recruit training. Lance Cpl. William Horsley/USMC

in the Marine Corps. During his enlistment process, Omotoye’s recruiter told him about the Marine Corps Expedited Naturalization program, a new program initiative to accelerate the naturalization process for entry level servicemembers.

The day before his 28th birthday Omotoye was notified that he was approved to continue the naturalization process and would ship to recruit training. Three days later Omotoye was standing on the yellow footprints at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

“Just being able to stand on the

yellow footprints was enlightening,” said Omotoye. The first moments of recruit training are often considered the most difficult for many Marines. For Omotoye, it was inspiring.

“As we walked through the silver doors, I realized this is something that’s different from anything I’ve ever experienced,” said Omotoye. “The drill instructors training us how to conduct ourselves really helped me stay focused, and I realized this is the type of person I want to be.”

Throughout recruit training, Omotoye would find strengthen in two things — the belief that he was making a difference in his family’s life and his wife Alexis.

During training Alexis would send Omotoye motivational quotes and prayers as well as photos of the two of them together. Omotoye said he looked at these photos daily for inspiration.

“She helped me not quit,” said Omotoye. “She motivated me to get up the next day, every day.”

On June 28 2024, Omotoye finished the grueling 54-hour Crucible and was awarded the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor by his drill instructor Sgt. Devon Evoldi. Many Marines teared up during the ceremony when they were handed their EGA. Omotoye admitted he was no different.

“He gave me a speech about how he saw me sort of grow up throughout recruit training,” said Omotoye. “That’s something that will probably stick with me the rest of my career.”

Following the ceremony, Omotoye and his fellow Marines once again recited the Oath of Enlistment, by raising their right hands and affirming their promise to

recruits

the

event June

the Crucible on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The event is in honor of Lance Cpl. Thomas Noonan, a Vietnam era Medal of Honor recipient, and includes recruits conducting combat patrols and casualty evacuations. Lance Cpl. William Horsley/USMC

defend our nation and its values.

The oath served as a reminder for Omotoye of why his family came to the U.S. "To me, earning the title of United States Marine means being

able to fight for freedoms others aren't able to, to lend a hand when others can't, to reach new heights for future generations, and to continue the honor and legacy of my family," said Omotoye.

VA benefits for military service members

This article is a continuation and the completion of last week’s article. The following “time-sensitive” VA benefits should be considered when separating or retiring.

Converting life insurance after separation

Find out how to convert your Service Group Life Insurance to a Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) or commercial policy. Learn about other options for coverage if you have service-connected disabilities. In some cases, you must act within 120 days of separation to ensure no lapse in coverage. This benefit is open to service members and veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://bit.ly/3LKVyCx.

Educational and career counseling

Get support transitioning to a civilian career with free counseling. Use this benefit if you're leaving active service soon, have been discharged within the past year, or are a veteran or dependent eligible for VA education benefits. This benefit is open to active-duty service members and veterans only. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3TPJi7A.

Active-duty service members and VA health care

Learn about your health care options after separation or retirement and how to apply for VA health care when you receive your separation or retirement orders. If you are a combat veteran, apply immediately to take advantage of 10 years of enhanced eligibility. This benefit is

open to active-duty service members and veterans only. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3TPJi7A.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, find out how to apply for VR&E services. You can apply up to 12 years from when you receive your notice of separation or your first VA disability rating. This benefit is open to service members and veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://bit.ly/3LS752R and in The Island News article at https://bit.ly/43r9wAJ.

Other VA benefits to consider as a veteran Disability compensation: File a claim for disability compensation for conditions related to your military service and manage your benefits. This benefit is open to veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://www.va.gov/disability/, the other VA webpages at this site, and the past Island News archived articles on this subject, which can be found at https://yourislandnews.com.

Support for Veteran-owned small businesses: If you served on active duty, register to do business with the VA and

get support for your veteran-owned small business.

If you have a service-connected disability related to active-duty service or training, you may qualify to register as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business. This benefit is open to veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://bit. ly/4dojY0p.

Veterans Pension: If you served on active duty during wartime, are at least 65 years old or have a service-connected disability, and have limited or no income, find out if you qualify for veterans Pension benefits. This benefit is open to active-duty veterans only. Learn more at https://www. va.gov/pension/eligibility/. Aid and attendance or housebound allowance: If you need help with your daily activities or you’re housebound, check whether you're eligible to have increased aid added to your monthly veterans pension payments. This benefit is open to active-duty veterans only. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3sKJ5Wd.

Disability housing grants: If you have a service-connected disability, find out how to apply for a housing grant to make changes to your home to live more independently. This benefit is open to veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://bit.ly/3I8JrNu.

More life insurance options: Explore life insurance coverage options and services for you and your family and manage your policy online. This benefit is open to veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://www. va.gov/life-insurance/.

Pre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemetery: Apply for a pre-need eligibility decision letter to confirm you qualify for burial in a VA cemetery. This can help you pre-plan and make the process easier for your family. This benefit is open to active-duty Veterans only. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3KoGeul.

Use a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Filing for federal and state veterans’ benefits can be complicated. VSOs are trained by the VA, the State’s Department of Veteran Affairs, and Veterans Service Organizations. VSOs must pass a background check and an examination, swear to represent honestly, and meet continuing education requirements.

S.C. County VSOs: Find SC County VSOs at https:// bit.ly/3qbLVSL and Georgia VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7

Search Nationwide for VSOs: Search for VA-accredited representatives (VSOs, attorneys, and claims agents) nationwide at https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M. Find a VSO at VBA Regional Headquarters: Search for VSOs at VBA Regional Offices at https:// www.benefits.va.gov/ benefits/offices.asp. VSOs co-located in the Columbia, S.C.. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Office frequently travel throughout the state to help veterans. Contact them at:

• Disabled American Veterans: 803-6472422

American Legion/SCDVA: 803-647-2434

• Veterans of Foreign Wars: 803-647-2443

• Paralyzed Veterans: 803-647-2432

Some S.C. VSOs in the footprint of The Island News include: Beaufort County, Director Caroline Fermin, 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906 843-255-6880, https:// bit.ly/3ryd5qS. Beaufort DAV Chapter, Chapter Service Officer Michael Vergantino, 843-301-2543 and mlv1030@gmail.com. Jasper County, Alton Jenkins, 651 Grays Highway, Ridgeland, S.C. 29936, Phone: 843726-7727, ajenkins@ jaspercountysc.gov. Colleton County, Janet Smith, 219 S. Lemacks Street, Suite 124 Walterboro, S.C. 29488, 843-549-1412, cvao@ colletoncounty.org. Charleston County, David LeBlanc, Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building, Suite B-154 (First Floor),4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston, S.C. 29405, 843-974-6360, vaoffice@charlestoncounty.org.

A final comment about VSOs: Not all VSOs work in State or County Veterans Offices or VBA Regional Offices. Some VSOs volunteer for their local Veterans Service Organization Chapter. VSOs work closely with the VA but represent the veteran and his or her family for free. In the most complicated cases, VSOs may refer veterans and their families to VA-accredited attorneys for help. Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and

Some Georgia VSOs in the footprint of The Island News: Chatham County, Ga., Manager Miguel Rivera, 912-920-0214, Ext. 2412191, Miguel.rivera5@va.gov, 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga., 31419. Also, VSO Sheri Shellman, 912920-0214, Ext. 412194 and VSO Robert Jones, 912-920-0214, Ext. 412193. Located in the Savannah VA Outpatient Clinic. • Liberty County & Hinesville, Ga., Shannon Daniels, 912-408-2948 shannon.daniels@ vs.state.ga.us, and Dennis Boothe, 912408-2900, Ext. 352750 dennis.boothe@ vs.state.ga.us, 500 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville, Ga., 31313 Located inside the Hinesville VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. Brunswick, Ga., Veterans Field Service Office (located in the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic-CBOC), 93 Benchmark Way, Brunswick, Ga., 31520, Manager Stephanie Jordon, Phone: 912-2647360, Email stephanie. jordan1@vs.state.ga.us

LARRY DANDRIDGE

Recruit Tyler Edmunds neck drags Recruit Oluwagbemiga Omotoye — both are

with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion — to safety during

Noonan’s Casualty Evacuation

28, 2024, during

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Who Just Moved In?

Our Assumptions About God

You’ve heard things about the neighbor down the street. Ever since he moved into the neighborhood, people have been saying negative things about him. This impression is strengthened when you see him out in his yard, mumbling to himself as he pulls weeds. As a result, you never try to speak with him or get to know him. But one day, he introduces himself to you and you both begin talking. It turns out, what you had heard about him wasn’t at all accurate, and he’s actually a wonderful person.

We tend to make presumptions about God, too. As in our example, we might never have been properly introduced to God. We may have negative ideas about him from things we have heard from family or friends. We might have an impression of him that is inaccurate or incomplete, and these impressions can keep us from even wanting to seek God out.

What impressions might you have about God?

Perhaps God was never talked about in your family when you were growing up, and so you’ve never really considered matters of faith to be very important. Maybe you assume that God is just for people who are weak-minded or gullible. You may think of God as a force, an energy, or a higher level of existence, rather than as a person.

Wounds in our heart can also affect our view of God. If we experienced problems in our relationship with one or both of our parents, we can unconsciously imagine God in the same way. For example, if our father was absent or emotionally distant, we may imagine God as being somewhat detached as well, not caring about our daily needs. If our mother held grudges and never seemed to forgive us, we can find it hard to believe that God is truly merciful and willing to forgive our sins. If our parents were overly demanding and hard to please, we could imagine God in the same way, thinking we have to earn his love by being good.

God has revealed himself as a loving Father. When Christians speak of God, we mean the infinite being who created the universe and everything in it. He is a person, meaning he is a “someone” who loves and cares for us, rather than an impersonal force or energy. He created the human race and has revealed himself to us so that we can know him and enjoy a relationship with him. Of all the earthly images that he could have used to symbolize how he considers us, his favorite is to present himself as our loving and merciful father.

What might need to be healed for you to seek God?

Over the years, what has influenced the way you think about God? What might be the assumptions that you have about God, perhaps even without realizing it? If there are wounds from your childhood, perhaps you can talk to God about them and ask for healing. Like the neighbor in our example, it could be that God is different than we are imagining, and we will be glad that we got to know him!