February 23 edition

Committees discuss their assigned books during the third Beaufort County School District Book Review Committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2at Okatie Elementary School. Each committee is made up of community member, a parent, a school administrator, a member of a School Improvement Council in the school district, a district-level administrator, a teacher and a school librarian. Delayna Earley/The Island News

Committee removes second book from Beaufort County Schools

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

BEAUFORT – Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult has become the second book to be removed from Beaufort County School District libraries.

In January, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover became the first book removed since the process of reviewing the books began in October.

The third BCSD Book Review Committee meetings were held

on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Okatie Elementary School, and the committees reviewed and voted on 10 books from the list of 97 books that are currently under review.

Three other books were deemed appropriate for grades 9 through 12, five books will be returned to grades 6 through 12, and one book is being returned to circulation with no restrictions.

During the committee meeting, the members of each committee have a chance to discuss

Daffodils!

LIZ FARRELL

One picture, so many different images

WALTERBORO

Iwas sent a photo last night that perfectly captures what the past five weeks have been like.

This photo was taken by Grace Beahm Alford of The Post and Courier, one of the handful of photographers designated by the court to capture images of the trial on behalf of all news agencies.

In it, Alex Murdaugh — guarded by a deputy — is walking past his adult son, Buster, during a break in Buster’s testimony Tuesday morning.

Alex is presumably being taken to a restroom.

Buster is standing by the court reporter, his hands deep in his pockets, his chin at his chest.

As Alex passes by, he reaches out his hand and seizes this opportunity of sudden proximity to pat Buster on the backside.

The photographer captured that exact moment.

The image is not one I ever wanted or needed to see — but I had a strong reaction to it. It immediately became all things at once.

A tall ginger man getting touched on the posterior by an

SEE FARRELL PAGE A4

Anastasia Ewald, left, and her 2-year old brother, Werner, were busy picking daffodils at the U-Pick Daffodil Farm in Okatie on Tuesday afternoon. The two were at the farm with their mother, Kierstin, who told them they could pick 10 flowers each. As it turned out, Werner did the picking and Anastasia did the arranging in the bucket. The farm is generally open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or whenever they run out of blooms to pick each day, according to Chuck Merrick, owner of the 40-acre farm. Merrick said weather didn’t co-operate this year causing a late opening, and recent rains caused a lot of mud, creating an unsafe environment. “But it’s all good now,” he said. Merrick said its best to go to http://upickdaffodils.com to make sure. Photos by Bob Sofaly/The Island News

their assigned book with the rest of their committee before voting anonymously on if the book should be returned to circulation at all, with restrictions, or without restrictions.

Each committee is made up of a community member, a parent, a school administrator, a member of a School Improvement Council in the school district, a district-level administrator, a teacher and a

SEE BOOK PAGE A4

Bands, Brews & BBQ is back

From staff reports Beaufort Memorial Hospital presents the 2023 Bands, Brews & BBQ, bringing two days of food, music and fun with wings, barbecue, craft beers, and live music on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25 on Paris Avenue in Port Royal.

This official South Carolina Barbecue Association sanctioned event benefits FRIENDS of Caroline Hospice.

Friday night is the Wing Throw Down from 6 to 9 p.m., where you can sample wing recipes from participating cookers while enjoying live music from Mike Ponder and Steel Rail Express.

Saturday is the barbecue tasting day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with cook teams from across the Southeast serving their award-winning butts. Don’t forget the beautiful view, live music from local favorites Chris Jones, The Bullgrapes, and The Chiggers.

Awards will be presented on Saturday by the South Carolina BBQ Association.

One award that is quickly gaining popularity is the Hometown Heroes award. Local teams representing First Responders, Veterans, Education, and Health Care compete for $500, a flag, and bragging rights for the year.

SEE BANDS PAGE A4

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

ISLAND NEWS

PUBLISHING,

LLC

PUBLISHERS

Jeff & Margaret Evans

FOUNDING PUBLISHERS

Elizabeth Harding Newberry Kim Harding

EDITORIAL/DESIGN

Editor-in-Chief

Mike McCombs theislandnews@ gmail.com

Art Director Hope Falls ads.theislandnews@ gmail.com

Sports Editor Justin Jarrett LowcoSports@ gmail.com

VETERAN OF THE WEEK STEVE SWITZER

Beaufort’s Steve Switzer, 69, joined the United States Marine Corps at 17 years old in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1970. After boot camp at Parris Island, he trained as a Heavy Equipment Operator at Camp Lejeune before being assigned to Quantico, Va., to work in construction.

Switzer next transferred to Okinawa, the first of four tours there. In between each tour saw him at MCAS Beaufort working with heavy equipment. While at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Answers to Lucas’ questions

This is in response to the February 9-15, 2023 column, “Are We Still Doing This? Again and Again?” by Carol Lucas. The headline refers to mass murder/gun violence.

I will address a few of her comments and questions: “How many times?”

Answer: Many, many more times.

Are we “… proud to hold the dubious distinction that our country seems to relish…” (gun violence). Answer: Who cares?

“Something concrete must be done.”

Answer: Don’t hold your breath.

Lucas relates that she “… shot a gun a couple of times …”

Answer: Big deal.

Lucas hopes that you are never in a position to experience the pain of gun violence.

Answer: Don’t be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

– Terry Gibson, Beaufort re: School book ban mess

I write this after reading so many articles and others’ letters to the editor about the issue.

I recently, in my readings, came upon a quote (from) 1821 by German poet and playwright Heinrich Heine, “Dort, wo man Bucher verbrennt, verbrent mann auch am Ende Menmschen.”

I think a solid translations reads, “Where they burn books, they will, in the end, also burn people.”

We have our Junior League version of these folks right here in Beaufort. People who think that their “Religious Freedom” is the freedom for them to impose their wants/ fears/hates, i.e. their lifestyles, onto all others. A small minority that wants to rule over all others.

And then they call themselves good Americans, good Christians. They are the exact opposite. And should be recognized as such.

ON THIS DATE

February 23

Okinawa he deployed to Thailand where he worked with the Thai Marines. His final assignment was back at MCAS Beaufort, his fourth tour there. He retired in 1991 after 21 years of service as a Master Sergeant. He then served our community for 17 years as a police office, first with the City of Beaufort City and then with the Town of Port

And this handful of people should not be able to force so much trouble and worries and time and expense on all others.

I see that to date only one book reviewed (now two) has had a change in category advised. And, be clear, any parent can opt out of these books for their children. But these “watchdogs of decency” should have no say over how all others are raised. How many hours have been spent on this falseflag chase already?

At minimum these people should be sanctioned, same way Trump was fined about a million dollars for filing a frivolous law suit. These people should have to pay for all the time of all the people that has been spent reading these books, talking over them. This is in the class of a nuisance lawsuit and should be treated as same … filers of these (should be) financially penalized.

What’s that old H.L. Mencken quote about a Puritan? “A person that is afraid that someone somewhere is having a good time.”

– George Stanton, Beaufort

Leave St. Helena alone

I recently read an informative article written by Mr. Mike McCombs of your newspaper. The subject was the potential future development of an area of Saint Helena Island by an outside investor.

The reason my wife and I rent a property and support the numerous services and events in your area each year is the beauty, serenity, and very natural environment that has been sustained by the Gullah culture for so long. I believe any more gated communities, golf courses, franchises or other such ventures will destroy what is the essence of your community. My wife and I would no longer visit. The estimated $15,000 we spend each year in your area would disappear.

1868: James Edwin McTeer, future Beaufort County Sheriff, is born.

1915: Robert Smalls dies. At the time of his death, he was suffering from malaria and diabetes.

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

Cat of the Week: Rowan is tall, dark, and handsome. This big guy was found at a feral colony and was certainly someone’s pet. He is incredibly sweet, loves people of all ages, and belly rubs. He is 3 years old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

Royal.

Today, Switzer is the Worshipful Master of the Port Royal Masonic Lodge 242 and an active Shriner, taking children to the Shriners Hospital in Greenville.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 9. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com

I ask the governmental entities who will ultimately accept or reject further commercial development to consider my request to reject any effort at further development. This is not progress. As a retired commercial/industrial appraiser I can speak with some knowledge. Thank you.

– William A. Rolland, Jr., Shavertown, Pa.

Give SC citizens a voice

The First Amendment includes the phrase “… and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances …”

I have sent a query, again, to my S.C. Senator asking why our legislature has refused, as in many (often southern) states, to encode in state law neither a “recall petition” nor a “citizen-initiated referendum” petition? What scares our state governance folk?

There are some doing or proposing wacky stuff in no way representative of a majority of citizens’ wishes. I’d like some options when a given elected official does not appear to serve the needs and wishes of their constituency, or will not put an issue on the ballot despite public wishes? Just asking.

Island

– Tim Dodds, Lady’s

Keep up the good work

We pick up the Sunday New York Times just about every week, and choose a section or two to read through as the week goes on. But we have a subscription (it’s a good cause) to The Island News, and I have to say my wife and I are spending almost as much time reading and relishing the editorials in your paper.

We appreciate the chances you take on a weekly basis, and love your band of gypsies who boldly give us their best.

Keep up the great words and work.

– Glen Becker, Lady’s Island

Videographer Delayna Earley delayna. theislandnews@ gmail.com

SALES/BUSINESS

Advertising Sales Director Amanda Hanna 843-343-8483 amanda@ lcweekly.com

Accounting April Ackerman april@ aandbbookkeeping. com Billing questions only.

Dog of the Week: Jolene is the quiet type who likes to take time to warm up to new people. She has spent most of her life at home and is yearning to get back to that life. She prefers a quiet and calm environment to spend her time napping or just relaxing. Jolene is 2 years old, spayed, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

If you are interested in adopting Rowan, Jolene, or any of our other pets, call our adoption center at 843-645-1725 or email us at info@ palmettoanimalleague. org to set up an appointment.

CONTACT US PO Box 550 Beaufort, SC 29901 TheIslandNews@gmail.com

www.YourIslandNews.com facebook.com/TheIslandNews

DEADLINE

For press releases and advertising, please submit by noon on Friday for the following week’s paper.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor should consist of fewer than 275 words and be emailed with a name and contact information to TheIslandNews@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER

All content of The Island News, including articles, photos, editorial content, letters, art and advertisements, are copyrighted by The Island News and Island News Publishing, LLC, 2022, all rights reserved. The Island News encourages reader submissions via email to theislandnews@gmail.com. All content submitted is considered approved for publication by the owner unless otherwise stated. The Island News is designed to inform and entertain readers and all efforts for accuracy are made.

Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Island News, its publisher or editors. Content published from Care Magazine® is intended as a reference and options source only, not as a guide to self-treatment or substitute for profession medical advice. It is provided for educational purpose only. Readers assume full responsibility for how this information is used. The Island News reserves the right to refuse to sell advertising space, or to publish information, for any business or activity the newspaper deems inappropriate for the publication.

Steve Switzer

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

Beaufort’s

Clark

Morse was taking

in a view of the Lowcountry recently.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

St. Helena man convicted in attack on Tennessee couple

From staff reports

A St. Helena Island man who lured a couple to his home to confront the husband about romantic infidelities is headed to prison after a Beaufort County jury found the former semi-professional fighter guilty of two counts of kidnapping.

Justin Brodie Granet, 45, of Chaplin Drive was found guilty Friday following three days of testimony at the Beaufort County Courthouse. The jury also found Granet guilty of first-degree assault and battery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Granet was sentenced to 20 years, suspended to 14 years, followed by two years of probation. He also re-

ceived 10 years on the assault charge and five years for the weapon. The charges are to run concurrently.

Hannah Kidd of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office prosecuted the case. Assistant Solicitor Samantha Molina assisted with the prosecution.

On March 11, 2019, the Tennessee couple stopped at Granet’s St. Helena Island home on their way to Fripp Island. When the couple attempted to leave, Granet came up behind the man, put him in a chokehold, and took him to the ground. He attempted to bind the man with zip ties and duct tape, while he assaulted him. The woman was able to dial 911 before stuffing her phone

in between couch cushions. She was subsequently bound with duct tape and rope. The couple were then forced into a hallway upon the arrival of law enforcement and told to remain silent. Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputies arrived and saw a cracked glass door with drops of blood on the kitchen floor surrounded by broken zip ties. After no response, deputies forced their way inside and found Granet’s hands covered in blood. The man was found lying on the floor, bloodied and unresponsive. The woman was found with her hands bound by rope, and duct tape around her head. The man was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where he was diagnosed with skull and facial fractures and a subdural hematoma. He was then immediately transported to the Medical University of South

City hosting event in memory of Tyre Nichols

From staff reports

Carolina in Charleston for treatment. The man and woman were two of 11 witnesses Kidd called to the stand.

Circuit Court Judge Robert Bonds handed down Granet’s sentence.

Granet’s criminal history includes convictions for simple assault and battery (1996); criminal domestic violence (1997); simple assault and battery (1998); and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (2008).

Charges against Granet’s co-defendant, 45-year-old Donald Christopher Bliss, are still pending. Bliss is charged with two counts of kidnapping, first-degree assault and battery, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. All defendants are considered innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs holds annual meeting on Feb. 7

From staff reports

The Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs, after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 virus, was able to return earlier on Feb. 7 for their annual meeting.

Hosted by Sea Island Garden Club, the meeting was held at the Parish Hall of St. Helena’s Anglican Church in downtown Beaufort.

Outfitted in beautiful displays of millinery, members of the seven garden clubs were treated to refreshments including cheese

straws, tea sandwiches, sweets, and tea punch. As the members socialized, cellist David Kimbrell provided musical entertainment.

The business meeting featured greetings from Linda Howle, the President of the Garden Clubs of South Carolina, Inc., as well as Christy Sloan, who was representing the West Low Country District.

The member clubs of the Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs: are Beaufort, Camellia, Dataw, Lady’s Island, Royal

and

to our VALENTINE BALL

Than k you Thank you

The City of Beaufort will host an event – Tyre Nichols and Our Commitment to Responsible Public Safety – at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park pavilion at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25

Tyre Nichols died as the result of injuries sustained at the hands of five Memphis, Tenn., police officers on January 7. The video of this incident depicting the extremely violent nature of the incident has sparked a national conversation over public safety practices.

“In the aftermath of the death of Tyre Nichols, I thought it was opportunity for our City to show its heart to do something to commemorate his memory,” Beaufort City Councilman Mitch Mitchell said at City Council’s February 14. “I see it as relationship building opportunity for law enforcement in our community.”

The City encourages community members from northern Beaufort County to attend this short ceremony of reflection and prayer.

THE PROGRAM

Opening Remarks:

Councilman Mitch Mitchell, City of Beaufort

Opening Prayer: State Rep. Michael Rivers Sr., SC

District 121

Welcome: Mayor Stephen Murray, City of Beaufort

Comments: Other local government officials

Community Law

Enforcement Update: Chief Dale McDorman, Beaufort Police Department; other local law enforcement officials

Closing Prayer: Pastor Theresa Roberts, Love House Ministries

SPONSORS

INVITATION SPONSORS

Grayco

Beaufort Memorial Medical Staff

MB Khan

KICKOFF SPONSOR

Moore Van Allen

AUCTION SPONSORS

Cigna

Assured Partners

CHERUB SPONSORS

Kinghorn Insurance of Beaufort

Beaufort Medical Imaging

Lowcountry Legacy Law Firm

Powell Electric

Charleston ENT & Allergy

Lifepoint Health

CMS Imaging

Mr. & Mrs. James Flickinger

DREAMBOAT SPONSORS

Bezilla Kinney Phifer-Wealth Management

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Shields

Howell Gibson Hughes, PA.

Team Health

Mitchell Brothers

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Parks

Regions Bank

Charleston Pathology

HEARTTHROB SPONSOR

J. Wood Rutter

Brightspeed Business

Henry Schein

Lt. Col. & Mrs. Gregory W. Dyson

Novus Architects

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Meyer

Mr. & Mrs. Steven Wexler

Alpha Graphics

David & Jan House Budget Blinds

LOVEBIRD SPONSORS

Blythe

The Island News

Dr. & Mrs. Phillip Cusumano

CPM Federal Credit Union

Dr. & Mrs. Kevin Jones

Young Office

Corporate Environments Inc.

Athena Health Alliance Imaging

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Scutta

LS3P

Lynn & Wheeler, CPAs

Mr. & Mrs. Parker Moore

Mr. & Mrs. William Himmelsbach

SCP Wellness Works

Ms. Karen Peluso

True North Custom

303 Associates

Southern States Imaging, Inc.

OneBlood

Brunson Construction, Inc.

Tumlin, Levin, Sumner-Wealth Management

Granet

Hannah Kidd

Pines,

Sea Island. Allyson Harden was chair of the event committee.

Allyson Harden, chair of the event committee, speaks at the annual meeting of the Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs held Feb. 7. Submitted photo.

Pat Keown won Best Hat at the annual meeting of the Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs held Feb. 7. Submitted photo.

Nonprofit coming to Lowcountry thanks to grant

From staff reports

Coastal Community Foundation has awarded a catalyst grant to Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), expanding the nonprofit’s reach into South Carolina for the first time.

EforAll partners with communities nationwide to help underrepresented individuals successfully start and grow businesses through intensive business training, mentorship and an extended professional support network. To date, EforAll alumni have launched more than 1,100 business. In 2021 alone, alumni businesses provided 1,734 local jobs and generated $54 million in revenue.

The $425,000 grant match from Coastal Community Foundation will be provided over five years and give EforAll the opportunity to launch its first program in South Carolina, specifically in South Carolina’s South Coast region of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.

“Nonprofits don’t always have the staff, money, or resources they need to launch big, innovative ideas,” CCF Southern Lowcountry Director Veronica Hemmingway said in a news release. “Catalyst grants provide organizations the funding to launch transformative programs for the community.”

“EforAll is thrilled to work with Coastal Community Foundation to bring our proven program to South Carolina’s South Coast area. We know our Business Accelerator program has the ability to change the lives of aspiring entrepreneurs and the communities where they live. Thanks to this grant, we are one step closer to launching here,” CEO of EforAll Meralis T. Hood said.

EforAll is currently working to raise the funding match. The goal is to launch in South Carolina in 2023. To learn more about EforAll and the South Coast program, visit eforall.org

Bands

Burton Fire recognizes 2022 Firefighter, Officer of the Year

From staff reports

On Friday evening, Feb. 17, during a ceremony held at the Grays Hill fire station, the Burton Fire District recognized two personnel who were selected by their peers to represent the district as the 2022 Firefighter and Fire Officer of the Year.

Burton Fire District Engineer/ EMT Brandon Peskopos was selected and recognized as the 2022 Firefighter of the Year. Eng. Peskopos came to the Burton Fire District in 2021 with 12 years of experience from the Belmont Fire Department in Greenville County.

“Whether spending six hours on the training ground assisting with training or cleaning the fire appa-

NEWS BRIEFS

Indivisible Beaufort February meeting

Indivisible Beaufort’s next meeting is set for 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 25 at the St. Helena Branch Library at 6355 Jonathon Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Classroom censorship? Transferring public school funds to private and religious schools through vouchers? Harsh penalties for teachers violating restrictive laws? It’s not something from a dystopian novel.

It is happening here and now.

Featured speaker Josh Malkin, Legal Fellow and Legislative Advocate at the ACLU, focusing on public education, will share the latest South Carolina legislative attacks on our public education system and the ACLU’s role in leading the fight against these proposals.

The event is free and open t the public.

League of Women Voters February meeting

The League of Women Voters Beaufort will be hosting a presentation and discussion on the nationally acclaimed book Schoolhouse

Book

from page A1

school librarian. Michel Claudio, a parent from Bluffton, says that she thinks that the process for reviewing the books is good because every member of the committee is given a chance to express their thoughts on the literature, but she is frustrated that they are there reviewing the books at all.

Admission is free. The sampling of wings Friday night and barbecue Saturday will be available by purchasing tickets for $1 each. Beer and wine, water and soft drinks, and food from other vendors will also be available for purchase.

The event will take place rain or shine. For more information, go to fochospice.org or call 843-525-6257.

Farrell

from page A1

from page A1 even taller ginger man.

A surviving son receiving brief affection from his jailed father.

The victim of two grisly murders getting a love tap from the man who is on trial for those killings.

“There’s so much time, valuable teacher and staff time, being spent doing this. It’s almost like a robbery of taxpayer dollars,” Claudio said. “That said, I am encouraged by how things have been going.”

Claudio said that she feels that as a parent you have a right to decide what is appropriate for your child

It is a picture of absurdity, of privilege, of power, of forgiveness, of loyalty, of longing, of abuse, of bullying, of coercion, of family, of control, of entitlement, of sadness, of broken hearts and of love.

The photo is a litmus test. What you see when you look at it is deeply influenced by how you view the Murdaughs.

Is Alex a man who has been wrongfully accused?

Is he a murderer who thought he could talk his way

Brandon Peskopos

ratus and stations, Brandon consistently demonstrates and shares his positive attitude and leadership,” Burton fire chief Harry Rountree said in a news release. “He has become a mentor to both our younger firefighters as well as those with experience. He is truly a team player.”

Burton Fire District Captain/EMT Ethan Webb was selected and recognized as the 2022 Burton Fire Officer of the Year. Burton fire officials state that Captain Webb set the tone for his career from day one when he was selected by his fire academy

Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy by author Derek Black at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25 at Penn Center. Black is from South Carolina and is a Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. His award-winning book tells the true story of education in the U.S. and the current state of affairs: book banning, censorship and individuals seemingly grabbing control of curriculums, education theories and many other aspects of education. Plan to attend and bring a friend. The event is free and open to the public.

Scott seeking interns

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is now accepting applications for internships in his Washington, D.C., North Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville offices for the summer of 2023. The internship program offers undergraduate and graduate students the chance to work with public service professionals and gain practical experience in constituent services, government policy, and more. Students of all majors, particularly those studying governmental affairs, public policy, or communications, are welcome to apply.

to read, but that right does not extend to other children in the school district.

Claudio has participated in two separate committees and has resubmitted her name to participate in future committees.

“These are some really great books,” Claudio said. “Really valuable books for our community and especially for our children, and I’m glad that they are holding up to scrutiny.”

Two other members of committees, Michelle Mostiler, a teacher at Bluffton High School, and Kevin Sandusky, a teacher and School Improvement Council member at Bluffton High School, agreed with Claudio.

Sandusky said that he wishes that they didn’t have to be there.

“I love that the process is very organized and super

out of consequence? Is he evil? Is he loving? Is he guilty? Is he innocent?

Obviously, the photo annoyed me. Once again the Murdaughs were breaking the rules inside the courtroom because no touching!

Two weeks earlier, after repeated warnings, the family — in attendance every day — had been moved back a few rows from Alex because of their behavior.

They were seen passing notes to him during proceedings, appearing to use the phone of one of Alex’s attorneys as an Etch A Sketch of sorts. They were touching him and talking to him and, as I’ve told you before, treating the courtroom like their own personal social hour.

According to reports, Alex’s sister twice got caught trying to hand Alex contraband — a book by John Grisham. I kid you not.

classmates to receive the Order of the Maltese Cross award, which is awarded to someone who best exemplifies the integrity, honor, and ethos of the fire service. Captain Webb was selected in 2016 as both the Burton Fire District and Beaufort Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year. Also in 2016, then Engineer Webb was recognized for administering CPR and saving the life of a woman while off duty, and in 2018 as a Lieutenant, he was awarded a S.C. Firefighters’ Association Meritorious Action award for assisting with the rescue of a man who became trapped after a vehicle struck his mobile home causing it to collapse on him.

Promoted to Captain in 2022,

Internship hours are flexible to accommodate students’ course schedules but generally run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students may also gain course credit for completing the internship program. Interested students can apply at http://bit.ly/3xJYF6Y. For additional questions, contact the internship coordinator at internships@scott.senate.gov or call 202-224-6121.

Beaufort History Museum has openings for docents

The Beaufort History Museum has openings for trained docents and will hold a three-day docent training session for interested persons, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., February 28 through March 2 in the Greater Beaufort Port Royal Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) Conference Room, 701 Craven Street, Beaufort. Lunch will be included.

Docents welcome visitors of all ages from all over the country and world to the Museum, conduct tours, and relate the remarkable 500-plus year history of Beaufort and the Sea Islands during their tour.

Visit http://bit.ly/3DQm9uk to

through 12 only

specific,” Mostiler said. “I think our students need access to reading so that it encourages higher learning.”

The committee participants are all volunteers and absences on the night of the meetings do not impact the process, according to a previous statement by BCSD spokesperson Candace Bruder.

The results of the vote were:

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell –returned to grades 9 through 12 only

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson – returned to grades 6 through 12 only

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson–returned to grades 6 through 12 only

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson – returned to grades 6

The man who IS a John Grisham novel apparently READS John Grisham novels.

On Tuesday, Buster Murdaugh — the son Alex isn’t accused of killing — took the stand for the defense.

Ostensibly, he was there to bolster his father’s case but he gave off the appearance of a beaten down dog wanting to please his master.

The photo was him getting his reward. His treat. Good boy.

But that’s just me. That’s my take on what I saw, based on my particular biases, formed by four years of research and interviews and unhealthy immersion, if we’re being honest.

The trial has had a series of these moments. It is a reminder of the self-sorting nature of humans, the preternatural need to be right about something, the desire to be part of a team.

Ethan Webb

Ethan has continued that pace leading his crews both on the emergency scene and training ground, as well as providing professional guidance and counseling to younger members of the fire district.

“These are always tough awards to give because so many of our firefighters work hard for the community every day and are also deserving,” Rountree said. “But with that, Engineer Peskopos and Captain Webb without a doubt, represent them all and are certainly deserving of this honor.”

view more details regarding the Museum’s expected qualifications for its Docents and the normal duties Docents perform. Space is limited and you must register for this event. Visit http:// bit.ly/3x5S0n3 to find the Museum website and register for this event.

Beaufort Republican Women’s Club holding membership drive luncheon

The Beaufort Republican Women’s Club will hold its annual Membership Drive Luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 4, in the Carolina Room at the Dataw Island Club, 123 Dataw Drive, St. Helena Island. The cost of the luncheon is $38 and is by reservation only.

The Beaufort Republican Women’s Club is an active organization with more than 100 members. To reserve a seat, please mail a check with the names of those who will be attending to BRWC, P. O. Box 1835, Beaufort, S.C. 29901 before Saturday, Feb. 25. For more information, contact Diane Roney at 843-838-4972.

– From staff reports

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult – removed from circulation

Sold by Patricia McCormick – returned to grades 6 through 12 only

All the Things We Do In The Dark by Saundra Mitchell –returned to circulation without restrictions

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare –returned to grades 6 through 12 only

I Am Not Your Perfect

Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez –returned to grades 9 through 12 only

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews – returned to grades 9 through 12 only

Only three committee members were present and

Is the dress blue with black lace or white with gold lace?

Do you hear Yanni or Laurel?

When he was interviewed by SLED three days after the murders, did Alex Murdaugh say “I did him so wrong” or “They did him so wrong” when referring to his murdered son Paul?

On Tuesday, the day started off with Jim Griffin, one of Alex’s defense attorneys, getting righteously scolded by Judge Clifton Newman on national TV for calling the state’s investigation against Alex “sloppy” on Twitter over the weekend. It was an extrajudicial statement, something that is against the state’s Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys.

Then there was Buster’s obsequious testimony.

Then the defense called their first expert witness — a man whose specialty is reconstructing

participated in the discussion about Nineteen Minutes, which is a book that follows a fictional school shooting and includes the events leading up to and after the event.

The committee was made up of a librarian, a school principal and a community member.

Two committee members voted to remove the book completely and one member voted to restrict the book to grades 9 through 12.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna. theislandnews@gmail.com

car wrecks. They had retained him in Paul Murdaugh’s boat crash case and were using him to reconstruct the shootings of Maggie and Paul. On crossexamination, the state destroyed him and the man walked out of the courtroom with metaphorical poster boards smashed over his head and ringing his neck.

The defense had a bad day, I thought.

The defense had a great day, Court TV declared.

One picture. So many ways to look at it.

Liz Farrell has lived in the Lowcountry since 2003. She is an award-winning journalist and co-host of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast and Cup of Justice podcast with Mandy Matney. The two have been investigating the Murdaugh story for four (very strange) years. You can reach them both by going to murdaughmurderspodcast.com

Burton Fire District celebrates 50 years

From staff reports

On Friday night, Feb. 17, in a ceremony at their Grays Hill fire station, attended by Burton firefighters and families both past and present, the Burton Fire District celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Prior to 1973, northern Beaufort County was protected by volunteer firefighters responding in two old fire apparatus carrying only 500 gallons of water each, and whose primary funding came from donations and fundraisers.

With an eye towards incoming growth and the need for funded and structured fire protection, Beaufort state representatives James Moss and W. Brantly Harvey Jr., introduced legislation to create the Burton Fire District. The new fire district would be governed by a board who would have the authority to levy a tax of five mills generating an income of about

The birthday cake was cut by the oldest and youngest member of the Burton Fire District present – Eric Munson, right, was a member of the fire district when it was first formed and a volunteer firefighter for more than 27 years, was the oldest member present, and Cody Parker, left, was hired by the district in October of 2022. Photo courtesy of the Burton Fire District.

$23,000. On February 15, 1973, the Burton Fire District was formerly created.

The new fire protection district would immediately be put to the test less than two months later when a Marine A-4 Skyhawk jet from Marine Corps Air Station

On Friday evening, Feb. 17, the Burton Fire District celebrated the 50th anniversary of its enactment as a Special Purpose District. Photo courtesy of the Burton Fire District.

Beaufort crashed in Grays Hill on March 7 of that year.

Today, the Burton Fire District is an advanced emergency medical provider that provides an all-hazard response from five fire stations staffed with career firefighters trained to national standards.

In 2016, the Burton Fire District received an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of Class Two, placing it in the top 2% of all fire departments in the nation graded by ISO, and signifies “exemplary” fire protection. Also during the evening ceremony, the fire district recognized Engineer/EMT Brandon Peskopos as its 2022 Firefighter of the Year,

and Captain/EMT Ethan Webb as the 2022 Fire Officer of the Year. The birthday cake was cut by the oldest and youngest member of the Burton Fire District present; Eric Munson, who was a member of the fire district when it was first formed and went on to serve as a volunteer firefighter for more than 27 years, was the oldest member present,

and firefighter Cody Parker, who was hired by the district in October of 2022, was the youngest member present. “Beaufort County has come a long way in modernization and growth,” Burton Fire Chief Harry Rountree said. “We are proud to say that the Burton Fire District and our members have lived up to the vision of our citizens and elected officials in 1973, and have provided the fire and emergency services needed to safely and efficiently support that growth. From initially providing only fire protection to the all-hazard response capability today, which now includes advanced medical capabilities and proactive prevention services, we have continued to evolve into what our citizens need and deserve. Tonight, we celebrated that and all those who served and sacrificed over the years to achieve it.”

The Fundamentals You Need For Investing Success

Presented by Fred Gaskin

We consistently encourage our clients to take ownership of their investment portfolios, and a big part of that process is settling on an investment management plan. In our opinion, what long-term investors really need are guiding principles to help them stay focused and on track to achieve their goals.

With my clients, I talk about these seven fundamentals that are essential to successful investing:

1. Establish a financial plan based on your goals. Many of us have several financial goals—save for retirement, college for our children, and a home—to name a few. The first step to making progress toward those goals is creating a plan to reach them. According to Schwab’s Modern Wealth Survey, 65 percent of Americans who have a written financial plan feel financially stable, while only 40 percent of those without a plan feel that same level of comfort.

2. Start saving and investing today. Building wealth is a

Chamber’s Economic Forecast set for March 2

From 8 to 10 a.m., Thursday, March 2, leaders from around the region will gather at the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts for the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Forecast — a special networking event that shares the latest data about our region, bright spots in our local economy, and insight from an expert on today’s most

long-term endeavor and for long-term investors, time in the market is more important than attempting to time the market. Your level of savings is the biggest factor in determining whether you can meet your financial goals. And the earlier you start saving and investing, the more time your contributions have to potentially grow, thanks to the power of compounding.

3. Build a diversified portfolio based on your tolerance for risk. Allocate your money across asset classes, such as stocks, bonds and cash investments, and within each asset class, across different sectors and geographies. To determine what allocation mix is right for you, it’s important to understand your tolerance for potential losses, which is dependent on your time horizon and comfort with volatility. For example, if you have a mortgage, your own business and kids approaching college, you may be less likely to ride out a bear market-given your income needs-than if you

pressing issues. This is a great opportunity to gather information, make connections and have the knowledge to position your business for success in 2023.

The keynote speaker is Laura Ullrich, the Senior Regional Economist with Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, who impressed last year with her research on economic trends, labor force, housing, and how policy affects prosperity.

The event includes a delicious breakfast and prosperity report with ticket purchase. Visit https:// bit.ly/3xAh9GV to register.

LEGAL NOTICES

are single and not holding any major debt.

4. Minimize fees and taxes. Markets can be unpredictable, so control what you know, such as investing fees. A seemingly small difference in fees can potentially make a big difference over time. Regularly review your statement and ask your financial advisor directly about the different fees you are paying, why you’re paying them and how they are impacting your returns and progress toward financial goals. It’s also important to always consider tax-efficient investing strategies, such as tax-loss harvesting, which may allow you to offset taxable investment gains with taxable investment losses, lowering your current tax bill and leaving you with more money to invest and potentially grow.

5. Build in protection against significant losses. If you experienced the tech bubble burst in 2000 or the 2008 financial crisis as an investor, you know it can take years to recover—emotionally and in your portfolio. Holding cash

Bay Street Realty adds Robinson

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bay Street Realty Group has announced the addition of veteran realtor and broker Dennis Robinson. With nearly four decades of real estate experience, Robinson has been at the forefront of growth, development and sales across the region.

For 10 years, Dennis served as Broker-In-Charge for Fripp Island Real Estate, leading their sales team to record numbers for

and other defensive assets like bonds to hedge your portfolio can help provide stability and counteract big stock declines.

6. Rebalance your portfolio regularly. Forgetting to rebalance is like letting the current steer your boat—you’ll likely end up off course. Keep your portfolio aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. Letting asset classes “drift” can eventually expose your portfolio to a level of risk that feels uncomfortable, and could cause you to make knee-jerk, and potentially costly, decisions.

7. Ignore the noise. Markets will always fluctuate in the short-term, but whether they’re moving up or down, long-term investors should ignore the noise. Instead, stay focused on making progress toward your goals and stick to your financial plan.

No investing plan is perfect for every situation, but having a proven process should provide investors the confidence to deal with uncertain times in a in a constructive way. Whether you’re

the island from 2005-2007. Prior to that, he was the General Manager for Renaissance Communities in Beaufort, where he oversaw sales, marketing, and development of high end waterfront communities. He was a part of the development team at Fripp Island. Robinson received his B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from the University

retired, saving for retirement, or just getting started, having a plan makes solid sense.

Fred Gaskin is the branch leader at the Charles Schwab Independent Branch in Bluffton. He has over 35 years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals. Some content provided here has been compiled from previously published articles authored by various parties at Schwab.

The information here is for general informational purposes only. It should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment or tax advice, and the investment strategies mentioned may not be suitable for everyone. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, please consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, Financial Planner or Investment Manager. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.

Rebalancing may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when rebalancing a non-retirement account, taxable events may be created that may increase your tax liability. Rebalancing a portfolio and diversification strategies do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in any given market environment.

(0223-3RME)

Template: 0117-SHAD

of South Carolina. He’s a current member of the University of South Carolina Alumni Association and the Association of Lettermen USC. Robinson previously served as a Member of the Urban Land Institute, is a past chairman of the Beaufort Chamber tourism committee, and is also a past member of the South Carolina Tourism Council (Fripp Island).

For more information, visit www. baystreetrealtygroup.com

– From staff reports

Dennis Robinson

Rainy Days and More Norma Deal featured at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery

From staff reports Norma Deal, BAA’s Featured Artist for February 26 through April 30, is selftaught with an eye for color and composition. She was born and raised in Hickory, N.C., started drawing and painting in grade school, and attended art classes at East Tennessee University, as well as having an apprenticeship with Roy Schallenberg, international artist published in PGM Art World. Her involvement in the art world came after retirement and has since been a full-time hobby/ career.

Norma Deal

Although she relocated to South Carolina in 1990, Norma is still drawn to paint N.C.’s beautiful mountains and lakes; but she also began painting beautiful Lowcountry scenes. Her subject matter is extremely varied — from coast to mountains — and she’s now developed a deep interest in the unique Gullah tradition, inspiring her to paint a series of folk art. She specializes in oil and mixed media on canvas, panels and boards.

Norma has been showing in local and state galleries and works also on a commission basis. She has received numerous awards, including second place in her category in the prestigious Biennale Juried Exhibition held on Hilton Head Island. She was

a member and Gallery Manager at Society of Bluffton Artists for a number of years.

“It is extremely difficult for me to repeat a painting, to capture the original color and technique,” Deal said in a release. “This is a God-given talent with which I truly have been blessed. We, as artists, are always excited

when a painting has been sold, and trust the buyer enjoys their new artwork as much as we enjoyed creating it.”

There will be an opportunity to meet the artist at a reception from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 3 at the Gallery of the Beaufort Art Association at 913 Bay Street. ‘End of Day’ by Norma Deal

Another fabulous concert on Fripp: The Tony Lee Group

By Margit Resch Special to The Island News

You don’t have to go to Colum bia to hear The Tony Lee Group. The band is coming here, to Fripp, to play for us.

When I went to Columbia re cently, I asked Tony Lee whether he was playing somewhere that coming weekend. I wanted to hear him. His answer: “I am playing, but not musically.”

No wonder everyone loves Tony — he is funny. When I asked two friends I was “playing” with that weekend whether they knew Tony, they said: “Yes, oh, yes, he was in our Italian classes at tht University of South Carolina, and he was an excellent student.”

No wonder they remember him — he is smart. And when I asked Tony to tell me a bit about himself and his fellow musicians, he sent me a three-act bio of himself and a four-part epilogue about the other four musicians. No wonder I admire him — he is a wonderful writer; and, therefore, I quote his texts about his fellow musicians at length below. But most importantly, he is a musician, one of the most enterprising musicians you will ever meet, a drummer no less.

Tony studied English at USC, moved to LA and worked as an assistant film editor in major studios, even with Steven Spielberg, but couldn’t distance himself from

playing music, and so he toured the country extensively with a nationally signed rock band, Treadmill Trackstar, until he finally settled in Columbia. There he gathers talented musicians to play jazz and all kinds of popular music in all sorts of venues, especially at Speakeasy in Five Points. They also help him teach people of all ages to play instruments of any ilk through Freeway Music, a school he and fellow musician Don Russo co-founded 12 years ago, with six studios all over town and special programs like musical theater. An amazing range of entrepreneurship.

No wonder Tony has no trouble attracting talented musicians, such as the four he is bringing to Fripp:

Catie (Cat) Galan had been a student at Freeway Music and has often been a featured musician in Tony’s gigs at Speakeasy. As Tony puts it: “I became incredibly impressed with her talent … I had literally seen her grow up. Cat is diminutive, but her voice is anything but small. She was a frequent guest and was obviously growing into an exceptional musician. Precocious and fearless, she made a name for herself around Columbia as a first rate

Center for the Arts hosting 2nd Beaufort County High School Regional Art Competition

From staff reports

USCB Center for the Arts will host the second annual Beaufort County High School Regional Art Competition from March 1 to April 2. The opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 1 at the USCB Center for the Arts Gallery, where winners in various categories and prizes will be announced.

2 ANNUAL BEAUFORT COUNTY

HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL ART COMPETITION

MARCH 1-APRIL 2, 2023

The Coastal Discovery Museum, in partnership with the USCB Center for the Arts, is hosting the second county-wide juried exhibition featuring the best artwork from area high school students, following on the success of last year’s event.

Submissions were received from Battery Creek High, Beaufort High, Bluffton High, Hilton Head Island High School, Hilton Head Prep, Island Academy, May River High, and Whale Branch Early College High School. Works include painting, drawing, photography, digital art, mixed media, ceramics, and 3D design.

The exhibition was juried by internationally recognized artists, photographers, educators, and gallery directors. The judges selected the best works and monetary awards for the top entries will be announced at the opening reception. For more information, visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com or by calling 843-521-4145

musician. She also plays violin on a virtuosic level. She’s amazing.”

Catie has performed all over the world and teaches both violin and voice. Nicolas (Nick) Vlandis majored in music at USC. A trumpet player before he converted to piano, (and an elite chess player), Nick, in Tony’s words, “quickly became a first-call pianist for a multitude of gigs around Columbia and has only grown his reputation of indispensability, becoming a respected arranger and music director for several groups, as well. Nick’s talent is only rivaled by his engaging personality and sharp wit. It is an extreme pleasure to play music with him.”

Kyle Bryant, “with his lumberjack beard and quiet demeanor,” as Tony puts it, “disarms everyone he meets before they hear him play. His prowess on the guitar, an acrobatic display of fearlessness and complete control, alternately comforts and shocks. I have never played with anyone like Kyle. He is as thoughtful during his improvising as he is when he writes his original music, often using his little boy, Gibson, as his muse. Kyle is finishing a graduate degree in jazz per-

WANT TO GO?

Who: Tony Lee Group

What: Fripp Island Friends of Music Concert Series

When: 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26

Where: Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Blvd

Tickets: Admission at the door is $30 for adults (credit cards accepted), students free. Attendees are invited to a meetthe-artist reception after the performance, catered, deliciously, by Harold’s Chef Services.

For more information: Visit frippfriendsofmusic.com or call or text Vanessa Peñaherrera at 704-807-0255.

formance at USC, while maintaining a professional career in graphic advertising, as well as being a husband and father. The man is impressive.” Kyle writes and records his work.

Travis Shaw lives in Augusta, but routinely commutes to Columbia to play bass. According to Tony, “Travis is committed to being the open, beating heart of any group that is lucky enough to have him. His technical ability means that he can play with anyone, but it’s his empathy and thoughtfulness that set him apart. He feels every note, and those notes are split-second reactions to his feeling the notes around him. I have never met a more unself-

ish, skilled musician.” Travis plays gigs all over South Carolina with his original band, The Brownstown Gritty.

“Like Kyle, Travis is both a father and husband, a role combination that I,” i.e. Tony, “share with both of these men, which certainly plays a part in our musical kinship, but we connect beyond these obvious similarities. I feel both lucky and blessed to know them.”

Tony believes that the joy everyone in the group feels when they make music together is on display when they perform, and the audience can sense and observe that joy.

The Tony Lee Group performs at 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26, in the Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Blvd. Admission at the door is $30 for adults (credit cards accepted), students free thanks to the Peg Gorham Memorial Fund. Attendees are invited to a meet-the-artist reception after the performance, catered, deliciously, by Harold’s Chef Services.

This concert is presented by Fripp Island Friends Of Music (FIFOM) and supported by the S.C. Arts Commission. It helps fund FIFOM’s Music-in-the-Schools program. Visit frippfriendsofmusic. com for more information, or call or text Vanessa Peñaherrera at 704807-0255 for reservations.

Beaufort High students earn recognition in regional arts, writing contest

From staff reports

Five Beaufort High students were among 58 Beaufort County School District students winning Southeast regional recognitions in the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. There were also 32 winners at Hilton Head Island High, 17 at May River High, and four at Bluffton High.

The prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards describes itself as the nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative teens and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers. Students in Grades 7 through 12 typically submit more than 350,000 works of art and writing in 30 categories. Winning students earn opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships.

The district’s nine top award-winners – Gold Key recipients – advance to judging at the national level. Silver Key works are judged to demonstrate exceptional ability, and Honorable Mention works are judged to show great skill

and potential.

A Gold Key winner from Beaufort High was Elizabeth Sherbert for ‘Spoons’ (Painting). A Silver Key winner from Beaufort High School was Anna Lyles for ‘Fish Camp’ (Painting).

Beaufort High School Honorable Mentions were Jamar Knight for ‘Me With No Color’ (Drawing and Illustration); Anna Lemstrom for ‘Morning Contemplation’ (printmaking); and Jasmine Peru for ‘Transfixed’ (Drawing and Illustration).

“It’s great to see our students thrive through artistic expression,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “These 58 awards are a testament to our exceptionally gifted students and extraordinary art teachers who foster the students’ artistic talents every day.”

Judges evaluate student artwork based on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal

‘Thru the Dunes’ by Norma Deal

Tony Lee

vision or

Former winners of Scholastic Awards include Andy Warhol, Tru-

man Capote, Richard Avedon, Sylvia Plath, and filmmaker Ken Burns.

Elizabeth Sherbert for

Beaufort Memorial upgrading to new MRI

From staff reports

The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) capabilities at Beaufort Memorial Hospital are undergoing an extensive upgrade, replacing existing technology with Canon Medical’s newest MRI system, the Encore Vantage Orian. During the expected fourmonth installation project, which began on February 20, a mobile MRI unit will be placed in front of the Cochrane Heart Center to maintain imaging services for hospital patients.

MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the body. MRI is a valuable tool for evaluating injuries, tumors and digestive dis-

34th Annual Valentine Ball

The Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation’s 34th annual Valentine Ball was held February 11 at Tabby Place.

More than 400 guests, many of whom had attended pre-ball dinner parties, enjoyed dessert, dancing and a silent auction while helping the Foundation raise more than $200,000 toward a dynamic workforce development program that will include a stateof-the-art, on-campus education center and a freestanding daycare center at Beaufort Memorial.

“This year’s event marked a new fundraising focus that is

critical to the hospital’s future,” BMH Foundation Associate Vice President and Chief Development Officer Kim Yawn said. “We’re committed to investing in our employees’ long-term growth and success, as well as training new generations of health care providers to meet the growing needs of the community,”

First hosted in 1990, the Valentine Ball has raised almost $6 million for new technology, services and facility improvements for Beaufort Memorial and its patients over the past 33 years.

500,000!

orders and is preferred for brain and spinal cord imaging due to the soft tissue detail.

“A relaxed patient is key in MRI. This new scanner has a larger bore to help with claustrophobia and accommodate larger patients.

It also features a sound system that allows patients to listen to their favorite music,” said Robert Butch-

From staff reports

er, RT(R) (MR), Beaufort Memorial MRI manager. “Those comforts combined with the unit’s faster scanning and noise reduction create a better patient experience, while providing the most advanced high-resolution imaging.”

For more information about imaging services at Beaufort Memorial, visit BeaufortMemorial.org

The Beaufort Memorial Pratt Emergency Center team marked a milestone last week with the 500,000th patient visit since the opening of the new ER just longer than 10 years ago. The milestone comes as Beaufort Memorial prepares to invest approximately $750,000 in improvements to the Emergency Department. The project includes the addition of a psychiatricsafe evaluation unit inside the ER to help manage the needs of at-risk patients. Learn about emergency care the hospital by visiting BeaufortMemorial.org/Emergency. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital

BMH introduces breakthrough spine procedure

Chronic neck and nerve pain are among the most common problems addressed through spine surgery, and Beaufort Memorial is now offering a breakthrough, same-day procedure to alleviate neck pain and improve mobility.

Called cervical disc replacement surgery, this FDA-approved procedure removes a damaged disc and replaces it with an artificial disc.

“The result of stress, poor posture, increased screen time and other factors, cervical disc pain may begin in the neck, but can quickly radiate

across the shoulders and down the arms,” said Beaufort Memorial board-certified and fellowship-trained spine surgeon Dr. B. Andrew Castro. “The source of the problem are the discs between your vertebrae, the structures that absorb all of that shock, strain and pain.”

The cervical disc replacement begins with a small incision on the front of the neck. State-of-the-art technology allows the surgeon to then access the spinal column through this incision, removing the problem disc and replacing it with a cervical disc prosthesis. This artificial disc is inserted between

two healthy vertebrae, which anchor it in place. The precision engineering of the disc replacement gives almost the full range of motion of a healthy disc.

“Most cervical disc replacements are done as an outpatient procedure,” said Dr. Castro, who performed the first cervical disc replacement surgery last month at Beaufort Memorial and is currently the only surgeon in the county offering the procedure. “There’s very little

downside, very little blood loss, and you can usually be home the same day.”

Before this procedure was available, the preferred method for treating this chronic pain was a process called fusion. During spinal fusion a surgeon inserts some material between the two spinal bones, connecting both bones together, minimizing movement between them and reducing stress on the nerve.

“With fusion, you’re immobilizing the vertebrae with a plate, which requires a hard collar for four to six weeks after the surgery,” said Dr. Castro, who sees patients

at BOSS Orthopaedics in Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. “You can take pressure off the nerve roots and spinal cord, but it results in diminished movement because of the immobilization of the vertebrae. Also, the segments above and below are exposed to extra load.”

And while he has seen countless patients benefit from this advanced technique, Dr. Castro cautions that it is more suitable for some patients than others.

“There are certain conditions in the neck – trauma, tumors, spinal cord compression – that would make

a disc replacement less ideal for that patient,” he said, noting that cervical disc replacement is more suitable for younger patients whose discs have not seen a lot of degenerative changes.

“It’s designed for a relatively healthy disc which has a herniation,” said Castro. “But for those who fit the bill, this cutting-edge procedure can give people suffering chronic neck pain a new lease on life, with shorter recovery and a greater range of motion.”

To learn more about treatment for neck pain, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ NeckPain

Encore Vantage Orian. Photo provided.

Dr. B Andrew Castro

Photos by Charlotte Berkeley.

Valentine Ball co-chairmen John & Danielle Troutman and Mary Beth & Will Donovan.

Dee & Marc Robinson

Rebecca & Jeff Moser

Victoria Viventi and Steven Tinsley

Patrick & Tish Delozier

Margaret & Jeff Evans

Karen & Peter Wyman

Pregnancy and your heart

Pregnancy can be an exciting, happy time. It also can be an anxious time, especially if you have an underlying health problem, such as heart disease. February is American Heart Month, which makes this a good time to learn about heart conditions and pregnancy.

Pregnancy stresses your heart and circulatory system. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by 30% to 50% to nourish your growing baby. This makes your heart pump more blood each minute and your heart rate increases.

Labor and delivery add to your heart’s workload, too. During labor—particularly when you push—you’ll have abrupt changes in blood flow and pressure. It will take several weeks after delivery for the stresses on the heart to return to the levels they were before you became pregnant.

Preparing for pregnancy

Before you try to conceive, schedule an appointment with your cardiologist and the health care professional who’ll be handling your

pregnancy. You’ll likely be referred to an obstetrician who specializes in very high-risk pregnancies. You also might want to check in with other members of your health care team, such as your family clinician.

care TALK ©

Here are some suggestions for safe ways to express anger:

• Use your voice. This doesn’t mean to get in a yelling match with someone. This just means to use your voice to express the intensity of what you’re feeling. Maybe this means you go for a drive in the car and scream-sing along to a playlist. Maybe it means you scream into your pillow for a bit. It could also mean talking it over with someone if that feels supportive to you.

• Get moving. Anger is an intense emotion and can often feel like it’s bursting out of you or like it’s causing energy to build up inside of you. A great way to deal with the excess energy that often comes up with anger is to move your body and tire yourself out. Try dancing around to music that makes you feel powerful. Or maybe go for a run or a brisk walk. Any kind of intense movement that gets you moving, and your blood pumping can be helpful here to work through the feeling of anger.

• Be destructive (strategically). The urge to be violent when angry is often a way to get rid of the painful excessive energy that anger can bring. This urge can be met in ways that aren’t unsafe or scary, thank-

fully! Here are some ideas for how to be destructive in a safe, strategic way to help relieve some anger:

» Safely throw or squeeze or hit or break something

» Visit a smash room and break some things

» Hit or kick a punching bag

» Squeeze play dough or a stress toy

» Knead dough or pound meat

» Throw something soft (or maybe throw a toy for a pet to chase)

» Break down cardboard boxes

» Pound on a drum set Practice progressive muscle relaxation. Anger can cause a lot of tension to spring up in the body. When you’re responding to anger, it can be helpful to notice where the anger is living in your body. This not only helps you identify what anger feels like so you can spot it when it comes up in the future; it also lets you know where to focus your attention for relaxation. To help you find where the anger is living in your body, you can do a body scan and practice mindfulness that engages the body, like progressive muscle relaxation. There

At your first visit to a new healthcare provider, pharmacy, or hospital you will receive their Notice of Privacy Practices. You are asked to read and sign an acknowledgement that you received the HIPAA notice. The law does NOT say you HAVE to sign it, but if you do, it helps the provider to document that you received the information. Health insurance plans must also provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practice, so if you have health insurance, you receive the notice in the mail. Insurance plans don’t ask for your signature.

With federal laws in place protecting the privacy of your health information, there has been much

are lots of guided body scan meditations available online for free that you can try, to get in the habit of scanning your body for signs of anger.

Once you’ve spotted the anger in your body, you can focus on relaxing that area. Progressive muscle relaxation can help you slowly shift your body from a state of tension to a state of calm and safety.

• Find your safe place. Anger can feel scary and out of control.

When intense emotions like anger come up, it can be helpful to remind yourself that you are safe and in control of yourself. Where is a place you can go mentally to remind yourself that you’re safe? Some people choose a beach or mountains as their safe place, and others prefer a room in their house, or a space from their childhood home.

When you feel an intense emotion, imagine you’re in your safe place. If it helps, carry a reminder of this with you or save a picture on your phone to help you mentally return to your safe place. This can be helpful with lots of distressing emotions, not just anger!

Source: adapted from the article https://www.hope-wellness.com/ blog/6-safe-ways-to-express-anger

Your medical team will evaluate how well you’re managing your heart condition and consider treatment changes you may need before you become pregnant.

Certain medications used to treat heart conditions

aren’t used during pregnancy. Depending on the circumstances, your health care professional may adjust the dosage or make a substitution and explain the risks involved.

Preventing complications

Taking good care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby. For example:

• Keep your prenatal appointments. Visit your health care professional regularly throughout your pregnancy.

• Take your medication as prescribed. Your health care professional will prescribe the safest medication at the most appropriate dose.

• Get plenty of rest.

Take a daily nap, if you can, and avoid

strenuous physical activities.

• Monitor your weight gain. Gaining the right amount of weight supports your baby’s growth and development. Gaining too much weight places additional stress on your heart.

• Manage anxiety. Ask questions about your progress. Find out what to expect during labor and delivery. Knowing what’s happening can help you feel more at ease. Know what’s off-limits. Avoid smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and illegal drugs.

For additional information, visit https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/ consumer-health-pregnancyand-the-heart/

Heart disease in African American women

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women in the U.S. And African American women have an even higher risk of dying from heart disease—and at a younger age—than white women, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Dr. LaPrincess Brewer, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says this serious issue is compounded by the fact that many African American women are not aware of their risk ( https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-heart-disease-in-african-american-women/).

“Each year, more African American women die from heart disease than breast cancer, lung cancer and strokes combined,” says Dr. Brewer.

But what are the factors that increase their risk of developing heart disease?

“African Americans have the highest hypertension rates in the world. African American women are also the least physically active group of women in the United States. Now’s the time that we focus on changing the narrative on heart health and African American women.”

Dr. Brewer says African American women face a high burden of negative social determinants of health, such as chronic stress related to factors like food insecuri-

Did You Know...

confusion and misinformation. Here are the truths to some of these common myths:

Health information cannot be faxed - FALSE

Your information may be shared between healthcare providers by faxing the information. But, the organizations that send and receive your information by fax must have security policies regarding faxing.

E-mail cannot be used to transmit health information - FALSE

E-mail can be used to transmit information, as long as organizations have a means of protecting

the electronic health information, such as encryption and decryption, which protect the information from unwanted access or tampering.

Healthcare providers cannot leave messages for patients on answering machines or with someone who answers the telephone – FALSE

As long as the patient has given the okay for someone else to receive a message, and as long as the answering machine has an outgoing message that gives the person’s name or number for verification, a message may be left. Your provider will determine what

ty, systematic racism, the wealth gap and socioeconomically disenfranchised communities. These factors can prevent them from living a healthy lifestyle and controlling many heart disease risk factors.

It’s important these health disparities are addressed on community and societal levels. Dr. Brewer says it’s also going to take interventions from each person.

“I truly recommend that African American women be diligent to protect their own hearts and also take time for themselves. Self-care really does matter,” says Dr. Brewer.

Dr. Brewer recommends that all women keep heart health as a priority and follow the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” lifestyle changes to achieve ideal heart health:

Manage blood pressure.

Control cholesterol.

Reduce blood sugar.

Get active.

Eat better.

Lose weight.

Stop smoking.

Get healthy sleep.

For more information about the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” visit https://www.heart.org/en/ healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8

the message may include, but a message CAN be left.

Your name and location while in the hospital may not be given out without your consent - FALSE

You must specifically ask not to be listed in a hospital’s directory if you do not want it known that you are a patient there.

Your healthcare provider must have your approval to disclose your personal health information to another healthcare provider - FALSE

Your provider can share your health information with another provider if there is a reason to be-

lieve you will receive care there.

Your doctor cannot discuss your care with your family members - FALSE

The Privacy Rule permits healthcare provides to share information that is directly relevant to the involvement of a spouse, family members, friends, or other persons identified by you regarding your care or payment for healthcare. Your provider may also share relevant information with your family or other persons if it can reasonably infer, based on professional judgment, that you do not object.

Source: NIH.gov

Understanding and treating hives

Hives: they’re itchy raised bumps that might look like bug bites or a rash, and they can last anywhere from minutes to years depending on the circumstances. Oftentimes when someone breaks out in hives, the first thing they want to know is how to treat it. And while Angie Seelal, PA-C, has available treatment options to share, she recommends starting with a thoughtful approach.

“Hives—also known as Urticaria—aren’t uncommon, but there are many different reasons someone might have them. While they typically aren’t severe, they can sometimes be part of an allergic reaction, and in some cases might be accompanied by anaphylaxis, which is very serious. So, if someone is experiencing hives for the first time, they first need to decide whether they need Emergency Care, such as if they’re having difficulty breathing,” said Seelal.

The best treatment of all is prevention, so when someone has hives it’s important to try and figure out the origin. Hives are most often an allergic reaction. The body is overacting to some trigger and releasing histamines, which then leads to the itching and swelling associated with hives. There are many allergens that can trigger hives, with some common

ones including certain foods (such as nuts, shellfish, or dairy), insect bites or stings, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, latex, some medications (such as antibiotics or ibuprofen), some bacterial or viral infections (such as UTI’s, strep throat, or hepatitis), artificial flavorings or fragrances, preservatives or disinfectants, plants, and/or metals.

“If someone has an allergy that triggers a breakout of hives, they should definitely try to avoid exposure to that trigger, just as they would with any other allergen. If hives are a recurring problem and the source is unknown, it might be helpful

to schedule an allergy test with a licensed allergist” said Seelal.

“Anyone can have hives, but people with known allergies are usually at greater risk,” Seelal added. Other risk factors include smoking and having eczema—also called Atopic Dermatitis. African American women are at a greater risk of developing hives.

The good news is that hives are not contagious. There’s no need to worry about spreading them in most cases. Of course, when hives are caused by an infection (such as infectious mononucleosis, or “mono”), the infection itself can still

be contagious even though the hives themselves are not.

“Hives can look and feel similar to other types of rashes. If someone thinks they have hives (and it’s not a medical emergency), the best thing to do is get checked out by a Dermatologist,” said Seelal.

The best treatment for hives is first to try and avoid anything that might trigger them. Everyone responds differently to various allergens, so it can be helpful for people to know what triggers their own hives. Although, some people may not know what their sensitive to, and others may not always be able to completely avoid triggers.

Additionally, some triggers are not allergens, but instead environmental factors. These can include stress, excessive heat or cold, sweat, sunlight or other UV light sources, pressure on the skin (such as tight clothing), scratching.

People who break out into hives from these triggers should avoid the relevant irritant in the same way someone with an allergy would avoid the allergen.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to treat hives. For people who are having an allergic reaction, antihistamines are usually a good first option.

Experts recommend the use of second-generation H1-antihistamines (as opposed to first-generation).

Some examples of second-generation medications include Cetirizine, Loratadine, and Fexofenadine.

“And for people whose hives aren’t caused by histamines, the first treatment option could include NSAIDs—non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs—like Aspirin or Naproxen,” said Seelal.

There are also home remedies that people can try to help bring relief from the discomfort. A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda can be soothing;

just avoid taking a hot bath, because that could make it worse. Similarly, a cold compress can help alleviate symptoms too, but make sure there is a thick enough barrier and that ice is not directly on the skin. Other at-home treatments can include aloe vera or calamine lotion, as long as you’re not allergic.

If hives don’t go away on their own, a Dermatologist can help recommend other treatments. Corticosteroids can help to reduce the symptoms of a flare up. These are typically taken orally or injected—topical corticosteroids are not used for hives.

For people with chronic hives that last six weeks or longer, omalizumab injections might be used if antihistamines have already been tried. If both of these treatments fail to bring relief, ciclosporin might be an option, though it’s an off-label use.

“Everyone’s body is going to react a little bit differently; there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment. But visiting a dermatologist is a great way to get the best treatment the most quickly, and then get back to your life,” said Seelal.

Angie Seelal, PA-C is a Certified Physician Assistant through the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistant.

What can help you manage osteoporosis pain?

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes a decrease in bone mass and mineral density. While osteoporosis itself is not typically painful, a person may experience pain due to potential complications, such as breaking a bone.

Osteoporosis can cause a person’s bone to change in strength and structure. This can affect the composition of bone and reduce the amount of important minerals, such as calcium and phosphorous. This can make bones more fragile and increase the risk of experiencing a fracture.

While the condition does not typically have associations with pain, a person with osteoporosis may experience pain due to broken bones or other bone problems.

A common type of fracture that may occur is a spinal compression fracture. These fractures affect the bones of the spine, also known as the vertebrae.

Spinal compression fractures may occur due to falls or even from certain actions such as reaching, coughing, twisting, or even

sneezing. A person with this type of fracture may experience narrow and flatter vertebrae, loss of height, a rounded back, a hump, or a bent-forward posture. Spinal compression fractures may cause back pain near the site of the broken bone, and a person may feel pain in the lower back. The pain may also be the result of bones pressing on nerves, which in turn, sends pain signals to the brain.

Osteoporosis also commonly affects the bones of the hips and wrists, and fractures in these bones can also cause pain. The pain someone experiences may be mild and may resolve in four to six weeks, but in some cases, it may be lifelong.

A person with osteoporosis may receive medication from their doctor to treat the pain. Some of these medications may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids.

A person with osteoporosis experiencing pain may also benefit from physical relief methods. Some options may include physical therapy, heat and cold treatment, brace or cast, acupuncture and/or massage

may help alleviate pain symptoms. In addition to physical pain, a person with osteoporosis may experience psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. As such, they may also benefit from psychological treatment options, such as guided imagery, biofeedback, talk therapy (also known as psychotherapy). Instead of resolving pain itself, these approaches target improvements in

physical, emotional, social, and occupational functioning.

Some types of fractures may require surgery to restore bone function and relieve pain. Some surgical options that a surgeon may perform for spinal fractures may include kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty

Hip fractures may require surgical intervention, and these may include in-situ pinning and hip

replacement. In-situ pinning involves a surgeon placing pins or screws in the site of the fracture to hold the bone in place. A hip replacement procedure involves replacing the damaged bone with a prosthetic component. This procedure may be necessary where hip pain is affecting everyday activities such as walking or bending. In summary, treatment options depend on the type of pain or fracture someone is experiencing. To help a person manage pain, a doctor may consider a combination of pain medication, physical relief, psychological therapy, or surgery.

Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday. com/articles/osteoporosis-pain; Osteoporosis symptoms. (n.d.). https:// theros.org.uk/information-and-support/ osteoporosis/symptoms/; Paolucci, T., et al. (2016). Management of chronic pain in osteoporosis: Challenges and solutions. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC4824363/

It’s time for Fox News to get a new slogan

Conservative

television network Fox News has had a few memorable slogans over the years.

“Fair and Balanced.”

Nope, and nope.

“We Report, You Decide.” Only if “reporting” means cherry picking facts and presenting them in a biased manner that leads to misinformed decisions.

“Most Watched, Most Trusted.” I’ll grant them “most watched.” Sadly.

“Standing Up For What’s Right.” Either they misspelled “white” or left off “-wing.”

Maybe they should try, “We’re Full Of It, But That’s OK Because You Like The Way We Lie.” Nah, Eminem and Rihanna might go after them legally. Not that that would be the worst thing that could happen.

In recent reports from The Washington Post and other news outlets, it came to light that Fox News executives and their highest-profile personalities knew they were spreading lies when they promoted

claims the 2020 general election was stolen from Donald Trump.

The right-wing propaganda machine is being sued for $1.6 billion by Dominion Voting Systems for defamation over airing claims Dominion was compromised by people trying to fix election results in favor of Democratic candidates around the country. Especially in favor “Sleep Joe” Biden, who defeated Trump with the highest vote total in U.S. history.

Internal communications produced as part of the proceedings show Fox News’ top executives knew the accusations were baseless. Fox News stars like Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson are

documented sharing concerns about Trump lawyer Sidney Powell’s wild claims about voter fraud.

A network that calls itself “news” knew they were broadcasting false claims — literal fake news — and they decided to air them anyway?

Why?

As a former practicing journalist, I will tell you nothing strikes fear in the heart of a news executive like the possibility of being sued for publishing information that turns out to be wrong or incomplete. Freedom of the press does not favor information that is poorly reported or knowingly inaccurate. So why did Fox News broadcast false information?

Because their audience wanted that false information. When Fox News personalities like Neil Cavuto and Bret Baier refuted the false election claims on-air, viewers complained and some left for Newsmax. The upstart network had gained traction

with Trump voters by being even farther right-wing, by out-Fox-ing Fox News. According to court documents, billionaire Rupert Murdoch messaged Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, “Everything at stake here,” meaning potentially losing viewer support, losing ratings and, most importantly, losing money.

The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg writes that when one Fox News reporter rebutted Trump’s Dominion claims, Carlson tried to get her fired, writing to Hannity: “It’s measurably hurting the company. The stock price is down. Not a joke.”

What kind of “news” channel are you when the truth is bad for business?

But it’s a model Fox News has followed since it began, giving people just enough of the news to feel like they know what’s going on and then telling viewers how they should feel about it. (Those feelings are mostly fear and anger, from what I have seen.) One reason Fox News

What kind of “news” channel are you when the truth is bad for business? ”

has been so successful is they take complex or nuanced issues and boil them down to talking points: Trump smart. Putin strong. Obama Black. Biden weak. Pelosi socialist. We love America. They hate America.

A recent study concluded outlets on both ends of the political spectrum use this tactic to communicate more effectively with their audiences.

Jessica Sparks, a former journalist and journalism instructor (full disclosure: She is a friend and former colleague) is lead author of a paper that reviewed thousands of articles published across varied news sites and found that not only do

these partisan outlets make their messages easier to comprehend but they reinforce them with negative language and tone.

Sparks and co-author Jay Hmielowski write, “If audiences are seeking content that reflects their attitudes and that rejects mainstream journalism, partisan media outlets on both sides of the political spectrum benefit from differentiating themselves both in content substance and content style.”

If you watch Fox News on even a recurring basis, you will find this is exactly what they do. All day. Every day. And now it looks like they are going to have to pay, at least in this case.

The revelations from this lawsuit are a big story and can be found on many news sites. All except Fox News, as far as I can tell. But they already know their viewers can’t handle the truth.

Terry E. Manning is a Clemson graduate and worked for 20 years as a journalist. He can be reached at teemanning@gmail.com

The essence of this strange place

It is Friday morning and Susan and I are in Tampa, Fla. Actually we’re in a part of Tampa called Ybor City. I’ve got my coffee and a recently purchased La Faraona. As I weigh the pros and cons of smoking this cigar (it’s 8:30 a.m.) my mind takes me to 1964 and a cross country trip with three other Citadel cadets.

It was a mid-winter passage made even colder by the fact that my car was without a heater. Who would have guessed that interior heating was not standard in a 1962 Corvair?

In the interest of comfort, I bought my passengers cigars — Have A Tampa Jewels if memory serves — and urged them to smoke in order to avoid frostbite. But smoke from the cigars, and the fact that the car had no defroster, led to a screeching, screaming slide through a railroad crossing. We survived that near miss (I was summarily relieved of my driving duties) and that night is now a fading anecdote.

Yesterday, we drove over to Tampa, without incident, for a dis-

Dear Senator:

SCOTT GRABER

cussion about inflation, recession, fourth-quarter growth and China. We met with Steve Paris and Rich Berry at Bellini (a restaurant) where they speculated on whether we were going to have a “soft” or a “hard” landing.

Those of you who read this column know that I have absolutely no understanding of money, and but for the frugality of Susan, I would probably be homeless. But I understand these limitations, and we have entrusted these two men, professionals, with our investment portfolio.

During the course of our lunch — Fettucini for me and Risotto for Susan — we talked about inflation.

Steve believes that the billions of dollars of Covid relief still

sloshing around in the economy –together with Chinese shutdown, the disruption of supply lines and related factors – scared-off investors leading to a disastrous decline in market value. My two friends, however, remain optimistic admitting that they are in the business of investing and need people like me to stay the course.

It was not until we walked out of Bellini, nearly tripping over a live rooster, that I realized we were in a six block-long, ironbalconied remnant of what Tampa must have looked like in 1900. Suddenly we found ourselves dodging streetcars and walking past tiendas, cigar bars and huge men smoking large aromatic cigars.

Vincente Martinez Ybor opened his first cigar factory in 1886. During the next forty years, what came to be called Ybor City was awash with immigrants from Sicily, Cuba, Germany and Spain. These men and women sat at tables, all day long, rolling millions of cigars that would be consumed around the world. While they worked they listened

to a “lector” who read newspapers in the morning and novels in the afternoon. I’m told by Tony Crisitello — Beaufort County’s former planning chief — that Earnest Hemingway was his mother’s favorite author.

The immigrants lived in narrow, single-storied “casitas” that reminded me of Elvis Presley’s boyhood home in Tupelo, Mississippi. There were social clubs — El Centro Espana, Centro Asturious and L’Union Italiana — where the young people could flirt, dance and if the pheromones were compatible, marry.

Ybor City took a hit with the embargo (of tobacco) that followed the Cuban Revolution. And with Cuba on the sidelines, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua surged into the vacuum. Then many Americans turned their back on tobacco.

Between 2000 and 2015, cigarette consumption declined by 38.7%. However, consumption of cigars actually increased during that same 15 year period. Today about 7% of the adult male population smokes cigars.

What remains of Ybor City is a red brick skeleton and a story — a great story that descendants have tried to tell by way of a museum, a park that is the habitat of dozens of free-roaming chickens, and men who perfume the street with hand-rolled, $10-a-pop cigars. There is also a laid back attitude entirely inconsistent with any serious discussion of inflation, recession, fourth-quarter growth or China.

Last night — right after working our way from our hotel through the chickens and their poop — we found a restaurant called Acropolis. We also found a beautiful young waitress who had blond hair, dark skin and who had pasted small golden stars on her cheeks.

She guided us through a large menu, telling us what to order, and in the process imparted an irreverent, animated, fabulously funny vibe that seems to be the essence of this strange place.

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

An Open Letter to Senator John Fetterman

Having lived in Pennsylvania for 35 years, I still keep in touch with a lot that happens there. Thus when you began your campaign for Senator, I was intrigued. As that campaign heated up, as all tend to do, I learned more about you and the ideals for which you stand. Please know that I stand for those as well although this letter isn’t about politics.

When you underwent a stroke, I was heartsick; yet you battled back from this in a way that can only be described as valiant. I was a strong supporter from afar, often praying for your return to good health. And so, let me start this letter by saying that while I admire you for many reasons, perhaps the most laudable is your openness regarding depression. My experience with this demon dates back

CAROL LUCAS

to the mid-70s when I was 37 years of age; thus I can relate as can millions in this country and around the world. I can still vividly remember my first anxiety attack, which often accompanies depression. I was driving down West Liberty Avenue in the South Hills of Pittsburgh when it struck, and I was terrified. I recall praying that I could get home safely, and somehow I turned my car around and got back into my driveway with little memory of that accomplishment.

That was in 1976, and much later I jokingly

referred to the fact that this was a time when “being crazy wasn’t cool.” I recognize now this was a defense mechanism; additionally, I also came to recognize that depression isn’t a joke. It’s simply the fact that back then very little was known, and the stigma was greater.

Ironically, my attendance at my job as a teacher never suffered in that I didn’t miss a day in the classroom. How I performed is foggy to this day, but I knew I had to have the structure or I would have fallen apart. Looking back, it’s amazing that I didn’t.

I recall my first day with my psychiatrist. I walked into his office (after avoiding this for three months) and dropped into a chair. I sobbed and told him that I was terrified I would always be like this. His response: “Carol, I make it a point not to provide promises, but I will go out on a limb and

tell you that, no, you will not always be like this.” This was the first step in what became my journey from a dark place into one of light. I’m going to include a few statistics, more for the benefit of others who may read this than for you, Senator, thinking you may already have a handle on these. In one publication, depression is shown to affect one out of 10 Americans. In another, our country of approximately 340 million people shows 17.5 million cases of reported depression. Only Ukraine is higher … Ukraine, a war-torn country! There are many elements that contribute to one’s depression. I am not a physician; thus I am not attempting to come across as an authority, but what I found through research follows. First, genetics plays a role. Retrospect tells me that my father was a victim of depression as was his

mother. My Dad lived at a time when few if any men would have admitted to being depressed – that was for fainting women on sofas, clutching a lace hankie.

But in recalling the personality traits of my Dad, all the symptoms were there. The chemical imbalance of the brain is also considered to be a cause. Certainly environment plays a role; neglect, poverty, mental and physical abuse are considered high on the list of reasons to become depressed.

The good news is that medication and treatment are readily available. That you, Senator Fetterman, have chosen to go public with your treatment speaks volumes about you as a caring human. And it is that trait, if nothing else (and I know there is a lot more), that makes you shine as a senator from my home state.

All of this may sound familiar to you, I don’t

know. But what I do want you to know is that there are those of us who are cheering for you. We aren’t rallying around you with huge expectations, because that only promotes added pressure. Instead, we want you to get better, to get this under control.

When you have done this, for yourself and for your family, we then want you to fight like hell against all that confronts you in Congress. We need people with your dedication and resilience. We need you, Senator, but only when you are well.

God bless,

Carol Lucas

TERRY MANNING

God is waiting to pour out His glory on us

Last week we talked about the recent revival in Wilmore, Ky. Anytime there are 1,500 people in one place worshiping God around the clock, we know the Lord is stirring hearts. We had a trip to Denver planned last week, but I was able to attend three different times before we left, and it was very humbling to see a hunger for God on this level. We sang “I Exalt Thee” and you could sense God was there.

I mentioned recently that spiritual moves of God’s glory have nothing to do with geographical locations, but rather are manifested within those who simply want more of Him. Until our flesh is disciplined by our will and the Holy Spirit is given control to lead us into submitting to Him, there is no spiritual advancement.

BILLY HOLLAND

When we fall deeply in love with God and are no longer embarrassed to stand boldly for Him, there is no limit to what can be accomplished for His glory. While observing what was happening before my eyes, I wondered why do we not see this attitude of repentance and worship in every church every week. A genuine excitement for God should be present within every follower of Christ, however, many of us are not as consistent as we should be.

Often we settle for

mediocrity by just living for God when we feel like it. We realize that we can be filled with His Spirit, but if do not maintain our relationship with Him, the fervor of our love and the strength of our joy can leak which will leave us weak and weary.

If we could maintain our zeal for God, we would not need to be revived, but for most of us, this is not the case. One day we are on the mountain and the next day we are exhausted, sad, and need encouragement.

The Azusa Street Revival was a historic series of meetings that took place in Los Angeles and was led by William J. Seymour, an African-American preacher.

The revival began on April 9, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915

On the first night, Seymour and seven men were praying and waiting on

God on Bonnie Brae Street, when suddenly, as though hit by a bolt of lightning, they were knocked from their chairs to the floor. The men began to shout and praise God as they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The news quickly spread, the city was stirred, crowds gathered and services were moved outside to accommodate the people who came from all around. Those who attended were so overwhelmed by the power of God’s presence they could not stop weeping as manifestations were evident such as individuals being delivered from evil spirits, and the sick were healed. I was raised in a church where they would schedule a revival by inviting a guest speaker to hold special meetings for a few days. There was anticipa-

tion about what God might do. People would invite their lost loved ones and, those who had drifted away from the Lord in the hopes and prayers they would be saved or restored in their relationship with Christ.

We used to sing an old hymn that said, “Send a great revival in my soul, let the Holy Spirit come and take control.” This is a great song and asking God for a personal awakening is wonderful, but there is always repentance and fervent prayer involved. In other words, I do not see a powerful move in our lives while we are playing video games.

The Bible mentions in Romans 12:1-2 about being a living sacrifice, but usually, we would rather do a good deed instead of yielding our will. A devoted life of allowing God to possess us will

cost us more than we can imagine. If we are seeking a deeper more meaningful relationship with Christ, we are promised that if we seek Him, we will find Him.

So what gives us this desperate hunger and thirst for God? Fasting is not popular, but it shows that we are serious about being closer to Him. James 4:8 promises, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

If we really want to be on fire for God, let us remember we can live as close to God as we choose. We do not need to travel any further than our conscience to discover He is always waiting to pour out His glory on us.

Learn more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

Sponsored by:

THE BEAUFORT CHARITIES PRESENTS Palooza in the Park

Get Tickets here:

Friday, March 3rd 5pm - 10pm

Saturday,

Finding a Family

How Does One Choose a Church?

Imagine Joe, a man raised without any faith background. He began to read the Gospels out of curiosity, after a friend gave him a copy of the Bible. As he read about Jesus, Joe was surprised to find himself captivated. He started to explore the reasons for faith, and he slowly became convinced that Jesus truly is God, just as he claimed to be. Joe realizes that his life can no longer remain the same; he wants to follow Jesus and be a faith-filled Christian.

Joe visits different churches and tries them out. He really liked the music in one church, the friendly atmosphere in another, and the dynamic preaching of various pastors. But one thing is very troubling to Joe. Each church claims to get its teaching straight from the Bible, yet he finds that the churches disagree on many important matters of faith and morals. He knows that, just like in math or science, two conflicting teachings cannot both be true. How can he be certain that a particular church is faithfully teaching all that Jesus intended, without error or omission?

Has Joe been going about this the wrong way?

As he prays about all of this, Joe realizes that he had been seeking a church that fit his own preferences and tastes, as if he were looking for a new gym or country club. Shouldn’t his decision be based on something more than his musical preferences, or his appreciation of a particular preacher? Shouldn’t his decision be based on truth, and on what Jesus desires for his life, even if it does not line up with his own initial expectations or personal tastes?

Joe decides to search for the Church that Jesus started. In his reading of the Acts of the Apostles, Joe saw a beautiful family of faith begun by Jesus and built upon the apostles. Reflecting on this, Joe concludes, “If Jesus gave us a Church, and it is still around today, then that’s the Church that I want to belong to. I want to be part of that family of faith. I want to receive all of the gifts that Jesus intended me to have on my journey with him to heaven.”

Joe continues his search in an unexpected place. He knows that the Catholic Church has been around longer than the other churches in town. But he has heard so many bad things about the Catholic Church over its long history, and the recent scandals make it the last church he would ever want to join. As Joe thinks back upon the New Testament, however, he remembers that the twelve apostles struggled with sin and brokenness, and the early Church was full of saints and sinners. Reluctantly, he decides to give the Catholic Church a quick look, so that he can cross it off his list.

What would Joe find?

Joe is fictional, but many people have been on a faith journey like his. As they distinguish truth from misconception, countless people have been surprised to discover that the Catholic Church has the same characteristics as the Church in the Acts of the Apostles, but with centuries of growth and development. In this message series, we will explore some of these aspects that a person like Joe might discover about the Catholic faith.

At times, the Orangeburg-Wilkinson defense disrupted Beaufort’s timing, causing miscues and turnovers during their 3A Lower State semifinal Monday night at Beaufort High School. Under pressure from the Bruins’ Maurion Gordon, Beaufort’s Michael Dennison is forced to pass the ball. Dennison was high scorer for Beaufort with 15 points. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Beaufort bounced Bruins end Eagles’ playoff push

By Wes Kerr

LowcoSports.com

After an incredible run of nine straight victories to reach the Elite Eight in Class 3A, Beaufort High’s boys basketball team ran into a buzzsaw Monday night, falling 61-39 to second-ranked Orangeburg-Wilkinson in the Lower State semifinals.

The Eagles found success

LowcoSports.com

A total of 13 wrestlers from northern Beaufort County qualified for the SCHSL State Championships by placing in the top four in their weight classes at the Lower State qualifying meets Friday and Saturday.

Among the baker’s dozen are four Lower State champs — Beaufort High’s Tayriq Legree (113) and Colton Phares (182) and Battery Creek’s Elmer Linares (120) and Gunnar DeGroat (152). The state championships begin Friday in Anderson. Here’s a look at how the local qualifiers got there and their path to bringing home hardware.

Tayriq Legree, BFT (Sr.)

Weight: 113

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Straton Covington, Powdersville (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: Expect a medal, but to win gold, Legree will likely have to beat two past state champions with Belton-Honea Path’s Coo-

PREP HOOPS ROUNDUP

inside with Michael Dennison and hit a pair of big 3-pointers to take a 29-25 lead into halftime, and Guerin Willis’ second 3-pointer of the game put Beaufort up 35-33 midway through the third quarter before the Bruins cranked up the defensive intensity.

O-W’s full-court pressure rattled the Eagles, who were plagued by 28 turnovers

Whale Branch’s K.J. Chisholm, center, goes up for two points buts get blocked out by Latta High School’s Grayson Williamson, left, and Pernell Legette during their first-round 1A state playoff game Friday night at Whale Branch. The Warriors overpowered the Vikings and cruised to a 76-41 win. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

BA (19-8)

against a tenacious Bruins defense. Jeremiah Jacques had 17 points and six steals, and Horaces Jacques collected 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals to lead the Bruins.

Dennison wrapped up his terrific career for the Eagles (12-12) with 15 points and 13

SEE PLAYOFF PAGE B2

48

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

GIRLS HOOPS

3A 1st rd: Battery Creek 48, Swansea 41

BCHS: Kiara Wilson 14 pts; Armani Hutchinson 13 pts; Genesis Wilson 11 pts

3A 1st rd: Orangeburg-Wilkinson 50, Beaufort 20

BOYS HOOPS

1A 1 rd: Whale Branch 76, Latta 41 WB (17-6): David Evans 21 pts, 6 rebs, 5 stls;

Queashawn Fields 14 pts; KJ Chisholm 11 pts, 10 asts;

WRESTLING STATE QUALIFIERS

per Strickland possibly awaiting in the semifinals and defending 113-pound champ Teague Strobel of West-Oak looming in the finals.

Elmer Linares, BCHS (Jr.)

Weight: 120

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Syles Woodard, Chapman (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: In his third straight trip to state, including a thirdplace finish at 106 as a freshman, Linares is in excellent position to medal, but he will face a challenging semifinal matchup, likely against West-Oak’s Landon Allen, who was runner-up at 120 last year.

Gunner DeGroat, BCHS (Jr.)

Weight: 152

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Asher Roe, Belton-Honea Path (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: A fourth-place finisher at 132 as a freshman, the younger of two DeGroat brothers who qualified for Creek enters ranked second, and a showdown with West-Oak’s Cael Davis in the finals seems like a strong possibility.

Colton Phares, BFT (Sr.)

Weight: 182

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Landon Bledsoe, Fountain Inn (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: After surpassing 100 career wins last weekend, look for Phares to add the last piece of hardware needed on his resume. He is the overwhelming favorite to take gold, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone derailing one of the most determined athletes in the Lowco.

Antonio McKnight, BFT (Jr.)

Weight: 132 Qualifying details: Lower State

runner-up

First-round matchup: Jackson

Tilirson, Wren (3rd at Upper State)

Outlook: Despite being ranked seventh in SCMat.com’s Feb. 1 rankings, McKnight placed second at Lower State and positioned himself well to pick up a medal in his first trip. Winning his opener will be key and would lead to a matchup with Jaxton Freeman of West-Oak, last year’s third-place finisher in this weight, in the semis.

Andrew Legree, BFT (Jr.)

Weight: 152

Qualifying details: Lower State runner-up First-round matchup: James Howard, Union Co. (3rd at Upper State)

Outlook: Legree faces another first-time qualifier in his opening match, but if he can get past that it will get more difficult with two-time placer Cael Davis of West-Oak awaiting. Nonetheless, a first-round win would put him in prime position to claim a medal.

3A 3rd rd: Orangeburg-Wilkinson 61, at Beaufort 39

BFT (12-12): Michael Dennison 15 pts, 13 rebs; Sully Gay 9 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts; Samari Bonds 8 pts

Sam DeGroat, BCHS (Sr.)

Weight: 132

Qualifying details: 3rd at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Blake Greenwood, Clinton (Upper State runner-up)

Outlook: Now a four-time qualifier, the elder DeGroat was runner-up at 113 as a sophomore and placed third at 120 last year. He is the most accomplished wrestler in the bracket, and a trip to the finals for a chance to check the last box off his list is definitely not out of the question.

Anthony Phelan, BCHS (Sr.)

Weight: 285

Qualifying details: 3rd at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Qwentin

Welborn, Daniel (Upper State runner-up)

Outlook: “Bronco” is a relative newcomer to the sport, but he finds himself on the state’s biggest

Broad River Elementary educator honored as School Counselor of the Year

Robert Smalls, Port Royal Elementary counselors also honored

From staff reports Broad River Elementary Counselor Candace Washington is the Beaufort County School District’s 2023 School Counselor of the Year.

In addition to honoring Washington, the district also recognized Robert Smalls International Academy’s Tekerria Brown as Middle School Counselor of the Year, May River High School’s Laura Marshall as High School Counselor of the Year, and Port Royal Elementary School’s Arriel Young as Rookie School Counselor of the Year.

“We’re extremely proud of Ms. Washington for earning this recognition,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “Extraordinary school counselors like Ms. Washington are vital to any school community.”

In her fourth year as a school counselor, Washington says it’s rewarding to see how excited her students are to see her in the hallway, especially when she asks them how their day is going and they in turn ask her the same, which is the “best ac-

Playoff

from page B1

rebounds. Sully Gay added nine points and eight boards, and Samari Bonds had eight points.

Eagles edge Lake City to reach Elite 8

As the missed layups and frustration mounted in the fourth quarter, Beaufort High’s sudden hopes of a stunning playoff win began to dwindle. But Samari Bonds’ quick hands came through in the clutch, and added a new chapter in another storybook Eagle postseason run.

Bonds came up with a steal and dunk to give Beaufort the lead, then converted another steal for a layup as the final seconds ticked down in The Nest on Friday night to seal a 58-55 victory over Lake City and a spot in the SCHSL 3A Elite Eight.

“We didn’t give up,” Beaufort head coach Jeremy Huff said. “All 11 guys in this game fought until the end. When we lost to West Florence in the second round last year, we knew that defense was we had to work on. Our defensive effort has just been unbelievable.”

The Eagles fed off the

Qualifiers

from page B1

home crowd’s energy early and surged to a 17-10 lead in the opening quarter sparked by strong shooting from beyond the arc. Senior guard Arthur Singleton was red-hot from distance, sinking three triples in just the first quarter including two in a row to finish the period with a 2317 edge. The Eagles quickly stretched the lead to double digits behind some marvelous ball movement and active hands on defense.

Singleton stayed dialed-in from distance with his fourth three off a textbook screen from Michael Dennison, and Sully Gay poked the ball away and scored at the other end to swell the home advantage to 28-17. But the potent Panthers began to press and disrupt the Eagle offense, tipping passes and forcing miscues to set up a wide-open Mykel Croker 3-pointer to cap off a 7-0 Lake City run.

Bonds had the answer with another Beaufort triple, but 6-foot-6 Amare Adams and the Panthers went right back to work to even the contest at 33 while flustering the Eagles as they brought the ball up the floor. Gay made one of two from the line to take a one-point lead into the locker room.

The intensity was raised to another level in the second half, as the Eagles came out and took back control with

stage and has a good shot to medal. Making it gold will be a task, though, as defending champion and 2021 runner-up Andre McFadden of Lake City would await in the semifinals.

Jack Miller, BFT (Sr.)

Weight: 138

Qualifying details: 4th at Lower

State

First-round matchup: JoJo Morris, Belton-Honea Path (Upper State champion)

Outlook: Miller’s reward for qualifying for state for the first time is a matchup with two-time state champion Morris, who won at 126 as a freshman and 132 last year and is the favorite to add a third title in three years. Miller shouldn’t be overmatched by anyone else in

VIDEO

For video footage accompanying this story, visit https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zdsQAhJ3LRQ

colades” one could ask for. Broad River Elementary School principal, Constance Goodwine-Lewis, described Washington as having a “calm spirit and nature,” who is especially dedicated to the students of Beaufort County as she was born and raised here as well. “I couldn’t ask for a better counselor.”

Singleton’s fifth 3-pointer of the contest before Dennison’s strength on the glass paid off with a beautiful putback for a 47-42 Beaufort lead. The electric matchup between Dennison and Adams continued throughout the quarter as both sides scrapped for every loose ball and possession.

Lake City found a second wind near the end of the third period in the form of senior guard AJ Graham. With his high school career on the line, Graham left it all on the court, weaving and driving to the rim for five key points in the quarter to cut the lead back to one. Huff preached defense to his group down the stretch, and the Eagles responded with a string of gutsy stops to open the fourth.

But things started to go sideways as the game hit the final minutes. A string of missed layups began to add up, and Beaufort suddenly found itself down three with under four to play. But the Eagles were more than ready to rewrite the script again. Just seconds after Dennison rose up for a tough jumper over Adams to cut it to one, Bonds stole a pass across the top of the key and jammed it through for the lead.

The Kirkland Krazies were feeling it.

It was up to the defense

the bracket, though, so don’t count him out of the consolation finals.

Brandon Bolles, BFT (Jr.)

Weight: 145

Qualifying details: 4th at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Marcus

Thaxton, West-Oak (Upper State champion)

Outlook: As first-round draws for fourth-place qualifiers go, Bolles gets a break. Thaxton is a sophomore who has qualified for the first time, but as the Upper State champ, he knocked off some tough opponents to claim that perch. Barring a big upset, Bolles will have work to do in the consolation bracket to medal.

Hunter Smith, BCHS (Sr.)

Weight: 170

Qualifying details: 4th at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Damein

A three-person panel of district administrators evaluated this year’s candidates and selected the honorees. Local businesses and community members sponsored the awards and donated gifts for the district’s school counselors.

Sully Gay, center, scored his 1,000 career point Friday night during Beaufort’s second-round playoff game against the Lake City Panthers, helping the Eagles defeat the Panthers, 58-55. Sully is flanked by his mom, Angel Gilstrap, dad Chris Gay and brother Brody Gay. Sully was awarded the game ball with 1,000 stenciled on it following the game. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

to lock in the rest of the way, and the Eagles rose to the challenge, forcing a pass out of bounds with a minute left on the clock. Beaufort worked its offense flawlessly as Dennison found Gay in the paint, but a pair of misses at the line gave Lake City a chance down a point. Beaufort’s swarming defense forced a Panther timeout with eight ticks left as the nervous Eagle faithful looked on. But with one swift swipe from Bonds, the nervousness turned into elation. The sopho-

Thaxton, West-Oak (Upper State champion)

Outlook: Another brutal firstround draw with last year’s 160-pound champion Thaxton opposite Smith to start. Only one other wrestler in the bracket has a state medal to their credit, though, so Smith looks like a strong contender to reach the consolation finals in his second trip to state.

John Bechtold, BFT (Sr.)

Weight: 195

Qualifying details: 4th at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Zach Nicholson, Seneca (Upper State champion)

Outlook: Bechtold will face another senior first-time qualifier in the first round of a wide-open 195-pound bracket with only one returning state qualifier — Lower State champ Riley Hucks of Aynor — so it’s anyone’s guess who will emerge with the medals.

more quarterback of the state championship football team stripped the ball from Qualiek Washington and calmly finished the layup to advance the Eagles to the state’s final eight.

Singleton led the way with an astounding performance from beyond the arc, hitting six 3-pointers for 18 points. Dennison displayed his mettle on both ends and added some timely buckets for 11 points on the night. Bonds added nine including the go-ahead and game-sealing baskets in the

Jeremiah Chavez, Bridges (Soph.)

Weight: 220

Qualifying details: 4th at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Martavis

Mason, Ninety-Six (Upper State champion)

Outlook: The area’s only qualifier in Class 1A , Chavez has his work cut out in the first round with two-time defending 220-pound champion Mason awaiting, but aside from Mason and Lower State champion Justin Pardue of Buford, the rest of the bracket should be relatively competitive. His second match will be the key, but if Chavez gets past that, he has a shot to bring home hardware.

State Qualifers from the Lowco Class 4A

Champions: William Jakeway, HHIHS (106); Zao Estrada, HHIHS (113); Isaiah Wysong, MR (138);

fourth, and Gay tallied nine to put him over the career 1,000-point mark. Back in December, Huff’s Eagles dropped their first six games of the hoops season. But the hard work and winning mentality of this squad has brought them in a flash to improbable heights. “It’s hard to put into words what these guys have accomplished these last couple months,” Huff said. “A lot of people have counted us out, and their grit and determination has shown day in and day out.”

Santiago Rueda, MR (152); Gabe Juarez, MR (170)

2nd: Devin Espinoza, HHIHS (170); Josh Echeverria, MR (182); Bradley Denmark, BLUF (285)

3rd: Emilio Mendoza, MR (126); Dillon Seman, MR (132); Sebastian Agnew, HHIHS (145); Shaikh Thompson, HHIHS (285)

Class 3A

Champions: Tayriq Legree, BFT (113); Elmer Linares, BCHS (120); Gunner DeGroat, BCHS (152); Colton Phares, BFT (182)

2nd: Antonio McKnight, BFT (132); Andrew Legree, BFT (152)

3rd: Sam DeGroat, BCHS (132); Anthony Phelan, BCHS (285)

4th: Jack Miller, BFT (138); Brandon Bolles, BFT (145); Hunter Smith, BCHS (170); John Bechtold, BFT (195)

Class 1A

4th: Jeremiah Chavez, Bridges (220)

Broad River Elementary Counselor, Candace Washington (center)

Port Royal Elementary School’s Arriel Young (left)

Robert Smalls International Academy’s Tekerria Brown(left)

BA girls blaze into semis

62-46 on the road Feb. 7.

Boys fall in 2nd round

LowcoSports.com

Even with their leading scorer home sick, Beaufort Academy’s girls basketball team barreled into the SCISA 2A semifinals with a 5427 win over Clarendon Hall

ARTS

Gifts From the Boneyard

in their state tournament opener Monday at Wilson Hall in Sumter.

With senior star and Coker commit Tahleea Heyward out, Kamirah Freeman stepped up to score 20 points, Mike’Ala Washington poured in 17, and Olivia Dinkins added 10 to lead

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday;

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 1-31, 2023, Port Royal Sound foundation (PRSF) Museum, 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie. The Friends of Hunting Island (FOHI) and The Port Royal Sound Foundation (PRSF) are hosting an art exhibit called, “Gifts From the Boneyard, Art Inspired by Hunting Island’s Landscape.” The featured artist is Barbara James, a local fabric artist. Photographers Joan Eckhardt and Andy Stephens are also contributing pieces. Proceeds from sales will go to FOHI and PRSF. Opening gala from 4 to 6 p.m., March 2, 2023.

CALENDAR

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

7:30 p.m., Every Thursday, Fat Patties, 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.

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.

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.

Wet Willie’s Trivia Night

7 to 10 p.m., every Thursday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win awesome prizes while you sip the worlds greatest daiquiris and munch on delicious bites.

Wet Willie’s Bingo Night

7 to 10 p.m., every Friday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win free giveaways, merchandise, and more cool prizes.

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.

Drum Circle

6:30 to 8 p.m., 2nd Friday of every month, Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, 711 Bladen Street, Beaufort. Free. Anyone welcome, no experience necessary. Eric Roy, a recent transplant from Connecticut with successful experience in leading drum circles, is our new facilitator. He will start sessions off with 15-20 minutes of instruction on djembe playing and teach a selected traditional rhythm & accompaniment for participants to play. In addition, there will be time allotted for

the Eagles to an easy win in the second round after earning a top seed and firstround bye.

BA (15-10) expects to have Heyward back for its semifinal matchup against Patrick Henry at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Wilson Hall.

It will be the fourth meet-

spontaneous group drumming. Bring a drum, if you have one, a chair and a desire to have fun. The Drum Circle has several extra drums and many other percussion instruments that anyone can use. To receive updates on future events, send your email to lannyk13@gmail.com. The first session will be on Friday, Jan. 13.

Highway 21 Flea Market

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday, Highway 21 Drive-In. Sellers, vendors, handmade items, unique products and yard sale items. For information, email lowcountryfleamarket@gmail.com.

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.

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.

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.

Karaoke with Melissa

7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, Latitude Bar & Chill, 3295 Latitude Blvd, Hardeeville. Open to residents and their guests only. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

YMCA Puppy Plunge

9 to 11 a.m., Saturdays, Feb. 25, March 25. Wardle Family YMCA, Outdoor pool, 1801 Richmond Ave., Port Royal. Well-behaved canines of all breeds and sizes are welcome. Cost is $10 per pup. All proceeds benefit the Y’s Learn to Swim program. Owners will be required to sign a waiver before entering the enclosed, exterior pool area (use the side entrance gate), must be present with their pups at all times, and humans are not permitted to swim in the Puppy Plunge. The YMCA asks that pets be up-to-date on all vaccinations. Event is weather dependent so check the YMCA social media or call the Y front desk at 843-522-9622 the morning of the Puppy Plunge to check any status update.

HISTORY

Beaufort History Museum

at the Arsenal

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 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., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. 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.

ing between the teams this season with the Eagles winning each of the first three.

After eking out a 33-31 win over the Patriots in the semifinals of the War Hawk Holiday Tournament at Colleton Prep in December, BA blasted PHA 71-34 at home in January and won

Law Talk

This time, the winner goes to the state championship for a matchup with either Cathedral Academy or Dorchester Academy.

Things didn’t go as planned for BA’s boys, who stumbled in their first game in the tournament, falling

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Select times and days, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook. To register, call 843-255-6479. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Tuesday, Feb. 28, 5 to 6 p.m., Landlord Tenant Law; Tuesday, March 18, 5 to 6 p.m., Wills, Estates, and Probate; Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m. to noon, Heirs Property; Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m. to noon, Starting a Business or Nonprofit.

Dungeons & Dragons

4 p.m., Mondays, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

Lego Club

4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Mondays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-2556540. All ages welcome.

Law Talk

5:30 to 6:30 p.m., select Tuesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. To register, call 843-255-6481. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Jan. 24, Wills, Estates, and Probate; Feb. 28, Estate Planning; March 28, Advanced Health Care Directives; April 18, Starting a Business.

Teen Art Club

4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12-18.

Teen Anime Club

4 p.m., 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456.

Law Talk

5:30 to 6:30 p.m., select Tuesdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. To register, call 843-255-6540. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Tuesday, Jan. 17, Starting a Business; Tuesday, Feb. 7, Expungement; Tuesday, March 7, Credit Card Debt; Tuesday, April 4, Social Security Disability; Tuesday, May 2, Getting Arrested.

Teen Video Game Club

4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441.

Ages 12 to 18.

Law Talk

Noon to 1 p.m., select Wednesdays, Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head Island. To register, call 843255-6525. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney.

Wednesday, Feb. 15, Cyber Security and Data Privacy; Wednesday, March 15, Wills, Estates, and Probate; Wednesday, April 19, Advance Health Care Directives; Wednesday, May 17, Real Estate and Foreclosure.

S.C. Works Job Coaching

2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. Free help with job searches, interviews.

Chess Club

1 to 2 p.m., Saturdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. Ages 5 and older.

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 3rd Saturday of each month, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, 843-255-6479. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

LITERATURE

Books Sandwiched In –My First Summer in the Sierra

12 to 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 27, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Free. A thought leader in our community

68-53 to St. John’s Christian Academy on Tuesday at Wilson Hall. The Eagles (19-9) were plagued by foul trouble throughout and saw all five starters foul out in an abrupt end to the season. Zeke Gonzalez scored 14 points and Te’Shaun Heyward added 10 for BA.

discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Light refreshments offered. This meeting’s book is My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir, presented by Greg Schulte.

Books Sandwiched In –

You’re Going to Be Somebody

12 to 1 p.m., Monday, March 6, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Free. A thought leader in our community discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Light refreshments offered. This meeting’s book is You’re Going to Be Somebody by Helen Smith, presented by Carrie Major.

MEETINGS

The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group

8 a.m., first Thursday each month, Herban Marketplace, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building offroad/dirt/wilderness mountain biking/ jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843575-0021 or email universitybicycles@ hotmail.com.

Zonta Club of Beaufort

6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal. Until November 22, we are participating in a service project with a global organization called Free the Girls. We are currently collecting new and gently used bras to help women rescued from trafficking start their own businesses selling the bras. Last year our club collected more than 600 bras and we are hoping to beat that number this year. Our collection sites are Amy Bowman State Farm Agency, 1284 Ribaut Rd., Myrna B. Breland, CPA, 1 Professional Drive, Port Royal, and Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs, 34A Savannah Hwy.

MUSIC

Fripp Island Friends of Music Concert Series

5 p.m., specific Sundays, Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Blvd., Fripp Island. Individual shows are $30. Consider becoming a member of Fripp Island Friends of Music (FIFOM). Membership gives you access to all five concerts, including the post-performance reception where you meet the musicians while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared fresh by Harold’s Chef Services. It also helps fund FIFOM’s Music-in-the-Schools program. The basic FIFOM membership, $100, has not changed. To become a member, text or call Vanessa Peñaherrera at 704-8070255 or email vandy116@gmail.com. Go to frippfriendsofmusic.com for more information. Schedule: Feb. 26, The Tony Lee Group (jazz); March 26, Kim Richey (singer-songwriter).

Jevon Daly

4 p.m. & 8 p.m., Friday, March 10, Coligny Theatre, 1 N Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. $5 admission for 4 p.m. kids show, $20 admission for 8 p.m. evening show. Purchase tickets for kids show at shorturl.at/xGLQZ. Purchase tickets for the evening show at shorturl.at/dlCIT.

OUTDOORS

Port Royal Cypress Wetlands tours

4 to 5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, Port Royal Cypress Wetlands. Bring your holiday guests to a free guided tour of the wetlands sponsored by Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands and led by Master Naturalist Jill Moore. Moore is full of information about alligators, turtles, trees, plants, and the variety of birds that call the wetlands home. This is a great opportunity to learn about this magical place. Tours are limited in size so sign up now. Kat Bray, Tour Coordinator, info@ foprcw.org.

Fripp Island Audubon Club February Program

6:45 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, Fripp Island Community Center, 205 Tarpon Blvd., Fripp Island. You’re invited to a screening of Purple Haze: A Conservation Film, presented by the Fripp Island Audubon Club. This will be a unique program about Purple Martins. Bring a snack to share and join us for the Meet and Greet from 6 to 6:45 p.m.

SPORTS 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.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot

Parris Island, South Carolina, 24 February 2023

Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel B. W. Ward

4th Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A. R. Dones

Commander of Troops, Captain A. M. McGregor • Parade Adjutant, Captain J. A. Machesky

Company “P”, 4th Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain A. M. McGregor

PLATOON 4000

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt A. I. Temese

Pvt Aleksandrjameson, Dashtsebeg

Pvt Alexander, David W. Jr

PFC Allen, Anderson W.

Pvt Allen, Rocco M.

Pvt Barrera, Jose D.

PFC Barrios, Carlos M.

Pvt Bourgeois, Mickey G. Jr

Pvt Bryant, Lance M.

Pvt Calixte, Dawins

PFC Castanaza, Marlon A.

Pvt Collins, Jonathan D.

PFC Cornett, Benjamin C.

PFC Cowan, Bradley D.

Pvt Dabney, Angel U.

Pvt Davila, Emmanuel K.

Pvt Escalonafernandez, Daniel

Pvt Fant, Thomas L.

PFC Franklin, Dylan G.

Pvt Gilliard, Justin L.

Pvt Gore, James P.

Pvt Granados, Christopher J.

Pvt Gedremenc, Jayden R.

Pvt Hernandez, Isaiah A.

Pvt Jamison, James R.

PFC Johnson, Nicholas W.*

Pvt Jones, Carmelo T.

PFC Kinghorn, Tucker L.*

Pvt Kress, Vincent A.

Pvt Lopezojeda, Leonel

Pvt Mcintosh, Conner J.

Pvt Meridamartinez, Selvin A.

Pvt Montoya, Matthew J.

PFC Moraleslora, Steve M.

Pvt Moran, Brandon J.

Pvt Morlock, Ethan M.

PFC Morris, Jeremiah L.

Pvt Mueller, Lucas J.

Pvt Nelson, Jahremiah D.

Pvt Palm, Declan A.

PFC Perez, Angel R.*

Pvt Pittman, Trenton M.

Pvt Ramsey, Christopher A.

Pvt Redditt, Jalen T.

Pvt Rogers, Travis G.

Pvt Saltogomez, Jose E.

Pvt Shrout, Cody L.

Pvt Sylvester, Darius E.

PFC Taylor, Brandon F.

Pvt Torresmedina, Ramon G.

Pvt Trinidad, David L. Jr

Pvt Walters, Kwaye J.

PLATOON 4001

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt G. L. Echevarria

Pvt Abreuespino, Camila

Pvt Ailepjohnson, Amaya K.

Drill Masters • Staff Sergeant L. Hinton, Staff Sergeant D. L. Sanchezlaucer

Pvt Alvarado, Jaqueline R.

PFC Aquino, Leilani A.

PFC Arcoscarranza, Diana L.

Pvt Ayalajasso, Ashley S.

PFC Aytes, Taylor E.

PFC Bradshaw, Jaque A.

Pvt Brown, Chrishion D.

PFC Calellopez, Yusel A.

Pvt Cardosocarvalho, Debora M.

Pvt Christmann, Jaida R.

Pvt Coronado, Blanca I.

Pvt Cortesmagana, Georgiana

PFC Deluca, Aidan R.

PFC Duran, Carina

PFC Edwards, Sashoy K.

Pvt Escobarrivas, Katterinne H.

Pvt Gaonavazquez, Brenda A.

PFC Garciacarbajal, Kimberly M.

Pvt Garciavaca, Zitlaly

Pvt Gayle, Keyanna M.

Pvt Gonzalez, Julissa K.

Pvt Gonzalez, Sarahi

Pvt Gonzalezmolina Sandi O.

Pvt Hendriz, Kaylinn M.

Pvt Hernandez, Hailey J.

Pvt Huang, Tingting

PFC Huff, Destinee H.

PFC Ibarragomez, Anabel *

Pvt Johnson, Zamiyah N.

PFC Kilpatrick, Alexis L.

PFC Klein, Shae L.

Pvt Lorenzomartinez, Maite

PFC Lowther, Angelina G.

Pvt Mallari, Threeshiaeigzhia O.

Pvt Martinez, Gabriela

PFC Martinez, Mercy E.*

PFC Mcgee, Isabella E. *

Pvt Medina, Blanca I.

PFC Moore, Amber P.

Pvt Moulthrop, Emily P.

Pvt Nguyen, Namphuongtiffany P.

PFC Nolan, Jasmine S.

PFC Osorio, Magaly S.

Pvt Palmasanvicente, Roxana

PFC Palmer, Allison L.

Pvt Parker, Denielle L.

Pvt Regalado, Elena G.

Pvt Riveratirado, Talysha M.

PFC Roberts, Ellen E.

PFC Rodriguezortiz, Carolina

PFC Rosariovazquez, Stephanie

Pvt Sanchez, Alize T.

Pvt Santos, Mirylle G.

PFC Simpson, Victoria B.*

Pvt Smith, Marissa L.

Pvt Stewart, Mia J.

Pvt Sumbabrito, Joana E.

PFC Sutton, Mackenzie D.

Pvt Tiwari, Dikchhya

PFC Toledo, Amber K.

Pvt Townsend, Ava G.

Pvt Valentin, Karimen E.

PFC Vickers, Jordan E.

Pvt Villeda, Allyson Q.

Pvt Weatherly, Jaiden D.

Pvt Wiley, Kiara L.

Pvt Wilson, Emma M.

Pvt Zaragoza, Ashley M.

Pvt Zich, Mercedes L.

PLATOON 4002

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt L. A. GomezEnriquez

PFC Aguilardomingo, Michael B.

Pvt Armstrong, Nathan T.

Pvt Arwood, Trey A.

Pvt Avoki, Bavon S.

Pvt Beasley, James C.

Pvt Billups, Christopher D.

PFC Bolivarsolano, Emanuel

Pvt Brooks, Christian E.

Pvt Carrillo, Ines A.

Pvt Chew, Jermany R.

Pvt Colon, Justin C.

Pvt Cooper, Elijah J.

Pvt Cowgill, Tyler A.

Pvt Decker, Carter J.

PFC Friedt, Kyle D.

Pvt Gonzalez, Elijah J.

Pvt Gorsuch, Troy R.

PFC Green, Kru X.

Pvt Harchak, Aaron D.

Pvt Honor Jr, Samuel E.

Pvt Hood, Tydan P.

Pvt Jenkins, Ethan S.

Pvt Lafrennie, Brendan A.

PFC Mccaffrey, Matthew N.

Pvt Midgette Iii, James E.

Pvt Moore Jr, Gary A.

Pvt Morris, Christian X.

Pvt Naylor, Jasper M.

Pvt Nieves, Lucas A.

Pvt Nix, Mathew T.

Pvt Noel, Tahir J.

Pvt Owens, Calvin A.

Pvt Page, Blake A.

PFC Patten Iii, James E.

Pvt Paz, Toby L.

PFC Peralta, Andrew W.

PFC Robinson, Demarcus L.*

Pvt Sanger, James T.

Pvt Schanck, Tyreil G.

PFC Schulz, Christopher A.

Pvt Simons, Tetinseh L.

Pvt Simpson, Lucas T.

PFC Smith, Stefan C.*

PFC Soper, Bryce D.

Pvt Stevens, Mark A.

Pvt Thomas, Zachary A.

PFC Thompson, Gabriel D.

Pvt Thorne, Jaylon D.

PFC Torres, Thomas A.*

Pvt Watkinsjr, Jason D.

Pvt Welton, Joseph J.

Pvt Witting, Nathan A.

PFC Wood Jr, Michael A.

Pvt Wright II, Grant L.*

PLATOON 4004

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt K. Monterrubio

Pvt Aliagamartinez, Emmanuel J.

PFC Alvarez, Alan G.

PFC Arreagadeleon, Fermin H.

Pvt Bisaha, Alex J.

PFC Brothers, Alex F.

Pvt Burnell, William P.

Pvt Carter, Aaron J.

PFC Cundiff, Ty M.

Pvt Embrey, Brandon L.

Pvt Fant, Jerell R.

Pvt Geoffrion, Thomas P.

Pvt Gilbert Jr, Jason D.

Pvt Gonzalez, Luis

Pvt Griggs, Baylor M.

Pvt Haynes, Christopher A.

PFC Hayward, Wesley N.

Pvt Hazlerig, Hudson C.

PFC Hillard, Andrew T.

Pvt Hoffmaster Jr, Kenneth M.

Pvt Holiday, Josiah C.

Pvt Holland, Cole A.

PFC Hopper, Colin R.*

Pvt Kem, Suan S.

Pvt Lafortune, Chris S.

Pvt Lopezchavez, Jairo D.

Pvt Lusby, Colin L.

Pvt Maurer, Christophe M.

Pvt Mercado, Dakota T.

Pvt Montesinos, Anthony M.

Pvt Morgan, Lucas T.

PFC Nguyen, Tommy

Pvt Oliva, Andrew Z.

Pvt Ortiz, David A.

PFC Palovitz, Andrew N.

Pvt Puentedelavega, Michael

Pvt Recendiz, Ivan A.

Pvt Reyes Jr, Abimelec A.

Pvt Rivas, Isish M.

PFC Robertsharris, Johnathan A.*

Pvt Sampson, Joshua J.

PFC Schneider, Christophe W.

PFC Shelnut, Ryan J. *

PFC Smith, Clifton A.*

Pvt Smith, Zhyaire P.

PFC Sones, Evan R.*

Pvt Tenesaca, Juan E.

Pvt Terry, Darius J.

Pvt Vanvalkenburgh, Samuel E.

Pvt Vidal, Christian B.

Pvt Vizza, Brendan M.

PFC Washington, Sincere A.

PFC Zacarias, Juan D.

PLATOON 4005

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt B. Vilavanh

Pvt Albanese, Nicola G.

Pvt Auquisanango, Frank K.

PFC Avila Jr, Guillermo A.*

Pvt Bernardo, Nicholas M.

PFC Bianchi, Michael R.*

Pvt Bolah, Khalid D.

PFC Bryant, Dwayne *

PFC Bundy, Jaden D.

PFC Cantero Jr, Salvador S.

PFC Ceneri, Cole A.*

PFC Chevez, Joshua

Pvt Contreras, Kevin I.

Pvt Desai, Hitarth K.

Pvt Dipietro, Tyler J.

Pvt Dumeandujar, Naythan

Pvt Flori, Andrew J.

Pvt Gordonmiller, Cameron A.

PFC Guerra, Andre J.

Pvt Gutierrezmarte, Darwin

Pvt Hall, Travis S.

Pvt Hart, Lucius N.

PFC Johnson, Brandon A.

Pvt Jones, Xavier M.

Pvt Kasper, Dorian W.

Pvt Kelly, Thomas C.

Pvt Lin, Dengfeng

Pvt Majhi, Adarsh

PFC Maldonado, Jayson A.*

Pvt Mejia, Christian

PFC Mokayi, Winner O.

Pvt Mulkey, Jacques X.

Pvt Navarrozeferino, Pedro

Pvt Nunez, Janangel

Pvt Pacopia, Melcollin B.

PFC Parillo, Michael J.

Pvt Payne, Ashton C.

Pvt Perezflores, Kevin

Pvt Pope, Kaden B.

PFC Prince, Jahreal Z.*

Pvt Reyesvaquero, Victor F.

Pvt Rodriguez, Edy J.

Pvt Rodrigueztoro, Eduariel

Pvt Romero, Johnathan

Pvt Ross, Joshua T.

PFC Sanchez, Christophe

PFC Sun, Zhengyang

PFC Swiger, Kyle J.

Pvt Valentin, Adriel

PFC Vanfleet, Matthew L.

PFC Weldon, Collin M.

Pvt Zenteno, Anthony

Pvt Zhu, Qiting

PLATOON 4006

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt F. R. Cruz

Pvt Baswell, Gunnar L.

Pvt Begley, Jonathan A.

PFC Bell III, Kerry A.

Pvt Brngart, Rylee M.

Pvt Buchart, Bradley L.

PFC Burkett, Brian J.*

Pvt Case, Patrick J.

Pvt Cherimond, Elijah J.

Pvt Connolly, Carson T.

Pvt Cover, Jordan J.

Pvt Cristadoro, Kendall J.

Pvt Cuas, Raymond A.

Pvt Delegtorres, Darwin D.

Pvt Desadier, Pierson L.

Pvt Dickey, Cayden S.

Pvt Duffett, Frederick W.

Pvt Fien, Tyler J.

PFC Garzes, Makyle M.

Pvt Gloudeman, Noah C.

Pvt Graham, Evan W.

Pvt Guatemala, Jonathan A.

PFC Guevara, Andrew J.

Pvt Helvy, Tyrell L.

Pvt Henderson III, Prince O.

PFC Hicks, Ian M.*

Pvt Jackson, Darien T.

PFC Krumm, Thomas J.

Pvt Lane Jr., Antonio D.

Pvt Lasch, Jayce W.

PFC Lopez, Jonathan E.*

Pvt Marcial, Stuart

PFC Miller, Dayne J.*

PFC Morales, Jayel J.

Pvt Myers Jr., Craig D.

Pvt Oneal, Lendale F.

PFC Pietrzykowski, Michael B.

Pvt Pigna, Nicolas

Pvt Plamondon, Ryben I.

Pvt Potter, Zackery L.

PFC Pruiksma, Matthew B.

Pvt Quincheespinoza, Brayan A.

Pvt Ramirez, Saul B.

Pvt Reynolds, Bryyce A.

Pvt Rivera, Andrew M.

Pvt Roberts, Johnny P.

Pvt Romero, Michael J.

Pvt Rushlow, Lucas A.

Pvt Salazar, Juan P.

Pvt Serrano, Brandon J.

PFC Sims, Antonia I.

Pvt Stewart, Logan D.

Pvt Tashjian, Zane R.

PFC Vanderoef II, Kenneth M. *

Pvt Zhunio, Joe M.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotion

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Lance J. Langfeldt, 6th Marine Corps District commanding officer, awards the Pacesetter of the Month Award to Maj. Sean T. McCarragher, 6MCD headquarters training team officer, on February 6 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The district headquarters Pacesetter of the Month award recognizes the Marine, Sailor, or civilian for their exceptional contributions in support of the district’s mission.

Applying for a Specialty Adapted Housing Grant (SAH) or Special Home Adaptation Grant (SHA)

Veterans can learn more about how to apply for a SAH or SHA grant at http://bit. ly/3SGUot2 and the VA’s eBenefits website http://bit. ly/3Ik9YHC

Steps to take before starting an application

Veterans should follow these steps to prepare before starting a Specialty Adapted Housing Grant (SHA) or Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant application.

Step 1 Ask a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or VA-accredited Attorney or VA-accredited

Claims Agent to help you understand your veterans’ benefits and apply for those benefits. VSO services are free. Veterans and their family members and caregivers need to read the important information at the VA’s ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVE website https://www. benefits.va.gov/vso/

There is a Veterans Service Office in every county of SC. Go to the list of names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses at the SC Directory of VSOs at http://bit.ly/3qbLVSL to find your county VSO.

The VA’s Office of General Counsel also maintains a list of VA-recognized organizations and VA-accredited individuals that are authorized to assist in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of VA benefit claims at http://bit. ly/3QnCk5M

Veterans can also find a

representative of a recognized VSO, attorney, or claims agent by state/territory, by zip code, or by the VSO’s name online using eBenefits at https://bit. ly/3Ik9YHC. Veterans can also find a recognized VSO in the nearest VA Regional Benefit Office, by using the VA’s Directory of VA-recognized VSOs found at https:// www.benefits.va.gov/vso/ varo.asp

Step 2 Find out if you are eligible for an SHA Grant by reading the eligibility criteria at http://bit.ly/3I8JrNu

Step 3 Find your Social Security number and your VA File Number or Claim Number (if you have one).

A veteran’s VA File number is found on all mail sent to the veteran by the VA. The veteran’s file number is also found on the veteran’s VA benefit checks. If a veteran has never filed for any VA benefits, then the veteran will not have a VA File Number.

Step 4 Print out a copy of VA Form 26-4555, Application in Acquiring SAH or SHA Grant. Download and read about the VA Form 26-4555 at http://bit.ly/3kbXGsS. The form is available

as a Pdf File and is found at https://bit.ly/3Z3pw9u

Step 5. Ask your VA Primary Care Provider and Social Worker for help. Take the time to read about the great things VA Social Workers do for veterans at http://bit. ly/3ZostBV

How to apply Veterans can apply in the following ways.

Online. Apply online on eBenefits at the HOW TO APPLY FOR A SAH and SHA GRANT Website http://bit.ly/3SGUot2

When a veteran goes to the eBenefits website, they may need to sign in with their DS Logon account to access the application. If a veteran does not have a DS Logon account, they can register for one at https://bit.ly/3I8JrNu

By mail. Fill out an Application in Acquiring a SAH or SHA Grant (VA Form 26-4555) and mail the completed application to your nearest VA Regional Loan Center. Find a VA Regional Loan Center near you at http://bit.ly/3IjV6ca

Regional Loan Centers are closed to the public. If a veteran has trouble accessing the form, they should call the VA toll-free at 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time and ask to have a claim form

mailed to them.

Warning. Be patient if you call the VA. The phone system and its prompts can be confusing, and frustrating, and you may have to wait a long time for a representative. A veteran will probably do better asking a VSO to help them find the nearest VA Regional Office. In person. Fill out an Application in Acquiring a SAH or SHA Grant (VA Form 26-4555). Bring the completed application to your nearest VA Regional Office. Veterans can find a VA Regional Office near them at http://bit.ly/3BpjKET. Veterans can also call the VA at 800-827-1000 and a VA representative will give the veteran the address and phone numbers for the nearest VA Regional Office and help them. Again, a veteran will probably do better asking a VSO to help them find the nearest VA Regional Office.

VA Specialty Adapted Housing staff members can help veterans

The VA has SAH and SHA staff members that a veteran can contact by email or phone for help. Veterans can email them at sahinfo.vbaco@va.gov or call them at 877-827-3702. Get more information

Learn more about the adaptation design options and other information in the VA Housing Design Handbook found at https:// bit.ly/3IF8hpB

Other helpful references can be found at:

The VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) YouTube video found at http://bit. ly/3Sms8gI

The Island News article dated July 21, 2022, titled “Veterans should know their VA Social Worker,” found at http://bit.ly/3cyKM4r

(If you live in Charleston, Berkely, or Dorchester Counties) contact Tim Taylor, the Tri-County Veterans Support Network Co-Founder and Director at tim@tcvsn. org or 843-410-3616 and download the TCVSN Directory at https://bit. ly/415vUyZ

The bottom line

Filing for SAH and SHA Grants is complicated. Appealing a VA decision denying a claim for a SAH or SHA Grant is more complicated. So, make sure you use a VSO and, if needed a VA-Accredited Attorney to help you. Also, please do not forget that every veteran enrolled in VA Health-

care has a Social Worker assigned to that veteran and his or her care team. Social Workers are known for “Finding a Way.”

Even if a disabled veteran finds out he or she is not eligible for a VA SAH and SHA Grant, there are hundreds of other organizations like Veterans Service Organizations (VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETs, Paralyzed Veterans of America, etc.), Knights of Columbus Councils, Rotary Clubs, Exchange Clubs, and others who may be able to help get a home modified to help a veteran.

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 a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin Lopez Herrera/USMC

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

Read

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS. Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not – 24 Hour Response – Maximum Tax

Donation – Call (888) 515-3810

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. EASY,

ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 844-524-2197

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 is the last day to redeem winning tickets in the following

South Carolina Education Lottery Instant

Games: (1358) BINGO SQUARED; (1405)

333 Use ItchNoMore® shampoo on dogs & cats to relieve secondary dermatitis, treat yeast infections, & eliminate doggy odor. At Tractor Supply® (www.amazon.com)

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 833-2308692 DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details!

1-855-397-7030 www.dental50plus.com/60

#6258

AUCTIONS

C.H.A. 36th Annual Eq. & Miscellaneous Auction, Summerton, SC. 03-04-23 at 9:00

A.M. Consignments accepted. Contact info: Buddy Lewis 803.983.5040. J G Blocker Auction & Realty Inc. 843-908-3866.

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Never clean your gutters again! Affordable, professionally installed gutter guards protect your gutters and home from debris and leaves forever! For a FREE Quote call: 877-324-3132

NEED NEW FLOORING? Call Empire

Today to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 844-254-3873 Switch and save up to $250/year on your talk, text and data. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time offer – get $50 off on any new account. Use code GIFT50. For more information, call 1-866-275-0142.

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator. $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now be-

fore the next power outage: 1-844-775-0366

The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-655-2175

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-875-2449.

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company – 855-837-7719 or visit www.Life55plus.info/scan

Trouble hearing your TV? Try TV EARS’ Voice Clarifying Wireless TV Speaker. Better than a soundbar and/or turning the TV volume way up. Special, limited time $50 off offer. Call TV Ears. Use code MBSP50. Call 1-833-856-0470

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

DIRECTV Stream – Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE Package, $89.99/ mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.)

No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-237-9741

DIRECTV for $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-844-624-1107 DISH Network. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-877-542-0759 FREE high speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-855-851-8201

VACATION RENTALS

ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.1 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

WANTED Wanted!!! Comics, movie/ tv/ and music memorabilia, books, magazines, manga, toys, old stuff, coins, playboys, collections of most anything. Fair negotiating. 410-980-6523

YOUR AD HERE Email Amanda (amanda@lcweekly.com) to place your classified ad here!