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? 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.

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.

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