January 9 edition

It’s a matter of trust

Council, administration must regain voters’ faith

this (Beaufort County) Council almost a billion dollars when they have not shown themselves capable of managing less than $200 million is akin to buying a kid a sports car after he has wrecked Mom’s old Volvo and grandpa’s pickup.”

That’s the way one local resident, Lewis Tabb, described the outcome of November 2024’s failed vote on a $950 million sales tax referendum designed to raise money for road improvements, paved dirt roads and bridge planning.

The majority of Beaufort County voters who turned out rejected this latest fundraising effort by county officials with 55 percent of the vote. While just across the county line, in neighboring Jasper County, a similar sales tax referendum for road projects passed with the same percentage. Beaufort County, one of the five wealthiest counties in South Carolina, has

revenues in excess of $150 million. Much of this money is generated by the 103 579 housing units with a median value of $377,900. However, that’s still not enough money to meet the repair and replacement demands placed on the county’s road and bridges, even with state and federal funding support.

Beginning in 1998 a referendum was placed on the ballot asking the public for authority to add a penny to the local sales tax. This additional penny generated $40 million that was used to replace, among other things, two old bridges across the Broad and Chechesee Rivers.

In 2006 another sales tax referendum was successful, generating $152 million with dollars directed to improvements on the Bluffton Parkway, U.S. Highway 278

SEE TRUST PAGE A4

Alice Howard addresses the Beaufort County Council after being elected as the new Chairman on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Council Chambers. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Hundreds of people welcomed 2025 by gathering to watch the fireworks over the Beaufort River from Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

Lolita Huckaby took this photo along Trask Parkway on Friday, Jan. 3, following a roadside litter pickup by Sheldon residents. Beaufort County has more than two dozen volunteer groups in the Adopt a Highway program. Last year, 2,357 volunteers spent time cleaning the roadsides, picking up 56,749 bags of litter. 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.

American Legion Beaufort

Post 207 brings you Beaufort’s Suzanne DeGraw McMurray, 70, who joined the United States Navy in Jackson, Miss., in 1974

After Boot Camp and Personnelman specialty training in Orlando, she was assigned as the seventh enlisted woman to serve at the Naval Construction Regiment (the Seabees) in Gulfport, Miss.

While there she was selected to be the Princess of the Seabee Ball.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Safe schools for Beaufort County Council has let it be known that the Beaufort County School District is considering purchasing land for an elementary school on property off Route 278 in Bluffton. Observations of other schools in the district show a clear concern for safety by the locations and sites of the facilities.

Schools are generally located a distance from the main road with little access from commercial traffic, commercial properties, and sight lines from taller buildings. Since the Town of Bluffton and developers are

January 12

1944: Future world champion boxer Joe Frazier is born to Dolly Alston-Frazier and Rubin Frazier in Beaufort. He is the couple’s 12th child.

January 14

In addition to her personnel duties, she was in charge of preparations for any named tropical storms threatening the area. She separated in 1978 as a Second Class Petty Officer and began a multi-facetted career that included teaching roller skating, as a house-mother at a shelter for abused children and 13 years as office manager for a HVAC company.

She was married to Thomas McMurray (deceased), who served in the Navy as a Seal for 12 years and in the Coast Guard for 26 more years. She moved to Beaufort in 2000

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

planning commercial building including hotels, residences, and other businesses in the same plot area, the proximity to an elementary school should be carefully weighed.

Although Route 278 would provide easy access on a wide road, that access can be a threat as well as a benefit. As the main access route to Hilton Head Island with heavy traffic from early morning to early evening, it would seem a poor choice to ensure safety for children and staff.

Pedestrian traffic would be limited. Entering and exiting the facility could be hazardous ... note the numerous accidents on 278

Such factors as evacuation during various emergencies, traffic during peak hours, and easy access from outsiders create a security risk.

As a retired educator, I would suggest a location similar to those already in the district, such as Okatie, Red Cedar, or even Hilton Head. I have, unfortunately, witnessed a tragedy which occurred due to the [proximity] of an elementary school [to] a major thoroughfare. My hope is that the Beaufort County School District will make a better choice.

– Barbara Baxter, Ph.D. Baxter is a retired principal, professor and teacher.

January 15

1944: A battalion of Women Reserves, including 21 officers and 55 enlisted women, are activated at Parris Island, serving as lifeguards, musicians, truck drivers, and garrison troops for Page Field.

2008: A report is released ending the investigation by the Navy into the April 21, 2007, crash of the No. 6 U.S. Navy Blue Angels McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet during the final minutes of the air show

at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The lone fatality was pilot Lt. Commander Kevin "Kojak" Davis. Eight nearby residents are injured, and millions of dollars worth of private property damage is caused by the crash. The report states that when LCDR Davis pulled back into a 6 8-G pull, he lost control of the aircraft due to G-force-induced Loss Of Consciousness (G-LOC).

– Compiled by Mike McCombs ON THIS DATE

Suzanne DeGraw McMurray

Staff reports

Former Port Royal Mayor Robinson dies

Former Port Royal Mayor Henry "Luck" Robinson died on Friday morning, Jan. 3 2025, at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. He was 88 years old.

A tailor by trade — he worked on MCRD Parris Island for 50 years — Robinson was the first Black man to run for and serve as Town Councilman and Mayor in the history of the Town of Port Royal. He first ran for Town Council as a 32-year-old in 1969. After serv -

ing eight years on Council, he ran for and was elected mayor, a position he held for 18 years until he retired in 1995 He couldn’t stay away, though, running for Council again in 1999 and serving until he retired for good in 2011 at the age of 75

Port Royal’s boardwalk at The Sands Beach, is named for Robinson, an avid fisherman. Robin-

son, one of 14 brothers and sisters, is survived by his wife, Mrs. Linda J. Robinson. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Mayor, Henry Robinson. He was a pillar in the Port Royal community and cared deeply for the success of Port Royal,” Port Royal Town Councilman and Robinson’s friend posted on the tribute page for the former mayor on Serenity Mortuary – Historic Beaufort Chapel’s webpage. “Over the years he was not only a men-

tor, but also a friend and great supporter. I extend my deepest sympathies to Mrs. Linda and the Robinson family, may you find comfort in the cherished memories you shared.”

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Union Baptist Church Building Fund, C/O E. Renee' Wallace, 634 Fort Fredrick Court, Port Royal, S.C., 29935 or Sons of Veterans of the Civil War (Grand Army Hall) P.O. Box 1961 Beaufort, S.C., 29901

There will be a public view -

ing from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10 at the Serenity Mortuary – Historic Beaufort Chapel on Carteret Street. There will be a Celebration of Life at noon, Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Tabernacle Baptist Church at 901 Craven Street in Beaufort. The event will be livestreamed at the Serenity Mortuary – Historic Beaufort Chapel’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SerenityBft1/.

Robinson will be laid to rest at Beaufort Memorial Gardens.

15th annual Pelican Plunge

S aturday February 8, 2025

Henry “Luck” Robinson

Laura Kaiser from Beaufort and Keri Cortez from St. Augustine, Fla., raise their hands in celebration after braving the cold and ringing in the new year by taking a plunge at the 15th annual Hunting Island Pelican Plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at Hunting Island State Park Beach. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Hunting Island Lighthouse Director Ted Panayotoff walks beside the Friends of Hunting Island Pelican mascot as they lead the costume parade during the 15th annual Hunting Island Pelican Plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at Hunting Island State Park Beach. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Staff reports

Beaufort names Ashley Brandon public information officer

The City of Beaufort has named Ashley Brandon its public information officer, according to a Jan. 2 news release. She began in her position on Monday, Jan. 6 Brandon will manage external communications for the City, including media and community relations, social media, media releases, and newsletters, among other responsibilities.

Formerly the downtown manager, events coordinator, and director of Main Street Beaufort, Brandon began her tenure at the City in June of 2023 with the Department of Downtown Operations and Community Services.

“I am proud to have ensured that our Downtown remained beautiful and vibrant while always maintaining our history and her-

itage,” she said in a news release. “I have focused on driving community interaction and awareness while creating an environment people are excited to spend time in.”

“Ashley’s background and familiarity with City operations make her well qualified for her duties as our new public information officer,” City Manager Scott Marshall said in a news release.

“She’s already been performing at a high level and we look forward to leveraging her talents in becoming even more accessible, responsive and transparent.”

“I am honored to join the City of Beaufort as the public information officer, and I look forward to working with the community and the dedicated team at the City to ensure that all residents are informed and engaged in

the activities and initiatives that affect their daily lives,”

Brandon said. “As a local I am proud to call Beaufort home and I am even more proud to represent our beautiful city.”

Brandon succeeds Kathleen Williams, who recently retired.

Before coming to the City, Brandon owned and managed a social media marketing business. Her past expe-

COUNTY COUNCIL SWEARING IN

Probate Judge Heather Galvin administers the Oath of Office to recently reelected County Councilman Gerald Dawson, District 1, in the Council Chambers on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Trust

from page A1

and the Boundary Street redesign in Beaufort.

In 2018 again a sales tax referendum was approved, by 56 percent of the voters, raising $300 million, including $80 million for the first phase of new bridges to Hilton Head Island and $30 million for various improvements on Lady’s Island.

But by 2024, public opinion had shifted, and Beaufort County voters, by 10 000-plus votes, rejected the idea of continuing a penny sales tax.

These facts beg the question: Was County Council’s failure to deliver on projects included in the 2018 penny sales tax the sole reason for the failure of this latest referendum? Or has there, indeed been a loss of faith because of the perceived “dysfunction” among the county officials themselves?

Take a look at the top

To take a look at where we are now, one has to look at where we came from. And many who have observed county operations for the past two decades suggest looking at the administrative leadership, starting with John Kachmar, who was chief administrator from 1999 until 2003 Kachmar was forced to resign after his elected bosses discovered some undisclosed traffic violations, including the fact he was driving a county vehicle without a valid S.C. driver’s license.

After Kachmar, Gary Kubic was brought in to steer the ship of government through the growing pressures of population increases, particularly south of the Broad River. Kublic lasted longer than most, 14 years, from 2003 to 2017, until he retired for personal reasons to Hilton Head Island, where he reportedly still lives out of the limelight of county government.

With the departure of Kubic, politics at the top of county government began to swirl. He had brought in Josh Gruber to serve as county attorney and was reportedly grooming him for the job. But County Council members, at least the majority of them, weren’t getting on board with Gruber, and he ended up going to

Probate Judge Heather Galvin administers the Oath of Office to recently reelected County Councilman York L. Glover, Sr., District 3, in the Council Chambers on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Hilton Head Island where he became second in command under then-town manager Steve Riley.

(More recently, Gruber has been in the news after being tapped as the new Hardeeville town manager, where his organizational skills will be needed to handle rapid growth there. But that’s another story.)

After major disagreements behind closed doors — since that’s where these things are worked out — the council again resorted to a nationwide search and offered the job to Alan Ours from Brunswick, Ga. Ours accepted the job but then opted to stay where he was.

The council put the search on a back burner since it was, by then, an election year for the majority of council. Tom Keaveny who had been brought in by Kubic in 2015 as an attorney for the county, was named interim county administrator.

Another search produced the county’s first female manager.

Ashley Jacobs came on board in 2019, with a council showing signs of discord on various topics. Jacobs made it 18 months until she opted to resign in 2020 reading the signals that she no longer had the support of a majority of council members.

After Jacobs, another search team brought in and County Planning Director Eric Greenway moved across the hall in the government administration building to become interim county administrator.

In 2021, he was named County Administrator despite reminding his employers from time to time that budgetary matters weren’t his cup of tea. That became obvious by 2022 when a whistleblower brought to the elected officials’ attention certain suspicious circumstances in the hiring and purchasing departments.

By September, 2023, the Council was looking at a list of alleged procurement violations by Greenway and other members of the County administration, including Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Loper and Deputy Couny Administrator Whitney Richland.

There were also allocations of misappropriate behavior by the Greenway in the hiring of a woman as the newly created position of County Wellness Director.

The woman eventually sued the County in federal court for sexual harassment.

The various complaints resulted in an investigation by an outside law firm — Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd of Greenville — at a cost of $350,000

The firm’s report was not shared with the public. Under pressure form the media, law enforcement and individual citizens, the Council eventually gave the complete detailed report to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone, who passed it to a special investigative unit of the 1st Judicial Court Circuit and then state Attorney General Alan Wilson.

And that’s apparently where the report sits, waiting for some further action by the court.

To top all that off, Brittany Ward, who had been made County staff attorney with the departure of Keaveny, came under public criticism when it was publicized, again by a whistleblower, that her family had been involved in the County’s purchase of property in the Okatie area through the Rural and Critical Lands program.

Another outside attorney, Ashley Story from Columbia was brought in to investigate and found no wrongdoing on Ward’s part. Nonetheless, Ward followed Keaveny out the door, resigning in early December.

Can you say ‘dysfunctional?’

Councilman David Batholomew who represents Lady’s Island, parts of Beaufort and St. Helena Island, is one of the newest members of the Council, elected in 2023. He, like other members of Council, is worried about the recent controversies that have rocked Council for the past months.

While many have used the word “dysfunctional” to describe the current council, Batholomew was hesitant.

“No, I wouldn’t use that word,” he said. “But we need to acknowledge when we mess up.”

Council members have acknowledged the county needs to handle requests under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) more efficiently. The administration’s pattern of hiring outside law firms to handle specific issues is another area mentioned for inspection.

rience also includes working for the Arkansas Secretary of State in the elections division and serving in the U.S. Navy as an interior communications specialist. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s in political science and speech communication, and a graduate of Battery Creek High School. Brandon has two sons, 17 and 10 years old.

Judge Heather

administers the Oath of Office to recently reelected County Councilman Logan

District 7, in the Council

on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

The timing is perfect for that policy to be reviewed since the county’s four-member on-staff legal department has been reduced to two with the retirement of Keavney and the departure of Ward.

Just this month, criticisms by the public and Council members themselves have been directed at Council Chairman Joe Passiment, who conducted a private meeting with county and Hilton Head Island town officials, plus staff members, to discuss the failed sales tax referendum and its impact on the U.S. 278 bridge replacement.

The meeting wasn’t “public” because only three County Council members were invited to attend.

The meeting prompted Councilman Tom Reitz, who represents part of Hilton Head Island, to send an email out to his fellow Council members demanding Passiment and Vice-Chair Larry McElynn resign their leadership roles.

As a consequence of this meeting, a month later when Council met for the first time in 2025, the majority voted to elect Council member Alice Howard to serve as chairman over Passiment, by a 6 to 5 vote. Reitz cast the sixth vote for Howard pointing to his constituents sitting in the audience and saying, “This was for you,” referring to the closed US 278 meeting Passiment had coordinated which frustrated Reitz and the public in general.

This lack of transparency, particularly on the 278 plans, was an issue that former Administrator Jacobs faced when she criticized former Council Chairman Stu Rodman and some other Council members for trying to conduct county business out of the public’s eye.

The year ends with a new county administrator, Michael Moore, who admits there is a lot of work to be done.

“So, I think all we can really do is educate the public and demonstrate to them that … it’s a challenge because … people are going to say, ‘why should I put my faith in you all,’” Moore said in an interview prior to the November referendum vote.

But is the level of distrust going to change?

Some observers have commented that the current media focus on the county’s operations is the

reason County Council finds itself the “dysfunctional body du jour.”

A year ago, folks were scratching their heads and wondering what in the world was up with the Beaufort City Council when then-Mayor Stephen Murray abruptly resigned after scrapping with Historic Beaufort Foundation, like-minded resident preservationists and lawyers, month after month.

And the Beaufort Board of Education certainly had its moment in the public light even this past year when one of their own, William Smith, sued his fellow board members and certain staff members for an alleged “smear campaign” that he claimed caused emotional distress.

The district, however, under the supervision of Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, appears to be operating smoothly, for the time being.

Can they do it?

The Council must wait two years, according to state law, to bring a sales tax referendum back to the public in a referendum.

At the same time, the State Infrastructure Bank has given them until March to come up with an alternative for the county’s share $190 million of the U.S. 278 Bridge Project, or the SIB’s $120 million portion of the project could be spent elsewhere in the state.

The council has new leadership with Howard as chair and Tab Tabernik as vice-chair, Pinky Harriott as new chief financial officer and a new administrator, Michael Moore, all who have expressed a pledge to be transparent.

The Council also has until 2026 for the next general election when nine of them will be up for reelection. Can the trend of distrust be reversed?

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

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

Probate

Galvin

Cunningham,

Chambers

Staff reports

Marine Corps bases take increased security posture

The U.S. Marine Corps installations in Beaufort County are taking preventative measures as a result of recent events in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

“Effective immediately, all Marine Corps installations in the Tri-Command area will implement increased security measures at their respective entry gates,” according to a media release dated Monday, Jan., 6 2025. “In response to recent events and in accordance with guidance from

United States Northern Command, these measures are being enacted as a precaution to ensure the safety and security of service members, civilians, families, and facilities across the Tri-Command.”

Key security changes include the following:

• 100% ID Checks: All individuals entering the installations must present a valid Department of Defense identification card, such as a Common Access Card.

Suspension of the Trusted Traveler Program: Individuals without Department of Defense ID must report to the appropriate Visitor Control Center to request access.

• Random Vehicle Inspections: Drivers should anticipate occasional inspections as part of the enhanced security protocols.

According to the release, drivers and visitors should expect delays at all entry gates while these measures are in effect.

MCAS Beaufort commanding officer Col. Mark Bortnem, these steps are essential to maintaining a secure and mission-ready environment across all Tri- Command installations.

“As a commander, my first responsibility is the safety and well-being of everyone who lives and works on our installations,” Bortnem said. “These security measures are necessary to protect

our Marines, sailors, civilians, and families, and they allow us to remain the most ready when and if our Nation calls. I want to thank everyone for their cooperation as we work together to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.”

For further details on base

Pirate Plunge in Port Royal

Death at Beaufort apartment complex sparks investigation

By Delayna Earley

The Beaufort Police Department is investigating the death of a man at the Garden Oaks Apartment Complex in Beaufort on Monday, Dec. 30

Huey Marshall, 72, was found dead in an apartment at the complex located at 2000 Salem Road.

Officers were dispatched to the complex just after 11 a.m. after receiving a report of suspicious activity

Chair from page A1

on Thursday, Jan. 2

and a concerned relative had been unable to reach Marshall.

Originally the death was ruled as suspicious, but an autopsy performed at the Medical University of South Carolina on Friday, Jan. 3, showed that Marshall had been attacked, and his throat had been cut, according to Andrew McNece, Deputy Coroner with Beaufort County Coroner’s Office. This is an active inves-

This is the first time that a woman has held the two highest positions on County Council at the same time.

Howard unseated former Chairman Joe Passiment with a vote of 6 to 5 after she was nominated by Councilman David Bartholomew. Passiment had been in the position with Councilman Larry

tigation, and the Beaufort Police Department has asked that anyone with information about this incident call Investigator Jayne at 843-322-7972

To leave an anonymous tip, call 843-322-7938

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

McElynn serving as his vice chair

since 2020

This change in leadership comes after a challenging year for the council highlighted by public concerns regarding transparency, failure to get a $950 million sales tax referendum passed in November 2024, hiring a new County Administrator after firing the previous one and disagreements among council members.

“I think that the previous chairman and vice chairman had a hard job…,” said Howard. “We are all only one vote. You know we each

NEW YEARS BABY

The new year 2025 was off to a sweet start at the

as the hospital welcomed its first baby of the

1:53 a.m., and at 8 pounds was Robert Medina, born to Angela Licona and Roberto Medina of Hilton Head Island. Baby Robert's New Year's hat and sash were crocheted by Merick Murdaugh and Christy Sterling, both Beaufort Memorial surgical technicians. Photos courtesy of Charlotte Berkeley.

represent about 17 000 people

We’re not always going to agree, but if we have a consensus on how we’re going to tell the public and how we’re going to work with the public, that would be good. We just need openness.”

Tabernick agreed with Howard and said that they need to unite the council members to do what is best for the county and not just the individual areas.

“So one of the things we have to do, Alice and I, is bring everyone together to figure out what are the priorities for the county

as a whole,” Tabernick said. “Because that’s our job. We can’t look at only north of Broad, south of Broad, it’s what’s best for Beaufort County as a whole. Giving our residents a good return on their money. They’re all paying taxes, and we’d like to make it a good return on those funds.”

Both Howard and Tabernick said that they plan to work with council members to ensure that going forward, all council business that can be discussed publicly will be discussed in open session and not in executive ses-

sion, which has been a common complaint from constituents who have been critical of council’s process. Howard has been a member of County Council since 2015 and Tabernick was elected in 2022 Council chairman and vice chairman serve for two years.

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

Nick Borregine, owner of sponsor Shellring Ale Works, leads the way as plungers run into the water ringing in the new year at the 2025 Port Royal Pirate Plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at The Sands Beach in Port Royal. Proceeds from the event were to benefit CAPA. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Pirate Tim Newman presents Port Royal Mayor Kevin Phillips as he tries to encourage attendees to vote for his pirate costume at the 2025 Port Royal Pirate Plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at The Sands Beach in Port Royal. Proceeds from the event were to benefit CAPA. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

The Island News

Beaufort Memorial Collins Birthing Center,

new year. Coming into the world at

Staff reports

Explore the Lowcountry’s Waterways and Ecology

The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) is inviting the community to a special panel discussion — “Explore the Lowcountry’s Waterways & Ecology” — from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, in Room 156 of the Hargray Building on the USCB Bluffton Campus.

Led by Biology & Marine Science Professor Joe Staton, the event will bring together topic specialists and community leaders to discuss the unique ecosystems of the Lowcountry and the 21st-century challenges they face. Attendees will gain insights into marine bi-

ology, conservation efforts, and sustainable solutions to protect our region’s natural treasures.

Audience discussion will focus on ways to work together to safeguard the ecological richness of our coastal home. Following the discussion, guests are invited to a light reception to meet and network with the panelists.

This event is part of USCB’s 20th Anniversary celebration and is generously sponsored by the Heritage Classic Foundation and the Beaufort Jasper Commission on Higher Education. RSVP at USCB.edu/20th.

“Explore the Lowcountry’s Waterways

HBF Winter Lecture Series returns with experts sharing Lowcountry history

Staff reports Historic Beaufort Foundation’s long-running Winter Lecture Series returns Thursday, Feb. 6 at USC Beaufort’s Center for the Arts in downtown Beaufort with John McCardell, Larry Rowland and Steve Wise.

“Our Winter Lecture Series is one of the most popular educational offerings available about local history. The presenters are extremely knowledgeable in their field and have a compelling way of telling the stories of South Carolina and Lowcountry history,” HBF Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said in a news release.

All lectures run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the USCB Center for the Arts at 805 Carteret Street in Beaufort. Admission to each event is $30 for HBF members, $35 for non-members, and full-time students with valid student ID can

participate for $20. Tickets also can be purchased on-site the night of each event if seats are available. Tickets are available online and are expected to go quickly. Visit the HBF website at https://historicbeaufort.org/ for more information.

This year’s topics include:

February 6

The Legacy of the Yemassee War – Larry Rowland

The First Great Awakening and the Coming of the American Revolution – John McCardell

February 13

The Second Great Awakening and the Coming of the Civil War – John McCardell Maritime History of the Port Royal Sound, 1800-1865 –Steve Wise

February 27

Civil War Photographers of Beaufort – Steve Wise

Reminiscences of Beaufort, Kate Gleason, Francis Griswold and Samuel Hopkins Adams – Larry Rowland

About the lecturers John McCardell graduated from Washington and Lee University and earned his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University. For his dissertation, “The Idea of a Southern Nation,” he earned the 1977 Alan Nevins Prize by the Society of American Historians. McCardell served as vice-chancellor of Sewanee: The University of the South from 2010 until June 2020

Larry Rowland is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History for the University of South Carolina, Beaufort, and previously held roles with USC as Professor of History and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in New York and both his Master’s degree and Doctorate from the University of South Carolina. He has authored numerous books and articles about South Carolina and the Sea Islands.

Dr. Larry Rowland

Steve Wise is the curator of the museum for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University, his Master’s degree from Bowling Green

State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. He has written and edited several books and articles including “Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running During the Civil War” and “Gate of Hell: The Campaign for Charleston Harbor.”

Dr. Steve Wise

Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, S.C. For more information on the entity's mission and history, visit historicbeaufort.org and follow HBF on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

State stipends help nearly 2,100 college students land internships

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

Clemson University’s career center had been helping about 30 students each summer find internships. But last summer, with an influx of state funding, that number jumped to more than 400 students.

Internships are impactful, Clemson’s Dean of Undergraduate Learning Sean Britton said, because they allow students to earn money while gaining valuable work experience in their future career field rather than taking a random summer job.

They also tend to have a positive impact on a student’s grades when they come back to school with a better understanding of how their classwork applies to their career. They also get more — and better — job offers with higher starting salaries, said Neil Burton, the executive director of Clemson’s Center for Career and Professional Development.

“The challenge for a lot of students is there’s an upfront cost they think they can’t afford,” Britton said. They may not have the funds for moving expenses if they go to work in a different part of the state. And their closets might not contain appropriate office attire.

“Paying the upfront deposit on an apartment while you’re buying a suit and trying to figure out how to get a car to go there may seem like minor things for a lot of folks,” Britton said. “But for a lot of students, it’s prohibitive.”

Thanks to $17 million collectively in state budgets approved

Clemson University students meet with potential employers at an event for the school’s so-called Cooperative Education Program. Co-op students rotate between working for companies in their career field and taking classes, giving them on-the-job experience prior to graduation. Photo curtesy of Clemson University

by legislators in the last two years, Clemson and the University of South Carolina have addressed this for nearly 2 100 students so far. That money will extend to internships through summer 2025, allowing the universities to dole out stipends that help with expenses students might incur before their first paycheck clears.

The aid is not a loan. Students don’t pay it back.

USC offers $3,000 to students who participate in internships within high-demand industries in the state, such as aerospace, automotive, energy, financial services, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing.

Since summer 2023, a total of 941 students across the USC college system have participated, according to a statement from the university. The school has awarded more than $2 8 million to date.

In a survey response following their internship, one anonymous student wrote that the program, “allowed me the opportunity to participate in my internship without worrying about trying to work another job along with the internship. I was able to fully immerse myself in the program to further myself academically, professionally and personally.”

“It encouraged me to stay in the state of South Carolina, where

there is a significant demand for healthcare workers, specifically nurses,” a different student wrote.

So far, 46 students who participated in USC’s internship program have graduated. Of those who responded to a survey following graduation, six said they had gone on to work for the company where they had interned.

Clemson has given out a little less than $2 million to 1,151 students, according to a report from the university. But the amount of money students collectively earned from their internships — either over a semester or during the summer — was more than seven times that, Britton said.

“So, it was a small investment on the front side that resulted in a very large result on the other,” he said.

Prior to getting the state budget allocation, Clemson had nudged students to use its career center research but that was met with limited success.

“Being able to tell them that we have this money available to you to get you over the hump made a huge difference for students,” Britton said.

In making awards, Clemson prioritized first-generation college students and those from low-income families. The second priority tier focused on in-state students.

Of those students who participated, 70% took internships with companies within South Carolina. The other 30% were placed with companies outside the state.

While Burton, the director at Clemson’s career center, said early

results are promising, the college is looking for other ways to boost participation further.

One such effort is what Clemson calls Tigers on Track. The program offers extra help to students who are the first in their family to attend college. Starting their freshman year their coached on how to prepare for an internship, how to set up a LinkedIn account, how to interview well for jobs and how to boost their resume.

Burton said his office also is considering a pilot program taking students to visit some of the smaller employers in the state. He hopes this will introduce them to the opportunities these small businesses, often lesser known than Boeing or BMW or Michelin, can offer.

Finally, Burton said the school’s career innovation lab is developing a certification on artificial intelligence. The aim is to train students in AI who can then consult for some of the state’s smaller companies, helping those businesses use the technology to improve their day-to-day operations

“These are just a couple ideas to get some of those students and employers interacting prior to a potential internship opportunity, so that the recruiting can be a little bit easier,” Burton said.

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

Beaufort. Submitted photo

Dr. John McCardell

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

Their breakouts came about a season and a half later than expected, but a pair of legends were born in The Cove on Saturday.

Sheridan Bostic returned from the latest in a string of injuries to drain her first six 3-pointers and finished 7-for-9 from long range to lead USCB’s women’s basketball team to a 62-55 win over Clayton State, and Hudson Norton erupted in the second half to finish with 23 points and nine rebounds to fuel the Sand Sharks men to an 81-70 win to finish USCB’s first sweep in Peach

Surprise stars lead Sand Sharks sweep

Belt Conference play.

Bostic was expected to be a key piece of Sharon Versyp’s roster in last year’s inaugural season, but a preseason knee injury ended her season before it began. Then, just a few minutes into this year’s opener, Bostic felt a pop in her foot and found herself back on the sidelines.

She was right at home behind the arc on Saturday, though, hitting five first-half 3-pointers including four in a four-minute span to end the first half, powering the Sand Sharks to a 16-point halftime lead.

Brielle Bartelt added 12 points and five assists to

go with Bostic’s 21 points, and Janiyah Heyward hit two huge buckets down the stretch after the Lakers had trimmed the margin to six. Heyward had eight points, seven rebounds, and four steals in her second game of the season.

USCB’s men never trailed, but it was tied four times early on as the teams felt each other out. The last deadlock came at 13-13 midway through the first half, but Krishen Atwal scored three buckets with a Norton jam mixed in to push USCB to a 21-13 lead. The Sand Sharks took an eight-point advantage to the locker room, and

saw the lead shrink to four points before 3-pointers from Dominic Eason and Dylan Lewis bookended a 12-2 run that ballooned the lead to 15

The Lakers pulled within six on several occasions in the second half, but Norton took over down the stretch, scoring three straight buckets including a thunderous dunk on a baseline drive that took the air out of Clayton State’s comeback.

Norton played just three games a year ago before his season was cut short by injury and was averaging 5 4 points through 11 games this season before putting up a career-high Saturday and coach Ron Fudala’s team showcased its depth. The Sand Sharks hit the

Bridges Prep’s Kevin Summers grapples for position with May River’s Henry Santiz during their consolation final in the 165-pound weight class at the U.S. Army Shark Invitational at May River High School. Summers won the match by pin to place third among 25 wrestlers in his bracket. Justin Jarrett/LowcoSports.com

Iron sharpens iron at Shark Invitational

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

Many of the Palmetto State’s top wrestling teams along with powerhouse programs from Georgia and Virginia descended upon May River High School on Dec. 30-31 for the U.S. Army Shark Invitational, a 36-team epic that required a grind to survive to the medal round.

The host Sharks are the topranked team in Class 4A, but they could only muster a fourth-

place finish behind Georgia dynasty South Effingham and Class 5A powers Fort Mill and Ashley Ridge, while Bridges Prep, Beaufort High, and Battery Creek all finished in the middle of the pack.

May River had the Lowco’s only two champions — Blake Butler at 150 pounds and Josh Echeverria at 175 — and the only two finalists from the area. Bridges Prep’s Kevin Summers placed third at 165 with teammate Ali Jenkins finishing fourth at 175

while Beaufort’s Antonio McKnight placed fourth at 144, Whale Branch’s Wesley White was sixth at 138, and Battery Creek’s Nate Najar placed sixth at 144

The region dual schedule ramps up this week, with Beaufort High traveling to Hilton Head for a Region 6-4A match on Wednesday, while Bridges Prep hosts Benedictine and John Paul II the same night for Military Appreciation Night, and Whale Branch and Woodland are at Bat-

EDITOR’S NOTE For full list of scores from U.S. U.S. Army Shark Invitational and Whale Branch Warrior Slam Duals, visit our website at www.yourislandnews.com.

tery Creek on Wednesday. Several area teams will be in action Saturday at the Bluffton Bobcat Duals, and the Area 9 qualifier for junior varsity and middle school will be held Saturday at Hilton Head High.

road this week for Peach Belt matchups at Lander on Wednesday and at Georgia Southwestern on Saturday.

USCB’s Hudson Norton works in the paint during the second half of the Sand Sharks’ 81-70 win over Clayton State on Saturday. Norton had a career-high 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Sand Sharks. Ashton McNair/USCB Athletics

Norovirus and how

to prevent its spread

Norovirus is a group of viruses that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. It’s a very common illness and it’s very contagious. Norovirus outbreaks usually happen seasonally in colder months. The infection is the No.1 cause of foodborne illness in the United States. What is the difference between norovirus and the stomach flu? Norovirus causes gastroenteritis, which some people may call the “stomach flu.” The influenza virus causes respiratory flu, not gastroenteritis.

How many types of noroviruses exist? There are several different types (strains) of norovirus. The most common type is GII.4

Norovirus is very common. Globally, about 685 million cases are reported each year. Of that estimate, over 200 million cases affect children.

What are the symptoms of norovirus? Symptoms of norovirus include:

Nausea

Vomiting Diarrhea

Stomach pain

In addition, you may also have:

A headache

Fever

Body aches

Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last one to three days.

Are norovirus symptoms

the same in children and adults? Symptoms of norovirus are usually the same in both children and adults. Adults may experience more diarrhea than children and children may vomit more than adults.

How do you get norovirus? You can get the norovirus infection in many ways, including through: Close contact with someone who has the virus.

Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth or nose.

Eating or drinking contaminated foods or beverages.

Norovirus is the biggest cause of illness from contaminated food in the U.S.

The virus typically spreads when someone who has the virus touches food before serving it to someone else. Sometimes, certain foods, including oysters and other seafood, are naturally contaminated with norovirus.

Is norovirus contagious? Yes, norovirus is highly contagious, which means it spreads easily. If you have the virus, your body sheds (releases) billions of tiny virus particles that can make others ill, too. It only takes a few particles to make someone else sick.

After you come into contact with norovirus, it can take 12 to 48 hours before

you start to show symptoms. This amount of time before you get sick is called an incubation period. After your symptoms stop, you’re still contagious for up to 48 hours.

What are the risk factors for norovirus? Anyone can get norovirus. You’re more likely to get norovirus if: You come into contact with someone who has the virus. Your genes make you more likely to develop symptoms (genetic susceptibility).

What are the complications of norovirus? If you have norovirus, you’ll feel very sick. This can cause you to throw up and have diarrhea. When you’re unable to keep nutrients in your body, you’re at risk of dehydration.

parent PULSE ©

Give your child a safe and healthy start to the new year

Developing New Year’s resolutions is often on to-do lists when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1. Goals focusing on health and well-being are often at the top of those lists. But resolutions aren’t just for adults— kids can make them, too. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center experts offer parents tips for helping their children create resolutions for healthier habits in 2025

Eating Healthier in the New Year: Making healthier food choices, staying hydrated and eating a diet full of nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, with minimal processed foods and sugar, is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center pediatric endocrinologist Stephanie Green is available to discuss ways to help children eat nourishing foods and have a well-balanced diet, and make eating nutritious foods fun.

Staying Active in the Year Ahead: Whether tak-

ing a walk or biking instead of driving, when possible, taking stairs more than elevators, or getting children involved in sports or other activities, encouraging kids to get at least 30 minutes of activity each day on average can spark a healthy habit in the new year. Paul Sponseller, chief of the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics, and pediatric sports medicine specialist R. Jay Lee can share insight to help motivate kids to feel stronger and more energized and form lifelong active routines. Managing Stress, Anx-

iety and Screen Time in 2025: Stress and anxiety can have a negative effect on children—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Plus, while social media and electronic devices such as cellphones and tablets can make people feel more connected, too much screen time can lead to health concerns, such as sleep or behavioral issues. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center child psychologist Erika Chiappini can provide parents with tips for helping children navigate stress and anxiety, as well as managing screen time, in 2025

Children may have the above symptoms, along with:

Crying without tears. Fussiness. Sleepiness throughout the day.

Norovirus can make it difficult for you to eat or drink because the inflammation in your intestines and stomach causes you to vomit or have diarrhea. You still need to try to eat and drink. You can do this by eating and drinking more often throughout the day, eating slowly, and taking small bites or taking little sips of fluids. If you eat too quickly or too much, your body may reject the food intake.

How to Prevent Spread

of Norovirus

As cases of norovirus con-

tinue to be reported across the United States, some may be wondering what exactly that is and how they can protect themselves.

“Norovirus is a small virus that is known to cause outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness,” explained Donald Dumford, MD, infectious disease specialist with Cleveland Clinic.

“Usually when there's cases, it's predominantly nausea and vomiting, and then a little less diarrhea.”

Because norovirus is highly contagious, we often see outbreaks in places where people are in close proximity. It’s also more common in the colder months.

Norovirus is typically spread through food and beverage contamination, touching contaminated surfaces, or being near some-

one who is sick. Help prevent the virus from making its way into your home, by regularly wash your hands Follow the 20-second wash rule using soap and water (sing the Happy Birthday song twice while sudsing up and rinsing off). Know that simply washing with or rubbing on hand sanitizer will not kill the norovirus. You should also sanitize with soap and water all high touch areas, like counter tops, doorknobs, and light switches. The same advice applies if you’re already sick. “With norovirus, there's no treatment options. It is just giving it time to get better. Most people get better within 72 hours and usually symptoms will resolve completely by then,” said Dr. Dumford. “But I think it's important when people are worried about having a gastrointestinal illness, to make sure to be overly cautious about washing your hands, not preparing food for others at those times and trying to keep yourself isolated as much as possible to make sure that you're not exposing other people during your contagious period.” If you do wind up getting norovirus, it’s important to drink lots of water, otherwise you could risk dehydration. If your symptoms become severe, it’s best to seek medical attention.

Source: CCNewsService.org

Why some people are procrastinators

Are you always waiting until the last minute? A psychologist goes over the reasons why we procrastinate and how to avoid putting things off in the future.

Whether it’s a task at work or at home, we all procrastinate now and then.

But why do we sometimes put off the things we know we have to do?

“At times, we may be stressed, frustrated or simply not have the energy or motivation to do something. It feels good to procrastinate because then you don't have to deal with it right now. You just tell yourself you’ll deal with it tomorrow,” explained Chivonna Childs, PhD, psychologist for Cleveland Clinic.

Along with lacking motivation, wanting to be perfect can also make you put something off. Depression, anxiety and

fear of failure are some other reasons people tend to procrastinate as well.

To avoid procrastinating, Dr. Childs suggests breaking down what you need to get done into smaller tasks.

For example, don’t tell yourself you have to clean your entire house at once— just start with a small section and see how you feel from there.

It can be a tremendous help to call on a friend or family member who can motivate you to get something done.

“You can get an accountability buddy to avoid procrastination—somebody who is going to check in on you and say, ‘Hey, did you do A, B and C?’ If you didn't, sometimes that person can come over and help you as well,” Dr. Childs said. If you continue struggling with procrastination, Dr. Childs added talking to a mental health professional can help. They can work with you to figure out why exactly you’re procrastinating and come up with a solution.

Source: CCNewsService@ccf.org

Recommended vaccines for adults and seniors

You may think your days of sitting in the doctor’s office with a cotton ball on your shoulder are over. But while your shots may not come with a superhero bandage anymore, there are a number of immunizations that you should make sure to keep up with as a grownup.

“Vaccine immunity wanes over time,” explains family medicine physician Neha Vyas, MD. “So, vaccines that we got as children may no longer be effective.”

What’s more, certain infectious diseases can affect older adults more than younger people. So, as you age, you can benefit from vaccines to protect you from potentially severe infections.

Dr. Vyas and geriatric and internal medicine specialist Ardeshir Hashmi, MD, explain what vaccines are recommended for adults, when to get them and why they matter.

Why adults need vaccines

Whether you’re headed off to college or have been empty-nesting it for years, there are several immunizations that are recommended to help protect you against a host of infections.

“Bacteria and viruses mutate over time. Keeping current with vaccines can help prevent against getting an infection or lessening the severity of an illness,” says Dr. Vyas. So, for starters, yes, keeping up with vaccines helps keep you healthy. But there’s another layer to it.

When you get vaccinated, you help the people you come into contact with to stay healthier, too. It’s called “herd immunity”—and it happens when enough people get a vaccine and build immunity.

Think of herd immunity as an environment where viruses can’t spread. Germs need to infect people in order to survive. It’s what they do.

When people are vaccinated, they develop defenses to kill off infections. If enough people are vaccinated, viruses can’t hop from one person to the next, spreading disease around. And so, the germs die off.

If everybody gets vaccinated, then some of these illnesses will actually go away. There won’t be enough opportunities for viruses to invade hosts and keep going,” Dr. Vyas explains.

What affects your vaccine recommendations?

Your specific vaccine needs

From influenza and COVID-19 to pneumococcal, shingles and more, vaccines help keep you healthy

will depend on a number of factors, including: Your age Your immunization history

Your job Your recent (and upcoming) travel destinations Your current health

How to know your vaccination status It can be hard to remember

what all you’ve been vaccinated for and when. Childhood memories of those appointments fade. Your medical records may not be digitized or shared across healthcare systems. And your original COVID-19 vaccination card seems to be hiding in the depths of your glove box these days (at least you think that’s where it is). No worries.

If you’re not sure if you’re due for vaccines, a healthcare provid-

er can check by doing a quick antibody test. That’s a blood test that looks for signs of immunity against infections. Depending on your results, a provider may recommend that you get some new vaccines for protection.

Vaccine recommendations for adults

Vaccines protect you and the people around you. So, staying

Here’s a quick look at some of the vaccines that your healthcare provider may recommend:

Vaccine Who needs it

Flu Everyone

COVID-19 Everyone

Tdap Everyone

How often

Every respiratory season

Every time a new vaccine becomes available, about once per year

One every 10 years

HPV Adults ages 45 and younger Once who haven’t been vaccinated and who are in risk groups for infection

MMR Adults who haven't been

One or two doses, depending on your risk vaccinated or whose immunity has worn off

Hepatitis B Adults under the age of 60 who

One series (two to four doses) haven’t been vaccinated and who are in risk groups for infection

Varicella Adults who haven’t been

One series (two doses) vaccinated and haven’t had chickenpox

RSV Pregnant people and adults

One dose every two years, around the aged 60 and older beginning of respiratory season

Shingles Adults over the age of 50

Pneumococcal Adults over the age of 65

One series (two doses)

One dose or more, depending on the and anyone at high risk type of vaccine given

If you’ve made it through life this far, you can probably thank vaccination programs in place when you were school age. If you insist on no vaccinations, please stay away from the elderly; the immune-compromised public, and keep your kids/grandkids home-schooled, or hermetically contained in your own religious school.

current matters for your health and for broader society.

Vaccines for healthcare workers

If you work in healthcare, it’s important that you stay current on all the vaccines listed here. In fact, your workplace may require them. You may also benefit from some immunizations, such as the meningococcal vaccine, which protects against bacterial meningitis. Talk with your employer about any recommended and required vaccines for your workplace.

Vaccines for overseas travel

Gearing up to see the world? Before hopping on that plane or shipping off on that cruise, be sure to know what vaccines you may need. When it comes to vaccines needed for travel, it’ll depend on which country you’re visiting. One easy way to do this is to go to the CDC’s traveler’s health website and input your travel destination. In general, if you’re traveling overseas from the U.S., you can expect to need to be up-to-date on the vaccines already mentioned. It may also be recommended to get vaccinations against illnesses like: Typhoid Rabies

• Cholera Yellow fever Japanese encephalitis

Bottom line?

If you haven’t received any vaccinations since you sat in your pediatrician’s office as a kid, there’s no time like the present to ensure your immunity is where it should be. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss your vaccinations and what you need to keep healthy and protected.

Source: Excerpted from the article at https://health.clevelandclinic.org/vaccinesfor-adults

VOICES

Editor’s

What is appropriate, what is not

So, tell me. Do they offer a reward or maybe a plaque to the biggest cretin (I wanted to use another term, but it’s an insult to horses) in the United States Senate? I know, I know. There are plenty of candidates, but after seeing Louisiana’s Senator John Kennedy on New Year’s day making a complete fool of himself at a press conference in New Orleans, I am ready to render all other candidates not even a close second.

The reason for the conference was to provide an update regarding the horrific attack on Bourbon street that took 14 lives, with dozens wounded, some critically. The perpetrator drove his truck into a crowd, toting a rifle as well. My first thought when deciding to make this my topic ventured toward, “U.S. starts off the new year by maintaining its record for mass shootings.” Name that tune … fodder for another article.

Of course, an update was anticipated as well as mandated. And of course, all the politicians that could be squeezed into the small room already crowded with reporters were there to offer their “expertise.” Business as usual in that respect.

Only one, however, chose to make it a political sham, and that was John Kennedy. Just who is this buffoon?

I had seen him periodically,

Mbut knew little about him, so I hit the computer. I found John F. Kennedy first — I will not even address the contrast. But then I discovered some information I found enlightening.

The John Kennedy of this article has a varied history, much too lengthy to include here. Some of it I found to be interesting, especially the part where he chose to run on the Democratic ticket in his first bid to Louisiana politics, (which he lost) and then switched to the Republican ticket. A good overview can be found on Wikipedia if you are interested.

What I am focusing on right now is his obvious bid for the spotlight during the above-mentioned news conference. One would think this should be a time to put aside politics, pull up your big boy pants, and show a little bit of class. Not Louisiana’s good old boy, John.

For starters, Kennedy looked as though he had just crawled out of bed, disheveled and holding two red solo cups, insulated with

paper towels. A really impressive way to represent your state on TV, Senator. At one point he edged his way (barge might better describe his action) toward the microphone, to deliver what was nothing more than political tirade.

It began with his flippant answer to a reporter from NBC. When recognized, the reporter told Kennedy that NBC News was “here on the right.” The remark was meant to help the 72-year-old identify each journalists’ affiliation as he geared up to answer a question.

That prompted the Republican to remark, “Oh, that’s [an] unusual position.” He moved his hands to the right, seemingly suggesting NBC is a left-leaning outlet.

This appeared to confuse the reporter who had just assisted Kennedy. She called out, “I don’t get it.” Kennedy responded, “You wouldn’t.” He then took over the podium. No shame on his part, given this was a conference regarding the loss of life and lingering danger in the state he represents.

The senator continued his arrogance with the braggadocious promise to “raise fresh hell” and to chase the federal government, which is responsible for telling us what happened, “like they stole Christmas” if he is not satisfied with the FBI’s findings. This despite there already being a trove of information released about the

“Where, sir, is your sense of what is appropriate? Perhaps in those red cups you finally set aside.”

CAROL LUCAS, on Senator John Kennedy’s controversial remarks during a press conference following the Bourbon Street

tragedy.

perpetrator before the conference. Kennedy droned on about how he had contacted the Director of Homeland Security.

“I did talk to the Secretary of Homeland Security a little while ago, and I told him, with all the respect I could muster, that we expect to put the full force and resources of the federal government behind this investigation.”

Interesting how he is so ready to demand federal action, all the while damning the source from which it comes.

When Kennedy was finished, he managed to remain next to the podium. Interestingly enough, this provided a birds-eye view of his continued theatrics. He sighed, he wiped his brow, he rolled his eyes; finally he put down the red cups

and put his head into his hands! Lay on, Macduff, and damned be he who cries, “Hold, Enough!” Obviously it wasn’t … enough, that is. When LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans, stepped to the podium to address reporters, Kennedy began talking to someone in the audience. Cantrell stopped and said, “Excuse me.” at which point Kennedy ceased. Some have called this man “tone deaf.” Others have used more colorful descriptors. “Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana is a useless piece of s--t saying all the wrong things at the wrong time for all the wrong reasons,” wrote the political pundit Keith Olbermann on X. Most admit Kennedy has a long history of bizarre comments, all for the purpose of getting attention. Even those in a right wing group wrote to its 780,000 followers that Kennedy was a “disgrace for making the tragedy about him.”

To conclude, this man used a press conference for all the wrong reasons, and he needs to be called out for it. Dozens of his constituents were mowed down on the street as they celebrated the new year. Where, sir, is your sense of what is appropriate? Perhaps in those red cups you finally set aside.

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

Five words for polarized politics

orning, noon and night, state legislators should start asking this big question frequently whenever spending money or making tough decisions: “What would Jimmy Carter do?”

Regardless of political persuasion or moral framework, it’s an impactful question that should make people stop, look and listen as if they were at a public policy railroad crossing. When we saw the question emblazoned on a gray T-shirt in bold, black letters, it certainly caught our attention as a great way to boil down what to do about tough issues.

In fact, asking what Jimmy Carter would do may be the most relevant

AANDY BRACK

question there is as our nation struggles to wade through polarized times. It’s simple, but layered with moral complexities that test choices for decisions that need to be made, policies that should be explored and questions that befuddle. Carter, the Georgia peanut farmer and Navy nuclear engineer who died Dec. 29 at age 100, set the gold standard of a consequential life well-lived. The 39th president of the

United States, Carter left office in 1981 after one term to have a post-presidential influence greater than any past president by infusing his faith and goodness in making people’s lives better around the world.

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something,” Carter once said. “My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to make a difference.”

Simply put, he and his life partner Rosalynn showed up, time and again, and did work that needed to be done, whether to help to build homes for people who needed them or establish a global organization to promote democratic ideals.

The Carter Center and its partners around the world took on the seemingly impossible mission 40 years ago to eradicate the parasitic guinea worm that made life miserable for millions. In the mid-1980s, 3 5 million people in Asia and Africa suffered from the disease’s crippling infection. By 2023, the number of cases throughout the world stood at 14. Yes, 14 Carter dedicated his presidency and post-presidential life to waging peace, not war, once saying, “War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children. The bond of our common humanity is stron-

ger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.”

In 2002, his zeal for helping people and doing the right thing led to a Nobel Peace Prize. He won “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Now as the United States of America steers toward a new administration with old authoritarian, anti-democratic ideas, we should keep the question about how Jimmy Carter, a complex man driven by core, moral principles, would conduct business at the forefront of our minds – daily. Answering this

question might, in fact, help to bring us together.

Furthermore, if state legislators were to ask “What would Jimmy Carter do” frequently, they should be rewarded with more clarity about complex questions about right and wrong on difficult issues of policy. And they – and everyone else – might find guidance for other personal challenges in new, unexpected ways that lead us to be better and do better all of the time. What would Jimmy Carter do? Indeed. Ask the question often. And don’t be afraid to act on the answer.

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

Making God’s will our highest priority

re you confident that God is watching you, listening to your words, and searching your heart during times of difficulty or making a request?

It’s not that uncommon to hear people say that sometimes they feel their prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and cannot explain why or how this could be happening. These times of spiritual discouragement are fairly common, but it does not mean that our messages are going to voicemail. He is Omnipresent which means He sees and hears everything instantaneously. Others will testify at times they sense God’s tangible presence and believe He is actively intervening. So what makes the difference?

This is a popular question, but I can assure you if there is a communication problem, it’s not on God’s end. He sent His only Son Jesus to restore the relationship that Adam and Eve lost, and of all the blessings He has for us, He wants everyone to know and trust Him more than anything. God

would never delete or block our messages because He is angry or disappointed with us. He just wants us to humbly and sincerely ask Him to forgive our sins which helps cleanse our heart and re-establish the intimacy of our relationship. One reason why He might seem distant is because of our disingenuous attitude. He already knows if we are sincerely broken about our sins, but if we are just wanting His help without any intention of becoming more like Him, He is not impressed. Earthly achievements, security, and relationships are a part of life, but according to His list

of priorities for us, obeying His voice and abiding in His presence are at the top. If achieving this goal is not what we are passionate about, then no wonder we do not have His peace, joy, or the answers we seek.

Having a personal covenant with a Savior we cannot see can challenge our faith, but this does not mean He does not love you and desires to help you. All He has ever wanted from any of us is our heart. He waits for us to surrender our plans and follow His. He wants to control our thoughts and for us to consult with Him in every decision. To be filled with His Spirit means that He longs to possess us, and sadly we do not hear a lot about this extreme way of thinking anymore. Instead of doing what He says, we have developed our own way of living for Him which includes us doing whatever we want and Him blessing it. We believe we have negotiated a sweet deal, but in reality, we are betraying ourselves. When this

is the case, we become victims of self-inflicted deception.

We are beginning a new year and I cannot think of a better time to make some changes. As a communicator I love sharing my thoughts about life and many of them are included in this column each week. I’m involved in a ministry at the detention center in my hometown, and I was telling the inmates this week about what a wonderful opportunity it is to allow Christ to guide you into His plans.

I realize we rarely think about our spiritual development, but if we do not make serious changes we will probably stay the same. Since we have free will to decide, change comes from the desires within the mind and having faith and courage to see them through. Change the mind, change our destiny. Our mind decides how determined we are to love and serve God. The greatest goal and aspiration would be to know God’s will and to do everything we can to accomplish it.

I’ve been in the ministry since the early eighties and I feel comfortable in the church environment and being with God’s people. I’ve held different positions within the church such as associate pastor, music minister, elder, counselor, teacher, and evangelist, and I’m praying to discover what and where my new assignment will be. I’m currently involved with several local outreach ministry opportunities and I love helping others discover the love of Jesus.

I believe when we seek God’s kingdom first, we will find His perfect will for our lives. He works behind the scenes arranging places for all of us to accomplish His desires, and I’m excited to enter the next open door He is preparing for me. I’m convinced that He influences and persuades while creating divine appointments that serve His purpose for His glory.

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

CAROL LUCAS

BILLY HOLLAND

VOICES

Hopeful for a resurrection from his obscurity

Sometimes — you may have sensed this — when I sit down to write I have nothing much to say. This isn’t to say I haven’t tried.

I may have looked through the editorial pages of The Wall Street Journal; or through my father’s “Pathology” textbook hoping to stumble on something that would spark my imagination. Sometimes I make phone calls to friends desperately seeking mendacity or misogyny or an out-break of Legionnaires Disease.

Earlier this week I came upon an essay titled “Now You See Me” by Jackson Arn in the New Yorker Magazine. Arn’s piece is actually a review of a book titled “Family Romance; John Singer Sargent and the Wertheimers” by Jean Strouse.

The book and Arn’s review concern itself with a single portrait — that of Asher Wertheimer — done by John Singer Sargent in 1898. Most of you know that John Singer Sargent did hundreds of portraits during America’s gilded age depicting “captains of industry” and their satin-wearing, hot house nurtured wives.

My wife, Susan, was also a portrait painter — some of her work may be seen in the Beaufort County

Courthouse. So I know something about the angst that goes into rendering a face, and the effort the artist makes to project the sitter’s personality.

“Asher Wertheimer” emerges from a black background with a black dog, mouth open, eyes looking straight into those of the viewer. Sergeant also gives Wertheimer raised eyebrows, a cigar and a redlipped half-smile that has been called “cunning.”

Why, you may ask, would anyone want to be rendered as “cunning?”

According to Jean Strouse, Wertheimer made his fortune selling art to wealthy patrons in an age when collecting precious things was absolutely, positively essential. And because the number of authentic “Old Masters” was finite, art dealers had a reputation for upgrading copies of Rubens and Rembrandt to actual, authentic, done-by-the-mas-

Eric K. BErgstrom

Eric K. Bergstrom, of Okatie, South Carolina, passed away on December 28, 2024

He was born on May 1 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Carl W. and Beverly (Mower) Bergstrom. After several moves around the country, the family moved to Hinsdale, Illinois. Eric graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in 1967 He continued his education at the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering.

He worked enabling power generation for millions of people for Sargent and Lundy in Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX, and Gilbert Commonwealth/Parsons in Reading, PA and Moncks Corner, SC. His career came full circle as he came back to Sargent and Lundy before retiring.

Survivors include sons Keith Bergstrom, of Bear, Delaware, and Craig Bergstrom, of Boulder, Colorado, and sister Marsha Georgiopoulos (George), of

ter originals.

“His coat and cigar and gold watch chain are, make no mistake, as much of a costume as anything Ellen Terry (an actress of that period) ever wore, and when I see the glint in his eyes I suspect he knows it. As for whether he is going as “stereotypical avaricious Jew” or “completely uncontroversial modern businessman” by this point in his career, surely, he has figured out they are one in the same. ...”

In other words — according to Arn — Asher Wertheimer accepts that this canvas is mostly self-promotion and he is willing to project “cunning;” or any prop that will help him sell his Old Masters, fake or otherwise.

I cannot disagree with the idea of self-promotion that Mr Arn suggests; but I can’t remember any of Susan’s clients saying, “You know what … do you think you could paint me as “cunning” mixed with a little bit of ‘avaricious Jew’ on the side?”

All of which brings me to Susan’s portrait of Judge Thomas Kemmerlin which now hangs in the large (ceremonial) courtroom at the Beaufort County Courthouse.

Susan did portraits of a dozen judges — most wanting to be seen in their

Okatie, SC. He was preceded in death by another sister, Vicki Esparza, of Boulder, Colorado.

Eric enjoyed playing golf and the occasional fishing trip. He believed in helping the cause of defeating childhood cancer and became a donor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If desired, friends and family may make memorial contributions to that charity.

Eric will return to Chicago where he will be buried near family at Clarendon Hills Cemetery. By his request, there will be no formal memorial service.

robes with the Great Seal of South Carolina looming in the background. Kemmerlin wanted none of these props. He is seen sitting at an ordinary table; looking slightly surprised; wearing a blue oxford cloth shirt.

His facial expression (slight surprise) is the one I saw when I interrupted him in his closet-sized chambers.

And I often interrupted him — usually on a Friday afternoon — wanting to talk about particular statute, or about women entering the profession, or the strangeness of Charleston lawyers, or about the shenanigans of

sally PoiriEr

Sally Poirier (90) of Tupper Lake, NY passed away peacefully with family by her side on New Year's Day, 2025. Born on April 10th, 1934 in Tupper Lake, the first of eleven children to Ralph 'Bud' and Julia Russell. Sally dedicated her life to family, teaching, cooking, and traveling.

A graduate of Potsdam State, Sally led a full career building lifelong relationships with her fellow teachers, students, and colleagues. Sally was a proud mother to her son, Glenn, a devoted grandmother to her two grandchildren, Caitlin (Russell) and Patrick (Lindsay), and most of all, she loved her six great-grandchildren more than anything. Her family was her greatest joy, and she loved celebrating every milestone in their lives.

After retirement, Sally traveled the world visiting Australia, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, and Ireland, and she

the State House crowd.

But what I really wanted were his stories — sometimes lengthy and outrageous — about practicing law across the State in the 1950s. I wanted stories about colorful, small town mandarins and what was going on when South Carolina occupied a metaphysical space somewhere between Congo and Cornwall.

Susan did a good likeness of Tommy but I doubt that if many current lawyers know this man’s name. In fact, I doubt if many of the lawyers, jurors or visiting judges know the names

of the other men (and two women) who silently stare into this huge room. But once in a while someone like Jean Strouse will come along and resurrect an Asher Wertheimer from his obscurity. A desperate writer will take a smile, a cigar, a dog, and mix those images with what little documentary evidence that remains. I would like to believe that might happen to Judge Thomas Kemmerlin.

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

enjoyed the winter months around her younger brother William C. “Bill” Russell and family in Beaufort, SC. In Beaufort, she enjoyed daily stops with her friends at Publix, shopping at the outlets in Bluffton, visiting with her neighbors in Royal Pines & Pleasant Point, church services at St. Peters Holy Cross Mission, and going on weekend getaways with her nieces Theresa Russell-Raino of St. Helena and Jane Greene of Beaufort.

Sally is predeceased by her husband James Woodrow 'Woody'

Poirier and her siblings John Russell, Irene Russell, Grace Grammo, Ralph Russell, and William C. “Bill” Russell. She is survived by her son Glenn (Nancie) Poirier, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her siblings Nance Green, Helen 'Peg' Cole, Robert 'Tom' Russell (Veronica), Michael Russell, Sioux Collier (Bob), brother-in-law Rey Grammo, dear friend Peggy Poirier, many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Sally Poirier will be fondly remembered for her steadfast commitment to family and her spirit will continue to resonate in the hearts of all she knew throughout her life.

SCOTT GRABER

Portrait of Judge Thomas Kemmerlin by Susan Graber. Scott Graber/The Island News

Preparing the Way

The Family Begins

About 4000 years ago, God began his divine rescue mission.

Rather than choosing someone powerful or famous to begin his family of faith, God calls an ordinary man living in the ancient city of Haran, in modern-day Turkey. Abraham and his wife Sarah have enough means to live comfortably, but they had never been blessed with a child, and now they are far past childbearing years.

At age 75, Abraham receives a special mission from God. God tells him, “Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” (Gen 12:1) This new land would be Canaan, hundreds of miles away to the south. God then makes Abraham three amazing promises.

First, from Abraham will come a nation.

God promises, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you.” (Gen 12:2) By this, Abraham understands that God is promising that he and Sarah would conceive in their old age, and that their descendants would be so numerous that they would one day form an entire nation. Since every nation needs its own land, God promises Canaan to Abraham and his descendants.

Second, from Abraham will come a dynasty. God promises, “I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Gen 12:2) In biblical terminology, this is not just a promise to have a famous name or be greatly esteemed by others. Rather, it means a dynasty will come from Abraham’s descendants, a line of kings who will rule over other nations.

Third, from Abraham will come a worldwide blessing. God promises, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen 12:2) This means that the blessings poured out upon Abraham will not only benefit Abraham and his descendants. Rather, somehow God will bless the entire world through the family begun by Abraham and Sarah.

Abraham has faith and trusts God.

He leaves his homeland with Sarah, his relatives, and all those in his household, and together they begin the long journey south. God helps Abraham through different trials, and after many years he gives Abraham and Sarah the miraculous blessing of a son, Isaac. On various occasions, God tests Abraham’s faith and then solemnly reaffirms his promises to Abraham. Abraham and his descendants were meant to be a special people chosen by God.

With the “yes” of one faithful man, God begins his family of faith.

The entire rest of the Bible is the story of God gradually fulfilling the three promises he made to Abraham in Genesis 12. We will see Abraham’s family slowly grow into a family comprised of twelve tribes. Under Moses, these twelve tribes will become a nation. Under King David, the nation will become a dynasty. And centuries later, Abraham’s family will become a blessing for all the nations.

SC Commerce reports $8B of industry investment

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Industries

pledged in 2024 to invest $8 19 billion in South Carolina facilities over the next five to 10 years, according to the state Department of Commerce.

The economic development agency’s recruitment efforts resulted in the third-highest year of planned investment in the state’s history and a promise of 5,500 new jobs over the next several

5,500 promised jobs in 2024

years. Time will tell whether the announced investments and jobs become reality.

The state’s highest year on record was 2022, when a flurry of electric vehicle and solar energy-related companies boosted jobs and investment vows to $10 27 billion and more than 14 000 jobs.

Data centers accounted for the largest investment sector in 2024, with $4 1 billion total announced by Google and Facebook’s parent company, Meta.

The automotive sector announced $1 3 billion in investments and aerospace giant Boeing promised a $1 billion expansion, according to the Commerce Department. With the latest announcement by Boeing, the company’s total investment since coming to the Palmetto State in 2009 now tops $3 billion.

Nearly two-thirds of the promised investment total came from expansions by existing companies.

“South Carolina remains dedicated to the success of our businesses, for the economic betterment of our people and the overall strength of our economy,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. “The decision of so many companies to expand and reinvest here underscores the unique value South Carolina offers as a trusted partner in their success.”

“By building upon industries

SEE COMMERCE PAGE B2

Rewriting history?

America’s 250th birthday prompts rethinking of historical markers

with King George III.

By Erika Bolstad

Stateline

Most Revolutionary War history

buffs know the story of Francis Marion, the Continental Army officer called the Swamp Fox for his guerrilla-style attacks that bedeviled British forces in South Carolina’s backcountry.

But volunteers and historians have identified 560 Revolutionary War battle sites and other places of interest with connections to South Carolina’s role in the nation’s founding.

“While we all love Francis Marion, let’s talk about some other people,” said Molly Fortune, executive director of SC250, the commission charged with restoring the public memory of the state’s Revolutionary War legacy.

To do that, they’re reviving forgotten historical markers as well as installing new ones and making them all easier to find from the highway or online.

As the United States prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, many states are inventorying, mapping and repairing old historical markers, as well as installing hundreds of new roadside signs, plaques and interpretive panels.

In South Carolina, the focus is on sharing lesser-known stories of women, children, Native Americans, enslaved and free Black people and even the Loyalists who sympathized

Beyond re-engaging with lesser-known stories, many states see the national commemoration, known as America250, as an opportunity to refresh their heritage tourism offerings. But it’s also an occasion to reexamine markers or monuments with questionable historical facts or outdated language.

The renewed interest in the accuracy or cultural sensitivity of the nation’s historical markers is part of the wider discourse over who or what belongs on a pedestal or a bronze plaque, and where they should be sited. Since the 2020 murder of George Floyd, those efforts have led

SEE MARKER PAGE B2

Marion Bowman will be 3rd inmate in the death chamber since September

By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Marion Bowman will be the third inmate to face the death chamber since the state restarted executions in September, according to a notice Friday, Jan. 3, from the state Supreme Court. Bowman, 44, is slated for execution Jan. 31. By state law, executions take place four Fridays after a death warrant is issued. Bowman’s warrant, initially expected in November, was put on hold for the winter holidays.

Bowman was convicted in May 2002 of killing a woman, then putting her body in the trunk of her car and setting it on fire. He is expected to be the third of at least six death row inmates executed in the coming months.

For years, the state could not carry out executions because it couldn’t get the drugs used for lethal injection. Legislators added death by firing squad as an option for inmates. Executions resumed after the Supreme Court ruled July 31 that firing squad and electrocution are constitutionally allowed. Lethal injection is again an option after corrections officials found a supply of the drug pentobarbital in 2023, with the help of a new law keeping everything about the drug secret. The two inmates executed since September, Freddie Owens and Richard Moore, both died by lethal injection. Bowman will have until Jan. 17 to decide his method of execution. If he doesn’t make a choice, the default is the electric chair.

“I’ll soon be scheduled to be shot, electrocuted or drugged to death,” Bowman wrote in a statement released by his attorneys last month.

Bowman’s crime

On Feb. 16 2001, Bowman stopped outside a house in Dorchester County to speak with 21-year-old Kandee Martin, according to court documents.

Bowman’s sister, who had been driving him, later testified in court that Bowman accused Martin of owing him money. When Martin didn’t respond, Bowman told her she would “be dead by dark,” his sister testified.

Later that day, Martin drove up with Bowman in the car to a house where many of Bowman’s friends SEE INMATE PAGE B3

How Clemson University is starting South Carolina’s first veterinary school

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

Clemson University has broken ground on South Carolina’s first veterinary college with more than $230 million in funding from the state Legislature. But getting the new school started on time in fall 2026 goes beyond the physical buildings.

It requires recruiting a team of faculty that will train students and conduct research, as well as passing muster for national accreditation at a time when a flurry of other schools also are vying to open.

Until recently, new veterinary colleges were a rarity. For one, they’re expensive to establish.

“There are schools that have tried. Clemson has wanted to do this for quite some time,” Steven Marks, the founding dean of Clemson’s vet school, told the S.C. Daily Gazette. “There’s a fair price tag to start this up.”

South Carolina’s expected return on its investment: Producing the next generation of veterinarians that can serve the state, Marks said. For these schools, the cost of facilities and faculty add up. Yet they

serve a limited number of students accepted into programs compared to other career fields.

When it comes to construction, Colorado State University, which has been training veterinarians for more than a century, is spending $230 million to build a new vet school complex. The project is scheduled to open in 2026. The cost of starting a vet school with a teaching hospital at Murray State University in Kentucky is estimated at about $240 million.

A historical marker in Vancouver, Wash., celebrates the “civilization of Washington,” by white explorers, erasing the presence of Indigenous people who lived in the area for thousands of years. As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, many states are reexamining markers with questionable historical facts or outdated language. Erika Bolstad/Stateline

to the removal of Confederate monuments as well as the toppling of statues honoring Christopher Columbus and artwork that extols westward expansion without telling the story of the effects on the Indigenous people displaced by settlement.

In South Carolina, however, monuments largely stayed put amid the national protests. Under a 2000 state law, any change to existing memorials on public property that commemorate American wars — including the “War Between the States,” as the Civil War is called — or “Native American or African-American” history requires approval by the Legislature. A 2021 ruling by the state Supreme Court upheld the Legislature’s sole authority over moving or altering a public memorial, though it struck the need for supermajority approval.

Markers that reflect more inclusive stories make history relevant to more people, said Jason Hanson, the chief creative officer of History Colorado, which operates museums around the state and administers Colorado’s register of historic places. When history is incomplete or told only by those with the money or power, it strips complexity and nuance from the American story, rendering it less accurate and vibrant. The roadside panels and bronze plaques affixed

Commerce from page B1

to buildings are how many people encounter the nation’s history, Hanson said.

“They really are some of the most accessible and valued history lessons that we have,” he said.

Satanic imps That history can be lopsided, inaccurate or racist, according to an NPR investigation in 2024 that looked at 180,000 historical markers across the nation. For example, the investigation found that about 70% of markers for historic plantation homes failed to mention that its owners bought and sold enslaved people and used their labor to construct the mansions.

Among the problematic examples NPR found was a Michigan marker celebrating a woman who “successfully defied frenzied Indians who invaded the premises and lapped from the basement floor whiskey which she had emptied from the barrels.” In Texas, a marker praises Primus Kelly, an enslaved Black man, for demonstrating loyalty during the Civil War — describing him as “typical of most Texas Negro slaves. Hundreds ‘went to war’ with their masters.”

Many markers, especially those installed by private individuals, stretch the definition of “history.” A Massachusetts marker, for example, indicates the former site of a mill operated by a wizard who employed satanic imps to run it at night, while a sign in New Hampshire marks the spot where a Portsmouth

in which we have established ourselves as a national leader — like automotive and advanced manufacturing — while unlocking potential in emerging sectors, we can create more high-wage, high-skill economic opportunities,” Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey added.

Vet

from page B1

And when it comes to operating costs, the vet school at Auburn University, the oldest vet school in the South, has $93 million in annual expenses. It is expected to operate at a loss, according to the latest budget documents.

That’s a cost of about $180,000 per student, compared to the $25 000 per student the school spends on its large engineering program. Operating expenses at North Carolina State University’s vet school are between $115 million and $120 million, or nearly $300 000 per student, documents show.

But recently, an anticipated need for more veterinarians has spurred a multitude of new and proposed veterinary colleges.

Clemson is one of a dozen nationwide seeking to open a new vet school, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which accredits them.

The University of Arizona, Long Island University and Texas Tech University enrolled their first classes in 2020 and 2021. And both Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee and Midwestern University in Arizona

STATE NEWS

couple had a close encounter with a UFO in 1961 — and experienced two hours of “lost time.”

In Colorado, the state found recently that 96% of listings on its state register of historical sites were places connected primarily to the history of white men, Hanson said. To mark the state’s 150th anniversary in 2026 Colorado will begin adding 150 new sites and markers highlighting the history of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and other historically underrepresented communities. The state will ask community groups to nominate who and what should be on the markers.

Markers or monuments often were paid for by people who wanted to tell a particular story, meaning that those with money were the only ones leaving a lasting mark. Even now, historical markers are expensive. In Michigan, for example, large markers cost $4 700, before installation. Some states appropriate money for new markers, but often, local communities must find the cash.

But an investment in heritage tourism can and does pay off, said South Carolina’s Fortune. She and other public historians have persuaded their state Legislature not only to fund new markers but also to pay for new highway signs alerting visitors to historic sites. It’s an effort she says boosts the rural communities where many markers are located.

“People want to walk and listen and hear and connect

In exchange, South Carolina offered up $23 million in grants to cover the cost of new roads, water, power, site work and other improvements. In addition, the state approved 26 companies for income tax breaks for each new job.

Many counties likely also offered up tax incentives of their own to reduce the property taxes owed by the employers.

Other large planned investments include:

enrolled inaugural classes in 2014. Before that, it had been nearly three decades since the association accredited a new school.

If all of them are successful, that would bring the total number of accredited vet schools in the U.S. to 45

Meanwhile, estimates on the need for more veterinarians vary.

Clemson, in its feasibility study, cited a report from Banfield Pet Hospital, the nation’s largest practice with more than 1,000 locations, including clinics inside PetSmart stores. It predicts a shortage of 15 000 vets in 2030 South Carolina has more than 2 700 licensed veterinarians and more than 900 technicians, according to the state licensing board. That’s up from more than 1 700 vets and 380 technicians a decade earlier.

“There’s been a shortage of veterinarians for a long time. So, now the profession is trying to catch up,” Marks said.

Yet a 2024 study commissioned by the American Veterinary Medicine Association shows that graduates from existing U.S. veterinary colleges are likely enough to meet demand through 2035 And while demand surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased re-

with their ancestors,” Fortune said. “And so it allows us to find those accidental tourists. They’re like, ‘Oh, I’ve always wondered about that.’ And then they leave their money, and they go home. That’s basically it. It’s a vehicle for economic development.”

‘The whole story’ In 2023, Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources began adding dozens of historical markers signifying Green Book sites, places that accommodated Black travelers safely during the Jim Crow era. They’re also adding nine new markers that, among other things, tell the origin story of Mountain Dew soda, the discriminatory racial history of the first heart transplant in the state, and the backstory of lesser-known Virginians who participated in the Lewis and Clark expedition.

The Washington State Historical Society began taking a closer look at its markers in 2020, identifying 42 as potentially problematic. Most commemorate white settlement and were placed by a handful of individuals who “just decided that these were the places that they were going to put monuments up,” said Dylan High, the statewide partnerships coordinator for the agency.

In recent months, the historical society has hosted public meetings to examine how the markers portray the history of westward expansion. Among those under review is a 1925 marker with a

A $1 5 billion expansion announced by Japan-headquartered AESC before production has even begun in Florence County. The expansion brings total investment by the company contracted to make battery cells for BMW’s electric vehicles to more than $2 billion. AESC is expected to employ 2 000 people with production scheduled to start in 2026

tirements and more people buying pets, those rates have since returned to normal. The study predicts the population of veterinarians nationwide is now likely to grow faster than pet-owning households if all proposed schools become accredited.

So, it will be up to Clemson to set itself apart.

Marks hopes to accomplish that in a number of ways.

Traditional veterinary schools have a teaching hospital. Clemson will use what’s known as a partially distributed model, sending the majority of students to work with community veterinarians throughout South Carolina for clinical training.

“We want our students to be trained a little bit differently than veterinarians have been trained in the last 20 years,” Marks said. “I think Clemson has an opportunity to be a unique training program that will fit what this generation is looking for.”

Marks also hopes to motivate more students to work in rural areas treating livestock.

The typical vet student tends to want to work with household pets and live in an urban area. And the field is dominated by women, Marks said.

statement asserting that the “civilization of Washington started at Vancouver,” the site of an 1806 fort on the Columbia River for the Lewis and Clark expedition, and a subsequent Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post. Such statements erase the presence of Indigenous people who lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers. The narratives weren’t created in consultation with tribal people of the land, said Polly Olsen, who is Yakama and the tribal liaison for the Burke Museum in Seattle. It comes from a settler narrative of “the first schools, the first church, these civilized practices or, you know, ‘civilization began here,’” Olsen said in an interview with KIRO Newsradio.

As they’ve traveled the state of Washington, High said, they’ve found that most people don’t want old markers removed. Sometimes, it’s impractical: The Vancouver marker sits in a traffic island, unnoticed by most passersby, and would be costly to move. Instead, High said, people want to add new interpretive panels or new markers nearby to tell “the whole story of the history.” Most people are wary of anything that seems as though it is “rewriting history,” a phrase the state agency tries to avoid.

“That kind of implies that the history of what happened somehow is somehow changed,” High said. “What we are really interested in saying is that there is more

Birla Carbon, an Indian company that supplies electric vehicle battery materials, plans to open a $1 billion plant in Orangeburg, employing 124 people. The Mumbai-based company plans to start hiring next year and begin operations in 2026 Pennsylvania-headquartered EnerSys, the world’s largest industrial battery maker, is building a $500 million plant

Meanwhile, in 2024 the U.S. Department of Agriculture had designated shortages in two rural service areas, covering 12 of South Carolina’s 46 counties. They are located along the Georgia border and in the Upstate, including the counties that are home to Clemson University.

“We would like to attract a more diverse set of students. The goal will be to reach out to these underserved areas and recruit students from those areas,” Marks said.

While enrolled, students will work stints in a mobile veterinary clinic run by the school, as well as in a school-run clinic serving lower-income families that may not be able to afford vet services for their pets. Marks would like to work with Clemson’s nursing school, deploying the mobile vet hospital alongside the nursing college’s community health events.

“In theory, taking care of people and their animals simultaneously,” Marks said.

Marks said students can also expect to work handson with animals much earlier in their college career than has been traditionally done at other, existing veterinary colleges. The students will start out handling animals kept at Clemson’s ag-

to the context of that history of what happened than just what that monument represents or implies.”

“And to be very specific about it,” High added, “what is not represented is very often the tribe’s perspective and the experience of our tribal communities around the state.”

Sometimes, states must point out hard truths, Fortune said.

She points to Henry Laurens, a wealthy South Carolinian planter who was president of the Continental Congress in 1777 and 1778 and the only American to be held captive in the Tower of London. He was also a partner in a Charleston firm that brokered the sale of more than 8 000 enslaved Africans.

“We’re in the business of telling history the way it was,” Fortune said. “So it can be good, bad and ugly. Henry Laurens owned slaves. That’s just a fact. Just say it’s a fact.”

S.C. Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report. Like S.C. Daily Gazette, Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions at info@stateline.org.

Erika Bolstad is a Stateline correspondent based in Portland, Oregon, and the author of Windfall, published by Sourcebooks in 2023. Previously, she wrote for E&E News, the McClatchy Washington Bureau and the Miami Herald.

in the Upstate that could eventually employ 500 people. The target for operations to start at a plant near Piedmont is late 2027

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

ricultural college facilities — horses, dairy and beef cattle, sheep and poultry.

Finally, Marks would like to involve Clemson’s program for intellectually disabled students, known as Clemson Life, with the vet school, offering training that would allow them to become veterinary assistants.

For now, Clemson is in the process of recruiting staff and undergoing accreditation.

Marks has two associate deans and a department chair and is interviewing for six other positions, including admissions, an anatomist and a physiologist.

“I have people contacting me asking if there are jobs available,” he said. “So, people are knocking on our door.”

“At most existing veterinary schools, if you go to work there, you get plugged into a pre-existing machine. You get plugged into a slot. This is an opportunity to have a clean slate and to come in do innovative teaching, innovative research,” Marks added. “We are a new school with new ideas and a new vision.”

The college is awaiting a date for a site visit from the American Veterinary Medical Association as part of the accreditation process. Marks did not yet know how

far out that visit might be scheduled.

If it goes well, Clemson could receive what’s called a letter of reasonable assurance, allowing the school to begin recruiting and enrolling students. Full accreditation could take four more years beyond that, based on timelines of the most recently accredited schools. Marks expects to enroll 80 students — 60 South Carolinians and 20 from other states — to begin classes in fall 2026

The state has contracts for up to 46 new students each year to attend veterinary colleges at the University of Georgia, Mississippi State and Tuskegee University in Alabama at an in-state rate. Last school year, the state spent upwards of $5 million for 150 South Carolinians to enroll or re-enroll. Officials at Clemson estimate 200 more South Carolina students pay full price to attend other vet schools across the country. That funding will be phased out once the new school opens, Marks said.

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

STATE NEWS

SC parks department seeks $18M to open 4 new state parks

Three parks were part of 2021 settlement over failed expansion of V.C. Summer

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Four new state parks could open in 2025, if the state parks department receives the $18 million it has requested from the state Legislature.

The planned parks would join 48 the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism already operates, only two of which have opened in the past two decades. But the agency needs $18 million to pull off the work needed to make the properties public, according to its budget request for 2025-26

The most recent state park to open was May Forest, a former convent on James Island that became public in October 2023. Before that, the state hadn’t made a new park public since H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area joined the list in 2006

The failed V.C. Summer nuclear power plant is one reason for the sudden boom in parks.

After Dominion Energy bought out SCANA in 2019, it agreed to donate four properties to the state that had once served as retreats for utility workers and their families. That 2021 settlement with the state Department of Revenue offset about one-third of the $165 million the utility owed in unpaid taxes, which would have been forgiven if the nuclear plant expansion had been completed.

One, Bundrick Island on Lexington County’s Lake Murray, went to the Department of Natural Resources to manage.

The other three — Pine Island in Lexington County, Ramsey Grove in George-

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town County and Misty Lake in Aiken County — account for three of the four state parks that could open this year, according to the state parks department.

The agency also hopes to open properties it has acquired along the Black River in Georgetown and Williamsburg counties while continuing to expand along the riverfront.

The $18 million price tag to open the parks would fund repairs and renovations to existing buildings on the properties, as well as construction of campsites, cabins, boat ramps, visitors’ centers, trails and other amenities, according to the request.

Some of those projects are underway, with the help of $10 million over the past two years spent on park development. Without the extra money, however, the department might have to push back opening dates, some of which have already been delayed, according to the request.

“These projects, once com-

pleted, will create new state park experiences that will generate additional revenue for the State Parks Service and provide direct economic benefit to the parks’ surrounding business communities,” the request reads.

The department does not have firm opening dates yet for the new parks, since the money needed to complete the projects is still pending.

Misty Lake

When the parks department received Misty Lake from Dominion in 2022, the plan was to open a day-use park for hiking, fishing and picnicking, which rangers from nearby parks would oversee.

After beginning to plan, though, officials decided they wanted to add overnight camping to the 192acre property. While camping can drive extra revenue to a state park, it also requires extra planning. In addition to needing campsites, parks with people staying the night need a ranger to live on the property to take

care of issues that arise outside of normal operating hours, department spokeswoman Sam Queen said.

Because of that, along with some administrative holdups, the department pushed the opening back from 2024 to 2025

The agency has started the process of building offices, buildings and a shop at Misty Lake. In the meantime, work has begun to repair the onsite 6 200-square-foot clubhouse, which utility employees once used for retreats.

Once construction dates are finalized, the department can set an opening date, Queen said.

Pine Island

Originally slated to open in 2023, the 27-acre Pine Island had its opening date pushed back after a traffic study took longer than anticipated. Neighbors near the island, located on Lexington County’s Lake Murray, had raised concerns about increases in noise and traffic if people started visiting.

Officials pushed forward, telling residents they would work with local law enforcement to control traffic, The Post and Courier reported at the time.

Then, in April, a fire at the park manager’s residence building halted progress again. Much of the work that needed to be done, including renovating the house already on the property, required a park manager on the property for oversight. Without anywhere to live, that was no longer possible, Queen said.

Damage from Hurricane Helene, which hit the state as a tropical storm in September, knocked trees and

limbs onto picnic shelters and across the island, adding cleanup time and pushing the date back again to 2025 Fire remediation and construction are almost complete, and the department is hoping to hire a manager soon to live on the property, Queen said. Once a manager is hired and moved in, the department can set an opening date, she said.

Ramsey Grove

Some hikers have already had a chance to visit the 2 600-acre Ramsey Grove. Park rangers hosted several special hikes on the property during 2024 as a preview of what to expect from the Georgetown County property, another former retreat for utility staff.

Work to complete the park is still underway. Park employees are improving the road leading into the park and upgrading the water system, Queen said. The department also plans to build more trails and repair the clubhouse on site, including removing lead paint, she said. That work could potentially cost about $10 million, according to a plan the department submitted to the state. Once the agency has a better timeline for when work will be funded and completed, it can set an opening date, Queen said.

Black River

Parts of the Black River park, a patchwork of properties that line the river, are already accessible. The parks department plans to add at least some of its own 3 600 acres to that list this year, Queen said.

Officials have been add-

ing bathrooms, trails and boat launches onto its land, preparing the properties for people to use, officials said previously.

While parts of the park could open this year, the work isn’t done. The department plans to continue expanding until there’s enough public property along the riverfront that a kayaker could start a day trip from any given boat ramp, according to the department’s website. Future parks The parks department is planning for two more state parks to join the slate in coming years.

Dearborn Island in Chester County has a tentative opening date of 2027. Before the agency can open up access, Duke Energy, which is leasing the land to the state, must build a pedestrian bridge so that visitors can access the river island from nearby Great Falls. Also on the docket in the coming years is a new 600acre park in Lancaster County focused on the Catawba Nation’s culture and history. Nonprofit Open Space Institute bought the land in 2023 with plans to transfer it to the state this year, Queen said. Department officials plan to return to the Legislature next year with a specific request to fund the park’s opening, according to this year’s budget request.

Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

had been drinking. Bowman told his cousin, James Taiwan Gadson, to get in the car. Bowman directed Martin to drive to a remote area. She stopped, and he told her to get out of the car. As she did, Bowman told Gadson he believed Martin was wearing a wire and he was going to kill her, Gadson testified.

Martin turned around to get back in the car, and Bowman started shooting. Gadson heard three gunshots before Martin said, “Don’t shoot me no more, I have a child to take care of,” Gadson later testified. Bowman shot twice more, Gadson said.

Bowman dragged Martin’s body into a nearby wooded area, then drove her car back to town. He drove the car around that evening, trying once unsuccessfully to sell it. Around 3 a.m., he asked a friend, Travis Felder, for help parking a car. Felder followed Bowman in his own car to the spot where Bowman had earlier killed Martin, Felder testified.

Bowman retrieved Martin’s body from the woods, put her in the trunk of the car and lit it on fire, Felder testified. An autopsy revealed she had been shot to death, and a vaginal swab found traces of Bowman’s DNA, according to court documents.

Bowman was convicted of murder and arson in 2002

Statement Bowman maintains that he didn’t kill Martin. Instead, he claims he wasn’t involved in her death at all and that Gadson killed her. Bowman claims his only involvement was hearing Gadson confess to the crime, ac-

cording to a statement his attorneys released Dec. 19 Feb. 16 2001, started like any other, Bowman wrote in the statement. He got up early and ran into his sister, who agreed to drive him to a friend’s house. While there with Gadson, who Bowman called by the nickname “Gap,” Martin arrived.

Bowman said Martin bought crack from him, adding he’d started dealing because he “could never make ends meet,” even when working manual labor jobs, he wrote.

“Kandee was an addict, and I very much regret, and am sorry, for my part in contributing to that,” Bowman wrote. “She was a friend of mine, and I still took advantage of her addiction.”

Martin gave Bowman her wristwatch in exchange for drugs, he wrote. Investigators would later use the watch to link Bowman to the crime, arguing he had taken it after killing her.

Bowman was married at the time. But he said he and Martin were having an affair, which explained why a forensic examination found his DNA on a vaginal swab, he wrote.

Gadson left the party alone with Martin, Bowman wrote, saying he went home alone. The next time he saw Gadson, he was driving Martin’s car and asking Bowman to go clubbing with him and some friends. Bowman wrote that he agreed and drove the group to the bar, assuming Martin had lent Gadson her car for the evening.

Among the friends was Hiram Johnson, who later testified that Bowman confessed to killing Martin that evening. In his statement, Bowman claimed it was Gadson who made the confession, waiting until everyone else had left the car to tell Bowman that Martin was dead.

“I didn’t believe him or know what to say,” Bowman wrote. He got out of the car and got a ride home with Felder, the friend prosecutors claimed drove Bowman back to the crime scene, he wrote.

The next day, police arrested Bowman and charged him with kidnapping and killing Martin, then setting her body on fire. His attorneys repeatedly offered him plea deals, pointing out that he could avoid the death penalty if he signed on, but Bowman refused to admit to a crime he says he did not commit, he wrote in his statement.

“I have done some things in life I regret,” Bowman wrote. “I regret the role I had in dealing to Kandee and know that her addiction probably led to her death. But I did not do this.”

Arguments

In a last-ditch effort to get Bowman off death row, his current attorneys argued that prosecutors withheld evidence, his own attorneys during the trail were racist, and he has improved himself during his time in prison.

“Allowing this execution to proceed despite significant and unresolved doubt about Marion’s conviction and the serious flaws in the original trial is unconscionable,” Lindsey Vann, an attorney with Justice360, said in a statement Friday.

The petition, filed Dec. 16 points to a confession one inmate claimed Gadson made while in prison, saying he was the one to kill Martin instead of Bowman. An evaluation also raised questions about Gadson’s mental health, potentially casting doubt on Gadson’s credibility, the attorneys argued.

Those reports, which attorneys claim prosecutors did not provide

to Bowman’s legal team, could have swayed the jury in Bowman’s favor, the petition reads.

Attorneys representing Bowman have raised the same concerns repeatedly, to no avail, attorneys for the state replied in their own filing Monday. The state Attorney General’s Office called on the state Supreme Court to abide by those earlier rulings.

“In total, (Bowman) has attempted to litigate these claims for nearly two full decades, and he has been turned away on this issue by 20 different judges or justices over that timeframe,” the filing reads.

The argument that Bowman’s own defense team was racist lacks evidence to back it up, the state’s attorneys continued. Bowman’s current lawyers cited several instances in which they said his original attorney referred to Martin as a “little girl,” or “little white girl,” implying her innocence to the jury, according to the petition.

But the court transcript doesn’t support that the attorney called Martin a “little white girl,” and calling her a “little girl” is not enough to prove he was racist, the state argued. Neither is the fact that attorneys mentioned to Bowman before the trial that he may face an uphill battle as a Black man accused of killing a white woman, prosecutors wrote.

“It is not racist to recognize and express concern for the potential racism of others,” the response reads. “Such was not an injection of racism into the trial, it was a warning to Bowman about the realities of our world and the potential pitfalls that may accompany his case beyond the substantial evidence the State was prepared to offer against him.”

Focusing on Martin’s drug addiction and other shortcomings, which defense attorneys argued

lawyers omitted out of racism, would have been “an ill-advised strategy that, in light of the record, is just as bad as it sounds,” the filing continues.

Defense attorneys’ arguments that Bowman is a changed man don’t hold any weight in a legal appeal, the state’s attorneys added. The court should consider only the legal evidence surrounding his initial trial and sentencing, leaving the decision on whether to commute his sentence up to the governor, as is laid out in state law, the filing reads.

“The law does not permit (Bowman) to present a 20 years post-trial case in mitigation based upon his behavior in prison and this Court does not serve the role of a super-jury,” the filing reads.

During his more than 22 years on death row, Bowman has garnered a reputation as a “gentle giant,” according to his attorneys’ filing. He received a job sweeping floors and collecting lunch trays, which is coveted among inmates because it means more time out of the cells. He talks often to his wife and his daughter, who was born six months after his arrest, as well as his young granddaughter.

Bowman reads the Bible daily and writes poetry, his attorneys have said.

“I’m still breathing, so this I know,” he wrote in a poem his attorneys published online.

“While I breathe, I hope,” he wrote, which is the translation of South Carolina’s official moto in Latin: Dum spiro spero.

Skylar

Trees sit along the Black River near Pumphouse Landing Road in Andrews. (Provided/Mac Stone, Southwings

ART

Budding Artist After-School

Art Club

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

CALENDAR

Tides To Tables Restaurant Week

Thursday, Jan. 9 to Sunday, Jan. 19, Beaufort. Tides to Tables Restaurant Week kicks off the Beaufort Oyster Festival featuring local restaurants and their cuisine.

Beaufort Oyster Festival

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18 & 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday Jan. 19, Henry

C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Hosted by the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association. Free Admission. Live music. Cornhole tournament at 1 p.m., Sunday. Oysters provided are all locally farmed or harvested. Oysters will be available steamed, raw, roasted or fried. Other food options will be available as well. More than 15 local educational organizations will take part.

50th Beaufort Charities Festival Friday & Saturday, Feb. 28 & March 1, Live Oaks Park, Port Royal. Live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights. Oyster roast all day Saturday.

Lowcountry Food Truck Festival

11 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 1404 Paris Avenue, Port Royal.

MCAS Beaufort Airshow Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, MCAS Beaufort. Celebrate 250 years of the Marine Corps with us. From the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to unforgettable aerial thrills, it’s a weekend you don’t want to miss. Tickets are free for general admission but required! Reserve yours now to secure your spot. Go to beaufortairshow.com to reserve your tickets.

Trivia with Tom – Bricks On Boundary

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

Bluffton Night Bazaar —

a Lowcountry Made Market

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

Habersham Farmers Market

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

Port Royal Farmers Market

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

Slip and Splash Saturdays

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Battery Creek Pool, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort, and Bluffton Pool, 55 Pritchard Street, Bluffton. $5 per per-

WHAT’S HAPPENING

son. Stay busy for hours climbing on our inflatable challenge track.

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

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

CLASS REUNION

Beaufort High School Class of 1975

Oct. 17 through Oct. 19, 2025, Beaufort. 50th Class Reunion Celebration. Request that graduates of this class contact the class Community Outreach Representative Barbara Gardner Hunter at 347-497-9326 or email gardnerbarbara991@gmail.com to provide current contact information.

DANCE

The Beaufort Shag Club

6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free lessons for members from 6 to 6:30 p.m. We also host a dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Lessons will run September through May only. Visit our FaceBook page (beaufortshagclub) for current events.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

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

BEMER Circulation Therapy

10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist — Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

HISTORY

Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal

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

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

Tour Historic Fort Fremont

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

org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

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

Career Navigator

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

Bridge Club

11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Beginning September 18. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

Mahjong Club

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-2556458.

MEETINGS

Zonta Club of Beaufort

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

Rotary Club of Sea Island lunch meeting

12:15 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.

Rotary Club of Sea Island social gathering

5:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of each month, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www. seaislandrotary.org.

Beaufort Rotary Club

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

The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group

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

Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting

4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to

provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

Rotary Club of the Lowcountry 7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady's Island Dr., Ladys' Island. Catered breakfast from local chef. Speakers weekly. Occasional social events replace Friday mornings, but will be announced on our website, www.rotaryclubofthelowcountrybeaufort.org.

MUSIC

Habersham Third Fridays Music on Market 5 to 8 p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.

OUTDOORS/NATURE

The Beaufort Tree Walk

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

Tours of Hunting Island

Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843838-7437.

SEWING/QUILTING

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

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

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541 for location. Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

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. Promote your Church Services

The Island News and increase membership! Contact us today!

Army’s Soldier of the Month has local ties

Beaufort County soldier wins Top Gun award during Fort Riley gunnery exercise

By Walter Ham 20th CBRNE Command

FORT RILEY, Kan. – A

U.S. Army Chemical Corps Soldier from Beaufort County earned the title of battalion Top Gun during the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) gunnery exercise on Fort Riley, Kan.

Sgt. Jalen Wright, the first platoon team leader from the 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response), was named the Soldier of the Month for scoring a 985 during the exercise.

The 172nd Chemical Company “Gladiators” are part of the 2nd Chemical Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional and deployable CBRNE formation.

From 19 bases in 16 states, Solders and U.S. Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and multinational operations.

U.S. Army Hazardous Response Chemical Companies conduct Chemical,

Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance, surveillance and decontamination operations with conventional and Special Operations forces around the world and provide support to civil authorities across the nation.

The Gladiators primarily operate the NBCRV Stryker during gunnery exercises.

The NBCRVs provide surveillance and detection capabilities to support combat operations. To operate on hostile terrain, the M1135 NBCRV Stryker is armed with M2 mounted 50-caliber machine guns and a Remote Weapons System. NBCRV commanders are required to demonstrate proficiency with both the M2 50-caliber machine gun and the Remote Weapons System.

“I prepared for the gun-

nery exercise by reflecting on previous gunnery experiences,” said Wright, a graduate of Whale Branch Early College High School who is originally from Yemassee.

He hopes to serve with Fire Protection Services on Army installations when leaves the Army.

Wright said the gunnery exercise prepares the Gladiators to support combat maneuver forces with mounted and dismounted CBRN reconnaissance and decontamination capabilities.

“The gunnery exercise is an invaluable tool to ensure that my platoon is always ready to shoot, move, communicate and fight any time, any place,” said Wright, an Afghanistan veteran who previously served as a Cavalry Scout before becoming a Chemical Corps Soldier.

Wright said there is no substitute for tough and realistic training to prepare Soldiers for the crucible of combat.

“There's no such thing as overtraining when your job can kill you,” said Wright. “Staying technically and tactically proficient ensures that you stay dangerous which is invaluable on any battlefield.”

Sgt. Jalen Wright, the 1st platoon team leader from the 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response), earned the title of battalion Top Gun during the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) gunnery exercise on Fort Riley, Kan. Wright was named the Soldier of the Month for scoring a 985 during the exercise. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army 20th

Command

Advice for veterans with service-connected asbestos injuries

Vets should file a claim with the VA, claims with asbestos trusts, lawsuits

Unlike most other VA-accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), I am a past certified Army Hazardous Materials Manager and Safety Officer. In my last job as the chief of aircraft maintenance and refueling at the Army Aviation Center at Fort Novosel (then Fort Rucker), Ala., I was also responsible for the safe and compliant management of more than 5 700 hazardous materials and a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each of those Hazardous Materials.

I worked in a high-risk asbestos exposure field for longer than 20 years as an Aviation Maintenance Officer and a Ground Vehicle and Systems Maintenance Officer in the United States Army. I also filed claims against multiple asbestos trusts with the expert help of a law firm specializing in asbestos trust claims.

My next three articles will provide the following eight critical messages:

1 A warning about the grave threat asbestos presents to humans, especially veterans (and non-veterans) who worked on military bases, ships, and equipment before 1990

2 An urgent appeal to veterans (and non-veterans) who worked on military installations, buildings, ships, aircraft, vehicles, Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment, brakes, roofing, and other equipment before 1990 to talk to their doctor and a lawyer who is skilled and knowledgeable in filing claims with Asbestos Trusts. If you have lung cancer, Mesothelioma, Asbestosis, lung scarring, asthma, chronic bronchitis, shortness of breath, kidney or heart damage, or other asbestos-related injury symptoms, you should talk to your doctor, go through an asbestos

screening, consider filing a claim with the VA for a service-connected and asbestos caused disability, and contact Clear Trust Claims LLP at 202-449-7681 or through the website at https://www.cleartrustclaims.com/.

3 A reminder to veterans that even if the VA turns down a veteran for service-connected disability compensation for an asbestos injury or disease, the veteran can still file a claim with Asbestos Trusts.

4 An urgent appeal to veterans to file a service-connected disability compensation claim for any asbestos injuries, diseases, or conditions they may have.

5 A description of the Asbestos Trust System and why you need a lawyer to help you file claims.

6 Why veterans who served before the 1990s are presumed by the asbestos trusts (but not the VA) to have been exposed to asbestos and why the latent effects of this deadly carcinogen may just now be showing up.

7 Why has the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clear Trust Claims (CTC) LLP? This agreement allows CTC to train VVA Veterans Service Officers (VSO) to identify veterans who may be eligible for asbestos trust compensation.

CTC will also provide educational information about the trusts through VVA and be available for talks or webinars to local VVA chapters.

8 Provide reference material for veterans, non-veterans, and their families to read.

Background

On May 4 2022, The Island News published one of my articles titled “Veterans can file claims against asbestos trusts, file lawsuits for asbestos injuries and illnesses.” That article explained that veterans could not only file a claim with the VA for military service-connected disability compensation for asbestos-caused injuries, diseases, and medical conditions caused by exposure to asbestos but also, veterans (and non-veterans) may receive compensation from the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products they were exposed to. The May 5 2022, article can be read online at https://bit.ly/408XIme.

A Grave Threat is Asbestos

Asbestos MSDS provides deadly warnings

One Material Safety Data Sheet (Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet) for asbestos states that:

“Asbestos is a carcinogen (causes cancer and non-cancerous injuries). Handle with extreme caution. People who develop serious and fatal diseases (from asbestos) later in life may feel fine at the time of exposure and for a long time after. Asbestos is a cancer hazard. As a carcinogen, asbestos has been shown to cause cancer of the lung (including mesothelioma) and gastrointestinal tract.

Repeated exposure to Asbestos can cause a disease called asbestiosis, a scarring of the lungs that results in changes on chest X-rays. Asbestosis develops some years (7

to 30) after exposure. Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. It can progress to disability and death. Asbestos is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List and is a chemical on the Special Health Hazard Substance List. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact with asbestos should be reduced to the lowest possible level.”

Asbestos right to know hazardous substance fact sheet

Asbestos is the general term for six naturally occurring fibrous, silcate minerals. They range in color from white to gray, green, blue, or brown and are used in brake linings, heat-resistant materials, roofing composites, and in heat and electrical insulations. Asbestos has not been manufactured in the U.S. since 2002. The Asbestos Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet found at https://bit. ly/4a55eD8 includes the following paragraphs:

A Description and Use paragraph, a Reasons for Citation paragraph, a First Aid/First Responders paragraph, and an Emergency Numbers paragraph.

• A Hazard Summary paragraph, a Workplace Exposure Limits paragraph, and a How to Determine Your Exposure paragraph.

A Health Hazard Information paragraph. a Medical Testing and Mixed Exposure paragraph, a Workplace Controls and Practices paragraph.

A Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) paragraph, a Fire Hazards paragraph, a Spills and Emergencies paragraph,

and a Handling and Storage paragraph.

An Occupational Health Information Resources paragraph, a Glossary, and a Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Non-veterans who worked for the military, on ships/boats/ vessels are at high risk

I recently helped a non-veteran, older than 70 years old, who worked as a civilian machinist at the Charleston Navy Yard in the 1960s and 1970s. Although he did not serve in the military, he worked in and around asbestos daily for longer than eight years at the Navy Yard, and today, he has lung scarring and other health problems.

When I found out he had lung scarring and other health problems that might be related to his exposure to asbestos longer than 44 years ago, I recommended that he read about asbestos hazards and trusts and contact a law firm experienced in and specializing in cancerous and non-cancerous claims with Asbestos Trusts. I further explained to him that the Charleston Naval Shipyard is on 15 separate Asbestos Trust lists. Therefore, he may be able to file a claim against each of those 15 Asbestos Trusts.

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior,

LARRY DANDRIDGE

CBRNE

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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Christopher J. Geier

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chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com

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