July 11 edition

68th Beaufort Water Festival starts Friday

By Delayna Earley The Island News

The heat of summer has settled in, Independence Day has come and gone – in Beaufort this means it is almost Water Festival time.

The 68th Beaufort Water Festival will kick off with an opening ceremony and fireworks display on Friday, July 12, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

“Anyone who has worked for

the festival will tell you that the opening ceremony is their favorite event,” said Dusty Vickers, the marketing and public relations coordinator. “We have been working very hard on this festival all year, so when the opening ceremony happens, we can all take a deep breath.”

Josh Schott, the commodore for this year’s festival, agreed and said that the opening ceremony

is one event he looks forward to each year.

The 10-day festival, which originated in 1956 to celebrate Beaufort’s coastal culture, will feature nightly entertainment and sporting events both on land and in the water.

Vickers said that the festival, which is put on by a team of

The annual Beaufort Water Festival will bring more than 50,000 visitors to Beaufort’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park over the course of the 10day event. Delanya Earley/File/The Island News

Beaufort County’s new administrator has checked in and from the initial looks of it, he’s off to an aggressive start.

One of the first public actions of Michael Moore was the announcement last week county attorneys would be serving official notice to operators of the Daufuskie Island ferry the county is not pleased with their service and considers the company in non-compliance with its contract.

Well, it’s about time, say observers of County Council meetings who for the past six months have heard Daufuskie Island residents complain about how lousy the current service is.

As background, the interim county administrator entered a contract with the Lowcountry Ferry in January after working with Haig Point Community Association for the past seven years. Lowcountry was the low bidder at $365 000 for the job compared to

Independence Day

Port Royal celebrates July 4

Port Royal man who escaped from Jasper County jail arrested in Florida

Source: Jaquan Duvall

Barnes connected with Beaufort County sex trafficking operation

By Mike McCombs and Delayna Earley The Island News

A Port Royal man who escaped June 10 from the Jasper County Detention Center and is believed

to be connected to a sex trafficking operation in Beaufort County, has been arrested and is in custody in Florida pending extradition back to South Carolina.

Jaquan Duvall

Barnes, 29, of Port Royal, was arrested Sunday evening, July 7, by Jacksonville, Fla., Sheriff’s dep-

uties and is currently detained at the John E. Goode Pre-Trial Detention Facility. News of his arrest was shared Monday morning on the Facebook page of the Hardeeville Police Department. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), in charge of the investigation into Barnes’ escape, has not responded to inquiries from The Island News

Barnes was being held at the detention center following a March 5 arrest when he reportedly ran from police during a traffic stop. He was initially stopped in a car with an underage girl who had been reported missing from Beaufort County. The 28-year-old Port Royal resident was charged with Trafficking

SEE ARREST PAGE A7

Spectators enjoy fireworks during the Port Royal Fourth of July Celebration at Sands Beach on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Port Royal. Delayna Earley/The Island News. See page A3 for more photos.

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

Austen Hecker captured this photo of a rainbow pouring into the Broad River one June evening. 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.

Michael Holmes

VETERAN OF THE WEEK MICHAEL HOLMES

Beaufort’s Michael Holmes, 62, joined the United States Army in 1979 while attending Beaufort High School. After graduation in 1980, he attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson and then specialized as a mechanic. He first served at Fort Stewart and then at Kaiserslautern, Germany for three years before returning to duty at Fort Knox, Ken. He then returned to duty at Fulda, Germany for another three years before returning to Beaufort and separating. He’s worked as a mechanic locally for many years. He and his wife, Sarah, just celebrated 41 years together.

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thank you

Dear Mr. McCombs, I waned to thank you (and Margaret Evans) for providing local news coverage as a reasonable replacement for the Beaufort Gazette that I recall from 20 years past when they had a very competent local journalist and editor. That disappeared slowly as the BG moved further and further South of Broad. You are to be commended.

– Bruce Fryer

Extraordinary vision

This and future generations of Beaufort County residents will benefit from the extraordinary vision of Councilman Tom Reitz, who worked closely with Beaufort County School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriquez to create the soon to be implemented Beaufort County Internship Program. The internship program is designed to both educate high school and college students about how local government works, and prepare them for future employment with Beaufort County. Over 15 weeks, the interns will earn $15 an hour for up to 15 hours per week of onsite learning, special projects, and immersion in county government operations, including shadowing county employees. Applicants are generally expected to be at least 16 years. Human Resources Director Katherine Mead

recommended approval of the internship program during the Finance, Administration & Economic Development Committee Meeting on June 17

I'm extremely proud that Gullah students on St. Helena Island were among the first to be informed about the upcoming Internship Program by Reitz himself, during the Youth Enrichment Fair held by the Community Coalition Action Network of St. Helena Island (CCAN) at its headquarters on May 18

Although the internship program won't officially kick off until the beginning of the 2024-2025 Academic Year in August, applications for the program can be picked up at CCAN on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. CCAN is located at 808 Sea Island Parkway, on SHI. Applications are also available online.

I urge local high school and college students to take advantage of this unique educational/workforce training opportunity.

– Roy R. Brown, Co-Founder,

The Community Coalition Action Network of St. Helena Island (CCAN), Beaufort

Mega common sense

Ms. D. Bev McCalla’s letter in the June 27 paper is spot on. Biden supporters have blood on their hands. How many have died

at the border under Joe’s more humane policies? How about the 50 men, women and children boiled to death in the box truck? How many die every day due to their open border policies?

Democrats have given us the biggest boondoggles in our history: Afgan pull out, Hanoi pull out, Vietnam, Bay of Pigs, Pearl Harbor, and WTC 1 & 2. I know libs, without facts which is par for the course, love to say WTC was the worst under President Bush. But, look at the facts. The Muslims first attempted to bring down the towers under Clinton.

Bill and Al chided the Muslims saying how they screwed up and could never do it. So under Bill’s nose, they imported a team of Muslims, trained them, and provided all the intel they needed to fly planes into our towers and showed Bill he was wrong. The ring leader told us this when he was captured. He stated they all figured Gore would be taking over.

Luckily, Bush was in charge, created homeland security, and hit them back hard. Maybe if Bill was more concerned about terrorists than the Intern under his desk he would have stopped this tragedy. They did nothing after the first attack, nothing after Benghazi and AFGAN proved our weakness. Proud to be a MEGA conservative and the only way to save America.

– Jim Beck, Beaufort

July 12

2019: Coinciding with the opening of the 64th Beaufort Water Festival, the League of Women Voters Beaufort and Indivisible Beaufort stage a Lights For Liberty vigil in protest of U.S. detention camps along the southern border.

2019: Nate Livesay steps down as head boys basketball coach at Beaufort Academy.

2020: Twelve-year-old Gavin Moore of Beaufort wins the 50-mile Cremator Ultra endurance race from Beaufort Town Center to St. Helena Island and back, twice.

July 14

2020: After being elected to three terms as Mayor of the City of Beaufort, Billy Keyserling announces he will not seek re-election.

July 17

2021: Beaufort karate instructor Chuck Elias is promoted to ninth-degree Black Belt at the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) International Training Conference in Las Vegas. At the time of his promotion, by Chuck Norris, there were only 10 ninth-degree black belts in the system.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

Dog Of The Week Kamari is a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. This 4-year-old girl likes to play hard followed by some good old-fashioned down time. She absolutely loves the water and gets along with other dogs. If you're looking for a sweet, fun loving, easy going dog to bring home, meet Kamari at Palmetto Animal League. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

Cat Of The Week Nesbitt has been at the

Adoption Center since February, and he’s been largely overlooked due to his shy nature. Nesbitt is a nice boy who gets along with other cats. He just needs a kindred spirit to give him the courage to come out of his shell and live life to the fullest. He is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped. For more info on Kamari, Nesbitt, or any of our other pets, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

– Compiled by Lindsay Perry

Beaufort Police make arrests in July 4 shooting

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

A Beaufort man has been arrested in connection with a July 4 shooting at the Ashley Point Apartments in Beaufort.

Jovonn Raheem Pryor, 24, of Beaufort was located and arrested, according to a news release from the Beaufort Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, July 9 Pryor was booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center just before 5 p.m.,

Monday, July 8

On Thursday, July 4, at approximately 7:17 p.m. Beaufort Police officers responded to a report of a person shot at 2112 Carolina Wren Drive, Ashley Point Apartments.

According to police, officers arrived on scene and located one victim with a single gunshot wound.

Officers immediately rendered life-saving aid until City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department

and Beaufort County EMS personnel arrived.

Preliminary investigation revealed the victim suffered a single gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, before being transferred to a medical facility in Charleston for further treatment. According to Tuesday’s update, the victim is in stable condition.

Pryor has been charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Breach of Peace,

Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Violent Crime and Sale or Delivery of Pistol To, and Possession By, Certain Persons Unlawful; Stolen Pistol. According to Tuesday’s news release, as a result of a service of these warrants, another male was charged with Interfering With A Police Officer and Resisting Arrest, while a female juvenile was also charged with interfering With A Police Officer and Resisting Arrest.

Jayashawn Jaheem Wright, 21, of Beaufort was booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center at 6:41 p.m., Monday, July 8 under those charges.

Wright was released at 10:50 a.m., Tuesday on a personal recognizance bond of $1,087 50, set by Judge Ralph E. Tupper. Pryor was denied bond and remains confined at the Beaufort County Detention Center as of Tuesday afternoon. He has a court appear-

INDEPENDENCE DAY IN PORT ROYAL

ance scheduled for 9 a.m., Sept. 20

Anyone with information is encouraged to please contact Investigator Ashley Setian at 843-322-7928 or if you would like to stay anonymous, please contact Beaufort Police Department’s Tip Line LINE at 843-322-7938; and please reference case #24B27187

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

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

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

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

At Beaufort Memorial you’ll also find:

• Joint preservation therapies

• Numerous non-surgical treatment options

• A personalized approach to restoring mobility and joint function

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

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

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

Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine at Sands Beach on Thursday, July. 4, 2024, in Port Royal during the Port Royal Fourth of July Celebration. Delayna Earley/The Island News

Hannah and Ryan Coughlin, of Laurel Bay, laugh with their niece, Vera Bright, 2, of Beaufort, during the Port Royal Fourth of July Celebration at Sands Beach on Thursday, July. 4, 2024, in Port Royal. Delayna Earley/The Island News

Beaufort Lions Club holding annual Water Festival Breakfast

From staff reports

The Beaufort Lions Club will hold their annual Water Festival Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, July 13 at the Sea Island Presbyterian Church at 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort.

The breakfast will feature Jim Palmer’s creamy sausage gravy and freshly baked biscuits, freshly scrambled eggs, cheese grits, fluffy pancakes, juice, milk, and coffee.

you not constitute yourselves, knights of the blind, in this crusade against darkness?”

Funds raised by Beaufort Lions Club-sponsored events are distributed to support the Beaufort community through humanitarian, vision, and diabetes programs.

Adult tickets may be purchased at the door for $12; under 12 tickets for $10; or online at https://beaufort-lions-club.square. site/. Major credit cards are accepted. Take-out is available.

Lions International is a nonprofit organization boasting 1 4 million members globally and targeting community issues such as vision, diabetes, childhood cancer, environment, and hunger. In 1926, Helen Keller told Lions, “I appeal to you Lion, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will

Volunteers from The Beaufort Lions screened the vision and hearing of more than 6,200 public and private school students North of the Broad, ages 6 months old to high school during the 2023-24 school year. They also screen the vision of adults monthly at a free vision clinic and during the summer migrant program.

They provide healthy snacks to school nurses North of the Broad for students diagnosed with diabetes. They have donated school supplies for students and teachers, blankets to the oncology infusion units at both Beaufort Memorial and MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital; nonperishable food to both HELP of Beaufort and

the Salvation Army food banks; activity books to seniors; a tree to a local church; and countless other small acts of kindness.

To provide additional specialized resources to the community, the club also donates to national/ international nonprofits: Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills, Mich. Legally blind individuals at least 16 years old are eligible for the program. They are provided free transportation to and from a client’s home to the Leader Dog campus and free accommodation and meals while training. The cost to house and train a Leader Dog is more than $60 000

Camp Leo is a week-long camp for visually impaired children ages 7 to 17 from across South Carolina. The camp is held at St. Andrews by the Sea on Hilton Head Island and is free to families. Transportation is provided and campers participate in beach activities, arts and crafts, kayaking, visiting a petting zoo and airport, play -

ing miniature golf, etc.

MUSC Storm Eye Research Institute located in Charleston conducts research on vision-related conditions such as retina and cornea conditions, and glaucoma. They also offer cataract surgery, LASIK, and pediatric eye care. Research conducted at Storm Eye improves the quality of life for visually impaired individuals globally.

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind in Spartanburg offers both on-campus and remote education to public school students with visual or hearing impairments.

Lions Vision Services in Columbia ensures that individuals without vision insurance receive proper treatment for vision-related issues such as detached retina and cataract surgeries. LVS also sponsors the annual state blind fishing tournament in Santee. Blind individuals across the state are transported to and from their homes, pro-

vided with free accommodations and meals, and a day of fishing from a boat or the bank. Winners of this competition are then transported to NC in October to compete in the National Blind Fishing Competition.

Lions Clubs International Foundation is a global disaster relief resource. The foundation has partnered with the Carter Center to combat river blindness in Africa and Latin America. In 2016 after Hurricane Matthew, a recovery effort grant was sent to Hilton Head Island and recovery effort grants have been provided to the Myrtle Beach area several times.

Supporting the local Beaufort Lions Club through fundraisers such as this breakfast has a global impact. Start your Saturday, Water Festival Day of Activities with a family breakfast at Sea Island Presbyterian Church. Reminder – Lions still sell brooms. One can be purchased at the breakfast or by calling 843-522-0066 and ask for Pat.

Classic Car Club of Beaufort

NEWS BRIEFS

County Councilman Dawson hosting community meeting

County Council Member Gerald Dawson (District 1) will host a community meeting for the citizens of Burton to discuss stormwater issues and concerns.

The meeting is set for 5 p.m., Sunday, July 14, at Burton Wells Regional Recreation Center. Beaufort County Public Works and Stormwater Department Director David Wilhelm will provide updates and answer questions from community members. For questions and more information Council Member Dawson at 843986-7265 or gdawson@bcgov.net.

Festival from page A1

roughly 400 volunteers, is estimated to bring in more than 50 000 visitors over course of the festival, drawing in not only community members but visitors from out of town as well.

While a lot of the festival will be similar to previous years, there are a few changes to the 2024 festival that need to be noted.

The biggest change from previous years is the new clear bag policy that will be enforced for any ticketed events.

Festivalgoers who bring a bag that violates the policy will be asked to return it to

A construction reminder

IPW Construction Group will continue to perform shoulder closures and temporary lane closures the entire length of Laurel Bay Road in Beaufort. Closures will take place between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until the end of the year.

During this time, please prepare for and expect minor delays in traffic. Drivers traveling through the area are asked to please be mindful of our traffic control team and the crews working within the area. In addition, the ramp coming off U.S. 21 onto Laurel Bay Road is permanently closed.

their vehicle, but clear bags will be available for purchase at the festival.

There are exceptions to the bag policy – clear bookbags, medically necessary items or diaper bags for families who have an infant or a toddler with them will be allowed.

Small clutch bags no larger than 4 5 in. by 6 5 in. will also be allowed.

Beyond that, approved bags must not be larger than 12 in. by 6 in. by 12 in. and logos that are no bigger than 4 5 in. by 3 4 in. may be on one side of the bag.

One-gallon, clear plastic freezer bags will also be allowed.

“We know that there will be some who aren’t happy about the new policy, but its

Free Summer Tax Prep Available for Lowcountry Residents

Who Missed Deadline

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering a free summer tax preparation program for qualifying residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties who missed the traditional tax filing deadline.

This program – a collaboration between the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) – is designed to assist low-income individuals and fami-

2024 and we have to keep people safe,” Vickers said.

Another big change for this year is that there will be no tickets for events sold at the gate, all tickets have to be purchased online.

“This is to make the process of getting into the events easier and also to protect the volunteers manning the gate from having cash with them,” Schott said about the new policy.

While the festival organizers suggest that you purchase your tickets in advance, there will be a QR code at the gate that can be used by anyone who arrives expecting to purchase their ticket at the gate.

The headlining band in Concert in the Park on Saturday will be a country band

called Parmalee.

lies, non-English speaking taxpayers, people with disabilities, and seniors (age 60+) in accurately and efficiently filing their federal and state tax returns.

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

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

While the band is one of the few that is playing during the festival that is not local to Beaufort, they are fellow Carolinians, as they got their start in Parmele, N.C.

Both Schott and Vickers agreed that the most popular nights of the festival are Saturday night with the Concert in the Park, and Monday night’s Motown Monday featuring the popular local band Deas Guyz.

Those who drink alcohol while attending the festival are encouraged to stay safe and make sure they have a sober ride home, but Paulick Law, LLC is taking that one step further and is offering the Water Festival Sober Rides Campaign.

volunteers.

• When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 25, August 22 and September 26

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

Appointments Required: Call 843 321 9071 or email lowcountryvitacoalition@gmail. com

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

– From staff reports

The law firm will sponsor sober rides home for festival attendees to try and reduce the risk of impaired driving and keep the roads safe. Not to be forgotten, Saturday morning will feature the raft races, children’s fishing tournament and several land sporting competitions such as badminton and bocce.

A water ski show and River Rally will be the featured events on Sunday, July 14

Other local bands, a talent show and community Lowcountry boil dinner will keep people entertained throughout the week and the following weekend, on Saturday, July 20, grand marshal Derrick “D” Washington will lead the free Water Festival Grand Parade through downtown Beaufort starting at 10 a.m. The festival will culminate on Sunday, July 21, with the traditional Blessing of the Fleet, which gives owners of recreational and commercial boats the chance to parade past the seawall in downtown Beaufort to receive a blessing from a local religious leader. For more information about the events and the festival, check out bftwaterfestival.com.

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.

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, members from the Classic Car Club of Beaufort display their cars at Beaufort City Hall, while enjoying lunch from the City’s Police Department’s Open House. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Tractor trailer accident blocks causeway onto Parris Island

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

A tractor trailer overturned on Sunday evening, July 7, blocking the causeway entering and exiting Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

The single vehicle accident occurred just after 7:30 p.m. according to Deputy Chief Matt Bowsher with the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department.

The driver was the only occupant of the tractor trailer and was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital to receive medical care for injuries sustained in the accident.

It is unknown at this time what caused the accident or what the tractor trailer was carrying.

of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department

Parris Island Fire and Emergency Services responded to the scene and the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department assisted, according to Bowsher. According to a Facebook

made

Beaufort Memorial welcomes July 4 babies

From staff reports

Beaufort Memorial Hospital welcomed these three little firecrackers at the Collins Birthing Center on Independence Day!

Poppy Gray, daughter of Alicia and Jackson Gray of Beaufort, was born at 1:49 a.m. and weighed in at 8 pounds. Eva Van Der Merwe, daughter of Madison and Thomas Van Der Merwe of Lady's Island, arrived shortly after at 2:13 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Axel Fabian Cruz Garcia, son of Dania Garcia and Nelson Castro Cruz of Bluffton. was born at 4:50 p.m. and weighed in at 8 pounds. Congratulations to all the families and thank you to the Sea Island Quilters for the Independence Day quilt and to Beaufort Memorial's staffers and talented crocheters Donna Mixon, LPN, for the festive outfits and Sabrina Cooler, Birthing Center unit secretary, for the firecracker rattles.

2024 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Festival

JULY 15

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17

Festival

Location:

TALENT

SATURDAY, JULY 20

THURSDAY, JULY 18

Festival

SUNDAY, JULY 21

FRIDAY, JULY 19

TUESDAY, JULY 16

Delayna Earley formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort

A tractor trailer overturned on Sunday evening, July 7, blocking the causeway entering and exiting Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Photo courtesy of City

Poppy Gray. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Berkeley Photography Eva Van Der Merwe. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Berkeley Photography

Axel Fabian Cruz Garcia. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Berkeley Photography

Beaufort County Animal Services partners with Bissell Pet Foundation

From staff reports

Bissell Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is prompting a national call for adoption once again this summer with its Empty the Shelters reduced-fee adoption event through July 31 Beaufort County Animal Services (BCAS) is participating, along with more than 390 shelters in 44 states. To help deserving shelter pets find loving homes, Bissell Pet Foun-

dation sponsors reduced adoption fees of $50 or less per cat or dog during each nationwide event.

BCAS will participate through July 31 at 10

Pritcher Point Road in Okatie, offering waived adoption fees for dogs six months and older.

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

All interested adopters can find more details online at www.pitstopdogs.com

“Shelters are struggling with a variety of challenges right now — some are evacuating pets because of wildfires, tornadoes, or even loss of air conditioning in extreme heat, and others are overcrowded and having to euthanize highly adoptable pets to make space, a tragic situation," BISSELL Pet Foundation founder Cathy Bissell said in a news release.

"Bissell Pet Foundation's upcoming Summer National Empty the Shelters event

is a crucial opportunity for people to make a real difference in their community through adoption. Every single adoption saves a life and creates space to save another. Please adopt and give a pet a chance it might otherwise not have. If you can't adopt, fostering saves lives when shelters are full. Deserving pets across the country are counting on all of us.”

This is the first time BCAS is participating in the Empty the Shelters event. BCAS’

stated goal is to find every dog currently at the shelter a new fur-ever home.

“The shelter is pittie-full and we are hopeful and excited to get these dogs off of pit-row and into great homes,” emphasized BCAS Dispatcher Christi Owens.

This event began in 2016 with a goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption. More than 253 000 pets have found loving homes since its inception. Empty the Shelters is Bissell Pet Foundation’s

largest program, partnering with 742 animal welfare organizations in 49 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees. Bissell Pet Foundation and Beaufort County Animal Services urge families to research the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements. For more information on adopting or donating to Empty the Shelters, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters and www.pitstopdogs.com.

Naval Heritage Skate Park Renovation Day

During the renovation day at the Naval Heritage Skate Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024, Madison Robinson, of Beaufort, screws boards down on one of the skate ramps. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

renovation day on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

hosting sunrise walk on St. Helena July 13

From staff reports Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to experience sunrise on St. Helena Island with a ranger-guided nature walk along the Capers Creek Nature Trail at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District at 6 : 30 a.m., Saturday, July 13. The walk will begin at Darrah Hall and last around one hour and

Lowdown from page A1

Haig Point’s $1 02 million. And it wasn’t long after the new contractor began that complaints about inadequate boats, irregular schedules and the negative impact on tourists trying to visit the island. Add to that the threat of a federal lawsuit for violations under the Americans Disabilities Act.

The County Council spent unknown hours behind closed doors discussing the ferry contract – we have to say unknown because we’re never sure exactly WHAT topics are being discussed behind those closed doors. But it wasn’t until Moore sat down at the top administrator’s desk on July 1 that some action was forthcoming.

It’s a sure bet the County Council members had discussed the issue enough, again behind closed doors, to give some direction to their new administrator. But it was Moore’s employment that triggered a response to those complaints.

It will be interesting to see what the new guy’s next actions will be, considering the list of challenges he faces -- replacement of several key administrative folks including a chief financial officer, a campaign to convince voters to support a transportation sales tax, a possible solution to the Pine

cover approximately a mile of walking.

During this walk, the public will have the opportunity to interact with park staff and volunteers as we experience the coast -

Island development agreement that’s tied up county and private attorneys in court for the last year? Who knows?

It is interesting that the “official” action to “do something” comes as the islanders and others gather this week to bid farewell to one of the island’s more colorful characters, Roger Pinckney XI.

Certainly the late Pat Conroy brought a fair amount of publicity to the island from his book “The Water if Wide,” based on his teaching experiences there in 1968. And Daufuskie is home to renowned cookbook author and preservationist Sallie Mae Robinson whose life’s work has focused on promoting the Gullah culture, although fewer than 100 of the native islanders still live there.

But it was Pinckney, who died April 3, that claimed the infamous Lowcountry root doctor, Dr. Buzzard, had put a “no money root” on the entire island at one point and no one would ever get rich there.

While Beaufort County has gotten its share of property taxes from Daufuskie over the years and some property owners have gotten richer from land sales, maybe the lack of a reliable ferry service is another way of making Dr. Buzzard’s curse come true.

Zoning Appeals Board –that’s where it’s happening BEAUFORT -- In today’s hustle-and-bustle society, it’s hardly unlikely any right-minded person

al marsh coming to life on the dawn of a new day. Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle, wear long pants and closed toed shoes, and wear insect repellent. The park will have

is going to choose to sit through any government meeting unless it’s a matter of personal interest.

Even if the said meeting takes place in a relatively comfortable, air-conditioned space with adequate lighting.

But, you can certainly tell a lot about what’s going on in a community if you happen drop into one of those inconspicuous sessions and stick around to listen.

Case in point: the recent monthly meeting of the Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals. Incredibly boring, you might say. But oh no, the agenda included four requests for short-term rental approvals and a large church camp and retreat center on Lady’s Island.

Camp Jubilee, being proposed by the Anglican Dioceses of South Carolina, would be located on Brickyard Point Road with hopes of replacing the church’s very popular Camp St. Christopher on Johns Island in Charleston County, which it no longer owns.

Plans call for the wooded area, zoned for single-family residential development, to be converted to a multi-cabin complex capable of accommodating more than 120 campers, a point of contention for the neighbors. The ZBOA opted to continue the discussion.

Of the four short-term rental (STR) requests, which require a variance from the zoning board because that’s the way the coun-

binoculars to loan out for the walk, but participants are invited to bring their own as well. For more information about Reconstruction Era National Historical Park,

ty’s STR ordinance reads, all four had neighbors turn out to speak in opposition. And because of that opposition, the seven members of the ZBOA said no.

Two of the requests involved lots on isolated Coffin Point, where out-of-state property owners were hoping to cash in on their residences. But then the neighbors spoke up and voiced their frustrations with previous STR situations – multiple cars, loud parties, “strangers” walking up and down the dirt roads and through private yards, etc.

One speaker at last week’s ZBOA summed it up.

“We spend time working on regulations saying how an area can be developed, someone comes in and buys their ‘forever’ home there and then someone else comes along and gets a variance to do something else. Why do we bother?”

“We want neighbors, not investors,” another neighbor argued.

It’s indicative of an almost universal complaint. There’s always the argument for private property rights – a person should be allowed to do what they wish with their property – but where does that stop?

Supreme Court affirms city ordinance

BEAUFORT – All of the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings have some sort of impact on citizens but last month’s ruling prohibiting home-

visit www.nps.gov/reer or follow on Facebook at www. facebook.com/ReconstructionNPS. And for more information about the Penn Center, visit www.penncenter.com

less people from sleeping in public places affirms what Beaufort City Council did four years ago. In response to complaints about individuals sleeping overnight in public parks, particularly the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the City Council in September, 2020 passed an ordinance banning “camping” in parking lots and parks.

In the past two years, Beaufort police officers have issued two citations and 10 warnings for violation of the ordinance.

Beaufort County Council passed its own ordinance in January 2022 when it discovered a homeless individual was camping outside the doors of the County Council chambers in the Administrative Building on Ribaut Road. The ordinance allowed individuals who were sleeping or camping on county-owned properties to be arrested and charged. In this particular case, it allowed the individual, who had documented mental issues, to be placed in the county jail when efforts to find lodging for him were unsuccessful.

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.

The Beckett Bunch, as mom, Sierra, of Beaufort, calls them, is hard at work putting a fresh coat of paint on the sides of one of the ramps at the Naval Heritage Skate Park during the

BCTV launches Beaufort County Traffic Channel

From staff reports

Beaufort County Television has launched a new channel available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: Beaufort County Traffic Channel. This traffic camera channel offers more than 50 live views of the most important and frequently used highways, streets, roundabouts, and busy intersections throughout Beaufort County.

If you need to travel for work or play through Beaufort County or just enjoy the live traffic action, then you’ll love watching the Beaufort County Traffic Channel.

Just in time for July 4 holiday traffic, Beaufort County

Television (BCTV) is now providing real-time traffic updates to anyone who would like to be informed in real-time.

For longer than a decade now, Beaufort County citizens and visitors have tuned into BCTV -- formerly The County Channel -- to watch the live traffic cameras. The cameras have previously been visible only during certain hours of the day and following certain program-

ming and shows.

Feedback has always been very positive, and for all these reasons, BCTV is now offering the Beaufort County Traffic Channel for free simply by downloading our BCTV app, available on all major streaming platforms. By downloading the BCTV APP, viewers can now get two great local television stations covering news, sports, events, and now 24/7 live traffic cameras. Thanks for the channel goes to BCTV Broadcast Engineer Alec Bishop, for putting in the hard work and effort and the great idea of providing the Beaufort County Traffic Channel 24/7

Arrest

from page A1

In Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age — 1st offense, and was also charged with possession for the marijuana that they found in his pocket. Barnes is a registered sex offender who has previously pleaded guilty in Beaufort County to two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and has pending charges in Fulton County, Ga., for pimping a minor and trafficking a person for sexual servitude. According to sources, Barnes also faces additional charges in connection with a sex trafficking operation in Beaufort County that saw four men and a woman arrested in June.

SLED arrested Alban Bryan, 63, of St. Helena Island; Guy Frank Talley III, 27, of Okatie; and William James Youmans, 34, of Beaufort, on June 11, the day after Barnes’ escape. All three men were charged with Trafficking In Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age, and all three remain confined at the Beaufort County Detention Center. Their preliminary hearing has been set for 9:30 a.m., Friday, July 19

A fourth man, 50-year-

old Terrance Lamar Fields of Beaufort, was arrested by the Hardeeville City Police on Tuesday, June 11, and has has been charged with Trafficking in Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age -- 1st offense, as well.

And Ilaife Sylvia Meredith, 20, was arrested June 13 by the Hardeeville City Police, as well, and has been charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in connection with this case.

Hardeeville Police Chief Sam Woodward told The Island News that the arrests were connected to the sex trafficking enterprise, though SLED has not confirmed the connection.

According to sources, law enforcement, led by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), conducted raids June 11 at several Beaufort County residences, collecting evidence and making several arrests in relation to a human trafficking operation in Beaufort County.

These sources told The Island News that several men had used the promise of employment to lure multiple under-aged females to a location or locations where they were instead drugged, plied with alcohol, held against their will and forced to have sex with paying customers.

The dates during which the trafficking took place, according to arrest warrants, were from February 1 2024 through March 5 2024 Little is known publicly about the victims in this case except there are at least several. Sources have confirmed to The Island News there are multiple victims and that at least one of the victims is as young as 14

Though SLED confirmed the investigation and the initial arrests in a June 13 news release, it has provided no additional information since.

According to the news release, “the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, the Beaufort Police Department, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardeeville Police Department, the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations are working together on the active and ongoing investigation.”

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

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.

Brooke Schott,

Jeremiah Smith waters his zinnia flowers with five-gallon buckets of water during the summer solstice Thursday afternoon, June 20, at his private garden at Greene and Union streets. Smith said he grows the flowers on his small lot and sell the flowers at open air markets throughout Beaufort. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

CALENDAR

Southern Soul and Seafood Night

7 p.m., Saturday, July 13, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. We will feature seafood specials that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Collards and Caviar Dinner

7 p.m., Sunday, July 14, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. Reservation-only dinner with limited seating. This exclusive event will feature culinary small plates inspired by Gullah cuisine, offering a unique and intimate dining experience. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Trivia with Tom – Fat Patties

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Trivia with Tom –Bricks On Boundary

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Karaoke at Willie’s

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

Bluffton Night Bazaar –a Lowcountry Made Market

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

TECHconnect

5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 3rd Thursday of each month, Beaufort Digital Corridor, 500 Carteret Street, Suite D, Beaufort. Free. The BDC's signature happy hour “meetup” networking event for tech professionals. Connect with like-minded people, fellow entrepreneurs, start-ups and VCs over local food and cold beverages. Call 843-4703506 or visit https://rb.gy/e7t2h for more information.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Highway 21 Flea Market

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

Port Royal Farmers Market

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Slip and Splash Saturdays

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

Music Bingo with Mike –Bricks On Boundary

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

DANCE

The Beaufort Shag Club

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

GOLF

Stingray Scramble

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

Boy Scouts of America

LowCountry Classic

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

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

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

BEMER Circulation Therapy

10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist — Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410212-1468 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-ofthe-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@ gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.

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

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Scavenger hunt

10 a.m., Saturday, July 13, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Explore the grounds around St. Helena Library while searching for nature’ hidden treasures native to our Lowcountry. All ages. No registration. Appropriate footwear required.

Trivia night

4:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 16, Lobeco Library, 1862 Trask Parkway. Test your knowledge with questions ranging from pop culture to history to science and everything in between. Come out to meet new people who share your love of learning and competition! Let us know you’re interested. Call 843255-6479, stop by, or visit https://www. beaufortcountylibrary.org/calendar to register.

Beachcombing for kids

11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 18, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join Master Naturalist Margit Resch as she teaches us all about our local beach creatures. Learn about invertebrates, mollusks, crabs, sand dollars, sea stars and more. All ages. No registration required.

DIY Lava Lamps with USCB

11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 25, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Journey into scientific adventures with handson activities, including a do-it-yourself lava lamp hosted by professors from USC Beaufort. Ages 6 to 12. Space is limited. Registration is required. Call 843-255-6440.

Monday Adventure Movie Matinee

4 to 5:30 p.m., Mondays, June and July, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of adventure movies in our teen lounge. We’ll have popcorn.

“Lego” With Lego

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

Career Navigator

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

MEETINGS

Zonta Club of Beaufort

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

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

The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group

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

Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@ gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

Rotary Club of the Lowcountry

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

MUSIC

Deas Guyz

7 p.m., Friday, July 19, July 26, Aug. 30, Sept. 27, Nov. 1, Nov. 29; Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Walker Dean 8 p.m., Saturday, July 20, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. $35. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Beaufort Drum Circle

3:30 to 5 p.m., Sunday, June 23, Gazeebo, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Join a growing group of drummers who meet on the Beaufort River and create beautiful communal rhythms while enjoying the beautiful vista and the pleasant breezes. Everyone is welcome. No experience necessary. You don't even have to drum. Come just listen and enjoy, dance, hula hoop or whatever. Please bring a chair. Extra drums are available for your use.

OUTDOORS

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

Tours of Hunting Island

Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843838-7437. The next Tuesday is August 1.

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. United Methodist Church. Games and events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541

Beaufort Masters Swim Team

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

Port Royal Pizza Party

Experience Coordinator, offers a glass of wine to neighbors Kristi

they enjoy a conversation during

Attendees share a laugh as Stephanie Burt, host of The Southern Fork and a writer and editor based in Charleston, is handed a ball of dough by Chef Kyle Jacovino, the chef-owner of Pizzeria Vittoria in Savannah, while he prepares a pizza during the Port Royal Pizza Party with The Southern Fork at Windhorse Gallery & Marketplace on Monday, June 24, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Beaufort High’s Thompson featured reader at Conroy Center

From staff reports Young novelist Rebecca Thompson, winner of the Ann Head Literary Prize at Beaufort High School, will be the featured writer when the Pat Conroy Literary Center holds its monthly Open Mic Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 11, at the Conroy Center at 601 Bladen Street. Thompson is the author of the duology “The Girl of the Tree” and “Seeking the Truth.” Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. The event is free and open to the public.

Thompson started writing during the coronavirus pandemic, determined to complete her first book. Not only has she successfully self-published one novel as a teen author, but now two.

She lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her mom, dad, brother, two cats, and fish. For those interested in reading as part of Open Mic, let the Conroy Center know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. The Conroy Center wants to build a community of writers and an appreciation for the art and talent of new, emerging, and longtime writers.

Kelly Holmes, the

Rushing and Justin Boykin, both from Beaufort, as

the Port Royal Pizza Party with The Southern Fork at Windhorse Gallery & Marketplace on Monday, June 24, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

How extreme heat and humidity affect your health

Sunscreen

alone may not be enough to protect photosensitive

skin

By Deb Balzer

Many parts of the U.S. continue to grapple with oppressive heat and humidity. This can prevent the body from cooling down, increasing the risk of heat cramps, exhaustion and heatstroke. Dr. Jesse Bracamonte, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, says the extreme heat and high humidity can be a dangerous mix.

"High heat and high humidity can place one at risk for serious illness if people aren't careful. The heat can affect people's bodies by increasing the core body temperature and ability to sweat, and cause dehydration that can cause further medical problems and ensuing issues, and eventually can lead to heat exhaustion, in some cases, severe heat illness, known as heatstroke," says Dr. Bracamonte.

Symptoms of heat-related illnesses

Heat-related illnesses can be serious. They include heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

"Illness can be something mild, such as heat cramps, which is usually the first stage consisting of cramping and abdominal pain in some instances. Then it can progress to heat exhaustion, which is

nausea, filling inability to cool, increased warmth, cramping, dehydration, or mild dehydration," he says. "And that can become severe, and that's known as heatstroke, which can cause disorientation, confusion, the ability to cool yourself, nausea and vomiting."

Heat exhaustion happens when the body loses too much water or salt from heavy sweating or dehydration, usually after being active in the heat. Heatstroke is more serious and happens when the body overheats and can't cool down.

What to do for heat-related illnesses

Seeking care promptly for heat-related illnesses is crucial. You should try to cool down quickly, drink cool fluids and stay out of the heat until your symptoms get better.

"If you have symptoms of heat cramps or heat exhaustion, it's important to stay cool," says Dr. Bracamonte. Seek a cool, shaded place, go indoors, and drink fluids. Consider sports drinks containing electrolyte-hydrating fluids as well—

The unexpected danger of turmeric and black pepper supplements

For years, we’ve heard about the potential health benefits of turmeric supplements, but a new study published in The American Journal of Medicine reveals a concerning link between these supplements and liver injury. Researchers from the U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network identified 10 cases of turmeric-associated liver injury between 2004 and 2022, with six cases occurring since 2017. Of these, five patients were hospitalized, and one died from acute liver failure. The study found a particular risk associated with taking turmeric and black pepper supplements together. Dr. Jay Hoofnagle, one of the study’s authors,

explains: “Turmeric is a spice [...] it’s not absorbed. The answer, we think, is that these modern products [...] have been altered so that they are absorbed.” The combination of turmeric and black pepper is popular because black pepper contains piperine, which greatly enhances the absorption of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric. However, this increased absorption could be what raises the risk of liver injury. Interestingly, what’s safe for one person might not be for another. People in 7 out of the 10 cases carried a specific genetic variant (HLA-B*35:01), which may increase susceptibility to this type of liver injury.

It’s important to note that the risk seems to be associated with supplement use, not with turmeric used as a spice in cooking. If you’re taking a turmeric supplement, especially one boosted with black pepper, it might be wise to discuss the potential risks with your doctor. While turmeric may have health benefits, this study reminds us of the importance of approaching any supplement with due caution.

To learn more about this study and what it means for your health, visit this MedicalNewsToday.com website: “Turmeric and black pepper supplements linked to liver injury in some people” for more on the science behind this surprising discovery.

just watch for heavy sugar content.

If you think someone has heat exhaustion, act fast to prevent heatstroke — which can be life-threatening.

Move them to a shady or cool area. Lay them down and elevate their legs.

Loosen tight clothing. Give them cool fluids to drink.

Cool them with water and a fan. Monitor their condition closely.

Signs of heatstroke include:

High body temperature (104 F or higher).

Altered mental state (confusion, agitation, slurred speech).

Dry or moist skin.

Nausea, vomiting. Flushed skin.

Rapid breathing.

• Racing heart rate.

Headache.

If you think someone has heatstroke, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.

Risk factors for heat-related illness

Some things can make people more sensitive to heat:

Certain medications (like beta

blockers and antihistamines).

If you have questions about your medication, speak with your healthcare team.

Obesity

Sudden changes in temperature (like moving to a hotter climate, or early heat waves)

When the heat index is 91 F (33 C) or higher.

Heat and humidity can pose health risks, so it's important to take precautions to stay safe. Keep cool, stay hydrated, and stay informed to protect yourself and others when it's hot outside.

"Be careful with doing new activities that can get you dehydrated quickly, so acclimate to the heat and don't go out during the warmest parts of the day. Try to find the coolest parts of the day to keep yourself healthy and away from heat-related illness," says Dr. Bracamonte.

Understanding the risks associated with high heat and humidity, recognizing the symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and knowing how to respond can help prevent serious health issues.

Source: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic. org/discussion/how-extreme-heat-andhumidity-affect-your-health/

Can music

help someone with Alzheimer’s disease?

By Joel Streed

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away and die. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, which is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily function.

As many as 5 8 million people in the U.S. were living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And this number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060

Memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer's disease. An early sign of the disease is difficulty remembering recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, memory impairment persists and worsens, affecting the ability to function at work or at home.

Musical memories often are preserved in Alzheimer's disease, though, because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease. Research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

Music also can benefit caregivers by reducing anxiety and distress, lightening the mood, and providing a way to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer's disease— especially those who have difficulty communicating.

If you'd like to use music to help a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease, consider these tips:

• Think about your loved one's preferences.

What kind of music does your loved one enjoy? What music evokes memories of happy times in his or her life? Involve family and friends by asking them to suggest songs or make playlists.

• Set the mood. To calm your loved one during mealtime or a morning hygiene routine, play music or sing a song that's soothing. When you'd like to boost your loved one's mood, use more upbeat or faster-paced music.

• Avoid overstimulation.

When playing music, eliminate competing noises. Turn off the TV. Shut the door. Set the volume based on your loved one's hearing ability. Choose music that isn't interrupted by commercials, which can cause confusion.

Encourage movement.

Help your loved one to clap along or tap his or her feet to the beat. If possible, consider dancing with your loved one.

• Sing along.

Singing along to music together with your loved one can boost the mood and enhance your relationship. Some early studies also suggest musical memory functions differently than other types of memory and singing can help stimulate unique memories.

Pay attention to your loved one's response. If your loved one seems to enjoy particular songs, play them often. If your loved one reacts negatively to a particular song or type of music, choose something else.

Connect locally with other caregivers talking about Alzheimer's disease at: Alzheimer’s Family Services of Greater Beaufort - https://afsgb.org/programs-and-services-2 • South Carolina Department on Aging - https://aging.sc.gov/programs-initiatives/family-caregiver-support Memory Matters - https://www. mymemorymatters.org/support-groups

Source: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ consumer-health-can-music-help-someone-withalzheimers-disease/

Some medications can make your skin sensitive to the sun

Sunscreen

Does your skin have an extreme reaction when you spend time in sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light?

If so, it may surprise you to know that the medications you take may cause this intense sensitivity. And sunscreen is likely only part of the solution.

“The reaction can present as exaggerated sunburn or as eczema-like red, itchy spots,” says dermatologist Anthony Fernandez, MD, PhD. “And if you think you can protect yourself by loading up on sunscreen, you should know that you’ll probably need more protection than the average person.”

Why do some medications cause photosensitivity?

Different medications (including pills and those applied to the skin or injected) cause photosensitivity for different reasons.

For the most part, the combination of the drug and the ultraviolet light (both UVA and UVB) from the sun generates toxic and inflammatory reactions that are harmful for skin cells,” explains Dr. Fernandez. What photosensitivity looks like

The most common reaction, known as phototoxicity, causes a sunburn-like effect on skin when you go out in the sun. Your skin may react shortly after you go out in it,

alone may not be enough to protect photosensitive skin

or it may take up to 24 hours to show up.

The itchy rash—a photoallergy—isn’t as common. It typically appears a few days after you’re out in the sun. The rash sometimes even shows up on skin that wasn’t directly exposed.

Common medications that can cause sun sensitivity

Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause a reaction, including very common ones like ibuprofen and birth control pills.

Some of the commonly used drugs include antibiotics such as trimethoprim (Bactrim®) or ciprofloxacin and some diabetes medications (including glipizide, glyburide and glimepiride),” Dr. Fernandez says. Your skin may react to other drugs, too, including: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used for arthritis. Pain relievers, such as naproxen, diclofenac and piroxicam.

Diuretics used for blood pressure, like furosemide and thiazides.

Certain antihistamines, like promethazine, which is also used to treat motion sickness.

Anti-arrhythmic drugs to treat irregular heartbeat, such as amiodarone and quinidine.

Acne medications, like tretinoin and isotretinoin.

Tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline and nortriptyline.

Methotrexate, a medication that treats psoriasis and osteoarthritis.

But that’s not all! There is a wide range of medications that can cause sun sensitivity, from antifungals and cholesterol-lowering drugs to tranquilizers.

If you’re wondering whether or not photosensitivity is a side effect of a medicine you’re currently taking, you can check out the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of medications that can cause sun sensitivity.

Risk factors for sun sensitivity

While there are a lot of medications out there that have the potential to cause phototoxic or photoallergic reactions, whether or not they will, can be hard to predict.

According to Dr. Fernandez, two people can take the same medication and one person might see a reaction, while the other doesn’t. To make things still more complicated, your skin may react every time you take the medication and go out in the sun, or it may only happen once.

“People with fair skin, blond or red hair and blue eyes are more sensitive to

sunlight in general,” notes Dr. Fernandez. “However, anybody can get an exaggerated sunburn due to medications, regardless of skin color.”

How to prevent medication photosensitivity

“The best way to minimize these reactions is strict sun protection and avoiding excessive sun exposure,” he advises. “Even sunlight exposure through windows at home or while driving can cause a reaction.”

Sunscreen protects against some harmful rays.

According to the American

Academy of Dermatology Association, it is most effective if: • It’s broad-spectrum, protecting against both UVA and UVB light.

You put it on 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun.

You reapply it every two hours.

You make sure to use enough—use at least 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover your entire body.

Double-check your sunscreen’s expiration date.

Avoid going out in the sun during the peak hours of intensity—between 10

a.m. and 2 p.m. And while sunscreen helps, wearing protective clothing, such as a broad-brimmed hat and long sleeves, is a better strategy to minimize the risk of drug-induced sunburns.

Check with a healthcare provider or pharmacist if you’re not sure whether the medications you take may pose a risk. And remember: Even if you’re not on any medications, you should still always protect your skin when you’re in the sun.

Source: https://health. clevelandclinic.org/medicationincreasing-sun-sensitivity

Board-certified PA Toulson joins Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists

From staff reports Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists has added board-certified physician assistant Bailey Stewart Toulson, PA-C, to its clinical team, enhancing surgical care for area residents.

Toulson will assist board-certified general surgeons in both the clinic and operating room where she’ll perform pre- and post-operative procedures such as prepping patients for surgery, closing inci-

sions and applying wound dressings. Additionally, she will evaluate patients pre- and post-surgery and provide consultations to emergency room and hospital patients.

A Georgia native, Toulson earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Georgia Southern University, and holds a Master of Science in Physician Assistant from South University.

Her decision to pursue a career in medicine stemmed from a life-

long passion for science, but it was undergoing hip surgery at 16 years old that prompted her aspiration to become a physician assistant. Sensing the young Toulson’s distress over the impending surgery, Toulson’s physician assistant took the time to provide comfort and explain the procedure.

“I will be there to hear my patients, and to educate them as much as I can so that they can be prepared and comfortable for their procedures,” said Toulson.

Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists offers a full range of surgeries, from simple, minimally invasive procedures to complex operations. Its highly experienced, board-certified surgeons are skilled in using the latest minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgical techniques. Toulson joins general surgeons Drs. Deanna Mansker, Aubrey Place, and Stephen Sisco; and physician assistants Laura Livergood Kaiser and Anna Grace Stoddard at the practice.

The practice has two locations -- at Beaufort Medical Plaza, 989 Ribaut Road, Suite 360, Beaufort; and Beaufort Memorial Okatie Medical Pavilion, 122 Okatie Center Blvd. North, Suite 300, Okatie. To make an appointment, call 843-524-8171

Bailey Toulson

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

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

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

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

STATENEWS

Gov. McMaster vetoes $2.3M in local projects sponsored by legislators

Vetoes included unregistered charities, a national commission with legislators as members, looser seawall regulations

By Skyler Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed $2 3 million in state spending Wednesday, July 3, all of that from legislator-sponsored pet projects.

McMaster’s 21 vetoes represented only a tiny fraction of the $14 5 billion spending package for state taxes. Only nine of those involved actual dollar amounts. Three struck budget clauses made irrelevant by bills that became state law this year. One clause he called unnecessary because it told an agency to do what it already does. The rest eliminated agency directives without cutting any cash.

Although it’s more than the $1 5 million he nixed last year — which was the smallest sum any South

SC groups aid homeless vets

State budget set aside nearly half a million dollars total for four nonprofits

By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com

GEORGETOWN — U.S. Army Sgt. Frank Rutledge was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from his second tour of duty in Iraq in 2005. As he sought health care through the Veterans Benefit Administration, he ran up against a process he found difficult to navigate.

Rutledge eventually got the benefits he was entitled to. But in talking with other veterans, he realized not only did they have the same problem, many were in worse situations. After all, he had somewhere to live — something many other South Carolina veterans do not have.

“I saw a great need,” said Rutledge, who had joined the Army straight out of high school and served for 20 years. In 2006, the Georgetown native started working out of his home to help others access their military benefits. Then, in 2010, he officially started Low Country Veterans Group, a nonprofit dedicated to helping connect veterans with resources and a place to live.

Pro-Palestine group protests outside Sen. Lindsey Graham’s home July

4

Carolina governor had struck from a budget in at least a quarter century — the amount removed is still almost nothing as a percentage. In 2022, he vetoed $53 million. In 2021, that number was $150 million.

While touting accomplishments in the budget, McMaster repeated his calls for legislators to change the way they set aside money for local projects, pointing to the ones he vetoed as proof the process needs more vetting.

SEE VETO PAGE B4

Moore calls for President Biden to step aside as nominee

By Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com

The Democratic candidate for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the U.S. presidential race on Thursday, July 4

Michael Moore, who won the Democratic primary last month and will challenge U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., in November, posted his call for Biden to step down on X, formerly known as Twitter. Moore said the president should help in transitioning to a new nominee.

Moore told the S.C. Daily Gazette on Friday that following the first presidential debate last week, where Biden performed poorly, he is concerned Biden will not be able to win again. Biden was trailing Trump already in the polls, he said, and has slid further since the debate.

“I think the debate performance – American’s not going to be able to unsee that,” Moore told the Gazette. “I don’t think that President Biden is the best person to lead the country going forward.”

That said, Moore wanted to emphasize that Biden should be acknowledged for what he has achieved in his first term, and still has an important role to play for the party by guiding a new nominee. He did not name a specific person he wanted to replace Biden.

Biden said on Friday that he is not stepping aside, but Moore said that statement did not change his concerns about Biden, or his position the president needs to step aside.

By Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com

SENECA — Pro-Palestinian protestors picketed outside the home of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Thursday over his support for Israel in the country’s ongoing war in Gaza.

“While I respect the right to peacefully protest, I apologize to my neighbors and their families for the disruption on the Fourth of July caused by this pro-Palestinian group,” Graham wrote in a statement. “I want to make it crystal clear: I am with Israel wholly and completely. As I have consistently said, give Israel the weapons they need to win the war they can’t afford to lose.”

The nine-month Israel-Hamas war has divided Americans, with

supporters of Israel saying the country needs to eliminate the militant group Hamas following its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1 200 civilians and taking some 250 hostages in the deadliest day of the Jewish state’s 75-year history.

Lindsey Graham

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 38,000, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. In some cases, Israeli attacks have nearly eliminated entire families. Opponents of the war say the

scale of violence and displacement within Gaza, which some have described as genocide against Palestinians, is not justifiable.

The protest outside Graham’s home was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Dana Alhasan, a member of the party who attended the protest, said it was the first in a series of planned protests against U.S. support for Israel around South Carolina.

“It’s important to let Lindsey Graham know the people don’t stand for genocide,” Alhasan said.

Graham also claimed in his statement that Palestinians in Gaza are “taught to hate Jews from birth.” Alhasan said she resented the suggestion that all Palestinians are antisemitic and described the comment as “dis-

gusting and unwarranted.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Friday also condemned Graham’s statement as “hateful and absurd.”

Alhasan said the protest lasted about three hours. Graham posted video of the demonstration on social media, showing protesters standing on the side of the street chanting and holding a large Palestinian flag.

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

This week two other Democrats in Congress, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, have called for Biden to step aside. On Friday afternoon the Washington Post reported that Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, is trying to gather other Democrats to ask Biden to leave the race.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina’s only current Democratic member of Congress and a co-chair of the Biden-Harris Campaign told MSNBC on Tuesday that he still backs Biden at the top of the ticket. Clyburn did say, if Biden steps aside, he would support Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee.

Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where

Michael Moore

Contractors build tiny homes in Little River for Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center. Photo courtesy of Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center

Gov. Henry McMaster announces his budget vetoes at the Statehouse on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Jessica Holdman/S.C. Daily Gazette

Musings on elections, debate and the high court

After 14 years of conservative control in Great Britain, British voters on July 4 threw out the Tories in a shellacking that was heard around the world. They elected a government that will be run by the Labour Party, which won 412 of 650 seats in the House of Commons – a net gain of 214 seats. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party lost 253 seats in a debacle that can only be described as politically cataclysmic.

Across the English Channel just days before, the moderate government of French President Emmanuel Macron faced a similar drubbing as the far-right National Rally party made big inroads in round one of the voting in France’s complicated national elections for its 577-seat National Assembly. Polling shows the far right and allies likely won’t be able to cobble together a ruling majority to replace a centrist government. But governing in France will face delays, stalls and quagmires over the next couple of years.

So Britain and France? Why do their elections matter here?

Because they show one clear thing: voters wanted change. In Britain, they wanted to throw out 14 years of increasingly conservative rule in a country struggling with national health care, growth and immigration. In France, many voters wanted to show frustration with the status quo and concern over immigration, the economy and more.

Sound familiar? Yes, these elections might provide a kind of crystal ball about what could happen here in November. But that’s kind of complicated because just what is the definition of change for American voters?

On one hand, change could mean throwing out Democratic President Joe Biden in favor of former President Donald Trump. But is that real change just to go back to what we had before? On the other hand, change could mean toppling a Trump juggernaut toward authoritarianism to protect reliable democratic (small d) institutions. Remember, Britain went to the left and France hasn’t turned everything over to the right.

Deflate the debate Biden certainly didn’t help himself in the recent Atlanta CNN debate with a lackluster performance against Trump. But don’t forget that Trump wasn’t that great either thanks to misstatements, lies and damned lies – CNN counted 30 in the 90-minute debate. (Biden had nine misleading and wrong statements.)

What’s interesting is that American conservatives have been mostly quiet about the whole thing – not wanting to draw attention to their own performance

issues. Why? Because national Democrats are in a hot panic that’s clogging the media with too many calling for Biden to drop out – after just one lousy debate. They need to settle down and realize that at this late date, there’s really not enough time to launch a replacement candidate who could take Trump on and win. As the New York Times’ Charles Blow recently noted, “This has become an election about people who are for democracy and those who are not for it. It has nothing to do with the individual people and the individual characters and their individual competency.”

Court on ballot

What many pundits also don’t seem to realize is that voters know the U.S. Supreme Court will also be on the ballot in November. The next president will have at least two appointments, which could tip the balance of the court to the center or left if Democrats the White House. And after months of scandal over acceptance of hundreds of thousands of dollars

of unreported gifts by Justice Clarence Thomas and ethical issues related to other conservative justices, many people are understandably tired and frustrated over a high court that’s making lots of headlines for the wrong things. Throw on top of that the court’s overturning of the Roe v. Wade abortion decision, and you have a major driver for moderate voters to vote against Trump, regardless of an elderly Biden or any other candidate.

Democrats need to settle down and face the music that Biden’s their best chance to defeat Trump. And Republicans may want to strap in for what happens to voting if Trump, the convicted felon, gets his freedom taken away if a judge sentences him just weeks before the election to house confinement or worse.

The wild ride is getting wilder. Hold on.

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

Day care: The moment in history when politicians, families agreed

Mom or Dad is at work all day, or out of the picture altogether. The spouse is at home taking care of the kiddos but needs to get out of the house to work or pursue an education.

There is just one obstacle, but it is a big one – day care. Throughout the nation, quality day care is hard to find and expensive. Imagine the issue resolved.

Imagine that high quality day care is widely available and jaw-droppingly inexpensive at about $8 to $10 per child per day. Day care includes snacks and a hot lunch. It includes a ratio of 1 to 10, staff to children. And it includes basic health care.

The day care facility may be a new building specifically built as a fully equipped modern day care center, or it may be a local school building.

It opens early and stays open late to accommodate elastic work schedules. Some day care facilities are open 24 hours a day, six days a week. At the end of the day, select day care centers send home an evening meal for the parent and children. Impossible but tantalizing daydream?

No, not a mere daydream — part of our American history. Parents demanded it. Politicians wanted it. And it was done. For a few brief years, the United States had a generously funded day care program across the nation.

Early in the 1940s the United States had hurled itself into war against the Axis powers. The men were gone, engaged in the war effort.

Graphics of Rosie the Riveter were everywhere, urging women to replace men in critical war industries.

Maybe Rosie didn’t have children, or maybe she had a kindly mother who watched her children while she was hammering rivets.

But millions of real women were alone at home with their children. How could they work full-time in war industries and be full-time mothers at the same time?

As the New York Times reported in 2019:

“The major source of funding to remedy this came from the Lanham Act of 1940, which enabled a number of social programs during the war years. Beginning in 1942, the Lanham Act funded the Federal Works Agency to provide group child care in areas of “war impact.”

But far from instantly setting up a cheerful child care center on every block, the act created a complex patchwork of public and private entities, which in some cases sustained exist-

ongoing need of mothers who were the sole support of their children, and a lack of inadequacy of other forms of care in the community.”

Nevertheless, sexism and discrimination prevailed. Within a few short years most of the national day care program had been wiped out. Vestiges remained through the 1960s, mostly in California. Then the national day care program was entirely gone.

So here we are today. Day care woes abound. Tax breaks and other marginal incentives of today cannot build a national day care program. However, eight decades ago the Federal Works Agency did. We have the precedent and the need but lack politicians with the vision.

ing centers, and in others allowed communities to set up new ones.”

According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, even at the outset of the program the “need for the child care centers was estimated to be much greater than the services provided.”

Nevertheless, it was an extraordinary accomplishment:

“The wartime child care programs were locally planned … Overall, as many as 635 communities across the nation were granted funds to operate one or more centers. Projects included programs for preschool and school-age children. In July

1944, when the wartime child care program reached its apex, 52,440 preschoolers and 76 917 school-age children were enrolled.”

By mid-1945, it was clear that the Allies had won the war. The prevailing male sentiment was that it was time for Rosie the Riveter and her female factory colleagues to pack up and go back home. They were urged to take their “traditional” place in the kitchen and give the factory jobs back to men. And to make sure the women did that, politicians immediately slashed funds for national day care, quickly dismantling the program.

Pushback ensued. Women and children demonstrated in the streets. There were write-in campaigns, according to the CRS report:

“Approximately one month after this announcement, the FWA [Federal Works Agency] reported it had received communications from 26 states and the District of Columbia (1,155 letters, 318 wires, 794 postcards and petitions signed by 3 647 individuals), urging continuation of the program. Principal reasons given were the need of servicemen’s wives to continue employment until their husbands returned, the

Like the S.C. Daily Gazette, Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and

ANDY BRACK

LAWRENCE D. WEISS

VOICES

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The Island News

Fear has replaced compassion in our republic

It’s Thursday, July 4th, and it is hot.

Notwithstanding the heat we will have — here in Port Royal later today — fireworks, patriotic tunes and the drinking of lukewarm beer. This evening, a long column of people will descend on The Sands Beach determined to celebrate our nation’s birth notwithstanding the seizures, delirium and break-bone fever currently convulsing our body politic.

This morning I’ve got the New York Review of Books which has a profile on Norman Mailer. The profile is focused on Mailer’s novel, “The Naked and the Dead”, published just after World War 2

“The Naked and the Dead” tells the story of a West Point-educated general; his Harvard-educated adjutant; and a platoon of enlisted men given a long range reconnaissance mission in the Philippines. In this novel, Mailer intro-

Listen

Educed the American reading public to flawed officers, terrorized enlisted men, “the vicissitudes of chance; the inscrutability of motive; the unknowability of other lives; the impulse to blame others …”

Well, you get the drift.

My generation, nicknamed Boomers, emerged from the (largely) consensual, post-war sex between our returning soldier-fathers and the wives they left behind. As children, we watched “Victory at Sea,” “The Sands of Iwo Jima,” and a hundred other movies that emphasized the heroism of these soldiers. In the 1950s we wanted confirma-

tion that the United States had rescued the world from some very bad people.

We were not all that interested in “the vicissitudes of chance.”

Mailer’s novel was followed by “From Here to Eternity” (published in 1951) and “Catch 22” (published in 1961) which did not underscore heroism but, rather, focused on “enlisted man abuse” and the “fine line between sanity and madness.”

Then, in the late 1960s, the first members of the “pig-in-the-python” generation came of age.

When we arrived there happened to be a war underway, and there was a divide in our ranks. Some of us were skeptical about this effort to “contain” Communism — a/k/a as Vietnam— and terrified of the lottery. These Boomers rallied on the Mall, marched around the White House with candles, and some found doctors who would discover

a disability.

The Boomers, who did their unhappy duty in the jungles around Khe Sanh, were disappointed with the reception they got when they came home. There was no random, recreational kissing on Times Square; and the movies, like “Born on the Forth of July,” did not memorialize their heroism. For the most part their stay-at-home brothers and sisters remained critical of their service in Southeast Asia.

The movies that came out — “Apocalypse Now,” “Platoon,” and “The Deer Hunter” — reinforced the futility of Vietnam. Most novels and non-fiction confirmed that Vietnam was a waste of troops and treasure. And I don’t believe that the men (and women) that fought in Southeast Asia ever got over this reception. Nor did this divide (in Boomer generation) completely heal.

The Boomers who sur-

vived their Vietnam tour are now retired, in their 70s, and live in well-manicured, adults-only communities like “The Villages” (in Florida) where they drive their Club Car to happy hour and relive their wartime adventures with other veterans. And usually they vote for Donald Trump.

This last statement is not based on empirical research; I just know that many of my Citadel classmates live in these places and vote for Trump, or Trump’s acolytes when the time comes. I suspect that this happens because there is a lingering resentment of the “Left” that is thought to be represented in the person of Joe Biden.

I suspect that these retired, mostly male Boomers are a part of Trump’s thin lead. They join a cohort of young, underemployed, white males who believe they’ve been pushed aside by minorities. And then we have the angry, camo-wear-

ing bomb-throwers who are eager to burn down the marble temples that symbolize our beleaguered system.

A couple nights ago I was sitting in the darkness, on a neighbor’s porch, and asked him, “Where has the altruism gone? Once upon a time we were a compassionate people.”

He looked at me, saying, “It’s been replaced by fear.”

“Fear?”

“Yes, the Trump folks think that Biden is going to take away their stuff. Give it to the Blacks and the gang-banging illegals coming across the border.” I know that we haven’t run out of compassion, or generosity, but it does seem that fear and anger (and promised retribution) have infected our bewitched, bewildered, fevered Republic.

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

up, Chicken Little, the sky is not falling

ver since the debacle of the debate between Biden and Trump, it appears that all hell has broken loose. What I hear is a cacophony of Democrats, crying out in pain for Joe to drop out of the race, all the while wringing their hands. Stop it right now! (Note: That was my teacher voice you just heard, forceful, maybe a bit higher pitch than my usual alto, and demanding.)

Yes, the debate was not Joe Biden’s finest hour, truly an understatement. And what follows will be identified as biased by many, some going so far as to suggest that I remove my rose-colored glasses and get real.

Nevertheless, I am going to pose a question to all, a question I want you to answer, silently in your mind. Dig deeply, and respond to this: did you ever have a time when you had to be spot on, and you blew it? For whatever reason, you came out of the situation, knowing full well that what you had to pull off was a disappointment at best and a failure at worst?

Maybe you were ill-prepared, or maybe you were genuinely ill. Consider that the man in question had made two trans-continental trips within two weeks. Remember his gravelly voice and cough and saying later his physician thought

he might have had COVID? By the way, in later appearances, he is still coughing.

Now consider this: suppose Joe Biden had called off the debate because of illness. I can just hear the responses to that, and so can you if you are honest. Folks, it was a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation.

Sadly enough, no one seemed to be too concerned about what the other person in the debate was doing, and might I add, not being called out on it. I’m not sure what the narrators of this 90 minutes saw as their role, but the lies coming out of Trump’s mouth were fast flying and multitudinous. “I did not have sex with a porn star.”

Really? It seems that 12 of your Manhattan contemporaries saw it differently.

That the CNN narrators of the debate chose not to challenge even one of the dozens of lies spewed by the person who has raised lying to a fine art mysti-

fies me to the point that I had to wonder if FOX entertainment had managed to take possession of them for that hour and a half.

So let’s play a little game of “compare the accomplishments.” The space here is limited for expanded explanations of statements taken from a Politico article. If you have the desire to read further, they are online.

What follows is a fraction of the examples that I feel exemplify the four years of each administration. I admit my bias in my failure to record the positives of the Trump administration. Frankly, I am hard-pressed to find any. I’m more than willing to say that the Biden administration has failed in its dealings with illegal immigration although what I am reading tells me that direction is shifting.

So humor me, or call me to task, but here we go.

During the Trump Administration: Millions of workers lost access to extra pay for long hours;

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, a devout Christian, found ways to expand federal support for religious schools and organizations at the Education Department; Trump exiled climate scientists from Washington —

literally; The much-touted wall was woefully inadequate as was intended; furthermore, Mexico didn’t contribute one cent.

During the Biden Administration: 200-plus million Americans vaccinated for COVID funded by Democrats’ American Rescue Plan; Highest ever number of Americans with health care coverage; Historic climate investments, including largest ever in the power grid and climate resilience; 32% reduction in household hunger.

So just how important is a 90-minute debate? The day after, Joe Biden was willing to let the blame fall squarely on him, adding he had a bad night, and he knew it. When was the last time you heard Donald Trump come anywhere near such a statement?

If this piece reflects my anger, good! I have reached the point where I am done with those who still justify voting for a man who is a convicted felon; a man who has managed to receive deferential treatment on so many judicial levels, including a corrupted SCOTUS; a man who promises to be a

dictator … the first day. Don’t you believe the latter for one minute. He loves the power way too much to give it up.

The contrast is apparent: the needs of the everyday person vs. those of the corporate CEOs. The likes of those with whom Trump surrounds himself should also be a consideration. The “Steves” — Miller and Bannon — are salivating, the latter from the jail cell he hopes to abandon with a Trump election.

And I haven’t touched upon Project 2025 which is clearly a Trumpian playbook, should he get into office. The following excerpt may put all of this into perspective.

As Nikole Hannah-Jones put it: “As media we consistently proclaim that we are just reporting the news when in fact we are driving it. What we cover, how we cover it, determines often what Americans think is important and how they perceive these issues yet we keep pretending it’s not so.” They are not reporting that he is a loser; they are making him one.

Don’t be drawn in!

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.”

SCOTT GRABER

CAROL LUCAS

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The Island

Freedom isn’t free

You can’t understand the scope of 122 000 names until you see them on a wall.

Stand at the foot of the National Monument to Freedom, recently dedicated by the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Ala., and you’ll see all of them, soaring three or four stories above your head.

Each name, taken from the 1870 census, belonged to a former enslaved person. These are surnames. Family names. Combined, they represent about 4 million people who emerged from bondage.

Each one stands for an American once treated as an animal.

Someone who could be abused and assaulted under the law. Who could be stripped naked in front of a crowd of rich men; poked and prodded, and sold away from parents, spouses and children.

You get a taste of this horror in a park surrounding the monument and along a path leading to it. There are slave cabins. And a rail car that transported human beings like cattle. Surrounding all of it are statistics that measure toll of human bondage; stories that illustrate it, and carvings of the laws that upheld it.

There’s this chilling statistic from EJI: about 6 million Americans died as the property of someone else.

By the time you reach that wall, you know that each name represents not just those who survived, but dozens if not hundreds of people who lived and died as prisoners. Each one stands atop a mountain of pain and trauma, deposited like sediment over generations.

It’s led me to think about a

Veto from page B1

McMaster praised legislators for funding many of his priorities in their budget, including raising pay for teachers and law enforcement officers, fixing dilapidated bridges, conserving land, and freezing college tuition again for in-state students.

McMaster has had more success than his predecessors in getting his budget recommendations approved, primarily because he works with legislators from the outset of the process, though the final amounts often differ.

Allocations matching his proposal include $1 million each toward the University of South Carolina’s Anne Frank Center and its Center for Civil Rights History and Research.

He applauded legislators for raising teacher pay beyond what he recommended. This school year, the minimum pay for first-year teachers is $47 000, up from $42 500, toward his goal of raising the floor to $50,000 by 2026

McMaster also thanked legislators for using a surplus in sales tax collections to accelerate a phased-in income tax cut. Instead of reducing revenue by $100 million this year, as called for under a 2022 state law, the budget essentially doubles that cut. It wasn’t part of his recommendations, but he agreed with the decision.

“This year taxpayers will keep an additional $199 million of their hard-earned money instead of sending it to state government,” McMaster said.

phrase that seems inescapable when we approach federal holidays like Independence Day.

Freedom isn’t free.

I’ve heard it invoked many times over the last 23 years. The slogan is usually employed to bludgeon critics of the nation’s disastrous military actions following 9/11

But the National Monument to Freedom gives the phrase a new meaning.

When the United States came into being on July 4, 1776, each of its 13 constituent parts allowed enslavement. Congress struck out a paragraph condemning the slave trade from an early draft of the Declaration of Independence. There was never anything condemning slavery itself.

Human bondage declined during the Revolution, particularly in South Carolina and Georgia.

In Generations of Captivity, a history of slavery, historian Ira Berlin writes that the enslaved population in Georgia fell twothirds between 1775 and 1783. It fell by a quarter in South Carolina during that period.

That was due to chaos, not ideals. In a revolution, state authority collapses. Without state authority, it’s hard to keep people subjugated. And enslaved people took advantage of the opportunity.

Earmarks

Every dollar McMaster vetoed came from money legislators approved for local projects and charities, known as earmarks. It’s spending sponsored by legislators, not requested by the state agencies the money is funneled through. Legislators call them community investments.

He let most of the 512 allocations stand, allowing more than $420 million to go to legislator requests, including nonprofits and local governments. He didn’t touch most of the $90 million for nonprofits, which includes some with little-to-no evidence of their financial health.

Four of the earmarks he vetoed, totaling $645 000 would have gone to organizations not registered as charities with the Secretary of State’s Office, McMaster said.

Those earmarks would have given money to the African American Settlement Communities Historic Commission, Inc., to restore a school house near Charleston; My Community’s Keeper Mentor Group, a Charleston-based organization that mentors children; N.O.W.W. Empowerment, an affordable housing group; and Conway-based SC Center for Visual Arts to buy and revitalize a building.

Others, McMaster said, undercut existing processes.

For instance, ActivEd Walkabouts, a company that encourages children to learn while moving, applied for a grant through the state education agency but was unsuccessful.

“An earmark that expressly bypasses the state’s procurement process and the

The sun is reflected in the National Monument to Freedom in Montgomery, Alabama on June 26, 2024. The monument is inscribed with the names of 122,000 families listed in the 1870 census, the first in which many former enslaved people were recorded. Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector

But war is a poor liberator. Slavery reasserted itself in both states within a decade. And there was nothing on paper that would have kept it from going on forever.

Except Americans.

Enslaved people resisted in ways large and small, defending their humanity in a system determined to rob them of it.

It was two enslaved people — Mum Bett and Quock Walker — who pushed Massachusetts courts to declare in 1781 and 1783 that the state’s new constitution had abolished slavery.

It was Black men and women, aided by white allies, who ran the Underground Railroad and put themselves on the line to get people out of slavery.

None of this was easy. Success was not guaranteed. It took centuries to end the institution. Every member of every family listed on the National Monument to Freedom knew someone – a parent, a child, a loved one – who lived and died as someone else’s property.

But by the eve of the Civil War, the work of brave men and women

$400,000

$25,000 for

Grants Committee process is not good policy,” McMaster wrote in his veto letter.

In a similar vein, he said $200 000 for Florence-based program Heart of Life would circumvent federal workforce development funding going to the program for the same purpose of providing career development services to teens and young adults.

Also on the chopping block was $50,000 for the Phoenix Correspondence Commission, a nationwide commission dedicated to promoting federalism and supporting statewide efforts to push for a constitutional convention.

Three legislators are state

E-Edition

had broken through in the north. And created a bloc of politicians whose primary goal was putting slavery on the path to extinction, if not abolishing it outright. That came from people on the margins of society, demanding what had been denied them: respect; the rule of law and a voice in their governance.

Freedom isn’t free. But it’s not armed conflict that pushes freedom forward. More often than not, it’s the person wounded by power at its most nihilistic who broadens the boundaries of liberty. It’s the lawyer who helps register voters in defiance of a regime working to stop it. And it’s the people who march for their rights with law enforcement against them.

These men and women push past the inertia of the ordinary to grab an ideal that seems impossible.

If we can celebrate a free society on Thursday, it’s not because of centuries-old philosophers or decades-old battles. It’s because Americans who were not free took risks and made sacrifices that

delegates for the commission, including Sen. Rex Rice, an Easley Republican who requested the earmark. Because the money seemed slated to help those legislators, McMaster suggested they use existing funds for legislator travel expenses.

McMaster repeated calls he has made in recent years to switch to a grant program instead of allowing budget writers to simply insert legislators’ pet projects into the budget with little to no vetting.

“There’s a better way to do earmarks,” McMaster said.

The process has gotten more transparent in recent years, as McMaster joined a few legislators of both parties calling for more public scrutiny. Last year was the first time that legislators submitted paperwork on their requests to the governor’s office ahead of sending him the budget.

Some of the projects and organizations are worth giving state money, McMaster said.

Examples of what he said the state should be funding include Meals on Wheels of Greenville, Turn90 prison reentry program, septic tank repairs in James Island, and the 2025 national conference for historically Black colleges and universities, to be held in Charleston.

Budget clauses

Legislators’ directives to agencies that McMaster struck included two clauses that would have loosened enforcement on building seawalls and policies about beach erosion. Adding those as one-year laws would only disrupt the system already in place, causing more prob-

lifted this nation higher than it was before.

The 122,000 names on the National Monument to Freedom testify to the enormity of that task. And remind us that the seed of justice is often planted in those who have the least of it.

Like the S.C. Daily Gazette, the Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions at info@alabamareflector.com. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and X. Brian Lyman is the editor of Alabama Reflector. He has covered Alabama politics since 2006, and worked at the Montgomery Advertiser, the Press-Register and The Anniston Star. A 2024 Pulitzer finalist for Commentary, his work has also won awards from the Associated Press Managing Editors, the Alabama Press Association and Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights. He lives in Auburn with his wife, Julie, and their three children. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

lems than they solved, the governor said.

The vetoed sections would have made it easier for property owners to challenge what counts as beachfront when building seawalls.

One would have required the state to pay property owners’ legal fees if they won their case in the Administrative Law Court. The other would have required state officials to reassess past cases to decide whether property owners were no longer in violation. If the seawalls didn’t violate new, less restrictive rules, the state would reimburse the property owners’ legal fees and penalties.

“I think this is not the way to progress in this very delicate and important area,” McMaster said.

He also nixed a plan for legislators to examine the benefits of different health care markets, including whether to expand Medicaid eligibility.

South Carolina remains among the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid to cover all adults, including single adults without children, who have incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level.

While McMaster said he supported the overall goal of making health care more affordable and accessible, he said such a study will take more than the five months allowed in the budget’s timeline. And he repeated his opposition to expanding Medicaid eligibility, which he called fiscally irresponsible.

In some cases, McMaster’s vetoes struck duplicates, such as a clause allowing college athletes to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness. McMaster

signed that legislation into law in May.

Others, McMaster deemed unnecessary. For instance, a section that directed Clemson’ Public Service and Agriculture department to start a “Center for Civic Engagement,” would be better suited for a different college with a similar program already in place, he wrote.

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 statefocused nonprofit news organization.

BRYAN LYMAN

STATE NEWS

Advocates: SC law protecting pregnant workers helping

SC has had fewer complaints than expected

By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — When Emily Walsh got pregnant last year, she was afraid she would have to quit her job.

She typically spends her days driving from house to house, teaching life skills to people with disabilities. But the severe dizziness and fatigue that came with her pregnancy made driving difficult some days. She worried about what would happen if her persistent nausea made her sick in someone else’s home.

“I love my job, and I didn’t want to stop doing what I was doing,” the 27-year-old said.

As Walsh, who lives in the Columbia area, fretted about her symptoms, a friend sent her a video she’d seen on social media. Did you know, the video said, if you’re pregnant you’re legally entitled to ask your employer for accommodations?

A South Carolina law requiring workplaces to accommodate pregnant workers went into effect six years ago. Then, last June, a similar law took effect at the federal level.

Walsh hadn’t known. After talking to her human resources manager, she got permission to work from home on days when she didn’t feel well enough to leave the house, making virtual home visits using video calls.

Had Walsh’s employer not voluntarily met her needs, she could have forced the issue, filing a complaint with the agency that handles housing and workforce discrimination cases in the state.

Having that legal backing made the conversation with human resources easier, Walsh said.

“That gave me a lot more confidence,” Walsh said.

Complaints

About 70 000 women in South Carolina get pregnant each year.

In the six years the state law has been in effect to protect those who are working while pregnant, the state Human Affairs Commission has received 84 complaints about employers not following the rules, according to commission

Budget from page B1

Low Country Veterans is one of four charities receiving money in this year’s state budget to help homeless veterans. Altogether, the four nonprofits are set to receive $458 000 in onetime spending requested by legislators, which they will use to build tiny home communities and other transitional housing to veterans.

Homeless veterans In a state with more than 350 000 veterans, somewhere around 350 are homeless, according to estimates from the national nonprofit Housing Assistance Council. Another 52,500 veterans live in housing that the nonprofit qualifies as “inadequate,” according to the organization. However, advocates suspect the number of homeless veterans is much higher.

Based on local and federal data, Scott Dulebohn, director of Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center, expects there are somewhere between 300 and 500 homeless veterans just in Horry County, where his nonprofit operates.

Some veterans receive monthly Social Security and

attorney Jamie Smith. In many of those cases, the commission has found no evidence of discrimination, according to data provided to the S.C. Daily Gazette

Because Walsh’s company was willing to work with her — initially for her first trimester, then for the rest of her pregnancy — she never had to file a complaint.

Her human resources manager encouraged her to use sick days and offered to help her apply for short-term disability leave if she needed it. But Walsh didn’t want to use those options, she said.

“I’m very grateful to have paid sick leave, but I also didn’t want to necessarily do that,” Walsh said.

“I wanted to work.”

That was the point of the law, said Rep. Beth Bernstein, the primary sponsor on the bill six years ago, when it passed both House and Senate unanimously.

Along with protecting pregnant women from losing their jobs, Bernstein didn’t want women to postpone having children or for expecting mothers to quit their jobs because their workplaces wouldn’t give them the grace they needed, she said.

“Expanding your family, you shouldn’t be discouraged because you think it’s somehow going to affect your workplace performance,” said the Columbia Democrat and mother of two.

Some of the accommodations pregnant women can request under the law include longer or more frequent breaks, a chair to sit in if they spend much of the day standing, modified schedules or limits on how much they can lift.

Supporters of the law had expected to see more complaints.

Kelli Parker, spokesperson for the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network, which was part of the push to pass the law, believes the low numbers indicate the law has been a deterrent. Employers are giving their pregnant workers the accommodations they need before getting to the point of a legal complaint, she said.

“The fact that there have been fewer claims than we expected I think is a testament to the need for this, No. 1, and the success of the

disability stipends. In some cases, that’s enough to afford rent or mortgage payments. In others, it amounts to as little as $700 per month, Dulebohn said.

“There’s not really anywhere you’re going to live on $700 a month (in Horry County),” he said. Even if someone could find a place to live that they could afford, they would have little to nothing in the way of savings to pay for emergencies or to move somewhere else, Dulebohn added.

Tiny homes and transitional housing

At Low Country Veterans Group, veterans can stay in one of seven bedrooms at a fully-furnished house in Georgetown while they get back on their feet. The nonprofit took over operations of the home, owned by the Georgetown Housing Authority, in 2010 after the previous operator left.

In recent weeks, Rutledge helped an elderly Vietnam veteran get into a homeless shelter in Myrtle Beach after the veteran was sleeping on the back porch of a home from which he had been evicted. That man is now going through a program to help him get back on track, Rutledge said.

“It’s hard for me as a veteran just to think about the word homelessness in the

implementation,” Parker said.

Of the complaints in South Carolina, 23 remain under investigation, according to Human Affairs Commission data. Another five have yet to be formalized, Smith said.

But in 55% of the cases with a completed investigation, the Human Affairs Commission couldn’t find enough evidence to prove the employer discriminated against the employee. That doesn’t mean the discrimination didn’t happen but that the commission couldn’t find proof, Smith said. Most of the investigated complaints were found to have no cause.

Another 26% of the complaints were resolved privately between employee and employer, causing the employee to withdraw their complaint.

Six complaints ended for administrative reasons, such as being filed for a business with fewer than 15 employees or the complainant not cooperating. The Human Affairs Commission stepped in five times to help negotiate an agreement between the employee and employer.

Parker said opponents of this kind of legislation often assume companies will be required to make major concessions. For the most part, the accommodations the law requires are small but still vital to pregnant women.

“We’re just trying to make sure people are comfortable,” Parker said.

Federal law

The federal law that went into effect last June offers protections similar to those implemented at the state level. Both apply to businesses with 15 or more employees and require them to give pregnant workers “reasonable accommodations” unless it causes the employer “undue hardship.”

Where the two differ is on the issue of abortion.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s final rules on what employers can and can’t do under the federal law said employers must give accommodations for people seeking abortions as well. That might include

same sentence as someone who has served their country,” said Rutledge.

While the veterans stay with Low Country Veterans Group, the nonprofit covers their food costs, helps connect them with resources and even helps pay for utility deposits when they move out, Rutledge said.

If a veteran is eligible for federal housing assistance, that money goes to pay for the house. Otherwise, the veteran pays nothing to stay there.

“Our main focus is to see that no veteran is left behind,” Rutledge said.

To continue that work, legislators set aside $150,000 for the nonprofit in the state budget this year.

A dozen or so veterans stay in Low Country Veterans’ house each year, typically for 30 days at a time, Rutledge said. During colder months, the house typically fills up as living on the street becomes more difficult.

When that happens, the nonprofit will send veterans to Dulebohn’s Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center. There they can stay in one of the four bedrooms at a transitional home in Myrtle Beach, or soon, in one of 25 tiny homes the charity is building in Little River.

Those tiny homes, paid for with private donations, are slated to open

RESULTS OF COMPLAINTS

Closed for administrative reasons: 6 No cause found: 34

Cause found and agreement

negotiations entered: 5

Withdrew after an agreement was reached: 6

Under investigation: 23

Source: Human Affairs Commission

time off work for an appointment or recovery.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined 18 other Republican attorneys general in suing the Biden administration over its interpretation of an otherwise bipartisan law, arguing that it forces states where abortion is illegal to offer those accommodations.

South Carolina bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, around six weeks of pregnancy. Women seeking an abortion after that point must travel to another state that allows the procedure to take place later in pregnancy. That travel may require time off. The state’s top lawyer is among those arguing South Carolina companies should not be required to make allowances in those cases.

Getting out the word

Once Walsh started working from home part of the time, other coworkers who had gotten pregnant around the same time came to her and asked what they needed to do to get their own accommodations.

Her coworkers also hadn’t realized asking for accommodations was an option. Walsh pointed them to the resources she used, including a sample legal letter and guidance from attorneys with national nonprofit A Better Balance.

Walsh said she’d like to see the state law promoted more heavily. She suggested businesses be required to hang signs informing employees of their right to ask for accommodations, the same way companies must post information related health and safety worker protections.

in mid-August, Dulebohn said. The nonprofit hopes to get enough money to build 16 more tiny homes, in the style of duplexes, to eventually house 41 veterans at a time. Veterans usually stay for three to six months.

Legislators set aside $138,000 to help pay for a portion of the remaining homes, but Dulebohn said it will likely take another $1 million on top of that to complete the project.

Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center caps its income-based rent payments at $500 to encourage veterans to save up and move somewhere of their own, Dulebohn said.

Upstate veterans struggling with housing can turn to the Upstate Circle of Friends’ VetForward Program, which houses veterans in a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home for subsidized rent. With $96 000 from the state, the program plans to open another duplex of the same size in November.

Eventually, the group hopes to open three more homes, according to documents the nonprofit submitted to the state.

“Housing concerns continue to grow for our veterans who risked their lives for our country,” wrote Rep. Wendell Jones, D-Greenville, in his request for the money. “We owe them a

The Human Affairs Commission offers guides to the laws on its website. Nonprofits such as WREN and A Better Balance promote it as well. People who come to WREN with questions often know a law exists but not what kinds of accommodations it specifies or how to ask for them, Parker said.

“We could do a better job, for sure,” Parker said.

What’s next

Walsh’s daughter is now six months old. While state law offers protections for pregnant workers, it offers less for new mothers, she said.

A 2020 state law called the Lactation Support Act requires businesses to give breastfeeding mothers extra breaks and a private location other than a toilet stall to pump breast milk. And employees of state agencies are guaranteed six weeks of paid maternity leave. Walsh said she would like to see mothers’ options expanded.

When looking for a job, Walsh knew she would want to have children one day and specifically looked at maternity leave options. She considers herself lucky to have found a job with 12 weeks of paid maternity leave but knows many people don’t have the same benefit.

Bernstein said paid parental leave is something she has been focused on as well. She was the lead sponsor on a bill during the most recent session that would have increased the state’s maternity leave to 12 weeks, as well as taken paternity leave from two weeks to four. The legislation never received a hearing.

“I think we’ve got to continue to focus our energy on encouraging women in the workplace to have a family,” Bernstein said.

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.

debt of gratitude. This is our responsibility to them.”

A place for female veterans When going to Veterans Administration hospitals Army veteran Laurie Strange found people often assumed she was there to get health care for her husband instead of herself.

It’s what prompted Strange to form PTSD Veterans Village in 2022 with the goal of opening a tiny home village in Bishopville specifically for women veterans.

“Women veterans, believe it or not, are considered the silent homeless,” Strange said. “That’s what our project is about.”

The $100,000 Veterans Village is set to receive from the state will help the nonprofit buy land on which to build the homes, Strange said. The 68 acres the nonprofit is considering includes some homes already. Strange hopes to add enough 600-square-foot cottages to house 10 veterans by the end of the year.

On top of $1 6 million to buy the land, the project will likely need more than $2 million to start building houses, most of which will come from private donations and grants, Strange said.

Like the other nonprofits, PTSD Veterans Village will be transitional housing, meant for someone to

stay short-term while getting connected with other resources, Strange said. But the goal for all of these groups is for the veterans they serve to save enough money to move into their own homes.

The Veterans Benefit Administration offers veterans home loans that don’t require any down payment and offer lower borrowing costs than they might get elsewhere. In a lot of cases, a veteran owning a home is just a matter of getting them connected with the benefits they earned through their service, Dulebohn said. But the application process for the home loan program is difficult to understand. Both Rutledge and Dulebohn strive to cut down on the red tape.

“When (veterans’) backs are up against the walls and the system keeps denying them certain things because they can’t navigate through the system, that’s where we come in and put the bureaucrat out of the way,” Rutledge said.

Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously

LOCAL MILITARY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 12 July 2024

Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel C. B. McArthur 2nd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A. Yang Commander of Troops, Captain B. S. Sheppard • Parade Adjutant, Staff Sergeant G. Evans Company “E”, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain B. S. Sheppard Drill Masters • Gunnery Sergeant M. Moreno, Staff Sergeant J. M. Kivett

PLATOON 2032

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt D. M. Perry

Pvt Akinrolabu, E. I

Pvt Ansorena, J. F.

Pvt Assencoa, A. U.

Pvt Brown, M. A.

PFC Cole, T. E.

Pvt Conner, A. B.

Pvt Cubbage, B. T.

PFC Edmonds, T. M.

PFC Gorman, C. M. *

PFC Higgins V, J. E.

Pvt Hill, M. B.

PFC Houstonbrown III, R. L.

Pvt Illescapelaez, O. S.

PFC Kwiecinski, E. P.

Pvt Layne, S. M.

Pvt Mclane, C. A.

Pvt Mcnatt, T. N.

Pvt Nesbit, S. Q.

Pvt Omotoye, O. A.

Pvt Renteria, B. K.

Pvt Richardson, D. J.

PFC Rojas III, C. E.

Pvt Small, J. A.

Pvt Soles, J. L.

Pvt Sweet, C. E.

Pvt Terry, J. T.

PFC Yenrick, C. N. *

PLATOON 2033

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt E. D. Rocha

PFC Addis, C. K

PFC Agudelo, K. C,

PFC Austin, T. T. *

Pvt Barber, S. R.

PFC Bass, I. J.

PFC Biasseyallen, Z. C.

PFC Bowens, M. L.

PFC Diallo, R.

PFC Diaz, T. S.

PFC Espinales, L. A.

PFC Gutierrezbibiano, S.

PFC Humphrey, C. A.

Pvt Jordan, P. M.

Pvt Kapp, Z. L.

Pvt Langford, H. L.

Pvt Lema, B. C.

PFC Leavell, J. M.

PFC Lheureux, K. M.

PFC Mcculloughstovall, A. D.

Pvt Mejia, V. I.

Pvt Mendezsalvador, N. E.

PFC Nolder, G. M.

PFC Ramos, M. E.

PFC Robbins, L. I. *

PFC Russell, H. C.

Pvt Scott, J. A

PFC Soon, G. N.

Pvt Swart, E. R.

PFC Torres, H. J.

Pvt Torresdiaz, B.

PLATOON 2034

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt B. Fulbrook

Pvt Allen, S. J.

PFC Barbara, T. B. *

Pvt Darrigo, J. T.

Pvt Davis, P. D.

Pvt Degraaf, J. G.

Pvt Denton, G. B.

Pvt Fuhs, B. N.

Pvt Garcia, J.

Pvt Gomez, R. A.

PFC Hanlon, C. M.

Pvt Hathaway, H. J.

PFC Lilly, K. A.

Pvt Macinnes, Z. A.

Pvt Marinmendiola, E.

Pvt Martin, J. R.

Pvt Mcginley, C. J.

Pvt Mercado, A. J.

PFC Nguepi, J. S.

Pvt Parrott, M. W.

Pvt Quintana, J. A.

Pvt Radabaugh, D. J.

PFC Selby, J. J. *

Pvt Staron, T. S.

Pvt Torres, J. P.

Pvt Vanwinklegarciapea, R. K.

Pvt Williams, A. M.

Pvt Young, P. T.

PLATOON 2036

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt J. J. Legault

PFC Abbas, A. A. *

Pvt Antoineescobar, E.

Pvt Artilesgonzalez A. J.

Pvt Bridges, J. I.

Pvt Bruce, N. S.

PFC Canty II, D. B.

Pvt Carroll, D. K.

Pvt Carlson, S. R.

Pvt Che, L. J.

Pvt Davis, R. M.

Pvt Dedominic, J. M.

PFC Delcastillohudson, A.

PFC Estrada, C.

Pvt Franklin, III J. L.

Pvt Hardeman, G. C.

PFC Jennings, I. D.

PFC Jevric, A.

PFC Keller, D. P. *

PFC Lopezgarcia, R. J.

Pvt Lopezjuarez, B. M.

Pvt Lopezortiz, A. J.

Pvt Michalak, R. A.

Pvt Miller Jr, T. P.

Pvt Nevarez, E. M.

PFC Nolt, M. C.

Pvt Oiler, A. L.

Pvt Pauleus, D. J.

Pvt Santana, J. J.

Pvt Thomas, III K. D.

Pvt Torresbaez, V. M.

PFC Wooten, N. B.

PLATOON 2037

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt S. R. Strickland

Pvt Babou, S. S.

Pvt Bentham, H. J.

Pvt Carnley, D. M.

Pvt Cruzlopez, E.

Pvt Diaz, A. J.

Pvt Duggirala, R. S.

Pvt Edwards, M. G.

Pvt Giraldo, J.

Pvt Green, T. C.

PFC Guy, K. J.*

Pvt Hazzard, G. M.

PFC Hernandez, C. B.

Pvt Jefferson, B. D.

Pvt Kennedy, J. C.

Pvt Marrero, N. X.

Pvt Mcclain, P. L.

Pvt Mumie, S. E.

PFC Polanco, J.

Pvt Quiles, C. E.

PFC Septimus, D. W.

PFC Silverberg, D. J.

Pvt Smith, M. B.

Pvt Speros, D. A.

Pvt Strock, R. B.

Pvt Stull, J. J.

Pvt Swearengin, D. E.

PFC Terwilliger, T. L.

Pvt Tiburcio, A.

Pvt Tomondy, A. J.

PFC Zumba, Kevin O.*

PLATOON 2038

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt J. D. Murguia

Pvt Acevedo Jr, E. L.

Pvt Adams, E. J.

Pvt Canalesflores, M. A.

Pvt Clark, J. D.

Pvt Dejesus, N. R.

Pvt Do, Q. V.

Pvt Dobson, L. W.

Pvt Dominguez, E. A.

Pvt Farhangi, E. J.

Pvt Fekete, M. W.

Pvt Giles, B. N.

PFC Gossett, C. D.

PFC Green, J. O.

Pvt Gulke, Manuel E.

PFC Hernandezromero, H. E.

Pvt Jones, A. T.

Pvt Lopez, J. A.

PFC Mckinney, M.*

Pvt Muhlbaier, T. J.

Pvt Peace, K. J.

PFC Rhiel Jr, C. J.

Pvt Scott Jr, C. A.

Pvt Shoptaw, R. G.

PFC Smith Jr, C. N.*

Pvt Tochimanihernandez, A.

PFC Vasquez, I. E.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotions

Reservists drill at NMRTC Beaufort at Parris Island Medical Branch Clinic

By Lindsay Schreiber Naval Hospital Beaufort

Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Beaufort will be home to many Navy Reservists participating in their Active Duty Drill time this summer. Their time at this command can range from 14 to 29 days at the Navy Medicine and Training Unit aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

During the summer months, NMRTC requests support of Navy Reservists to assist in the high volume of recruits that come through Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island. The reservists will support the Recruit Medical Readiness department.

Many of these reservists have been here more than once during their Navy career. One of the reservists mentioned he has volunteered to come every year at this time for the last three years. They come to Beaufort from all over the United States of America — all 50 states and as far away as

Puerto Rico.

Each brings different a background to this drill time. When polling the room, the reservists stated that in their civilian lives, they were nurses, paramedics, pharmacy technicians,

deputy sheriffs, construction workers, and administration professionals.

The reservists met with the Officer in Charge of NMTRU Parris Island, Cmdr. Christopher Lynn for a brief about what the com-

mand does, who the reservists will be supporting and why.

“You all are important to the mission due to the surge of recruits during the summer months,” Lynn told the reservists. “About 60% of

Marine Corps recruits come through MCRD Parris Island during June, July, August and September.”

Recruit Training Command is the largest customer for NMTRU. This command has an average

of 1,000 patient encounters a day. Each recruit will be seen at least three times during his or her training cycle for blood work, immunizations, hearing exams, vision exams, and dental exams/work. If the recruits are injured during training, then their visit count goes up.

“You all are directly contributing to the national security by supporting the medical mission,” Lynn told the reservists. “Making sure all the recruits are medical ready to do their training is our mission.”

Lynn said NMTRU contributes to the “We Make Marines” moto of MCRD Parris Island and left the sailors with some parting thoughts.

“We set the tone on these new military members’ first interaction with Navy Medicine. Establish positive relationships with these young recruits. Let the Drill Instructors be the Drill Instructors. You can make the lives of these recruits in training better even if for a small moment.”

Veterans with PTSD should seek VA Treatment and Disability Compensation

This article will cover asking a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for help, how to apply for VA healthcare, how to request PTSD (mental health) evaluation and treatment, and how to apply for service-connected disability for PTSD.

GET HELP AND TREATMENT

Step 1

If you are a veteran in “Crisis”: If you are a veteran and thinking about harming yourself or someone else, contemplating suicide, about to become homeless, etc. call the “Veterans Crisis Line” at 988 and then press 1 or go to the nearest VA Emergency Room.

Step 2

Use a VSO: Navigating the VA systems can be complicated.

Veterans should use a VSO to help them understand their state and federal veterans’ benefits, enroll in VA healthcare, and file claims for veterans’ benefits.

S.C., Ga., and County VSOs

Contact your state Department of Veteran Affairs to find a county or area VSO. Find S.C. County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL and Georgia VSOs at https://bit. ly/44KMVA7

Beaufort, S.C. VSOs

Beaufort County, 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906 843-255-6880, website https://bit.ly/3ryd5qS (Dr. Caroline P. Fermin is the new Director). Beaufort DAV Chapter, Chapter Service Officer (CSO) Michael Vergantino, 843-3012543 and mlv1030@gmail. com.

VA VSO Search

Veterans can also search for VSOs at VBA Regional Offices at https://bit.ly/3TahNn1. They can also find VA-accredited representatives (VSOs, Attorneys, and Claims Agents) by using the “VA Accreditation Search” at https:// bit.ly/3QnCk5M.

Step 3

VA Healthcare Eligibility: If already enrolled in VA healthcare, go to Step 4. According to the “Eligibility for VA Health Care” webpage, https://bit.ly/3cuf4Vm, all veterans who meet basic service and discharge requirements and who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving at home and overseas are now eligible for VA healthcare. All veterans, including those with less than honorable discharges, are eligible for VA emergency mental health services.

Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E)

Office

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center & Healthcare System (RHJVAHCS) E&E Office is in the Medical Center, first floor, phone 843-789-7235. Call and make an appointment before going to the office.

Step 4

Apply for VA Healthcare: Veterans should follow the directions at the VA’s “How to Apply for VA Healthcare” webpage, https://bit. ly/3B7x5Dz. If you have already signed up for VA Healthcare, call your local VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic for an appointment with VA Mental Health. Veterans can apply for VA healthcare:

1 “In person” at any VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Download and fill out VA Form 10-10EZ, make an appointment;

2 “Online” (follow instructions at https://bit.ly/3B7x5Dz, “by phone” (call 877-2228387);

3 “By mail” (Fill out VA Form

10-10EZ), or

4 “With the help of a VA-accredited professional (VSO, Attorney, or Claims Agent)”.

Step 5

Get PTSD Treatment: Make an inventory of your military Traumatic Events and describe the event in a paragraph to share with your VA Mental Health Provider. Call your local VA Medical Center or CBOC and make an appointment with mental health. You can ask your VA Primary Care Provider to refer you to Mental Health or you can call Mental Health directly. The Ralph H. Johnson VA in Charleston, S.C., phone is 843-5775011 and the “Mental Health Care” phone is 843-577-5011 Extension

2. Find the phone numbers for the RHJVAHCS CBOCS at https:// bit.ly/3CUTuUj.

Step 6

Ask for a Supporting Letter: After a couple of months of Mental Health treatment, ask your Mental Health Provider to write a letter supporting your claim for service-connected disability.

FILE FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY

You can file for service-connected disability compensation before, during, or after you ask the VA to treat you. If you get diagnosed and treated for PTSD by a VA Mental Health provider, you are virtually assured (but not guaranteed) to be awarded a service connection for PTSD. Steps to follow to file for service-connected disability include:

Step 1

Use a VSO: Veterans should use a VSO to help them understand their state and federal veterans’ benefits, enroll in VA healthcare, and file claims for veterans’ benefits. Call a local VSO and make an appointment to get help filing a claim for service-connected disability compensation.

Your VSO will tell you what evidence you will need to bring to your appointment to support your

claim. You will need things like your DD214 Discharge, military medical/personnel records, and other documents verifying trauma like a Purple Heart, Lay Witness Statements, Accident Reports, Line of Duty Reports, Civilian Health Records, Officer/Enlisted Efficiency Reports, and more to prove when, where, and how the trauma (wounds, injuries, death/ injury of battle buddies, killing of enemy, fratricide, killing of civilians, etc.) happened during military service.

Step 2 File an “Intent to File”: Ask your VSO to help you file an “Intent to File Form” for service-connected PTSD. Read the information, “Your intent to file a VA claim,” at https://bit.ly/3Rzq8Qk. Get a VA Form 21-0966” at https://bit.ly/3W9mzlP.

Step 3

Request Your Military Records and VA Mental Health and Other Medical Records: Ask your VSO to help you go to the National Archives website at https://www. archives.gov/dc, click “Veterans’ Service Records” and request your military medical and personnel records (including your DD214 if you need it).

Veterans can review, print, save, download, and share their VA medical records and personal health information with the Veterans Health Administration’s online tools. Go to the VA’s Get Your VA Medical Records Online (Blue Button) site https://bit. ly/3kCgBgH to get your medical records online.

Lowcountry S.C., and Ga., veterans can get a copy of their VA medical records at the RHJVAMCHCS Medical Records Office, in the Welcome Center, at 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401 The Medical Records phone is 843-577- 5011, ext. 206333, the direct phone is 843-789- 6333

and the FAX is 843-579-3783

Read the VHA website page “How to Get Your Medical Records From Your VA Health Facility,” at https://bit.ly/3VCO47p to learn how to request records. Veterans will need to fill out and submit a VA Form 10-5345a, to get their records. Learn more by reading:

The Island News article titled, How to get copies of a veteran’s military service records, dated May 24, 2023, by W. L. Dandridge, https:// bit.ly/4bCdcTD. The Island News article titled, How do I get a copy of my DD214, military service personnel, medical, dental, and other records?, dated May 31 2023, by W. L. Dandridge, https://bit.ly/45X7RVC.

Step 4

Follow your VSO’s Instructions and Advice and read The Island News past articles listed below: How to file a VA disability claim (Parts 1 and 2), August 16 2023, https:// bit.ly/4cWYzvh and August 23, 2023, https://bit. ly/3VZZGU4 Suggestions for Veterans filing a Service-Connected Disability compensation claim (Parts 1 and 2), September 13 2023, https://bit.ly/4ePHyox and September 20, 2023, https://bit.ly/4eSh7OR. Preparing for C&P Exams (Series of four The Island News articles), published on 15 22, and 29 Nov, and 6 Dec 2023, https://yourislandnews. com, and click on “Military.”

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a

LARRY DANDRIDGE

Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Beaufort hosts many Navy Reservists participating in their Flex Drill time this summer. Their time at this command can range from two weeks to 29 days at Navy Medicine and Training Unit aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Lindsay Schreiber/Naval Hospital Beaufort

SERVICE DIRECTORY

ATTORNEY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

16 Professional Village Circle, Lady's Island Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450 chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING

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38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007

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Dr. Larry Bridge, AU.D./CCC-A 206 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort thebeaufortsound@gmail.com www.thebeaufortsound.com | 843-522-0655

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THURSDAY’S CARTOON

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HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

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Truth Matters

Four Chaplains The Power of Truth

A German torpedo found its target.

In the early morning of February 3, 1943, the Dorchester, a transport for the United States Army, was struck by a German torpedo as she neared Greenland. The ship capsized and sank in less than 20 minutes. Of the 900 passengers, only 229 survived.

Four chaplains were aboard the Dorchester

Each were of a different faith: Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed, Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist, Lt. John P. Washington, Catholic, and Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish. Motivated by love of God, country, and neighbor, all four had volunteered and trained at the Army Chaplains School at Harvard University. They were journeying to their first assignment during World War II.

They preached courage during the chaos.

As the ship took on water, pandemonium broke out among the service men, merchant seaman, and civilians. The Army chaplains spread out among them, preaching courage and giving comfort. Where was their strength coming from, in the midst of fear and terror?

They gave their lives so that others may live.

Most astounding in the bedlam enveloping the Dorchester was the act Engineer Grady Clark witnessed. When all of the life jackets had been distributed, the four chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened men. John Ladd, another survivor, testified, “It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven.”

Survivors were moved by their heroic example.

In nearby rafts, survivors recall seeing the four chaplains as the ship slanted, sank, and disappeared. They were arm in arm offering prayer, four faiths uniting in petition to one God. Some say they heard singing. Every witness was struck by the selflessness, fierce faith, and heroism of these brave men.

This shows us how truth can transform our lives. The chaplains gave their lives because they were convinced of the goodness of God. They were certain that death would not have the final say; they would soon be with God in heaven. Their love of God gave them courage to lay down their lives for their brothers. Truth helped these four men become the heroes God needed them to be.