Rep. Nancy Mace campaigns across the street from the Port Royal Town Hall polling place on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Mace gave a thumbs up and said her campaign was “cautiously optimistic about the votes (Tuesday night) but the only election that really matters is in November.” Mace successfully fended off two primary challengers. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Island News
Michael B. Moore
Despite a pretty big target on her back among both Republicans and Democrats, alike, Republican Nancy Mace, the incumbent in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, moved a step closer to a third term Tuesday night, winning the GOP primary handily over challengers Catherine Templeton and Bill Young. Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, as of late Tuesday night, Robert Smalls’ great-great-great grandson Michael B. Moore edged out Mac Deford by fewer than 700 votes for the right to run against Mace in the Nov. 5
General Election. In downtown Port Royal on Tuesday, where Mayor Kevin Phillips had endorsed her a week earlier, Mace greeted voters and implied this is just a start, saying she was “cautiously optimistic” about the primary’s outcome.
to take the job interim administrator John Robinson has held since July when
before the
reported
to
and
by the
County Council
the
Moore did not comply with state law. Seems the Council overlooked the fact they’re required, by law, to let the public know — in the name of transparency — the top three contenders for the job prior to making a decision. And then the Island Packet reported not only had procedure not
By Delayna Earley The Island NewsAnother high-ranking director in Beaufort County’s government has resigned.
Eric Larson, who was hired in Fall 2022 to the job of Capital Improvement Projects Director under the former Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway, resigned from his position as of June 3, according to Beaufort County spokesperson Hannah Nichols.
“Mr. Larson’s last day of employment with Beaufort County was June 3rd,” Nichols told The Island News, but did not give a response to who would be filling in for the position.
In May, the S.C. State Ethics Commission opened an investigation into alleged ethics violations against Larson. He is under investigation for allegedly instructing a Beaufort County employee to go out to his home, while still on the clock, to measure for the addition of a sunroom. The employee was then allegedly asked to draw up plans for the addition using Beaufort County materials, again while still on the clock.
The citizen who filed the complaint with the S.C. State Ethics
RESIGN PAGE A6
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A4 The demolition of the former Arthur Horne County Office Building was near completion on Monday, June 10, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
By manipulating the
look like day. 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.
Beaufort’s Rob Carson, 54, joined the United States Air Force in San Jose, Calif., in 1988
After Basic Training at Lackland, AFB he trained as a firefighter/crash crew member at Chanute, Ill.
He was assigned at Cannon AFB, N.M., from which he deployed to Panama before and during hostilities with Operation Just Cause and later to
King Fahad Air Base in Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Storm where he manned fire, rescue and crash trucks.
Following that, he separated in 1992 and joined the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety as both a police officer and firefighter.
He moved to Beaufort in 1999 and served with the Police De-
partment for 20 years. Today he is a civil servant working at Parris Island and is training to be a DAV service officer.
– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
From staff reports
After closing to public use on April 1, Russ Point Boat Landing was to reopen on Wednesday, June 12
The landing, which was originally shut down because it was deemed unsafe for public use, was to reopen as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday after several weeks of stabilization work done at the boat ramp by O’Quinn Marine Construction.
“Over the past few days, the Beaufort County Public Works Department and Lady’s Island Fire Department generously assisted with the removal of silt and
sand deposits that accumulated during the temporary closure to help prepare us for this reopening,” read the release sent out by S.C. Parks, Recreation & Tourism spokesperson Sam Queen. In March, a sign was posted at the ramp at Hunting Island State Park announcing that it was closing for good due to issues with erosion.
Local legislators got involved following outrage from the community about the landing closing, which helped to quickly change the closure from permanent to temporary and a plan to stabilize the landing was put into place.
A photo of the “TEMPORARILY” sticker that has been placed over the word “PERMANENT” on the sign at Russ Point Boat Landing that announced the closure of the boat landing due to erosion issues. Photo courtesy of the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Trump now facing the consequences
Former President Trump, you had four years to lead the United States and failed us by your own choosing. Whether it be in foreign policy or domestic policy, you did not protect the United States as commander in chief.
We the American people have finally borne witness to what happens when they place an incompetent business leader into
June 14
the Oval Office. Especially one who had everything handed to them.
Quality of life is not a business decision, sir. But rather, it is a humane choice to be empathetic to those who cannot help themselves. This is why government exists.
Now comes the jury’s decision making you a convicted felon. Have you no shame and decency sir? As was said about former President Richard Nixon, jail to the chief.
All you do is complain and moan about what others have done to you. However
2019: Democratic Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke visits Beaufort. At a roundtable discussion at Tabernacle Baptist Church, O’Rourke answers a diverse collection of questions, mostly posed by leaders of the black community, including Queen Quet of the Gullah Geechee Nation and Rev. Kenneth Hodges.
June 15
1943: Naval Air Station Beaufort is commissioned for advanced training operations of anti-submarine patrols during World War II.
1976: Joe Frazier loses to George Foreman by TKO in an NABF
by all accounts you put yourself in precarious situations and are now facing the consequences.
MAGA has become a dog whistle for NAZI. Your followers would have made great “Brown Shirts” in Hitler’s Germany. They demonstrated their loyalty to you on January 6, 2021. An event you instigated.
Many now prefer the “old man” over the felon.
– Joe Bialek, Cleveland, Ohio
heavyweight title fight in Hempstead, N.Y. It would be Frazier’s last fight for more than 5 years.
June 18
2020: Col. Karl R. Arborgast takes command of MCAS Beaufort from Col. Timothy P. Miller.
June 19
2020: Brig. Gen. Julie Nethercot takes command of MCRD Parris Island from Maj. Gen. James Glynn.
– Compiled by Mike McCombs
Cat Of The Week Winkler is a fun, chatty, affectionate 8-year-old girl. She’s a little silly in the best possible way. If you’re looking for a beautiful girl who doesn’t take herself too seriously, come visit Winkler at Palmetto Animal League. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.
Dog Of The Week
Lionel is a big, handsome boy who loves to snuggle! He is affectionate, sweet, and playful.
This 5-year-old loves playing in the yard with his toys, but he’s also happy to take a nap with you. He is very gentle and kind with other animals, and we hear he's great with kids too! Meet Lionel today at Palmetto Animal League. He is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.
For more info, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.
– Compiled by Lindsay Perry
Juneteenth – celebrated June 19
— officially falls on a Wednesday this year, but there will be celebrations in downtown Beaufort and on St. Helena over the weekend to mark this important holiday.
Officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, it is a federal holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.
While the date has been celebrated since the Civil War, it was not made a federal holiday until 2021 In northern Beaufort County, an inaugural Juneteenth Celebration
event is being held at Penn Center on St. Helena Island.
“It was important for us to have a celebration for this day, and so many came together to make it happen,” said Barbara Gardner Hunter, one of the event’s organizers.
The event is free for the public to attend and will run from noon until 6 p.m., on Saturday, June 15
A program featuring local choirs, dancers, a community fashion show and speakers talking about the historical significance of Juneteenth and the Penn Center will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the start of the celebration.
Following the scheduled program, the community is invited to
dance to Motown hits played by a DJ and learn about and play different types of games that adults and children would play for fun in the 1860s.
The Beaufort County Library Bookmobile will be there, as well as local vendors and a farmer selling plants and produce.
The local Democratic club will be there helping to register people to vote as well as the fire department, Beaufort County EMS and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office will be in attendance.
An ice cream truck and a shaved ice truck will be on site as well.
Attendees are reminded to bring their lawn chairs so that they can sit and enjoy the music.
For more information about the event, contact Barbara Gardner Hunter at 347-497-9326, Claretha Singleton at 843-812-3148 or Mildred Glover at 504-250-6546
Following Saturday’s festival is a parade on Sunday in downtown Beaufort.
The One Community: Different Neighborhoods Unity Parade is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in front of the Beaufort National Cemetery on Boundary Street and is expected to follow the traditional parade route.
The parade is hosted by Project Freedom 326 and is expected to feature floats, music and dance performances.
“Let’s commemorate the end of
slavery in the United States and honor African American culture and achievements,” the event page said.
A King’s Day: Father’s Day Cookout is to be held at Washington Street Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. following the parade to honor the “active fathers and father figures of our many different neighborhoods.”
The cookout is free and open to the public.
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.
BOARD - CERTIFIED, FELLOWSHIP - TRAINED MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST
t o B e aufor t Memorial Keyserling Cancer Center
Dr. J. Eric Turner, a board-certified, fellowship-trained medical oncologist has joined Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists, part of the hospital’s nationally recognized Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort. He joins boardcertified radiation oncologist Dr. Jonathan Briggs and board-certified nurse practitioners Katy Jones and Susanne Baisch at the center.
Dr. Turner brings extensive knowledge of the full range of established and emerging cancer therapies—including immunotherapy, molecular targeting therapy and chemotherapy—gained through 30 years of both research and clinical experience. He will treat a wide variety of cancers, including those of the breast, head and neck, lungs, and gastrointestinal system.
His experience includes running a private oncology practice in Calhoun, Georgia, and serving as medical director of oncology at Peeples Cancer Institute in Dalton, Georgia. Prior to pursuing his medical degree, Dr. Turner was a molecular cancer biology researcher at Duke University for five years.
Board-certified Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Fellowship - Medical Oncology
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Residency - Internal Medicine
University of Virginia Health Systems, Charlottesville
Doctor of Medicine (with distinction)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry (summa cum laude)
North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Awarded full accreditation with special commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons, Beaufort Memorial’s Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort, as well as its New River Cancer Center in Okatie, provide access to medical oncology, radiation oncology, cancer surgeries, and lab, imaging,
infusion and breast health services. Both centers are affiliated with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) and its experienced subspecialists to provide additional treatment options when needed, as well as access to promising clinical trials, allowing local treatment for even the most complex cancers.
From staff reports
A Seabrook man, who robbed a victim at gunpoint after luring him with an offer on a Facebook Buy-SellTrade Group to buy a video game system, has been sentenced to prison.
Jonathan Jabreal Robinson III, 30, was found guilty Wednesday, June 5, by a Beaufort County General Sessions jury of the 2022 robbery at the Dale Community Center. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
“Unfortunately, arranging to make a sale in a public place was not enough to keep Mr. Robinson from robbing this victim or re-
peatedly threatening his life,” said Samantha Molina of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, who prosecuted the case.
“Fortunately, the victim was not injured, and Mr. Robinson was not particularly adept at covering his tracks.”
On March 19, 2022, Robinson met the victim after answering a Facebook advertisement for a limited-edition PlayStation 4
They were originally to meet at a fast-food restaurant, but at the last minute, Robinson
changed the location to the Dale Community Center, which is near his home.
The victim arrived first, laying out his gaming system on his vehicle’s tailgate. Robinson, who does not have a driver’s license, arrived on foot. He began putting the PlayStation in his backpack, then pulled a handgun and pointed it at the man. Robinson demanded that he hand over his wallet, cellphone and Samsung Galaxy watch, as well.
The victim was not injured during the robbery, but Robinson told him not to do anything “or I’ll shoot you.” He then told the man
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been followed but Moore was the council’s second choice. Their first candidate declined the county’s offer.
One would think, with a legal department of four lawyers, the Council would get good guidance on hiring administrators. That’s not to mention all the other legal firms they contract with to do their bidding, including the recent firm Haynsworth Sinkler and Boyd provided a very limited report on their investigation into the actions of former administrator Eric Greenway, for which county taxpayers authorized up to $350 000
Of course, the County Council isn’t the only group at fault with that hiring policy for government positions. Turns out across the street, Beaufort City Manager Scott Marshall, in the hiring of the city’s new police chief, also departed from the same rules of public notification, according to a report in the Post and Courier.
Regardless of how these two new public officials got there — Police Chief Stephanie Price and County Administrator Moore — you gotta wish them well. They both have their work cut out for them. The lack of respect for the hiring policies alone indicates how things are getting done.
Reflections on County government building’s demolition
BEAUFORT – And while we contemplate the continuing drama over in the county administration building — the annual budget preparation by a chief financial officer who’s announced her resignation, the exit of capital projects director Eric Larson who is part of the nine different ethics
violations under investigation by the state — those who have been around for awhile can reflect on the “old days” of county government as they watched this past week the “hallowed halls” for those operations being demolished.
The former Arthur Horne County Office Building, named for the late County Council Chairman Horne, was the last part of the former Robert Smalls Middle School that occupied that corner of Ribaut Road and Boundary Street before the days of desegregation.
While the school buildings have gradually been demolished to make way for the growing county government complex, the former middle school gymnasium was demolished to make way for the county courthouse when it moved from the historic structure on Bay Street. But going back to the building that came down last week. Before the current county administration building was built, the County Council used to have their meetings in there. The county administrator and his staff were right down the hall. The county elections office was
to get in his car and leave before “he killed him.”
The victim confirmed that the person in the profile picture of Robinson’s Facebook account was the man who robbed him. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office also used facial recognition software to match the picture to a Beaufort County Detention Center mugshot of Robinson.
Video surveillance from the recreation center captured Robinson on camera and corroborated the victim’s statement. Investigators also discovered evidence that Robinson attempted to sell some of
the stolen items on Facebook, posting pictures of them taken in his bedroom. Robinson also was photographed by an electronic kiosk, where he sold the phone he stole from the victim.
The clothes Robinson wore during the robbery were recovered from his bedroom, along with his identification and the gun he used in the robbery, which turned out to be a bb gun.
With a warrant out for his arrest, Robinson was apprehended in early April 2022 after Beaufort Police responded to a disturbance at a motel on Boundary Street involving the defendant.
Robinson’s criminal history includes convictions for robbery, second-degree burglary, throwing bodily fluids and violation of probation. Molina called nine witnesses during two days of testimony at the Beaufort County Courthouse. Circuit Court Judge Carmen Mullen handed down the sentence. Molina is a member of the Solicitor’s Office Career Criminal Unit, which prosecutes the circuit’s most violent and habitual offenders. She was assisted by Assistant Solicitor Racheal DeAngelis, Investigator Mike Winston and Victim Advocate Maria Castillo.
across the hall and on election night, counting ballots was a democratic process to behold –and Daufuskie was always last to report then as well.
Clemson Extension Services had their offices there at one point. People would bring in their soil samples in tiny jars for the free soil testing the agency used to provide and those samples would line the hallway if you got stuck outside a council meeting.
The magistrates moved in after the administrators left and they occupied those renovated school rooms until the new adjacent three-story Arthur Horne County Office building was completed last summer. The offices, and the people who worked there, changed over the years, but … reportedly … the raccoons and marsh rats that built nests in the ceilings did not, despite the best efforts of public works folks.
You gotta wonder where they’ve gone now – those raccoons and rats. No room for them any more in the vacant space which is going to be used for parking … for now.
Curious about proposed transportation sales tax?
BEAUFORT – After Beaufort County Council marked “hire new administrator” off their collective bucket list, the gang got down to reworking the proposed transportation sales tax referendum they hope the voters will support come November.
The wording of the referendum question has to be finalized by August to get on the ballot and with all the burning issues the elected officials have on their plate not to mention elections, time is running out.
After holding five public community forums on the proposal and realizing there was general opposition to the idea of a 15-year sales tax, the council’s
Public Facilities committee last week sat down for two hours and masterfully negotiated compromises, throwing out numbers and road projects to pare the proposal down to a 10-year sales tax anticipated to raise $950 million in sales taxes rather than the $1 6 billion initially proposed.
With incredible wheeling and dealing, the list drawn up last fall by a citizens group was reduced. But some major projects are still there: $60 million for the Lady’s Island Corridor changes (whatever they turn out to be); $75 million for Ribaut Road (although the idea of narrowed lanes and at least two round-abouts through the Beaufort part of that project formerly known as “Reimagine Ribaut Road” appear to be off the table); and directions to the town of Bluffton they better not be thinking about sneaking the proposed and very controversial Bluffton Parkway extension known as 5B into any future design plans.
All this and the full Council must agree to support the plan, convince their municipal counterparts to endorse it and then sell it to the voting public. Whew.
And four of these elected officials — York Glover and Gerald Dawson, both from north of the Broad River and the only Democrats on council and Logan Cunningham and Mark Lawson, both from the Bluffton-Daufuskie are and Republicans — are up for re-election this year.
Proposed plastic straw ban sucks wind
BEAUFORT – Did you hear about the proposed plastic straw ban the County Council contemplated two weeks ago? Probably not since the majority rejected the idea flat out.
Didn’t seem to matter that a growing number of local governments across the country are
passing such regulations. The city of Charleston included a ban on all plastic bags, plastic straws and polystyrene/foam containers in 2018 when the council became the largest municipality in the state to pass a plastic ban which included plastic straws.
The county’s Keep Beaufort Beautiful Board brought the idea up at the Community Services and Land Use committee last month as an addition to the county’s existing plastic bag ban which was passed in 2018. It was forwarded to the full council two weeks ago, the same meeting where members voted to hire a new administrator.
At the full council meeting, the committee’s recommendation to even consider a ban went down faster than a proverbial lead balloon.
Some council members felt the proposal was “forcing (change) down the throats” of businesses. They felt consumers should demand change from the businesses rather than enforced by regulations.
Acting Chairman Larry McElynn even suggested the matter be sent back to the committee for further discussion and conversations with local businesses and the municipalities. He called the additional prohibitions “necessary if we’re going to save this planet.”
A seven-member majority weren’t buying it. But county officials said there might be ways to “refine” the proposal. If you care about the environment and litter, you’ll just have to wait and see.
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
A Beaufort man was killed in a shooting late Tuesday night, June 4, at a motel in Beaufort.
According to a release from the Beaufort Police Department, officers responded to multiple reports of shots fired at approximately 11:53 p.m., at the Oasis Inn at 2249 Boundary Street.
Simultaneously, according to the police, a call was also received from a nearby location from an individual reporting involvement in a disturbance at the Oasis Inn.
While en route, officers received information that there was a male victim with gunshot wounds in one of the rooms at the hotel. Officers arrived on scene and immediately began to render life-saving aid.
Despite officers’ efforts, the victim succumbed to their injuries.
The victim was later identified by the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office as 39-year-old Daniel R. Walls of Beaufort. An autopsy is pending. According to police, preliminary investigation revealed that
multiple individuals were involved in a physical altercation inside a motel room. During the altercation, one individual produced a firearm and a struggle ensued, resulting in one victim being shot twice.
An additional victim received a single gunshot wound during the struggle and was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Four persons were detained, and a weapon was recovered at the scene.
There have been no arrests re-
lated to the incident, according to MSgt. Lori Reeves, a spokesperson for the Beaufort Police Department, and the incident remains under investigation.
Anyone with information is encouraged to please contact Investigator Daniel Jayne at 843-3227972, or if you would like to stay anonymous, contact the Tip Line at 843-322-7938 and reference case #24B23073
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
By Delayna Earley The Island News
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) investigators are asking the public for any information in connecting with the shooting incident at a graduation party Friday in Lobeco.
“We don’t really have any more information than we did,” BCSO spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen said. “We are asking the public for help and to come forward with anything they know.”
On Friday, June 7, deputies were called out to Horace Dawson Lane at 11 p.m. following multiple reports of gunfire, according to a release sent out by the Sheriff’s Office.
Arriving on the scene, deputies found a 38-yearold woman who had suffered a gunshot wound. They also learned of three more victims, a 17-year-old female, a 20-year-old female, and a 21-year-old male, who had all already left the scene to seek medical attention for their injuries.
According to Allen, a group of people of varying ages had gathered to celebrate a graduation when the suspects showed up to the party and began shooting. The four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries and there was damage to property as well.
“At this time, investigators are requesting anyone who may have been at the party on Friday night, or those who may have information as it relates to the incident, to report it,” a release sent out on Tuesday, June 11 said. Any information can be reported to Investigator Kline at 843-225-3430 or Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111 to remain anonymous.
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.
From staff reports
Working with Beaufort city leaders to revamp the zoning code and continuing to protect and preserve Beaufort’s history and architecture will be some of the goals and challenges for the coming year and 2025, Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said at the group’s annual meeting June 3
The event was held at Lowcountry Produce on Carteret Street, itself an outstanding example of sensitively adapting an historic structure to a new purpose. Originally built as a U.S. Post Office and then converted to Beaufort’s City Hall, today Lowcountry Produce is a bustling restaurant and market.
At the meeting, HBF members elected to the Board of Trustees Liz Blair, who has been active on the HBF Development Committee and the Soiree committee; Maxine
Lutz, former HBF director; and Rev. Alexander McBride, pastor of the historic First African Church on New Street.
Reappointed to three-year terms on the HBF Board of Trustees were Donna Dehncke, Beth Grace, John McCardell and J. Wood “Woody” Rutter. Reappointed to a one-year term were John Troutman and Wayne Vance.
Continuing as board members are Sarah Dyson, Derek Gilbert, Larry Haskell, Rob Montgomery, Ivey Savage, Drew Scallan and John Tashjian.
Committee chairs include: Drew Scallan, Operations Committee; Rob Montgomery, Preservation Committee; Donna Dehncke, Development Committee; Sarah Dyson, Verdier House Committee;
John McCardell, History Advisory Committee.
Montgomery praised outgoing board member Patricia Battey for her tireless service to HBF over the years. Although she couldn’t attend the meeting, Montgomery will present her with a framed photo of the John Mark Verdier House.
Battey served on the HBF Board of Trustees for multiple stints since the 1990s when she also served as Chairman of the Board and then chairman of the Committee for the John Mark Verdier House where she spearheaded many preservation projects, programs, exhibits and activities for the Verdier House Museum.
About the HBF Board Officers
Rob Montgomery, HBF’s chair elected for a second term, is a wellknown local architect and planner. He has served on HBF’s Board of
Trustees since 2015 and has been the chair of the Preservation Committee where he primarily was involved with the Revolving Fund projects, easement protection and management and site monitoring. He has been a long-time champion of the preservation, maintenance and protection of the John Mark Verdier House, from repairing stair rails to managing the 2021 renovation program.
Beth Grace, re-elected as vicechair, has served on the board and committees for multiple terms over the years. Along with her many contributions to Beaufort and Beaufort County on boards and commissions, Grace has been an active partner and leader in HBF’s continued growth. She was instrumental in early work on the interior decorative arts collections of the Verdier House, volunteered and chaired numerous committees and events
including the Fall Tours and Soiree. She currently serves on the HBF Preservation Committee.
Marshall Bassett is the secretary for Historic Beaufort Foundation Serving on the Finance Committee since 2020 and the Board of Trustees since 2022. He retired to Beaufort in 2016 from a career in investment management.
J. Wood Rutter (Woody) continues as treasurer. Former Headmaster of Beaufort Academy, Rutter has served on the HBF Board, including as chair, and is a dedicated preservationist. He has worked with other non-profit boards throughout the world. He will continue as chair of the HBF Finance Committee.
HBF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Four-year-old Otto Liipfert gets his fresh milk to go with his free bag lunch consisting of a ham-and-cheese sandwich, a carrot stick, fruit and milk, courtesy of the Beaufort County Library system, from Cheryl Graffo and Fran Bishop on Friday at Washington Street Park. The free lunches for school children are made possible through a partnership with the Beaufort County Library system and the Beaufort County School District. The meals pictured here are prepared at the Beaufort High School cafeteria and brought to the park instead of the branch library on Scott Street. The meals are offered Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. through noon and are made are available at different sites throughout Beaufort County. For more information contact your Beaufort County Library branch. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
City of Beaufort to hold Touch-A-Truck event
The City of Beaufort Public Works Department will be holding their Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pigeon Point Park in Beaufort. Public Works will have some of the equipment on site that the department uses. There will be free shirts and prizes available for children. For more information contact the City of Beaufort Public Works Department.
Sportfishing and Diving Club’s June meeting
The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s June meeting will be held Thursday, June 13, at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7
When you have minor boat prob-
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Commission told The Island News that the employee allegedly did so out of fear of saying “no” to their superior, Larson, and having their job potentially put at risk.
JUNE 13–19, 2024
lems, off shore medical emergencies, boating accidents or careless boat activities, this month's program will consists of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard Tybee/Charleston, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Beaufort Search & Rescue, a county representative from 911 Emergency Call Center and Tow Boat USA. Bring your questions, pens, and note pads. Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-521-7340 or email fgibson@islc.net.
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
Then, the plans were allegedly submitted to Beaufort County for permits so that construction could begin on the addition to Larson’s home before summer. Larson had previously worked for the county, but he resigned in 2019 from his job as Environmental Engineering and Land Man-
filing deadline.
From staff reports
The Burton and Sheldon Fire Districts, MCAS Fire & Emergency Services, and BeaufortCounty EMS and Sheriff’s Office, responded to a structure fire on Delaney Circle in Seabrook early Tuesday afternoon, June 11
Just past 1 p.m., emergency crews responded to a structure fire on Delaney Circle in Seabrook after a neighbor saw smoke coming from under the building. Fire crews arrived on scene to a modified mobile home with fire underneath the structure and extending up through the wall. After searching the building and finding it empty, firefighters were able to cut the fire off as it spread up through the wall
This program – a collaboration between the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) – is designed to assist low-income individuals and families, non-English speaking taxpayers, people with disabilities, and seniors (age 60+) in accurately and efficiently filing their federal and state tax returns.
"We understand that filing taxes can be overwhelming, especially for those who have limited resources," United Way Volunteer and VITA Program Coordinator Sherry Halphen said. "Our summer tax preparation program allows residents to receive free assistance from IRS-certified volunteers, ensuring they receive every deduction and credit they deserve."
Program Details:
• What: Free tax preparation assistance by IRS-certified VITA volunteers.
• When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 27, July 25, August 22 and September 26
agement Director before he brought a discrimination and hostile workplace lawsuit against the county and then-administrator Ashley Jacobs. The lawsuit accused Jacobs of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1965 by discriminating against Larson’s age and race
while another crew crawled underneath the structure to cut a hole in the floor and extinguish the seat of the fire.
While the fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished, limiting fire damages to the floor and adjacent wall, there was smoke damage throughout the structure.
• 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.
IPW Construction Group will continue to perform shoulder closures and temporary lane closures the entire length of Laurel Bay Road in Beaufort, SC for Beaufort County IFB#120123
The project is part of the Beaufort County Penny Sales Tax Program, using U.S. 21 and S.C. 116 identifiers in addition to the street names provided. Closures will take
and this created a hostile working environment.
Then Deputy County Administrator Whitney Richland settled the lawsuit in Fall 2021 for $40,000 and one of the terms of the settlement was that Larson would remain eligible for employment. The position of Capital
The fire is under investigation.
place between the hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday. During this time, please prepare for and expect minor delays in traffic.
Drivers traveling through the area are asked to please be mindful of the traffic control team and crews working within the area. In addition, the ramp coming off Hwy. 21 onto Laurel Bay Road is permanently closed.
The ramp coming off Trask Highway (Highway 21) southbound onto Laurel Bay Road remains permanently closed. Anyone turning right will have to do so at the light.
Passed unanimously at a recent County Council meeting, the resolution voted on was to accept Military Enhancement Plan Fund Grant from the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs for the amount of $3 392 328. The County will match the funds in the amount of $1,558,612 79. The project is part of the Beaufort County 2018 Penny Sales Tax Program.
– From staff reports
Improvement Projects Director was a newly created, six-figure position that reported directly to Greenway when Larson was hired to it.
The Island News reached out to Eric Larson for comment, but he declined and deferred to his attorney, Nashiba Boyd. As of press time on Tuesday evening, Boyd had not responded to request for comment.
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.
South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace discusses government spending during her visit to Beaufort on Friday, June 7, at Brick’s on Boundary restaurant. Mace also discussed Social Security matters. She said Social Security will become insolvent by the year 2050 if something isn’t done now, adding that it wouldn’t affect anyone at Friday’s meeting, most of whom seemed to be at or near retirement age. But she said it would affect their children within the next 30 years. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Macy, right, tears up a flyer left on windshields, presumably by those supporting an opposing candidate for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, during her Beaufort visit Friday, June 7, at Bricks on Boundary restaurant. At left is Mace’s chief of staff Lorie Khatod. Mace discussed a myriad of issues including the southern border, Social Security, abortion and the federal government’s inability to control spending. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
In an average year, shrimp season opens in full by late May, typically after the opening of eight smaller provisional areas in the state’s outer waters. This year those provisional areas opened on April 19, allowing shrimpers to begin harvesting some larger white shrimp from farther offshore while still protecting most of the spawning population closer to shore.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officials set the opening date for shrimp season each year based on the conditions of the shrimp themselves. Aboard both commercial and agency vessels, biologists sample and study white shrimp frequently in late spring. One of the things they’re looking for is evidence that a majority of female white shrimp have already spawned at least once.
“We've been conducting weekly sampling along our coast since late April to document that spawning activity," said biologist Jeff Brunson, who leads the agency's crustacean management.
Opening the season too soon – and allowing trawlers to catch females that have not had an opportunity to spawn – could reduce the size of the fall white shrimp crop, which are the offspring of the spring white shrimp.
"Given the lack of extreme cold weather over the winter, the abundance of white shrimp in the estuaries throughout the state and the advanced ovarian development of shrimp, we feel good about the timing of the season opener," said Brunson.
South Carolina's commercial shrimp cal-
Shrimp are an important food source for a wide range of animals from fish to whales to humans E. Weeks/SCDNR
endar has historically had three peak periods. In the spring, shrimpers typically capitalize on the influx of roe white shrimp, large, early-season shrimp that generally fetch higher prices and generate the most value for fishing effort. The summer months are defined by a peak in brown shrimp, which are similar to white shrimp in size and taste. In the fall and into winter, shrimpers bring in a second crop of white shrimp; the offspring of the spring roe shrimp. Because white shrimp are a short-lived species that are sensitive to cold water temperatures and unusually wet or dry summers, their numbers can fluctuate dramatically from year to year. However, they’re also prolific spawners – which means that the populations can quickly rebound even after a poor year or season.
From staff reports
Beaufort’s John C. Warley is an author and already a proud member of The Citadel Class of 1967
But Warley received another honorary degree from The Citadel Board of Visitors during the commencement celebrations for the Class of 2024
Honorary degrees are awarded to the speakers for the commencement ceremonies for The South Carolina Corps of Cadets and The Citadel Graduate College, as well as those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the college during their lifetime. Five honorary degrees, including Warley’s, were conferred during the 2024 commencement ceremony.
In 1963, Warley, who spent his formative years in Virginia, returned to his home state of South Carolina to attend The Citadel on a football scholarship. He was the quintessential student. He excelled in academics. He was a member of the Round Table and
a cadet officer. He was highly regarded by his classmates, and he played both football and baseball.
After graduating from The Citadel in 1967, he earned a law degree at the University of Virginia School of Law.
As an attorney, an active member of the community and a busy husband and father of four children, Warley had to forego his dream of writing, but later, with the encouragement of his family and his classmate Pat Conroy, he put words to paper in his first novel Bethesda’s Child. He has written six novels as well as a modern-day history of The Citadel and several essays. Warley is also the author of the eloquent inscription that appears on The Citadel War Memorial, which was sponsored by the Class of 1967
“In recognition of his inspiring words that tell the story of his alma mater, The Citadel Board of Visitors is proud to award John C. Warley the honorary Doctor of Letters degree.”
Election from page A1
“The only election that really matters is in November,” Mace said.
In between stops in Beaufort County on Tuesday, a New York Times photographer snapped a shot of Mace and a Beaufort Waffle House ordering hash browns “scattered, diced, capped and peppered,” though, according to the Times’ reporter, she barely touched them.
Templeton, whom the Mace campaign accused of consistently bending the truth about things such as laws she claims to have written and her immigration record, had been highly critical of Mace, mostly for her role in removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy from his role as Speaker of the House, leav-
ing the Congress paralyzed and Republicans the butt of jokes.
Trustee, by Jeffrey W. King, SC Bar # 15840; or W. Joseph Cunningham, SC Bar # 72655, P.O. Box 4896, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29597, (843)-249-0777. EXHIBIT “A” – NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Owner(s), Address, TS Interest, TS Interval Control No., Lien BK/PG, Default Amount, Trustee’s Fee, NOS Costs, Total Amount Due; KENNETH BRIAN LUCIER , 3108 JOHN WILLIS RD NEW BERN, NC 28562-7031, 0.0147723220820258, U1609-W2B, 159/2297, $2,146.83, $450, $348.7, $2,945.53; GARY LEWIS JACKSON & TONI SHARON RODGERS JACKSON, 9300 AMBERWOOD CT COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845, 0.0147723220820258, U2507W11B, 159/2303, $3,984.42, $450, $348.7, $4,783.12; MARTIN P. HACKER & AIDA LIPSCHITZ, 33 DAWSON LANE MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ 8831, 0.0147723220820258, U1404W47B, 159/2305, $2,128.95, $450, $348.7, $2,927.65; ANTHONY DEVON OLIVER & AUDRA SEBRENA SMITH, 1022 SENATE ST ORANGEBURG, SC 629118, 0.0073861610410129, U2508W20O, 159/1427, $2,395.59, $450, $348.7, $3,194.29; JOSEPH W. MACIASZEK & MAR-
Templeton, who ran for Governor of S.C. in 2018 and finished fifth in the Republican primary, was loud and clear at an April candidate’s forum hosted by the Beaufort Tea Party about why she was running for Mace’s seat.
“Because I’m a conservative,” she said. “The person I’m running against voted with the Democrats 36 times. What good does it do to preserve our majority in the House if you’re just going to give it away.”
Nonetheless, it wasn’t enough.
Mace claimed 56 78 percent of the vote to Templeton’s 29 79 percent. Young managed 13 43 percent. It was closer in Beaufort County, where Mace won with 50 08 percent to Templeton’s 38 25 percent and Young’s 11 68 percent.
On the Democratic side, the vote was much closer. With all
of the counties reporting, Moore sneaked past Deford, 51 61 percent to 48 39 percent – a difference of 679 votes, 10,880 to 10,201 These were the vote tallies as of press time. They are not official, but unlikely to change enough for the outcome to change.
Both Democratic candidates spent a lot of time in Beaufort, with Moore officially kicking off his campaign right beside the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, whose pastor Rev. Kenneth Hodges endorsed him, and the bust of his great-great-great grandfather. Deford held meet-and-greets at Gilligan’s seafood restaurant and Port Royal’s Shellring Ale House in just the past week.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmailc.com.
GARET A. MACIASZEK, 53 SUMMER ST NORTH BROOKFIELD, MA 1535, 0.0073861610410129, U2203-W20O, 159/2293, $2,409.79, $450, $348.7, $3,208.49. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BEAUFORT IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CASE NUMBER: 2024-CP-07-00543 SUMMONS ERNESTO FRIAS LEON,
CALENDAR
Karaoke with Melissa
8 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Karaoke with Melissa
7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Trivia with Tom – Fat Patties
7:30 p.m., Every Wednesday, Fat Patties, 831 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie
O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.
Trivia with Tom –
Bricks On Boundary
7 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.
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, startups and VCs over local food and cold beverages. Call 843-470-3506 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. 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.
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.
Vacation Bible School:
The Great Jungle Journey
6 p.m., Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, Grays Hill Baptist Church, 2649 Trask Parkway, Beaufort. Dinner from 5:20 to 5:55 p.m. for participants. The program begins at 6 p.m. sharp. Must be at least 5 years of age to attend. Register at grayshillbaptist.org/ vacation-bible-school.
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.
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.
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., Thursday, July 11, 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.
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 hands-on 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. Noin 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
Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club
7 p.m., Thursday, June 13, Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, Meridian Road, Lady’s Island. Social begins at 6:30 p.m. When you have minor boat problems, off shore medical emergencies, boating accidents or careless boat activities, this month's program will consists of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard Tybee/Charleston, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Beaufort Search & Rescue, a county representive from 911 Emergency Call Center and Tow Boat USA. Bring your questions, pens, and note pads. Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-521-7340 or email fgibson@islc.net.
Zonta Club of Beaufort
6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.
Beaufort Rotary Club
Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.
The Beaufort Trailblazers – A Volunteer Group 8 a.m., first Thursday each month, Herban Marketplace, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building off-road/dirt/wilderness mountain biking/jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.
Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.
Rotary Club of the Lowcountry 7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 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 a reconmc@aol.com or 843-252-8535.
MUSIC
Street Music on Paris Avenue
6 p.m., Saturday, June 15, Paris Avenue between 9th and 10th streets, Port Royal. Free concerts. begin at 6 p.m., and take place. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and their dancing shoes. June 1: Jonathan Ellison — mix of gospel, blues and soul, as well as a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll. June 15: Seth Walker — blend of blues, gospel, pop, R&B, rock, and a dash of country.
Beaufort Drum Circle
4:30 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.
The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk” takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.
Tours of Hunting Island
Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843-838-7437. The next Tuesday is August 1.
Camera Club of Hilton Head Island photography exhibit
Through July 7, Main Gallery, Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Admission is free. The theme is "Field Trip," showcasing images of natural and historic sites throughout the region. A highlight of the exhibit will be photographs by student winners of the Kurtzberg Memorial Awards. Named after Larry Kurtzberg, a champion of youth photography and the club's founder and first president, these awards recognize exceptional students enrolled in Hilton Head Island High School's visual arts photography courses. As part of the museum’s ongoing efforts to support local arts groups, the museum is also hosting gallery talks by the Camera Club, at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, June 12, and Saturday, June 22 The talks are free and open to the public.
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.
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. Director Gene Ogden. Contact Jane Simpson 803-226-3491.
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.
YOUR EVENT HERE
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Whether you’re heading out on a hike, planning a camping trip or looking forward to some gardening, spending time outside feels good. And getting out in nature can even benefit your mind and body.
But for all its benefits, nature can also pose risks. The natural world is home to plants and animals that have evolved to protect themselves from predators with all kinds of defenses.
Among them, poisons and venoms that can be dangerous, even life-threatening, to anyone who comes in contact with them. Including you, your kids, and your pets.
Some people will use ‘poison’ and ‘venom’ interchangeably,” says critical care physician Aanchal Kapoor, MD. “But there are big differences between these two kinds of toxins in terms of their biochemical makeup, how they’re delivered and how they affect you.”
Learning the difference between poison vs. venom is a good first step to keeping yourself safe out there. Poison and venom are two kinds of toxins. That means they’re substances that cause damage to living things. There’s no shortage of toxic substances that we encounter regularly in our lives. There are toxins in our environment, including things like pollution, certain kinds of plastic and even some detergents. People use the word “toxic” in other ways, too. For example, having a buildup of certain vitamins in your body is called vitamin toxicity. Or you may even consider your workplace a toxic environment if it’s detrimental to your well-being.
venoms are delivered by bites and stings
Certain plants and animals produce toxic substances. Those toxins come in the form of poisons and venoms. And they can be dangerous, even deadly.
“Poisons and venoms produced by plants and animals can serve two different purposes,” Dr. Kapoor notes. “They can be used primarily as defense mechanisms to protect themselves from a threat. Or they’re used to stun prey when they’re hunting.”
Poisonous plants and animals contain substances that are dangerous to your body if they’re ingested, inhaled, or otherwise enter your body passively. Some poisons can be transferred just by touching your skin. In other words, poisons cause damage by first being absorbed by your cells and then entering your bloodstream.
One of the best-known examples of a natural poison is poison ivy. Just touching poison ivy can cause you to break out in an itchy rash. It can also cause swelling and blisters. Some plants can also be poisonous if they’re eaten.
Certain animals are poisonous.
But poisons aren’t relegated to
the natural world. Some household products, like cleaning solutions, pesticides, antifreeze and mothballs contain poisonous chemicals. They can make you ill if ingested. Keep these products out of reach of kids and pets. And follow warnings on their label regarding proper safety. That may include things like wearing a mask or gloves and working with them only in well-ventilated areas.
Unlike poisons—which need to be absorbed by your body—venom is delivered directly into your bloodstream. Venoms are delivered by something like a bite, sting or scratch that breaks your skin. “Poisons need to have direct contact with skin or enter your body through your mouth or nose. But venoms are transferred by causing the skin to break down and injecting the substance directly into the bloodstream,” Dr. Kapoor clarifies. And venom isn’t reserved for members of the animal kingdom. Though most plants are much more likely to be poisonous than venomous, plants can deliver venom. Some spiky plants, like stinging nettle, deliver toxins through their needles. A scratch from a stinging nettle thorn can deliver
care TALK ©
venom into your blood that can cause a painful, burning, or itching rash.
Protecting yourself from poisons and venoms
Rule No. 1 in staying safe from natural toxins is to do your research ahead of time, Dr. Kapoor advises. “Especially if you’re traveling to a new place with unknown risks, it’s important to understand the inhabitants of that area. What are the common animals and plants there? What are their dangers? How do you identify them?”
Other practical advice for protecting yourself in nature:
Don’t eat wild plants that you aren’t 100% sure are safe. Keep your skin covered in wooded areas, including long sleeves, long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a hat.
Don’t approach unfamiliar species of insects, reptiles, or other creatures.
Don’t touch unknown plants.
Use insect repellant with 20% or more of DEET. Keep anti-itch creams and antihistamines on hand in case of exposure.
Seek prompt treatment
If you believe you’ve been in contact with a dangerous natural poison or have been wounded by a venomous creature, don’t delay treatment. Start by washing and cleaning the area. Check for signs of swelling, and remove any jewelry like watches, bracelets or rings in case swelling progresses.
“Mark the affected area with a pen by drawing a circle around the
area,” Dr. Kapoor instructs. “Then, check on the area frequently to see if any skin-related symptoms, like redness or blisters, are progressing.”
Seek emergency care if you notice changes in your skin around the affected area, or if you experience symptoms like:
Lightheadedness or passing out. Swelling in your airways or difficulty breathing. Stomach discomforts, like nausea, diarrhea, cramping or vomiting.
Changes in your pupils, such as them becoming very small or abnormally large.
Changes in your saliva, like dry mouth or drooling.
Contact poison control online (poison.org) or at 1-800-222-1222 (in the United States) for advice if you have any worries. They can advise you on whether emergency treatment is needed or advise you on how to monitor and treat your symptoms on your own.
Treatment procedures will vary depending on the toxin you’ve been exposed to and the severity of your symptoms. You may need IV fluids, anti-inflammatory medications, antivenom injections or other measures to clear your body of toxins.
Remember to always respect the threat that some plants and animals can pose to your well-being. Plan ahead. Know the risks. And seek medical treatment when needed.
Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ poisonous-vs-venomous
We all know that exercise is good for you, but what if you’re not a fan of going to the gym or joining a fitness class?
Well, there are plenty of other fun alternatives, like dancing.
“One of the health benefits is cardiovascular. So, it's an aerobic exercise which helps our body use oxygen, which helps increase our heart rate,” said Kellie Grabfelder, DPT, physical therapist for Cleveland Clinic. “It gets our blood pumping through our body and oxygen to our muscles. And this can even aid in weight loss for people.”
Grabfelder said dancing can
also help improve your strength, mobility, flexibility, and balance.
For example, dance may require a person to stand on one leg and reach.
Another benefit to dance is that you don’t actually feel like you’re working out the way you would at the gym, and that can be enticing for many. Beyond the physical, dancing can be a way to socialize with others and make you feel better, too.
“There's also benefits for our mental health. Dancing helps to release endorphins, which are our feel -good chemicals, and they make us feel good after we exer -
cise,” said Grabfelder. “Again, it gets our heart pumping and gets us sweating, which makes us feel good afterwards. There are also benefits to our coordination and even just our memory planning.”
Grabfelder said all types of dances can be beneficial for your health.
However, it’s important to be careful if you have trouble with your balance or are at risk for falling.
She recommends having a chair nearby for support.
Source: ClevelandClinic.org, ccnewsservice@ccf.org
S.C. Nursing Association
The South Carolina Nurses Association (SCNA) has announced its statewide partnership with The DAISY Foundation to honor extraordinary nurses across the state. Many healthcare agencies in South Carolina are already DAISY partners. The Daisy Partnership with SCNA provides a platform for any nurse in any setting to be nominated for the award. This nomination can come from any individual, peer, organization, or patient. All practice settings are included.
Often nurses who work in settings other than acute care, do not have the opportu-
nity to be nominated, The SCNA award allows for any practicing nurse licensed in the state of South Carolina to be nominated. The goal is to expand the DAISY Award's reach throughout South Carolina, celebrating the nursing profession's vital contributions. This initiative is a chance to spotlight exceptional nurses on a statewide platform. This statewide DAISY Award is designed to complement existing programs, not replace them.
The highlight of this initiative will be the recognition and awards ceremony held during the SCNA Annual Convention at the Hilton Myrtle Beach, from October 17
to 19 2024. The Gala will take place on October 18, 2024, at 7 p.m.
DAISY winners will be invited to attend the Gala free of charge, along with two guests for a fee of $50 per guest. Additionally, organization can send representatives for $100 per ticket. Honorees will also receive complimentary admission to a full day of the convention on Friday.
Beyond the award itself, the DAISY Foundation offers winners a range of lifetime benefits to support their ongoing commitment to nursing. Partners are encouraged to nominat extraordinary nurses for the SC Nurses Association Statewide DAISY Award. This is a unique opportu-
nity to acknowledge their hard work and dedication in a meaningful way. Refer to https://shorturl.at/Ltfzw for award categories and further details. SCNA is dedicated to promoting the nursing profession in South Carolina and beyond.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with 1 in 5 Americans likely to develop skin cancer during their lifetime.
While wearing sunscreen can protect you from harmful UVA and UVB rays, there’s been confusing reports and research on whether some of the chemicals found in sunscreen can cause cancer. For example, 2019 research shows that some chemicals found in sunscreen don’t just sit on top of the skin and absorb the sun’s rays, but instead, actually seep into the bloodstream. And in 2021 many spray-style sunscreens and after-sun products available in the U.S. were recalled for containing benzene, a chemical known for its potential to cause cancer.
So, is sunscreen bad for you? Before you swear off all sun protection lotions, dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, offers some reassurance and practical advice.
Why you need to use sunscreen Sunscreen is proven to block the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, which can cause skin cancer, as well as increase signs of aging of your skin.
It’s recommended that you use sunscreen daily in order to lower your risk of skin cancer and to
maintain younger-looking skin. It also lessens your chance of getting a sunburn.
And you need to be generous with it when you apply—use about an ounce of sunscreen (which is the size of a shot glass) and make sure you cover your face, neck, arms and legs. Don’t forget about overlooked areas like your ears, eyelids, lips, tops of your feet and your scalp.
Whether you’re using sunscreen in a gel, cream, lotion or powder, all sunscreens are regulated by the FDA to make sure they’re safe and effective. Opt for a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
Does sunscreen actually cause cancer?
“The recent findings that sunscreen ingredients can be found in the bloodstream after use and that some sunscreens contain benzene give consumers reason for concern,” notes Dr. Vij. “While it’s hard to prove or disprove a link between sunscreen and cancer, we know that for most people, the benefits of using a mineral-based sunscreen—like lowering the risk of skin cancer and slowing down the aging process—far outweigh the risks.”
In 2021, many spray-style or aerosol sunscreens were recalled
and Prevention (CDC) says that benzene is commonly used for industrial purposes such as in the manufacturing of plastics, rubber, pesticides and more. And it’s found naturally found in gas, crude oil and cigarette smoke.
Since then, the FDA has updated its guidance on benzene in sunscreen. And research is ongoing to fully understand if benzene is absorbed by your skin and how much benzene can harm someone.
“Consumers reach for sunscreen to protect their skin from the signs of aging, changes in pigmentation and to reduce the risk of skin cancer,” says Dr. Vij. “A contaminant like benzene being discovered in personal care products is disappointing, given that it has potential to cause harm.”
Are there certain chemicals in sunscreen you should avoid?
after reports showed that benzene concentrations in some products were higher than 6 parts per million.
Long-term exposure to benzene can lessen your ability to fight off infection and lead to fertility issues, anemia and leukemia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control
When you choose a sunscreen to use (and you should keep using sunscreen), Dr. Vij recommends looking at the product’s label and avoiding brands that use: Avobenzone. Oxybenzone. Octocrylene. Ecamsule.
“At this point, there are still a lot of unknowns about chemical sunscreens—and it’s hard to sup-
port using products with unknown risks, even if the benefits are well-established,” he adds.
What is the safest kind?
Until more is known about how chemicals like benzene affect us, it’s best to avoid spray-style or aerosol sunscreens.
So, what sunscreen is safe? Dr. Vij says it’s best to go for mineral-based sunscreen (also called physical sunscreen) that contain ingredients like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
You also want to use a formula that’s considered a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which means it has UVA and UVB protection.
And there are other things you can do to help protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. like wearing UPF clothing or avoiding peak hours of UV rays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“Skin cancer is still the most common type of cancer in the U.S. and some are being diagnosed more and more frequently every year,” stresses Dr. Vij. “There are still a number of safe, effective ways to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV light to keep you healthy and looking as young as ever.”
Source: Adapted from the article at https:// health.clevelandclinic.org/is-sunscreen-badfor-you?
A fascinating area of research that has found that the order in which food groups are consumed during a meal can indeed have an effect on the degree to which blood sugar fluctuates. This discovery is important because repeated and sizeable swings in blood sugar are linked to an increased risk of developing insulin resistance. That is when the body's response to insulin becomes sluggish, which can cause elevated levels of blood glucose. Over time, insulin resistance can lead to someone developing pre-diabetes. If unchecked, it often escalates to Type 2 diabetes, a disease that affects an estimated 39 million people in the United States.
Several studies have found that eating vegetables and protein before consuming simple carbohydrates had a beneficial
effect on post-meal blood sugar. Researchers in Japan are among those who have explored the idea. In that study, participants were asked to repeatedly eat the same meal, which consisted of protein, vegetables, and
white rice. The difference was that they consumed the food groups in a different order each time. The food was eaten on three days, with an overnight fast between each day. After each meal, changes to insulin levels and blood
glucose concentration were measured over the course of the next two hours.
When participants began by eating a simple carbohydrate—in this case, white rice—their post-meal blood glucose and insulin levels
were measurably higher than those who had eaten the white rice last. Conversely, when those same participants began by eating protein and vegetables, which are complex carbs, and saved the rice for last, their post-meal insulin and glucose levels were measurably lower.
The speed at which food is consumed also appears to play a role in blood sugar control. Studies show that when people race through a meal, they have higher levels of blood glucose and insulin than when the same foods are eaten at a leisurely pace.
As for why this may be, it's all about the composition of the foods involved.
Complex carbohydrates are high in fiber. As they are digested, this category of food creates a kind of gel matrix that slows absorption in the small intestine. Fats
and protein help to moderate the pace at which food moves through the digestive system, which also puts the brakes on absorption. When eaten last, simple carbs enter a digestive landscape that discourages fast absorption. This results in a healthful reduction of post-meal blood glucose levels and decreased demands on insulin. The takeaway here is that you can protect your blood glucose levels on multiple fronts. It is still important to limit consumption of simple carbs. That includes snack foods, highly processed foods, and those with added sugars. Consider beginning a meal with a salad or fresh vegetables, save the simple carbs for last and remember to eat slowly.
Source: https://www.uclahealth. org/news/article/eating-certainorder-helps-control-blood-glucose
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.
• Personalized Learning
• Small Group Instruction
on Saturday, June 8, at
The
It took a while, but Cohen Bruner is a repeat Beaufort River Swim overall champion.
The 21-year-old Hilton Head Island High School product finished Saturday’s 3 2-mile, open-water race from the Port Royal Marina to the Downtown Beaufort Beaufort Marina in a time of 50 minutes, 41 seconds. Bruner last won as a 16 year old in 2019, edging his younger sister and the women’s champion, then-14-yearold Skylar, by 8 seconds to win the overall championship. Since then, Skylar, who did not compete this year, had won four more women’s River Swim titles, including the 2020 overall title. Cohen and Skylar’s parents – Carlton and Heather Bruner – have competed in this event in the past. Both competitive swimmers, Carlton Bruner competed for the United States in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
This year’s female champion, finishing fourth overall, was 13-year-old Piper Lucas of Hilton Head Island, who finished the race in 55:37
According to Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry Marketing & Development Director Nancy Kirk, this year’s event was the largest in several years with 179 participants, up from 139 last year. That may have something to do with a format change.
“We decided to go back to a single day race instead of the challenge weekend based on feedback from race participants,” Kirk wrote in an email. “Our unique open-water event brings in participants from near and far. This year we (had) swimmers traveling from Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama, Massa-
chusetts and California. Kirk said organizers also implemented a newer, more fair start procedure.
“Instead of starting the clock for everyone at once, each individual swimmer’s clock will start once they cross the timing mat right before they get into the water,” Kirk said before the race. “This will not only help fair timing for those competitively swimming, we’ll also avoid everyone jumping in at once making it a safer start as safety is our top priority at this event.”
According to organizers, all proceeds from the event go directly to the Wardle Family YMCA’s Learn to Swim program, which provides scholarships for free swim lessons. The program’s goal is to make sure every child in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton Counties knows how to swim, as this is an essential life-saving skill.
The Learn to Swim program recently partnered with Hampton County Schools, Camp Wildwood and Open Arms Fellowship to launch a pilot swim program providing free swim lessons to second-graders in Hampton County. The program was a huge success and has been given the green light to continue for the next five years.
“As a non-profit, the YMCA relies heavily on community support to be able to provide these scholarships,” Kirk said. “We are very appreciative of everyone who donates to and sponsors the Beaufort River Swim and Run. These programs would not exist in this capacity without them. Each sponsorship and donation helps make our community safer.”
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
BEAUFORT RIVER SWIM
2024 RESULTS
Female Overall: Piper Lucas, 13, Hilton Head Island, 55:37
Male Overall: Cohen Bruner 21, Hilton Head Island, 50:41
14U — Female: Vivian Shave, 13, Bluffton, 55.38; Male: Logan Grissom, 14, Bluffton, 1:02.56
15-19 — Female: Stella Pelger, 17, Bluffton, 1:03.59; Male: Mark Lofye, 18, Hilton Head Island, 51.57
20-24 — Female: Anne Tuckwiller, 23, St. Helena Island, 1:20.18; Male: Carter Hawkes, 20, Bluffton, 55.56
25-29 — Female: Megan Howson, 28, Savannah, Ga., 59.53; Male: Charles Michael, 25, Greer, 59.53
30-34 — Female: Grace Wilson, 32, Savannah, Ga., 1:01.24; Male: Joseph James, 34, Port Royal, 1:07.30
35-39 — Female: Stephanie Waninger, 35, Beaufort, 1:02.12
40-44 — Female: Laura Seifert, 44, Savannah, Ga., 59.58; Male: Ryan Kohlhepp, 40, Summerville, 1:01.01
45-49 — Female: Amber Mendenhall, 48, Summerville, 57.47; Male: Tom Richard, 49, Melbourne, Fla., 56.40
50-54 — Female: Christine Eddy, 53, Bluffton, 1:05.16; Male: Luther Davis III, 50, Longwood, Fla., 58.29
55-59 — Female: Lynette Hennessey, 59, Big Pine Key, Fla., 57:12; Male: Marc Friedman, 59, Savannah, Ga., 59.43
60-64 — Female: Michelle Wood, 61, Snellville, Ga., 1:21.18; Male: Michael Wendt, 61, Lexington, 56.57
65-69 — Female: Laura Richardson, 69, Beaufort, 1:10.40; Male: Bill Burcin, 66, Lady’s Island, 1:05.13
70-74 — Male: Clifford Sweatte, 72, Aldie, Va., 1:07.16
75-99 — Male: Benjamin McInnes, 77, Charleston, 1:13.11
one-day event Monday at Dataw Island Golf Club. Submitted photo
Wareham, Hollingsworth win at Dataw
LowcoSports.com
A pair of local golfers held off the competition Monday at Dataw Island Golf Club, as Beaufort’s Hogan Wareham tied for the boys 1314 title and Andrew Hollingsworth claimed the boys 7-9 crown in the Beaufort Junior Golf Association’s one-day event. Wareham shot 6-over-par to tie with Bluffton’s Ryan George for the top spot, while Hollingsworth fired a 1-under 35. Bluffton’s Brady Sacha won the boys 15-18 division with a 2-over 74
last Wednesday due to a schedule conflict at Battery Creek High School, and they were set
to play at home Monday against Charleston before evening thunderstorms wiped it out. They hit the road to Charleston on Wednesday and return home Friday at 7 p.m. Bluffton American takes 6U title
The Diamond Youth all-star tournaments got underway over the weekend with the 6-and-un-
LowcoSports.com
The Palmetto Road Runners were back on the track this weekend for the Team Blaze Max Speed Invitational in Columbia, and Jonathan Kelley had another big day. Competing the 15-16 boys division, Kelley claimed gold in the 110-meter hurdle and took silver in the 200 meters and the long jump, in addition to placing fourth in the 100 meters. Makeima Adams also won gold, taking the 15-16 girls 400-meter hurdles. Joi Mulligan took silver in the 15-16 girls 1500 meters and placed sixth in the long jump, while Charity Eugene was second in the long jump and ninth in the 100 meters in the 8-year-old girls division.
Jonathan Kelley
The club travels to the University of North Carolina this weekend to compete in the Jim Law Invitational.
der Rookie League district tournament at Oscar Frazier Park. Bluffton American topped Beaufort in a thrilling championship game to claim the district crown. The 8-and-under district tournaments begin Tuesday with baseball at The Crossings Park on Hilton Head Island through Saturday and softball at Burton Wells Recreation Complex through Friday.
Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The Island News
It is Thursday, early, and we’re en route to Massachusetts.
This morning I’ve been thinking about my father, long gone, who lived his adult life in a laboratory, usually an army lab in Denver or San Antonio, where he tested for staphylococcus, streptococcus and pseudomonas. Towards the end of his life he settled into a teaching job at MUSC in Charleston, where he got summer jobs for me.
In those days, the late 60s, the area around the Medical College — Calhoun, Rutledge and Barre Streets — tended to flood when rain coincided with a high tide. Lockwood Drive often became lake-like as cars plowed through these waters like the nearby yachts plowed up the Ashley looking for anchorage.
But that is about to change.
SCOTT GRABER
City began keeping track in 1879,” the Washington Post writes, “with the City’s average rising seven inches since 2010.”
And, of course, Charleston is not alone in this effort to hold back the tide. Galveston, Texas, is essentially in the same predicament with regard to its historic “Strand” area.
the Point, to the two pumps that are planned for Federal Street. Their criticism is that these pumps are not needed. The argument is that the current drainage pipes are ancient, often clogged, and replacing those pipes will do the job.
proved to be difficult.
“But these storms events often come with a power outage,” says Horton.
These pumps are part of a larger effort to stabilize the buildings, streets and ancient infrastructure on Charleston’s historic peninsula knowing that dozens of gauges (bobbing off the Atlantic coast) are registering sea levels that are at least 6 inches higher than they were 14 years ago.
“The water level in Charleston, S.C., hit the forth-highest mark since the
Right at the moment the City of Charleston is installing three, diesel powered pumps that are capable of removing 360 000 gallons of stormwater water (every minute), drying-out and stabilizing 500 acres in Charleston’s Medical District.
“Our drainage system is gravity fed right now. What you get, sometimes, in high tides, is water coming backwards, out of the bay and out of the harbor. It comes through the storm drains and floods the City,” says Mayor Craig Brown. “We will probably, eventually, need to strive for eight to 10 pump stations on the Island.”
It is interesting that one of the facilities that Galveston wants to save is the University of Texas Medical Facility.
Everyone in Beaufort knows that there is opposition, from folks living on
In this connection, I called Mike Horton, the Davis and Floyd engineer who is responsible for the King Street Drainage Project, who said, “We modeled a scenario where we compared newer, larger pipes (only) against the pump-assisted system we have planned.” he said.
“That comparison showed improved drainage, and some parts of the Point would be protected. But that improvement was only 20% of what you get using the pumps.”
Another criticism is that the back-up generator is not really needed. And, indeed, that partially buried piece of equipment is large, and camouflaging it has
“Right now we’re looking at a back-up generator mounted on a truck, but that solution presents problems in terms of time, and parking, and keeping the generator maintained and ready for use,” he says.
Horton says that his company is also modeling the Federal Street pumping station, “We’re going to show what the pump building will actually look like.
So far we’ve only rendered the shape without putting it into the context of its surroundings — or shown the structure in the water.”
Soon these evolving designs (for the pump house and back-up generator) will be presented. Also, there will be a meeting between the City of Beaufort and DHEC’s Office and Coastal Resource Management.
These meetings will surely involve weighing the
benefits of pumps (and a backup generator) against the architectural hand grenade promised by the Point people.
This is not to diminish the Point people and their concerns. But soon it will be time for them to present their sea level data; studies showing the diminished value of their homes; engineering numbers showing that the enlarged pipes, alone, will provide more than the 20% improvement anticipated by Davis and Floyd.
Pumps have been around since the 3rd Century BC when Egyptian farmers used the Archimedes’ screw to lift water from the Nile and into irrigation ditches. These two pumps will not give us grain; but maybe we will get a measure of protection.
We’ll see.
Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.
Last week, my neighborhood blog was filled with comments regarding Representative Nancy Mace; most were accusatory regarding her failure to attend the Memorial Day ceremony honoring the fallen at the Beaufort National Cemetery.
It seems that Representative Mace was willing to ride in the parade as a political figure, seeing this as a way to foster her reelection. But when she “skipped out” of participation in the honoring of those who gave their lives for this country, she was roundly criticized by many. I should add that a couple of people came to her defense, saying she had done much for veterans, but overall, much contempt was heaped upon Ms. Mace.
One has to wonder about this omission, given that her father was an Army General, and she is a graduate of The Citadel.
As I read these comments, I decided to research Nancy Mace and her stance on several issues since being sent to Washington in 2018 What I found was she is a bit of an enigma. I’ll use this word since it is the least offensive; that said, I know that many see her as a hypocrite, a term very much applicable
to many in the current U.S. House of Representatives.
This week, however, the chatter regarding the S.C. representative expanded to the national level and deals with a congressional reimbursement program. The program in question, which was passed on a bipartisan basis, was intended to help lawmakers cover expenses incurred from owning and maintaining two homes: one in Washington and one in their district.
Ethics watchdogs see potential for abuse of this program and have identified those they feel have done so; it seems Representative Mace occupies a place in this group, front and center. The fact that her own staff was willing to provide some details about her spending habits doesn’t bode well.
According to The Washington Post, "Mace was told by people involved with her office finances that she could not justify claiming more than $1,800 a month for expenses on a townhouse. "One source showed The Post a document laying out Mace’s monthly expenses for the $1 6 million dwelling that she co-owns, and calculating them as $1 726."
Furthermore, three sources tell the paper that Mace "instructed her staff to seek the maximum reimbursement each day the House was in session, regardless of her actual expenses."
Finally, the Post report follows up with this:
“Rep. Nancy Mace claimed expenses of more than a total of $19,395 over a nine-month period under a tax-payer funded program. Mace was one in a handful of House lawmakers who were reimbursed at least $5 2 million under a taxpayer funded program for food and lodging while on official business in Washington last year.
But here is the kicker: the program does not require the lawmakers to provide receipts.
Mace has denied these allegations but also did not provide the
...here is the kicker: the program does not require the lawmakers to provide receipts.”
Post with a detailed breakdown of her expenses. Nor were receipts made available.
Please know that I am not so naive as to disbelieve there are those in both parties who have used to their advantage this ‘no-receipts-necessary’ program, a programs that is a welcome mat for abuse! But right now, I am concerned about the ethics of the candidates we are voting upon here in South Carolina. (note: The above was published June 4 2024.)
I began this article with a local take on Nancy Mace. But like so many political stories, the tentacles extend, sometimes overtly, sometimes underground.
I asked the question regarding the “real” Nancy Mace, a woman who has billed herself as an Independent, yet has shown herself to
be a Donald Trump devotee. She claims her Republican rival, Catherine Templeton, was recruited by the Washington establishment, yet Mace stated that she was honored when House Speaker, Mike Johnson, held a fundraiser on her behalf.
Furthermore, the fallout from the decision by House Republicans to include a divisive anti-abortion measure in the current defense spending vote has labeled the congresswoman a hypocrite for voting for it.
Back in the late 50s there was a quiz show hosted by Ralph Edwards called “Truth or Consequences” in which the celebrity panel had to identify which of three contestants was the real “whoever.” At the end, Ralph would intone "Will the real ** please stand up."
I think it is a fair request to ask the same of Nancy Mace. Furthermore, if we don’t get the “truth,” we should provide the “consequences” at the polls.
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.”
Companies big and small have come to our state because it is a good place to do business. Iconic brands like Mercedes, Michelin, and Samsung set up shop in South Carolina because they know it is a place where they can compete and thrive free from much of the regulatory bureaucracy that consumes other states.
However, the federal government has always been the biggest barrier to South Carolina businesses reaching their full potential, and a little-known agency is proving the point.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) was created to protect American businesses and workers from foreign countries and businesses that try to manipulate our trade laws to undercut American industry.
Unfortunately, the agency is now doing the opposite,
ruling in favor of foreign bad actors that are intent on undermining South Carolina businesses. It’s an agency in desperate need of reform, and Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott can help make that happen.
Among its various responsibilities and authorities, the ITC adjudicates certain patent disputes.
The U.S. patent system fosters innovation by allowing inventors and entrepreneurs to benefit from their work.
Unfortunately, the ITC has threatened our patent system by misusing its
authority under something called Section 337, which allows the ITC to ban the import of products it deems to be in violation of existing patents.
That should help American businesses, but the ITC is instead allowing foreign entities to take advantage of the agency for their own gain.
Non-practicing entities (NPEs), also known as patent trolls, typically don’t produce any products. Their business model is built on buying old patents, filing meritless legal claims related to those patents, and then leveraging them to extract large financial settlements.
Many NPEs have taken advantage of Section 337 investigations to profit off of settlements from productive American companies, including those here in South Carolina.
One of the ITC’s en-
forcement authorities — an exclusion order that bans the importation of a product into the U.S. under section 337 — is usually enough leverage to force American companies to spend millions, sometimes billions, of dollars to settle.
Not only does this reward bad behavior but it exposes a real vulnerability in American trade policy that other countries and NPEs can use to harm South Carolina businesses and our economy.
These bad actors target our country’s biggest economic drivers and, unfortunately, South Carolina and the auto manufacturing industry have not been immune.
A patent troll accused Mercedes, which has a large presence in South Carolina, and other companies of patent infringement.
The patent troll, which owned an old patent unre-
lated to Mercedes vehicles, knew it was possible that the ITC could rule in their favor and exclude certain Mercedes vehicles from the market.
But the troll didn’t need a favorable ruling. It just needed the threat of devastating consequences for Mercedes to extract a sizable settlement from the company.
Fortunately, the ITC ruled against the patent troll in this case, but the ITC often makes the wrong decision and rules in favor of bad actors targeting American businesses.
Clearly, the ITC requires reform to protect hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians who work for companies that could face senseless regulatory action from the ITC.
That’s what the “Advancing America’s Interest Act” (AAIA) would do.
The AAIA will require
complainants to meet certain standards when asserting patent infringement, strengthening the ITC’s requirement to consider the “public interest,” which it often doesn’t do currently. This bipartisan and commonsense legislation will ensure the ITC returns to its original mission — mitigating U.S. intellectual property theft and other illegal trade misconduct.
The AAIA has already been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, most recently by Reps. David Schweikert, an Arizona Republican, and Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat. Sens. Graham and Scott could similarly choose to protect South Carolinians’ jobs and our state’s economy in the U.S. Senate.
Tom Swatzel is a former Georgetown County councilmember and advocate of promoting economic development in the Pee Dee and across South Carolina.
Editor’s Note: The opinions
they’ve shared thoughts that illuminate today. Here are a few, in chronological order:
Charles Pinckney (17571824): A founding father whose draft of a federal constitution called for a single chief executive and elimination of religious testing as a qualification for public office, once reportedly said, “We have already taught some of the oldest and wisest nations to explore their rights as men.”
John Rutledge Jr. (1766-1819):
A Charleston congressman from 1797 to 1803 and son of Founding Father John Rutledge: “So long as we may have an independent Judiciary, the great interests of the people will be safe.”
John C. Calhoun (1782-1850):
The nation’s seventh vice president and thinker behind the theory of nullification that framed Southern nationalism, noted in an 1848 speech about war with Mexico: “It is harder to preserve than to obtain liberty. After years of prosperity, the tenure by which it is held, is but too often forgotten; and I fear, Senators, that such is the case with us. There is no solicitude now about liberty.”
James L. Pettigru (1789-1863):
A South Carolina lawyer who opposed nullification, surprised
many in December 1860 by saying: “South Carolina is too small for a republic, but too large for an insane asylum.”
J. Waites Waring (18801968): A federal judge from Charleston who was the first to write in a school desegregation case that separate was not equal: “Segregation is per se inequality,” he wrote in an eloquent 1952 dissent to Briggs v. Elliott, a test case that formed the legal foundation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregation.
Strom Thurmond (19022003): The long-serving U.S. senator who ran for president in 1948 as a Dixiecrat, opposed integration in 1956: "The white people of the South are the greatest minority in this nation. They deserve consideration and understanding instead of the persecution of twisted propaganda." As years passed, he softened his stance.
Esau Jenkins (1910-1972): A Johns Island civil rights leader, painted this saying on the back of a Volkswagen van: “Love is progress; hate is expensive.” It is now part of the Smithsonian Museum collection in Washington, D.C.
Fritz Hollings (1922-2019):
The dynamic U.S. senator had a colorful way with language, noting in budget debates that “the ox is in the ditch” or observing that something that didn’t make sense was like “the fireplug wetting the dog.” But he believed in making government work for people, as outlined in a 2008 book: “The country is in serious trouble, and we don’t have the luxury of anti-government politicking. It is our duty to make the government work.”
Carroll A. Campbell Jr. (1940-2005): The Republican governor who pushed restructuring in his 1990 reelection campaign: “State government today
is run by a bunch of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats, most of whom the taxpayers have never heard of. The only way to make them accountable to you is to put the governor, who is elected by the people, in charge of agencies that spend billions in tax dollars.”
Nikki Haley (1972- ): Former S.C. governor and presidential candidate on GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump earlier this year, “The truth is, rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him. We have too much division in this country, and too many threats around the world to be sitting in chaos once again.”
Finally, one more that’s not political.
James Brown (1933-2006): Soul singer. “I feel good.”
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to feedback@statehousereport.com.
COLUMBIA — More of South Carolina’s once-aspiring teachers are opting to pay back state loans they could otherwise wipe out by staying in a K-12 classroom as few as three years.
During the 2022-23 school year, South Carolinians in the Teacher Loan Program repaid nearly $21 million after their loans no longer qualified for forgiveness. That’s up from $8 7 million five years earlier, according to a report presented Monday to the state Education Oversight Committee.
The loan program was created 40 years ago to incentivize would-be teachers to work in rural areas with high turnover or hard-tostaff subjects after they graduate. They can get their student loans completely wiped out by teaching in a “critical geographic area” or “critical subject area” for five years (20% annually forgiven for every year in the classroom).
Or, if their job meets both descriptions, their loan can be fully forgiven in three years. In the early years of the program, that essentially required teaching math or science in a poor, rural school district.
But the state’s teaching shortage has gotten so bad, nearly all subjects are now considered “critical,” allowing teachers to get their loans repaid no matter where they work. The critical list, updated yearly based on teacher vacancies
Growing surplus is another indicator of worsening vacancies; panel discusses ‘outside the box’ options
HOW MUCH CAN SC’S FUTURE TEACHERS BORROW IN FORGIVABLE DEBT?
The Teacher Loan Program consists of three types of loans:
• College students in traditional education programs can borrow up to $2,500 each for their freshman and sophomore years and up to $7,500 annually
• Those in the “Career Changers” program can borrow up to $15,000 a year for a maximum of $60,000. Loans of $750 a year, for a maximum of $5,000, are available for people in the alternative certification path titled Program for Alternative Certification for Educators, known as PACE.
statewide, has expanded to include all certifications for early childhood, elementary and middle school grades, special education, English, social studies, librarians and physical education. The hike in loan repayments suggests more teachers are exiting the field before they can get their loans forgiven or not going into teaching at all.
It’s unclear how many loan borrowers actually become teachers. The Student Loan Corporation does not track that, according to the report.
But of all 2,081 students who graduated with education degrees from a public
or private college in South Carolina during the 202223 school year, 67% (1 390) went on to teach in the state, according to the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement based at Winthrop University.
It’s the center’s annual Supply and Demand report that determines what’s considered a “critical” subject.
As of its mid-year update in February, there were 1 315 vacancies in K-12 public schools statewide.
Why would-be teachers in the state’s three loan programs aren’t completing their commitment is unclear. Reasons probably align with what’s driving teachers to abandon the profession generally, such as burnout, low pay and a lack of flexibility, said Matthew Ferguson, deputy superintendent for the Department of Education.
Legislators agreed to raise the floor for first-year teachers’ salaries to $47 500 this coming school year. And a new law this year increased how much scholarship money education majors can receive.
But “it’s not just pay” keeping people from becoming teachers, Ferguson said.
Members of the Legislature’s education oversight panel say the $21 million surplus should be spent on other ways to attract and retain teachers.
“I think that’s an opportunity for the General Assembly and Department of Education to look at ways
to incentivize people to go into teaching,” said Melanie Barton, the governor’s senior education advisor and the committee’s former director.
Sen. Dwight Loftis, a member of the committee, suggested using the money to somehow attract better principals and superintendents. Teachers often cite poor leadership and lack of support for wanting to leave their classroom — either to jump to another district out of frustration or to leave the field altogether.
“I don’t have a solution for that, but have we looked at that?” the Greenville Republican said. “Are those problems we can address?” Other suggestions included using the repaid loans to fill teaching gaps. For instance, the money could pay to shuttle certified teachers between
schools in a district so that two schools have a qualified teacher for half the day instead of one school settling for a long-term substitute in that position, Barton said.
Or, the money could help pay for borrowers’ summer courses or help expand South Carolina’s Call Me MISTER program, which helps pay tuition for Black men studying to become teachers, the report suggested.
“I think it’s time to think outside the box on a lot of this,” Barton said.
Another possible route could be to reinvest the money into advertising the forgivable loan program so people interested in teaching know the options exist, Barton said.
The state’s Student Loan Corporation is responsible for administering the loans but doesn’t advertise them.
“The biggest problem with this program has always been, no one markets it,” Barton said. “No one is responsible for the success of this program, and that’s been the problem the whole time.”
In the end, it will be up to legislators to decide how to spend the money, Barton said.
It will become part of the Legislature’s budget discussions after they return in January for the 2025-26 school year.
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.
More than 1,000 teens in DJJ have graduated with a diploma in 8 years; officials want those numbers to keep increasing
By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.comCOLUMBIA — Usually when
Yolanda Simmons gets a call from her son TJ Simmons’ school, it’s bad news.
So, when she got a call from the superintendent of the state Department of Juvenile Justice school district TJ was attending, her first thought was, “Oh my God, what did he do?” she told a crowd of about 100 people Friday at DJJ. But the call was good news: TJ was coming home to Charleston from DJJ’s detention center in Columbia. And he would be able to finish his high school degree from home, she said.
When TJ Simmons finishes the one class he has left to get his diploma, he will join more than 1,000 other graduates under Superintendent Floyd Lyles’ tenure over the past eight years.
While the department is required by law to continue educating teens in its custody, those students don’t necessarily need to earn a degree. Officials want more detained juveniles to finish their degrees because that will open up
more job opportunities and reduce the risk of them ending up in prison as adults, as is common among teen offenders.
“That’s 1 000 families changed forever,” Lyles said. “It gives them the opportunity to change the trajectory of their life.”
The total number of students who have either finished high school with a regular diploma or earned their GED diploma from the district is unclear, since officials said the department did not track the numbers consistently until 2016
But the number of graduates has increased, Lyles said. In 2015, the year before he started, 48 students received a high school diploma or its equivalent. Last year, it was 111 he said.
That’s a small portion of the school, which regularly has at least 400 students in its year-round program.
But the numbers don’t add up the same way as a traditional high school. Students might leave before they graduate, and, by the nature of the system, teens in a detention center are less likely to
finish school, Lyles said.
“Most of these youth were not successful in school at home and were in trouble with the community — that’s why they’re here,” Lyles said. “We went through fire to get to 1 000 graduates.”
After 17-year-old Sean Schurer was expelled from his Anderson County high school and sent to a DJJ facility, he assumed he would never finish his high school degree, nonetheless anything past that, he told reporters Friday.
While at DJJ’s Upstate evaluation center, though, he realized this was his second chance at finishing school. Along with completing his required classes, he earned a certificate in esports and cybersecurity through the Blaze Fire Games’ online program.
Schurer, no longer in DJJ’s facilities, earned his diploma in March and plans to attend Tri-County Technical College to pursue welding, he said.
“I now have the opportunity to go to college, something I probably never would have had before,” Schurer said.
The department has its own
college program for students who graduate high school but remain in a DJJ facility.
Allen University, a private historically black college in Columbia, offers a few college courses. Students can also enroll online at other historically black colleges — Vorhees College in Denmark, Morris College in Sumter, or South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, the state’s only public historically black university — to earn a broader range of credits that they can then use toward their degree at their chosen college or transfer elsewhere.
Jaenyah Heath, a 19-year-old from Rock Hill, has been at the Broad River Road Complex for more than two years, she said.
“It’s been very challenging,” Heath said. “Many times, I feel like I want to give up.”
But she hasn’t, she added. She earned her GED diploma in 2022 and is starting her second year studying criminal justice at Vorhees College while still at the long-term complex.
The program is not without its issues. Officials have struggled to
find enough classroom space at the overcrowded detention center. In May, the 72-bed facility housed 92 teens, and more are expected after Richland County Council voted to close the juvenile wing of the county jail.
Officials have considered putting a temporary classroom on top of the outdoor sports court or adding more classes in the evenings to make sure everyone is able to attend classes comfortably, Director Eden Hendrick said last month.
Ensuring the children housed in DJJ facilities are getting a good education is one of the most important things the department does, Hendrick said Friday.
“If we can’t give anything else to the youth in the system, we can give them an education,” she 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.
Education
LAUREL BAY — On Thursday, May 30, 2024, at a red-carpet event Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Bolden Elementary/Middle School's 8thgrade class premiered a unique and inspiring movie project that combined literature and digital imagery. Based on the TED Talk "One Second Every Day," students captured one-second video clips of their daily lives for 60 days. This innovative project highlights the value of every moment and has significant implications for educational and military communities.
"Students were able to showcase their everyday experiences into a powerful narrative to showcase their creativity and make connections with others," said Jennifer Hall, Educational Technologist Instructional Support Specialist for the DoDEA Southeast District.
Initially inspired by a TED Talk, the "One Second Every Day" project required students to document their lives through brief, daily video snippets. Bolden's 8th graders embraced this concept, recording moments from their lives over two months. The result is a powerful compilation that offers a profound perspective on the passage of time and the significance of everyday experiences.
“The video diary provided students an opportunity to appreciate and view the world through their lens,” said Shunta Carter-Lacey, a teacher at Bolden. “They realized the opportunities they have with today’s digital tools to produce au-
Parents, faculty, and students gathered to watch the premiere of "One Second Every Day" on the big screen. This unique project emphasizes the importance of everyday moments, especially for military-connect families, providing a deep and meaningful view of the passage of time and the significance of daily experiences. Michael O’Day/Department of Defense Education Activity Americas
dio visuals diaries, unlike the pen and paper used by their ancestors.”
To deepen the project's impact, students linked their video stories with "The Diary of Anne Frank," a text they studied in class. This connection underscores the power of personal storytelling and the importance of documenting one's life. Just as Anne Frank's diary provides an intimate look into her experiences during a tumultuous period, the students' videos offer a modern-day glimpse into their own lives.
"These students are writing their own stories, just like Anne Frank did," said Amber Groff, Ph.D., a Secondary English Language Arts Instructional Support Specialist
TCL to hold Enrollment Fair in Beaufort, Bluffton
The Technical College of the Lowcountry will hold an enrollment fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, at its Beaufort Mather and New River campuses.
Those interested in learning more about TCL’s 60+ program areas of study are welcome to attend.
Information on the college’s programs and majors, admissions, financial aid, course planning and registration will be provided as well as one-on-one assistance.
The Beaufort Mather Campus event will take place at The Hub in Building 8 921 Ribaut Road, in Beaufort. The New River Campus event will take place in the lobby at 100 Community College Drive, in Bluffton. Fall registration ends August 8 and classes begin August 19 For more information or to RSVP visit www.tcl.edu/chart.
26 from northern Beaufort County graduate from USC Beaufort
The University of South Carolina Beaufort celebrated the graduation of 230 students on April 26, 2024, in a ceremony for Spring graduates held on the Bluffton campus. Beaufort’s Debbie Cooper (29906), Madison Fripp (29902), Allison Stacks (29906), Haley Wright (29907) and Phylicia Wright (29906) each earned a BSN in Nursing. Melissa King (29907), Tatiana Zalapskaia (29902) and Benjamin Kelehear (29902), all of Beaufort, earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Studio Art.
Marina Cearley of Port Royal (29935) earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Secondary English Language Arts License, while Sophia McKeehan, also of Port Royal (29935), earned a BA in English.
Beaufort’s Trinity Beale (29907) and Curtis Yockey (29906) eache earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Human Services were Natajisia Smith of Beaufort (29902) and Kierra Brown of Seabrook (29940). Earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in History were Alanna Duterte of St. Helena Island (29920) and Rachelle Martz of Beaufort (29907). Cassy Cooper of Beaufort (29907) and Sage Hollis of Port Royal (29935) earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Computational Science. Beaufort’s Aydanni Gonzalez (29902) and Hayley Trader (29907) each earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, while Beaufort’s Colby Escoe (29906) and Preston Henderson (29906) earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Information Science & Tech.
Murray Flowers of Beaufort (29902) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology; Caroline Perry of Beaufort (29907) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education; Madison Riley of Beaufort (29906) earned a MED in Literacy; and Kaylea Winebrenner of Beaufort (29906) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communi-
for the DoDEA Southeast District. "Their voices reach beyond the screen, revealing the unique and powerful experiences of growing up in a military family."
Hall and Groff will present the 8th graders' work at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference in Denver. Their "One Second Project" presentation will demonstrate how integrating technology with open-ended learning can amplify student voices and encourage collaboration. Attendees will learn how to implement similar projects in their classrooms.
This project is particularly poignant for military families. Frequent relocations and deploy-
ments often disrupt family life, making it challenging to maintain a sense of continuity. The "One Second Every Day" project offers a creative way for students to document and share their lives, providing a bridge between past and present experiences. This can be especially meaningful for families separated by military duties, as it allows for a shared glimpse into each other's daily routines and milestones.
“This project helped me realize the things that I could have been doing instead of being in my room and the opportunities I had to spend time with my friends and family,” said Bryan, an 8th-Grade student at bolden.
The movie premiere night at Bolden was more than just a showcase of student work; it celebrated creativity, resilience, and the everyday moments that define us. The 8th graders' videos revealed the unique perspectives and diverse experiences that make up their community, reminding everyone of the beauty of ordinary moments and how much we are alike.
"This video diary was incredibly impactful. It may seem that you cannot get much from a simple second. Not only did we get a glimpse into our children's everyday lives. It showed us another side of them. We saw what they thought was important," said Nichole Guerpo, a parent of a Bolden student. "It was like being given a glimpse of a place inside them that we don't think about, don't see, and they don't talk about. I applaud this project and am so thankful to have experienced it!"
As Hall and Groff prepare to share this project with educators worldwide, the impact of the "One Second Every Day" project at Bolden continues to resonate, proving that even the briefest of moments can tell a powerful story.
DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in eight districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas has 50 schools and is committed to excellence in education, fostering well-rounded, lifelong learners ready to succeed in a dynamic world.
cation Studies.
USC Beaufort is the fastest-growing four-year institution in the University of South Carolina System. It offers 20 baccalaureate degrees on three campuses in Bluffton and Beaufort and on Hilton Head Island.
10 from northern Beaufort County graduate from College of Charleston
The College of Charleston recently awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees during the Spring 2024 Commencement ceremony, including 10 to graduates from northern Beaufort County.
The following are graduates from Beaufort: Addison MacPhee (29907) graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science; Frederick Scheper (29907) graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology; Heather Cahoon (29906) graduated with a Master of Education in Teaching, Learning & Advocacy; Lillian Kindwall (29907) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies; Heather May (29907) graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology; Shannon Smith (29907) graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; Emalee Payne (29902) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Kimberly Hinchey (29902) graduated with a Master of Arts in History; and Aiden Clark (29907) graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology.
Also, St. Helena Island’s Emily Thompson (29920) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation's top universities for quality education, student life and affordability.
17 Beaufort area students named to UMGC Dean's List
More than 15 000 University of Maryland Global Campus students were named to the Dean's List for the spring 2024 term, including 17 from the Beaufort area. To be eligible for the honor, a student must complete at least six credits during the term, earned a grade point average of at least 3 5 for the term, and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3 5 at UMGC.
The following Beaufort students earned the honors: Kassidy Beavers (29906), Anthony Chavez Cardona (29906), Artyoom Cobb (29906), Rogelio Garcia-Roman (29906), Kristen Haynescosio (29906), John Imms (29904), Leandre Ingram (29906), Diana Martinez Portuhondo (29906), Gabriel Morales-Salas (29906), Justin Proehl (29904), Fred Rodriguez (29906), Destri Stemme (29906), Denzel Tanchez (29906), Nathanelle Vilayvanh (29907), and Tiare Waldon (29904).
Seabrook’s Kevin Oquinn (29940) and Brian Lindsey (29902) of Parris Island made the list, as well.
University of Maryland Global Campus is the largest provider of post-secondary education in Maryland and continues its global tradition with online and hybrid courses, more than 175 classroom and service locations worldwide, and more than 135 degrees and certificates backed by the reputation of the University System of Maryland.
A dozen Beaufort students make Georgia Southern President's List, Dean’s List
Georgia Southern University recently recognized approximately 2 280 students for excellence in academics on the Spring 2024 President's List and 3 460 students on the Spring 2024 Dean's List.
To be eligible for the President's List, a student must have at least a 4 0 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Beaufort students on the President’s List include Lindsey Breaux (29907), Zachary Evans (29907), Lily Melville (29907) and Sergio Smith (29907).
To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must have at least a 3 5 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Beaufort students on the Dean’s List include Victoria Floyd (29907), Crystal Hannah (29906), Jason Hernandez (29906), Cristos Kramer (29902), Oakley Magbee (29902), Olivia Roberts (29907), Sara Sanchez (29906) and Quinn Wilson (29907).
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 155 different degree programs serving more than 26,100 students through 10 colleges on three Georgia campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction.
Beaufort’s Field named to Spring 2024 Dean's List at Ole Miss
Anna Field of Beaufort was named to the University of Mississippi's Spring 2024 Honor Roll.
Field, majoring in Pharm.D. — Pharm. Prct. Track, was named to the Dean's Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3 50-3 74
To be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester. The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, is the state's flagship university. Its 16 academic divisions include a major medical school, nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and an Honors College acclaimed for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action.
Legislators approve next phase of SC’s first funding of pharmaceuticalBy Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA – An international
trio of chemists — two from Germany and one from the Czech Republic — paired with a doctor from New York to develop a treatment for the symptoms of COVID-19
But the drug is being tested in South Carolina, where officials hope the research will help grow a bioscience industry in the state.
Funding pharmaceutical research is a first for the Palmetto State.
In 2022, legislators agreed to set aside $27 million from the state’s share of federal pandemic aid for the Medical University of South Carolina to test a COVID-19 treatment. But they put a clause in the budget requiring separate approvals for each step in the process.
The university is overseeing a clinical trial on behalf of drug developer OCI Biotech Limited, which has operations in Europe. So far, legislators have given permission for MUSC to spend $13 1 million of the total for Phase 1, broken into two parts.
With the initial $8 3 million allowed last year, the partners tested the drug to ensure the formula would stay stable and pure throughout the manufacturing process.
Now it’s time to test it on humans, starting mostly with residents of South Carolina’s Upstate.
“The benefits for the state of South Carolina could be transformative,” Dr. David Cole, president of MUSC, told members of the Legislature’s financial oversight board last year when he came seeking the first tranche of money for the clinical trial process.
Representatives of the university returned to the Statehouse two weeks ago for its second funding round. With $4 8 million newly approved to complete phase one, testing will move to human volunteers to determine safe dosages and effectiveness.
Lawmakers see the partnership as a jumping off point to get involved with more companies conducting early-stage development of new pharmaceuticals.
“The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that we can no longer rely on foreign countries to provide us with life-saving medical supplies,” said Brandon Charochak, a spokesman for the governor’s office. “The MUSC clinical trial provides South Carolina with a significant opportunity to bring additional pharmaceutical manufacturing to our state.”
How it started
While the drug is intended to combat COVID, its journey to South Carolina started long before the pandemic.
According to MUSC, the scientific team at OCI spent 10 years discovering and developing the treatment for lung inflammation.
It does not kill the COVID-19 virus but rather treats the respiratory symptoms, helping patients
survive the breathing problems experienced by many who contract it. Doctors could eventually use the drug to treat lung inflammation associated with other diseases.
The team, according to documents supplied to legislators, included:
Roland Franke, a German biochemist with a doctoral degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly cancer drugs.
Rolf Jessberger, a German chemist and director of the Institute of Physiological Chemistry at Technische Universitat Dresden.
Dr. Tom Sakmar, a physician and former acting president of Rockefeller University in New York, who studied at the University of Chicago and received clinical and research training from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Jaroslav Frantisek, a pharmaceutical executive from the Czech Republic with 24 years of experience.
When it came time to move from lab-based studies to human testing, the group started looking for partners.
The first question was how they would make and deliver the treatment. That brought OCI to Nephron Pharmaceuticals in Lexington County, which makes generic drugs to treat a multitude of respiratory illnesses.
Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy said she was introduced to OCI through SC Bio, a life sciences industry group in the state. OCI wanted to hear about Nephron’s experience operating a pharmaceutical facility in South Carolina. Through those meetings, OCI
learned of Nephron’s expertise in respiratory medicine and a partnership formed.
“It just sort of happened,” Kennedy, past chairwoman of SC Bio’s board, told the S.C. Daily Gazette on Monday. “It was organically hatched.”
Kennedy said Nephron started receiving shipments of OCI’s formula, which starts as a powder made at one of OCI’s labs in Europe. (The group of scientists has labs in both Italy and the Czech Republic.) Nephron liquifies the powder, and the liquid drug is administered through a nebulizer, which turns it into an ultra-fine mist breathed in by a patient.
After teaming up with Nephron, OCI then tapped MUSC to run clinical trials as the group seeks U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the drug. MUSC said it vetted OCI, and the preliminary studies on the drug were promising.
Finally, the new partners needed a way to pay for this next step in the drug development process. It turned to the state government, which received billions in federal relief dollars in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is unclear to the Gazette exactly where the idea for the state to pay for it originated.
Kennedy, former chairwoman of the state Chamber of Commerce, was part of Gov. Henry McMaster’s accelerateSC task force, which he formed to make recommendations on how to best use the federal pandemic aid. But its final report, issued in August 2021, says nothing about funding clinical trials.
The unusual allocation was part of the House’s budget proposal two years ago, which the Senate agreed to in negotiations.
Funding sources In the United States, the largest funders of clinical trials are the companies that develop them.
After that comes federal agencies, particularly the National In-
stitutes of Health. In an effort to up its spending power in recent years, the agency has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into 60 regional consortiums around the country, which in neighboring states includes the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance and North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute.
Charitable organizations — the Susan G. Komen foundation for example — also offer funding.
“Financial support for clinical trials can and does come from many sources. Each year, MUSC performs many research trials from almost every funding source imaginable,” MUSC’s Dr. Charlie Strange, who is running the clinical trial, and MUSC Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Jesse Goodwin, wrote in an email to the S.C. Daily Gazette
But South Carolina has never previously directly funded a clinical trial at MUSC through the state budget.
“If we’re gambling with the state’s money, what’s our reward? What do we get out of it?” Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, asked last year when the committee he leads was asked to OK the first distribution.
MUSC’s Cole acknowledged the financial risk.
“There are no guarantees that this will happen. But the way I frame this is that this is significant risk with significant upside,” he told Peeler and other members of the Legislature’s Joint Bond Review Committee.
Cole said it could strengthen the pharmaceutical and bioscience industries in the state — sectors South Carolina has sought to grow for years — bringing more high-paying jobs and attracting highly-educated experts in those fields.
“We’ve had huge success with advanced manufacturing. That’s awesome, ” he said. “But we really need a diverse economy.”
What’s next
Should the drug eventually receive FDA approval, it’s expected to be manufactured here — first by Nephron and eventually by OCI, which is considering a site in the Lowcountry for a manufacturing plant of its own.
The medical school’s Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization also holds intellectual property and other revenue sharing agreements with OCI, though the terms of those agreements were not immediately available.
But first and foremost, according to MUSC, are the anticipated health benefits for South Carolinians suffering from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 South Carolina, like many states without a city that ranks among the largest nationwide, has lagged in access to clinical trials compared to places like New York and Chicago.
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, who also sits on the legislative oversight panel, called the partnership a potential “game changer.”
Over the coming months, paid volunteers who have signed on with Velocity Clinical Research — headquartered in Durham, N.C. — will be the first to take the drug.
The company has offices in Spartanburg, Columbia, Anderson, Greenville, Gaffney, and Union where the trial will take place. Those who agree to participate will be monitored for any potential side effects the drug may cause.
MUSC did not respond to questions from the Gazette on how much participants will be paid or how many volunteers are needed.
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education.
Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she
Three F-5N Tiger IIs arrived to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina, on May 30 2024, as part of Marine Fighter Training Squadron (VMFT) 402’s stand up process to serve as an adversary squadron.
“It's a huge day in the lifecycle of our squadron,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Christ, commanding officer, VMFT-402, Marine Aircraft Group 41 (MAG-41), 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (4th MAW), “we just delivered the first F-5N Tiger IIs, and it marks a significant milestone in our stand up towards activation.”
U.S. Marine Corps F-5N Tiger IIs with Marine Fighter Training Squadron (VMFT) 402, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, arrives May 30, 2024, at MCAS Beaufort. VMFT-402 will be the Marine Corps’ second adversary squadron and will officially be redesignated in Sept. Lance Cpl. Kyle Baskin/USMC
VMFT-402 will serve as the Marine Corps’ second adversary squadron; VMFT401 located at MCAS Yuma is already in operation. Both VMFT-401 and VMFT402 will be assigned to MAG-41 4th MAW, Marine Forces Reserve.
“This is a unique collaboration between the air station and the parent unit of VMFT-401, which will remain MAG-41 in Dallas Fort
U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jason Tracoma, senior enlisted advisor, Marine Fighter Training Squadron (VMFT) 402, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, greets Maj. Erin Mathis, operations officer, VMFT-402, after delivering three F-5N Tiger Iis on May 30, 2024, to MCAS Beaufort. VMFT-402 will be the Marine Corps’ second adversary squadron and will officially be redesignated in Sept. Lance Cpl. Kyle Baskin/USMC
VWorth, Texas and 4th MAW,” MCAS Commanding Officer
Col. Mark D. Bortnem said, “so this is a very unique partnership that we have with our ability to host aircraft and units that are both part of 2nd MAW and 4th MAW.”
“We are expanding to establish a second adversary squadron that is VMFT-402 here in Beaufort, South Carolina,” said Maj. Erin Mathis, operations officer, VMFT402, Marine Aircraft Group 41 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
An adversary squadron acts as opposing forces during training with other squadrons. Pilots with adversary squadrons study the tactics and maneuvers of foreign adversaries to employ them in training to create realistic scenarios.
“We, as experts in adversary tactics and experts in the way the adversary fights, provide the fleet units with a unique look at basically what the adversary does,”
said Mathis.
“The ability for us to have on-station adversary support is absolutely critical to the development of both our fleet F-35 pilots in the future and our current training F-35 pilots,” said Bortnem.
Having a local adversary squadron allows for more training opportunities, an easier planning process and allows for VMFT-402 to provide in-person debriefs.
“We have a rapidly growing F-35 fleet particularly on the East Coast now and Marine Corps aviation has an insatiable need for as much adversary support and training as they can receive to prepare them for the next fight that's coming,” said Christ.
Due to available space to house and support the squadron, and the proximity to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 and the closest training ranges, MCAS Beaufort was chosen
eterans should read the information on the VA’s webpage titled “VA Health Care Income Limits”, at https:// bit.ly/45lrI0D to get answers to common questions about income limits for VA healthcare. Veterans can check current health care income limits at the VA webpage titled “Income Limits and Your VA Health Care” at https://bit. ly/45gCIw9
How to apply for VA Healthcare Veterans should apply for VA HealthCare. Follow the instructions at the VA webpage “Apply for VA Health Care” at https://bit. ly/3yXSIaj. Veterans can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the veteran’s nearest VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
Learn more about enrolling in VA HealthCare in The Island News article, “Reasons all Veterans Should Enroll in VA Health Care,” from January 3 2024, at https:// bit.ly/3KIolqI.
VA healthcare priority groups
According to the VA website “VA Priority Groups” at https:// bit.ly/41UB9Rp, when a veteran applies for VA healthcare, the VA will assign the veteran to one of eight priority groups. This system ensures that veterans who need care right away can get signed up quickly.
It also helps ensure the VA can provide high-quality care to all veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. The veteran’s priority group may affect how soon the VA signs the veteran up for health care benefits and how much, if anything, the veteran will have to pay towards the cost of care.
Learn more about priority groups in The Island News article,
“Veterans Should Know Their VA Priority Group,” from January 5 2022, at https://bit.ly/40uWyQ9
VA healthcare income limits
The VA publishes current annual income limits for VA health care each year. These limits may affect a veteran’s VA health care eligibility and costs. Some veterans are eligible for free care for non-service-connected conditions based on their VA disability rating, pension payments, or other factors (like receiving the Medal of Honor). If you’re not eligible based on these factors, you may still be eligible if your income falls below the VA’s income limits.
Income limits change each year and depend on where the veteran lives, if he or she has a spouse or other dependents, and if the veteran has certain deductible expenses.
What the VA counts as income for healthcare income limits
The VA counts last year’s income from everyone in the veteran’s household. A veteran’s household includes the veteran and his or her spouse and dependents. The VA counts these types of income: Gross income from any jobs (before subtracting taxes and deductions), Net annual income from a farm, property, or business (after subtracting taxes and deductions), and some other sources of income that don’t come from a job.
Gross income includes any of these: wages, bonuses, tips, and severance pay. Other income includes money from sources like retirement benefits, unemployment, VA compensation, money from a home sale, and investment interest.
Expenses the VA deducts for healthcare income limits
The VA deducts these expenses from last year to lower the amount of money they count as a veteran’s income for healthcare eligibility: non-reimbursable medical expenses, educational expenses for the veteran’s college or vocational training, and funeral/burial expenses for a deceased spouse or dependent child.
Non-reimbursable medical expenses include costs the veteran or veteran’s spouse paid on medical expenses for the veteran and dependents, or others the veteran has the moral obligation to support. This includes costs for these types of health care: Doctor or dentist appointments, Medications, Medicare or health insurance, inpatient hospital care, and nursing home care.
College and vocational expenses include payments for expenses related to the veteran’s education: tuition, books, fees, and course materials. Veterans can only include expenses for their education.
The VA verifies the income information a veteran provides for healthcare. If the information the veteran provides shows that their income falls below VA limits and qualifies the veteran for free VA health care, medications, or both, the VA must verify the information. The VA does this confirmation with the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration.
to be the home of VMFT402, said Bortnem.
“This has been Fighter Town East since 1950 VMFT-401, the previous squadron, had been here many, many times before. So the ability for VMFT-402 to be housed here just makes perfect sense,” he said. The unit will officially reactivate as Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron (HMMT) 402 in September 2024, and will then be redesignated as VMFT-402 Originally, HMMT-402 was stood up in 1967 and trained helicopter pilots for the Vietnam War, before it was decommissioned in 1972, said MSgt. Jason Tracoma, senior enlisted advisor, VMFT-402
“Our short term goals will evolve over the course of the summer, we're going to go through a number of maintenance inspections to make sure that we're safe for flight operations autonomously,” said Christ.
“It's been a long time coming, we've needed this capability on the East Coast for a number of years and can't come soon enough,” said Christ, “we need to get our house ready for the high fight.”
MCAS Beaufort provides support to the 2nd MAW and attached II Marine Expeditionary Force units. The air station is the operational base for Marine Aircraft Group 31 and its associated squadrons. MCAS Beaufort is home to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, the premiere F-35 training squadron on the East Coast.
How do veterans check their income limits?
Some Veterans are eligible for VA health care no matter their income. Veterans may be eligible based on their VA disability rating, service history, or other factors. If a veteran believes he or she is eligible, the VA encourages veterans to apply. Find the eligibility criteria for VA health care at “Eligibility for VA Health Care,” at https://bit.ly/3cuf4Vm.
If a veteran is not eligible for VA health care based on other factors, they may still be eligible based on their income. If the veteran’s income changes after they are enrolled in VA health care, they can report it to the VA. The VA will review the veteran’s current income and may adjust their copay costs. Veterans will need information about their household income and deductions to check income limits. Limits vary by where you live and change each year.
Check your current income limits at the webpage, “Income Limits and Your VA Health Care,” found at https://bit.ly/3VxE6Hn. Because of tax deadlines, the VA usually begins this process in July, the year after the veteran reports his or her income.
What happens if the VA confirms a veteran’s income is above health care limits?
If the information the VA receives from the IRS and SSA shows that the veteran has income above VA limits, the VA will send you a letter. If you disagree with the VA’s information, the veteran can respond and dispute the information.
Here’s what happens if the veteran does not respond to the letter:
• After 45 days the VA will send the veteran a reminder letter.
• After 75 days the VA assumes the information from the IRS and the SSA is correct. The VA will then send the veteran a letter to explain their current eligibility or copay status and how they can appeal the VA’s decision.
Here’s what happens if the veteran disputes the information: The VA will assign an income verification case manager to work with the veteran. The veteran can also bring his or her own representative. The veteran’s case manager will help the veteran find any deductions that may reduce your income below the VA limits. The VA tries to resolve all cases within 75 days. If the VA still decides that the veteran’s income is above VA limits, the VA will send the veteran a final letter to explain the veteran’s eligibility or copay status and how to appeal the VA decision.
What to do if you have more questions Ask a VA-accredited
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Pvt. William
n Oct. 23, 1983, Cpl. Dan Kovach was manning Checkpoint 8, a small outpost near the bullet ridden American University Library building in Beirut, when he heard a loud explosion.
Kovach, an infantryman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, saw two large mushroom clouds in the sky coming from the direction of the Battalion Landing Team barracks nearly a mile away.
The sound of mortars and small arms firefights had become a daily occurrence in Lebanon, but Kovach knew this was different. For the next few minutes, there was confusion over the radio as Marines on post attempted to reach the headquarters for 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.
Finally a single Marine’s voice came across the airwaves with a sorrowful message — “The BLT is gone. The BLT is gone.”
Kovach had just been relieved from his post when the explosions occurred and he walked inside into the Library when he discovered that the barracks had been destroyed. The barracks housed the supporting elements for the battalion and without it, relief was sparse and news spread slowly to his position.
After Kovach heard the transmission about the BLT he saw a friend of his, Donnie Giblin who had a brother assigned with the BLT headquarters, sitting alone in a dark stairwell.
“I walked up the flight of stairs and sat down next to him, he looked up at me and said ‘Danny, my brother is gone,’” said Kovach. “I told him, ‘you don’t know that,’ and he told me ‘he’s gone I can feel it.’”
That moment was when Kovach began to understand the severity of the situation. He did not see the remains of the building until Nov. 8 16 days after the explosion, when relief for his unit arrived for them to redeploy back to Camp Lejeune.
After the barracks bombing, Kovach stood guard on a bridge adjacent to the library building at Checkpoint 8 and Checkpoint 9 with Marines and Lebanese soldiers.
On Nov. 7, Kovach was standing duty with LCpl. Greg Wal at Checkpoint 8, after a few hours of their duty the Lebanese Armed Forces who were standing duty abandoned their post and ran away down the street.
“One soldier ran back to tell us, ‘Marines, you leave now, you got big assault coming to this bridge, you die here,’ and just like that he turned around and ran,” said Kovach.
“LCpl. Wal looked at me and said, ‘what are we gonna do,’” said Kovach. “I said to him ‘well our fifth general order says we don’t leave post until we are properly relieved, so we are gonna stay right here.’”
Shortly after this discussion they got into intense firefights and Wal was wounded in action. Wal was evacuated under the bridge by Kovach in case they were overran they wouldn’t find him. Using armament left behind by the Lebanese soldiers Kovach held his position against an assault of between 50 and 100 enemy forces.
About 4 hours in the fight was the first time the battalion was able to render aid to his position and the mortarman dropped over 100 mortars in danger close firings on the bridge and the buildings around it.
Around 4.a.m., a military truck arrived to evacuate his platoon. After a brief argument about leaving, Kovach got into the back of the truck and rode through Beirut toward the barracks. This was when he saw the aftermath for the first time.
“I jumped out of the back of the truck and I swear to god I’d never smelled anything so vile in all my
grandfather couldn’t be there for him so his fellow Marines stepped in
life,” said Kovach. “I saw the craters and the piles of debris were 15 feet high,” said Kovach. “It was like they took a bulldozer and piled all of that building into these gigantic piles of concrete and it was just filled with human flesh.”
Two Vehicles laden with explosives targeted the barracks for 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and the barracks for 3rd Company of France’s 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, killing 220 U.S. Marines, 18 Navy Sailors, three Army Soldiers, and 58 French Paratroopers. To this day the bombing remains the largest single day loss of life for the U.S. Marine Corps since the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II as well as one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history.
The aftermath
For the Marines deployed to Beirut at the time, the barracks bombing was not the only day of conflict. The months leading up to the bombing and the days afterwards leading to the evacuations of the Marines were filled with constant firefights. According to Kovach, the commander of Alpha Company requisitioned over 50 000 rounds of ammunition a day for the company, in which most of it was used.
“Beirut was the most violent place I’d ever seen, and that includes movies, pictures, anything,” said Kovach. “I’ve seen all kinds of war stuff, and I think to myself I’ve seen way more combat than that.”
One of Kovach’s best friends, Sgt. John Weant, an infantryman squad leader in 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, was wounded in action in Beirut and received a Purple Heart from combat actions there.
Over a month before the barracks bombing, Weant was at the perimeter with his platoon hanging out with Kovach when one of the first major firefights began.
“In the evening we started taking fire so I had to leave Dan’s position and I could take charge of my squad,” said Weant. “I had to cross an open area to return to my position and stuff was flying overhead, and that’s when I knew the situation was bad.”
Weant and his squad were dug in, in a series of bunkers and trenches next to each other and they took fire all night long. On the next morning, Weant was checking his Marines positions when they began to take rocket and mortar fire from the nearby hills. One explosive hit the command tent where the platoon sergeant was briefing the platoon commander on the situation.
The blast threw Weant off his feet knocking him unconscious, when he recovered, he ran toward the command tent with some of his Marines and a corpsman. The platoon sergeant did not survive the blast but the platoon commander was evacuated to Weant’s squad’s position where the corpsman attempted to treat his wounds.
“We were taking such intense small arms fire from the hills that medevac couldn’t get to us by helicopter,” said Weant. “About 45 minutes later they were able to get two AMTRACs to us and evacuate us.”
Weant and several other wounded Marines were loaded onto the AMTRACs including his platoon commander who succumbed to his injuries in transit. Weant was severely wounded and after being sent to several military hospitals for treatment until he was sent home to New Haven, Conn., for convalescent leave.
Weant was still recovering on Oct. 23 when news of the bombing reached America.
“I was out drinking with buddies and when I came home and flipped on the TV and it was on immediately,” said Weant. “I just knew that I had lost a lot of my brothers in that building.”
Weant was glued to the screen as the news broadcast displayed a banner listing the ever-growing names of Marines confirmed killed in action.
“I was beside myself,” said
share a close bond.”
In Oct. 2023, the Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, now nicknamed the “Beirut Battalion,” celebrated The Marine Corps 248th birthday. For the birthday the battalion hosted a ball and had several Beirut veterans and family members in attendance including Weant, Kovach, and the Pollard family.
During the ball, the Battalion Commander, Lt Col. William Kerrigan, brought the attention to the Pollard family and announced that Smith would be enlisting in the Marine Corps the following year as an infantryman. When the announcement was made, Smith received a standing ovation from all in attendance.
“It was breathtaking, to know that he is carrying on his grandfather’s honor,” said Stacey. “The pride that everybody had in him for choosing to enlist was amazing.”
“Every Marine in that room stood up and gave him applause, and I stood up and did the same,” said Kovach.
Weant. “All I wanted to do was go back to my unit and fight,”
“I did whatever I could to get back to my unit I did everything the doctors told me to do,” said Weant. “I worked twice as hard to get rehabilitated.”
Gold Star Families
While still recovering and watching the news broadcasts, Weant’s mother told him about a Blue Star family in Naugatuck, Conn., now a Gold Star family. A Blue Star family is the immediate family of a service member during a time of conflict. A Gold Star family is the immediate family of a fallen service member who died during a time of conflict. The family had a Marine from the same platoon as Weant who had been transferred to the BLT and was killed in the bombing.
“My mother talked me into going to visit that family and I spent the next few days visiting with them,” said Weant. “It was unbelievable, even though they lost their son they took me in. And to this day they all treat me like a brother, it’s incredible.”
Sometime later, Weant heard of another Gold Star family, the family of Donald Giblin, a machine gunner with Alpha Company. This was the Marine who sat in the staircase with Kovach in Beirut. His brother, Sgt. Timothy Giblin was a radio operator killed in the BLT building.
Donald accompanied his brother’s body home and Weant traveled all the way from Connecticut to Providence, R.I. He spent a week with the family.
These visits were the first of many, and for Weant, were some of the hardest but most rewarding experiences he’d had in his life.
“It was an amazing feeling the way those families treated me,” said Weant “From then on it was all about the support of the Gold Star Families.”
Weant was not the only Marine from Beirut who shared a feeling of obligation to the gold star families.
For Kovach filling these gaps have been hugely important throughout his life, “all the things they were missing, we stood there and we filled that gap,” said Kovach.
“The Gold Star Families were missing something,” said Kovach. “Not just their Marine but the things that come after the Marine Corps; a husband, a father, an uncle, a grandfather.”
Since Beirut
Over the last 40 years Weant, Kovach, and many other veterans of Beirut and the members of the Gold Star Families remain close.
These Marines travel great distances keeping up the bonds and camaraderie alive, visiting each other when they are ill, attending funerals, and just generally supporting each other.
Weant and Kovach have been best friends since infantry training and continued to look after the Gold Star Families together with the other surviving Marines from Beirut. The veterans hold a memorial service in October in Jacksonville, N.C., every year in honor of the Marines that were lost. At the fifth annual memorial service for the Marines lost in the bombings at Beirut, Weant and the other surviving Marines really started connecting with a lot of the Gold Star Family members because there were so many gathered there.
“Getting close with these families really helped with our healing, but it was more so important for the Gold Star Families for us to be part of their families,’ said Weant. “It was an amazing feeling the way they took us in.”
Among those present at this memorial was the family of Sergeant William Pollard, a personnel clerk who was killed in the BLT building. His wife Margaret Pollard brought with her nine-year-old Stacey Pollard, who had to grow up without a father. Weant and Kovach became close with the family visiting anytime they came through the town they lived in, as well as the yearly memorial service. These Marines would eventually extend their care and affection for Stacey’s oldest son, William Smith.
“We always looked at it as standing in the gap, he couldn’t be there to be a grandfather so we did,” said Kovach. “We talked on the phone, wrote letters, saw him several times throughout the year.”
Margaret unfortunately passed away a few years ago and the bond Weant and Kovach had with the family only grew stronger. For Stacey Pollard, being a Gold Star Family member is very important and she eventually became a board member for The Beirut Veterans of America fraternity. The goal of the fraternity is to continue telling the story of Beirut so that the Marines who served there are never forgotten.
Smith spent a lot of time around Weant and Kovach as well as the other veterans of Beirut, especially during the memorial services. Every year the surviving Marines get together in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express in Jacksonville and tell their war stories.
“William loves to talk to these guys, he always asks them questions about what the Marine Corps is like, he wanted to know anything he could about his grandpa,” said Stacey. “He loved hearing stories from them, joking with them, and they basically treat him like a nephew.”
Smith has attended almost every year since he was six.
"What impacted me most from these Marines was the camaraderie, after all these years they were still close friends,” said Smith. “All these Marines, some who stood side by side in Beirut and others who never saw each other still
“He wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, he like a surrogate son to me and I was blown away,” said Weant “It was probably one of the best days of my life.”
Kerrigan as well as many of the Marines in the unit told Smith that he will always have a place in their battalion should he choose to go there.
Boot Camp Smith arrived to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for recruit training in March. In the beginning of training, Smith did not believe he would think of his grandfather, but that changed quickly. When things started to get hard, Smith began to question his decisions and would pray that his grandfather was watching over him.
“Every time I thought I couldn’t get through this, I thought to myself ‘you currently have got this uniform on that he died in so I better give it my all before I say I can’t do this,’” said Smith.
On May 18, Smith completed the Crucible and received a special surprise when he stood before the Iwo Jima monument to receive his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
Smith was in the front of the formation and was shocked when Weant and Kovach stood in front of him.
“Out of the corner of my eye I saw them. I thought ‘there is no way that’s them,” said Smith. “They pointed at me and smiled, and I almost broke down in tears.”
When Weant and Kovach joined the Marines, the ceremony had not been implemented, but that does not mean it had any less of an emotional impact.
“When the platoon marched in, William was in the front, and when he saw us, I saw a little smile appear on his face, and he stood taller and straighter,” said Weant. “It gave him a little boost of energy and pride — and God you could see the pride in him.”
Normally the handover of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor is an honor reserved for the drill instructors of the platoon but in exceptional circumstances exemptions are made. Weant was the one to give Smith his EGA, an incredible emotional moment for the both of them.
“Being the one to hand him his EGA, I had a hard time composing myself,” said Weant. It filled me with pride, it was incredible. Standing right next to Weant was his best friend Kovach who had one brief message for Smith.
“I did everything in my power to try and hold in my emotions, but I couldn’t hold it in so I teared up, said Kovach. “I looked right in his eyes and said one thing, ‘Wear it well.’” Smith graduated recruit training on May, 31 and has hopes of following in his grandfather’s footsteps — by serving as an infantryman in 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.
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There are truths that apply to everyone.
For many centuries, people looked around them and assumed that the Earth was flat. Of course, we now know that it is round. The round shape of Earth is an example of a universal truth, one that applies to people of all cultures and backgrounds. Even if some continue to believe that the world is flat, this doesn’t change the reality that the Earth is actually round.
Science and math explore universal truths.
Science and mathematics are based on the central premise that it is possible to discover universal truths about nature and the world around us. For example, since chemical reactions are consistent from place to place, we can design car engines that work anywhere in the world. Likewise, “3 x 3 = 9” is a mathematical reality that holds true in every country and culture.
We don’t create truth; we discover it.
When we discovered that the Earth is round, we didn’t create its shape. We simply observed the Earth as it truly is. When we write out the multiplication table, we are discovering mathematical principles that have always existed. We are able to discover laws of science and mathematics which exist independently of our personal preferences, feelings, or experiences.
We can seek truth together with mutual respect.
When we recognize that universal truth exists, we have a shared position by which we can seek truth together. When two people disagree on a scientific matter, for example, they can discuss the evidence on each side. In a respectful way, they can work to arrive together at a better understanding of the truth.
Moral and religious truths are universal truths.
We can discover truths which apply to everyone in the areas of faith and morality, too. For example, if humans have a moral obligation to treat one another as persons rather than objects to be used, this is a truth that transcends cultural differences. It is a truth we discover, but do not create. Similarly, if God exists (or does not), this is a reality that applies to believers and non-believers alike.
We can seek such truths in respectful discussion. If two people disagree on the question of God’s existence, but they recognize that this is a reality greater than their own opinions or preferences, then they have a foundation for a respectful discussion. There is no reason to attack one another on a personal level. Instead, they can present the reasons for their positions in a friendly manner, seeking to arrive together at a fuller understanding of the truth.