June 20 edition

5 arrested so far in connection with Beaufort County human trafficking ring

Escaped Jasper County inmate linked to case

By Mike McCombs and Delayna Earley

The Island News

Four men and a woman, so far, have been arrested in connection with a human trafficking operation in Beaufort County.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has arrested Alban Bryan, 63, of St. Helena Island; Guy Frank Talley III, 27, of Okatie; and William James Youmans, 34, of Beaufort. SLED confirmed the arrests in a news release on Thursday, June 13

All three men were charged

BEAUFORT

re we surprised?

AIt may have come as something of a shock to certain City Council members last week when they received a marine engineering report that our beloved Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is slowly sinking.

The shock value would have been multiplied if the diving company had been able to provide some cost estimates for the repair job. But “surprised?” Not really.

Anyone who’s been around this salt water environment for very long know docks and other concrete structures are gonna corrode. And the waterfront park, built 50 years ago along the Beaufort River behind the Bay Street businesses, is no different.

Built basically on something of an underwater shelf — called a relieving platform by the engineers — the park is supported by 570 concrete pilings. And those pilings are eroding.

The situation, according to the report, has been made worse by the large cruise ships that have been allowed to tie up to the park

with Trafficking In Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age, and all three remain confined at the Beaufort County Detention Center. Their preliminary hearing has been set for 9:30 a.m., Friday, June 28

A fourth man, 50-year-old Terrance Lamar Fields of Beaufort,

was arrested by the Hardeeville City Police on Tuesday, June 11 according to court documents, and has been charged with Trafficking in Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age — 1st offense, as well. Fields was not listed in SLED’s Thursday news release, but the

Hardeeville Police have confirmed his arrest is related to this same case. And the Hardeeville Police Department announced Friday afternoon, via a Facebook post, that Sylvia Ilaife Meredith, 20, has been charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in connection with this case.

Dancers from Dani’s Dance Dynamics go through part of their routine as they walk during the entire route of the fourth annual Juneteenth Unity Parade hosted by Project Freedom 326 on Sunday, June 16. Juneteenth, sometimes called Freedom Day, Jubilee Day or Cel-Liberation Day, is an American holiday celebrated on June 19, marking the date in 1865 that the Emancipation Proclamation — which had been issued on January 1, 1863 — was read to enslaved African Americans in Texas by Gordon Granger. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Downtown Beaufort projects paused indefinitely

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Two controversial construction projects in downtown Beaufort have been put on hold indefinitely by the developer 303 Associates.

According to Dick Stewart, chairman and founder of 303 Associates, construction on the

Dick Stewart

70-room hotel and parking garage that were intended to be built in the downtown area have been paused due to years of litigation.

“The lawsuits that were filed by Graham Trask and [Historic Beaufort Foundation] (HBF) have put a cloud over the permits related to these projects and made it impossible for us to finance them at the rates that we had committed,” said Stewart.

“That exposed us to an increase in interest costs and a significant increase in construction costs.”

Stewart said that is why they have filed the lawsuits against Beaufort developer Graham Trask and his father George Trask. The lawsuit filed in July 2023 is still in the discovery phase, but Stewart hopes to take it to trial sooner than later.

Stewart said that they have

LOLITA HUCKABY

Bryan

Talley III

Youmans

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

Beaufort’s

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.

VETERAN OF THE WEEK FRED GODDIN

Beaufort’s Fred Goddin, 75, joined the United States Army in Newport News, Va., in 1969

After Basic Training at Fort Polk, La., and flight training at Fort Walters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Ala., he was sent to

Vietnam to fly Huey and Kiowa helicopters out of Cam Ran Bay and Long Binh. In 1972 with the post-Vietnam drawdown he separated from active duty and joined the Virginia Air National Guard as he embarked on a career in

information technology.

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The real threat

Probably like many citizens, I have been observing the crazy House and Senate comments on Dr. Fauci, President Biden, Trump, anyone they can denigrate, etc. Mostly pro-Trump and anti-establishment, anti-Ukraine funding, anti-vaccine, how the elections were rigged, how Trump was mistreated in court, etc. The list of the outrageous is long.

One of the more interesting topics I have read recently is about how it is recognized that conservative news outlets and a good chunk of the GOP base is infected with Russian propaganda (including Congress). This has been stated by Mike McCaul R-Texas, and Mike Turner R-Ohio. Both McCaul and Turner are on the House Intelligence Committee. I am sure there is similar in the Senate.

Our extremists are pushing propaganda of Putin, China, North Korea, Iran. Clearly Putin wants no aid to go to Ukraine. Our farright news media and politicians helped his cause by delaying aid. Its not just Ukraine, its disinformation directed at the U.S., with the intent to destabilize our country. If you simply study the intelligence community reports its clear it is coming from the bad guys, and Trump is busy spinning it as well.

I find it extremely concerning that so many people are falling for propaganda from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. I spent a considerable amount of my career working

ON THIS DATE

June 21

in facilities that required security. We were trained to recognize the disinformation and the threat. Many people are falling for it, when they should be thinking about the source.

– Gerald Blount, St. Helena Island Beaufort City Council’s lack of transparency

In an egregious disregard for the rule of law and need for public transparency, the Beaufort City Council voted on appointments to the Historic Review Board by secret ballot during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 11. In so doing, City Council violated the letter and spirit of South Carolina’s Open Meetings Law, otherwise known as the Freedom of Information Act, that requires with few exceptions — none present here — that votes be conducted in public so that the public can glean the results of how each member voted.

During the meeting — after approving several appointments and reappointments to other boards, commissions, and committees in the ordinary course by voting in public — City Council then took the unusual and illegal step of announcing that appointments to the Historic Review Board “shall be chosen by secret ballot.” The clerk then distributed ballots for voting, collected those ballots, and allowed one absent member to text his secret vote to her on her cell phone. The vote was then announced without any indication of

2020: About 400 people turn out for a silent March For Justice beginning and ending at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and organized by retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Harold “Mitch” Mitchell.” The event was meant to call attention to recent killings of black citizens across the nation, including George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis.

June 22

1917: The Marine post on Parris Island is officially renamed Marine Barracks, Paris Island. Note the misspelling of Parris Island with a single “r.”

2020: A ribbon cutting featuring State Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston; and state representatives Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, and Michael Rivers, D-Beaufort, signals the completion

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

how City Council Members voted, other than a lone “no” vote by Mayor Phil Cromer who unfortunately was the only member present who understood the need for Historic Review Board members to have experience in historic preservation. All of this would be hard to believe if it weren’t captured on video.

In addition to continuing its recent practice of not reappointing supremely well-qualified women, City Council set a dangerous precedent by allowing appointment votes to the Historic Review Board by secret ballot, violating our state’s well established Open Meetings Law, flouting state supreme court precedent requiring public voting so that each member’s vote is recorded, and ignoring civil and criminal penalties.

City Council now has two options: wait and see whether a concerned citizen files a complaint in the Beaufort County Circuit Court and face the certain prospect of (1) civil and or criminal penalties plus attorney’s fees and (2) having the court set these the illegal appointments aside, or do the right thing and set aside its vote on its own and debate and vote publicly at its next meeting so that the votes of every council member are known.

Elected officials are supposed to adhere to the laws designed to keep government open and honest. Public trust in local government hinges on City Council’s willingness to correct its recent Open Meetings Law violation and ensure that all future votes are conducted openly, as required by law.

– Will Cook, Okatie

of an extensive beach re-nourishment project at Hunting Island State Park.

June 24

1944: Dr. Herbert and Harriet Hirschfield Keyserling are married.

June 26

1891: The first detachment of U.S. Marines comes to Parris Island when the U.S. Navy begins construction of a dry dock facility. First Sgt. Richard Donovan and 10 privates are charged with keeping order among the construction crew.

2019: Republican Nancy Mace, the first female graduate of The Citadel, announces she is joining the race for the 1st Congressional District seat held by Joe Cunningham.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

If you are looking for a laid-back dog with a lot of love to give, meet Tally at PAL’s No Kill Adoption Center in Okatie. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

Cat Of The Week Fred may look like a roughand-tumble kind of guy, but looks can be deceiving. Fred is an incredibly sweet lap cat.

His ruggedly good looks and delightful personality have made him a staff favorite at Palmetto Animal League. Fred is 8-years-old and can’t wait to find the forever home he’s always dreamed of. 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

Fred Goddin

Vacant structure burns down in fire on Trask Parkway

By Delayna Earley The Island News

A vacant commercial building on Trask Parkway was a total loss after it caught fire early Monday morning.

Burton Fire District along with several other emergency agencies responded to the fire at the corner of Poppy Hill Road at 3 a.m. on Monday, June 17, after a 911 caller reported smoke coming from the structure.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they found smoke coming from the building.

The fire crews entered the building to search for victims and extinguish the fire, but they found that the fire was “raging out of control on the inside” and they then retreated out of the building

and continued to fight the blaze from outside.

Firefighters from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort and the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department also responded to help fight the fire.

They were able to get the blaze under control after about 30 minutes, but it took several hours to fully extinguish because when the roof and walls of the structure collapsed it buried smoldering embers.

According to a release from the Burton Fire District, the building has been vacant for many years, but fire officials had received reports of a caretaker who had possibly been staying there.

Officials were also concerned about the possibility that homeless

people had been residing at the location as well after they found evidence indicating that they had, but there was not any evidence of victims after both firefighters and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office’s cadaver dog searched the premises.

Traffic was significantly delayed on Trask Parkway in both directions for several hours while firefighters fought the fire. All lanes of traffic were reopened before noon on Monday.

The fire is still under investigation, according to the release.

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

Beaufort Memorial expands urology practice to Okatie

From staff reports

To increase access to much-needed urology care in the Lowcountry, Beaufort Memorial Urology Specialists has begun seeing patients in the Okatie Medical Pavilion, in addition to the practice’s Beaufort office.

The practice expansion comes amid a simultaneous nationwide increase in demand for urology care and decrease in supply of urology providers, according to the American Urological Association.

“Beaufort Memorial is making enormous progress in our goal of increasing access to quality medical care for our growing community,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a news release. “As we examine the needs of our patients, it’s plain that urology is a high-demand specialty area. Expanding our excellent urology practice to Okatie is a significant step forward in ensuring we meet that demand.”

Board-certified urologist Dr. Louis Remynse will lead the new office. He will be joined by board-certified physician assistants Matt Baker and Kristin Callaghan.

Dr. Remynse brings nearly four decades of clinical and surgical experience to Urology Specialists, where he diagnoses and treats a wide range of chronic and acute urological disorders, among them benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), kidney stones and urinary incontinence. A member of

the Society of Urologic Oncology, Dr. Remynse specializes in robot-assisted surgical treatments for bladder, kidney and prostate cancers. In total, he has performed more than 1 250 da Vinci robotic surgeries.

Baker, PA-C, PharmD, a self-described “Lowcountry boy,” is experienced both as a physician assistant and as a pharmacist. He works with the clinical team to assess and manage treatment for acute and chronic urological disorders that most frequently can be addressed with medication rather than surgery. He recently joined Urology Specialists after seven years at a urology practice in Bluffton, where he gained expertise in cystoscope procedures and active monitoring of patients with an elevated PSA level and those at the conclusion of their prostate cancer treatment.

Callaghan, PA-C, has a combined background in emergency medicine and urology. She worked in emergency medicine in Charleston and then for a urology practice in Savannah, Ga., before coming to work at BMH as an emergency medicine physician assistant. After seven years in the BMH emergency department, she joined Coastal Carolina Urology Specialist and then rejoined the BMH family when the practice was acquired by BMH in 2023. Her clinical interests include the treatment of kidney stones, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection (UTI), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer.

FLAG DAY

City of Beaufort recognized for excellence in financial reporting

From staff reports

The streak goes on. The City of Beaufort has been recognized for the 17th consecutive year for excellence in financial reporting. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the City of Beaufort a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year

ending June 30 2023

“While this award is for excellence in financial reporting, it also means that our finance team, led by Alan Eisenman, is second to none in their ability to act as a responsible fiduciary of the public’s money,” City Manager Scott Marshall said. “These awards aren’t given by accident. Receiving it 17

years in a row speaks to sound institutional practices.”

The report was judged by a panel to meet the high standard of the program, which include demonstrating a “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate Beaufort’s financial story and motivate users to read the report. The City keeps all of its financial

and budgeting information on its website, www.cityofbeaufort. org. Users can access the financial transparency tool to take a closer look at the City’s budget.

The award is the highest form of recognition for governmental accounting and financial reporting. “Its attainment represents significant accomplishment by a government and its management,” GFOA said.

“Senior Accountant Sandra

Rice was instrumental in drafting and compiling this complex financial report,” Finance Director Alan Eisenman said. “We could not have won this award without her dedication and hard work.”

The latest award is one of many the City’s Finance Department has received from GFOA – in the categories of financial reporting and excellence in budget presentation – under the leadership of Eisenman and his team.

The Burton Fire District, along with several other emergency agencies, responded to a commercial building fire on Trask Parkway early Monday morning that resulted in a total loss of the building and significant traffic delays. Photo courtesy of Burton Fire District

Jim Roberts, owner of J&J’s Barber Shop in Port Royal, readjusts his flag pole for Flag Day on Thursday morning, June 14,at his shop on Paris Avenue. Many stores, shops and homes in Port Royal had Old Glory posted near their entrances to honor the flag on its special day. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Kristen Munroe sets out her new flag at her Ninth Street home for Flag Day on Thursday, June 14, in Port Royal. Her flag caught the morning sunlight and seemed to glow as she unfurled it.

“Isn’t it beautiful” she said. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

urologist Dr. Louis Remynse will lead Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s new office. He will be joined by board-certified physician assistants Matt Baker and Kristin Callaghan. Submitted photo

City Council approves $55.7 million FY2025 budget

From staff reports

Beaufort City Council approved

a $55 7 million consolidated budget for Fiscal Year 2025 at its June 11 Regular Meeting.

This budget comes in lower than last year – by $2 million, actually, than the FY2024 budget. The millage rate is 73 9 mills, which is unchanged from FY2024. (The fiscal year begins on July 1, 2024, and ends on June 30, 2025.)

The consolidated budget includes outlays for capital projects of $21 6 million.

The City of Beaufort has experienced business growth from a strong economy. For FY2025 increased revenue is expected to come from business licenses,

building permits, and local hospitality and accommodation taxes.

Property taxes, which provide 38% of the revenue of the General Fund and are the largest revenue source for the City, are expected to generate $9 6 million in revenue.

The budget recommends increases to various fees, mostly related to development. Many fees have not been updated for years. These increases more closely align the City with development fees incurred in neighboring jurisdictions.

"This budget enables us to continue advancing the City for the benefit of our citizens, business owners, and visitors,” City Manager Scott Marshall said in a news release. “It allocates the necessary

resources to implement policies and achieve the priorities established by the Council. Additionally, it ensures our ability to recruit and retain high-quality, dedicated public servants."

Fiscal Year 2025

Budget Highlights

Continued funding for City Council priorities identified in the fiscal Year 2023-2025

Strategic Plan; Funding for strategic partners, including the Beaufort/ Port Royal Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Beaufort Digital Corridor, and the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation; $50 000 for a pilot program

to help with neighborhood revitalization and/or rehabilitation of dilapidated structures; A 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, with an additional up to 2% merit increase; Absorption of a 3% increase in employee health care coverage; Absorption of an increase in solid waste fees charged to residents; and One new full-time employee, a capital projects manager.

Fiscal Year 2025

Capital Projects

The city has numerous capital projects underway or scheduled to begin in FY2025. Many of these are partially funded by grants. These projects are budgeted for $21 6 million. They include: Improvements to Southside Park, Washington Street Park, and S.C. Volunteers Park; Stormwater drainage projects on King Street, Battery Shores, Bayard Street, Charles/Craven, and Port Republic/Carteret streets; Pigeon Point drainage study; Streetscape projects (which include drainage) for Calhoun Street, Allison Road, and Duke Street; Depot Road/Spanish Moss Trail extension; New marina fuel tanks; and Pigeon Point boat landing.

Juneteenth at Penn Center

It’s a hot, dirty job but someone has to cook all 300 hamburger patties and 300 hot dogs for the crowd that braved the intense heat wave during the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15, at Penn Center on St. Helena Island. It got so hot at one point that balloons tied to the stage began to burst. Juneteenth, sometimes called Freedom Day, Jubilee Day or CelLiberation Day, is an American holiday celebrated on June 19, marking the date in 1865 that the Emancipation Proclamation — which had been issued on January 1, 1863 — was read to enslaved African Americans in Texas by Gordon Granger. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Council adopts a manual of standard procedures

From staff reports

Beaufort City Council approved a manual of standard operating procedures that apply to City Council at its June 11 Regular Meeting.

This marks the first time Council has adopted SOPs, although it has long followed Robert’s Rules of Order in conducting its meetings.

Lowdown

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seawall for the past 20 years.

The procedures follow a model established by the ICMA, a professional organization of local government officials, as well as input from the MASC (Municipal Association of South Carolina), according to Beaufort

When the council first considered allowing the ships to tie up to the sea wall there was some concern that the boats would block the view. Now we find out they’re doing more than just blocking the view.

An incident last year with one of the ships pulling down a bollard highlighted the need for further inspection as to the infrastructure of the area.

City Manager Scott Marshall has already begun conversations with the American Cruise Lines to develop a temporary fix until a repair plan can be determined. Maybe the ships could go down to Port Royal and use Safe Harbor’s basic dock facility to load and unload. But you can just imagine what impact that would have on downtown merchants who have come to rely on the ships and tour busses to sell their wares. Relocation of the cruise ships will be a band aid approach but it would be a start.

And speaking of other “surprises.” Was anyone surprised to read in the Post and Courier last week that 303 Associates President

Assistant City Manager JJ Sauve, who worked on and presented the manual to City Council.

The manual also reflects changes that City Council members asked for, and are specific to Beaufort.

“This is a good step forward for the City Council and

Dick Stewart has announced they’re stepping back with plans for a three-story-hotel-with-a-rooftop bar on Scott and Port Royal streets and the parking garage on Craven Street.

These two projects have generated more twists and turns than a boa constrictor finishing off his prey.

Stewart says the latest business decision was prompted by the increase in construction costs due to the legal delays in the project development, a point he has already raised in a lawsuit against Graham Trask, a lawsuit that is buried is the bowels of the judicial system.

Whether you consider these developments “good” or “bad,” one thing we can know for sure is that Waterfront Park repair is gonna mean big bucks. It will be interesting to see the role Safe Harbor Marinas, LLC, which leases the Downtown Marina from the city and oversese the cruise ship activities, plays on behalf of the city.

Safe Harbor has already presented an expansion plan for the marina several months ago to City Council. And while the Council said they didn’t like the expansion, it will be interesting to see how the future of the seawall dockage will impact those negotiations.

City of Beaufort,” Mayor Phil Cromer said. “As new council members are elected, this manual will provide expert guidance. It will also ensure that Council’s practices are consistent across the board.”

The manual covers such topics as the roles of mayor and council members,

Council resorts to secrecy for HRB appointments

BEAUFORT – Somewhat surprising was action last week by the Beaufort City Council which opted to use a “secret ballot” vote on two appointments to the city’s Historic Review Board.

Membership on the HRB has been a sticky issue for the politicians for the past several years but a “secret ballot?”

The council made appointments to five other boards and commissions at last week’s meeting, without the benefit of a “secret ballot,” aka where the elected officials wrote on a piece of paper their top two choices for the two seats and the results were read aloud by the clerk, without any indication on who voted how.

There’s been some question that the voting process was even legal, under state open meeting laws, but unless someone challenges the vote, it stands. It was only because Mayor Phil Cromer, who agreed to use the secret ballot in the first place, spoke up and said he didn’t support one of the top choices – HRB Chairman Mike Sutton, who had asked to be reappointed – because, in Cromer’s opinion, he did not meet the criteria for a historic preservationist.

Sutton was reappointed along with a retired architect who was selected by Council over two for-

compensation and financial disclosure, interaction with City staff, how the agenda is developed, how work sessions and regular and special meetings are conducted, and parliamentary procedures.

“We believe these changes will make Council meetings more efficient and effective,”

mer Beaufort Historical Foundation associates who had experience on the board in the past.

Although we do use “secret ballots” in elections, it’s hard to remember when a local elected body has resorted to this procedure in conducting the city’s business. Especially when the politicians spend so much time talking about “transparency.”

Proposed plastic straw ban not dead yet BEAUFORT – Proposed changes to the county’s plastic bag ban to include plastic straws and Styrofoam cups might still be in the future.

Keep Beaufort Beautiful (KBB), the county appointed citizens group which brought up the suggestion last month, is working with the S.C. Coastal Conservation League (CCL) to develop support for the changes. Even if the Beaufort County Council shut down the idea earlier this month because most of the elected officials had questions about how it would work.

The city of Charleston included a ban on all plastic bags, plastic straws and polystyrene/foam containers in 2018. The municipalities of James Island, Mt. Pleasant and Folly Beach (all in Charleston County) have followed suit with Folly Beach adding balloons to their ban.

City Manager Scott Marshall said. “They reflect best practices in local government and, with very little variation, are already well established by our contemporaries.” The manual will be reviewed every two years so that updates and changes can be made if needed.

The KBB and CCL hope to hold public meetings on the proposal and meet with municipal leaders in the coming summer months. In the meantime, they’re hoping concerned citizens will jump on the proverbial bandwagon.

Harris Teeter opens Tuesday

LADY’S ISLAND – In case you didn’t know, the new Harris Teeter at one of northern Beaufort County’s busiest corners – the intersection of Sea Island Parkway and Sam’s Point Road -- will open for business at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25

The landscaping to replace the dozens of trees that were killed for the new commercial center has been done and hopefully will continue to grow through the hot, dry summer months.

Yes indeed, grocery shoppers now have the trifecta of Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Publix to choose from, all within a one-mile radius.

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.

The Community Choir from Ebenezer Baptist Church’s Male Chorus sing old time spirituals during the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15, at Penn Center on St. Helena Island. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Burglar convicted after cops called to business twice in one night NEWS

From staff reports

A career burglar thought he had evaded officers by hiding in the dark recess of the Sheldon carpentry workshop he was robbing, but he was arrested after he was captured on security video for a second time the same night.

Now, 43-year-old Justin Edward Seno is headed to prison.

The Sheldon resident pleaded guilty Monday in Beaufort County General Sessions Court to two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of grand larceny and possession of cocaine base or crack cocaine. Because the breakin of Seabrook Designs occurred at night, the offense is considered a violent crime. Seno was sentenced to 15 years suspended to 10 years of active time in prison, followed by three years of probation.

“Mr. Seno has a lengthy record of burglary and thievery,” said Assistant Solicitor Samantha Molina, who prosecuted the case. “He narrowly escaped detection when officers were first called to the busi-

ness, but with the vigilance of the business owners and law enforcement, Mr. Seno was in custody before sunrise.” Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies were first called to the building on Fire Station Lane at about 10:40 p.m. on Dec. 6 2020, after the business owner reported a burglary in progress, which he watched remotely by a live security-camera feed. The burglar, who wore a light-colored hoodie, a baseball hat and a face covering, appeared to have exited through a rear door before authorities arrived.

However, a car registered to Seno’s father was found nearby on the side of Huspah Road.

About four hours later, another of the business’ officials, who also had access to the security feed, called law enforcement again. He reported loud pounding on a door and a man similar in description to the first intruder wandering through the building with a leaf blower strapped to his back.

Law enforcement again could not find Seno on the premises but detected damage to a door that had been intact during the first visit.

Bryan

Then, a S.C. Highway Patrol officer who was keeping watch over the vehicle on Huspah Road saw a man drive away in the car shortly after the second call. He conducted a traffic stop and discovered Seno was the driver. In the back seat, Sheriff’s Office investigators found a Stihl backpack blower and a box of Hitachi tools that had been stolen from the business.

Seno later told investigators that he hid in the building during their first call and that he made the pounding noise heard on the surveillance system later that evening as he tried to get out of the building.

Seno also pleaded guilty to a Sept. 19, 2022, burglary at Tradewinds Landscaping on St.

Helena Island where he stole lawn equipment, including a riding lawn mower. Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman handed down the sentence.

Seno’s criminal history includes six previous convictions for burglary or larceny. He was released from prison just months before the break-in at Seabrook Designs.

Molina is a member of the Career Criminal Unit, which prosecutes the circuit’s most violent and habitual offenders. That team has earned convictions against 492 of the 537 defendants since its formation in 2009

“Mr. Seno was barely out of prison when he committed this burglary,” 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone said. “We formed our Career Criminal Unit to stop offenders like him, who pose a constant threat to safety, lives and livelihoods in the 14th Circuit.”

Solicitor’s Office Investigator Mike Winston and Victim Advocate Maria Castillo assisted with this case.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK

Firefighter John Gaffney from the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department, helps Austin Boyne, 13, don a breathing apparatus while six-year-old little brother Knox waits his turn during the Touch-a-Truck event Saturday, June 15, at Pigeon Point Park in Beaufort. Big fire trucks and Beaufort Police Department cruisers were big hits during the static display as children are allowed to sit in them, run on the lights and fire up the

Island News

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spent a large amount of money on development and infrastructure to perfect the permits, but now they are waiting on the financing to come “full circle” before moving forward.

“From the hotel’s standpoint, that’s easier than it is on the parking garage, so we hope that will happen in the foreseeable, not too far out future,” said Stewart.

With the parking structure, the prognosis is not as optimistic.

“If we build the hotel before the parking structure, we will be using that space for our existing business opportunities for the hotel,” Stewart said. “But then we are not going to shut the hotel down so we can come back in and build the

parking garage because we would have to shut the hotel down for around 14 months.”

Because of this, Stewart said that it is unlikely in the current environment that the parking structure will be built in downtown Beaufort, but he still believes that the lack of parking in downtown Beaufort is a big issue that needs to be addressed.

“We don’t see the parking [structure] being built on our property and would like to ask folks where they would like the parking structure to be?” said Stewart.

The property where the four-story parking garage was permitted to be built –in the 900 block of Craven Street – is currently being used for downtown parking and Stewart says they plan to clean up the property slated for the almost 62 000-square-foot hotel

will be used for parking as well until they are ready to build on it.

“I don’t know what is going to happen with downtown parking. We tried to help and engaged everybody in probably 20 meetings over 10 years or so, and we had forums downtown,” Stewart said. “Everybody came to the conclusion that this is the right thing until Graham [Trask] and Cynthia [Jenkins] decided they wanted to get involved and tried to stop it for their own agenda.”

Trask, using his business entities Mix Farms LLC and West Street Farms LLC, filed the first lawsuit against 303 Associates and the City of Beaufort in April 2021 In the suit, alleged that the approval of the parking garage and hotel by the City of Beaufort was illegal and violated Beaufort Code.

He wanted to see the proj -

ect be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

In June 2023, Judge R. Scott Sprouse denied that request and then Trask appealed.

Trask filed a second suit, through his businesses, to appeal the approval of the project and this time the HBF was included in the appeal.

This second appeal was denied by Judge Bentley Price int the Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 6, 2023

When contacted about the decision to indefinitely pause construction on the two structures downtown, Trask said that because Stewart and 303 Associates have their permits to build, they have always been able to go forward but have now chosen not to due to “micro economic events.”

“Do I think that this is good for Beaufort? I do think it’s good for Beaufort,”

City Council appoints board members, Municipal Court judges

From staff reports

Beaufort City Council made a number of appointments and reappointments to various city boards at its June 11 meeting.

Cultural District Advisory Board

Kathryn Mixon was reappointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30, 2027

She is on the board of the Beaufort History Museum. Lise Sundrla was reappointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30 2027 Sundrla is the assistant director of the Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Historic District Review Board

Kim Petrella was appointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30 2027

She has a background in architecture and design, and worked with the board to renovate her home in the Historic District.

Mike Sutton was reappointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30 2027

He owns Sutton Construction Co. and is a historic renovation and restoration contractor.

Parks & Tree Advisory Commission

Joe Macdermant was appointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30, 2027

He is the owner of University Bikes.

Isaiah Martinez was appointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30, 2027

He is an account manager at a local landscape company.

Tourist Development Advisory Committee

Jennifer Mader was appointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30, 2027

She is the operations manager at Plums Restaurant. Chetan Patel was reappointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30 2027 Patel is a hotelier in Beaufort.

Zoning Board of Appeals Ken Hoffman was reappointed to a three-year term to expire on June 30 2027 He has a background in real estate.

Municipal Court In separate action at the June 11 meeting, City Council reappointed Municipal Court Judges Ned Tupper and Mary Sharp to a twoyear term to expire on June 30, 2026. Both are veteran judges.

Trask told The Island News.

“I hope that should he ever decide to move forward that he will get his plans approved under the Beaufort code, because as of right now they are not.”

Trask said that if Stewart would just get his plans approved under Beaufort Code according to the law that he would be fine with them building.

“He clearly wants to blame me for him not moving forward, and so he is trying to present himself as a victim,” Trask said. “But my rationale in being forced to resort to the courts is to hold the city accountable and make them abide by their own laws.”

Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said that she is not surprised in the decision to pause construction as construction costs are generally up.

Jenkins said that all of the involved parties have had litigation costs.

As for parking, Jenkins agrees with Trask that a parking structure in downtown is not the answer and instead has suggested shuttles from a more remote parking location as a suggestion.

“We don’t have as much of a parking problem as some say unless there is a festival or event,” Jenkins said. Despite pumping the breaks on the hotel and parking structure, a 19unit apartment complex is planned for the 200 block of Charles Street.

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.

sirens. Bob Sofaly/The

Marine rescue mission saves men on Father’s Day

By Delayna Earley The Island News

A Spartanburg man and his father-in-law spent their spent much of their Father’s Day in an unexpected predicament.

Fripp Island Sea Rescue (FISR) was displaced just after 3:30 a.m. to respond to a Scout Center Console boat that was in distress in the marsh off Fripp Island according to Clay Emminger, chief of the Beaufort Water Search and Rescue (BWSAR).

The boaters had launched their boat from the Marina at around 8 p.m. on Saturday night, but they lost their way and got stuck when the tide went out.

Emminger said that they did everything right, they had a plan and put it into action before calling for help.

“Anyone who is from here and knows anything about pluff mud would know why they couldn’t simply just walk away from their boat,” Emminger said.

BWSAR partnered with FISR and the two organizations – along with the U.S. Coast Guard out of Savannah, Ga. – collaborated on this rescue.

Due to the location of the boat, none of the initial rescue attempts were successful because they could not get close enough for a safe rescue, according to a post on Facebook by Fripp Island

Sea Rescue. Rescuers made the decision to launch the BWSAR Airboat to try and get close enough to safely rescue the boaters.

At around 6:45 a.m. the Airboat was launched, but unfortunately due to mechanical difficulties, the boat was able to reach the boaters but was not able to remain operational to make the return trip with the boaters safely. It was decided at this time to

LEGAL NOTICES

OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BEAUFORT IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CASE NUMBER: 2024-CP-07-00543 SUMMONS ERNESTO FRIAS LEON, Plaintiff, -vsLYNELLCOLEMAN, ESTATE OF LYNELL COLEMAN, GEORGE COLEMAN, TYRIN COLEMAN, John Doe and

scribed in the Complaint herein Defendants, TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Complaint upon the subscriber at his office,125 Jefferies Blvd., Walterboro, South Carolina within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded in said Complaint. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to answer the foregoing Summons the Plaintiff will move for a general Order of Reference of cause to the Master -In-Equity or Special Referee for this County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53(3) of the South Carolina

Ring from page A1

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

Escaped inmate linked to case

These arrests come the same week as convicted sex offender Jaquan Duvall Barnes’ escape from the Jasper County Detention Center, and a source has confirmed to The Island News that Barnes is connected to this case.

Barnes was being held at the detention center following his March 5 arrest after he reportedly ran from police during a traffic stop. He was found with an underage girl who had been reported missing from Beaufort County in the car with him.

The 28-year-old Port Royal resident was charged with Trafficking

In Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age -- 1st offense, and was also charged with possession for the marijuana that they found in his pocket.

Barnes, who has previously plead guilty in Beaufort County to two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and has pending charges in Fulton County, Ga., for pimping a minor and trafficking a person for sexual servitude, has been missing since early in the week according to an alert

reach out to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for helicopter support, as it was the only way to safely rescue the boaters and now stranded rescuers.

A helicopter was deployed with a crew out of Air Station Charleston to carry the boaters and BWSAR crew to safety at the Ocean Creek golf course.

According to the release, despite being stranded for many hours, only one of the boaters was

Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the Master-In-Equity or Special Referee is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this case with any appeal to be direct to the Supreme Court of South Carolina. TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND/OR TO MINORS UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to represent said minor(s) within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff herein. Walterboro, South Carolina s/Benjamin C.P. Sapp 13th day of March, 2024 Benjamin C.P. Sapp, Attorney for the Plaintiff Sapp Law Firm Post Office Box 258 Walterboro, South Carolina 29488 (843) 549-5923 (843) 549-3269 Facsimile Email: bsapp@lowcountry.com

that was posted publicly on Monday afternoon.

SLED quickly took over the investigation, but Barnes remains at large.

What allegedly happened?

A source first told The Island News on Tuesday, June 11, that law enforcement had conducted raids at several Beaufort County residences, including at least one in Mossy Oaks and one on St. Helena Island and made several arrests in relation to a human trafficking operation in Beaufort County.

Another source the following day told The Island News that several men, from Beaufort County and possibly other areas, used the promise of employment, even going as far as placing advertisements, to lure multiple under-aged females to a location or locations where they were instead drugged, plied with alcohol, held against their will and forced to have sex with paying customers.

During this time, at least some of the victims were held at a location on St. Helena Island. It is unclear how law enforcement initially became aware of the trafficking operation.

Affadavits based on SLED’s investigation were presented by Special Agent Logan B. Fey no later than the first week in June to Beaufort Magistrate Richard Brooks. It’s unclear many warrants were issued, but at least seven signed by Brooks on Thursday, June 6 have been served.

The dates during which the trafficking took place, according to the warrants, were from February 1 2024 through March 5 2024

The three men arrested in Beau-

injured. He sustained a cut on his foot and was dehydrated. He was assessed and released by EMS on the scene.

Emminger said that they usually participate in roughly a hundred rescues per year, but it is rare that one is as drawn out as this one.

“Typically, we would have deployed a rescue crew and would have had the stranded boaters and crew back to the dock in an hour or so,” Emminger said. “This delayed

rescue was not typical, but it was necessary to get them back safely.” Emminger said that the younger man who was stranded was celebrating his first Father’s Day and has a young daughter at home.

Delayna Earley, 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.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BEAUFORT IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

CIVIL ACTION NO. 2023-CP-07-02331 NON-JURY

ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

LYMUS MIDDLETON, SR. and THOMASINA MIDDLETON, as Trustees of the Lymus Middleton, Sr. Trust dated April 24, 2015 Plaintiffs, vs

HEIRS OF DIANA SINGLETON AKA DIANA GREEN SINGLETON; HEIRS OF CHARLES SINGLETON AKA CHARLIE SINGLETON; HELEN DAISE; BERTHA BRADLEY, AS TRUSTEE; WILLIE MAE SINGLETON, AS TRUSTEE; GRETA S. MADDOX; SAMUEL ADAMS; BETTY ADAMS; RICHARD HOEKSEMA; SURIANA CANUTO PENA; JAMES H. MOSS D/B/A BEAUFORT SIX; and CYNTHIA GREGORY SMALLS; if living, and if not living, then the heirs or devisees of all such persons named above; and all persons unknown having or claiming to have any right, title, interest in or lien upon the real property described in the Complaint herein, being designated collectively as JOHN DOE and MARY ROE; including all persons who may be deceased, minors, in the Armed Forces of the United States, Non-Compos Mentis, and who may be under any other disability, who might have or claim to have any right, title, estate, interest in or lien upon the real property described in the

fort County, as well as Fields, were all charged with Trafficking In Persons, Victim Under 18 Years of Age.

That charge states that the accused “did the following: recruit, entice, solicit, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or so attempt, a victim, knowing that victim would be subjected to, or for the purposes of, sex trafficking, forced labor or services, for the purpose of performing commercial sex acts for compensation. That the defendant did know the victim was under the age of eighteen, and continued to subject the victim to a human sex trafficking scheme that he participated in.”

The warrants for Bryan, Talley and Youmans also allege that the accused arranged these acts from their residences. The Island News has not seen the warrant for Fields. Bryan and Youmans were also charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. That charge states that “the defendant did know that the victim was under the age of eighteen and knew she was a reported missing person from her proper residence. The defendant did provide housing and narcotics to the minor victim while encouraging the sex trafficking of the minor victim.”

Talley faces two additional charges -- Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree; and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 3nd Degree.

The second degree charge accuses Talley of “distributing, transporting, distributing, receiving, selling, purchasing, exchanging, or soliciting materials that contain a virtual representation of a minor engaged in a sexual activity or appearing in a state of sexually explicit nudity

… That the defendant through the use of his personally owned cellular device distributed the above referenced image.

The third degree charge accuses him of knowingly and willingly possessing “material that contained a visual representation of a minor engaged in a sexual activity or appearing in a state of sexually explicit nudity … That the defendant through the use of his personally owned cellular device received and possessed the above referenced image.”

Once again, those charges allege Talley arranged, gained or accessed those images at his residence.

Samuel Cyrus Blackmon, 37, of St. Helena Island was also charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana, as was Bryan. Blackmon was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department.

Youmans (12:58 p.m.), Bryan (1:36 p.m.) and Talley (6:06 p.m.) were booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center on Tuesday, June 11, according to the Detention Center logs at https:// www.beaufortcountysc.gov/detention-center/inmate-inquiry-system.html, but they did not show up on the site until Wednesday.

And according to a Jasper County Detention Center employee, Fields is incarcerated there, though he does not currently appear on the Jasper County Detention Center’s inmate logs on its website.

Meredith’s status is unclear. She does not appear on the Jasper County Detention Center’s inmate logs, and Hardeeville City Police have, as of yet, not responded to phone calls by The Island News

The victims Little is known publicly about the victims in this case except there are at least several. Sources have confirmed to The Island News there are multiple victims but can’t confirm if that means several or dozens.

From the same source, The Island News has also learned that at least one of the victims is Hispanic and at least one is as young as 14

It’s unclear if a certain type of victim was targeted, in what kind of conditions the victims were held, were they held together or separately, and in what condition were they now?

Though SLED confirmed the investigation and the initial arrests, efforts to contact them by phone have been fruitless, and no response has come to emails with specific questions.

The Hardeeville City Police Department has shared new details in a Facebook post, but phone calls remain unanswered, thus far.

Silence among the participating law enforcement entities could indicate more arrests are likely.

When the investigation is complete, the case will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Special Victims Prosecution Unit.

This story will be updated. Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com. Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The

Fripp Island Sea Rescue and Beaufort Water Search and Rescue were joined by the Coast Guard in a rescue mission in the marsh off Fripp Island early on Father’s Day. Photos courtesy of Fripp Island Sea Rescue

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

DANCE

The Beaufort Shag Club

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

FAITH

Vacation Bible School:

The Great Jungle Journey

9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, June 25 through Friday, June 28, Community Bible Church, 638 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Grand finale 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, June 28. Register at BeaufortVBS.com.

GOLF

Stingray Scramble

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

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

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

BEMER Circulation Therapy

10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist -- Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

HISTORY

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

The Historic Port Royal Museum

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

Tour Historic Fort Fremont

Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, self-guided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docent-led tours. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Scavenger hunt

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

Beachcombing for kids

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

DIY Lava Lamps with USCB

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

Monday Adventure Movie Matinee

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

“Lego” With Lego

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

Career Navigator

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application assistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-2556458.

MEETINGS

Indivisible Beaufort

11 a.m., Saturday, June 29, Beaufort Library Downtown, 311 Scott Street. Topic will be “How to Deal with These Profoundly Disorienting Times.” Featured speaker will be Reverend Lori Hlaban of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort. How do we cope with the anxiety of these disorienting times? There are no easy answers, but there are healthy ways to manage. Reverend Hlaban will lead a workshop on managing anxiety titled, “Hope for the Best -- It May Happen!” The event is free and open to the public.

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

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.

OUTDOORS

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

Tours of Hunting Island

Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843-838-7437. The next Tuesday is August 1.

PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

SEWING/QUILTING

Sea Island Quilters

6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 27, by Zoom and at Carteret Street United Methodist Church, 408 Carteret Street, Beaufort. We are meeting one week later due to Vacation Bible School at the church the week we usually meet. Join Zoom Meeting at https://bit. ly/3KMvGWq. Meeting ID: 849 5148 4011. Passcode: 637983. The program is Longarm Quilting Panel with Cynthia and Lynn. Learn about the process of longarming, various techniques, and best practices for preparing your quilts to be longarmed. Upcoming Workshops -- July 20: Collage Quilting with Maria Davis. Trunk Show at the meeting followed by a workshop with custom SIQ EXCLUSIVE Collage Quilt Pattern kit on July 22; Aug. 15: Trunk Show with Karen Guinn.

American Needlepoint

Guild Meeting

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

Embroidery Guild of America Meeting

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

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. United Methodist Church. Games and events will be held weekly. Director Susan Defoe. 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.

t o B e aufor t Memorial

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

to promising clinical trials, allowing local treatment for even the most complex cancers.

BeaufortMemorial.org/CancerCare

New principals named for local elementary schools

From staff reports

Veteran administrators have been selected to lead four Beaufort County School District (BCSD) schools, including St. Helena Elementary and WhaleBranch Elementary.

At St. Helena Elementary School, Constance Goodwine-Lewis, current principal at Broad River Elementary, will replace Tara Mack, who is retiring. Goodwine-Lewis, a native Beaufortonian and Battery Creek High School graduate, has

served her entire 24-year career at BCSD.

Starting as an elementary teacher at Shanklin and St. Helena elementary schools, Goodwine-Lewis then became certified in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). She went on to serve as assistant principal at Hilton Head Island School for the

Creative Arts and Broad River Elementary schools. Since 2009, she has served as principal of Broad River Elementary School. Goodwine-Lewis holds master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Special Education with an emphasis on Mathematics Inclusion from Charleston Southern University and Clemson.

At Whale Branch Elementary School, Carlos Williams replaces Marva Neal who is retiring. Williams began his career serving as a Special Education teacher at Mid-Carolina High School, and was an elementary school teacher at Watkins-Nance Elementary and W.S. Sandel Elementary schools in Columbia, as well as at Cesar Chavez Elementary in Hyattsville, Md. He served as district administrator of Richland County School

ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP

TCL places in top 100 in national cybersecurity competition

School’s cybersecurity program also graduates first class

From staff reports The Technical College of the Lowcountry recently made the top 100 “power rankings” for its performance in a national cybersecurity competition which included teams from community colleges and four-year institutions from across the country.

TCL’s team was ranked No. 75 out of the 476 colleges and universities that participated in the National Cyber League’s (NCL) “ethical hacking competition” – or

the legal practice of using hacker techniques to test systems for vulnerabilities.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for our students who worked very hard and put in a lot of time and effort,” said Angel Kern, TCL’s Cybersecurity Program Director who went on to say the ranking also spoke to the quality of TCL’s

programs and dedication of its faculty and staff. TCL’s team, made up of more than 40 students, went head to head with students from around the country in the months-long, online competition which culminated in mid-April with the teams’ portion of the event. Students performed real-world cybersecurity

tasks such as identifying hackers from forensic data, performing industry tests and audits, recovering from ransomware attacks and other challenges.

The rankings were based on the student’s individual performance, the team’s performance and the aggregate individual performance of its students.

Warren Parker, chairman and executive director for the

District One’s summer learning academy and as an assistant administrator and assistant principal at H.B. Rhame Jr. Elementary School in Columbia, where he also held the role of assistant principal at Edward E. Taylor Elementary School. Most recently, Williams served as BCSD’s Coordinator of Elementary Math. Williams holds a master’s degree in Divergent Learning from Columbia College

SC budget to ban cellphones in K-12 schools

The state Board of Education will decide how to implement the plan

By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Public school students across South Carolina will be barred from using their cellphones during the school day under a clause legislators agreed to add to the state spending plan Thursday. Education officials and teachers backed the proposal. For years, teachers have been asking the state for help controlling student cellphone use, said Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association.

“Cellphones are a mega distraction,” said East, who also teaches high school science. “It’s hard to teach with kids on their cellphones.”

The clause was one of a number of funding stipulations that a committee of three House members and three senators approved during days of negotiations on the state’s more than $13 8 billion budget.

To continue receiving state funds, public school districts must adopt the statewide policy, which the state Board of Education will write.

How the state board plans to enforce the policy, ensuring schools and districts are actually keeping phones out of students’ hands, remains to be seen. There are also questions over whether to allow certain exceptions for safety situations.

“We think cellphones are a huge distraction in the classroom,” East said. “We are happy to see something being done about it, but it’s all going to be down to implementation.”

For example, some parents have questioned whether they would be able to reach their children in case of an emergency, state Superintendent Ellen Weaver said during a board meeting last month. That concern will need to factor that into the final policy, she said.

“While we certainly don’t want to ever deny a parent access to their child, at the same time, I think we have to balance these very real safety and instructional concerns that cellphones create,” Weaver said. Varying policies

The goal is to improve students’ mental health and reduce bullying

Constance GoodwineLewis

Annabelle Nelson who is this year’s recipient of the education scholarship from the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry. Nelson was recognized at the year-end picnic by President Bob Bible, along with Interact Sponsor Cindy Lewis and Rotary Club Sponsor Dick Deuel. The Club wishes her success in her studies at Clemson University, Honors College.

Carlos Williams

ARTS & EDUCATION

Meckley BAA’s Featured Artist for July, August

From staff reports

The Beaufort Art Association has named Bluffton’s John Meckley its Featured Artist for the period from June 26 through August 28

Meckley’s show entitled “Low Country Egrets in Flight” will be on display at the Gallery of the Beaufort Art Association at 913 Bay Street in downtown Beaufort, under the black awning. An opening night reception featuring the artist will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 1 at the gallery.

Meckley’s love for art began at the age of 13. Self-taught, his inspiration came from works by Rembrandt and the Wyeth family artists. He likes to incorporate their styles with soft, smooth, warm brush strokes of his own. He limits his palette to warm, earthy tones. He believes his subjects portray a

sense of serenity and peacefulness. He won his first juried art show at the age of 17 in Pennsylvania. Since then, he has won numerous juried show awards in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, and South Carolina. At one time, he even had

Street Music ends on high

a painting hanging in the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C.

Until two years ago, Meckley’s works were mostly snapshots of life with people struggling with real life situations and conditions, such as a tear falling from an old man on a

note

Saturday’s brutally hot weather cooled down for a near perfect evening for the finale of the Port Royal Street Music concert series featuring the Seth Walker Band from Asheville, N.C., in downtown Port Royal. Lead guitarist and front man Seth Walker, right, seems to be serenading Liam O’Connor, 6, as she dances by herself during the performance. Bob Sofaly/ The Island News

Security

from page B1

South Coast Cyber Center, commended TCL for its ranking.

“This is a high honor for the program and is due to the hard work and leadership of all those involved in the competition and building the cybersecurity effort at TCL. Well done,” he said. Some of the same students who participated in the competition were also part of TCL’s first class of cybersecurity graduates.

Ban from page B1

both in-person and online, Weaver said. While social media has some benefits, it can also hurt young people’s mental health, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.

In some cases, students use their cellphones for legitimate learning purposes.

Peter Lauzon’s biomedical sciences class in Lexington-Richland School District

Five often takes photos of nature as part of their assignments, which they submit online. The problem is when students use their phones as a distraction, Lauzon told the S.C. Daily Gazette.

“If you’re competing with

TCL’s Cybersecurity Associate Degree program, featuring 63-credit hours of coursework, started in 2022

their favorite show on Netflix, that’s not always an easy thing to do,” Lauzon said.

“But there is use for phones.” Nationwide, about 77% of schools banned students from using their phones during school hours except for instructional purposes during the 2019-2020 school year, according to the latest available data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Across South Carolina, policies vary. Greenwood School District 50 trustees voted this week to ban phones during the school day. Charleston County School District only allows students to use their phones during certain parts of the day, such as at lunch. Richland School District One bans phones during class

The 2024 graduates were: Andrea Albridge, Samuel Alvey, Connor Anderson, Ambriance Lamar, John Lyons, Aimee Mentzer, Dorian Phillips, Raiven Venning and Kyle Wetter.

For more information on TCL’s cybersecurity program visit www.tcl.edu/cybersecurity.

time. Other districts have no policy at all.

House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister initially questioned whether the state needed an overarching rule, considering many districts already have their own rules about cellphones.

“Shouldn’t independently elected school boards weigh in on that?” Bannister said during budget debates Wednesday.

But going statewide will allow education officials to standardize policies across districts, Weaver said. That will likely involve working with superintendents who already have policies in place, “making sure that there is a benchmark for uniformity across the state,” Weaver said.

park bench waiting for the end to come. In 2019, he moved to Bluffton and remembers taking in the impressive scenery, driving across a bridge with a light rain falling and the sun still shining. He saw

a rainbow appear outside of the moving truck and he felt as if he could touch it. He noticed a flock of egrets in flight across the marsh and thought God was giving him a sign. Since then, egrets in flight have been his focus.

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Beaufort Gnann graduates from Northeastern

Beaufort’s Thomas Pinckney Gnann graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry from Northeastern University in May 2024

While at NEU, Gnann was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), had a semester abroad in Ireland at the University College Dublin, and had a 6-month co-op as a process engineer with a semiconductor manufacturer in Boston.

When asked why he chose chemical engineering Gnann said, "I have to thank Dr. Bota at Beaufort High School for instilling a love of chemistry in me. I decided I liked the large-scale, industrial application of chemistry the best so chemical engineering made the most sense."

Gnann plans to work in Tennessee as a chemical process engineer for Packaging Corporation of America.

3 from Beaufort graduate from University of Alabama

Three graduates from Beaufort were among those receiving degrees from the University of Alabama this spring.

Wylee Krasnigor (29909) received a

Principals

from page B1

and an Educational Specialist Degree from Walden University.

In two other moves, Matt Hall, current principal at Bluffton Middle School, replaces Denise Donica, who is retiring, at Bluffton High School; and at H.E. McCracken Middle School, with more than 20 years of administrative experience, Roger Ward takes over the helm.

“Every exceptional district has strong school leaders, and I’m excited to see these superb educators be successful in their new roles,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “They’re experienced, they understand the importance of creating a school culture of mov-

While the idea is popular among teachers, who have been calling for a solution for years, it may not be so popular among students.

“I’m willing for us to be the bad guys at the state level, if necessary, because I think this is just the No. 1 most common-sense thing we can do to start to get ahold of some of the discipline and mental health issues that our students are facing in school,” Weaver said.

The House and Senate both already had passed proposals limiting student’s cell phone use. But the two chambers differed on times those limits should be in place — all day or just during class time. On Thursday they agreed to a full-day ban, as the Senate proposed.

Other measures

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering; Alexandra Lee (29902) received a Bachelor of Arts; and Lexi Sligh (29906) received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences. Sligh was named to Presidents List for spring semester 2024. A total of 13 103 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2024 at The University of Alabama were named to the dean's list with an academic record of 3 5 (or above) or the president's list with an academic record of 4 0 (all A's). The University of Alabama is the state's flagship university.

2 locals make Wofford College 2024 Dean's List

Bailey Herron of Beaufort and Michaela Peeples of St. Helena Island were named to Wofford College's Dean's List as announced by Provost Timothy Schmitz for the spring 2024 semester.

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg. It offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of 1 800 undergraduates. It is nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, experiential learning opportunities and successful graduates.

– From staff reports

ing academic achievement and ensuring our students succeed.”

Interview committees were comprised of teacher leaders, feeder/cluster principals, School Improvement Council members, the Chief Human Resources Officer, a Human Resources representative, an Executive Director, a representative of the district’s Instructional Services division, and the Deputy Superintendent. The high school interview committee also included student leaders. After each round of interviews, committee members rated the candidates and those ratings were submitted to Superintendent Rodriguez, who made the final recommendations submitted to the Board of Education.

The district will also be selecting new principals for Broad River Elementary School and Bluffton Middle School this summer.

Also on the list of special budget rules agreed to Thursday were two controversial measures from the Senate. One will require libraries to get parental permission before allowing children and teenagers to check out books with sexual content or risk losing state funding. The other will require students to use bathrooms and locker rooms aligned with their biological sex at birth.

While the Republican senators who proposed the measures said they will protect children from inappropriate content or boys pretending to be girls to go in the wrong locker room, some Democrats pushed back.

Sen. Tameika Isaac

Devine, D-Columbia, argued restricting library books will penalize small libraries. She also argued requiring students use certain bathrooms will open up the state to lawsuits, as well as hurt transgender students who want to use the bathroom aligned with their gender. Both proposals passed the Senate along party lines. The six-legislator committee agreed to add them to the final spending proposal.

Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau. S.C.

nonprofit news organization.

“Beaufort Docks” by John Meckley. Submitted

“Shadows” by John Meckley. Submitted

American Legion baseball

Charleston’s David Stallworth slides safely into second base as Beaufort’s Conley Steed fields a late throw during the early innings of their American Legion baseball game Friday, June 14, at Battery Creek High School. The Ospreys lost to the powerful Woodies 24-1 to fall to 0-5 in League 1 play. Beaufort is off this week before hosting Moncks Corner for the opener of a threegame series at 7 p.m. Monday at Battery Creek. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Hilton Head

all-stars dominating district tourneys

LowcoSports.com

The all-stars from Hilton Head have been the big winners so far this summer in Diamond Youth Baseball District 8 tournaments on the baseball diamond.

Hilton Head hosted both the 8-and-under coach pitch and 10-and-under Minors tournaments at The Crossings Park, and both host teams breezed to the titles.

The 8u Beaufort American squad fell just short of reaching the championship game, dropping a wild 16-15 game to Bluffton Na-

tional, which was blanked 8-0 by Hilton Head for the title.

Beaufort’s 10u all-stars also came within one win of reaching the championship, which went to a dominant Hilton Head team that outscored its three opponents 56-0.

The 12-and-under tournament started Monday at Burton Wells Complex, and the Beaufort All-Stars took their opener, hammering Colleton County 13-3 to advance to a winner’s bracket matchup with Hilton Head on Tuesday.

Beaufort vs. Bluffton rivalry developing on diamond

LowcoSports.com

The Diamond Youth Softball District 8 tournaments have all followed a similar script, and the theme is a budding rivalry between Beaufort and Bluffton for Lowcountry bragging rights.

Bluffton has been on the better end of things thus far, winning the 8-and-under and 10-and-under district titles and claiming the first game of a best-of-three series for the 12-and-under championship.

In the 8u coach pitch tournament last week at Burton Wells Complex, Beaufort opened with an 11-9 win over Colleton County before running into a Bluffton buzzsaw for two lopsided defeats. The outcomes were the same in the 10u tournament at Oscar Frazier Park

Beaufort 10-and-under all-star Veda Catlett delivers a pitch while Emmalyn Bearden readies herself on defense during an 8-7 loss to Bluffton on Saturday in the Diamond Youth Softball District 8 tournament at Oscar Frazier Park. Justin Jarrett/ LowcoSports.com

in Bluffton, where the host team held off Beaufort for an 8-7 win Saturday and clinched the title with a 9-2 victory Sunday.

The 12u district championship series was slated to continue Tuesday with Game 3 on Wednesday if necessary.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Options & References for a Healthier Life

Can you reduce stress with aromatherapy?

Research shows how the use of essential oils can offer a calming effect

Can easing stress be as simple as taking a whiff of something that smells pleasant? That’s the working theory behind aromatherapy, an ancient form of treatment that continues to captivate our senses today.

Quite simply, interest in aromatherapy is booming. But does this form of complementary and alternative medicine pass the scientific sniff test and deliver stress-relieving results? Functional medicine specialist Melissa Young, MD., helps to explain.

Possible benefits of aromatherapy

The use of aromatherapy dates back thousands of years.

“Aromatherapy has strong roots,” says Dr. Young. “It has been used throughout history for health reasons—and many studies and research we’re doing today show just how useful it can be in some situations.”

Common techniques for aromatherapy include inhalation of steamed or diffused essential oils, massage, or baths. As a therapy for stress and related issues, it’s being put into practice in the following ways:

Improve sleep quality – Stress is a heavy weight on your mind and body that can keep you up at night. But the calming effect of aromatherapy may help people set aside worries long enough to catch some sleep.

Want proof? Consider this: Researchers found that aromatherapy using lavender reduced stress and improved sleep quality for patients in an intensive care unit. (That’s an environment that isn’t exactly relaxing.) Patients who received aromatherapy also experienced reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, two vital signs typically driven up by stress. The effect is seen outside of a hospital setting, too. A review of 30 different studies looking at aromatherapy and sleep quality found that the treatment improves ZZZs by lowering stress, pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

Reduce anxiety – “Going under the knife” isn’t quite a sooth-

ing thought as you await surgery, which explains why so many people experience high anxiety before they make that long roll into an operating room. Aromatherapy appears to ease those worries. A review of 27 studies showed that aromatherapy greatly reduced anxiety in patients awaiting procedures ranging from cardiac surgery to low-risk procedures.

We’ve seen some very good evidence regarding how aromatherapy can be used to help people reduce anxiety pre-procedure, so much so that we’re seeing it used in hospitals now,” notes Dr. Young. Lavender, citrus and rose essential oils were the most used scents in the studies. Delivery modes included inhalation and massage.

Boost mood and ease depression – Various studies have shown how aromatherapy massage may help relieve depression symptoms and improve overall mood. Another study suggests that aromatherapy massage could help lift postpartum “baby blues” after delivery.

Aromatherapy massage and inhalation also has been shown to reduce pain and improve quality of life during menstruation.

“We’re learning more and more about how aromatherapy can be used therapeutically to address all sorts of different needs,” says Dr. Young. “There’s more and more data available to us.”

If you do have symptoms of depression, it’s best to see a healthcare provider to get an assessment and treatment plan. At-home aromatherapy is not a substitute for professional mental healthcare.

How aromatherapy works

How does a simple sniff of certain essential oils trigger these sorts of results? The explanation centers on how your brain and the rest of your nervous system respond to the aromatic stimuli. Essential oils release tiny molecules into the air that enter your nose when you inhale. Receptors in your nose pick up the scent and alert your brain through your olfactory nerve, explains Dr. Young. That sets off activity (including hormone release) within the part

of your brain that controls your emotions.

“That’s one of the reasons why people may feel calmer and happier after aromatherapy,” she adds. “These smells influence our brain and nervous system. It’s really an incredible process.”

Which essential oils target stress?

Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts made from flowers, seeds, stems, leaves and other plant parts. The oil is pulled out of the plant through means such as distillation, steam, or mechanical cold press.

Different oils target different conditions. Lavender is often used for relief of stress and anxiety. Ditto for chamomile, clary sage and geranium.

Other variations connected to stress relief include:

Bergamot

Frankincense

Jasmine

Laurel

Lemon

Mandarin

Patchouli

Pine Rose

Sandalwood

Sweet orange

• Ylang-ylang

Given their concentrated strength, essential oils should be diluted with carrier oils for safe use on skin in aromatherapy massage or baths. Examples of carrier oil include coconut oil, grapeseed oil and olive oil.

Should anyone avoid aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy isn’t recommended if you have or experience health issues involving:

Asthma or other respiratory diseases

Allergies

Epilepsy

Migraine headaches

Seizures

“Aromatherapy may be triggering if you have certain conditions,” warns Dr. Young. “It’s best to use caution in those instances.”

Talk to your healthcare provider before trying aromatherapy if you’re pregnant or taking a prescription medication. They may recommend against using certain essential oils or techniques in some situations.

Safety tips for essential oils

Other cautions with essential oils include:

Avoid using them near an open flame, as essential oils are flammable. (It’s not a good idea to leave them in a hot car for that reason, too.)

Don’t consume them orally. Limit the use of essential oils around pets and children. Avoid applying essential oils to your skin before going out in the sun as they can cause photosensitivity.

The purity and quality of essential oils on the market also can be an issue. Despite being used for health issues, essential oils aren’t regulated as a pharmaceutical used to treat, cure, or prevent illness. Instead, most essential oils fall under a cosmetics classification.

Finding quality essential oils begins by researching to find a reputable manufacturer, says Dr.

Young. She recommends looking for products labeled as “organic” or “therapeutic grade.” Check for the Latin name of the oil source on the label, too.

It’s also best to stay away from fragranced products, as those often include synthetic ingredients. And while everyone likes a good deal, be wary of cheap essential oils. (“Odds are they’re not pure,” says Dr. Young.)

There’s no shortage of aromatherapy products available for anyone who wants to try this ancient-yet-modernized form of holistic treatment for stress. The market makes it incredibly easy to get started.

But before you begin, it’s important to understand how to do aromatherapy and its limitations. Aromatherapy shouldn’t be used as a substitute for other medications.

“Aromatherapy is complementary to conventional medicine,” emphasizes Dr. Young. “Talk to your healthcare provider about whether it’s right for you and your situation. They’re your best bet to find an effective and safe path forward.”

Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ stressed-out-aromatherapy-can-help-youto-feel-calmer

Does beet juice lower blood pressure?

Beetroot (beet) juice can help lower blood pressure. Research has found that the daily consumption of beet juice may benefit people with hypertension, or high blood pressure.

may not be as effective as medications for high blood pressure. A person should always discuss their treatment plan with their doctor.

weakness or tiredness

headache back or neck pain heart palpitations

nausea

How long it takes for beet juice to lower blood pressure can vary. However, a stated that beet juice lowers blood pressure in about 3 hours. Further research suggests that drinking beet juice daily for at least 60 days provides the most benefits, helping significantly improve hypertension.

Low blood pressure, which is known as hypotension, can be serious in some cases. If a person experiences any severe symptoms of hypotension that do not improve with sitting or lying down, they need to seek immediate medical help.

Studies have included individuals with and without high blood pressure. The regular consumption of beet juice led to an average reduction of 3 55 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for sys-

Beets are a sweet root vegetable that has plenty of beneficial properties. This is because beets contain many electrolytes, antioxidants, and many other compounds that can support the health of the brain and cardiovascular system. Beets are rich in nitrate, a compound necessary for nitric oxide production. The body naturally produces nitric oxide, which has a vasorelaxant function. This means it can help relax and widen the blood vessels, helping lower blood pressure. As beets can boost the production of nitric oxide by increasing the concentration of nitrate in the bloodstream, consuming beet juice may help lower blood pressure. A doctor may recommend consuming beet juice to help manage high blood pressure.

tolic blood pressure and 1 32 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. This reduction in blood pressure can cause a significant risk reduction for stroke and other complications that may occur in the cardiovascular system due to hypertension.

While it can help lower blood pressure, beet juice

A doctor can advise on whether drinking beet juice alongside taking medications to lower blood pressure may lower a person’s blood pressure too much. If this occurs, the individual may experience symptoms such as:

• dizziness or lightheadedness blurry vision fainting confusion

Consuming a lot of beet juice may have some downsides. It may change the color of urine and feces due to its pigments. Because of its high oxalate content, beet juice may increase the risk of developing kidney stones for those who have a higher risk of this condition. Beets are high in nitrates. A 2021 systematic review stated that ingesting high levels of nitrates may increase the risk of cancer.

This is because it may form carcinogen compounds after interacting with the digestive system. However, this may balance out due to the positive effects of the antioxidant compounds in beets, as these have an antitumor effect that lowers the risk of developing cancer. Beets can also help improve liver and kidney health while boosting cognitive and physical performance, and beet juice may offer these same benefits.

Eating beets may help lower blood pressure. However, most of the studies focus on the consumption of beet juice. Insufficient scientific evidence exists to confirm whether eating beets has the same beneficial effect as drinking beet juice.

Source: Adapted from the article at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ articles/288229

Health screenings that every woman needs

Women often take on the responsibility of coordinating their family’s health care needs. As a result, they may overlook their own. Comprehensive women’s health screenings are a crucial way to ensure women maintain awareness of their health.

When you stay up to date on these screenings, your health care provider can identify potential health issues early on, increasing the chance for better health outcomes.

“Regular screenings can detect many types of cancer in its early stages, when it is more likely to be treatable,” says Dr. Marlena Masavage, a board-certified OBGYN at Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists. “Screenings can also show signs of other serious health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Screenings in your 20s and 30s

It’s common for young women to skip annual wellness visits. But it’s important to keep up with your preventive care even when you feel perfectly healthy.

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other leading organizations, recommended screenings during these decades include:

Anxiety and depression screening

Blood pressure screen-

ing

Cervical cancer screening every three years

Cholesterol screening

Diabetes screening every three years starting at age 35

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV screening if you are sexually active

Additionally, women at increased risk of breast cancer or colorectal cancer may need to start screenings for those conditions in their 30s.

Screenings in your 40s and 50s

As we get older, our bodies change and are more susceptible to certain health conditions. Your provider can reference your personal health history to help detect small changes in your health if you keep up with regular health screenings.

The following screenings are recommended throughout your 40s and 50s:

Blood pressure screening once per year

Breast cancer screening beginning at age 40

Cervical cancer screening every three to five years

Cholesterol screening every five years starting at age 45

Colorectal cancer screening at ages 45 and 55

Diabetes screening every three years

Lung cancer screening if you are a former or current heavy smoker, starting at age 50

Osteoporosis screening in your 50s

Additionally, if your blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol is high, your providers can help you learn how you can reduce those numbers and lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Screenings for 60 and beyond

Comprehensive women’s health care is crucial as you enter your 60s. All women need a DEXA (bone density scan) for osteoporosis at age 65. You should also continue with regular screenings for diabetes and heart disease as long as you are in good health and according to your own personal risk factors. Your provider may recommend stopping certain cancer screenings later in life. As we age, our overall health and risk factors may change, and some screenings may no

longer be necessary or appropriate. Additionally, certain cancer screenings may pose more risks than benefits for older adults, such as false positives that can lead to unnecessary invasive procedures. Nevertheless, it is important to discuss your individual health needs and risk factors with your health care provider. Your health care provider may recommend that you stop some cancer screenings, including: Breast cancer at age 75

Cervical cancer at age 65

Colorectal cancer at age 75 Lung cancer after age 80

“We are here to help you navigate cancer screenings, stay up to date on vaccinations, look for signs of heart disease and prediabetes, and provide other preventive care services,” Dr. Masavage says. “We can also answer all your questions about birth control, pregnancy, menopause and everything else.”

Tips for spotting and removing ticks

Tick season is back, and if you enjoy spending time outdoors, it’s important to keep an eye out for those little critters. “They can carry all kinds of diseases,” says Christopher Bazzoli, MD, emergency medicine physician with Cleveland Clinic.

“They can carry Lyme disease, which is transmitted by the deer tick. We also have Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is transmitted by the dog tick. It’s not just found in the Rockies, but throughout parts of the US” said Dr. Bazzoli. “And then we even have illnesses caused by ticks that aren’t necessarily from things like a virus or protozoa, things like alpha-gal syndrome, where people bitten by tickets actually become allergic to a protein in red meat."

wise

Dr. Bazzoli said ticks are typically found in wooded areas or places with tall grass where they can crawl onto their prey. To help avoid being bit, he recommends using tick repellent and wearing

long sleeved, light-colored clothing. You can also tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants. That way the tick can’t get to your skin. If a tick does wind up biting you,

he said it’s very important to make sure you properly remove the tick.

The best method is to use a pair of tweezers.

“When we go to remove a tick, we’re not doing anything wild like

burning a tick off, we don’t need any heat, anything like that. Simply get a good pair of tweezers you’re going to go where the head is attached into the skin and you’re going to pull straight up. So nice simple movement, nice steady pressure,” he advised.

Dr. Bazzoli said once you remove the tick, be sure to wash the area with soap and water so it doesn’t get infected.

You should also be on the lookout for any symptoms like a fever, chills, aches, pains, and rashes. If they become severe, it’s best to seek medical attention.

And don’t forget about your pets. They can also get bit by a tick.

Source: Cleveland Clinic News Service, ccnewsservice@ccf.org

Picnics can be a fun way to enjoy the summer season. But improper handling of the food can mean trouble in the form of foodborne germs. Before you fill your cooler, review these tips for safer picnics.

Picnic tip No. 1: When you open the cooler, keep an eye on the clock.

"The general rule is to have food out only two hours," says Kate Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist. "However, on a hot day–90 [degrees Fahrenheit] and above–you want to limit the time that food is out in that hot weather to one hour." She adds, "You might

even consider a bowl of ice. And, then, sit your food container in that ice. That can help maintain a cool temperature."

Picnic tip No. 2: Pay special attention to proteins. "Bacteria like protein," says Zeratsky. Keep meat cold until it hits the grill. Then, use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s cooked to a safe

temperature. At least 160 degrees [degrees Fahrenheit] for ground meats and 165 [degrees Fahrenheit] for poultry.

Picnic tip No. 3: Shield your sweets, including the ones from Mother Nature.

"Fruit, with its natural sugars, is going to attract some bugs," says Zeratsky. "So you might want to keep it covered."

And picnic tip No. 4: Better to be safe than sorry. "When in doubt, throw it out. You don’t want anyone to get sick.”

Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayoclinic-minute-tips-for-safer-picnics/

A patient receiving a mammogram at the Beaufort Memorial Breast Health Center. The center is fully accredited by the American College of Radiology and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Photo by Paul Nurnberg

VOICES

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

I don’t doubt the Sunshine Inn was a real surprise

It is Friday and I’m in the lobby of Aloft Wilmington. This sleek, minimalist hotel emerges (from the back) of what was the red-bricked, threestoried freight terminal of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad — a building once known to my grandfather.

Susan and I drove up from Beaufort yesterday, taking a brief detour into Murrell’s Inlet. The detour was an effort to locate some trace of Oliver’s Lodge — a rambling, unpainted restaurant opened in 1910 by Captain Billy Oliver.

Susan and I were married in the late 60s while I was still a law student in Washington, DC. After graduation we moved to Ocean Drive Beach (now called North Myrtle Beach) where we operated the “Sunshine Inn” four blocks from the Ocean. This two-storied cottage — four bedrooms and a bunkhouse — had been built in the 1920s by my grandfather.

SCOTT GRABER

Every night Sheriff Merlin Bellamy and his deputies would sweep through the still-warm dunes looking for vagrants and “hipsters.” Sheriff Bellamy would “suggest” (to those found sleeping) local, low cost lodging that sometimes included the “Sunshine Inn.” We would receive these guests right around midnight. The rate was $10 and usually included a cot in the bunkhouse. But if the “Taj” was full we would make a pallet in the kitchen — sometimes under the sink.

Susan had grown up in Darien, Conn., just north

of Manhattan, the issue of a successful advertising executive. She was familiar with the grandeur of the Waldorf, the smallscaled quirkiness of the Algonguin, but new to the linoleum, oil-clothed, screened-porched ambiance of the “Sunshine Inn.”

To complicate matters I was spending my work week in Columbia, preparing for the bar examination. And so Susan had to operate the Inn alone, sometimes trading personal items (boxing gloves) for a night on the floor of the kitchen.

In an effort to make this hospitality experience more attractive, I promised Susan we would eat, at least once every weekend, in a fashionable, table-clothed, heavy silvered restaurant. You must realize I made this promise to a young woman who knew how to pronounce Bouillabaisse, Vichyssoise and Moulesfrites.

We began this project in the huge dining room at the Ocean Forest Hotel, followed by the Sea Captain’s House, the Rice Planters Inn and then the Whistling Pig in Georgetown. I made an effort to get her hooked on Calabash-made hush puppies but she was not deceived or amused by this detour into the realm of the deep fat fryer. In desperation I suggested an afternoon hike through Brookgreen Gardens followed by dinner at a place called Oliver’s Lodge.

In those early days of our marriage (and to this day) I was stunned that this elegant, Connecticut girl would be interested in me on any level. Her father had told me, in his Darien study, that I was not worthy of his daughter.

Nor could I believe that she had followed me to Ocean Drive Beach and had happily engaged in the toilet-scrubbing, linen-changing, sand-re-

moving routine irrevocably attached to beachside hospitality in 1969. And so yesterday — as we stood in the vacant parking lot viewing the remains of Oliver’s Lodge — I asked her how she endured me and the daily indignities of our minimalist lodgings four blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.

“You were going to be a lawyer,” she replied. “And yes I assumed you were going to work in Washington, or New York, and the “Sunshine Inn” was a real surprise.”

“I don’t doubt it,” I said.

“But there was the Atlantic Ocean,” she said. “After we swept the sand out of the bedrooms, stuffed our towels and sheets into the coin-operated washers, we would swim out beyond the breakers. Sometimes we would swim together for two hours.”

“And then there were your hikes.”

“Hikes?”

“We would walk down the strand to Cherry Grove, sometimes silent, sometimes talking, trying to get to know each other better.” Yesterday, as we stood where thousands of hungry customers once waited for their flounder, whiting and shrimp, I remembered those five mile-long hikes and the intermittent conversation we had walking among the jelly balls, burrowing shells and bleached white crabs. I also remembered my expectation — the excitement of being attached to this beautiful Connecticut girl who, apparently, was going to stick around. And I do remember thinking we just might have a good, full, interesting life notwithstanding the fact we were from different cultures; different geographies; totally different solar systems.

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

Education Department’s book ban needs to go away now

Charleston City Paper

Editorial Board

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) insists its proposed regulation banning books with “depictions of sexual conduct” from public school classrooms and libraries isn’t a book ban. George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth would be proud.

Of course, to understand that “Ministry of Truth” reference, you have to have read Orwell’s classic dystopian novel “1984,” as many of us did in high school.

Too bad South Carolina’s next generation may not be able to say the same. Because once SCDE’s Dirty Books Unit finds out what Winston and Julia were up to when Big Brother wasn’t watching, they’ll pull the classic in a skinny minute.

And no, this is not anti-censorship hysteria. Iowa schools

Obanned “1984,” – along with “Beloved,” “As I Lay Dying” and about 3 500 other books – under a similar law in 2023. Expect the same here if SCDE’s “sexual conduct” prohibition is allowed to go into effect as scheduled on June 25

As Greenville children’s book author and public-school mom

Jessica Khoury recently told the City Paper: “Honestly, the language in this regulation is so vague, it could be used against almost any book.”

Khoury’s right. By borrowing the definition of “sexual conduct” from the state’s obscenity law, the rule effectively outlaws the tamest of sexual depictions. Even a chaste description of, say, an old-fashioned “petting session” between two fully-clothed consenting adults would be enough to get a book thrown out.

“I was looking at a sample AP

Literature exam and over half the books covered would be banned under this standard,” Charleston Democratic Rep. Spencer Wetmore said in an interview. “That’s a problem.”

Unfortunately, thanks to a legislative foul-up, that problem isn’t easy to fix.

Normally, the S.C. legislature reviews and votes on new rules within 120 days. If members don’t, the rule becomes law automatically. In this case – in what many lawmakers say was an oversight – legislators failed to act before going out of regular session on May 9

So now, there are only two options to stop it: A two-thirds vote of the legislature or a voluntary withdrawal by state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver.

Clearly, the second option would be simplest, which is why we’re calling on Weaver to pull the rule immediately. As in right this min-

It’s the unelected censors using vague, one-size-fits-all statewide standards who need to stay out of it.”

ute – today. She can then bring it back next January when the legislature has time to properly vet and vote on it. But Weaver is a political animal and she might be afraid of bucking her conservative base.

Otherwise, legislators must vote to block the rule when they return in special session. That, too, isn’t the easiest of things to do. But some things, including our kids’ freedom to read great books, are worth it.

To be clear, none of this is to suggest that parents, teachers, librarians, and local school boards shouldn’t exercise good judgment in deciding which books

to make available to students at various grade levels. They should. It’s the unelected censors using vague, one-size-fits-all statewide standards who need to stay out of it.

No practical South Carolinian – regardless of race, creed or politics – wants to live in a state where “sexual depictions” are instantly accessible on every teenager’s phone, but the works of George Orwell or Toni Morrison or Kurt Vonnegut or Mark Twain are too lewd for school.

Charleston City Paper is an award-winning weekly newspaper in Charleston, S.C.

Your lack of enthusiasm has consequences

n the evening of June 11, before going to bed, I checked the vote count for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, a seat that stretches from Greater Charleston to Hilton Head Island. It did not look promising for the person I had supported and voted for -- Mac Deford.

The next day, my apprehension was confirmed. Mac had lost by a mere 681 votes. Every bit as depressing as this result was the total vote count. Only 21,081 votes had been cast in this two way race. Think about that for a moment, and let the implications sink in. Only 21,000 people (supposedly Democrats, possibly Independents) were sufficiently concerned about our present day situation in the U.S. House of Representatives to get out and vote.

Was it an assumption that Nancy Mace was going to win anyway, so why both-

er? Was it the old fall-back of ‘one vote won’t make a difference?’

I wrote about Representative Mace last week, and my article was hardly a glowing report. While I have no intentions of reiterating my concerns regarding her questionable activities, let me say that we need every citizen who has even the remotest concern about the direction our country is headed to go to the ballot box. And that should have included the election of June11.

While it may seem to be a moot point at this juncture, I am going to dedicate this week’s column to Deford

because I believe his time in politics is far from over.

This young man is enthusiastic about and devoted to many issues that impact all of us. Perhaps the one that touches me more than any is that of a woman’s right to choose what she does with her own body. I listened to Deford speak on three occasions, and the story he told of his grandmother’s passing as the result of a backstreet abortion, leaving several children to go into foster homes, hit me the hardest. I was forced to wonder how many have faced this, and to ponder what I might have done, had I been in the same position.

If the only issue of Deford’s platform were a woman’s reproductive rights, I would still have voted for him. However, he is adamant about common-sense gun reform and was awarded the 2024 Gun Sense candidate distinction by Moms Demand Action.

Deford was the only candidate, Democrat or Republican, in the race for the 1st Congressional District to be awarded the distinction of a Gun-Sense Candidate.

“Amid a crisis where our state leads in one of the highest rates of gun-related deaths, our state legislature has irresponsibly passed permitless carry,” stated Deford. “This law is indefensible, eliminating training requirements and essentially basing the public carrying of firearms on an honor system. It’s absurd — our regulations are stricter for liquor than for guns. You can purchase a gun on a Sunday, but you’re prohibited from buying liquor.”

At this juncture, I believe a little history of what Deford has done for his country and for South Carolina is called for.

Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, active duty. This took him to Baltimore where he served as a

Coast Guard Police Officer.

At the young age of 19 he was appointed as a Watch Commander for the base police department. Two years later he was transferred to Charleston where he became a Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist. This position included the training of others as well as participating in search and rescue operations. With an honorable discharge, he went on to attend The Citadel and the Charleston School of Law which enabled him to engage in public service, something that was always an ultimate goal.

Deford has “all the right stuff” to enter the national political scene. He is deeply devoted to bettering the lives of those in the Lowcountry by engaging in policies that include environmental protection, affordable housing, and infrastructure. His approach in all that he does is to generate a positive, cooperative

work atmosphere by listening to everyone’s ideas. There is no reason to think he will not try to bring that same approach to federal governance. Doesn’t that sound like what we need to help defuse the vitriol we see in D.C. today? Isn’t it a breath of fresh air? Of course I will vote for Michael Moore in November, but I won’t forget about Mac Deford. I won’t forget his youthful enthusiasm, his ability to articulate (after all I was an English teacher) and his objectives in providing meaningful representation of South Carolina. I feel very strongly that Deford may have been sidetracked in this election, but he certainly hasn’t been derailed. Much lies ahead for him.

Carol

and

Lucas is a retired high school teacher

a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”

CAROL LUCAS

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

Something wicked this way comes

I’m not Spider-Man, but if I were, I’m pretty sure my “Spidey” senses would be driving me nuts right now.

See, the Marvel comic book and movie superhero has a built-in early warning system for when danger is approaching, whether it’s a falling piano or an incoming punch from one of his gallery of villains. He doesn’t always know what the threat is, but he knows the threat exists. And it’s getting close.

Well, my early warning system is tingling — yours too, probably — and there’s good reason.

A conservative bloc in this country is getting closer every day to wiping out many of the freedoms we have enjoyed over the past half-century, that define what “freedom” really means, and they’re obtuse enough to think we’re too dumb to notice how we’re being groomed for it.

One example is the slow-motion roll-out of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ admissions he has been in the pocket of conservative super-donors for a major part of his tenure on the high court. ProPublica broke a story in April 2023 about how Thomas had been

on vacations hosted and paid for by billionaire Harlan Crowe.

Thomas defended the outings as “friendly trips.” He claimed he’d asked advice from unnamed colleagues in the judiciary who told him they weren’t conflicts of interest despite being worth an estimated $500,000. In the 15 months since that first report, more disclosures have shown Thomas enjoyed other “friendly trips” worth a total value of at least $5 million over the past 20 years.

You can thank Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee for inquiring into this fiasco. Republicans? They say Democrats are “smearing” Thomas because the court has swung hard right and want to regain control.

The first problem is we have

a Supreme Court justice whose ethical lapses would have gotten him booted from presiding over a typical municipal court.

The second problem is there’s no means for addressing his corruption because the court isn’t going to police itself and half the legislative branch is controlled by a party that will look the other way as long Thomas keeps helping it achieve its agenda. Abortion rights? Gone. Contraceptive rights? Endangered. Thomas has even said he wishes for a review of same-sex and interracial marriages — and his wife is white!

Another example? The former president is convicted of election tampering for paying an adult film star to hide the story of their dalliances, and he and his minions go on national TV to announce a revenge tour. Their justification? Claiming (falsely) that his prosecution was based solely on political motivations.

Another? Conservatives have broadened their affirmative action rollbacks to take on even the least offensive efforts to remedy decades of overt racial discrimination.

MJust last week a federal appeals court ruling stopped a venture capital firm from reserving funds for businesses owned by Black women because it might discriminate against other races.

“Other races” is a phrase to cover for white people. That’s who sued in this case. That’s who sued to block federal debt relief to Black farmers who had been discriminated against in lending from the USDA. That’s who sued to eliminate affirmative action in college admissions.

Let me get this straight: We cannot level the playing field produced by racism because doing so might racially discriminate against the people who previously practiced and benefited from racism.

Someone please, make it make sense.

Another example is the general coarseness of public discourse practiced by the right. I’m no shrinking violet, but I’m tired of turning on the news and hearing profanity. Sometimes it’s aired straight from the horses’ mouths and at others it’s paraphrases of comments from the former presi-

dent or one of his attack dogs. Not only do they openly threaten their political opponents, they threaten their own party members who don’t lick the boot with sufficient enthusiasm. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene never misses a chance to stain the air with her venomous utterances. She’s like Peanuts’ Pig-Pen taken to the extreme, walking around in a cloud of hateful crassness. Openly corrupt judges. The re-institutionalization of racial bias. The denial of women controlling their bodies. Threats of political violence. Unprovoked vulgarities in the public arena. What “good ol’ days” are they trying to reinstate? What “Christian nation” behaves like this? What deity would authorize this divisiveness?

And I’ve barely scratched the surface with these examples. My senses are tingling all right, and if yours are not, you’re not paying close enough attention. It’s time to start.

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

Turnout, scattered strategies created odd primary

aybe the biggest story of the June 11 primary elections is that a turned-off electorate doesn’t turn out to vote. Participation statewide was abysmal, as only 13 6% of registered voters — about 440,000 out of 3 2 million — went to the polls. But in some places, the apathy was so bad that participation didn’t get out of the single digits. Just look at turnout in Georgetown County (5 4%), Florence County (8 1%) and Horry County (8 5%). In those places, there wasn’t enough competition on the ballots to attract voters. Or maybe they were just sick and tired of the whole mess. Look at the 1st Congressional District race where Republicans reportedly dropped more than $8 million into television, digital and other outreach

Oefforts to get people to pick incumbent Nancy Mace or challengers Catherine Templeton or Bill Young. But voting wasn’t much better than the state average with turnout at 13% in Charleston County, 14 8% in Beaufort County, 13 5% in Dorchester County and 12 1% in Berkeley County. The First District race among Democrats was notable for the opposite — the comparatively paltry amount of money spent and almost invisible television presence by candidates Michael B. Moore and Mac

Deford. They did what they could, but they didn’t excite turnout, perhaps proving that going on TV is more important than trying to reach masses of voters by attending party functions, parades, community meetings, garden parties and living room visits.

There was more excitement in the Upstate where hard-right Freedom Caucus House candidates clashed with more than two dozen challengers. And there was an open seat in the 3rd Congressional District race and an interesting dynamic in the Fourth District (an incumbent accused of an extramarital affair in the conservative region). County participation was higher than this year’s average — Greenville (17 4%), Oconee (21 5%), Spartanburg (15 6%), Greenwood (18 1%) and Anderson (20 5%), but it’s pretty sad when the high

participation rate is one in five registered voters.

So the big winner was apathy.

And the biggest loser seemed to be the mainstream Republican establishment, which wasn’t able to make much of a dent in reducing the presence of the gadfly S.C. Freedom Caucus, devoted to using outrageous social conservatism to roil more traditional Republicans.

Perhaps if more center-right Republicans focused their efforts on taking out the leaders of the caucus, they would have saved the General Assembly from two coming years of antics and stunts.

They should have focused on better strategies instead of splitting resources. That’s what the caucus did in targeting two Upstate House members. And it worked –they “primaried” two House

veterans, House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee Chairman Bill Sandifer of Seneca and Assistant Majority Leader Jay West of Belton.

Another theory in an apathetic political environment brimming with negativity: Perhaps new gerrymandered lines that took 30,000 Black voters out of the First District and rearranged legislative districts in new ways created so much confusion that incumbents really suffered from the loss of longtime base voters.

That is what seems to have happened when Charleston got a new Senate district thanks to increases in population. But when the GOP crafted a new district for West Ashley and James Island, two things happened. First, Sen. Sandy Senn lost her James Island base as the district shifted west into areas she wasn’t

Where will we go from here?

n the morning of January 7, 2021 I sat down, in extreme agitation, to write a short, one-line letter to our local Beaufort Gazette that I wanted published in their “letters to the editor” section. It simply said: “As of today, any person who is still flying a “Trump Banner” ought to be ashamed of themselves!”

Now, I knew that it would not be published; I wrote it and sent it in out of pure venting. After all, I had watched Trump on live TV the day before, egging on his mob to march and attack our capital building … didn't he also say he had intended to march with them? (I believe he and his crew ended up watching the news and eating McDonald's hamburgers at the White House).

I read there were even some from his inner circle encouraging him to help put a stop to the insurrection, but he didn't listen to them; and here we are now, inside this disgrace of an election year, nearly brain dead from overdosing on our daily national news cycles; supporting our left and right networks that

cannot hold back our daily supply of depressant, which in turn has now become Irving Janis's modernized term of “groupthink.” Groupthink was originally coined by W.H. Whyte Jr. and it was derived from Orwell's “1984” book with his fictional “doublethink.” Orwell came up with the fictional terms of “Newspeak” and “doublethink” for his book. I'll simplify what these terms are meant to impart to us: “Newspeak” was simply the accepted, constant barrage of nonsensical media within a dystopian, authoritarian future society. “Doublethink” was getting groups of people to think alike thus making

a dominate “ingroup” which tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses of (social and political) actions. In my view this simply means the “ingroup” cannot make logical decisions nor political policy due to bias.

I was too young to remember the frightening McCarthy years but I do remember the impact of the “communist scare” … learning later the harm that came to a number of people that were black-balled due to their liberal leanings such as supporting civil rights, being environmentalists, or, heaven forbid, anti-war.

Unfortunately, our present day newspeak disables us from remembering our own recent history. When a logical person reviews recent U.S. history concerning, say, Lindbergh's “America First” movement, or Selma's “Bloody Sunday,” or Kent State's student killings, I would imagine they should think the same as I do: How could we have been so stupid? How could we allow such senseless violence? How could anyone have support-

ed such senseless ideologies? But look at us now. In my idealistic youth I thought by living through the 60's surely by 2024 we'd be living in some sort of American utopia. Instead, what I see is “America First” morphed into “MAGA,” Minneapolis instead of Selma and Afghanistan instead of Vietnam. I guess one cannot fix stupidity. If you do not learn from history you are domed to repeat it … some old phraseology.

During this coming Republican Convention in Minneapolis, (this, in my fantastical, Utopian world), Trump gets replaced by some moderate Republican like either Susan Collins or Phil Scott. Then, during the Democratic Convention in Chicago, Biden passes his mantle to some progressive like Jeffries or Warren to run.

Of course I have other tweaks already in place within my idealistic world: Every single politician in the entire country has some sort of term limit within their political service and this would include all federal (especially

as well known. And second as a result of that newly-created district, former state Democratic Party chairman and Sen. Dick Hartpootlian got moved into a Midlands Senate district with many more rural voters. Result? Senn lost in unofficial results by 31 votes of 7,815 cast to uber-conservative GOP Rep. Matt Leber of Johns Island and Hartpootlian fell short by 120 votes out of 4 708 cast to Rep. Russell Ott, a Calhoun County Democrat with strong ties to agriculture.

June 11 won’t be a day to remember — except for mainstream candidates and incumbents who want to know what not to do in primary elections.

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

SCOTUS), state and local judges and sheriffs. I know there is a slim chance in November 2024 for our congress to be put back onto it's liberal footing, but that is my hope. Within this real world of hypocritical leaders like Trump, Green, Jordon, Johnson, DeSantis, Gaetz, Scott, Graham, Boebert, Abbott … well, everyone knows the full list, I find myself becoming more disdainful of them.

After witnessing the disgraceful antics of June 14 with Trump and his loonie tune supporters, I can only hope and pray a great wave of change will overcome them. But I also know, full well, that when a person has no shame they will never feel ashamed, and that is particularly true within any and all cults.

Tim and Kristy Wood moved to Beaufort in 1974. He worked as a carpenter in

TERRY MANNING

ANDY BRACK

TIM WOOD

A memorial for the Emanuel 9: Close the ‘Charleston loophole’

On Sunday, Yvett Anderson will light a candle at her church for the nine souls brutally murdered nine years ago at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME Church.

She was so close to two of the victims — Rev. Daniel Simmons and Cynthia Hurd — that she speaks of them as “family.”

The congregation in Anderson’s church, Ebenezer Mt. Zion AME in Mount Pleasant, will follow the lighting of candles by slowly saying the names of the Emmanuel Nine.

The rituals help to alleviate the pain that returns like a dark cloud June 17

“Every time an anniversary comes around, it seems like the wound is open again,” Anderson said.

As she remembers the Emanuel Nine, she’ll also say a prayer for the victims’ families and survivors of the church shooting.

She’ll say another prayer that state lawmakers will finally close what’s dubbed the “Charleston loophole.”

That’s the name for the dangerous gap in the federal background-check system that allowed Dylann Roof to purchase a weapon he used to kill the Emanual victims during a Wednesday prayer meeting.

Anderson leads the Charleston chapter of Moms Demand Action, a group urging lawmakers to fix the “Charleston loophole” and adopt other gun safety measures.

Anderson is not a lifelong activist but felt compelled to join Moms Demand Action after the Charleston shooting that claimed the lives of her good friends.

So far, she and other gun-safety advocates have been largely ignored by legislative leaders, she said, though a few lawmakers are willing to listen.

Safeguarding South Carolinians

At the time of the Charleston church shooting on June 17, 2015, it seemed to many that a tragedy of this magnitude would goad state lawmakers into action, prompting them to adopt safeguards to protect South Carolinians.

After all, protecting the well-being of South Carolinians is a fundamental responsibility of

state government. Who could have predicted that things would hardly change at all?

True, there were glimmers of hope during those dark days. Charlestonians came together to share their grief and promote unity and love in the face of hate. Then-President Obama journeyed to Charleston and mourned with us in a graceful eulogy for Rev. Clementa Pinckney that will long linger in the memory. Pinckney was the church’s pastor and a state senator.

It’s true also that then-Gov. Nikki Haley and state lawmakers later removed the Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse grounds.

That was a good and necessary step, but that symbolic action should have been followed by life-saving legislation.

Ironically, the Charleston shooting prompted other states to do more to protect their citizens from crime.

Twenty-three states, for instance, have closed or limited the “Charleston loophole,” which allows gun sales to proceed after three business days even if a background check has not been completed.

That’s how Roof, an avowed white supremacist with a history of drug use, obtained a weapon in South Carolina that he should not

have been able to legally purchase.

Roof had confessed to drug possession months before the Charleston shooting. That should have prevented him from buying a .45-caliber Glock pistol. But the FBI didn’t complete his background check within three business days.

When it takes longer than three days, that often is a red flag that something is amiss. Background checks delayed more than three days are four times more likely to result in a denial determination, according to the gun violence prevention organization Everytown.

The 23 states that have closed the loophole give government officials more time, if needed, to complete a background check.

A fitting memorial

So, while other states have adopted pragmatic policies to protect their citizens, the state whose largest city gave the loophole its name has done little or nothing.

In fact, we’ve gone in the wrong direction, loosening gun laws — such as with the permitless carry law.

South Carolina remains one of the worst states in the nation for gun violence. The state rose from 11th in the nation in the rate of gun deaths per 100 000 residents in 2021 to 10th highest in 2022

when including Washington, D.C. (in ninth place), according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

South Carolina should not be loosening gun restrictions but tightening them up — mandating universal background checks, enacting red-flag laws and requiring the safe storage of guns.

Closing the loophole should be a top priority. What better memorial could there be for the Emanuel Nine than if state lawmakers found the courage to close the “Charleston loophole” by one year from now on the 10th anniversary of the shooting: June 17, 2025?

We can’t alter the tragic past, but we can create a better future.

Until then, Anderson and other gun safety advocates will continue to light candles, think of the Emanuel Nine, pray and fight.

“I’m not the sort of person to give up,” she said.

Paul Hyde is a longtime journalist and teacher in the Upstate. He worked 18 years for the Greenville News as a columnist, editorial writer, education reporter and arts writer. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Clemson and Harvard universities. He has written for the Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News and USA Today, among other publications. He currently is a regular contributor to the Greenville Journal, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Classical Voice North America.

VA Medical Center’s Singleton receives AUSA Award for Outstanding Service

On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 10 a.m., VA

Doctor of Optometry Kelly Singleton was awarded the Coastal S.C. Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Outstanding Service Award for her past and ongoing work as an optometrist, professor, and veteran advocate at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and the Medical University of South Carolina. This ceremony provided more proof that veterans should enroll in VA healthcare.

The award plaque and letter of commendation states:

Many patient evaluations, supervisor appraisals, and coworker comments have described and commended Kelly Singleton as a polite, kind, compassionate, understanding, calming, and highly skilled doctor, communicator, teacher, and patient advocate. Dr. Singleton is ranked in the 99th percentile in the “rate my provider” category by her patients.

Dr. Singleton patiently and professionally evaluates veterans who are visually impaired to give them opportunities to improve their functioning vision. Her job is tough since what her patients want is to have normal vision again, which is unfortunately almost always impossible.

Dr. Singleton and her excellent staff do not dwell on the negative with their patients but instead, encourage them to learn new skills, that will allow them to be more independent and safer. She kindly answers the tough questions from veterans and their families about things like driving. Often, she is the only one they will listen to about giving up driving for the safety of others and themselves.

She tirelessly works with optometry students and res-

idents to improve their training and learning experience at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. Dr. Singleton provides a unique and humanistic form of one-onone and supportive training that ensures her students complete their examinations and patients are referred appropriately.

In summary, Dr. Singleton is a selfless, highly skilled, enthusiastic, and inspiring leader, doctor, and person. Her outstanding work and positive attitude are contagious and her Care for patients and their families is legendary at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare System. End of citation.

Vision clinic locations and overall workload

On average, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare System’s (RHJVAMC&HCS) main Eye Clinic is located in the medical center at 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401-5799, phone 843-577-5011. The main Eye Clinic sees more than 10,000 patients each year. The Goose Creek clinic is located on Charleston Naval Weapons Station at 746 Pulaski Street, Goose Creek, S.C. 29445, phone 843-5775011, extension 346995. The Goose Creek Clinic sees more than 3,000 patients each year. The VA Eye Clinic staff also sees an average of 10 patients a week on the inpatient floors of the VA Medical Center as well as six

to eight patients monthly in our GIVE clinic that focuses on fall reduction.

Visually impaired workload and services

Approximately 20% of patients seen by the VA optometrists are blind or visually impaired. The RHJVA Eye Clinics offer an array of vision rehabilitation services for this sector of the veteran population. The RHJVAMC&HCS provides many different services for blind and visually impaired veterans, including: Low vision evaluations at all of our clinics –Bee St, Goose, Creek, Myrtle Beach, and telehealth low vision from Savannah. Support groups for our visually impaired veterans that include speakers from the community. Various activities through Recreational therapy.

A Daily Living Activities specialist, a Blind Outpatient rehab specialist, and a Low Vision Occupational therapist as part of our Blind Rehab team.

• A coordinator for the Visual Impairment Service Team who ensures patients are connected with all resources and benefits available to them.

A low-vision occupational therapist who assists with learning new ways to use smartphones to assist veterans in everyday tasks or asses light-filtering glasses to help with glare.

A Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient specialist teaches blind patients how to use a mobility cane to travel independently. He also

assists with technology devices to keep patients independent. Intensive inpatient low vision rehabilitation at one of our Blind Rehabilitation Centers throughout the country.

The primary focus in the RHJVAMC&HCS low-vision clinics is to ensure veterans remain independent even if they develop a visual impairment from disease or injury.

The RHJVAMC&HCS Eye Clinics have received the highest Press Ganey patient satisfaction score and most of the top 10 each year are VA eye doctors. A number of the VA eye care team members have also received iCare awards.

Staffing and wait times for appointments

The RHJVAMC&HCS Eye Services staff includes two Primary Eye Care optometrists, 14 ophthalmologists (eye surgeons), four nurses (two NPs, 2 RNs), 17 eye clinic technicians, six medical surgical assistants (MSAs), and residents and students. The RHJVAMC&HCS is wellstaffed with eye surgeons for almost every specialty within eye care. If a patient requires surgical intervention the RHJVAMC&HCS

Eye Clinics can get patients an appointment in a very reasonable time frame.

For primary eye care patients, the wait time is sometimes a bit longer since we only have three optometrists between the two locations but we strive to see everyone as soon as possible. For patients who prefer to be seen sooner than we can accommodate, the VA does have the option for patients to be seen through community care providers.

Most patients, including this writer, prefer to wait a little longer if needed to be able to see a VA Eye Clinic doctor. However, it is time for the RHJVAMC&HCS to hire more optometrists.

Learn more about VA-provided vision care, corrective lenses, eyeglasses, frames, contact lenses, RHJVAMC&HCS Eye Services, and more in the following articles and VA SITREP YouTube videos: The Island News articles dated February 1 2023, and February 8, 2023 https://bit. ly/3ldN8tB and https:// bit.ly/3RyuY2G. What types of Eyeglass Frames Does VA Offer? https://bit.ly/4cnTFHg. Optometry Services and How to Schedule VA Appointments,

https://youtu.be/ Yv2p4njItUA Which is better? VA vs. Private Sector, https:// youtu.be/QICQ3vXjA7A. What Types of Eyeglass Lenses Does VA Offer? https://youtu.be/ggsz3B3lo7E.

Does VA Provide Contact Lenses? https:// youtu.be/zzcCHzdjLHk. Does VA Provide LASIK Surgery for Veterans? https://youtu. be/_fYjAtNeQbQ. Does VA pay for expensive eye medications? https://youtu. be/_U-NoXQtzO4 VA Eye Care Services for the Blind, TBIs, & Assistive Tech. (Visual Rehabilitation, Audio Devices, Computer Optical Character readers, Video Magnifiers, Talk Script, etc.), https://youtu.be/Obb4p937cNg Eye Care in the Community, https://youtu. be/zPcCJfl_38M How Often Should Veterans get Eye Exams? https://youtu.be/ kFIePf7_Lqo. How to Enroll in VA Health Care. https:// youtu.be/ZO9snrUHP_A.

Congratulations to Dr. Singleton and her highly skilled and greatly appreciated staff!

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman,

LARRY DANDRIDGE

AUSA’s Coastal S.C. Chapter Vice President for Veteran Affairs Larry Dandridge presents the Outstanding Service Award to Dr. Kelly Singleton. Submitted photo

PAUL HYDE

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Always in Style

Truth Is Timeless

Are new ideas more true?

How often people reject an idea by saying that it is “old-fashioned” or “out-of-date!” The underlying assumption is that if an idea is not new, it no longer applies to us today. One author memorably described this mindset as, “the newer is the truer; only what is recent is decent.”

The greatest truths are timeless.

Technology can become obsolete, with new versions of phones and gadgets released each year. In fashion, what seemed so trendy in one year can seem silly the next. But the greatest ideas, the truths worth discovering, are timeless. They remain true for all peoples and all time periods. They don’t expire; they don’t go out of style.

We see timeless truths in science and math.

Scientists spend their lives to discover timeless truths about the world around us. When we discovered that our planet rotates around the sun, we were discovering a fact that will remain true for as long as Earth exists. Similarly, math is the study of timeless principles. The multiplication table, for example, will be as true a million years from now as it is today.

Timeless truths can be discovered in faith and morality, too.

If we discover a truth about morality, it is timeless as well. If stealing is wrong, then it was wrong in the days of Moses, it is wrong today, and it will still be wrong when our future descendants are tempted to steal spaceships from one another. Similarly, truths about God and faith are timeless. If Jesus of Nazareth was actually God in our midst, then this is still the most amazing event in human history, even if it happened two thousand years ago.

Ideas must be explored on their own merits.

Just because an idea has been around for a while, we should not rule it out as unworthy of our consideration. Just because an idea is not fashionable or politically correct at the moment, this does not make it a false idea. In both cases, the idea in question has to be explored on its own merits. Instead of asking, “Is it new?” or “Is it popular?”, we should ask ourselves, “Is it true?”

Are you seeking timeless truths?

The most beautiful truths, the ones that change our lives, are the timeless truths. These truths change our minds and hearts; they bring meaning and joy to our lives. Rather than shunning anything old, we can do the opposite and seek out those truths that have endured from century to century. We can choose to seek out the truth, wherever it may be found, and wherever it may lead us.