June 8 edition

Developer

MIKE MCCOMBS

Beaufort can stop Lamprecht from doing this again

The Island News got lucky.

Back in the spring of 2020, Cindy “CJ” Lamprecht had been posting messages on a chalkboard in her front yard for only a few months. She had not yet started collecting donations of any sort for any charity.

Though I had reservations about her, for no tangible reason, I halfheartedly suggested we feature The Beaufort Chalkboard in The Island News

“Wanna write something about the chalkboard lady,” I said … or something like that.

Mindy Lucas, then our reporter, gave a less than enthusiastic response.

“Eh … she writes sentences on a chalkboard. I’m not all that impressed,” she said … or something close to that.

And if you know Mindy, in your imagination, you can hear the

SEE MCCOMBS PAGE A7

Commission deals setbacks to Pine Island developer

By Tony Kukulich

The Post and Courier BEAUFORT — After a marathon meeting that ran nearly five hours, the Beaufort County Planning Commission handed developer Elvio Tropeano

If

et’s face it. We could have been just like everyone else.The chalkboard that was once erected in the front yard of Cindy Lamprecht’s home on Parris Island Gateway sits on the side of the home’s garage on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, after the woman known as the Beaufort Chalkboard Lady fled on Friday, June 2. Her husband, Tom Lamprecht, took down the sign that had become a symbol of hope and positivity to many in Beaufort on Saturday, June 3. Delayna Earley/The Island News

Beaufort Chalkboard’s run comes to end

Cindy ‘CJ’ Lamprecht faces allegations from donors, nonprofits, state of SC

By Delayna Earley and Mike McCombs

The Island News

In just more than three years in Beaufort, Cindy “CJ” Lamprecht built a castle out of feel-good stories and charity generated by warm messages on a chalkboard in her front yard. On Friday night, June 2, that castle came crashing to the ground.

EDUCATION PAGE

The subject of a cover story for Beaufort Lifestyle Magazine for the month of May, reaching the pinnacle of what passes for royalty here, Lamprecht deactivated her Facebook pages for The Beaufort Chalk-

Cindy Lamprecht

board and left home just two days into the month of June amid a web of allegations of lies, theft, and fraud.

“She’s in the wind,” Tom Lamprecht, Cindy’s husband, said late Friday night.

Lamprecht, known to the community as The Beaufort Chalkboard

WANT MORE? From Beaufort to Bluffton and Hilton Head, The Post and Courier covers news impacting your community. Subscribe for more local coverage at postandcourier. com/IslandNews. Lowcountry Life News Health Voices Faith Education INSIDE Sports Local Events Legals Military Directory Classifieds A2 A2–7 A8–9 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16–17 A18 A19

SEE CHALK PAGE A6

The Henry Robinson Boardwalk and Sands Beach is a 1 mile (2,500-step) route located in Port Royal. The boardwalk, captured here by Ron Callari, is a popular place to fish for crabs. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com

VETERAN OF THE WEEK A.H. (TODD) TALLONE

ISLAND NEWS

PUBLISHING, LLC

PUBLISHERS

Jeff & Margaret Evans

FOUNDING PUBLISHERS

Elizabeth Harding Newberry Kim Harding

EDITORIAL/DESIGN

Editor-in-Chief Mike McCombs theislandnews@ gmail.com

Art Director Hope Falls ads.theislandnews@ gmail.com

Assistant Editor Delayna Earley delayna. theislandnews@ gmail.com

Sports Editor Justin Jarrett LowcoSports@ gmail.com

SALES/BUSINESS

Advertising Sales Director Amanda Hanna 843-343-8483 amanda@ lcweekly.com

Accounting April Ackerman april@ aandbbookkeeping. com

Billing questions only.

Beaufort’s Bud Tallone, 86, joined the United States Navy in Trenton, N.J. in 1955. After boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., he trained as an Aviation Electrician at Naval Air Station Sanford, Fla., and thereafter served there in a heavy attack squadron, making a Mediterranean deployment aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). He then transferred to Memphis Naval Air Station where he

A.H. (Todd) Tallone

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Thursday, June 8

1 p.m. – Keep Beaufort County Beautiful Board, Port Royal Sound Foundation, 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie

2 p.m. – City of Beaufort Design Review Board, City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd Floor – 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort

2:30 p.m. – Beaufort County Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Board, Crystal Lake Park Building, 124 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort

Monday, June 12 3 p.m. – Beaufort County Community Services and Land Use Committee, County Council Chambers, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort; Broadcast on County Channel

5 p.m. – Beaufort County Council Regular Session, County Council Chambers, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort; Broadcast on County Channel

Tuesday, June 13

5 p.m. – Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort

6 p.m. – Beaufort County Board of Education, Beaufort County

ON THIS DATE

June 12

worked on aircraft maintenance. He separated from active duty in 1960 and remained in the reserves drilling at NAS Willow Grove, Pa., for four years. Thereafter, he had a 34-year career in structural steel construction. Today he is active in the Masons in Beaufort (Harmony Lodge, with 55 years of total service), with the Coast Guard

Auxiliary’s Port Royal Sound Flotilla, and for 8 years with the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center near Lemon Island.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 9. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com

School District Offices, 2900 Mink Point Boulevard, Beaufort; Broadcast on BCSD’s YouTube Channel

Wednesday, June 14

6 p.m. – Beaufort County Voter Registration and Elections Community Forum, St. Helena Branch Library 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island

Thursday, June 15

1 p.m. – Beaufort County Historic Preservation Review Board, Executive Conference Room, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort

1:30 p.m. – Beaufort County Airports Board, County Council Chambers, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort; Broadcast on County Channel

2 p.m. – Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, TCL New River Campus, 100 Community College Drive, Bluffton

7 p.m. – Sheldon Fire District Board, 5 Fire Station Lane, Sheldon – Compiled by Mike McCombs

2020: Bob Bender, local environmental activist and founder and curator of the Lowcountry Estuarium in Port Royal, dies at home of complications from throat surgeries.

June 14

2019: Democratic Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke visits Beaufort. At a roundtable discussion at Tabernacle Baptist Church, O’Rourke answers a diverse collection of questions, mostly posed by leaders of the black community, including Queen Quet of the Gullah Geechee Nation and Rev. Kenneth Hodges.

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

Cat of the Week: Buster is 16 pounds of love and kisses! He is often found on the cat tower as you enter our adoption center ready to greet everyone. He always has a watchful eye on everything going on, and loves to give us his input from time to time. Buster is 8 years old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

Dog of the Week: Jolene is the quiet type who likes to take time to warm up to new people. She has spent most of her life at home and is yearning to get back to that life. She prefers a quiet and calm environment to spend her time napping or just relaxing. Jolene is 2 years old, spayed, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

CONTACT US PO Box 550 Beaufort, SC 29901 TheIslandNews@gmail.com www.YourIslandNews.com facebook.com/TheIslandNews

DEADLINE

For press releases and advertising, please submit by noon on Friday for the following week’s paper.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor should consist of fewer than 275 words and be emailed with a name and contact information to TheIslandNews@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

If you are interested in adopting Buster, Jolene or any of our other pets, call our adoption center at 843-645-1725 or email us at info@ palmettoanimalleague. org to set up an appointment.

All content of The Island News, including articles, photos, editorial content, letters, art and advertisements, are copyrighted by The Island News and Island News Publishing, LLC, 2022, all rights reserved. The Island News encourages reader submissions via email to theislandnews@gmail.com. All content submitted is considered approved for publication by the owner unless otherwise stated. The Island News is designed to inform and entertain readers and all efforts for accuracy are made. Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Island News, its publisher or editors. Content published from Care Magazine® is intended as a reference and options source only, not as a guide to self-treatment or substitute for profession medical advice. It is provided for educational purpose only. Readers assume full responsibility for how this information is used. The Island News reserves the right to refuse to sell advertising space, or to publish information, for any business or activity the newspaper deems inappropriate for the publication.

LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN

Blood, sweat and tears? Not yet but plenty of emotional angst

BEAUFORT

Development issues

in this part of the Lowcountry have generated enough emotional drama to support a Netflix documentary. But to date, there haven’t been actual tears shed on the County Channel.

That’s why a recent Post

And Courier article from the Greenville, S.C. Planning Commission sparked interest when it was reported the chairperson of said Commission actually cried when the group voted to approve a nine-home subdivision on one acre of land.

The project, which had been protested by the neighbors because of its intense density, was passed on a 3-1 vote. It was after that vote that the chairperson expressed her frustration that the “proposal conflicted with the fabric of the community, but (she) felt she had no standing to deny it.”

According to the newspaper account, she went on to apologize to the neighbors present who expressed concerns about growing gentrification of their neighborhood.

“… But the Commission only voted in line with how the code is written,” a neighborhood spokesman was quoted as saying. “We’re not mad at the Commission because they’re just doing their job.”

It’s hard to count how

many times similar comments have been made by review board members and planning commissioners: they’re only following the rules.

You hear it every once in a while from the elected officials, but no tears.

The Port Royal Town Council changed the tree removal rules recently after residents spoke up and said something had to be done to further protect the leafy environment.

The Beaufort City Council is in the process of changing the city’s development code in an effort to correct some building criteria they feel need “correcting” since the code was written in 2017. It’s not an exciting process but it’s an important one since the code dictates how future buildings can be built.

It will be interesting to see how the Beaufort County Council responds to an actual development application from the Pine Island owners. The past two months of debate ended in what was described as a “victory” by those

opposing the St. Helena Island’s project.

But county officials stressed throughout that debate that what was at issue was the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay District. Revisions reinforced the requirement that golf courses and gated communities were not allowed within the COD ordinance. Those revisions were blessed by the County Council on a 9-2 final vote but the actual Pine Island project was not part of that vote.

Starting this week, with

first, the county planning Commission, denied a request to remove the 500acre tract from the CPO District. The Commission’s recommendation next goes to the Community Services and Land Use Committee for more discussion and a recommendation from it, as well, before the full County Council for more discussion and a vote.

Regardless of the Council’s action, you gotta believe one side or the other is gonna sue. And you gotta believe there won’t be any

tears as these threats to the status quo go on and on.

Jasper temporarily puts brakes on growth

RIDGELAND – In the matter of development issues in other arenas, the Jasper County Council is taking a somewhat unusual step – imposing a limited building moratorium on a rapidly developing area of the county along the S.C. 170 and S.C. 462 corridors. The nine month moratorium pertains only to large residential and commercial developments whose owners aren’t going to abandon plans while the Jasper planning staff tries to rein in some controls. The town of Mt. Pleasant, to our north, has had a moratorium on permits for apartment buildings since 2015. The moratorium was recently extended to 2025 by the town council but still apartment complexes are being built under permits issued pre-2015.

Beaufort County residents unhappy with the multitude of development projects

United Way funding applications due June 15

rolling through the regulatory process have been talking about a moratorium on building permits for the past several years. But no officials seem to give it a second thought.

Hurricane season 2023 off and running

BEAUFORT – And since we’re in the Atlantic Hurricane Season 2023, you might have missed the fact that the first named storm of the season, Arlene, came … and went ... this past week in the Gulf of Mexico.

But Tropical Storm Arlene won the special attention of meteorologists because it moved south, toward Cuba, away from the coast, rather than the traditional pattern towards the coast. Record keepers also noted Arlene, although it waited until the start of hurricane season on June 1, was considered an “early arrival” because the averages show first named storms showing up around June 20. Stay tuned.

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

From staff reports The United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) encourages nonprofits making an impact on Basic Needs or Economic Mobility in the community to apply for a United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) Community Impact grant.

UWLC is accepting Intent to Submit applications from Thursday, June 1 through Thursday, June 15 from human services agencies serving residents in Jasper and/ or Beaufort counties.

Grant applications must be submitted by 501(c)(3) certified agencies or a fiscal agent if a collaborative and must address critical program service needs in basic needs or economic mobility. Previously funded programs ranged from emergency shelter and meals for those in-need to life skills classes for disadvantaged youth.

Grant application requirements can be found online at www.uwlowcountry.org/ funding. The deadline for Intent to Submit applications is 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 15. Panels of community volunteers will review the application submissions and funding announcements will be made in January 2024. For additional information, contact Community Impact Manager Angela Boswell at 843-379-3063.

United Way of the Lowcountry is committed to empowering individuals and promoting self-sufficiency to create a brighter future for the residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties.

ADVANCED CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME

Beaufort Memorial, together with MUSC Health, is your connection to state-of-the-art cancer care.

At our Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort and New River Cancer Center in Okatie, our oncology team combines compassion and support with leading edge radiation oncology, chemotherapy and immunology services, targeted and hormone therapies, as well as surgical consultations—all delivered under one roof and close to the ones you love.

In addition, our Cancer Centers offer:

• A team of dedicated oncology nurse navigators who guide you through the journey—diagnosis through survivorship

• Core and ancillary services, like lab, imaging, and breast health, all in the same building

• Consultations with MUSC subspecialists experienced in treating treating rare or complex cancers

• Genetic counseling and high risk assessments

• Access to promising clinical trials

• A team approach to developing survivorship care plans

LOLITA HUCKABY

… But the Commission only voted in line with how the code is written. We’re not mad at the Commission because they’re just doing their job.”

DeSantis opens 2024 campaign trail with Bluffton stop

By Mike McCombs

Island News

The

BLUFFTON – Just days after making the announcement he was running for president, Florida Gov.

Ron DeSantis made his first official campaign appearance in front of several hundred supporters – and a couple dozen protesters –outside the Okatie Ale House. Though his candidacy was only recently made official, the fact he intended to run may have been one of the worst kept secrets in America.

“It is great to be back in the state of South Carolina!” DeSantis said to an enthusiastic crowd. “I am happy to say that our great American comeback will officially begin when we send Joe Biden back to his basement in the state of Delaware. (He) spends a lot of his time now on vacation, we might as well make it permanent, and that’s what we will do in November of 2024.”

DeSantis took aim at “Bidenflation,” the “open Southern border,” the “woke mind virus,” and, of course the alleged escapades of Hunter Biden, son of President Biden. He promised to restore sanity, cut spending, build a wall and provide universal school choice, among other things.

“I’m running for President because I think American decline is not inevitable, I think it’s a choice,” he said. “It’s a choice that we are all gonna make, over these next 18 months. I think we need to choose a better path, but I think if we do choose that better path, we have an opportunity to usher in a re-

vival of American greatness and that’s our mission, that’s what we’re gonna do.”

There were eight to 10 protesters across the parking lot from the rally holding signs. They were subject to some verbal abuse, but there were no physical issues. Another dozen or so lined the side of

Publix Pharmacy, BMH to demonstrate telemedicine walk-in clinic

From staff reports Publix Pharmacy and Beaufort Memorial Hospital recently unveiled the supermarket’s second Beaufort in-store WalkIn Care center within the Beaufort Plaza Publix Pharmacy at 33 Robert Smalls Parkway.

In order to familiarize local residents with the new clinic, Beaufort Memorial and Publix Pharmacy will host an open house in the Beaufort Plaza store from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, June 2. Staff will be on hand to offer free demonstrations of the technology.

At the telehealth site,

Setbacks

from page A1

by the county to deny his permit application to build three six-hole golf courses.

By the end of the night, the commission ruled against the developer on both issues.

“We gave both sides a chance to state their case,” said Ed Pappas, Planning Commission chair. “I think we were fair to the applicant and fair to the county.”

Conforming or nonconforming use?

Tropeano’s rezoning application faced an uphill battle from the start.

Prior to the meeting, county staff issued a memo recommending the application be denied, though the commission was not obligated to adhere to the staff recommendation.

“To move the boundaries for the purpose of excluding certain parcels erodes the effectiveness of the (cultural protection overlay) by allowing the very uses that have been identified as posing the greatest threat to the character and stability of the island community,” wrote Rob Merchant, director of Beaufort County Planning and Zoning Department, in the recommendation dated May 23.

Tropeano’s application argued Pine Island Planta-

patients can speak directly with a board-certified provider via video conferencing technology. The provider can direct the patient to use the available medical tools to make a diagnosis and write prescriptions that can be picked up at the pharmacy. Visits are $67 and do not require an appointment.

Powered by the hospital’s BMH Care Anywhere online virtual care service, each telehealth center features a private room with teleconferencing and medical diagnostic equipment, including stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs,

high-definition cameras and other tools necessary for common diagnoses.

“We continue to look for ways to expand access to care in the Lowcountry,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “Our mission is to improve the health of our community and offering walk-in care through Publix Pharmacy provides a unique way to do just that. It’s another option for patients who need care when and where it is most convenient for them.”

For more information, visit BeaufortMemorial. org/PublixWalkInCare

Rob Merchant, director of the county’s Planning and Zoning Department speaks during a Beaufort County Planning Commission meeting in Beaufort, S.C., Monday, June 5, 2023. Merchant recommended that the commission deny a request to remove the 502-acre Pine Island Plantation from the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay. Tony Kukulich/ The Post and Courier

tion should have never been included within the overlay zone, stating the property has historically been used as a private, gated recreation destination since the 1800s. Those uses continue to this day, he added.

“Accordingly, the Property should be excluded from the (cultural protection overlay) as a preexisting, nonconforming use, consistent with other, similar properties in the vicinity,” Tropeano wrote in the application. A nonconforming use is a property that once complied with the applicable zoning ordinances, but no longer does.

Dataw, Fripp and Harbor islands were excluded from the overlay zone when it

was adopted by the Beaufort County Council in 1999.

According to the county’s argument, those communities had well established development patterns that contradicted the restrictions present in the overlay. Features like golf courses and gated communities already existed at the time the cultural protection overlay was adopted.

Their inclusion in the overlay zone would have instantly resulted in their designation as nonconforming properties, an action that the county explicitly stated it wanted to avoid.

The county did not make the same assessment for the Pine Island property. It was included in the overlay and

U.S. 278, addressing cars as they approached the venue.

“I liked it, I liked it,” said Melissa McCalla of St. Helena Island. “He kept to the topics. He said what we wanted to hear about wanting to get our country back, back to where it was … that’s important, the education of our children. You know, just back to the way we remember when we were kids.

“All this woke ideology’s just too much, and I’ve got a daughter, now a grandson, and I just don’t want that for their future.”

Jim Kroncke of Lady’s Island was also impressed.

“I think he’s wonderful. I got to hear him – the glitch, when he went on with Elon Musk – he went on for an hour with Trey Gowdy on Fox News, and I was impressed with him,” Kroncke said. “He’s just got such a command of the issues. He’s a smart man but there are plenty of smart people running. He’s got the conviction to get rid of ... as he said, get rid of the deep state, or at least encroach on it. We got so much bureaucracy up there, and it’s so misguided and misinformed. If you’re misguided and you’re misinformed like Joe Biden, you’re in trouble.”

Kroncke likes South Carolina’s

Tim Scott and Nikki Haley but sees them more as vice presidential options.

“They’re gonna be ... one of those two is gonna be his vice president. I think, one of those two,” he said. “But I’m just amazed at how many people have gone along with – and it’s just like they were indifferent, until inflation, they were almost indifferent – all the damage Democrats have done. Hard to believe.”

McCalla voted for Trump in the last election.

“We voted for Trump in 2020, you know, that didn’t work out,” she said. “(We) voted for him initially, and we liked what we saw, but I don’t know lately with Trump, I really don’t like him bashing other Republican candidates. A lot of my friends are saying the same thing, that just kinda turns them off.

“So far Ron DeSantis hasn’t gone down that path, and I, you know, if he can do for our country what he’s done for Florida, that’s all we can ask for.”

Dylan McCombs contributed to this story.

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

20 and going strong

remains within the zone to this day.

Jessie White of the Coastal Conservation League countered Tropeano’s argument that Pine Island is a nonconforming property based on past and current uses.

“A private fence is not the same thing as a gated community, and historic use as a private recreational retreat is not the same thing as a resort,” White said.

As the commission moved toward voting on the application, Commissioner Jonathan Henney was similarly unconvinced by Tropeano’s argument. He noted that properties excluded from the overlay zone, such as Dataw and Fripp islands, were developed differently when compared to Pine Island.

“I don’t think that’s a valid justification for excluding it from the (cultural protection overlay),” Henney said.

The commission voted 6-0 to recommend denying the application.

The application will proceed to the Community Services and Land Use Committee with the commission’s recommendation that the application be denied. The application will ultimately be heard and decided by the full County Council.

Appealing the six-hole golf course decision

The second Pine Island-re-

lated issue before the commission was an appeal of a decision made by the county’s Planning and Zoning Department in April to deny permit applications for three six-hole golf courses.

Charleston-based attorney Ellis Lesemann represented Pine Island Property Holdings LLC before the commission. That entity is listed as the purchaser of the Pine Island property in documents filed with the county, though Tropeano routinely identifies himself as the property owner.

Brian Hulbert, deputy county attorney, represented the county.

For two hours the counselors argued a number of legal points related to the denial issued April 14 by Merchant.

“This was the most complex appeal issue I’ve ever dealt with in my six years on the commission,” Pappas said. “It was terribly complex.”

The commission had its own legal counsel on hand, a move that Pappas said is normal when the commission hears an appeal.

The argument appeared to boil down to one key point: Does the county’s development code recognize the existence of a six-hole golf course?

Lesemann asserted that the overlay prohibited golf courses with nine or more holes, making a six-hole

course allowable, while Hulbert argued that the county’s development code defined a golf course as having either nine or 18 holes.

As a six-hole course didn’t fit the county’s definition of a golf course, it couldn’t be permitted.

Henney again took a lead role in the commission’s debate prior to vote, stating that he found no evidence that a six-hole golf course was a “by-right use” in either the overlay language or the community development.

The commissioners rejected Tropeano’s argument that his property was nonconforming because it operated as a gated community prior to the adoption of the overlay. They noted that there was no evidence of deed restrictions, covenants or homeowner associations that typically define gated communities.

“Gated communities are specifically prohibited, which is what this is going to be according to the conceptual plan,” said Commissioner Glenn Miller.

The commission voted 6-0 to affirm the county’s denial of the applications.

Tropeano can appeal the commission ruling.

From Beaufort to Bluffton and Hilton Head, The Post and Courier covers news impacting your community. Subscribe for more local coverage at postandcourier.com/IslandNews

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida make his remarks before hundreds of supporters during his campaign stop Friday morning in Bluffton. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Eleanor McSweeney, 4, her sister Evie, 3, and mother Anna, all of Beaufort, color a giant puzzle piece as part of the celebration at the Lobeco Branch Library. The branch, which is one of five with Beaufort County Public Library, held a 20th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 3, 2023, celebrating the time that they have been in their current building in Lobeco. The event featured a performance by juggler Todd Key with Circque du Todd, cupcakes and other fun activities. Delayna Earley/The Island News

BOE upholds latest book review committee decisions

From staff reports

In a special Beaufort County Board of Education meeting on Friday, June 2, at Battery Creek High School that lasted less than three minutes, the school board voted to affirm the decisions of the book review committees that returned seven books to the Beaufort County School District (BCSD) library shelves on May 11.

The board voted 6-1 to uphold the committee decisions.

The committees had reviewed eight books at Okatie Elementary — Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, Fade by Lisa McMann, Fallout by Ellen Hopkins, Foul is Fair / Golden Boys Beware by Hanna Capin, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero, Identical by Ellen Hopkins, Push by Sapphire and Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. The committees returned all but Identical by Ellen Hopkins. Because of a tie vote, it will go back into the review process.

As reported by The Island News’ Delayna Earley, four books — Almost Perfect Fade, Fallout and Tricks — were previously available to students in Grades 6 through 12. Of those books, Fallout by Ellen Hopkins will be returned to circulation without any additional restrictions, whereas the other three books will be returned to library circulation for Grades 9 through 12 only.

The other four books, Foul is Fair / Golden Boys Beware

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces Identical and Push were all originally available for Grades 9 through 12, and all but Identical have been returned to those grade levels. Of the 97 books that were originally removed from BCSD libraries, 54 have gone through the review process. Of those, three books have been removed from school district shelves — It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and The Haters by

City to start dredging project along Battery Creek, Jane Way

Jessie Andrews — with one book — Identical by Ellen Hopkins — returning to the review process.

There are still 44 books that need to go through the review process, including the book that is being re-reviewed. The review process will continue into the summer according to BCSD spokesperson Candace Bruder. Review committees will meet twice during the school district’s summer break, but those dates have not been finalized.

House fire, 3 wrecks keep Burton Fire busy after holiday

From staff reports

On the first day back from the holiday weekend, the Burton Fire District responded to a morning house fire and three vehicle collisions, two of which were two back-to-back, resulting in minor injuries and traffic delays.

Just before 1 a.m., Tuesday, May 30, Burton firefighters and Beaufort County EMS responded to a vehicle collision at the intersection of Laurel Bay and Stanley Farm roads. Emergency crews arrived on scene to find a single vehicle that had struck a

deer. The vehicle sustained minor damages and no injuries were reported.

Just past 6:30 a.m., Tuesday, Burton firefighters, along with the MCAS Fire Department and Beaufort County EMS, responded to a reported house fire on Bruce K Smalls Road after a resident called 911 to report smoke coming from the roof of his mobile home.

Firefighters arrived on scene and tracked the smoke to a small grass fire at the rear of the residence that had spread to the side of the home. Damages were minor. The fire is

under investigation.

Just past 8 a.m., Tuesday, Burton firefighters and Beaufort County EMS responded to a vehicle collision at the intersection of Robert Smalls Parkway and Shadow Moss Drive. Emergency crews arrived on scene to a two-vehicle collision between a minivan and a passenger vehicle. Both vehicles sustained moderate damages and injuries appeared to be minor. Traffic on Robert Smalls Parkway was delayed for more tham 30 minutes while emergency crews worked to assist the

SC First Lady visits Beaufort

occupants and clear roadway hazards.

Just 30 minutes later, Burton firefighters and Beaufort County EMS again responded to a motor vehicle collision, this time at the intersection of Parris Island Gateway and Forest Field Road. Emergency crews arrived on scene to a two-vehicle collision between an SUV and passenger vehicle. Both vehicles sustained minor to moderate damages. Injuries appeared to be minor. Traffic on Parris Island Gateway was delayed for more than 30 minutes while emergen-

cy crews worked to assist the occupants and clear roadway hazards.

The Burton Fire District responded to 37 emergencies over the holiday weekend including four vehicle collisions; one of which occurred Saturday at the intersection of Laurel Bay and Shanklin roads just past 4 p.m. Emergency crews found two passenger vehicles with heavy damages. Injuries appeared to be non-life threatening and Laurel Bay Road was shut down for more than 30 minutes while emergency crews worked.

From staff reports

The City of Beaufort was set to begin a dredging project on Battery Creek Road and Jane Way on Wednesday, June 7.

Lowcountry All Works, the contractor on the project, will place matting down along the work area to protect the area from the heavy equipment. Battery Creek Road may experience some traffic interruptions when the mats are delivered on June 7.

Once the matting is in place, dredging operations will begin.

Project Manager Neal Pugliese said that the project is intended to eliminate accumulated silt and vegetative debris from the affected waterway, which has interrupted the free flow of water from the Duck Pond to the Battery Creek River. This project will also significantly reduce the potential for localized flooding due to extreme weather events like hurricanes, tropical storms, and “microburst rain bombs,” he said.

The project is expected to take about two weeks. Any questions can be directed to Pugliese at npugliese@ cityofbeaufort.org or 843986-5609.

HURRICANE READY

On May 11, 2023, the Beaufort Republican Women’s Club and their special guest, S.C. First Lady Peggy McMaster, enjoyed an afternoon tea at the Coosaw Point River Club. The event was open to all tea lovers. Hostesses decorated their tables according to themes they chose and were judged by the First Lady. Candice Dixon won the best table award and Karen Eaton won for the best hat. The First Lady spoke about her passion, the prevention of human trafficking in South Carolina, and she invited attendees to visit and tour the Governor’s mansion. A check was presented to the First Lady at the end of the event to be donated to the nonprofit Governor’s Mansion Foundation, which utilizes private funds to maintain the historic mansion, and many men and women in attendance were inspired to learn more about ending the atrocities of modern day slavery in our State. To join the Beaufort Republican Women’s Club, please visit https:// beaufortrepublicanwomensc.org/. Photo courtesy of the Beaufort Republican Women’s Club

NEWS BRIEFS

2 events remain in Rowland Lecture Series

Two lectures remain in the Historic Port Royal Foundation’s first annual Dr. Lawrence S. Rowland Lecture Series presented by authors and historians Lawrence S. Rowland, Ph.D., and Stephen Wise, Ph.D.

The topic of the Thursday, June 8 lecture is Early Maritime History Through the Civil War – 1514-1868. The Friday, June 9 lecture is The 20th Century: The Railroad, Naval Station and Modern Times – 1870-2006.

All lectures will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (formerly The Historic Union Church established 1878) at 1004 11th Street in Port Royal.

Tickets are $25 for each lecture via online purchase only at https://historic-port-royal-foundation.square.site/. Seating is limited.

BSDC meeting Thursday

The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s June meeting will be held Thursday, June 8, at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will start at 7.

Matt Perkinson, coordinator for Saltwater Fishing Outreach and Education Programs for SCDNR, will give an update about trends in the Red Drum (Red Fish) population and future.

Chris Butler of Butler Marine will give an update on the S.C. Boating & Fishing Alli-

ance for boaters and S.C. anglers to include the latest and greatest on boats and motors.

Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply, Butler Marine, and Danny Walsh and the Achurch Real Estate Group again are our monthly $50 drawing sponsors. Remember to weigh in your favorite catch at the Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply located at 1734 Ribaut Road, Port Royal during regular hours. Congratulations to Debra Norwood, last month’s winner. Winners must be present at the next month’s meeting to receive the cash award.

Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-5222122 or email fgibson@islc.net

June LIBPA Meeting

Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association will meet at 8 a.m., June 13.

Stefanie Nagid, Beaufort County’s Passive Parks Manager will be the featured speaker. Please stop by for coffee and conversation concerning our community. The meeting will be held at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island.

LWV hosting Medicaid help sessions

League of Women Voters Beaufort volunteers are hosting drop-in Medicaid help

S.C. Governor Henry MacMaster said to prepare for the 2023 hurricane season now, not after it gets windy, during a press conference with other state officials Monday at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. MacMaster said, “It’s comin’” and S.C. residents should know their established evacuation routes and NOT rely on personal GPS. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

sessions from 2 to 4 p.m., on Wednesdays, June 14, June 21, and June 28 at St. Helena Branch Library at 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island.

Assistance is available with the Medicaid renewal and enrollment process. Help is free with no appointment necessary. Information is available on the end of automatic renewals (Medicaid unwinding) and on Medicaid expansion efforts in the state. St. Helena Branch Library.

Howard hosting transportation meeting

Council Member Alice Howard will host a community meeting for the residents of Shell Pointon Thursday, June 15, at 6 p.m., at Shell Point Baptist Church, 871 Parris Island Gateway.

This meeting will focus on transportation improvements in the area and will provide an open forum for residents to express their concerns, share ideas, and actively participate in the decision-making process regarding transportation enhancements within the Shell Point community.

Representatives from Beaufort County Engineering will be present to listen to community members and gather valuable input. The meeting will cover various aspects of transportation improvements, such as road enhancements, pedestrian safety measures, and any other topics of concern raised by the community. The insights gained from this meeting will aid Beaufort County En-

gineering in formulating a comprehensive transportation plan tailored to the needs of the Shell Point community.

This gathering presents a unique opportunity for Shell Point residents to engage directly with local officials and professionals involved in transportation planning and development. It is an occasion to voice opinions, discuss existing challenges, and propose innovative solutions that can contribute to the overall improvement of transportation infrastructure in the area.

For more information please email Council Member Howard at ahoward@bcgov.net or call her at 843-986-7403.

McMaster sends Guard to border

On Wednesday, May 31, Governor Henry McMaster directed the deployment of South Carolina National Guard troops to help secure the U.S. Southern border in Texas amid the ongoing national security crisis following the end of Title 42.

“At the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, I have directed the deployment of South Carolina National Guard troops to Texas to help hold the line on the Southern border,” McMaster said. “The safety and security of South Carolinians require that we stop the drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering our country to peddle their poison.”

– Compiled from staff reports

Chalk

from page A1

Lady, gained prominence due to her chalkboard messages on her front lawn during the COVID-19 lockdown.

But recently, allegations began to surface from members of the community that Lamprecht and the Beaufort Chalkboard’s message were not what they were drawn up to be.

Lamprecht moved to the Beaufort area in 2019 with her husband Tom, and they initially erected the large chalkboard in the front yard of their rental home on Parris Island Gateway in March 2020 to thank first responders and essential workers, according to media reports.

Since then, she has been writing funny or inspirational messages on the board and sharing photos of the chalkboard on her Instagram and Facebook accounts.

(As of late Friday night, the Instagram account — @ beaufortchalkboard — and the accounts for her personal page and business page — both called Beaufort Chalkboard — were inactive. Beaufort Chalkboard Facebook pages for Motivational Speaking, Real Estate and Gift Shop remain active but boast just 28 followers between the three.)

It did not take long before Lamprecht was a wellknown figure in Beaufort because of her chalkboard, but about 18 months after they first put it up, she became viral after several celebrities, such as Katie Couric, Jennifer Garner and Mariska Hargitay, began sharing her social media posts.

At the time her pages were deactivated, Lamprecht had almost 8,000 followers on Facebook and just more than 6,000 followers on Instagram.

Taking advantage of her reach on social media, Lamprecht began to make posts asking people to donate goods or money to various causes she was claiming to support. She would include her Venmo, Cash App, Zelle and PayPal information as ways for people to send money.

The initial spark

Even a brief look at her social media accounts was enough to know that she had become a beloved member of the Beaufort community. That is until recently, when an article was published about her and her husband in the May 2023 edition of Beaufort Lifestyle Magazine Information in the article raised several red flags that caught the attention of members of the community.

In the article, Lamprecht claimed to have formed a new 501(c)(3) with help from her good friend and United Way employee, Amber Hewitt, despite having advertised herself as having a 501(c)(3) many times before the article.

Being named in the article caught Hewitt off-guard, especially because of the nature of her job.

“I have not helped CJ ‘Beaufort Chalkboard’ to form a nonprofit,” Hewitt told The Island News. “Furthermore, I am in no way a part of a nonprofit with her. The articles that have been published as well as any other statements that have been made where she states otherwise are just not true.”

Dale Douthat, CEO and President of United Way of the Lowcountry, said he reached out to Lamprecht to confirm that Hewitt had, in fact, not helped her to form a 501(c)(3), because as an employee of The United Way she cannot do that.

Lamprecht sent a signed statement to Douthat saying

that what was said in the article was not factual, and that the author, Karen Snyder, misrepresented what she said.

But after talking with Naomi Forrestall, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Beaufort Lifestyle Magazine, this does not seem to be the case.

“When we do an article on someone, they get final approval of the article before it is published,” Forrestall said.

“We do this so that we can avoid misrepresenting people that we write about.”

After Lamprecht was confronted with this information, she said that she never saw the article before print because she was unable to open the file.

Forrestall provided The Island News with an e-mail showing that Lamprecht signed off on the article and said that it was “OK” for publication. She also stated that Lamprecht was adamant that the information about her newly formed 501(c)(3) be included.

Since the article was published on May 1, some members of the community began to ask questions on social media and in interviews with The Island News if Lamprecht is being truthful about having a 501(c)(3) and what she did with the donations that she has previously solicited.

An official investigation

One such concerned citizen contacted the Secretary of State’s office — in South Carolina, the Secretary of State’s office is responsible for the registration of nonprofits — through email to file a complaint with the charities division that Lamprecht was soliciting money and donations as a 501(c)(3) without being registered as one.

The Secretary of State’s office officially opened an investigation into Cindy Linn Lamprecht, aka “Beaufort Chalkboard Lady,” on May 4. It sent her a notice of violation for failure to register as a charitable organization, which she received on May 10 by certified mail, according to Shannon Wiley, General Counsel and Public Information Director for the Secretary of State’s office.

Per the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, once a notice of violation is issued, an organization has 15 days after receipt of the notice of violation to file a registration statement or any filing that is outstanding, said Wiley.

After receiving the notification on May 10, Lamprecht took to her Facebook page, claiming that the letter was simply pointing out an error in her application. She disparaged any who questioned her.

She repeated this sentiment during an interview with The Island News on Friday, June 2, claiming that she submitted her application for a 501(c)(3) in March of this year and that she submitted the paperwork to correct the error on May 13

“I sent one in [to the Secretary of State’s office] in March, too,” Lamprecht claimed in the interview. “I never heard back from them.”

Lamprecht never stated what the error was, nor did she supply The Island News with any paperwork or evidence that she had to substantiate her claims.

As of Wednesday, May 31, Lamprecht has never filed an application online or by paper for a 501(c)(3), nor has she responded to the notice of violation from the Secretary of State’s office, according to Wiley.

Additionally, Wiley said that no 501(c)(3) organizations are listed with the IRS or the Secretary of State’s office in South Carolina under the name Beaufort Chalk-

board or under TCL Helping Hands of the Lowcountry, which is a name she claims to have used to register her new 501(c)(3) in a May 10 post on Facebook.

According to Wiley, since Lamprecht never responded to the notice of violation, the Secretary of State’s office will be issuing a $2,000 fine to Lamprecht.

“That is the next step in the violation process,” Wiley said, “Once someone gets the fine, they have 30 days to pay the fine and get in compliance, and if not, they will be suspended.”

After the suspension, there is a 30-day right of appeal, but Wiley said if they keep soliciting and they are not in compliance, a court can issue an injunction to make them stop.

To be clear, at this point, Lamprecht had already broken the law. It is illegal to solicit any donations while representing yourself as a charity in South Carolina without having a 501(c)(3).

Follow the money

In the course of researching this story, The Island News has spoken with numerous donors and people involved with area nonprofits who did not want their names published for fear of retaliation from Lamprecht because of her perceived connections with people who wield power and influence in Beaufort County.

Allegations have been made by some of these people that money and donations collected by Lamprecht have not ended up where they were supposed to in a timely manner, and in some cases, not at all.

“But I dropped everything off. Everything,” Lamprecht said when confronted with the allegations. “I have taken boxes, and boxes, and boxes up to Help of Beaufort, Salvation Army, and like I said, I was running stuff up to Amber [Hewitt’s] truck every day.”

While Lamprecht talked about having properly distributed any goods she received, she initially evaded any questions asking about monetary donations.

According to some who gave money to Lamprecht, questions arose when they tried to acquire Beaufort Chalkboard’s employer identification number (EIN) for the purpose of filing her taxes.

When contacted through social media and in direct messages and asked about her EIN number, Lamprecht followed a pattern of making an excuse why she didn’t have it readily available, responding with hostility, then eventually blocking the person on social media.

While it is hard to prove how much she has collected and from whom, The Island News has been able to verify two specific instances when Lamprecht used her social media to solicit donations for a cause and the donations were never delivered.

Missing donations and no answers

In May 2022, Lamprecht posted on her social media accounts asking people to donate money for a large shipment of baby formula that she claimed she could get from a church in Ohio to be distributed between three separate nonprofit organizations in Beaufort — The Salvation Army of the Lowcountry, Help of Beaufort and Erin the Elf.

The nation was suffering from a formula shortage, and local parents were having a hard time finding formula, especially if they needed a specific formula.

In messages to the nonprofit organizations, Lamprecht claimed to have collected nearly $1,500 in monetary donations that

would be used to purchase the formula, and they were told that her son, Michael Bear, would be driving the formula down from Ohio to Beaufort.

Spokespeople for Erin the Elf, Salvation Army of the Lowcountry and Help of Beaufort all confirmed that they never received any formula from Lamprecht and there is no evidence that she distributed the formula herself.

That was the last that any of the nonprofits heard about the formula.

Bucyrus Nazarene Church in Bucryus, Ohio is the church that she claimed to get the formula from, and is the same church that members of her family, including her son Michael, attend.

Lead Pastor Ray LaSalle said that he has no knowledge of her purchasing baby formula, and he said that while Bear is a good man, “she is a crook.”

Moreover, Bear said that he has not had any contact with his mother in a decade and he has no desire to be involved with anything including her.

Despite what she had said to involved parties at the time, in the June 2 interview, Lamprecht offered up a different series of events to The Island News She claims that she used money she raised to buy the formula from a friend, who she would not name, who works for a formula company and attends a church in Ohio, of which she could not provide the name. She then said that she that she ended up distributing the formula to low-income families through social workers that she met through her job at Stokes Toyota of Beaufort.

When asked for records and names of social workers that she worked with she responded, “I can look,” but again, never provided any evidence to substantiate her claims.

‘She’s got to be exposed’

More recently, in March 2023, Lamprecht solicited donations on her social media for Sandy Smith of Hampton, S.C., to aid in the exhumation of her son Stephen Smith’s body.

Stephen Smith was a 19-year-old who was found dead on Sandy Run Road in Hampton, S.C. on June 8, 2015, and eight years later authorities re-opened his case in June 2021 and are investigating it as a homicide.

His case was reopened following the murders of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh, for which the patriarch of the family, Alex Murdaugh, was found guilty on March 2, 2023.

Alex’s oldest son Buster has been mentioned in con-

Additionally, Lamprecht claims to have delivered $900 in donations that she collected directly to Smith three days after meeting with her for coffee.

Not only did Smith say that she has not received any donations from Beaufort Chalkboard, but she has never had any face-to-face contact with Lamprecht outside of a brief meeting at the ceremony for the unveiling of her son’s headstone.

“She did send me a message through messenger and said that a lot of people had wanted to help with Stephen’s exhumation and that she was going to get the money together and that she would pay me,” Smith said. “But then I’ve never heard anything about it.”

Smith said that she does know that her aunt who lives in Alabama did donate through Beaufort Chalkboard because she was hoping to donate before the Go Fund Me page collecting money for the exhumation had been created.

nection to Smith in 2015 case files first unearthed by FITSnews, but Buster has since spoke out against the speculation that he was involved with Smith’s death. Buster has never been named as a suspect or charged with a crime and the investigation into Smith’s death is ongoing.

Screenshots of conversations with Lamprecht that were sent to The Island News, show that she claims to have met with Smith for coffee and had a Zoom meeting with Smith and Mandy Matney, host of the podcast Murdaugh Murders. They allegedly discussed ways to raise money for the exhumation, such as Smith forming a Go Fund Me page.

Lamprecht responded to the claim about Smith by saying that she actually donated the money to Smith through her Go Fund Me Page as anonymous and the amount that she donated was actually $600, but there are no anonymous donations for that amount of money and she has not responded to requests for receipts from her donation to the page.

“If she’s doing wrong, she’s got to be exposed,” Smith said.

So, the question then is, what has happened to all the money that Lamprecht has allegedly raised?

SEE CHALK PAGE A7

This screenshot shows what she said in response to requests for more information regarding the formula purchase that she claimed to have made with donated money in early 2022.

These screenshots show what Cindy Lamprecht claims to have happened in regards to Sandy Smith and collecting donations to help exhume the body of her son, Stephen Smith.

Chalk

from page A1

Could anyone have seen this coming?

Lamprecht’s life has been on display through social media since she began Beaufort Chalkboard shortly after moving to Beaufort, but how much do people really know about her life before moving here.

Lamprecht grew up in Ohio and, according to court records obtained by The Island News, has an extensive criminal history of financial fraud and theft that began in the early 1990s.

Born as Cindy Linn Lambert in on May 28, 1968, Lamprecht has been married five times.

In addition to Lamprecht, she has gone by the surnames Pitt, Jones, Pollock and Bear.

She has three children, a daughter who goes by the surname Pitt and two sons who go by the surname Bear.

She also uses the pseudonym C.J. Samuels for her series of historical Christian fiction novels.

Under her various aliases, Lamprecht has been convicted of at least 14 felonies for financial crimes and was sentenced to more than three years of jail time, in addition to thousands of dollars in fines and restitution.

According to a court document from an appeal that she filed in 2002, Lamprecht, who went by the name Cindy L. Pitt at the time, was found guilty in Wyndot, Ohio on seven felony counts in March 2001 for stealing, forgery and cashing checks made payable to Bender Communications for $10,247.

For these crimes, she was sentenced to 11 months for the six 5th degree felony convictions and 16 months for one 4th degree felony conviction to be served concurrently, but that sentence was suspended a month later in May

2001 by judicial review and she was released on community control.

Community control is when the freedom of an offender is restricted within the community, home, or noninstitutional residential placement and sanctions are imposed and enforced. It is a punishment typically designed for more serious offenses such as felonies or repeat offenders.

During this time, Lambrecht got a job working for OK Auto Mall in Upper Sandusky, Ohio and by September 2001 she had been arrested again for stealing, forgery and cashing two checks amounting to $1,000.

After being arrested, she was charged and convicted with three additional 5th degree felonies, for which she received two 11-month sentences to be served concurrently and a third 11-month sentence to be served con-

secutively with the 11-month sentence and the previously suspended 16-month sentence.

She appealed the verdict in both cases in 2002, asserting to have a bipolar disorder which she claimed, “constitutes substantial grounds mitigating her criminal conduct,” according to the court document.

Lamprecht argued that the trial court had failed to consider the fact that she suffers from manic episodes brought on by her disorder, but the appellate court upheld the verdict stating that “she was aware of the illness for several years and her criminal activity escalated despite her treatment, therefore causing significant financial harm and jeopardizing other individual careers.”

The appellate court document then states that “her deceptive and dishonest conduct illustrated reflected

deliberation and design, was not the impulsive, irrational acts characteristic of manic episodes, and did not appear to be related to her disorder,” and continued to say that Lamprecht was using her mental health disorder as a crutch and excuse for her criminal acts.

When asked for comment about her criminal history, Lamprecht responded by saying, “I haven’t had anything for so many years and I don’t understand why I’m being attacked for that now.”

The jig is up

Until Friday night, Tom Lamprecht was in the dark about his wife’s criminal record, her marriage history and just what she may have been doing as the Beaufort Chalkboard.

But just hours after The Island News spoke with Cindy Lamprecht on Friday afternoon, and shortly after Tom Lamprecht apparently became aware of improprieties on his wife’s part, things began to develop quickly in the unraveling of the Beaufort Chalkboard story.

Just before 7 p.m., Tom Lamprecht called the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) with an escort request.

According to Maj. Angela Viens, Public Information Officer for the BCSO, people typically call for an escort when they feel unsafe or insecure or just want a witness for a variety of reasons, including domestic situations, child custody exchanges and disagreements.

Tom Lamprecht, who spoke to The Island News late Friday night, called the Sheriff’s Office because he had made a decision.

“I literally called the sheriff’s department to get them to come to my house and

McCombs

from page A1

absence of enthusiasm spread all over that response like jelly on toast.

That was it. Our coverage decision on The Beaufort Chalkboard had been made in a roughly three-sentence conversation. Turns out that decision wasn’t final.

Over the next three years, Beaufort’s daily newspaper, a handful of television stations, at least one magazine and even a local telephone directory lauded Lamprecht’s initiative. (I’m glad we didn’t play catch-up.) And countless good-hearted and giving people celebrated her chalkboard messages, and then responded with money and goods to her calls for charity.

I’m certain not all of her endeavors were nefarious. In fact, I know they couldn’t have been.

Clearly, she did some good. She had to. She had to gain people’s trust.

But only in the past few weeks did it become apparent to more than a few that Lamprecht had been fooling us all. Even some of her close friends and her husband felt the sting of her deceit.

And now we also know that this isn’t the first time she’s taken advantage of those around her who simply wanted to help people.

It was a combination of the bad in Lamprecht and the good in a lot of others that was her downfall here.

Right to the end of her reign in Beaufort, she continued to pile lie on top of lie, with almost no concern for the ability to maintain those lies. She continued to insist she had a registered 501(c)(3) despite assurances to those who asked the Secretary of State’s office that she had never applied for one.

And she told a writer that a good friend helped her get that 501(c)(3), and she insisted that fact be in her story. And that mistake cost her.

But even bigger was the willingness of people to talk about what Lamprecht had done, how she had misled them, how she had evaded questions, deleted social media posts when she was called out, and, with the help of a couple of friends, intimidated and bullied those who dared to continue to question her “pure heart.”

It was those people who lodged complaints with the Secretary of State’s office. It was those people who started sharing information with those who would listen and had the power to do something about it.

Lamprecht’s deeds here surely damaged the trust of a lot of people. How much is hard to say. But she made the job of nonprofits, to convince others to give of their time, money and goods to help others, all that much more difficult.

However, the same people who were willing to push back against Lamprecht have the opportunity to stop her from doing this one more time somewhere else.

help me get her out of the house, and she’s on the run,”

Tom Lamprecht said.

Tom Lamprecht wanted to make it clear he talked to The Island News because he needed people in Beaufort to know he had known as little about his wife’s enterprises as they had.

“I had nothing to do with it. Did I support my wife and her cause? I did, because I thought that she was doing good things,” Tom Lamprecht said. “And some stuff that she did was good, so yeah, I supported my wife with that. But I had nothing to do with any fraud or any money.”

Because Cindy Lamprecht did not respond to the notification of violation that was sent to her by the Secretary of State’s office, she will now have 30 days to pay a $2,000 fine for soliciting money without a 501(c)(3). The $2,000 fine might be just the beginning of Cindy Lamprecht’s troubles.

She will also be asked to cease and desist the collection of any donations until she has a registered 501(c) (3). That may be a moot point since the biggest Beaufort Chalkboard social media pages were deactivated just before 9 p.m., Friday.

And Tom Lamprecht said he intended to remove the physical chalkboard itself on Saturday, June 3, which he did at around 7 a.m. on Saturday morning.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, she may also face criminal and civil legal troubles if the allegations are founded and she has been pocketing money she has collected as donations.

“If we receive a report of theft or fraud that occurred within the jurisdiction of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, we will certainly in-

Shannon Wiley, General Counsel and Public Information Director for Secretary of State Mark Hammond, said they will begin to look into Lamprecht’s personal finances.

“Our intention is to go ahead and see what accounts we could go ahead and subpoena,” Wiley told Delayna Earley in a phone call.

But no matter what Hammond’s office finds, the burden of prosecuting Lamprecht falls to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).

BCSO Spokesperson Maj.

Angela Viens, when asked for comment on any potential prosecution stemming from this case, issued a statement saying the BCSO would investigate any claims of theft or fraud brought to their attention.

“If the investigation determines that a criminal act was committed and probable cause exists for an arrest, then we will pursue a warrant(s) for the appropriate statutory violation according to the South Carolina Code of

vestigate the claim,” Viens said. “If the investigation determines that a criminal act was committed and probable cause exists for an arrest, then we will pursue a warrant(s) for the appropriate statutory violation according to the South Carolina Code of Conduct.”

Dale Douthat with the United Way said that Cindy Lamprecht’s actions affect all nonprofit organizations in the area, of which there are more than 1,600, because people are less likely to donate for fear of fraud.

Amber Hewitt said she considered Lambrecht to be a close friend and trusted her when she said she had a registered nonprofit. And she hopes this is a lesson to everyone to remember to trust, but always verify, something she wishes she had done.

But she was in awe over all that Lamprecht appeared to be doing for the Beaufort community.

“I’m hurt, but more than for myself, I am hurt by what this has done to our community,” Hewitt said. “In the end, I hope that those who trusted in her will recover.”

An emotional Tom Lamprecht, who must now pick up the pieces of his personal life, said, “What bothers me is that people’s trust has been damaged.”

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna. theislandnews@gmail.com

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

Conduct,” she said.

But talking to the newspaper on the record or commenting on a Facebook thread simply isn’t enough. To prosecute, we have to have the evidence, Viens said.

If the Beaufort community is to be the last community Lamprecht takes for an unwanted ride, people will once again have to step up.

If you gave any money to Lamprecht – either by cash, check or by Go Fund Me – talk to the BCSO. If you donated goods, kid’s bikes for example, talk to the BCSO. If you gave something and have any reason to believe it didn’t go where it was supposed to, talk to the BCSO.

If you’re unsure about any kind of contribution you made to Lamprecht, talk to the BCSO.

Even if your contribution seems small, they can add up and prevent Cindy Lamprecht from doing this to the next town.

Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be

For more than three years, Cindy “CJ” Lamprecht, bottom left, posted inspirational and humorous quotes on a chalkboard erected in the front yard of her Parris Island Gateway home. The Beaufort Chalkboard, as it came to be known, inspired as many as five Facebook pages. Bob Sofaly/The Island News.

The chalkboard that was once erected in the front yard of Cindy Lamprecht’s home on Parris Island Gateway sits on the side of the home’s garage on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, after the woman known as The Beaufort Chalkboard Lady fled on Friday, June 2. Her husband, Tom Lamprecht, took down the sign that had become a symbol of hope and positivity to many in Beaufort on Saturday, June 3. Delayna Earley/The Island News

Seven tips to be happy after age 40

The truth about mid-life is that we hit a low point in life which could be the cause of the crisis we feel when we hit our 40th birthday. It’s normal to hit 40 and start asking yourself the following questions: Is this all there is to life? Why am I here? What’s my purpose? Who am I? What do I really want? The problem is when we get stuck in this question phase and don’t move forward. We can become stuck in this crisis and become lost.

“In mid life we naturally hit a low. What excited us in our 20s and 30s no longer has much of an impact on us. The things we never paid much attention to now stands out more like a good cup of coffee, friends who we have a lot in common with, kids, sunsets and sunrises, nature, etc. I appreciate the simple things much more with age which allows me to be more mindful in life

which a positive of aging BUT yet it’s not enough to avoid the crisis,” shares Diane Lang, psychotherapist, and author.

Reality sets in when we enter mid life. We start to realize not all of our dreams came true and some might not ever. We start re-evaluating our dreams to fit our reality. We worry about retirement and not having enough money. We worry about wasting time doing things that were not passionate about. We worry about paying off our mortgages, accumulated credit card bills and perhaps our children’s college bills. Truth be told we become stressed out in our 40s between a mix of reality setting in and worrying taking its toll our happiness levels start to shrink.

1. Be realistic about your dreams and goals. Set new goals to fit your value system in mid life.

2. Gratitude. Look at all you have done up to now such as your education, job experience, family, travel, etc.

3. Add more connection to your life. When we hit midlife it’s more important to have friends we connect to and have things in common with. This is a good time to find those friends. Do activities that you love and meet people who feel the same. Connection is so important.

4. Release the toxic. We lose patience in mid-life for all the drama, so it might be time to break up with the narcissists in your life and learn how to ‘pick your battles’.

5. Remember that the older we get, the happier we get. Yes, mid life is stressful but once we pass through it and hit the fifties, we can get happier and happier. So, you have a lot to look forward to.

6. In mid life we tend to worry about our kids which is completely normal, BUT it’s also time to start worrying about yourself. Start having more balance by tak-

ing care of your family as well as your own needs.

7. In mid-life we develop a lot of new interests like religion, spirituality, fitness,

solitude, etc. Take a personal development class or try yoga. When we keep learning, we keep growing and growth brings happiness.

Melatonin gummies—sleep benefits and risks

Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the brain and helps to regulate the body’s sleep rhythm.

“Melatonin is sometimes known as the hormone of darkness. So, when it’s secreted naturally by the body, it tends to peak in the hours before sleep and exert sleep-promoting effects.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 19% of adults in the U.S. don’t get enough sleep, and some of those sleep-deprived people use melatonin supplements to help them catch some z’s. According to practice guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2017) and the American College of Physicians (2016), there’s not enough strong evidence on the effectiveness or safety of melatonin supplementation for chronic insomnia to recommend its use. The American College of Physicians guidelines strongly recommend the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as an initial treatment for insomnia.

Nevertheless, many people rely

on melatonin gummies to help them get a good night’s sleep. But a recent study finds that these over-the-counter supplements may not reliably contain the advertised amount of melatonin.

Short-term use of melatonin supplements appears to be safe for most people, but information on the long-term safety of supplementing with melatonin is lacking.

Melatonin gummies and supplements can be effective for people

with sleep issues. However, there are some mild risks to using melatonin supplements. Also keep in mind:

• Interactions with medicines–As with all dietary supplements, people who are taking medicine should consult their health care providers before using melatonin. In particular, people with epilepsy and those taking blood thinner medications need to be under

medical supervision when taking melatonin supplements.

• Possible allergic reaction risk– There may be a risk of allergic reactions to melatonin supplements.

• Safety concerns for pregnant and breastfeeding women–There’s been a lack of research on the safety of melatonin use in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Safety concerns for older people–The 2015 guidelines by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend against melatonin use by people with dementia. Melatonin may stay active in older people longer than in younger people and cause daytime drowsiness.

• Melatonin is regulated as a dietary supplement–In the United States, melatonin is considered a dietary supplement. This means that it’s regulated less strictly by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) than a prescription or over-the-counter drug would be. In several other countries,

melatonin is available only with a prescription and is considered a drug.

“Side effects of melatonin supplements can include headache, dizziness, nausea and persisting sedation carrying over to the next morning if too high a dose is taken for an individual.

If you’re considering taking melatonin gummies or a supplement to help you sleep, it’s a good idea to talk with your health care professional first.

Tips for better sleep: Stick to a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time. Create a comfortable sleeping environment. Limit screen time before bed.

• Exercise regularly. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing.

Sources: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ melatonin-what-you-need-to-know; https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/ discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-whatare-the-benefits-risks-of-sleeping-withmelatonin-gummies/

What’s the skinny on weight-loss drugs?

Want to lose weight? It’s really just basic math. Burn more calories than you take in. The best way to do that is by eating a healthy diet—reducing your calorie intake— and being physically active, which increases the number

of calories burned. While it appears to be simple, many people find it challenging to effectively lose weight and keep the pounds off. Now, experts say there is a new tool to help in the battle against obesity,

a prescription medication that can curb your appetite. And a recent study at Mayo Clinic shows it can be effective for weight loss.

It’s a medication called semaglutide—better known by the brand names Ozem-

pic and Wegovy. Ozempic is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat Type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is now approved to help with weight loss.

“These drugs have been shown to help people lose, on average, about 15% of their body weight,” says Dr. Meera Shah, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist. It works by tricking your brain and stomach into feeling full, so you don’t overeat.

“It’s really changed how we think about these weightloss medications,” says Dr. Shah.

It’s a prescription medication. The FDA advises it only for people with a body mass index, or BMI, greater than 30—or a BMI of 27 or more with a weight-related health condition. A common side effect is nausea.

“These are injections, and you give them once a week to yourself, typically in the belly, so much like an insulin injection would be,” she says. It is also available as an oral pill, but both forms are expensive and oftentimes not covered by insurance.

So check with your provider.

“I think it’s a great tool,” says Dr. Shah. “I think for

a lot of people, it certainly makes a significant difference to how they feel about food and how they feel about their own hunger signals and their ability to control that. And that’s very powerful.”

Source: Mayo Clinic News Network, https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/ discussion/5-23-mayo-clinic-minute

7 ways to calm your upset stomach care

The Harvard Medical School offers these suggestions:

Maybe you’ve just eaten or finished a meal an hour or so ago—and now your stomach just doesn’t “feel right.” You feel bloated and uncomfortable. Or maybe it’s more of a burning sensation. Maybe you feel queasy, or even throw up. You might say you have an “upset stomach” or indigestion. If there is no known medical cause for your symptoms, your doctor would call it “dyspepsia” or “bad digestion.”

Indigestion is real. The medical term for persistent upper abdominal pain or discomfort without an identifiable medical cause is functional dyspepsia. Eating often triggers symptoms of functional dyspepsia. Sometimes the discomfort begins during the meal, other times about half an hour later. It tends to come and go in spurts over a period of about three months. One of the annoying things about functional dyspepsia is that a medical workup often finds no physical or anatomical cause for it.

If you suffer from functional dyspepsia, you’re not alone. Roughly

25% of the population is affected, and it hits men and women equally. It’s responsible for a significant percentage of visits to primary care doctors; in part because many people worry they might have an ulcer.

It’s a reasonable concern, given that 10% of Americans develop a peptic ulcer at some time in their lives. While it’s frustrating that the cause of functional dyspepsia is unknown, it’s even more frustrat-

ing that there is no surefire cure. The good news is that there are simple things you can try to help get some relief: Avoid foods that trigger your symptoms.

Eat small portions and don’t overeat; try eating smaller, more frequent meals and be sure to chew food slowly and completely.

Avoid activities that result in swallowing excess air, such as smoking, eating quickly, chewing gum, and drinking carbonated beverages. Reduce your stress. Try relaxation therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, or exercise. An aerobic workout 3-5 times per week can help, but don’t exercise right after eating. • Get enough rest. Don’t lie down within two hours of eating. Keep your weight under control.

For more on diagnosing and treating indigestion, consider buying The Sensitive Gut, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. This Special Health Report covers the major sources of gastrointestinal distress: irritable bowel syndrome, gastric reflux, upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, and excess gas. Visit their website at http:// www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family.

The importance of firearms safety

It is estimated that 40% of all homes in the U.S. have some type of firearm. Access to firearms in the home increases the risk of unintentional firearm-related death and injury among children. Unintentional shootings cause a significant portion of all firearm-related deaths among children ages 14 and under.

An underestimation of children’s ability to gain access to a firearm in the home is a common problem. Unlike adults, children are unable to distinguish between a real gun and toy guns. Also, children are not able to make good judgments about how to safely handle a gun. To keep your child safe from firearms, consider whether it is worth the risk to your child to keep a firearm in your home. If you do choose to keep a firearm, safely store the firearm locked up and out of reach.

Keep ammunition in a separate, locked place from the actual firearm. Also, by talking with your child about the dangers of firearms, you can teach your child to never touch or play with guns, and to tell an adult if he or she finds a gun.

What are high-risk situations with firearms?

Awareness of situations that can increase your child’s risk of exposure to unintentional firearms injuries may help prevent them.

High-risk situations include the following:

Accessible firearms in the home. Parents often underestimate their child’s ability to gain access to the firearm in the house, or even the child’s ability to pull the

trigger.

• Accessible firearms at another home. Even if your home does not contain a firearm, your neighbor, friend, or relative may have an accessible firearm in the house.

Adolescent boys. The majority of children killed accidentally with firearms are boys. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) considers homes with adolescent boys at a higher risk for accidental inju-

ry and death from firearms. Ammunition and firearms stored together. When a firearm is locked away with ammunition, or left loaded, it greatly increases the risk of accidental injury and death from firearms. It is estimated that between one-third and one-half of all firearm owners keep their firearms loaded and ready for use at least some of the time.

• Lack of supervision.

Most accidental firearm shootings among children happen during times when children are not supervised, such as during the late afternoon, on weekends, and during summer months.

High-risk homes. According to the AAP, homes that can increase the risk of accidental injury and death from firearms include homes where there are alcohol or drug-addicted individuals.

What is firearm safety?

The only sure way to keep your child safe from accidental injury and death from firearms in your home is to remove all firearms from the home. Yet, there are other ways to improve the safety of your child around firearms, including the following:

Proper storage. Firearms should always be stored unloaded and separate from ammunition. The firearm and ammunition should both be locked away and out of reach of children.

• Educate your child. Teaching your child the dangers of guns may help prevent accidental injury and death from firearms. A parent should teach a child if he or she sees a firearm, to: – Not touch the firearm – Leave the area – Tell an adult immediately

• Check with neighbors. Even if your own home is free of firearms, your child may visit another home where firearms are kept. Always check with neighbors, friends, and relatives to make sure they safely store their firearms, out of reach of children.

• Other safety devices. Safety devices, such as gun locks, lock boxes, and gun safes, should be used for every firearm in the house. Safety devices on firearms could prevent most accidental fatal shootings of children ages 5 and under.

Source: https://www. hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellnessand-prevention/firearms-safety

It’s too early to say the tide has turned

It is Friday, and we’re in the cool, darkened confines of the Performing Arts Center on Carteret Street. Susan and I are watching “Straight Line

Crazy” starring the British actor, Ralph Fiennes. I have followed Fiennes for years beginning with the “The English Patient.”

As my wife and I watched Fiennes strut across the stage (streamed to us from London) my mind kept wandering back to La Locanda di Nonna Gelse — a restaurant in Umbria (Italy).

Susan and I were staying in a reconditioned Roman ruin on Mt. Acuto near Preggio. We had come down the mountain to La Locanda di Nonna Gelse for their Tagliatelle Tartufo or their Coniglio all’Arrabbiata (rabbit) — I can’t remember which dish for sure.

Nonna Gelse comes with a noisy background chorus provided by diners who consider pasta-making an art form one indistinct notch below cardiology. Their happy, unintelligible conversation was periodical-

SCOTT GRABER

ly interrupted by a British voice at a nearby table.

“That’s Ralph Fiennes,” said my brother in law, John Littlewood. “He lives here in the Niccone Valley.

“The same Ralph Fiennes who was in “Schindler’s List?” I asked.

“The same,” he said. “I tried to get him to do a voice-over for one of my commercials.”

I was instantly interested because we had just seen “English Patient” and I had been bewitched and bedazzled by Juliette Binoche.

“Is there any chance you could introduce me?”

“Sure.”

I wish I could say that we became friends, and talk to each other a couple of times a month, but that hasn’t

happened. I suspect I asked Fiennes about Binoche — thinking I might do a profile on her for the newspaper — and that might have put him off. But whatever I said was patronizing — “I love your work” — and forgettable. What is not forgettable is the “bell tower scene” where Ms. Binoche is swung to and fro among medieval portraits in a destroyed church.

“Straight Line Crazy” is about the New York City park, expressway, and Verrazano Bridge builder, Robert Moses. Fiennes gives us a strutting, loud talking Moses who is determined to get the working people in New York City onto the beaches of Long Island. Moses is determined to get them there on straight-line, landscaped expressways that indiscriminately cut through the vast estates of the aristocracy living on Long Island.

He is arrogant, determined and slightly demonic in this portrayal.

In the beginning Moses had New York Mayor Al Smith in his pocket. The

Hilton Head Island was built on the three-legged stool of guards, gates and “exclusivity” and, of course, there was Hunting Island State Park for those who didn’t have a decal.”

Mayor wanted bus and train service (to Jones Beach) for those who did not own an automobile. Moses believed in the automobile but in this play he seems to promise mass transit when the Mayor makes an unscheduled appearance and insists on a train. But the playwright makes it clear that Moses never intended to produce a train for those who did not own their own Hudson Hornet.

The playwright also makes it clear that the parkway overpasses were too low and wouldn’t allow buses to pass underneath. Apologists for Moses say he built a second beach — Little Jones Beach — that did have bus

and rail connections.

Many years ago our own Penn Center had a history of activism and in due course learned that the newly developed Harbor Island would limit access to its beach.

In the 1970s and 80s, limiting access to the beach was not a new concept in Beaufort County. Hilton Head Island was built on the three-legged stool of guards, gates and “exclusivity” and, of course, there was Hunting Island State Park for those who didn’t have a decal.

But in the Harbor Island controversy, Penn Center convinced County Council it should give the public access to Harbor’s beach. But that access would be

severely limited by the small parking lot provided by the developer. In those days there was no Cultural Overlay District or indigenous community to serve as a counterweight to a County Council desperate for a piece of the gated, golf course-accessorized, longdock pie.

For a time, Robert Moses could build his expressways anywhere he wanted to build them. Eventually opposition coalesced around the person of Jane Jacobs who stopped a throughway that would have sliced through Washington Square Park. The tide turned against this man who really believed the Cross Bronx Expressway was a good thing.

It is too early to say the tide has turned in these parts. But Pine Island, Bay Point, Tickton Hall and the tree ordinance in Port Royal are reasons for optimism.

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

Land under siege, home of the frayed

Ijust started Roland Martin’s book, White Fear: How the Browning of America Is Making White Folks Lose Their Minds, and it’s an interesting mix of revelation, reflection and resignation.

I will probably write about it in a future column, but the title alone made me stop and wonder, how different would our lives be if we could live in a world without fear?

I’m not talking about the essential caution that keeps us from wrangling poisonous snakes, jumping out of planes or walking mindlessly into busy traffic (though there are people who do some or all of these). I’m talking about fear of things that don’t exist, baseless fears that drive us to treat and mistreat each other in ways that harm both the perpetrator and the victim of so many fearful acts.

Too often we encounter things we don’t understand, decide we don’t like them, and then make up excuses to rationalize our aversions. We tell ourselves these things we don’t understand are abnormal or dangerous. Rather

than inform ourselves in ways that might alleviate our concerns, we make up talking points we share with others so they can adopt and disseminate.

It’s not enough that we don’t like these things, we have to make sure that others don’t like them either. Subconsciously or not, we try to galvanize opinion and form coalitions. We push for a critical mass until, suddenly, the thing we tell ourselves is a threat becomes … the threatened.

How much money is spent preparing to confront people and things we fear? How much physical exertion? How much emotional energy and mental strain?

There’s a perspective I have as a Black man living in this country,

having to endure the swirling and often contradictory sensations of being watched, judged, measured, hyped, belittled, rejected and ignored, often in rapid succession. It’s true some of these are just a part of life, but any Black person will tell you there’s an extra … something … that comes with our skin tone. An extra weight. But I also think about the line of people outside the gun store I used to drive past every day on my way to my job. It was March 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic had not even taken hold yet. I would think to myself, what good is a gun against a virus? But the bullets weren’t intended for germs, were they?

I think of schoolchildren who have never known a time when the most serious threat practiced was a tornado drill, with them sitting in a hallway with a textbook over their heads.

I think of good-natured, well-intentioned people I’ve met whose faces turn dark when they talk about stashing dry goods and ammo for “when everything goes to hell.”

I think of the gap between people who enjoy or ignore TV shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and those who crowd school boards haranguing members about the perceived dangers of men in makeup and dresses reading Dr. Seuss to students.

I think of politicians who demonize homosexuals for political gain. Would there ever have been an HIV crisis if it hadn’t been called a “gay man’s disease” when it came to public attention?

I think of white people being comfortable enough to talk about race and biases without fear of consequence. A closed mind like a clenched fist. Nothing gets out, but nothing can get in, either.

I think of Saturday evenings when seniors watched Lawrence Welk, The Grand Ole Opry and “Hee-Haw” instead of Greg Gutfeld and NewsMax.

I think of women being able to control their bodies because others weren’t panicked about having enough working-class bodies to keep propping up the elites. I think of families being able to feed their children healthy food

and getting them needed medical care without worrying about going bankrupt.

I think of Christians bringing others to salvation without judgment or threats of hellfire.

I think of fishing without having to question mercury levels and breathing where the only concern is pollen.

I think of how different our immigration policies would be if immigrants weren’t constantly fleeing from one threat to another. I think of how much we could accomplish together if we weren’t preoccupied inventing reasons to stay apart.

I think of how a better day isn’t that far from being real, if only our leaders listened to the majority instead of the loud-mouthed minority and their fat-cat donors. I think of a world without fear and I note who is trying to help build it and those who profit by keeping us living in terror of each other.

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

The rewards of volunteering are life-changing

In my earlier years when I was helping to raise two daughters and maintaining a teaching job, I had very little free time to volunteer. However, by 1988, one daughter was in college, and the second one was getting ready to graduate from high school. Fortuitously, it was also that year that I was offered a position that permitted me to teach three classes of English in the morning and coordinate a community service learning program in the afternoon.

Our district instituted a program that mandated students to accrue 120 hours of service over the course of their four years in high school. My job included interviewing each student to see what his or her interests were and finding appropriate sites that might be willing to take student volunteers.

It was a challenge on many levels. The first, ironically, lay with the parents of the so-called gifted students who chose to rally around what they saw as the oxymoron of “mandated volunteerism.” However, I was ready for that argument and responded with statistics

regarding several colleges that saw this as a plus when students were applying for entrance to these institutions.

The first year of the program included only freshmen as this was a new requirement that did not yet apply to upperclassmen. The following year, it was the freshmen and sophomores and so on.

For many of the students, particularly those who thought they might enter the medical field, this was an opportunity to use the program for career exploration. I hastened to tell those kids that, should they find that this wasn’t what they had hoped it to be (bed pans and being on your feet for hours on end), the lesson was as valuable as loving every moment of their placement. Even a bad experience could

ultimately be a good one.

In addition to finding weekend placements for students outside of the school setting, I created projects that reached the community but were carried out in the high school. We began the tradition of the “Teddy Bear Holiday” early on.

I contacted a center where children were held until, hopefully, they were fostered. It was amazing how many children were faced with that existence, and as I worked with the director, I came to see how great the need was. Confidentiality was a must, so we were given first names only, and a gift the child wanted for Christmas.

It was the kids’ idea to add a teddy bear to that wish and for weeks we became ‘bear-driven’; thus the name of the project. It was also the decision of the students to reach out to every extracurricular activity group, asking them to sponsor a child. How they pulled off what became a wild, competitive approach still amazes me.

The French Club bear wore a beret. The football team somehow found a bear with a helmet. The

band bear had a drum in his hands. Even the kids who didn’t belong to a structured group somehow found one another, and their child received the largest bear I have ever seen. I shed many tears over the joy that project brought.

We also held a Senior Citizen’s Prom, all planned by the kids. Those who decided to make this their project knew that short of illness, they had to attend the dance. One committee contacted the school cafeteria to arrange for dinner to be served. A second group engaged local florists for corsages and boutonnieres.

There was a band, and kids decorated the gym the afternoon of the dance. But the best part was watching the kids dance with the seniors; know as well that the seniors showed the kids some of their dance steps. It was a wonderful integration of kids and seniors, and we had more than a hundred attendees every year.

One story that must be told involved a sophomore in my English class who was an average student at best. Will simply did not fit into any of the niches kids tend

to carve out in school. There was an elementary school within walking distance of the high school, and I was able to get permission to send several kids there one morning a week for six weeks. Will was one of those, and he worked with third grade students in reading.

All students in community service were required to keep a journal of their activities which I read and commented upon. The third grade teacher and her students had a party for Will when he was leaving, and the students made a huge card for him which all signed. Will wrote in his journal, “I never thought so many people would like me at one time.” More tears on my part.

When I retired and my late husband and I moved to Beaufort, we began volunteering with Second Helpings. Later, after he passed away, I began volunteering through hospice, one-on-one with children who had lost a parent or loved one. I came to realize that my own grief was muted as I worked with those kids. Yes, I was working through my grief, but

I rapidly got over the “why me?” stage as I watched those kids struggle.

Later I was a part of the “Corridor of Shame” project, and as President of the local AAUW chapter, I suggested a Books for Birthdays project through the Corridor umbrella. So many children in Beaufort and Jasper counties lacked reading material, so once a month, we would take cupcakes for a class celebration and books for the kids with birthdays that month. The women with whom I worked were wonderful and threw themselves totally into this.

I write all of this to say very simply, “Get out there and volunteer.” There is so much need, and so many opportunities. Your heart will swell many times over, trust me. The gratification I received far outweighed any effort I put forth, and you don’t know whose life may be changed as a result.

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

TERRY MANNING

CAROL LUCAS

Are we dedicated to accomplish His will?

We might as well lay all the cards on the table and establish that it’s easier to go to church and put some money in the offering plate than to develop a consistent relationship with God. Along with our genuine love for Him is to recognize the need for a fervent prayer life. Being religious without praying is popular. Why is this? Because we do not care enough to pray.

Prayer meetings? Really? The first thing that comes to our mind is that we can pray at home. This is true, but if you already have a faithful prayer life, it seems you would want to be the first one to show up and lead the way.

This is blunt, but most people do not feel comfortable being alone with God because they are not used to it. They might say they pray, but asking God for personal blessings is not all there is to it. What about the needs of others?

Remember when Christ when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane? That was an intense time of pleading and weeping, not to avoid the pain, but He was praying for us. His attitude of love was a complete surrender to the Father’s

BILLY HOLLAND

will. Contrition is a place of brokenness and reverence.

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in half from the top to the bottom. This curtain was used as a dividing barrier to the entrance to the holy of holies. This is where the presence of God was dwelling on earth and when the priest would enter once a year behind the veil with the pure blood of animal sacrifices, God would forgive the sins of His people.

When the veil was ripped apart, it meant that anyone that loves Jesus and receives Him as Lord can now come before God’s throne and receive forgiveness because of the blood sacrifice that Christ made with His body. You can read all about this in Chapter 9 of Hebrews, but Jesus became our High Priest

and is now the mediator of the New Covenant that allows God and His saints to be joined together forever. Because of His endless love for us, we are to be dedicated to follow His voice. We notice that Jesus would often slip away to find a private place where He could be with His Father. It is written so that we can see the perfect example He wanted us to follow. Making prayer our highest priority is hardly mentioned anymore because people do not want to be convicted or condemned for failing in their responsibility to walk with God. You see, prayer has everything to do with love, and being exposed as someone who does not pray reveals their lack of love. If we do not love others we will certainly not pray for them. The most popular message today is about how Jesus paid it all and we do not need to do anything. Faith activates grace, and it’s our responsibility to embrace the opportunity to come before His throne with confidence, holiness, and purpose. For those of you that have made a valiant effort to dwell in the secret place of the Most High, you know exactly what I

mean when I say there is more here than meets the eye. It’s spiritual warfare 101 and not for the faint of heart. If you’ve never attempted to have a designated time to talk to God and be committed to it, I recommend dusting off your armor and sharpening your sword.

Let’s say you set a time to get alone with God at 7:30 each evening and you plan to pray, meditate, and listen for 30 minutes. This seems doable don’t you agree? Try it and you will be surprised by the amount of resistance. Not only will there be distractions and interference, but even your own mind will rebel against you.

In closing, if there is not a burning passion to draw closer to God, you will easily talk yourself out of it. However, if you are determined, a great place to begin is to just ask Him to give you more compassion and a burden to pray. He is listening. The Holy Spirit will help you develop a stronger level of sensitivity and remind you to make a prayer list, but you cannot hear Him if you are not listening. Before you know it, your highest purpose will be to walk in the constant awareness of God’s presence.

Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

Local schools graduate seniors

BRIDGES PREPARATORY

A composite photograph in memorium of Bridges Preparatory School’s Joshua Charles Shipley, who died March 8, took his place in the seat where he would have sat during Friday night’s graduation ceremony at the school. The photo was compiled by Todd Stowe, a teacher at Bridges Prep, and signed by all the graduating seniors. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Beaufort High senior McKenzie Thompson winner of 4th annual Ann Head Literary Prize

From staff reports

The family of Ann Head on Monday, June 5, announced Beaufort High School graduating senior McKenzie “Mickie” Thompson as the winner of the fourth annual Ann Head Literary Prize for Short Story Fiction.

Thompson’s prize-winning story, “Wrong Side of Slumber,” is a tale that evokes the mystery of sisterhood. While her younger sister lies deep in a coma, older sister Fallon searches for a way to communicate with her.

In Fallon’s dreams, a childhood invention the sisters shared, a floppy eared stuffed rabbit, Mr. Lucky, appears to risk the blandishments and the threats of the death inspired night-hunter, Mother Owl. The competition judges found the imaginative leap — to rally the tropes of childhood stories to illuminate the scariest moments of adulthood — a stunning approach to portray both the enduring bond of sisters and the continuing influence of childhood fantasies as we face the crises of being an adult.

Throughout high school, Thompson has been involved in several clubs and extracurricular activities, including the Nation-

al Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization). She will be attending USC Beaufort with the goal of earning a master’s degree in biology and entering the field of wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.

Despite pursuing a career in the sciences, McKenzie also remains passionate about her art and writing, and she fully intends to continue her creative, artistic pursuits as well.

Thompson will receive a cash prize of $500 and her name will be engraved on the Ann Head Literary Prize plaque to be permanently displayed at Beaufort High School. She will also be honored at the Pat Conroy Literary Center where she will be given the opportunity to read from her story.

The finalist for this year’s Ann Head Literary Prize is last year’s prize winner, Christine Conte. Her story, “A Haunted Housewarming,” assembled many of the familiar clichés of haunted houses that we all

know too well, and then lightly, inventively turned them upside down and inside out as a new homeowner discovers that his haunted house is, at the very least, a house without a well-worn welcome mat. Conte’s story offered a clever take on notions of home and the connections that bind us to one another.

Conte is also a graduating senior at Beaufort High School, where she has been active in National Honor Society, Key Club International, and Chess Club, as well as running cross country and track. She will be attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando this fall, majoring in aerospace engineering, and looking forward to a bright future in the space industry.

The Ann Head Literary Prize judges extend heartfelt congratulations to Mickie and Chris for their remarkably well-crafted, creative, and enjoyable short stories.

The winning stories were chosen from short stories written by students at Beaufort High School and submitted for consideration.

The family is grateful for the enthusiastic support of the Beaufort High School English Department and its chair, Wendy LaCombe, as well as for the support and partnership in this endeavor of Jonathan Haupt, executive director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center.

Writer Ann Head, the pen name of Anne Wales Christensen Head Morse (1915–1968), was the granddaughter of Abbie Holmes Christensen, who came to Beaufort during the Civil War to educate the recently freed enslaved populations of the Sea Islands. Moving back and forth between Boston and Beaufort, Ann carried on the family tradition of bucking traditions and creating new literary forms.

Ann Head was Pat Conroy’s first creative writing teacher at Beaufort High School and became Conroy’s mentor, confidante, and friend. She was a central figure in Beaufort’s mid-century literary scene, befriending many of the famous authors who wintered in Beaufort, including Samuel Hopkins Adams (whom she considered her mentor), Somerset Maugham, John Marquand, and Katherine and E. B. White among others.

Ann Head published more than fifty short stories and serials in the major national magazines of her day, with many of her stories set in a small town just like Beaufort. She wrote of divorce, snobbery, affairs both emotional and sexual, prejudice, death, and out-of-wedlock childbirth, championing the non-typical heroines of the magazines that eagerly accepted her work. In addition, she authored four novels which were published internationally, most notably Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones, a compelling story of teen pregnancy which was on school reading lists for 50 years and is credited with helping create the Young Adult novel genre.

Ann Head died suddenly in 1968, at the age of 52, cutting short a vibrant life and promising literary career. The Life of Ann Head was chronicled by her daughter, Nancy Thode, in a lecture originally presented at the Beaufort County Library and now available on YouTube at https://tinyurl.com/ annheadpresentation. To learn more about Ann Head, visit her entry on Wikipedia. Her stories and books are available locally at the main branch of the Beaufort County Library.

McKenzie Thompson

Christine Conte

BATTERY CREEK HIGH BEAUFORT HIGH

Some of the 248 graduating seniors at Beaufort High School make their way single file to their assigned seat as the 2023 Commencement Exercise begins. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

The Beaufort High School Air Force Jr. ROTC color guard posts the colors to begin the 2023 Commencement Exercises on Tuesday at the school’s football stadium. Beaufort High School graduated nearly 250 seniors. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Some of Bridges Preparatory School’s 64 graduating seniors make their way to the school gym for the 2023 commencement ceremony Friday afternoon. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Battery Creek Senior Lesly Larios, right, gets the tassel on her mortarboard just right with the help of classmate Darlyn Estrade prior to the school graduation ceremony Friday afternoon in the school’s gym. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Battery Creek’s Eva Almendores stays up-to-date with her cell phone while waiting in the gym Friday afternoon prior to the Class of 2023’s graduation ceremony. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Local charity hopes to inspire Beaufort youth one set of golf clubs at a time

By Delayna Earley The Island News

Almost 60 kids between the ages of 5 and 12 descended on the Legends Golf Course on Parris Island this past Saturday for the 8th annual Clubs for Kids event hosted by The Beaufort Charities.

The event, which took place on Saturday, June 3, 2023, is meant to provide junior golfers with the tools, skills and ability to play golf in the Lowcountry.

The junior golfers all received a free set of golf clubs during the event and got a lesson in golf basics from volunteer instructors.

“We do this one really big event and then we do much smaller clinics during the summer,” Christian Sherbert, board treasurer of the Beaufort Charities.

He said that they always have the Clubs for Kids event the weekend after school gets out so that kids can attend before they go have other fun summer adventures.

Beaufort football team gets rings at annual banquet at Dataw

From staff reports

The Beaufort High School football team held its annual banquet on Dataw Island on Friday, May 26, to celebrate its state championship season and receive state championship rings. Beaufort players, coaches, school administrators and parents gathered in the Carolina Ballroom for a banquet and dinner sponsored by Dataw Island members. The community and Beaufort High School athletics have a special connection – many members enjoy supporting the local student athletes, attending games, and offering their support to these students. Each year, the members pool resources to host the BHS Football Banquet.

Dataw Island member and football supporter Marilyn Peck congratulated the

student athletes on an excellent season. At the banquet each year, Peck encourages players through a poem that was one of her husband’s favorites, “Invictus,” by William Ernest Henley.

Peck’s late husband, Jonathan Peck, was an avid football supporter. In his honor, the Jonathan Peck Skills for Life Award is given every year. The Award recognizes an outstanding student athlete who exemplifies the traits that Jon Peck held dear, on and off the field: a positive attitude, ability to get along with everyone, spirituality, appearance, communication skills, and having a plan for improving themselves in academics and in life.

Houston Wilson was rec-

ognized as this year’s recipient of the “Jonathan Peck Skills for Life” award. The award honors Wilson’s academic and social achievements, recognizing his positive attitude, perseverance and academic achievement.

This year, Dataw Island member Jack Freney sponsored the purchasing of the state championship rings for every single member of the team, including the coaches and their spouses, as well as the athletic trainers and their assistants. This act of generosity allowed each person involved in the success of the Beaufort High School Football team to have a precious momento to commemorate an incredible accomplishment.

Any kids who stay in Beaufort can participate in the Beaufort Play Days, which are free golf clinics that take place every few weeks during the summer.

Christian Sherbert said that some local courses also give junior golfers involved in the event a place to play.

“Give them the tool, teach them how to use the tool and give them a place to use the tool,” Sherbert said. “It’s worked out great.”

More than 800 children have received sets of golf clubs during the eight years that The Beaufort Charities have hosted the Clubs for Kids event in Beaufort.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com

PLAY BALL!

Yankees base runner Rod Sawyer makes is safely to home plate ahead of the late throw to Braves catcher Steven Vega during the third inning of their Beaufort County Parks and Recreation Adult Baseball League game Monday evening at Burton Wells Athletic Complex. The Yankees went on to win the game, 10-2. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Dataw Island member Marilyn Peck awards Houston Wilson the Jonathan Peck Skills for Life Award. Submitted photos.

Beaufort High School football players received championship rings at their annual banquet at Dataw Island.

Junior golfers practice putting on the green at Legends Golf Course on Parris Island on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Delayna Earley/The Island News

ARTS

“Colors of the World”

photography exhibition

Through Sunday, July 2, The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church St, Bluffton. Free and open to the public. Savannah Kemper’s upcoming photography exhibit captures the unique colors and textures from her travels. An opening reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 7 at the gallery. For more information, visit http:// www.aproposllc.com or follow Savannah on Instagram at @apropos_photography.

(Re)create Assemblage Workshop

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 10, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. $55. The art of assemblage is the subject of this workshop that focuses on how to repurpose disposable items (aka trash) into artistic creations. Led by Kirkland Smith, you’ll learn what types of materials work best for this type of assemblage and use templates to design your own piece on 12x12 Masonite.

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.

Sharing Hearts Support Group

5:30 to 7 p.m., second Tuesday of every month, 2201 Boundary Street, Suite 208, Beaufort. Free. Come tell your 10-minute story of a life lesson or healing message using your own creative expression through a song, poetry, reading, art or verbal storytelling. Come away with an uplifting sense of support and connections or to just listen. Register by leaving a voicemail with name, phone and number of attendees at 843-525-6115 or send email to reneesutton@ healthierhealing.com. Notification will be done of any location change due to seat requirements. Next event is on Tuesday, June 13.

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 Mike – 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 Mike – Bricks On Boundary

7:30 p.m., Every Thursday, Fat Patties, 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.

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.

Wet Willie’s Trivia Night

7 to 10 p.m., every Thursday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win awesome prizes while you sip the worlds greatest daiquiris and munch on delicious bites.

Wet Willie’s Bingo Night

7 to 10 p.m., every Friday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win free giveaways, merchandise, and more cool prizes.

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.

Drum Circle

6:30 to 8 p.m., 2nd Friday of every month, Gazeebo, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Free. Anyone welcome, no experience necessary. Eric Roy, a recent transplant from Connecticut with successful experience in leading drum circles, is our new facilitator. He will start sessions off with 1520 minutes of instruction on djembe playing and teach a selected traditional rhythm & accompaniment for participants to play. In addition, there will be time allotted for spontaneous group drumming. Bring a drum, if you have one, a chair and a desire to have fun. The Drum Circle has several extra drums and many other percussion instruments that anyone can use. To receive updates on future events, send your email to lannyk13@gmail. com. Next meeting will be June 9.

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

HIGHWAY 21 DRIVE-IN

The movies scheduled for this week (Friday, June 2 through Wednesday, June 7) at the Highway 21 Drive-In are Transformers Rise Of The Beasts (PG-13, 8:45 p.m.) and Guardians Of The Galaxy (PG-13, 11:15 p.m.) on Screen 1; Spider-man Across The Spiderverse (PG, 8:45 p.m.) and Super Mario Bros Movie (PG, 11:10 p.m.) on Screen 2; and The Little Mermaid (PG, 8:45 p.m.) and The Boogeyman (PG-13, 11:10 p.m.) on Screen 3 (Friday and Saturday).

Online ticketing is available at hwy21drivein. com on the Now Playing page. Patrons are asked to arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

“Our family at the Hwy. 21 drive in feel a responsibility to our community,” a statement from Highway 21 Drive-In management reads. “We are concerned about many things in these trying times and in making the right decisions. We are concerned with our employees, our patrons, our business, our community’s businesses, and the health and well-being of all.”

A reminder: no outside food or beverages can be brought into the drive-in.

Upcoming movies include Transformers Rise Of The Beasts (June) & The Flash (June).

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.

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. 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.

Play & Eat – Dinner Theater

6 to 8:30 p.m., Saturdays, June 17, and July 1, Hilton Garden Inn, 1500 Queen Street, Beaufort. Solve a murder mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just to let you know the murderer is hiding somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as one of the suspects if you don’t watch it. This is a prize-winning competition and everyone is a participant. For more information, contact 843-592-6209 or playandeatdinnertheater@ gmail.com, or visit the website at www. playandeatdinnertheater.com.

You’re A Star Saturday, June 17, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. The Petals & Stars nonprofit presents “You’re A Star,” the community event that combines the popular Entrepreneur Day 4 Kids popup market and the lively Wacky Competition Scenes contest to create a fun-filled day. Expect children of all ages to be onsite selling impressive crafts, jewelry, artwork, baked goods, home decor, and other products. At the same time, first responders will be competing against businesses and community members in zany challenges. We are still accepting “small” business vendor applications for the market. The fee is $15 per booth. For more info, please check out our Facebook page @petalsandstars or send an email to hope@petalsandstars.org.

Memory Matters: Simple Suppers –

Healthy Eating for Two

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 21, First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. $20 for this session, or $40 for all Memory Matters sessions. Speaker: Chef Kim Baretta.

67th annual Beaufort Water Festival Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 23, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort.

CAMPS

Summer Sailing Camp 2023

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, June 12 to Thursday, July 28, Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club, 30 Yacht Club Drive, Beaufort. Camp is separated into weeks, Monday through Thursday. $335 per week for BYSC members, $375 per week for non-members, ages 8 through 16. Are you looking for an experience for your kid or grandkids this summer that will give them confidence and life long skills?

Please consider Summer Sailing Camp at the Beaufort Sailing and Yacht Club. Register at https://rb.gy/zpfd0. If you have questions, you can contact Noah Nipar directly at sailingdirector@beaufortsailing.com.

Junior Building Detectives Summer Camp

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday, June 26 through Wednesday, June 28, John Mark Verdier House, 801 Bay Street, Beaufort. Cost is $100 for Historic Beaufort Foundation members, $125 for non-members. Early registration is recommended because of space limitations. Historic Beaufort Foundation presents “Junior Building Detectives,” focusing on camp participants solving the mysteries of history by learning about local architecture. The summer camp, hosted in

Bay Street’s historic John Mark Verdier House which dates to about 1804, will teach campers the basics of historic architecture and preservation. Campers will learn how buildings change over time, the meaning behind architectural features, and the connection of historic buildings to our community. They’ll do this through hands-on activities, walks around downtown Beaufort, arts-and-crafts projects, experiments in building science, and more. At the end of the program, campers will participate in creating a building and presenting their design to the class and parents/guardians. Registration may be completed by calling HBF at 843-379-3331 or going online to https://historicbeaufort.org.

GOLF

2nd annual Beaufort County Democratic Party Blues on the Greens 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, The Landings at Pleasant Point, Beaufort. Shotgun start. Teams of 4. $100 per player, $400 per team. Includes golf, cart and lunch. Registration link to come soon.

HISTORY Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal

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

The Historic Port Royal Museum

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-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.

Port Royal Lecture Series: Early Maritime History Through the Civil War – 1514-1868

6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 8, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1004 11th Street, Port Royal. $25 per person – Seating is limited. Lecturers are Lawrence S. Rowland and Stephen Wise, Authors, Historians. Buy tickets at https://historic-port-royalfoundation.square.site/.

Port Royal Lecture Series: The 20th Century. The Railroad, Naval Station and Modern Times – 1870-2006

6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, June 9, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1004 11th Street, Port Royal. $25 per person – Seating is limited. Lecturers are Lawrence S. Rowland and Stephen Wise, Authors, Historians. Buy tickets at https:// historic-port-royal-foundation.square.site/.

A Monumental Occasion: 250 Years in the Making 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Free. What is the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission? Come learn about this organization and what they are doing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this revolutionary time in history. The speaker is Bill Davies, Vice Chairman of the Commission.

Port Royal Lecture Series: Who Was Here? Native Americans Before and During European Settlements

6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1004 11th Street, Port Royal. $25 per person – Seating is limited. Lecturers are Stephen Criswell, Professor Chris Judge, and Evan Nooe, University of South Carolina Native American Studies Center. Buy tickets at https://historic-portroyal-foundation.square.site/.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Dungeons & Dragons

4 p.m., Mondays, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

Lego Club

4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Mondays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. All ages welcome.

Teen Art Club

4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12-18.

Teen Anime Club 4 p.m., 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456.

Medicaid help sessions 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays, June 14, June 21, June 29, Computer Lab, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island. Assistance available with the Medicaid renewal and enrollment process. Help is free and provided by League of Women Voters volunteers, no appointment necessary. Information on the end of automatic renewals (aka Medicaid unwinding) and on Medicaid expansion efforts in the state.

Teen Video Game Club 4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott

Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

S.C. Works Job Coaching

2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. Free help with job searches, interviews.

Chess Club 1 to 2 p.m., Saturdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. Ages 5 and older.

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 3rd Saturday of each month, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, 843-2556479. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

Japanese Magical Journey with Yasu Ishida – Beaufort

4 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free; no registration required. Prepare to be amazed and dazzled by an exciting storytelling show that incorporates Japanese folktales with origami, Japanese music, and magic tricks. Families and kids of all ages are welcome.

Japanese Magical Journey with Yasu Ishida – St. Helena

12:30 p.m., Thursday, June 15, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St Helena Island. Free; no registration required. Prepare to be amazed and dazzled by an exciting storytelling show that incorporates Japanese folktales with origami, Japanese music, and magic tricks. Families and kids of all ages are welcome.

Japanese Magical Journey with Yasu Ishida – Seabrook

3:30 p.m., Thursday, June 15, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook. Free; no registration required. Prepare to be amazed and dazzled by an exciting storytelling show that incorporates Japanese folktales with origami, Japanese music, and magic tricks. Families and kids of all ages are welcome.

Japanese Magical Journey with Yasu Ishida – Hilton Head Island

11 a.m., Friday, June 16, Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island. Free; no registration required. Prepare to be amazed and dazzled by an exciting storytelling show that incorporates Japanese folktales with origami, Japanese music, and magic tricks. Families and kids of all ages are welcome.

Japanese Magical Journey with Yasu Ishida – Bluffton

2 p.m., Friday, June 16, Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton. Free; no registration required. Prepare to be amazed and dazzled by an exciting storytelling show that incorporates Japanese folktales with origami, Japanese music, and magic tricks. Families and kids of all ages are welcome.

King for a Day

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 10, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St Helena Island. All ages welcome- no registration required. Come celebrate dads and their kids! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of crafts and games. Photographer Trey Nelson will be on hand to capture the fun and share pics with families.

MEETINGS

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.

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

Friends of the Beaufort Library 10 a.m., Saturday, June 10, Beaufort Branch Library. 2023 Annual Meeting. In addition to Board elections, this is an opportunity to learn more about our plans for the coming year, volunteer opportunities and meet other members. This event is open to the public. For more information visit friendsofthebeaufortlibrary.com.

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.

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, beginning June 13, Carteret St. United Methodist Church. Games and events will be held weekly. Director Gene Ogden. Contact Jane Simpson 803-226-3491.

Beaufort Masters Swim Team

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

VMFA-312’s CHANGE OF COMMAND

Lt. Col. Clayton Gard III, outgoing commanding officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, presents the squadron colors to Lt. Col. Matthew Gaede, incoming commanding officer, VMFA-312, during a Change of Command Ceremony on June 1 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The passing of the colors from the outgoing commanding officer to the incoming commanding officer signifies the continuation of trust and allegiance of the Marines to their squadron’s commander. Sgt. Cheyeanne Campbell/USMC ••• Top photo: U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Clayton Gard III, commanding officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, Marine Aircraft Group 31, MCAS Beaufort, exits a F/A-18 hornet after his final flight My 31 with VMFA-312 at MCAS Beaufort. The final flight commemorates an aviator’s career accomplishments and is a tradition for pilots detaching from their units. Lance Cpl. Nathan Saucier/USMC

What is the big deal of getting a VA 30% service-connected disability?

The VA YouTube Video titled, “Veterans Benefits at 30% (VA Service-Connected Disability), the SITREP can be found at https://bit.ly/3qsSfZk. That video has been viewed more than 295,000 and is worth watching if you are a veteran, a family member of a veteran, or a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). The video covers 10 benefits of which veterans can take advantage.

Two benefits at the 30% level and higher

Two of the benefits discussed in the video are only available once the veteran receives a 30% or higher disability serviceconnected disability rating from the VA.

Benefit 1 (Extra Compensation): The first benefit that is available at the 30% or higher rating level is the benefit of receiving extra compensation for veterans’ dependents. For many veterans, this is no small potatoes.

The 2023 Veterans Disability Compensation Rates webpage, https:// bit.ly/3WQlPEm, explains disability compensation rates for veterans at the 10% and 20% ratings and at the 30% to 100% ratings. The 10% and 20% disability rating levels and compensation are simple with the 10% disability monthly payment being $165.92 and the 20% disability rating paying $327.99.

Example 30% rates:

However, at 30% to 60% and the 70% to 100% ratings,

the VA’s tables for compensation, allow a veteran to be paid more based on the number and types of dependents he or she has. For example, the Basic Months Table shows the following BASIC rates for 30% to be:

1. Veteran Alone (no dependents), $508.05.

2. Veteran With Spouse (no parents or children), $568.05.

3. Veteran With Spouse And One Parent (no children), $616.05.

4. Veteran With Spouse and Tw Parents (no children), $664.05.

5. Veteran With One Parent (no spouse or children), $556.05.

6. Veteran With Two Parents (no spouse or children), $604.05. There is also an Added Amounts Table for those veterans whose spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits. For a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance, the added amount is $56 at 30%

The Basic Monthly rates for a 30% disability rating for veterans with dependents, including children are:

1. Veteran With One Child (no spouse or parents), $548.05.

2. Veteran With One

Child and Spouse (no parents), $612.05

3. Veteran With One Child, Spouse, and One Parent $660.05.

4. Veteran With One Child, Spouse, and Two Parents, $708.05.

5. Veteran With One Child and One Parent (no spouse), $596.05.

6. Veteran With One Child and Two Parents (no spouse), $644.05.

If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance, be sure to also look at the Added Amounts Table, and add these to your amount from the Basic Months Table.

The Added Amounts for 30% to 60% Disability Rating shows:

1. For each additional child under age 18 a $30 additional amount for 30%

2. For each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school $97 additional amount for 30%.

3. For a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance an additional $56 for 30%

Benefit 2 (Direct Hire at 30%): The second benefit that starts at the 30% service-connected disability rating level is the option for the VA to direct hire veterans who are 30% or more disabled. This means that a federal agency or organization could potentially hire a veteran for a position without the veteran having to compete for the job.

For example, if a VA Medical Center is looking for a Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician, and a veteran who was receiving 30% or more disability has submitted the necessary paperwork to the VA’s Human Resources (HR) Department and is qualified for the position, the VA has the option to hire the veteran on-the-spot.

However, keep in mind that a federal agency or organization is NOT required to use this option to hire and the veteran must be qualified to get the job. A veteran must have the education, skills, knowledge, training, and experience for that HVAC position.

To find out if a federal agency or organization uses the direct hire process, veterans should contact their HR department and read the job announcement at USAJobs.gov

The other eight benefits

The other eight benefits discussed in the SITREP titled Veterans Benefits At 30% are offered to all veterans who receive VA service-connected disability compensation. Those eight benefits include (1) Service-Connected Monthly Compensation, (2) Wavier for VA Home Loan Funding Fees, (3) a 10-Point Hiring Preference, (4) Veterans Readiness and Employment Program, (5) Burial and Plot Allowance, (6) Access to Commissaries and Exchanges, (7) VA Health Care, and (8) Travel Allowance for going to VA Health Care Appointments.

References

To learn more about these benefits read the information at: How to apply for VA Disability, https://bit. ly/3wYGMRJ. Veterans Disability Compensation Rates, https://bit. ly/3WQlPEm. Adding dependents, https://bit.ly/43LjWuY. Direct hire, https://bit. ly/3qvIppP. VA health care, https:// bit.ly/42skTXY. VR&E, https://bit. ly/3Cl4Sbr and https:// bit.ly/43r9wAJ.

10-point preference, https://bit.ly/3qvIppP, https://bit.ly/43hbhjX, and https://bit.ly/3OWCzrq.

Travel allowance, https://bit.ly/3OWCzrq. Home loan waiver, https://bit.ly/3CgHg8a and the three The Island News articles on this subject published on May 11, 18, and 25 of 2021. Burial & plot allowance, https://bit.ly/3dKZkyx. Commissary and exchanges, https://bit. ly/3OY6BeA.

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Health Care System’s main number is 843-577-5011 and the Human Resources extension is 205949.

The Island News October 7, 2021, and October 27, 2021 articles on employment https:// bit.ly/3OXWFBD and https://bit.ly/3qjsH0D.

The VA is funded and wants to help The VA is fully funded to provide every veteran with all of their hard-earned benefits. Do not believe the old myth that you should not claim your VA benefits because some other veteran needs VA benefits more than you do. You and all other veterans earned your benefits through much blood, sweat, tears, loneliness, grief, sacrifice, and much more.

The bottom line

No one wants to be disabled but if you are a veteran and are suffering from service-connected injuries, illnesses, wounds, scars, or conditions, you should ask your local VSO to help you apply for all of the service-connected disability compensation you are entitled to. Veterans and veteran family members should also file for all of the healthcare, disability, education, training, employment, housing assistance, life insurance, pension, family member, and other VA and state benefits they are entitled to.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the awardwinning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.

U.S. Marine Corps

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit

Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 9 June 2023

Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel B. W. Ward

3rd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Gregg F. Curley

Commander of Troops, Captain Emily A. Merkel • Parade Adjutant, Captain Alan W. Smith Company “I”, 3red Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain Emily A. Merkel

PLATOON 3032

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt P. R. McKinley

Pvt Barillas, Daniel T.

PFC Bragg, Zachary A.

Pvt Brookshire, William A.

Pvt Brown, Jonathan J.

Pvt Casasola, Jonathan

Pvt Charles, Elijah A.

Pvt Cullum, Justin T.

Pvt Eaves, Taylor R.

Pvt Ellison, Johnel I.

Pvt Garcia, Bryan

Pvt Garciatrujillo, Benjamin

Pvt Glover, Trevon N.

Pvt Gonzalezencina, Eberardo

Pvt Gurney, Logan P

Pvt Harris, Kyree K.*

Pvt Hatchsanchez, Diego

Pvt Holland, Joshua M.*

Pvt Jackson Jr, Joseph R.

Pvt Jordan, Phillip J.

Pvt Latzsch, Elliot K.

Pvt Litton, Jonathon J.

PFC Lulsdorf, Noah I.

Pvt Meza, Adrian

PFC Midlam, Brent T.

Pvt Parham Jr, Jason S.

PFC Powell, Carson R.

Pvt Pozo, Jayden L.

Pvt Ramirezramirez, Gabriel

PFC Redding, Michael J.

Pvt Rodriguez, Aimar

Pvt Rodriguez, Fernando X.

Pvt Rosado, Gabriel I.

Pvt Rowland, Mason A.

Pvt Sarver, Robert J.*

Pvt Sierra, Jonathan A.*

PFC Tejeda, Tyler J.

Pvt Torrespagan, Alexander

PFC Velazquezgonzalez, Jonathon H.

PFC Zenil, Jonathan

Drill Master • Staff Sergeant Elhadji M. Cisse

PLATOON 3033

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt D. C. Evans

Pvt Arcapalacios, Bryan A.

PFC Cherveny, Sawyer T.

PFC Cobb, Samy L.

Pvt Colastin, Schilo

PFC Cottolaguer, Jean O.

PFC Dawson, Austin T.

Pvt Escamilla, Julio C.

Pvt Fulmore, Donte M.

Pvt Gomez, Rodrigo

Pvt Gomezgarcia, Luis M.

PFC Gray, Taylor R.

PFC Hall, Ashton B.

Pvt Hargraves, Jasona.

PFC Harris, Isaiah E.

Pvt Hawes, Mason J.

Pvt Hitzelberger, Caleb R.

Pvt Htoo, Nay H.

Pvt Huggins, Taylor B.

Pvt Hultzman, Timothy D.

Pvt Lopezhernandez, Gabriel A.

Pvt Mahoney, Login K.

PFC Mini, Maxwell

Pvt Morgan Jr, Ronald A.

Pvt Nelson, Devin

Pvt Odle, Luis E.

Pvt Osborne, Joseph

Pvt Patterson, Bailee J.

PFC Pinasoto, Jose M.

Pvt Pulliam, Nicholas D.

PFC Ramirez, Esteban M.

Pvt Ratliff, Nicholas R.

Pvt Ravert, Devon M.

Pvt Santosduran, Gregory D.

Pvt Simmons, Brandon J.

Pvt Splunge, Christopher

Pvt Stinson, Daveyun M.

Pvt Thomason, Tyler K.

Pvt Vanhaerents, Brayden C.

Pvt Vega, Ian J.

PLATOON 3034

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt C. A. Reeves

Pvt Andreemerida, Joshua

PFC Bailey, Christopher E.

Pvt Blanc Ii, Muller

Pvt Boursiquot, Jaheim W.

Pvt Castrogiovanni, Nicholas A.

PFC Cheung, Kyle

Pvt Chew, Cody C.

PFC Cruzdavila, Giobed G.

Pvt Durand, Bane A.

Pvt Gleaves, Nasir H.

Pvt Goetz, Matthew T.

Pvt Hernandezjose, Eduardo U.

Pvt Hessler, Ayden M.

PFC Hidalgo, Justin

Pvt Howard, Jamyah M.

Pvt Irula, Carlos E.

Pvt Khan, Ehab O.

Pvt Lubin, Dustin

Pvt Mandell, Brendan M.

PFC Matson, Zachary R.

PFC Midcap, Peyton C.

Pvt Molinaroman, William J.

Pvt Nell, Bryan L.

Pvt Overton, Nathan M.

Pvt Oviedo Iii, Ricardo

Pvt Pennewell, Kobe T.

Pvt Ramirez, Alejandro

Pvt Reid, Paul J.

Pvt Relvas, Bruno M.

Pvt Ricigliano, Jack C.

Pvt Rocha, Eduardo G.

Pvt Rooney, Francis X.

Pvt Shetler, Todd J.

Pvt Stringer, Joseph B.

Pvt Tercero, Antonio D.

Pvt Theilman, Jace K.

Pvt Vanderpool, Dawson H.

Pvt Walker, Branson L.

Pvt Warnquist, Theodore W.

Pvt Zevallosquiroz, Adrian D.

PLATOON 3036

Senior Drill Instructor

Sgt B. V. LaBiosa

Pvt Ansbacher, Avarhom

Pvt Barrett, Nathan N.

Pvt Beach, Carlisle S.

Pvt Booth, Andrew A.

Pvt Carballomendoza, Jose A.

Pvt Chavez, Nikolas

Pvt Chinga, Jonathan L.

Pvt Cooper, Ashton C.

Pvt Dahilog, Vickoh L.

Pvt Gregory, Dorien A.

Pvt Hargenrater, Brayden M.

Pvt Harris, Justin W.

Pvt Hoyt, Aydon D.

Pvt Hulin, Victor M.

Pvt Jajko, Ethan B.

Pvt Jerome, Aiden A.

Pvt Linzey, Chandler E.

Pvt Maddox, Kaidyn P.

PFC Maiellaro, Jack L.

Pvt Mosa Jr, Todd J.

Pvt Mullen, Jysuan J.

Pvt Nunezfernandez, Justin I.

Pvt Ortizcampos, Kevin O.

Pvt Pennington, Micah E.

Pvt Rodriguez, Luis A.

Pvt Russell, Casey S.

Pvt Sanchezangel, Erick S.

Pvt Shelton, Josiah J.

Pvt Smith, Colby

Pvt Starkey, Damareion K.

Pvt Studer, Hunter S.

PFC Trinidaddelacruz, Rolando U.

Pvt Wells, Nicolai A.

Pvt Wells, Raven S.

PFC Welsh II, Daniel P.

Pvt Williams III, Ernest T.

PLATOON 3037

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt S. B. Pres

Pvt Acquaviva, William

Pvt Aguilar, Erlin E.

Pvt Akers, Nathaniel I.

Pvt Arreola, Ian J.

Pvt Atkins, Traviante D.

Pvt Bautista, Robert

Pvt Baylor, Daymion N.

Pvt Bissiri, Abdoul K.

Pvt Castro, Iker

Pvt Cohenfraser, Andrew E.

Pvt Coleman, Marquis L.

Pvt Crandall, Ian D.

Pvt Cunningham, Joseph D.

Pvt Essien, Japheth

PFC Ewell, Quinn W.

Pvt Ewing, Charles H.

Pvt Galarzareyez, Gabriel I.

Pvt Garciajimenez, Alberto

Pvt Gonzalezvargas, Justin

Pvt Green, Joseph M.

PFC Henry, Yusef R. *

PFC Jabalera Jr, Juan A. *

Pvt Knear, Preston J.

Pvt Leal, Juan A.

Pvt Marino, Martin E.

PFC Martineau, Draven E. *

Pvt Martinezbrito, Frank K.

Pvt Mcgowen, Elie H.

Pvt Perezsantiago, Gustaw A.

PFC Petty, Emmanuel T. *

Pvt Proffitt, Austin M.

Pvt Riley, Ian H.

Pvt Scott, Derrick A.

Pvt Sparks, William C.

Pvt Stallard, Mckinley D.

Pvt Style, Jarren R.

Pvt Teague, Clayton L.

Pvt Thomas, Zachary A.

Pvt Watkins, Justin P.

Pvt Wilding, Dante J.

PFC Wilkerson, Kamron M.

PLATOON 3038

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt T. R. Wiley

Pvt Acosta, Bryan Y.

Pvt Alvarez, Donald E.

Pvt Ardans, Jeanpierre

Pvt Bohorquezclavijo, Juan J.

PFC Bordelon, Tristin G. *

Pvt Caceres, Joseph

PFC Canada, Devin *

PFC Carror, Devin E. *

Pvt Cresporamos, Harold

Pvt Crisostomomartinez, Cristopher

Pvt Cross, Riley J.

PFC Davisbarley, Fathi

Pvt Deeds, Alaric B.

Pvt Dejesusgonzalez, Matthew A.

Pvt Elshafay, Adam H.

PFC Fernandezbeaulieu, Daniel

Pvt Garcia, Brenden J.

Pvt Garcianeri, Fernando D.

Pvt Gonzalez, James A.

Pvt Hatley, Jeremiah J.

Pvt Hernandezolivarez, Danni J.

Pvt Kight, Ryan R.

Pvt Marinnavarrete, Jeziel E.

Pvt Martinez, Alfredo

Pvt Moodyfenton, Nikolas A.

Pvt Morelos, Marco A.

Pvt Patterson, Izaiah M.

PFC Paz, Nicholas R. *

Pvt Perez Jr, Angel

Pvt Plascencia, Benjamin T.

Pvt Quinterosperez, Erick F.

PFC Reyes, Elvis A.

Pvt Rodriguez, Jahyir

Pvt Rowland, Joshua J.

Pvt Smith Jr, Jeffrey A.

Pvt Stinson, Andrew C.

Pvt Stlot, Victor

Pvt Tejadapena, Luis R.

Pvt Wong, Kevin K.

Pvt Y, Isaac M.

Pvt Ziegler, Kyler R.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotions

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

Read with caution; not necessarily the opinions of the editorial staff.

ANNOUNCEMENTS DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS. Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s, too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not – 24 Hour Response – Maximum Tax

Donation – Call (888) 515-3810

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 844-524-2197

Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like senior-living communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors are here to help take the guesswork out of senior care for you and your family. Call for your FREE, no-obligation consultation: 1-855-212-9230

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 833-230-8692

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians

Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait!

Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-397-7030 www.dental50plus.com/60 #6258

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 833-638-3767

AUCTIONS

PUBLIC AUCTION. Surplus Government

Vehicles and Equipment. CITY OF ROCK

HILL, SC. Saturday, June 10 at 10am. 757 South Anderson Rd., Rock Hill, SC. Selling Heavy Equipment, Dump Trucks, Garbage Trucks, SUV’s, Mowers, Police Cars, Tahoes, more. www.ClassicAuctions.com TONY

FURR NCAF5479/5508/SCAL2893R 704791-8825

Construction-Truck Auction. Tues., June 20 at 8 AM. Ten excavators. See Meekinsauction.com. Lumberton, NC. NCLN 858

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Never clean your gutters again! Affordable, professionally installed gutter guards protect your gutters and home from debris and leaves forever! For a FREE Quote call: 877324-3132 NEED NEW FLOORING? Call Empire Today to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 844254-3873 Prepare for power outages today with a

GENERAC home standby generator. $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-844-775-0366

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-875-2449.

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company – 855-837-7719 or visit www. Life55plus.info/scan

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

DIRECTV Stream – Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE Package, $89.99/mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-237-9741

DIRECTV. New 2-Year Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-844-624-1107

Dish Network: Only from Dish- 3 year TV

Price Guarantee! 99% Signal Reliability, backed by guarantee. Includes Multi-Sport with NFL Redzone. Switch and Get a FREE $100 Gift Card. Call today! 1-877-542-0759 FREE high speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-855-851-8201

VACATION RENTALS

Short Term Rental

Go to, TideWatch Vacations, Menu Bars, Vacation Rentals, St. Helena Island, #64

Private area for one camper per week rental. Located in Lake Marion, SC. Boat ramp, fishing pier, sandy beach, cookout area with fire pit, volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, picnic table and shady area for your camper. 30A electrical service, water, hot outdoor shower. No sewer or bathroom facilities. $400/week. Call Jake at 843-442-8069 ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.1 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

WANTED TO BUY

FREON WANTED: Certified buyer looking to buy R11, R12, R22 & more! Call Clarissa at 312-535-8384.

YOUR AD HERE

Email Amanda (amanda@lcweekly.com) to place your classified ad here!

~Weekly Specials~

Finally Home The Conversion of Scott Hahn

Like many, Scott grew up without a religious upbringing. As a teenager he had begun heading down a bad path. But in tenth grade, a minister from YoungLife helped introduce him to Jesus. Scott accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and his life began to turn around. He eagerly studied Scripture and began to share the Gospel with others. He especially loved to share with Catholic classmates, who he believed were being taken in by a false Christian religion.

He went to seminary and became a successful pastor. After graduating at the top of his class, Scott was asked to lead a growing Presbyterian congregation. They were delighted as he shared with them the “big picture” of the Bible, how God began a rescue mission by gradually forming a family of faith. Through Jesus, all peoples and nations are now invited to be part of this family of faith, united as sons and daughters of God the Father.

Scott was surprised to notice an unexpected pattern. The treasures he was discovering in Scripture seemed eerily similar to what he had heard of Catholic beliefs. The more he researched from Catholic sources, the more he was amazed to find that the Catholic faith had very sound, biblical answers to his questions. He realized that most of his objections had been based on misunderstandings of Catholic beliefs.

He began to be convinced about the Catholic Church. Scott studied and prayed, seeking to follow the evidence wherever it led. As much as his emotions didn’t want it to be true, the Scriptural and historical evidence was pointing toward a surprising conclusion: despite its many human flaws, the Catholic Church is actually the spiritual family founded by Jesus, the same Church described in Acts!

Scott was at a crossroads, spiritually and professionally. If he became Catholic, how would he provide for his family? It would cause a tremendous strain in his marriage, and he would lose many of his friends. But he knew that he could not continue as a pastor and preach doctrines which he no longer believed. After much prayer, he contacted a local parish and became Catholic that Easter. With joy, Scott realized he was finally home. He was so grateful for the faith of his youth, and now he felt that this faith was fully blossoming. As he received the Eucharist for the first time, he was closer to Jesus than he had ever been. Scott rejoiced that he was now part of the family God started so long ago, with so many beautiful gifts, where his love for Jesus could grow ever deeper.

Dr. Scott Hahn is now a popular author, speaker, and professor. He is known for sharing the treasures of our faith in an engaging, downto-earth manner. He shares his conversion story in Rome Sweet Home and the big picture of Scripture in A Father Who Keeps His