May 30 edition

Beaufort County Council selects new County Administrator

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Beaufort County Council has selected the next County Administrator.

It was announced during the Tuesday, May 28, Beaufort County Council meeting that Michael Moore has been selected as the new Administrator for the county and he will begin work on July 1. At the start of Tuesday’s

Council meeting, Vice Chairman Larry McElynn announced an amendment to be made to the agenda to allow for an executive session section dealing with “discussions incident to the employment, appointment, or compensation of a person regu-

lated by a public body.”

The council members adjourned for executive session and promptly returned to announce that they had unanimously voted to hire Moore to the position.

“Mr. Moore has been appointed by unanimous consent of council to the position of Beaufort County Administrator,” said McElynn.

“He has the full confidence and full support of council who wish

MEMORIAL DAY IN BEAUFORT

him good luck and good fortune as he assumes the duties of the position of Beaufort County Administrator.”

The job of Beaufort County Administrator has been held by Interim County Administrator John Robinson since July 2023 when former County Administrator Eric Greenway was terminated from the position.

“I’m humbled that you all have placed this trust and confidence in me,” Moore said. “To the Council I look forward to getting to know each of you and learning about your districts. To County staff, it is an honor to be joining a great team that is clearly dedicated to providing quality public services. And to the Citizens of Beaufort County, I am truly excited for the

Interim Chief Price chosen as new Beaufort Police Chief

By Delayna Earley

Island News

Stephenie Price has been chosen as the new Police Chief for the City of Beaufort, according to a release sent out Friday morning, May 24 Price has been acting as the Interim Chief of Police since the former Chief, Dale McDorman, retired in January.

Beaufort High student arrested after bringing gun onto campus

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

The Beaufort Police Department arrested a 16-year-old male student who brought a firearm onto Beaufort High School property in his backpack.

According to a communication from the Beaufort County School District to parents, the male is a student of Beaufort High and was detained in the parking lot with a weapon just after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22 2024

The Beaufort High School Resource Officer Michael Chutjian requested backup from Beaufort City police and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office after he suspected that the student was possibly armed with a weapon on school property, according to a statement from the Beaufort Police Department.

Beaufort City Police spokesperson Master Sgt. Lori Reeves said that the student ran from the Officer Chutijan before he was detained in the main parking lot of the school.

A handgun was found in the student’s backpack.

On Friday, May 17, Price was one of two finalists who were interviewed by a Citizens’ Panel and City Council. The interviews came following an “extensive nationwide executive search” according to the release.

“We trusted our selection process and it yielded two very highly qualified finalists, each capable of successfully leading our Police Department,” said City Manager Scott Marshall. “It was not an easy decision, but in the end the successful community outreach programs and crime abatement initiatives under her leadership, along with the community’s familiarity

with her, gave Stephenie the edge.”

Price was hired for the position over Ken Klamar, Chief of the Sunset Beach, N.C. Police Department.

During her interview, Price pointed to several initiatives that she has led since joining the joining the department, one in specific that was mentioned was the

Law enforcement has not commented on if the gun was loaded or if the student planned to use the weapon on school grounds.

The suspect was taken into custody and was transported to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

This is an ongoing investigation

Kevin M Phillips

Michael Moore

The

Stephenie Price

Anita and Gary Bush look for the grave of Michael Staten, Anita’s brother, prior to the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27, at Beaufort National Cemetery. They found his grave and laid a bouquet of flowers in remembrance. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

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 JOHN MILLER

Beaufort’s John Miller, 77 joined the U.S. Army in Bedford, Texas, in 1967. After Basic Training at Fort Polk, La., he qualified for Airborne and then attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Bragg followed by helicopter pilot flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. He then served in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam as a Huey and Cobra gunship pilot. His next assignment was as an infantry company commander in Hawaii, and then as an aviation company commander there. During that tour he used tuition assistance to earn a BA degree.

He then transferred to Fort Knox, Ky., to attend the Armor Officer Advanced Course before becoming an Army ROTC instructor at Texas A&M University. From there he served in Korea, flying along and near the DMZ. Back to the States, he was the

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I wish I’d known Steve Brown

I reside in Hardeeville and always enjoy my many visits to Beaufort, where I picked up the May 9-15 copy of The Island News

After reading Bill Rauch’s article “Remembering the man who fed Beaufort,” I was nearly in tears. His remembrance was so beautifully written that, though I never met Steve Brown, I felt that I somehow knew him — and wished I had — after I read the article. What a beautiful person he must have

Police from page A1

Safe Living Beaufort initiative, in which the Beaufort Police Department has set up substations at apartment complexes in the city. Currently there are stations at Spanish Trace Apartments, Cross Creek Apartments and Mossy Oaks Village with a fourth planned for Garden Oaks Apartment in July.

June 1

Executive Officer of an aviation battalion at Fort Carson, Colo., during which he used the GI Bill to complete a Masters Degree. He then served at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., before duty with NATO forces in Heidelberg, Germany, after which he became the Inspector General for the Army Material Command in Europe. His last Army assignment was with the Army Aviation Systems Command in St. Louis from which he retired in 1987 as a Lieutenant Colonel with 20 years of service. He then worked

been to bring such joy and love to so many people. Indeed, a gift for mankind. We need more people like Mr. Brown to inspire the rest of us to attempt to pattern after. What a legacy!

Thank you for publishing this article. And, thank God for Steve Brown. Heaven must be saying, “Welcome home, Steve!” and such prized words as, “Well done, good and faithful servant …”

– Linda Linau, Hardeeville

“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the chief of police for the City of Beaufort,” Price said. “My heartfelt thanks go out to the selection committee, City officials and the community for their unwavering support and trust in our organization and in me.”

Price joined the Beaufort Police Department as deputy chief in Feb. 2023, after serving in Bluffton as Police Chief and in Savannah, Ga. as Assistant Police Chief.

According to the release, most

2019: Dick Fetters dies at age 98 in Indianapolis, Ind. Beginning in 1992, Fetters led the Parris Island Masters swim team to 14 consecutive South Carolina state championships. In 2004, he led the team to a third-place finish nationally. And in 2014, he was inducted into the American Swim Coaches Hall of Fame. He lived in Beaufort 22 years.

June 2

1863: As an advisor to Col. James Montgomery, Harriet Tubman helps lead Union troops in an armed assault on a number of plantations on the Combahee River. The Combahee River Raid, as it came to be known, was successful, destroying infrastructure, taking thousands of dollars worth of food and supplies and freeing more than 750 slaves.

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

for Northrop-Grumman for 21 years in military aviation development. He also was a volunteer firefighter/paramedic and was the head of all volunteer fire departments in Alabama.

Today he is commander of Sun City Veteran Association, and a member of DAV, MOAA, AUSA and the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.

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

Greetings from the state of Tennessee

My family and I love the Beaufort area and personally feel an attachment to it. I wanted to say thank you for the news being accessible online. I feel I can stay connected with the area and feel a part of the happenings. Keep up the great work.

Thank you again so much.

of her earlier career was spent with the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department primarily working in financial services, drug enforcement, vice, domestic violence and internal affairs. She began with them in 1999 and by 2019 had risen to the rank of Commander.

Price graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Park University and got a Master of Business Administration from Benedictine University. Since joining the Beaufort Po-

– Johnny Delaney, Knoxville, Tenn.

lice Department, Price has implemented initiatives to bolster community relations, youth engagement, crime prevention and transparency and communication, according to the release. Price will be sworn in on Friday, May 31

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

June 3

2019: Beaufort’s C.J. Cummings becomes the first weightlifter from any nation to win the overall title in his weight class for four consecutive years at the IWF Junior World Championships. Cummings, then 18, won two golds and a silver at the event in Suva, Fiji. Before his first junior world title in 2016, no American lifter had won a world title in any level since 2000

June 4

2021: Pfc. Dalton Beals, 19, dies of hyperthermia on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island while taking part in The Crucible, the physically taxing 54-hour exercise recruits must complete before becoming U.S. Marines.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

Dog Of The Week Latte is a 2-year-old sweetheart. She's a little shy at first, but melts once you pet her. She’s happy to go on a walk or nap by your side. She just wants to feel loved. Latte is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

Cat Of The Week Tig is a big boy with a big

heart. This 9-year-old is sweet and friendly. He just wants to be near you, so he doesn’t feel alone. Could you be Tig’s soulmate? He is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

For more info, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

– Compiled by Lindsay Perry

John Miller

Seabrook man shot, killed in home

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

A 26-year-old man was found dead from a gunshot wound inside of a home in Seabrook on Thursday, May 23

Trevon Watson was found after deputies from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to reports of gunfire

after 11 p.m. on Thursday evening.

Beaufort County Deputy Coroner Shane Bowers said that Watson as killed by a single gunshot wound. Watson was not the only person inside of the home at the time of the shooting, according to BCSO spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen, but he was the only

person who was injured during the shooting.

There were three other homes nearby that were reportedly struck by gunfire, but no other injuries were reported from those homes.

“We believe that that home was the targeted house, but now we need to find out if he was the target individual,” Allen said.

There have been no arrests made in this shooting and the incident remains under investigation.

The BCSO has urged anyone with information relating to the shooting in Seabrook to contact Investigator Wilfong at 843-255-3439

Anyone who wishes to remain

anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111

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

Port Royal Sound Foundation hosts 3rd annual symposium

Local, state representatives worked to ensure health of local watershed

From staff reports

OKATIE – More than 45 people representing 15 governmental and non-governmental organizations attended the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s (PRSF) Third Annual Symposium, held in April on the campus of the Maritime Center, and focused on the most important and unsung mission of the not-for-profit organization: research.

The sole purpose of the annual event was to convene a diverse and knowledgeable group of subject-matter experts to identify and define indicators for monitoring the health of the Port Royal Sound, the watershed that extends from Allendale to the Atlantic.

“The Port Royal Sound is a living, breathing gem that surrounds us and it is our mission to watch over it, to conserve it, and protect it for ourselves and future generations,” said PRSF Research

Representatives from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), SC Sea Grant, The Nature Conservancy, and the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), among others, attended the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s (PRSF) Third Annual Symposium in April. Photo courtesy of PRSF

Coordinator Courtney E. Kimmel, Ph.D., who convened the event.

Anyone who frequents Highway 170 in Okatie is familiar with the sight of the tower at the base of the Lemon Island Bridge, the landmark of the Maritime Center. And while tens of thousands of visitors have passed through its doors over the past 10 years, precious few understand what the tower – and Foundation

– represent and are doing for the Port Royal Sound.

Kimmel, who has spent her career working in watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay and beyond, emphasizes the importance of the work that is being done locally to conserve the sound, and especially how it differs from work in other areas.

“Many waterfront communities are struggling with remediation, or cleaning up messes that were created

in the past,” Kimmel said.

“We’re in the unique position of conservation and protection – maintaining what we have! That’s a rare and privileged position to be working from.”

With representatives present from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), SC Sea Grant, The Nature Conservancy, and the

University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) to name a few, the group held productive brainstorming sessions to develop a “health checklist” of indicators that should be used by the Port Royal Sound Foundation to monitor and track the health of the sound and changes in the watershed.

“If you think of this in human terms, it’s like going to your primary care provider for a check-up,” Kimmel says.

“You have to establish a baseline so you can monitor your health and work with your doctors when or if things appear to be off-kilter.”

Symposium participants split into small groups based on expertise, each tasked with developing a set of indicators that should be monitored for signs of change.

The groups then developed recommendations for goals, data sources, and partners who can support PRSF in tracking these indicators.

“This truly was a meeting of the brightest minds to help ensure PRSF is watching the right things to conserve the watershed that is a crown jewel of the Lowcountry,” Kimmel says.

Kimmel presented the group’s work and next steps to the PRSF Executive Committee in late April, and will begin working with local, regional, and state partners this month to fine-tune and implement their plans. The goal is to develop these indicators into a data-driven tool that communicates the health of the watershed, illustrates changes, and helps prioritize the organization’s work, including grant funding.

To learn more about the Port Royal Sound Foundation and its ongoing research efforts, volunteer opportunities, and Maritime Center visit www.PortRoyalSoundFoundation.org or call 843-645-7774

HomeGoods at Beaufort Station to open Thursday

From staff reports

Beaufort Station, a new major retail center located at the intersection of Highway 170 and Robert Smalls Parkway, has announced the grand opening of its first tenants, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, on Thursday, May 30. They are the first of nine major tenants to open in the 200 000-plus square foot shopping center.

“We are thrilled to welcome TJ Maxx and HomeGoods to Beaufort Station,” said Trey Morgan, president of The Morgan Companies, developer of Beaufort Station. “These renowned retailers will bring exceptional value and variety to the Beaufort community and beyond, and we know they will be successful.”

The two retailers will be holding grand opening ceremonies.

Joining TJ Maxx and HomeGoods at Beaufort Station as major anchors are Hobby Lobby, Ross Dress for Less, PetSmart, Ulta Beauty, Old Navy, Five Below, and Rack Room Shoes. Beaufort Station will also be home to ALDI, Parker’s Kitchen, Panda Express, Chicken Salad Chick, Surcheros Fresh Mex, America’s Best, and Mattress Firm. Other tenant announcements are expected shortly.

Gun

from page A1

and the Beaufort Police have requested that anyone who may have additional information about this incident contact Investigator Setian at 843-322-7928

For those who wish to remain anonymous, call the Anonymous Tip Line at 843-322-2938

The school was placed on lockdown while the police detained the suspect and conduced their on-site investigation.

The lockdown was fully lifted at the school just after 11:30 a.m., and police cleared the area.

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

Flags for the fallen

Resident displaced

From staff reports

Early Wednesday afternoon, May 22, the Burton and Sheldon Fire districts, along with MCAS Fire and Emergency Services and Beaufort County EMS, responded to a reported house fire on Seabrook Road in Seabrook, displacing one adult.

Emergency crews were dispatched to a reported house fire after the homeowner, who was cutting his grass, saw flames coming from the side of his home. Firefighters arrived on scene and brought the fire under control within 10 minutes; however, the home suffered heavy damages and the adult occupant was displaced. He was able to stay with family living nearby and Red Cross was not needed.

Burton fire officials state that this fire could have been extremely difficult due to the age of the home, which records show was built in 1910, and the lack of fire hydrants in the area.

“An old home often means very dry wood, plus any remodeling and repairs over the years can leave voids for hidden fires to smolder and spread, and couple that with the lack of fire hydrants and water in the area, and this could have been a very large and dangerous fire,” Assistant Fire Chief Steve

Just after 1pm Wednesday, May 22, emergency crews were dispatched to a

Seabrook after the homeowner, who was cutting

of the Burton Fire District

Kenyon, who led the fire investigation, said in a news release. “Early notification and quick response are what really saved the day.”

Due to the lack of hydrants in that area, the Burton Fire District entered into agreements with neighboring fire departments and

created a Water Shuttling Plan, where additional fire trucks and water tankers from the Sheldon Fire District, MCAS Fire Department, and Jasper County Fire and Rescue will respond and establish a water supply system from one of the three Whale Branch schools in

the area, who have hydrants on site, and deliver that water to the fire scene to create a continuous flow of water for fire crews to use. No injuries were reported. The fire remains under investigation but appears to have been caused by an electrical malfunction.

Every headstone at the Beaufort National Cemetery had an American flag next to it for Memorial Day. Pictured here is the headstone for William Black, a Union soldier from Ohio who “gave the last full measure of devotion” during

Civil War. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

reported house fire on Seabrook Road in

his grass, saw flames coming from the side of his home. Photos courtesy

Burton firefighters handle two crash scenes, one serious

From staff reports

The Burton Fire District, Beaufort County EMS and Sheriff’s Office, responded to two vehicle collisions Thursday, May 23, with one wreck causing critical injuries to a trapped occupant.

The first wreck was reported just after 1:30 p.m., at the intersection of Boundary Street and Parris Island Gateway. Burton firefighters arrived to find a vehicle collision between two SUVs, one of which was towing a U-Haul trailer that overturned. No injuries were reported; however, there were minor traffic delays.

The second collision occurred just after 3:30 p.m.

at Joe Frazier Road and Via Venado. Burton firefighters arrived to a collision between two passenger vehicles with both suffering heavy damages, and one with a critically injured driver trapped inside. Burton firefighters worked to free the trapped driver, an adult female, while Beaufort County EMTs and paramedics climbed inside the wreck to stabilize her injuries. It took firefighters 15 minutes to free the driver due to the extensive damage to the vehicle which made the rescue complex, according to Burton fire officials. EMS and firefighters transported the patient to a landing zone

on Cherokee Farms Road where she was flown to Savannah Memorial Hospital. The other driver, an adult male, appeared to have sustained potentially serious injuries and was transported by EMS to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

The area around the Joe Frazier Road and Via Venado intersection was closed for longer than an hour while emergency crews worked; in addition, Cherokee Farms Road was closed for approximately 30 minutes while the driver was prepared and loaded for transport on the medical helicopter.

South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating.

Burton firefighters responded to two vehicle collisions Thursday, May 23,

critical injuries to a trapped occupant. Photo

Blueprint of the repairs to Russ Point Boat Landing. Provided by South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism

By Delayna Earley The Island News

The contract for the Russ Point Boat Landing Shoreline Stabilization project has been awarded to O’Quinn Marine Construction Inc., of Beaufort.

According to a release from Sam Queen, spokesperson for the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tour-

Truth Matters

Boat Landing

ism, their engineers and park management will be working with the hired company to develop a construction timeline. In the meantime, Hunting Island team members have worked on grading the current road to the landing and completing other preconstruction maintenance.

The contractor’s timeline will depend on tides, water levels and weather events. The public will be updated once a timeline is set, according to Queen.

Vanilla or Chocolate?

Subjective Truths and Objective Truths

We all like different flavors of ice cream.

You say that you prefer vanilla, while your friend says that he prefers chocolate. These kinds of statements are subjective statements, meaning they claim something about a particular person.

Subjective statements depend on the person.

A subjective claim can be true for one person and false for another. The statement, “vanilla is the most delicious flavor of ice cream,” would be true for you as a vanilla fan and false for your chocolateloving friend. Subjective statements can’t apply to everyone, since they refer to our particular opinions, feelings, and experiences.

But there are facts we can all know about ice cream.

Your friend says of a particular scoop of ice cream, “This ice cream is green. It weighs 70 grams. It contains 7 grams of fat.” These are objective statements. They describe characteristics of the ice cream itself, unrelated to our individual tastes or preferences.

Objective statements are either true or false.

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

If your friend is speaking about the top scoop of ice cream in the photo, then he is incorrect. The ice cream is not green; it is actually more of a brown color. Since objective statements describe an object outside of ourselves, then these statements are either true or false. Their truth has nothing to do with our opinions, feelings, or experiences.

If something is objectively true, then it is true for everyone.

As another example, imagine office workers in a conference room. One says, “I’m cold!”, while another declares, “I’m too hot!” They can both be right; these are subjective statements. But if one says that it is 65 degrees in the room, and another declares that it is 70 degrees, then they can’t both be right. The temperature is an objective reality; it is a reality outside of ourselves.

Issues of faith are objective statements.

When Christians say, “Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead,” we are not making a subjective claim but an objective claim. It is not a claim like “I’m cold,” but rather a claim like “it is 70 degrees.”

Either Jesus rose from the dead, or he did not. If this is true, it is true for everyone. If this is false, it is false for everyone.

Relativism makes all moral and religious claims to be merely subjective.

As we described in our previous message, our culture teaches us to consider moral and religious truth to be relative to each person. In other words, these are just subjective claims, matters of personal preference which change from person to person. In our next message, we will explore some of the problems with this approach.

with one wreck causing

courtesy of Burton Fire District

From staff reports

City of Beaufort wins two statewide public relations awards

The City of Beaufort was honored May 9 by the South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in two categories in the chapter’s annual Mercury Awards. The awards honor outstanding public relations campaigns or tactics conducted by South Carolina organizations (corporations, nonprofits, governments, educational institutions, and public relations agencies) during 2023

The Beaufort Police Department was honored with a Silver Wing Award of Excellence in the Social Media Facebook Engagement category for its entry, “Connecting the Police Department and the Community.” In the wake of image and trust issues suffered by police departments across the country, the Beaufort Police Department stepped up its commitment to transparency, community engagement, and outreach to potential officers. Facebook was an essential tool in this effort in 2023

Lindsey Edwards, who coordinates social media for the Police Department, used short videos and humorous and clever posts, where appropriate. This approach reinforced a positive and friendly image of the department and

its officers. She also showcased officers on Facebook, leading to more inquiries from across the country about the department. In 2023, Facebook metrics demonstrated remarkable growth, with a notable 106 5% increase in visits,

a 51 1% surge in new followers, and an extraordinary 1,400% increase in Facebook reach. Recruitment results were also outstanding, marked by a 71% rise in job applications and an impressive 80% surge in the department’s hiring rate.

“As we enhance our communication endeavors, our goal is to prioritize transparency and engagement with the community to effectively support the Lowcountry,” said Interim Police Chief Stephenie Price. “This comprehensive departmental approach has generated significant outcomes and is constantly progressing. We deeply appreciate the backing of our department, the City, and the shared vision of an informed community.”

In the category of External Website, a Silver Wing Award of Merit went to the City of Beaufort for its website redesign, led by Communications Manager Kathleen Williams, which began with research and planning in 2022 and concluded in 2023. The goal: A

more functional website, allowing users to find what they wanted quickly, and one that would better reflect the beauty/people of Beaufort. Since then, total users, total new users, and total sessions have increased.

“It’s so rewarding to see this dynamic duo recognized for their excellence in telling the city’s story and making it easier for the public to access information,” City Manager Scott Marshall said. “Lindsey and Kathleen are leading us in the right direction in public engagement and becoming more transparent; these awards definitely validate that.”

Members from the Maryland PRSA chapter served as the panel of judges. The entries are not judged against each other but according to standards laid out by PRSA. The judges used a point system examining each entry for best practices and outstanding results based on the research, strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of the project.

Nemours Wildlife Foundation brings on new staff

From staff reports

Yemassee’s Nemours Wildlife Foundation has added two new staff members since the start of the year.

First, Nemours welcomed Kimberly Larsen to its team in the role of Business Administrator. Larsen who holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, brings with her more than 20 years of experience in business and operations management, accounting, and marketing.

“We are thrilled to have Ms. Larsen joining our team,” Nemours Wildlife Foundation President and CEO Andrew Bridges, Ph.D., said in a news release. “Her skills and

NEWS BRIEFS

Deadline for early voting in primary is Friday, May 31

Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County has announced that the deadline to request and return mail-in absentee ballot applications is 5 p.m., Friday, May 31

The statewide primary is Tuesday, June 11, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Early voting began Tuesday, May 28 and runs through Friday, June 7 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early voting centers include: Main Voter Registration Office, 15 John Galt Rd., Beaufort. St Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Rd., St. Helena Island. Bluffton Recreation Center Gymnasium, 61A Ulmer Rd., Bluffton.

USCB Hilton Head, Rm. 115 1 Sand Shark Dr., Hilton Head Island.

The early voting centers will be closed holidays and Saturdays.

Trump’s ICE Director, Berkeley County Suprvisor endorse Mace

On Tuesday, May 28, Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s campaign announced the endorsement of the former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director, Tom Homan. Homan was appointed by President Trump in 2017, bringing with him over three decades of law and immigration enforcement experience to the role.

“Congresswoman Nancy Mace is the only candidate in this race we can trust to secure our southern border and uphold the rule of law,” Homan said. “As ICE Director I worked to secure our borders and

experiences greatly enhance institutional capacity and will play a crucial role in our future growth and maximizing our impact in conservation science and education.”

Also, this month, Nemours has added Sara Miller as the Donor Relations and Development Coordinator. In her new role, she will be communicating project updates, organizing donor stewardship events and tours, and assisting supporters with their philanthropic goals.

Miller received her Bachelor's of Science from Old Dominion University with a life-

long dream of working in environmental conservation. Originally from Virginia, Miller recently relocated to Beaufort from Oklahoma City. For the past six years, she has worked with higher education and arts nonprofit organizations coordinating special events and large fundraisers.

“I am truly looking forward to meeting with our generous and growing number of enthusiastic supporters who share our commitment to conservation,” Miller said. “Having been in the area for just a few weeks, I quickly realized Beaufort is full of engaged

community members who share our values and vision. I am excited to be an advocate for Nemours within this wonderful community.”

While Miller will be reaching out to constituents soon, she can be contacted before then at 843-846-2539 or smiller@nemourswildlife.org.

The Nemours Wildlife Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private operating foundation whose mission is to facilitate conservation and human well-being in the ACE Basin and beyond through collaborative scientific research, leadership development, management demonstration, and experiential education.

enforce President Trump's tough immigration laws. Nancy Mace will continue that work in Congress, as she believes we must build the wall, strengthen our national security, and stop illegal immigration.” Mace also got an endorsement from Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb.

“Nancy has been there for Berkeley County personally and by mobilizing all resources at her disposal to address any and all federal issues that we face,” said Cribb. “Nancy’s assistance recently on a dredging project, that was plagued with delays and associated budget shortfalls, paved the way for a very important public safety and recreational project to be completed. What was communicated as “months” in delays was solved in two “days.”

SCDNR using County boat landings for annual shellfish bed reseeding

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will be conducting its annual shellfish ground management efforts (oyster shell reseeding) at several Beaufort County boat landings beginning this week and running through mid June.

The boat landings will remain open to the public, however there will be increased truck and barge activity throughout each day while SCDNR reseeds the oyster beds at each location.

The schedule is as follows: Through Friday, May 31: Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing Monday, June 3 through Tuesday, June 4: Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing

Thursday, June 6 through Friday, June 7: Eddings Point

Landing Monday, June 10 through Tuesday, June 11: Eddings Point Landing

The barge will occupy one ramp while it is being loaded. Loading will take approximately two hours. At least one ramp will be available for public use while the barge is being loaded.

For questions and more information, please contact Assistant Public Works Director Bradley Harriott at 843-255-2731

Sea Island Rotary Club

hosting blood drive

Sea Island Rotary Club is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday June 4, in the Sea Island Presbyterian Church Parking Lot at 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be scheduled online at oneblood.org for Whole Blood or Double Red Cell donations. Donors receive a $20 gift card and a OneBlood T-shirt.

Free Summer Tax Prep Available for Lowcountry Residents Who Missed Deadline

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

This program – a collaboration between the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) – is designed to assist low-income individuals and families, non-English speaking taxpayers, people with disabilities, and seniors (age 60+) in accurately and

efficiently filing their federal and state tax returns.

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

Program Details:

• What: Free tax preparation assistance by IRS-certified VITA volunteers.

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 27, July 25, August 22 and September 26

Where: United Way of the Lowcountry Bluffton Office (10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite D, Bluffton, S.C. 29910) Appointments Required: Call 843 321 9071 or email lowcountryvitacoalition@gmail.

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

Committee seeks feedback on stormwater manuals

The Southern Lowcountry Technical Sub Committee is seeking feedback on the jurisdictional Southern Lowcountry Stormwater Manuals. All stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments, suggestions and improvements. Implementing jurisdictions are working on draft changes, and would like input on any additional proposed edits from residents, developers, engineers and other individuals with technical expertise.

Comments on all manuals will be received through Friday, May 31. Comments may be submitted to wstormwater@bcgov.net.

For more information on current manuals, plans and studies, go to https://bit.ly/3PNgb3r.

For questions and more information, contact Beaufort County Stormwater Department at 843255-2813

PSC to hold hearings abour Dominion’s rate hike request

The Public Service Commission has scheduled customer public hearings in Docket No. 2024-34E, involving Dominion Energy’s application for authority to adjust and increase its retail electric rate schedules, tariffs, and terms and conditions.

This filing includes a request for an increase to retail electric rates, and the Company’s application can be reviewed at https://bit.ly/3xoFKSg.

The public hearing scheduled for Beaufort County will be held Monday, June 10 at 6 p.m., in the Bluffton Town Council Chambers at 20 Bridge Street. Customers who want to speak must pre-register. In its application, Dominion proposes an increase of $18 86 or 14 21% for residential customers, an increase of $2 002 25 or 12 32% for commercial customers, and an increase of $57 486 40 or 12 68% for industrial customers.

More details can be found in the Notice of Filing and Public Hearings at https://bit.ly/3VHAa7i. For more information, please reach out to the Public Service Commission at contact@psc.sc.gov or at 803896-5100

– From staff reports

From left, Kathleen Williams, Beaufort Police Chief Stephenie Price, Lindsey Edwards at the South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s annual Mercury Awards.

Kimberly Larsen

Sara Miller

On Tuesday afternoon, May 21, emergency crews responded to a reported vehicle collision at the intersection of Joe Frazier and Burton Wells roads. Initial 911 callers stated a vehicle had rolled over on its side with people trapped inside. Photo courtesy of Burton Fire District

Vehicle rollover causes minor injuries, snarls traffic

From staff reports

On Tuesday afternoon, May 21, the Burton Fire District, along with Beaufort County EMS and the Beaufort County Sherrif’s Office, responded to a vehicle collision on Joe Frazier Road involving a vehicle rolling over and traffic delays.

Just before 5 p.m., emergency crews responded to a reported vehicle collision at the intersection with Burton Wells Road. Initial 911 callers stated a vehicle had rolled over on its side with people trapped inside. Responders arrived on scene to a two-ve-

hicle collision between a pickup truck and a passenger vehicle, with the passenger vehicle on its side. The male driver was able to escape on his own before fire crews arrived.

Minor injuries and hazards were reported. Joe Frazier Road was shut down for longer than 20 minutes while emergency crews worked, and traffic was delayed for approximately another 40 minutes with one lane opened. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating.

Columbiettes for CAPA

Some members of the Columbiettes from St. Peter’s Catholic Church are pictured here after volunteering at the CAPA’s Closet Thrift Store on May 18 -- including Janice Swiencki, who was chosen as the Child Abuse Prevention Association’s Volunteer of the Year for working more than 1,072 hours in 2023. The Columbiettes is a volunteer and service organization comprised of Catholic women and affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. Submitted photo

Democrat Deford holding happy hour in Beaufort

From staff reports

Upcoming Events

JUL 13 RAFT RACE

JUL 14 ........RIVER RALLY

JUL 14 ........SKI

JUL 20 ........AIR

Mac Deford, a Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Republican Nancy Mace, will hold a “Happy Hour with Mac Deford” from 5 to 7 p.m.,, Friday, May 31 at Gilligan's Seafood Restaurant at 2601 Boundary Street in Beaufort. Those interested in coming for happy hour and invite friends to hear from Deford should register for the event at https://bit.ly/3UURvYy.

Council from page A1

opportunity to serve you.”

Moore, who currently is the Assistant County Manager in York County, S.C., is a 27-year veteran of the Navy, having served as a commissioned officer and an aviator.

According to a press release sent out by Beaufort County, he assumed his current role as Assistant County Manager in York County in November 2020 and his responsibilities have included overseeing the Public Works, Parks and Engineering Departments as well as capital improvement projects.

Deford is running against Michael B. Moore for the Democratic nomination in the June 11 primary.

He also implemented policies as established by the County Council and assisted the County Manager and staff in preparation, review and monitoring of county operating and capital budgets.

Moore helped to establish a County Parks and Recreation Department and the construction and renovation of county park facilities including Allison Creek Park, Catawba Bend Preserve and Ebenezer Park.

He also oversaw the adoption of Park Master Plans for Catawba Bend Preserve, Worth Mountain and Bethel-Lake Wylie Land Acquisition and Preservation Parks District.

He was responsible for

oversight of utility, facility and transportation capital improvement and construction projects in the county.

Moore has a Master’s of Science in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus, a Master’s of Science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute and a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.

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

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Strategies for busting up brain fog

Brain fog has many symptoms and many possible underlying conditions

Have you ever just lost your train of thought while you’re in the middle of an activity? Or maybe you’re caught up in conversation when suddenly you have trouble remembering that darn word or detail that just slipped out of reach. These events are common as you get older. But if your thinking has been affected suddenly and gradually worsens so you have difficulty focusing or putting your thoughts into words, you may be experiencing what people call brain fog.

Neuropsychologist Kamini Krishnan, PhD, explains why brain fog has become a popular term of the moment and why brain fog may happen as a symptom of other common conditions.

What is brain fog?

Brain fog doesn’t have a single official definition or medical diagnosis. Instead, it’s often a cluster of cognitive symptoms that people experience. Brain fog can be a lot of things to different people, too. It can include any or all of the following:

Trouble focusing

Difficulty staying attentive

Trouble remembering familiar details like names, places, or words

Slow reaction times and information processing

General fatigue or lethargy

Cloudiness in judgment

Frequent loss of train of thought

“When you have deficits in these areas, you may feel like you’re having memory problems. But it’s more of a problem in acquiring and maintaining the right information,” says Dr. Krishnan. “If you’re not getting the right information, you can’t be expected to hold onto it.”

What causes brain fog?

So, what’s causing the blockage of information?

Well, there’s no definitive answer. One idea is that your body’s immune system response could cause inflammation in your brain. When inflammation occurs, this could cause a temporary blockage in processing information. Brain fog can also be caused by chronic stress, hormonal changes, or blood sugar imbalances.

“Brain fog is a sort of manifestation of some type of inflammation or chronic

stress response,” explains Dr. Krishnan. “Chronic stress can have secondary effects. It impacts your sleep, your nutrition, and your physical ability. Those secondary issues can lead to or be associated with psychiatric disorders.”

Here are some common conditions associated with brain fog symptoms.

• Pregnancy

You experience a range of hormonal changes during each trimester. When these hormonal changes occur, your brain tries to restore balance by releasing and suppressing certain hormones to level everything out. You may experience brain fog because of this constant flux of hormones or because of other stressors that can occur even early in your pregnancy.

“In your first trimester, you may have more nausea, poor nutrition, insomnia or lack

wise WORDS ©

Summer swim safety tips

When you take your little ones swimming this summer, there are some safety tips parents should keep in mind.

“There should be an adult water watcher within arm’s length of your kids while they’re at the beach, any public pool or even any personal pool,” said Richard So, MD, pediatrician for Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Dr. So emphasized it only takes a second for an accident to happen. According to the CDC, more children ages one to four years old die from drowning than any other cause of death.

To help avoid that kind of

tragedy, it’s recommended that children take swimming lessons by the age of four. Or even earlier if they live near a pool or pond or have a boat. When it comes to lifejackets, those must be Coast Guard approved If you own a pool, it’s important to make sure it’s fenced in and has a working alarm on the gate. That way if your child does somehow sneak out, you’ll be alerted.

“Besides swimming lessons to protect your child, I think everyone who owns a pool should have at least have an adult who knows CPR,” he said. “You can go

to your local American Red Cross and you can take an easy basic life-saving class. If you have a pool, it comes up with a lot of responsibility. You’ve got to have a fence and someone needs to know CPR.”

Don’t forget to wear plenty of sunscreen this summer.

Doctor So said sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and even sooner if your child is swimming and it washes off.

Source: https://newsroom. clevelandclinic.org/2024/05/20/ swimming-safety-tips-to-keepin-mind

of sleep, or other increased stressors for a variety of reasons. All of these things can manifest as brain fog,” says Dr. Krishnan.

COVID-19

Brain fog has been getting its 15 minutes of fame thanks to COVID-19 and all its related symptoms. In fact, brain fog is one of the top three symptoms often listed by long-haulers, who experience prolonged symptoms or delayed symptoms weeks and sometimes months after initial infection. Long-haulers and people who’ve recovered from COVID-19 often also experience other symptoms that can lead to brain fog. This includes trouble sleeping, increased stress or mood levels, or a significant change in their diet or nutrition.

• Depression and anxiety

Depression and its relation to brain fog is kind of like asking what came first,

the chicken or the egg? One can often lead to the other and vice versa. One common reason for this may be because of neuroinflammation caused by the constant activation of your hypothalamus pituitary adrenal pathway. Brain fog associated with depression or anxiety often feels like constant fatigue or a general sense of malaise.

Chemotherapy

The same cytokine storm that’s present in some people with COVID-19 can also occur as a result of chemotherapy. Unlike with COVID-19, though, brain fog that’s associated with chemotherapy treatments often goes away in a much shorter time.

• Food sensitivities

Some food sensitivities can also lead to brain fog or its associated inflammatory response. For example, with celiac disease, people will often complain of feeling cloudy or bogged down because of their gluten sensitivity.

Blood-sugar levels

If you have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), you can feel dizzy, lightheaded, foggy or nervous and unable to concentrate. This is especially true in people with diabetes if their body creates too much insulin. Sometimes, you can even experience low blood sugar levels after having a meal.

Autoimmune conditions

Several autoimmune conditions are also associated

with brain fog, including:

◦ Lupus

Chronic fatigue syndrome

◦ Multiple sclerosis

Fibromyalgia

“A prolonged attack on the immune system tends to have an impact on an individual’s brain function,” notes Dr. Krishnan.

How can you get rid of brain fog?

In general, there aren’t any known medications or treatments that correct brain fog directly. To immediately address most chronic stressors, Dr. Krishnan suggests focusing on improving your sleep, getting good nutrition, and exercising 30 minutes every day, five days a week. These small changes to your everyday life can build up over time and greatly impact your immune system response and reduce inflammation. Also, taking mental breaks throughout the day can help to build up your mental capacity. If you’ve tried these methods, or you’ve experienced brain fog for some time and you can’t seem to shake it, you should call your healthcare provider or work with an integrative medicine specialist. They can help you make lifestyle changes across several areas that include diet, nutrition, sleep, and exercise.

Source: https://health. clevelandclinic.org/brain-fog

Open community event: Hospice Care of the Lowcountry hosts “A Time to Remember”

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, an independent, community-based nonprofit organization providing serious illness, end-of-life, and grief care in Beaufort and Jasper counties, is proud to host "A Time to Remember," a heartfelt event dedicated to honoring and remembering loved ones who have passed away. This community gathering aims to provide a space for reflection, healing, and connection among those who have experienced loss.

When: Thursday June 6, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Where: Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

Who: This free event is open to the public and invites all individuals, families, and friends who wish to commemorate the memories of their loved ones.

"A Time to Remember" is a meaningful opportunity for the community to come together in support and remembrance. The event will feature various activities, including:

Memorial Ceremony: A touching ceremony with a reading and music to honor those we have lost.

Memory Oyster Shells: An opportunity to write messages in memory of our lost loved ones on oyster shells, iconic of our community.

Grief Support Resources: Information and resources on grief support will be available.

Refreshments and Fellowship: Light refreshments will be served, providing a chance for attendees to connect and share their stories.

This event is sponsored by Keith Funeral Home.

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry is a non-profit 501(c)3 hospice, palliative, and grief care organization that has served Beaufort and Jasper Counties for over 40 years. Its mission is to honor life by providing compassionate care and guidance for those in our community experiencing serious illness, end-of-life, and grief, regardless of their financial circumstances. To learn more about Hospice Care of the Lowcountry or to get involved, visit www.hospicecarelc.org

Monitoring the H5N1 avian influenza, bird flu, outbreak

By Deb Balzer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to actively monitor the ongoing outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, also known as bird flu, and says that the public health risk remains low.

Dr. Matthew Binnicker, director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, says scientists and public health officials have known about avian influenza for decades.

"What's different today is that since 2020, we're seeing the largest outbreak of avian influenza among wild birds, poultry and backyard bird flocks," he says.

"The virus has also been found in certain mammalian species, most recently in dairy cattle, which is a little bit unprecedented and unique. And every time we see the virus go from birds into mammals, we worry about the virus adapting closer and closer to being able to infect and be transmitted efficiently between humans," Dr. Binnicker says.

Bird flu has been detected in the milk of dairy cattle, raising concerns for potential transmission to humans.

The Food and Drug Administration found no traces of live virus in dairy products available to the public.

"The good news is that the pasteurization process used

in the United States and many countries inactivates avian influenza. The milk that we drink, if it's been pasteurized, is safe. Any animal products, such as eggs, beef or chicken, that you would cook to the recommended internal temperature renders that product safe to eat," says Dr. Binnicker.

Food preparation tips

There are steps people can take to ensure their food remains safe from any viral or bacterial pathogen.

"As with any potential infectious disease associated with food, cooking to the recommended internal temperature that the CDC lists on their website is really important. And if you do that, you inactivate viruses like influenza, you inactivate bacteria and parasites that could cause a human infection," says Dr. Binnicker. Beef, bison, veal, lamb steaks, roasts, chops: 145 F

Ground meat and sausage: 160 F

Poultry: 165 F Always wash your hands with soap and water and disinfect cooking surfaces when handling raw or uncooked meat and poultry.

Precautions around birds

Dr. Binnicker says millions of birds have been infected with avian influenza, and the risk to humans remains low because the virus hasn't adapted to humans at this time. He recommends precautions for those who spend time outdoors or work with birds.

"If you're interacting with birds, either through a backyard bird flock or a poultry farm, and there are birds that are either sick or have died, you need to wear an N95 mask. You need to wear eye protection and gloves," says Dr. Binnicker. "Most importantly, you need to contact your state or local public health officials so that they're aware of what's going on in your poultry facility or backyard bird flock."

Testing for avian influenza

The bird flu doesn't normally don't infect people, but some rare cases have happened. Infection can range from no symptoms to mild illness (like pink eye) to very serious and even deadly, according to the CDC.

"If you come down with symptoms, especially after interacting with a sick or dead bird, get tested for influenza and let your doctor and local public health officials know," he says. "The good news is that influenza tests that we currently use for human strains of influenza should be positive if an individual is infected with avian influenza. The current tests just won't tell us specifically that an individual has avian influenza."

The CDC is working with diagnostic test manufacturers and clinical laboratories to develop tests to specifically determine if it's avian flu. Dr. Binnicker says those tools should be available in the months ahead.

Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/ monitoring-the-h5n1-avianinfluenza-bird-flu-outbreak

Board Certified Medical Oncologist joins Keyserling Cancer Center

BEAUFORT, S.C. – Dr. J. Eric Turner, a board-certified, fellowship-trained medical oncologist will join Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists, part of the hospital’s nationally recognized Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort, on June 3

Dr. Turner brings extensive knowledge of the full range of established and emerging cancer therapies — including immunotherapy, molecular targeting therapy and chemotherapy — gained through 30 years of both research and clinical experience. He will treat a wide variety of cancers, including those of the breast, head and neck, lungs, and gastrointes-

Dr. J. Eric Turner

tinal system. Prior to earning his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, where he graduated with Distinction, Dr. Turner was a molecular cancer biology researcher at Duke University for five years.

“I studied the mechanisms of how cells grow and about cancer at a fundamental level,” he said. “Now, I put that valuable experience and knowledge into practice every day.” He completed a residency in in-

ternal medicine at the University of Virginia Health Systems and a fellowship in medical oncology at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. After practicing oncology in Calhoun, Georgia, from 2005 to 2020, Turner joined Peeples Cancer Institute in Dalton, Georgia, as its Medical Director of Oncology.

“Dr. Turner will not only bring a remarkable level of expertise to Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists, but his patients will undoubtedly love him,” said Russell Baxley, president and chief executive officer at Beaufort Memorial. “He’s an exceptional practitioner and we’re very happy to

have him on the BMH team.”

Awarded full accreditation with special commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons, Beaufort Memorial’s Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort, as well as its New River Cancer Center in Okatie, provides access to medical oncology, radiation oncology, cancer surgeries, and lab, imaging, infusion and breast health services. Both centers are affiliated with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) to provide additional treatment options when needed, as well as access to promising clinical trials, allowing local treatment for even

the most complex cancers. Turner joins board-certified radiation oncologist Dr. Jonathan Briggs and board-certified nurse practitioners Katy Jones and Susanne Baisch at the center, located at 989 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.

Dr. Darren E. Mullins, who has treated patients at the Beaufort office since July 2023, will move on June 10 to Beaufort Memorial’s New River Cancer Center located at the Okatie Medical Pavilion in Okatie.

For more information or to make an appointment with Turner or any of the other medical oncology providers, call (843) 522-7350, or visit BeaufortMemorial.org/cancer.

The CDC recommends using a food thermometer to ensure foods are cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature.

VOICES

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

I don’t want to appear unbiased

It’s Friday, and I’m in Port Royal. Earlier this morning I called Mike Horton — a Clemson trained engineer in Charleston — in an effort to better understand “The Point/King Street Drainage Project.”

“I think I know the concept, but is our drainage problem like the drainage problem in Mt. Pleasant?”

“Yes and no,” Horton replied. “Mt. Pleasant’s ‘Old Town’ is like Beaufort’s Point in the sense that much of ‘Old Town’ is built below the high tide elevation. So when there was a high tide, and rain, there was no place for (Mt. Pleasant’s) water to go. They didn’t have a pond like Beaufort.”

“On the Point, the pond gives you some storage. But when that storage is exceeded — three times the last two years — you get flooding unless you have pumps.”

“But pumps are mechanical and are housed in concrete — much of that concrete below the water

SCOTT GRABER

line,” he said. “In Mt. Pleasant, we hid the mechanical parts with vegetation. But at the end of day the pumps have to be serviced and, in Beaufort, there is the (existing) view.”

“View?”

“Yeah, there is a great vista of the Beaufort River — and so our first thought was to enhance that view.”

“How?”

“By making the top of the pump station a viewing platform,” he replied. “People would be given access to the platform, giving them an elevated view of the Beaufort River. We also proposed graphic panels telling the history of the Point and Beaufort,” he said.

“We thought about benches,

boxes with plants, using a tabby finish for the platform itself.”

“But the viewing platform was rejected,” Horton said. “The idea of having people, tourists, gathering just off Federal Street was a deal-breaker for the Point people.”

It reminded me of the previous controversies surrounding horse drawn carriages and small groups of pedestrians wanting to see the interior of 511 Prince Street where Robert Smalls once lived (as slave and then as owner.)

We moved on to hurricanes and the storm surge that sometimes comes on top of a high tide.

“The project really can’t take a direct hit from a hurricane — or stop the surge that sometimes comes with a hurricane, but the pumps can stop what is called a 10-year rainfall event’ that brings 4 inches of water in less than an hour. Or dumps 6 8 inches over 24 hours. An ‘event’ that is happening more frequently these days.”

One might say that this $10,000,000 gift from the Feds buys the Point people two feet of protection they don’t now have.

As I talked with Horton I remembered the comments of the crowd on May 8 at City Hall suggesting that two or three feet of flooding on King Street was acceptable three times over a period of 442 days.

It is true that some of the old houses—in the King, Prince and New Street areas —are built three feet off the ground. And for those fortunate owners their carpets, baseboards and sheetrock would (probably) not be damaged.

But that is not the case for houses on grade or for the First African Baptist Church on New Street where Robert Smalls worshipped. “When we talked to their pastor (about the project) he was enthusiastic,

saying he had rot under the church (now being repaired) caused by the flooding.”

In Charleston (where there are 10 new pumps) flooding has caused some owners to elevate smaller houses; and some may think the last line of defense is flood insurance. But homeowner’s insurance is becoming an endangered species — last year insurance companies lost money in 18 states.

But Point people have the right to say that the proposed service building is hideous; and the proposed pump in the pond (just off Federal Street) is ugly. Or the rainfall projections are exaggerated. But that can’t be the

entire discussion. One must remember that other parts of downtown Beaufort, not just the Point, are drained by the King Street pipes; that Rob Montgomery (the architect) has the right to design buildings that are less conspicuous; and the prospect — much debated to be sure — of sea level rise.

Assuming that sea levels will rise; one might say that this $10,000,000 gift from the Feds buys the Point people two feet of protection they don’t now have. These folks, will get an elevation upgrade of about 2 feet upon which their heirs and assigns will build their own barrier.

But I don’t want to appear unbiased. I once had a building on Carteret, now owned by my son, that has been flooded — along with a half dozen others on Carteret Street.

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

S.C. Freedom Caucus isn’t “conservative”

By Charleston City Paper Editorial Board

Any number of “c” words spring to mind when one thinks of the so-called South Carolina House Freedom Caucus: combative, corrosive, childish, churlish, chuckleheaded and crazypants, just to name just a few. One that doesn’t or at least shouldn’t? Conservative. Because the S.C. Freedom Caucus, with its taste for institutional vandalism and radical policy demands, is anything but that.

Ready to put a scared 17-yearold girl to death for getting an abortion? Members of the S.C. Freedom Caucus sponsored a bill to make it happen (H-3549). Looking to refight the nullification crisis of 1833? Again, the Freedom

Caucus can help (H-3539). Or how about sowing distrust in our electoral institutions by falsely accusing state employees of trying to register non-citizens to vote?

Yeah, the Freedom Caucus has got you covered there, too.

Of course, the 17 caucus members hate it when anyone points out any of this. After all, hijacking the popular word “conservative” — turning it into a synonym for hormonal right-wing rage, rather than a generally honorable set of political commitments — is key to their electoral strategy.

Without appropriation of the “conservative” label, they’re just one more gang of angry crackpots ALL CAPPING their way through another long and lonely day on X or other social media. So the task for mainstream

As the state director for Conservatives for Clean Energy –South Carolina (CCE-SC), I am proud to support Sen. Tim Scott’s Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act. This legislation represents a significant step forward in streamlining the regulatory process for nuclear energy, paving the way for cleaner, more efficient energy production in our state and across the nation.

At its core, Sen. Scott’s bill addresses the unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that currently hinder the deployment of clean nuclear energy technologies. By eliminating outdated mandatory hearing requirements, this legislation will empower the Nuclear Regulatory Com-

mission (NRC) to focus its resources more efficiently while maintaining ample opportunities for public engagement. The importance of nuclear energy in South Carolina cannot be overstated. With more than 50% of our state’s power coming from nuclear sources, we are already leading the charge toward a cleaner energy future. However, outdated reg-

Republicans this primary season is to remind South Carolinians what conservatism actually stands for — and to unapologetically retake the word from the dilettantes.

“To be conservative,” the political theorist Michael Oakeshott said in his famous definition of the term, “is to prefer the familiar to the unknown, to prefer the tried to the untried, fact to mystery, the actual to the possible, the limited to the unbounded, the near to the distant, the sufficient to the superabundant, the convenient to the perfect, present laughter to utopian bliss.”

Or as National Review founder William F. Buckley more pithily put it, “A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling ‘Stop.’ ”

ulatory processes threaten to stifle further innovation and progress in this critical sector.

The current mandatory hearing requirement, established more than half a century ago, is a relic of a bygone era. In today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, we must adapt our regulatory framework to reflect the realities of modern technology and environmental concerns.

Sen. Scott’s bill does just that by removing redundant hearings that consume valuable time and resources without significantly enhancing public participation. Moreover, permitting reform is a key component of our broader efforts to promote clean energy deploy-

Put simply, conservatism is less a political ideology and more a philosophical argument for slow, evolutionary change in government, society and culture. (Although, truth be told, if you look at recent fast changes on guns, abortion and sex emanating from Columbia, you may wonder who are the real conservatives.)

Everyday conservatism views established institutions and traditions as storehouses of hard-won and all-too-easily forgotten wisdom. It warns against grand schemes and unintended consequences. It sees rashness in passion, peril in certainty, folly in zeal, and danger in disorder. In other words, it should exist to oppose every radical and irresponsible move the S.C. Freedom Caucus makes, from recent

ment. At Conservatives for Clean Energy, we believe in the economic benefits of renewable and nuclear energy technologies. By advocating for policies that streamline regulatory processes and encourage investment in clean energy infrastructure, we can create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Sen. Scott’s leadership on this issue is commendable.

By introducing the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, he has demonstrated a commitment to commonsense solutions that benefit both our economy and our environment. This legislation has garnered bipartisan support because it strikes the right balance

and unwarranted attacks on our state’s electoral system to extreme and often just plain kooky legislation that seeks to suddenly change our state in ways we can hardly imagine.

Long story short, there’s a reason Lexington Republican Rep. Micah Caskey — a Marine Corps veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and longtime man of the right — recently donned a tinfoil hat to mock Freedom Caucus members on the House floor. And it wasn’t because they’re “ultra-conservative.” It was because they aren’t conservative at all.

GOP voters need to keep all of this in mind when they find themselves staring at a Freedom Caucus name on a primary ballot. Perhaps they’d like to consider a conservative instead.

between regulatory efficiency and public engagement.

In addition to supporting Sen. Scott’s bill, we must also continue to advocate for other measures that promote clean energy deployment.

This includes expanding access to renewable energy resources, investing in energy efficiency initiatives, and supporting research and development in emerging technologies.

As conservatives, we understand the importance of responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

Clean energy technologies offer a path forward that allows us to meet our energy needs while protecting the environment for future generations.

Sen. Scott’s nuclear

permitting reform bill is a crucial step in that direction, and I urge my fellow conservatives to join us in supporting this important legislation.

The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act represents a commonsense approach to regulatory reform that will unleash the full potential of nuclear energy while ensuring robust public engagement.

By supporting Sen. Scott’s bill, we can pave the way for a cleaner, more prosperous future for South Carolina and the United States of America.

Nick Murray is the South Carolina state director for Conservatives for Clean Energy and is the vice president of public affairs at First Tuesday Strategies.

NICK MURRAY

Are we going back to the “most terrible days?”

Something that Emory Campbell, the sage of Hilton Head Island, said in 2018 has been rumbling around my head as South Carolina marches backward toward more discrimination against Black voters, transgender students and women who want to make decisions about their bodies.

At that time with Donald Trump in the White House whipping up people with “Make America Great Again” sloganeering, many Black South Carolinians saw an attempt to turn back the clock. And many throwback Republicans, from governors to regular guys, weren’t shy about glorifying the past, just as many Southerners hold on to the myth of the Lost Cause of the Civil War.

Campbell was talking about that old Palmetto State bugaboo, race. He sat in a comfortable brown rocking chair on a porch at the Penn Center, the cherished St. Helena Island school turned nonprofit.

“It’s more open, this business of race and differences and class and gender. It’s coming now from the top, openly,” he said.

“When i grew up it was coded. Politicians, it seemed like, our elected officials were more polite about how they said it. Now it’s naked, it’s pretty open. I never seen so many official rallies that shout at you –shouts out the flavor of racism.”

He said the Make America Great Again rhetoric was frightening.

“That was meaning that we’re going to go back – we want to go back to the ‘good old days’ which means those are the days that were the most terrible days in my life, where I couldn’t go into a lunch counter and eat as I pleased. I couldn’t go into a movie. Or I couldn’t go to the white school.

“We had two buses. The schools were about a half a mile apart. The white kids waved at me as they went that way and we went that [other] way. That was a great America in terms of what they’re saying now.”

Now Trump, empowered and fueled by angry hordes of right-wing zealots and acolytes, is trying to take back power to create what many fear as an authoritarian state. It didn’t help that earlier this week, during

James Cooler

James Albert Cooler, 80, husband of Marilyn Cooler, of Beaufort, SC, died Monday, May 20 2024 at his residence.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 28 2024 from 5–7 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home. Graveside funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11:00am in Beaufort National Cemetery with military honors. James was born on November 28 1943 in Ridgeland, SC. He is the son of the late Jim Breland Cooler and Lula Wynn Cooler.

James graduated from Beaufort High School in 1962. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1962–1968 as a Hospital Corpsman. He always spoke of his time on carrier duty as what he found most rewarding and served on the USS Intrepid in 1962. He received a Commendation from his Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia in 1965 for his initiative in devising a new and improved method for surgical cup arthroplasty patients in relieving considerable discomfort on the part of the patients. Upon his Honorable

his felony trial in New York, his campaign shared a slick video with Hitlerian-sounding language talking about plans for a “unified Reich.”

What seems to be happening in South Carolina and across the country is there’s a growing institutional disappointment. Progressives and liberals see a compromised U.S. Supreme Court that is handing down decisions taking away rights from women who want abortions and voting power from Blacks in the First Congressional District. They’re unsettled by new institutional discrimination emanating from the Statehouse against transgender students. They worry about attacks on public education by steering public money into ill-considered private vouchers.

On the other side of a very wide aisle are voters who are reacting with anger, not disappointment, in democratic institutions. They’re mad that Congress can’t get its act together on reasonable immigration policy. They want the current president’s son to go to jail just because their favored president, Trump, has been tarred and feathered in the media for his corruption. They’re irritated at anything that smacks of liberalism, reasonable consideration for people who don’t look like them and any possible attempt to control the epidemic of gun violence.

America’s culture wars and polarized electorate have turned into America’s battle for the future.

If we don’t find a way to unify as one nation of America, a new season of secession may be around the corner.

Discharge from service in 1968, he returned to Beaufort to work with his Father as a Home Builder. He eventually formed James Cooler Construction and became a master builder until he retired in 2018

Besides his immense talent to create, his intellect and his gift of imagination, his passion laid in the waters of Beaufort. His many hours of scuba diving netted him an extensive collection of artifacts and bottles, some dating back to the 1600’s. He became a Dive Master in 1989

One of his most notable finds was in 1996 with his discovery of an ancient Native American canoe off Parris Island which was restored and is now on display at the Parris Island Museum. He recently had his collection documented by the South Carolina Artifact Documentation Project - Divers Dedicated

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

to Historic Preservation.

James was a man of many talents, who enjoyed adventure, loved his family and was very much loved by his family and by those who knew him. Some referred to him as “The Legend” and indeed he was. May he rest in peace.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Marilyn is one daughter, Melissa Cooler Anderson (Brian); two stepsons, Christian A. Petersen (Jennifer) and Ian W. Sarges; two brothers, Bobby D. Cooler and Lamarr B. Cooler (Anne); one sister, Leigh Cooler; four grandchildren, Willow Anderson, Leif Anderson, Gavin Petersen and Reese Petersen.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, James Wayne Cooler. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to: Port Royal Sound Foundation 310 Okatie Hwy., Okatie, SC 29909, (www. PortRoyalSoundFoundation. org), Search & Rescue 817 Paris Ave., Port Royal, SC 29935 (www.bwsar.org) or Agape Care Hospice 4 Grober Hill Rd., Beaufort, SC 29906 Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

ANDY BRACK

Pictured:

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

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

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

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

WWE

SPORTS RECREATION

Beaufort’s Winland, Grizzlies closing in on NAIA title

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

Paul Winland Jr. has had quite a college baseball journey since graduating from Beaufort High School, with stops at three schools. Now he has arrived at one of the storied destinations in college baseball.

Beaufort Brawl

Foundry’s Tennant, Estrella win amateur MMA debuts

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

A big crowd of fight fans flecked with families packed into The Foundry on Saturday night for Beaufort Brawl 4: Memorial Mayhem, cheering on a card of 16 contests featuring a blend of youth and adult jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts.

And those in attendance saw the emergence of a future star who comes by her confidence in and out of the cage honestly.

Summer Estrella, the 11-year-old daughter of Macey Estrella, better known as former WWE star Lacey Evans, won her youth MMA debut by second-round submission after locking up a wrenching arm bar with just seconds left in the round. Estrella had controlled the first two

rounds, scoring several takedowns — most importantly including a pair of ankle picks, which her famous mom had put a $100 price tag on.

That was among the highlights for The Foundry, along with a thrilling win from U.S. Marine Trig Tennant in his amateur MMA debut.

The knockout of the night came from 43-year-old Justin Harvey, who made his amateur kickboxing debut — and promptly announced his retirement after landing a clean shot just seconds into his bout to whip the sold-out crowd at The Foundry into a frenzy.

But the bout of the night belonged to Tennant. A 21-year-old U.S. Marine, Tennant was a two-time state champion wrestler and four-time state placer at Arkansas City High School in Kansas, and he has honed

his jiu-jitsu and striking skills at The Foundry while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Tennant battled through three rounds with Terrance McKenzie, a fighter from Faglier’s MMA in Augusta who entered with a 2-0 record and two quick knockouts. The fight was fairly even through two rounds, but Tennant dominated the third and finished the fight with a flurry of punches after scoring a late takedown.

“I appreciate everyone who came out to support us and support the sport,” said Abe Stem, who owns The Foundry and coaches the gym’s fighters. “Definitely our biggest and best event yet.”

Stem plans to hold a boxing event in September and Beaufort Brawl 5 is slated for Nov. 2

Legion baseball returning to Beaufort this summer

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

Once a staple of summer in the Lowcountry, and just about everywhere around the country, American Legion Baseball participation has dwindled with the proliferation of travel baseball, but it’s coming back to Beaufort this summer.

The Beaufort Ospreys will play a 12-game regular-season slate with three-game sets against League 1 opponents Charleston Post 147, Moncks Corner Post 126, St. George Post 105, and Walterboro Post 93 beginning next week. Beaufort Post 9 sponsored the Ospreys from 1991 through the

2014 season, and the Lowcountry Heat played out of Hilton Head for much of that span with both fielding competitive teams, until the interest level waned as travel teams beefed up their rosters and schedules.

But a collection of players from several schools in Beaufort and Jasper counties are teaming up to revive the program and join 27 other American Legion teams around the state. The Ospreys will play their six home games at Battery Creek High School, and the roster features a handful of Dolphins along with several Beaufort Eagles and a sprinkling of Bridges Prep Buccaneers and Holy Trinity

Mighty Lions. The Ospreys open with a threegame series against St. George, beginning

Beau-

Paul Winland Jr.

The former Eagle — and Missouri Tiger … and Northwest Florida Raider — is now starring for Georgia Gwinnett College, and the Grizzlies are in it to win it at the NAIA World Series, which started Saturday in Lewiston, Idaho. Winland was an all-state standout at Beaufort and signed with Missouri out of high school, but he diverted to the junior college ranks in search of more opportunity and was a two-time all-conference pick at Northwest Florida State College, helping the Raiders win to conference titles. He has been an equally pivotal piece of the Grizzlies’ success, hitting .353 with a .494 on-base percentage and .684 slugging percentage while starting 58 of the team’s 60 games. Winland has belted 14 home runs to go with 13 doubles and four triples and amassed 87 RBIs.

Georgia Gwinnett won its NAIA World Series opener 5-2 over Indiana Southeast on Saturday, with Winland going 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. The Grizzlies rallied for a 12-6 win over Tennessee Wesleyan on Monday, as Winland went 1-for-5 with another RBI. Winland and the Grizzlies were slated to face Reinhardt (Ga.) on Tuesday night with the winner advancing within one win of the championship game.

Water Festival Sailing Regatta to be held Sunday

From staff reports

The Beaufort Water Festival Sailing Regatta, open to all sailors and sailboats, will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 2 on the Beaufort River.

Registration runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and races begin at 2

The Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, at 30 Yacht Club Drive, Beaufort, S.C. 29907, will be open to spectators. This one-day event usually begins just off the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and heads down the river to the McTeer Bridge and back to BYSC. Registration, ticket and contact information is available at https:// bit.ly/3UYZN1y.

Bennett J. Schiller, III

Kevin M. Phillips

Youth MMA fighter Summer Estrella, top, puts the pressure on Leticia Huitron during the second round of their bout during the Beaufort Brawl on Saturday, May 25, at The Foundry in Beaufort. Estrella won the bout moments after this photo was taken, locking up Huitron’s arm, forcing her to “tap out.” Estrella’s mother Macey Estrella, also known as Lacey Evans, former U.S. Marine and

star, can be seen in the background encouraging her daughter. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Beaufort Academy Graduation

5 seniors earn scholarships from Rotary Club of Beaufort

From staff reports

Five Beaufort area high school seniors each received a $1,000 scholarship grant through the Lieutenant General George I. Forsythe Rotary Scholarship Program at the Rotary Club of Beaufort’s May 22 2024 luncheon meeting.

The five recipients, each nominated by their respective high schools, were selected from a pool of 40 applicants. They are: Destiny Delaney, Whale Branch Early College High School; Reese Myers, Beaufort High School; Brooke Crosby, Battery Creek High School; Langston Simmons, Beaufort High School; and Katherine Bronsan, Beaufort

Academy.

The Lieutenant General George I. Forsythe Scholarship is presented annually to graduating seniors from Beaufort County high schools north of the Broad River in memory of Forsythe, a member of the Beaufort Rotary from 1972, when he completed a distinguished 33-year military career, until his passing in 1986. The Beaufort Rotary received 40 applications this year, in what would become a very competitive competition.

Delaney will attend Benedict College; Myers is undecided; Crosby will attend Newberry College; Simmons will attend Morehouse College; and Bronsan will

EDUCATION BRIEFS

BCSD releases statement on summer food program

The Beaufort County School District released the following public statement regarding its participation in the Seamless Summer Option Program. Free meals will be provided during the summer vacation to all persons in the community who are 18 years of age and under.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the Program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

The USDA summer meals site finder is available at https://bit. ly/4bzAVV3

BCSD hosting Arts Showcase

The Beaufort County School District is hosting the inaugural 2024 Arts Showcase featuring performances and artwork from students ranging from Grades 1 through 12

The event is being held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 30, at the District Educational Service Center at 2900 Mink Point Blvd. In Beaufort.

Catering will be provided by Cu-

attend Clemson University.

The keynote speaker at the scholarship ceremony was Rotarian John McCardell, a renown historian and former President of Middlebury College and later Sewanee, the University of the South. His simple message to the five high school seniors: Don’t conform, transform!

Joining McCardell as evaluators of the applicants were Rotarians Brenda Litchfield, the Reverand Roy Tripp, Larry Rowland, and retired Brig. Gen. Barney Forsythe, son of Lt. Gen. George I. Forsythe, for whom the scholarship program is named.

linary Arts students from Battery Creek and Hilton Head Island high schools.

3 Beaufort students graduate from Lander Lander University conferred bachelor’s and master’s degrees to more than 600 graduates during the University’s 169th Commencement Ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, including three students from Beaufort.

The Beaufort graduates included Gabrielle Elisabeth Dilka, Bachelor of Science in Sociology; Lillian Thomas Essary, Master of Education in Montessori Education; and Anna Christine Fosberry, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Founded in 1872, Lander University in Greenwood, S.C., is a co-educational, state-assisted, fouryear University serving more than 4 400 students and offering more than 90 areas of study in the liberal arts and sciences.

13 from Beaufort, Lady’s Island earn SNHU honors

It is with great pleasure that Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) congratulates the following students on being named to the Winter 2024 President's List.

The winter terms run from January to May.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3 700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Fulltime status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

The honorees from Beaufort and Lady’s Island include Kendall Callaway (29902), Karyna Fox (29906), Madison Dahl (29906), Karyn Richardson (29906), Elisabeth Geines (29906), Cody Poole (29906), Abigail Thornton (29906), James Cook (29907), Mae Benton (29907), Andrew Deems (29907) and Justin Bryson of Ladys Island (29907).

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3 500 to 3 699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Honorees from Beaufort include Kaseleen Sablan (29902), Emani Peterson (29906) and Kelsey Hill (29906).

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) in Manchester, N.H., is a private, nonprofit institu-

tion with an 91-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults.

Beaufort’s McBurney earns Piedmont Dean's List Honor

Eric McBurney of Beaufort, S.C., is among approximately 300 Piedmont University students who earned a GPA of 3 50-3 99 to qualify for the Dean's List for the Spring 2024 semester. Founded in 1897, Piedmont University in Demorest, Ga., is a private, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering a personalized higher education experience focused on student success, academic achievement, and professional development.

Beaufort’s Gutierrez receives degree from University of Alaska Fairbanks

The University of Alaska Fairbanks honored the Class of 2024 during its 102nd commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 4, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.

Veronica Gutierrez of Beaufort received the following degree: Master of Security & Disaster Management.

The university's first commence-

ment took place in 1923, when the sole graduate, John Sexton Shanly, received a bachelor's degree in agriculture. This year, UAF conferred approximately 1 156 degrees on 1,031 students. Some students received more than one degree. The commencement ceremony included graduates from summer and fall 2023 and spring 2024

4 from Beaufort on Lander University’s Spring 2024 Dean’s List

Lander University is proud to recognize the students whose hard work earned them a spot on the Dean’s List for the spring 2024 semester, including four from Beaufort. To be named to the Dean’s List, students must achieve a grade-point average (GPA) of 3 5 to 3 9 and be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate. The Beaufort honorees are Reagan Cline, Serenity Goethie, Caroline Malphrus, and Avery Snyder. Located in the heart of Greenwood, Lander University is a state-assisted, four-year institution of higher education that serves nearly 4 300 students and offers more than 90 areas of study in the liberal arts and sciences.

– From staff reports

Beaufort Academy graduate Anna Kathryn Jones, center, gets a big hug from her mother Katie Mitchell Jones, who graduated from BA in 1997. At left is Anna’s grandfather Beau Mitchell who graduated from BA in 1972. Beaufort Academy graduated 26 seniors during the school’s 56th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 24. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Maureen Butler, Director of Academic Services at Beaufort Academy, makes sure all of the 26 graduating seniors look picture perfect before their group photo is taken prior to the school’s 56th annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 24. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Displaying their $1,000 scholarship checks are (left to right) Destiny Delaney, Whale Branch Early College High School; Reese Myers, Beaufort High School; Brooke Crosby, Battery Creek High School; Langston Simmons, Beaufort High School; and Katherine Bronsan, Beaufort Academy. Jim Weiskopf/Rotary Club of Beaufort

ARTS

Thibault Gallery hosting artist Nelson for First Friday

From staff reports

Art extends beyond the confines of a frame at Thi bault Gallery’s First Friday event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 7, featuring Lowcoun try artist Paige Nelson’s vibrant three-dimensional fiber art sculptures.

Each piece starts with yesterday’s news, strips of repurposed paper Paige recycles into art. She is drawn to iridescent inks, watery and bright, like the sunset over the marsh. After 20 years of interior design where the work is quiet, restful, and somewhat monochromatic, “I am relishing color.” Nelson said. Her giant blue crab and sea turtle are a testament to her tendency to

go big or go home.

“My experience is that art is in the oops. Most of my creative challenges stem from those middle-ofthe-night, ‘Aha’ moments of ‘What if I tried it like this?’

Then I dash to my studio to give it a shot. Sometimes (most times) there’s a selftaught learning curve where techniques build upon each other, and each attempt is better than the last—which is so cool!”

Located in the heart of Beaufort, Thibault Gallery is one of the focal points

of First Friday, showcasing Nelson’s work along with creations from more than 15 Lowcountry artists. Nelson will be on hand with her latest work-in-progress to discuss her sculptural technique.

Her current piece, an oversized jellyfish duo, currently unpainted, can be custom finished to compliment any décor or color palette. Come enjoy the First Friday festivities and take home a customized piece of art with an autograph and a story.

Thibault Gallery is located at 815 Bay Street. For more information, contact gallery owner Mary Thibault at 843-379-4278 or mary@Thibaultgallery,com.

USCB postpones

‘Always

… Patsy Cline,’ ‘The Life and Times of Patsy Cline’

From staff reports

The USCB Center for the Arts and Beaufort Theatre Company have postponed the upcoming performances of "Always … Patsy Cline" due to a “tragic loss in our cast member’s family,” according to a news release.

"The Life and Times of Patsy Cline," originally scheduled for Monday, June 3, has been postponed, as well.

The performances will be rescheduled and details will be announced as they become available.

All current ticket holders will receive a full refund. If you purchased tickets via phone, a check will be issued to the address on file. Please allow 4-5 weeks for processing. If you do not receive your refund by the end of that time frame, email Tammy Gates at gates4@uscb.edu.

“Our hearts and condolences are with our beloved Jason and Elaine Lake and their family,” the release states. “We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time for our theatre family.”

Beaufort County TV wins 2 Telly Awards

From staff reports

Beaufort County TV won two Telly Awards for its outstanding work in the 45th Annual Telly Awards competition.

The first award is a Bronze Telly, awarded for “Murdaugh Money Trials," a piece that followed the Alex Murdaugh trials in relation to his financial crimes. The report included touching personal accounts from the victims of these crimes as well as a personal sentiment from Murdaugh himself.

The second award is a Bronze Telly for the second episode in the “Live Work Play” series and is entitled "Oyster Shell Recycling." The episode follows S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) employees as they collect recycled oyster shells and ferry them out to several maintained oyster beds. The beds are reseeded each season to allow another generation of oysters to grow, then during oyster season, they are environmentally harvested for our enjoyment.

The Murdaugh Money Trials report was produced, edited and narrated by Chloe Gee, who has worked for Beaufort County TV for

a year as Content Specialist. As Content Specialist, Gee has worked on many projects including a sports show called Lowcountry All Stars, daily news headlines as well as various festivals, tournaments and special events around the County. She is also Social Media Specialist for Beaufort County.

“Live Work Play” was created by and is produced by Beaufort County TV Production Specialist Troy Matthews. Troy has worked for Beaufort County TV for four years and has worked on an array of projects including the incredibly successful Gas Station TV series, live productions of meetings, graduations and events as well as assisting with filming many projects.

"I’m extremely proud of Troy and Chloe and we’re so lucky to have them on our team, however, I can’t say that I’m surprised," BCTV Director Tony Virga said in a news release. "We have an unbelievable team here at Beaufort County Television and I’m so happy their creativity and hard work has resulted in winning these two coveted awards. Being part of the television industry for

more than 20 years, I am incredibly impressed with the talent and professionalism of the entire County broadcast team."

Beaufort County TV has previously received several Southeastern EMMY awards, however these are the first Telly Awards awarded to BCTV. BCTV can be found on Hargray – Chs. 9 and 417; Comcast – Ch. 2; Spectrum – Ch. 1304 BCTV also streams live on www.BeaufortCounty.tv and through the FREE BCTV APP available on ROKU, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire.

The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. Founded in 1979 to honor local, regional and cable television commercials, with non-broadcast video and television programming added soon after, the award has evolved with the rise of digital video to include branded content, documentary, social media, immersive and more. The Telly Awards today celebrates the best work in the video medium in an exciting new era of the moving image on and offline.

Paige Nelson

CALENDAR

Ribbon Cutting for Renovated Dragonfly Pond

9 a.m., Monday, June 3, Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Hosting a ribbon-cutting event to officially reopen its renovated Dragonfly Pond. Volunteers, including an Eagle Scout and his advisors, worked alongside staff for months to completely refurbish the pond, including native wetland plants and surrounding structure. The Pond is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Guests include Rex Garniewicz, President and CEO of the Coastal Discovery Museum; Wendy Dickes, Manager of Horticulture and Project Manager; Eagle Scout Warren Hollingsworth, HHIHS junior; Boy Scout Troop 222 Scoutmaster Jacquie Gutierrez; and Pond project volunteers. For more information, contact Carole Walters at cwalters@coastaldiscovery.org or Laura Kirkpatrick at lkirkpatrick@ coastaldiscovery.org.

Sea Island Rotary Club Blood Drive

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 4, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Parking Lot, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be scheduled online at oneblood.org for Whole Blood or Double Red Cell donations. Donors receive a $20 gift card and a OneBlood T-shirt.

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Trivia with Tom – Fat Patties

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Trivia with Tom — Bricks On Boundary

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market

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

TECHconnect

5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 3rd Thursday of each month, Beaufort Digital Corridor, 500 Carteret Street, Suite D, Beaufort. Free. The BDC's signature happy hour “meetup” networking event for tech professionals. Connect with like-minded people, fellow entrepreneurs, start-ups and VCs over local food and cold beverages. Call 843-470-3506 or visit https:// rb.gy/e7t2h for more information.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Highway 21 Flea Market

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

Port Royal Farmers Market

9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. You will find fresh, local, seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods,

WHAT’S HAPPENING

bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http://www.portroyalfarmersmarket. com/, visit @portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843-295-0058.

Slip and Splash Saturdays

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

Music Bingo with Mike — Bricks On Boundary

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

DANCE

The Beaufort Shag Club

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

FAITH

End of the School Year Cookout

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 8, Saint Helena Baptist Church. Hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings. Please come for fun, games and food.

Vacation Bible School:

The Great Jungle Journey

6 p.m., Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, Grays Hill Baptist Church, 2649 Trask Parkway, Beaufort. Dinner from 5:20 to 5:55 p.m. for participants. The program begins at 6 p.m. sharp. Must be at least 5 years of age to attend. Register at grayshillbaptist.org/ vacation-bible-school.

GOLF

Stingray Scramble

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

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

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

BEMER Circulation Therapy

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

HISTORY

Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal

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

The Historic Port Royal Museum

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris

Ave. The museum features the turn-ofthe-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@ gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.

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

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

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

Career Navigator

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

MEETINGS

Zonta Club of Beaufort

6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal. Beaufort Rotary Club Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.

The Beaufort Trailblazers — A Volunteer Group

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

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

Rotary Club of the Lowcountry

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

MUSIC

Street Music on Paris Avenue

6 p.m., Saturdays, June 1, June 15, Paris Avenue between 9th and 10th streets, Port Royal. Free concerts. begin at 6 p.m., and take place. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and their dancing shoes. June 1: Jonathan Ellison — mix of gospel, blues and soul, as well as a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll. June 15: Seth Walker — blend of blues, gospel, pop, R&B, rock, and a dash of country.

Beaufort Drum Circle

4:30 p.m., Friday, May 31, Gazeebo, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Join a growing group of drummers who meet on the Beaufort River and create beautiful communal rhythms while enjoying the beautiful vista and the pleasant breezes. Everyone is welcome. No experience nec-

essary. You don't even have to drum. Come just listen and enjoy, dance, hula hoop or whatever. Please bring a chair. Extra drums are available for your use.

OUTDOORS

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

Camera Club of Hilton Head Island photography exhibit

Through July 7, Main Gallery, Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Admission is free. The theme is "Field Trip," showcasing images of natural and historic sites throughout the region. A highlight of the exhibit will be photographs by student winners of the Kurtzberg Memorial Awards. Named after Larry Kurtzberg, a champion of youth photography and the club's founder and first president, these awards recognize exceptional students enrolled in Hilton Head Island High School's visual arts photography courses. As part of the museum’s ongoing efforts to support local arts groups, the museum is also hosting gallery talks by the Camera Club, at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, June 12, and Saturday, June 22 The talks are free and open to the public.

SEWING/QUILTING

Maye River Quilters

10 a.m., Saturday, June 1, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. Social time starts at 9:30 a.m. To attend as a guest, please email RSVP to mayeriverquilters@ gmail.com. For more information and membership forms to join the group, call 978-464-0585.

American Needlepoint

Guild Meeting

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

Embroidery Guild of America Meeting

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

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

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

YARD/GARAGE SALES

Fripp Island Treasure Sale

8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 8, Fripp Island Community Centre. Items for sale are donated by Fripp Island property owners. Items may include working appliances, jewelry, purses, household goods, Christmas decorations, indoor and outdoor furniture, yard equipment, bicycles, grills, linens, children’s games and toys, decorative items, and sporting goods. No Christmas trees or clothing. A Bake Sale will run concurrently with the Treasure Sale. All proceeds benefit the non-profit Fripp Island Community Centre and All Faiths Chapel. Fripp Island Security will allow visitors on the island to attend the sale at no charge. Contact Gloria Robinson at 210-394-2062 or gloriadelle@gmail.com with questions.

SC stands to have all white Supreme Court as race narrows to 2 candidates

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — South Car-

olina is expected to have an all-white Supreme Court after the lone Black finalist withdrew Tuesday, May 28 but it’s unlikely to remain all male.

Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman, of Columbia, submitted a letter exiting the race just eight days before the state General Assembly is scheduled to hold an election for the open seat created by the retirement of Chief Justice Don Beatty, legislative staff confirmed.

It appears that Judge Letitia Verdin, of Greenville, has locked up more than enough votes necessary to win.

She had more than 100 commitments from South Carolina’s 170 legislators in the three-way contest heading into the long holiday weekend, said Rep. Jason Elliott, R-Greenville, her chief vote-counter.

That means Verdin sealed up her support quickly. Candidates could not start asking for commitments before noon May 22 And with Newman bowing out, Verdin — who has 15 years of experience on the bench — is certain to pick up more votes to be the newest associate justice. While Beatty’s impending retirement created the vacancy, the election is actually to fill the seat of Justice John Kittredge once he replaces Beatty. It is normal for candidates to withdraw from a judicial race in South Carolina once they realize they don’t have enough votes to win.

The female judge who remains in the running is expected to win a seat on the all-male high court

Newman, the daughter of recently retired Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman, was the only candidate of color advanced to the full Legislature for a vote June 5. (By law, the Legislature’s judicial screening panel can forward a maximum of three qualified candidates. The other Black female judge who applied was not among the three.)

Newman has been on the bench for eight years. Barring something highly unusual happening, her withdrawal will make South Carolina the 19th state in the country with an all-white high court, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

But Verdin’s likely election would add gender diversity to the nation’s only all-male state high court.

Judge Blake Hewitt, of Conway, is the other remaining candidate. He was first elected in 2019 after years as an appellate lawyer.

Both Verdin, 53, and Hewitt, 45, sit on the state’s Court of Appeals.

During judicial screenings of the candidates earlier this month, panelists noted the glowing reviews for Verdin from an anonymous polling of lawyers.

Of the three candidates, Verdin received the most reviews with by far the most positive comments. Only four comments were negative. By comparison, Newman received 43 negative, anonymous reviews. Panelists also questioned Newman about being behind in issuing orders for cases.

Rep. Ivory Thigpen, chair-

man of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, lamented there no longer being a candidate of color in the running but said the caucus is hopeful that a female candidate will win.

Who lawmakers choose will shape the look of the state’s highest court for some time. A seat isn’t likely to come available for more than four years. That’s when Kittredge, who will become chief justice this summer, ages out. (State law requires judges to retire from fulltime work by Dec. 31 of the year they turn 72.)

Beatty, a former legislator from Spartanburg and the only Black member of the high court, is retiring when his term ends this summer. He turned 72 in April.

For South Carolinians to hold trust in the state’s courts, Thigpen said, it takes

a diverse judiciary bringing a variety of life experiences and reflecting the population it serves. If lawmakers were to elect and all-white male high court, it could run the risk of people losing hope and faith in the judicial system, he said.

“This is a tipping point, a litmus test for our General Assembly,” the Columbia Democrat told the S.C. Daily Gazette. “And I think we will rise to the occasion.”

South Carolina is one of only two states where the Legislature elects nearly all judges. Virginia is the other.

The election of a new justice comes as South Carolina’s judiciary has been under intense scrutiny after an allmale court upheld a state law that bans abortions around six weeks into pregnancy.

The court, in a 3-2 decision in early January 2023, had

thrown out an earlier version of the so-called “fetal heartbeat” law as violating the state constitution’s protection from unreasonable invasions of privacy. At that time, there was one woman on the court, Justice Kaye Hearn, who wrote the majority opinion that was blasted by GOP lawmakers as judicial activism. It was her last opinion before she retired.

Hearn’s replacement, Justice Gary Hill, was elected after two female judges dropped out of the race before the Legislature voted.

Thigpen advocated for Verdin’s selection when the Legislature returns to Columbia next week for the state Supreme Court election.

Having served at the family, circuit and appeals court levels, Verdin brings not only gender diversity but a range

of experience, even though her stint on the state Appeals Court was short, Thigpen said.

He also said the Supreme Court race underscores the importance of having a pipeline of diverse candidates, starting at the law school level and continuing through all levels of the court system. The state’s Appeals Court is made up of four white female judges, one Black male, and four white males.

Because both remaining Supreme Court candidates serve at the appellate level, Thigpen said it could create an opening for more racial diversity on the Appeals Court.

“Diversity still remains a challenge for our judicial bench,” he said. “I know diversity and inclusion have become political buzzwords but the reality is it’s what makes us who we are.”

The 18 states that already had no person of color on their state Supreme Court, as of May 2023, are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier.

S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest statefocused nonprofit news organization.

North Charleston flag makers lean into their families’ military roots

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

NORTH CHARLESTON — Katie Lyon grew up with an American flag hanging outside her childhood home in Charleston.

Her family flew it to honor her grandfather, Henry Morgan, a naval officer stationed at Pearl Harbor in 1941 when Japan launched a surprise attack on the naval base that pulled the United States into World War II. The 23-year-old husband and father would survive and return to his home in Baltimore, Maryland, becoming the county fire chief.

“Patriotism and first responders and the military community has just always been near and dear to my heart personally,” Lyon recently said told the S.C. Daily Gazette. So, when she married, she and her husband wanted a flag for their own home. But the flags they bought wore out quickly in the South Carolina weather, requiring replacement every three or four months, and were often made in factories outside the U.S.

It’s what inspired Lyon, along with her husband Wes Lyon and childhood friend Max Berry, to found Allegiance Flag Supply in 2018 Berry, too, had grandfathers who had served in the military and shared the couple’s patriotic values.

The business started in the Lyons’ garage, at first working with a third-generation, family-owned textile factory in Georgia to make their product. Just ahead of Memorial Day, the company celebrated its fifth expansion in three years, hand sewing high-quality flags in house at its North Charleston facility.

Allegiance is investing

$6 3 million to expand into a 24,000-square-foot site, with plans to grow to 144 total employees over the next five years. The

company is seeking to hire seamstresses and packaging workers as demand for their flags has risen above 2 000 shipments daily across the country and to U.S. military bases abroad, Katie Lyon said.

“South Carolina is proud to be the home of a company that manufactures America’s symbol of freedom,” said state Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey. “We are thrilled Allegiance Flag Supply decided to expand and further grow its presence in our state.” Lyon also points to South Car-

olina’s history as a leading textile state, before companies shuttered mills to move operations overseas starting in the ’70s.

“Playing a small part in bringing some of those jobs back means absolutely everything to us,” she said.

Allegiance makes its flags with heavy nylon fabric, double stitched to prevent them from unraveling. It designs flag poles to rotate so flags don’t tangle. The company trifolds its flags military-style and ships them in triangle-shaped boxes.

Allegiance’s flag sales tend to spike around holidays such as Veteran’s Day and Independence Day. And on Memorial Day. Lyon said Allegiance has had customers purchase flags in memory of military family members who died while serving.

Allegiance also partners with several nonprofits that serve veterans, emergency personnel and their families. They donate flags or a portion of sales to groups such as Boot Campaign for soldiers facing post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, Stop Soldier Suicide and Folds of Honor scholarships for family of fallen and disabled service members.

Lyon said Allegiance also hopes to expand its other product offerings, such as clothing and leather goods.

“There’s just there’s so many more American-made products to explore,” she said. “We’re not done yet, that’s for sure.”

Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier.

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Two candidates remain in the running for South Carolina’s Supreme Court, Judge Blake Hewitt, left and Judge Letitia Verdin, right. Jessica Holdman/S.C. Daily Gazette

Left to right, Max Berry, Katie Lyon and Wes Lyon, in 2018 founded Allegiance Flag Supply in North Charleston. Photo courtesy of Allegiance

US Supreme Court throws out SC racial gerrymandering ruling

Split high court upholds GOP map, sends case back to federal panel for further analysis

By Seanna Adcox SCDailyGazette.com

A federal court “clearly erred” in determining that South Carolina legislators racially gerrymandered congressional voting lines to keep the coastal 1st District red, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday, May 23, in sending the case back to the three-judge panel for further analysis on a separate question.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, repeatedly used the terms “clearly erred” and “clearly erroneous” in rejecting the lower court’s reasoning for its 2023 ruling that the lines were unconstitutionally drawn.

“To sum up our analysis so far, no direct evidence supports the District Court’s finding that race predominated in the design of District 1,” Alito wrote, further calling the lower court’s approach “seriously misguided.”

Advocates for the plaintiffs decried the ruling, saying the high court broke its own precedent by ignoring the lower court’s findings and made future challenges for racial discrimination more difficult.

In this redistricting case, the question was whether the GOP-controlled Legislature based its admittedly partisan aim on voters’ race as they moved precincts between the 1st and 6th districts.

The Legislature’s GOP leaders testified the goal was to make the 1st District safer for a Republican, following a narrow flip to blue in 2018 and a similarly narrow flip back to red in 2020. The staffer who chiefly drew the map said he used political data on precincts that voted Democrat in 2020 to move the lines. Their testimony easily explains the final map, the majority of justices concluded.

The opinion noted the map was drawn with input from U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the state’s longest-serving congressman and only Democrat, “whose recommendations would have preserved the strong Democratic tilt” in his adjoining 6th District.

The 6th, which has been a majority-minority district since the post-1990-census redistricting, already spanned counties from Columbia to Charleston, while the 1st spanned the state’s southern coastline.

The changes put all of Beaufort and Berkeley counties in the 1st District, as well as more of the Republican parts of Dorchester County. Charleston County was

REACTION TO THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on South Carolina’s voting lines brought responses from across the political spectrum. Here are some of the differing opinions:

Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, who led redistricting efforts in the Senate: “I am pleased that the United States Supreme Court agreed with what we have said all along: the First Congressional District map was not racially gerrymandered.”

• U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, 6th District: “Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP is further affirmation that this Court has chosen to disenfranchise Black voters and rob us of our fundamental access to the ballot box.”

Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla: “As I have said throughout this process, our plan was meticulously crafted to comply with statutory and constitutional requirements, and I was completely confident we would prevail. With its decision today, the Supreme Court affirmed the hard work of South Carolina senators and the product they produced as constitutional.”

Brenda Murphy, president of the NAACP in South Carolina: “Today the Supreme Court has failed the American people, voting rights have taken another gut punch, and the future of democracy in South Carolina is dangling by a thread. Make no mistake, though, we are not backing down from this fight.”

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster: “The Supreme Court, I think, was clear. I think they examined the question and followed the law. … And I think they made the right decision.”

Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund: “The highest court in our land greenlit racial discrimination in South Carolina’s redistricting process, denied Black voters the right to be free from the race-based sorting and sent a message that facts, process, and precedent will not protect the Black vote.”

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield: “I’m pleased, but it’s what we expected was going to happen. We took a lot of effort and spent a lot of time to make sure we did redistricting the right way, so we felt confident we were going to prevail, and we did.”

• Adriel I. Cepeda Derieux, deputy director of the ACLU Voting Rights Project: “At the end of the day, the Supreme Court essentially says that short of the most flagrant kind of evidence pointing to racial intent — short of someone standing in the public square and saying they’re drawing a racist map — that this Legislature was going to get a pass, and that has never been the law, and it shouldn’t be the law.”

• Michael B. Moore, one of two Democrats in the District 1 primary: “Regardless of the congressional map, this race is all about connecting with folks in South Carolina’s coastal communities. … We have a plan to win in November, no matter the playing field, and we’re more confident than ever about our footing in the fight for SC-01.”

further split between the two districts, with the 6th District given more of West Ashley and the entire peninsula, to include uber expensive homes South of Broad.

In all, 193 000 South Carolinians were moved between the two districts. The final map “achieved the Legislature’s political goal” of increasing the GOP advantage in District 1, as the projected Republican voter share rose 1 4 percentage points to 54 4%, reads the majority ruling.

“The circumstantial evidence falls far short of showing that race, not partisan preferences, drove the districting process, and none of the expert reports offered by the Challengers provides any significant support for their position,” Alito wrote.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, whose testimony was cited by justices, contends the 1st District is still politically competitive.

“I said it would have been political malpractice for us to sacrifice

the 1st (District),” the Edgefield Republican told reporters Thursday about his testimony. “We were not going to pass a plan that sacrificed the First, but that was all about political calculations. And that was the case because those were the rules the Supreme Court set out.”

Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote the 34-page dissenting opinion, was joined by liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the court’s newest member.

Kagan scoffed at the majority’s reasoning.

“The Challengers introduced more than enough evidence of racial gerrymandering to support the District Court’s judgment,” she wrote. “The majority picks and chooses evidence to its liking; ignores or minimizes less convenient proof; disdains the panel’s judgments about witness credibility; and makes a series of mistakes about expert opinions.”

Map makers obviously used

data on race to achieve the desired Republican tilt, she wrote, pointing to the percentage of Black residents 18 and older in the 1st District. Despite all the precinct moves, “the district’s racial balance did not budge.”

The Black voting-age population in the district went from 16 6% to 16 7%. Such a constant would not have been possible without the use of racial data, she wrote.

The case will return to the lower court to re-evaluate challengers’ separate claim of the redrawn lines diluting the Black vote. Alito said the judges’ ruling on that was tied to the faulty reasoning on racial gerrymandering.

“In light of our conclusion that those findings were clearly erroneous, that conclusion cannot stand,” wrote Alito, who spent several pages of his opinion dismissing Kagan’s criticisms.

Justice Clarence Thomas agreed with most of Alito’s conclusions but wrote a separate opinion disagreeing that any further analysis on voter dilution is needed.

The complaint “combines two stereotypes by assuming that black South Carolinians can be properly represented only by a black Democrat,” Thomas wrote.

“The vote dilution analysis in this case inevitably reduces black Charlestonians to partisan pawns and racial tokens. The analysis is demeaning to the courts asked to perform it, to say nothing of the black voters that it stereotypes.”

The three lower court judges — Richard Gergel, Mary Geiger Lewis and Toby Heytens — ruled in January 2023 that state lawmakers drew the coastal 1st District, held by Republican Nancy Mace, in a way that discriminates against Black voters.

The judicial panel sided with the NAACP, ACLU of South Carolina and Taiwan Scott, a Black Hilton Head Island resident who lives in the 1st District, who challenged the new lines following the 2020 census with arguments they violated the Constitution’s 14th and 15th amendments.

“It’s as though we don’t matter, but we do matter, and our voices should be heard,” Scott told reporters after the ruling. “It’s sad to see the decision after, you know, three federal judges ruled we were racially gerrymandered.

But we won’t stop.”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling

changes nothing for this year’s elections.

The lower court’s ruling last year put South Carolina’s congressional elections on hold until a new map was drawn. But in late March, the judges reluctantly agreed to let this year’s elections continue as scheduled with the Legislature’s 2022 map, since the nation’s high court had yet to weigh in and candidate filing for the June party primaries was just days from concluding.

In the 1st District, three Republicans, including Mace, and two Democrats are competing in the June 11 primaries. In the 6th District, Clyburn has no primary challenger. Two Republicans are facing off for the opportunity to challenge him in November. But Clyburn, first elected in 1992, is expected to easily win a 17th term.

The chief attorney for the NAACP legal defense fund said the group is still assessing next moves.

“There is a potential avenue for plaintiffs to try to redress the harm of the racially discriminatory map,” Leah Aden, who argued the case before the nation’s high court, told reporters. “But what we will do and what that will look like, I think we are still wrapping our heads around now.”

Officials with the ACLU pledged that the fight will continue.

“Today is a dark day for democracy in South Carolina, but all hope is not lost,” said Jace Woodrum, executive director of the ACLU’s state branch. “For now, the Supreme Court has upheld a racially gerrymandered map, and South Carolina voters are the ones who will suffer the consequences. … We remain committed to ending gerrymandering in our state and will use every tool at our disposal until ‘We the People’ truly means all of us.”

S.C. Daily Gazette reporters Abraham Kenmore and Skylar Laird contributed to this report.

Seanna Adcox is a South Carolina native with three decades of reporting experience. She joined States Newsroom in September 2023 after covering the S.C. Legislature and state politics for 18 years. Her previous employers include The Post and Courier and The Associated Press.

S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

SC joins lawsuit against Ticketmaster

By Seanna Adcox SCDailyGazette.com

South Carolina is one of 29 states and the District of Columbia that have signed on to a federal lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc., which owns Ticketmaster, alleging the companies have illegally monopolized the live entertainment industry and forced South Carolinians to pay higher ticket prices.

“Anyone who’s bought tickets to a live event has probably complained about how expensive they were, and we allege that this illegal monopoly has a lot to do with those high prices,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed the lawsuit Thursday, May 23, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of

New York. It’s a bipartisan effort. Wilson is known for signing on or leading GOP pushes challenging the Biden administration.

But this time, he’s joining Biden’s DOJ and a mix of Democrat and Republican attorneys general. Long-standing complaints about Ticketmaster’s practices hit a peak in 2022 when its botched rollout of Taylor Swift tickets led to a hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the company’s role in the ticketing industry.

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Wilson noted that Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, control ticket sales to nearly all of South Carolina’s major venues. Not only does Ticket-

master control hundreds of millions of dollars in ticket sales in South Carolina alone, but “multiples of that” in various fees and other costs, the statement read.

The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation: Harms fans through higher fees, while not divulging information on the full cost to see a show

Maintained its monopoly by locking up venues through restrictive, long-term, exclusive agreements and threats that venues will lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours if they don’t let Live Nation control ticket sales

Leveraged its network of venues to force artists to select Live Nation as its promoter,

maintaining its promotions monopoly

The lawsuit asks the court to restore competition in concert tickets by ordering Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster, prohibiting Live Nation from engaging in its anticompetitive practices, and paying a lot of money to the states as a way of compensating fans who were overcharged.

Wilson, specifically, is seeking civil penalties of $5 000 for every violation of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act, plus damages and attorneys’ fees.

Wilson is joining with attorneys general from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minne-

Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

New SC law aims to ensure no veteran dies without proper recognition

By Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Rick Lei-

derman, a 71-year-old former nuclear weapons specialist in the Air Force, was laid to rest Friday at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

With no living family, his short ceremony was attended instead by volunteers, including members of the motorcycle-riding Patriot Guard.

The folded flag from Leiderman’s casket was presented to representatives of the Spartanburg coroner’s office, who had searched for any living family and confirmed Leiderman’s military service after he died in a nursing facility in the county.

“Without their work and their investigation to make sure he was a veteran, we would not be here,” William Lynch, program director for the Homeless Veterans Burial Program with Dunbar funeral homes, told those at the service.

“Up until a few days ago it was not required for a coroner’s office to search and see if someone was a veteran.”

On May 13, Gov. Henry McMaster signed a law mandating that coroners and funeral home directors determine if unclaimed remains belong to a veteran, and if so, contact an organization that arranges burials for veterans.

Lynch, who is a manager of the Dunbar Funeral Home in Irmo, said he’s been advocating for the law for five years. It got put on the backburner amid the pandemic, he said.

“I was very excited to see that come to fruition,” he said.

Lynch is not a veteran himself but has been arranging services for veterans whose remains are unclaimed almost as long as he has been a funeral director. He got his license as a funeral director

in January 2017 and set up the South Carolina Homeless Veterans Burial Program in July of that year.

Both of his grandfathers were veterans, Lynch said.

In January 2018 , he saw news coverage of Dennis Reidy, a homeless veteran who died without family, which inspired his work. Since then, he estimates he has organized roughly 20 services for unclaimed veterans.

Tom Yeoman, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps and now a ride captain for the Patriot Guard, attended the service Friday. Yeoman said he appreciates that coroners now have to check if a deceased person was a veteran.

“Why would you not do that?” he said. “But I’m glad it is, because there’s always someone out there who goes, ‘That’s not important.’ But it’s important to somebody.”

Rusty Clevenger, the coroner for Spartanburg County, said the new law gave them a clear way to make sure that any veterans without family can be laid to rest with other service members.

“All 46 counties can now participate in one central location for our veterans, and I think that’s exceptionally important,” he told the S.C. Daily Gazette.

He also said he plans to display the folded flag in the coroner’s office.

Other new SC laws concerning veterans

The law on unclaimed veterans was just one of several measures signed into law this year that are designed to ensure veterans receive proper services in the Palmetto State.

Rep. Bobby Cox, R-Greer, lead sponsor of the unclaimed remains law, is the chair of a House subcommit-

tee on military and veterans’ affairs. The former Army Ranger worked closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify issues and sponsored two other bills that were also signed into law May 13

One of these allows veterans to be buried in military cemeteries in South Carolina without meeting a residency requirement. Previously, state law required veterans to either live in South Carolina when they joined the military, when they died, or for at least five years during their life.

“I’m a veteran myself. I changed my state of residency when I was traveling throughout the Army,” Cox said, adding he wouldn’t have wanted his family to have to prove residency for him “to be buried in South Carolina where my family lives — where I was born.”

The law did not arise from any particular situation: Cox said he does not know of any out-of-state veterans whose families wanted to bury them in South Carolina but were denied.

Making the change brought South Carolina in line with federal guidelines, so the state could continue to receive federal funds for veteran cemeteries. South Carolina was one of eight states with a residency requirement for these cemeteries, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cox also sponsored legislation to revitalize the Veteran Trust Fund, allowing trustees to spend money on fundraising.

The trust is designed to distribute grants to nonprofits that serve veterans. But the trustees were limited to distributing funds received

mostly through voluntary contributions from state tax forms. This only amounted to $20 000 a year in grants, according to the Department.

The Legislature also passed an update that allowed disabled veterans to immediately take an existing property tax exemption on their home, rather than waiting until the first full year they owned the home.

Rep. Raye Felder, R-Fort Mill, who sponsored the bill, said she had a constituent who bought a home in February one year and was required to escrow the property taxes for the remainder of the year. The tax requirement endangered the loan.

“My local veterans’ group was very appreciative,” Felder said of the law signed in March.

The intent of original law it updated was that veterans

get the benefit “from day one,” she said, but it just wasn’t worded that way. State Veterans Affairs Secretary Todd McCaffrey expressed appreciation for the work of the Legislature in passing the new laws.

“These key pieces of legislation not only improve the quality of life for our military and families but also champions our state’s progress of ensuring our veterans receive the aid and benefits they deserve with ease,” he said in a statement to the Gazette.

Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.

S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest statefocused nonprofit news organization.

Tougher DUI law meant to curb drunk driving in SC takes effect

By Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Emma Longstreet of Lexington was killed nearly 12 1/2 years ago in a car accident involving a drunk driver while riding with her family on the way to Sunday church. She would have been 19-years-old this month.

A state law that may have prevented the then 6-year-old’s death is now being expanded.

Signed last July and taking effect this past Sunday, the newly expanded law will require ignition interlock devices, which prevent someone who has been drinking alcohol from starting the car, for anyone convicted of a DUI no matter how high above the legal limit their blood alcohol level is. It also will apply to certain other alcohol related offenses or suspected drunk drivers who refuse to take a blood alcohol content test.

Under a 2014 law, only repeat offenders or first-time offenders who had a blood alcohol level of more than 0 15 were required to have a device installed. This latest version will likely double the number of South Carolinians required to have the devices in their vehicles.

“Emma was our future,” Karen Longstreet told reporters on Fri-

day. “I just miss all the things we missed, you know, we never got to see her finish first grade, we never got to see her ride her bike without training wheels.”

The driver who killed Emma admitted in court that an interlock device would have stopped him driving, said David Longstreet, Emma’s father. But the push to go from the 2014 version of the law to the current version was a long haul, he said.

“It took too long, it really should have been done sooner,” he said.

“We were very happy it got to all (blood alcohol content) levels.”

David Longstreet also said he hopes the devices will eventually be required for people awaiting trial for a DUI as well.

Currently, there about 1,200 people in the state who are required to use the devices. T. Mark Childress, director of the ignition interlock device program for the state probation department, told reporters Friday that the expanded law will probably add 1,200-1,500 drivers to that number.

Users must blow into the devices, which detect if someone has a blood alcohol level over 0 02 Drivers have to test under that number to start the car and periodically while driving. Those who blow over the limit on one of these tests are hit with points on their driver’s license, which can add up to penalties including suspended driving privileges.

“The program that we have is not meant to be punitive; it’s meant to change behavior and to keep the public safe,” said Jodi Gallman, acting director of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services said Friday.

Even with the current, less restrictive law, the probation department said interlock devices prevented 2 800 people in the state from starting their car after drinking in 2022 alone.

Under the new law, a first offense DUI requires an interlock device for six months. The length of time increases on additional convictions. The devices cost about $130 a month, Childress said, but drivers who cannot afford it can apply to a fund to cover the expense.

Drunk driving continues to be a major issue in South Caro-

lina, according to Steven Burritt, regional executive director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, one of the organizations hosting Friday’s press conference.

He pointed to numbers for 2022, released earlier this year, that showed a 17% increase in drunken driving fatalities over the previous year in South Carolina. At 406 fatalities, South Carolina had slightly more deaths from drunk driving than New York, a state with almost four times as many people.

“We were the 35th state to pass an all-offender ignition lock law, so there was plenty of research to tell us just how effective this would be,” Burritt said.

On average drunk driving deaths dropped 16% when states passed similar laws.

“We certainly need that,” Burritt said.

Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.

S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s

organization.

Chaplain Samuel J.T. Boone salutes as service members fold the flag from the casket of Rick Leiderman, an Air Force veteran, during a service on Friday, May 24, 2024 at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Abraham Kenmore/S.C. Daily Gazette

Steven Burritt, regional executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, speaks during a press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center days before a new, tougher DUI law took effect. Abraham Kenmore/S.C. Daily Gazette

LOCAL MILITARY

Readiness in the Indo-Pacific

U.S. Marines with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) conduct preflight inspections May 22, 2024, on an F/A-18D Hornet aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. VMFA(AW)-224, the “Fighting Bengals,” are based out of MCAS Beaufort and augment MAG-12 as a part of the Unit Deployment Program. VMFA(AW)-224 and VMFA121, MAG-12, 1st MAW are training in Guam as part of the Aviation Training Relocation program to enhance interservice capabilities and to sustain high operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific. Sgt. Jose Angeles/USMC

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Adam Perlin, the commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), performs a hand signal May 22, 2024, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Perlin is a native of California.

Angeles/USMC

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Louis Schaefer, a fixed-wing aircraft mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), throws chalks before signaling to a pilot May 22, 2024, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Schaefer is a native of Ohio. Sgt. Jose Angeles/USMC

SC Military and Veterans Benefits — Taxes & Education

This week’s article will complete the information on “SC Veterans’ Tax Benefits” and cover “S.C. Education Benefits” for veterans.

South Carolina Reserve Component Service Member Tax Exemptions for Training

According to the SC Individual Income Tax Form 1040 https://bit.ly/3yD7t2d and https://bit.ly/3JXFY5P, “Income received by National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reservists for annual training, weekend drills, and other inactive duty training is generally exempt from South Carolina Income Tax. Eligibility for the SC Reserve Component Service Member Tax Exemptions for Training. National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserve members are eligible for the following tax exemptions:

All inactive duty pays for weekend drills and other inactive duty training.

15 days of annual training pay.

14 days of inactive duty annual training pay, plus up to two days of travel time (must be on orders).

15 days of annual training pay and up to 24 days of weekend drill pay (maximum 39 days) for full-time Active Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserves, paid at the daily rate.

Learn more from your Tax Adviser and the SC 1040 Tax Form at https:// bit.ly/3yD7t2d.

SC Military Spouse Residency Relief Act A nonresident Military Spouse who has the same state of residence as a nonresident service member, who is stationed in S.C. under military orders, is exempt from state income taxes on wages earned in S.C.. The nonresident military spouse must pay taxes (if required) to their state of residence. Learn more in the “SC DOR SC Revenue Ruling #10-5,” at https://bit. ly/3V2iWj3

SC Taxes on Military Pay Received for Service in a Combat Zone and Extension to File SC does not tax combat or hazardous duty pay.

Service members serving in a combat zone have 180 days after leaving the combat zone to file and pay SC income taxes. Learn more at the “SC Military Retirement Pay Now Exempt From State Income Taxes” release dated November 10, 2022, at https://bit.ly/3wM104d and the “SC DOR Revenue Procedure #08-3” at https:// bit.ly/3USzlqo.

SC National Guard College (Education) Assistance Program (SCNG CAP) SCNG CAP will pay 100%

of college tuition and fees at state-supported institutions up to $5 500 per year, with a lifetime cap of $22,000 for eligible S.C. National Guard Service members. SCNG Service members are eligible for financial assistance for their first undergraduate degree only.

Service members must be in good academic standing with the institution to continue to receive funding. To determine eligibility, contact the S.C. National Guard, Education Service Office at 803-299-2734

Download the SCNG CAP (Army and Air Guard) Online Application at https:// bit.ly/451lp1Q. Learn more at the S.C. Education Services webpage at https:// bit.ly/44ZFZzI.

SC Education Assistance, Free Tuition for Certain Veteran's Children

S.C. provides a tuition waiver to the children of certain war veterans attending S.C. state-supported universities or post-high school technical education institutions. For the child of a veteran to be eligible the veteran must meet the following requirements: (1.) Served during a wartime period, (2.) Received an “other than dishonorable” discharge from active-duty service, (3.) Be a resident of S.C. at the time of entry into service, during service, and currently a resident, or (4.) A resident of S.C. for at least one year and currently a resident, or (5.) If the veteran is deceased, was a resident for one year before death

The child’s veteran parent must also meet one of

the following requirements: (1.) Killed in action, (2.) Died while serving in the military, (3.) Died from a service-connected disease/ disability, (4.) Prisoner of war or declared missing in action, (5.) Have a permanent and total disability rating from the VA, (6.) Medal of Honor recipient, or (7.) Purple Heart Recipient. Children must be 26 years or younger to be eligible. For more information call 803-647-2434. Learn more at the S.C. Code of Laws, Title 59 – Education, Chapter 111 – Scholarships, Section 59-111-20, Free tuition … children, at https://bit. ly/3V3Ds2K.

In-State Tuition Rates at SC Public Institutions of Higher Education for Veterans, Service Members, and Dependents Veterans, active and reserve service members, and dependents are authorized in-state tuition and fee rates regardless of how long they have lived in S.C.

For a child dependent whose parent is on active duty outside of S.C., the student must be receiving transferred VA educational financial assistance to be eligible for in-state rates. Once the VA assistance has been exhausted, students will be charged out-of-state rates, unless the student can claim S.C. residency. Students must meet the following requirements: Veteran who served 90 days or longer on active duty in the US Armed Forces. Dependent using transferred VA education

assistance. Service member entitled to and receiving VA educational assistance.

Learn more about InState Tuition Rates in SC Code 59-112-50, https://bit. ly/3x4fPzb.

SC Residency for Tuition Purposes for Nonresident Service Members and their Dependents Nonresident service members stationed in S.C. and their dependents are charged in-state tuition and fees without having to establish a permanent home in South Carolina. Learn more at S.C. Code of Laws, Title 59 – Education, Chapter 112 - Determination Of Rates Of Tuition And Fees, Section 59-112-50, https:// bit.ly/3x4fPzb.

SC Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3)

The purpose of this compact and the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves of their parents

Learn more about MIC3 at https://bit.ly/3Vi6zAN. Find the MIC3 Assistance Request at https://bit.ly/3R6wzwB. Call 803-734-8485 for more information.

SC Purple Star School Designation for MilitaryFriendly Schools

The S.C. Purple Star School Designation recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and Families connected to the U.S. Armed Forces. S.C. Purple Star schools adhere to the MIC3 Compact. For a school to qualify for the Purple Star Award they must appoint a school liaison who is specially trained to handle the unique challenges experienced by military families. Each school will also have a dedicated page on its school website featuring resources for military families. For more information, call 803-2317144. Learn more about the SC Purple Star Schools at https://bit.ly/3wVIBSG.

Past The Island News Military and Veterans Benefits Articles To read past The Island News articles on Veterans’ Benefits, you should go to https://yourislandnews. com and then click on the “Military” link.

Continued next

LARRY DANDRIDGE

Sgt. Jose

LOCAL MILITARY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 31 May 2024

Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel C. B. McArthur 1st Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel K. R. Sile Commander of Troops, Gunnery Sergeant S. B. Ingram • Parade Adjutant, Staff Sergeant I. D. ColonDominguez Company “B”, 1st Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain R. G. Latigo Drill Masters • Gunnery Sergeant M. N. Moreno, Staff Sergeant J. A. Kolb

PLATOON 1024

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt B. M. Nichols

Pvt Adair, C. A.

Pvt Aldridge, C. D.

Pvt Allen, L. T.

Pvt Anderson, D. I.

Pvt Antiverossalinas, G.

PFC Benton, A. M.

Pvt Bernal Jr., J. E.

PFC Boyd , M. C.

PFC Brienza, M. A.*

Pvt Burgess, S. J.

Pvt Caban, B. S.

Pvt Canady, G. B.

PFC Carachure, E. A.

PFC Castro, S. H.*

Pvt Cazares, G.

PFC Chapman, V. J.

Pvt Chepelopez, C.

PFC Chinn, P. Z.*

Pvt Crawford, K. T.

Pvt Davidrivera, A. J.

Pvt Diazgonzalez, J. J.

Pvt Dudley, D. M.

PFC Escobar, D. A.

Pvt Fearon, T. J.

Pvt Gilbert, B. J.

Pvt Gilis, E. T.

Pvt Gomezalvarado, L. N.

PFC Graves, J. C.

Pvt Gray, J. E.

PFC Hale, H. B.

Pvt Hall, L. R.

Pvt Hayes, C. A.

Pvt Hite, C. A.

Pvt Holland, J. B.

PFC Jarvis, J. W.

PFC Jefferson, B. L.

Pvt Karney, X. K.

Pvt Lane, S. J.

Pvt Lopezreyes, F. A.

PFC Martinezherbert, B. A.*

Pvt Mcdaniel, R. J.

Pvt Ortiz Jr., D. G.

Pvt Patterson, J. F.

Pvt Peslak, D. J.

Pvt Pierre, E. C.

Pvt Polk, C. S.

Pvt Price, H. L.

Pvt Qualis, S. D.

Pvt Richardson, J. J.

Pvt Sirbu, R.

Pvt Smith, W. L.

Pvt Sparkman, J. R.

Pvt Strain, J. C.

PFC Wei, A. W.

Pvt Whitfield Jr., E. L.

Pvt Zarazua, J. D.

PLATOON

1025

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt A. E. Moreno

PFC Ajibola, N. A.

Pvt Akers, E. J.

Pvt Alzen, E. S.

PFC Andersonhoskins, I. S.

Pvt Andresjuan, Y.

Pvt Angamarcayupa, L. P.

PFC Black, A. M.

PFC Boisrond, N.*

Pvt Burgosmartinez, N. A.

Pvt Campbell, C. R.

Pvt Chan, R. K.

Pvt Cordle, S. A.

LCpl Escobar, J. I.

Pvt Gilbustamante, N.

PFC Grier, C. B.

Pvt Gutierrezcruz, T. H.

Pvt Guzmandominguez, D.

Pvt Higgins, C. C.

PFC Hobbs, K. L.*

PFC Justin, C. T.

PFC Landrith, L. G.

Pvt Lappert, K. T.

Pvt Lott, K. B.

Pvt Malizia, N. L.

Pvt Martinezvelez, E.

PFC Meadows, K. M.

PFC Membrenopaz, L. K.*

Pvt Monfiston, N.

PFC Moore, M. D.

PFC Mosso, M.

Pvt Orozco, H. J.

Pvt Pogyobecerra, A. P.

Pvt Reyesramirez, J. R.

Pvt Rotenberg, Y.

PFC Saeterosguallpa, Y. J.*

Pvt Sanchezhernandez, E. B.

PFC Seaman, K. D.

Pvt Smalley, K. M.

PFC Svec, A. R.

Pvt Valerio, L.

Pvt Villarreal, A. C.

Pvt Whittemore, J. N.

PFC Whittfield, A. K.

Pvt Woods, L. A.

PLATOON

1028

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt R. Gonzalez

Pvt Avila, I. B.

PFC Bednar, M. R.

Pvt Burch, D. L.

Pvt Callahan, B. A.

Pvt Carr, J. M.

Pvt Chhakchhuak, M. R.

Pvt Colon, J.

PFC Crossland, J. M.

Pvt Deeds, D. K.

PFC Diaz, J. C.

Pvt Dossantos, H. A.

PFC Ducote, T. N.*

PFC Flowers IV, E. J.

PFC Garcia, K. A.

Pvt Garciasantana, K. M.

Pvt Georgevarghese, A.

Pvt Hernandez, J. A.

PFC Irvin, C. S.

Pvt Jimenez Jr, B. E.

Pvt Johnson, O. A.

Pvt Kallon, M. A.

Pvt Knitter, C. B.

Pvt Lentz, A. E.

PFC Llivisupacarrera, K. N.

Pvt Louisjeune, W.

Pvt Marfisirivera, J. E.

Pvt Markovic, M. A.

PFC Mckean, R. M.

Pvt Mejia, A. N.

PFC Membrenopaz, B. A.*

PFC Meza, J. A.*

Pvt Migliore, A. F.

Pvt Mokos, A. F.

Pvt Nock, L. T.

PFC Ogaus, C.

Pvt Ortman, G. T.

Pvt Padron, A. A.

Pvt Palaciosalvarado, J. P.

Pvt Payne III, N. E.

PFC Perezalmonte, M. J.

Pvt Perezrodriguez, W.

Pvt Rai, B.

PFC Randolph, I. R.*

PFC Renzo, J. J.

Pvt Saldivar, S. A.

PFC Thurston, D. D.

PFC Tolsdorf, C. J.

Pvt Tripp, M. A.

PFC Urenaflores, D. D.

Pvt Vega, N. A.

Pvt Vitte, Hayden J.

Pvt Weaver, B. I.

Pvt Whalen, B. J.

Pvt Wrynn, L. J.

Pvt Yu, Y.

PLATOON 1029

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt L. J. Gaines Jr.

PFC Avino, E. P.

PFC Ballard, S. A.

Pvt Bell, J. L.

Pvt Boothe, C. A.

Pvt Busanet, D. I.

Pvt Calachijsoliz, M. J.

PFC Chen, R.

Pvt Conners, M. I.

Pvt Crider, T. B.

Pvt Dagnan, J. J.

PFC Davis, A. J.*

Pvt Echevarriamuniz, J. M.

Pvt Ely, J. M.

PFC Fernandezmartinez, B. R.

PFC Gatlin, G. S.

PFC Gilkey, T. J.

PFC Green, B. C.

Pvt Hawks, A. J.

Pvt Hensley, J. W.

Pvt Hojak, Z. E.

Pvt Hooper, C. A.

LCpl James, T. D.

Pvt King, R. I.

PFC Koshefobamu, D. Y.

Pvt Leighty, R. C.

Pvt Marshall, T. E.

PFC Mcgourty, E. M.

Pvt Mena, U. R.

Pvt Musmeci, B. G.

PFC Nelson, E. J.

PFC Osmolski, S. J.

PFC Peagler, Q. A.

PFC Peterson, J. T.

Pvt Ramirez, J. G.

Pvt Ramirez, M. A.

Pvt Reyes, E.

Pvt Richardson, J. R.

Pvt Rodrigueztorres, J. D.

Pvt Ruiz Iii, R.

Pvt Sanchezcastellanos, R. J.

PFC Scruggs, S. D.

PFC Singh, A.

PFC Starling, J. M.

Pvt Stewart Jr, S. S.

Pvt Taverasmartinez, R. J.

Pvt Thibeault, M. A.

Pvt Tracey, D. A.

Pvt Truman, K. M.

PFC Valdesmartinez, W.*

PFC Verdirame, W. S.*

PFC Welborn, D. M.*

Pvt White, B. K.

Pvt Wright, T. N.

Pvt Zavalabenitez, J.

PFC Zheng, H.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotion

SERVICE DIRECTORY

ATTORNEY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

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

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING

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Monica Wiser, M.A. CCC-A Licensed Audiologist

38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007 Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You

The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center

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

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

CARTOON

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VACATION RENTALS

ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION

PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 1 5 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25 -word classified ad will appear in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 803 - 750 - 9561

YOUR AD HERE

Looking to advertise your business, announce a yard sale, or share other classifieds? Contact Amanda Hanna today at amanda@lcweekly.com to secure your spot and get your ad featured in our upcoming issue!