October 10 edition by The Island News

Lowcountry braces for impact from Hurricane Milton

By Delayna Earley

Island News

The Lowcountry is under a Tropical Storm Watch and Storm Surge Watch as Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 hurricane as of Tuesday afternoon, makes it’s way to the Florida coast and beyond. It has been nearly two weeks since Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and made its way northward leaving behind massive destruction, flooding and widespread power outages across

the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

Thankfully, according to the National Weather Service in Charleston, Milton will likely not have the impact on the Lowcountry that Helene did.

Currently, Hurricane Milton is on track to hit the western coast of Florida, which has prompted mandatory evacuations in communities all along the coast. It was expected to make landfall

sometime on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and continue east across the peninsula until it enters the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, Oct. 10

Unless Milton changes its trajectory and veers more north, the main concerns for the Lowcountry are high winds along the coast, storm surge and dangerous marine conditions. According to the NWS in Charleston, Hurricane Milton will

Beaufort steps up

Former mayor, local business owners, everyday citizens donate, show up to help western North

By Delayna Earley The Island News

After several days of collecting donations, former Beaufort mayor Stephen Murray, Sea Eagle’s Craig Reeves, and other volunteers made the drive up to western North Carolina to deliver much needed necessities like water, diapers and toiletries to those who lost everything.

It has been two weeks since Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding and mudslides that destroyed entire towns in the mountains of western North Carolina, and Murray said that he felt like he needed to do something to help South Carolina’s northern neighbors after a call from Bob Woodman.

“My first thought was that we

Carolina

would take some chainsaws and equipment and head north to help with the clean-up,” Murray said.

“But after sleeping on it, I woke up and thought, well you know, we’ve got trucks, we’ve got trailers, and at that time we were hearing a lot of calls that FEMA wasn’t in yet, the Red Cross wasn’t in yet, none of

SEE DONATIONS PAGE A4

Staff reports South Carolina citizens now have more time to register to vote ahead of the 2024 General Election after a court on Friday, Oct. 4, ordered the voter registration deadline be extended to October 14

The eight-day extension was ordered due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene. Several county voter registration offices were closed for days before being able to reopen for registration. Offices in Edgefield, Laurens, and McCormick have remained closed due to the storm. The extended deadline applies to voters in all counties.

Voters must register by Monday, Oct. 14 to vote in the 2024 General Election.

There are several ways to register in South Carolina, and it only takes a few minutes.

• Register online at scvotes. gov before midnight, Monday, Oct. 14 (requires S.C. Driver’s License or DMV ID Card). Download a voter registration form. Complete and return the form to your county voter registration office: By fax (must be received before midnight, Monday, Oct. 14). By email attachment (must be received before midnight, Monday, Oct. 14).

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The

The “convoy” of trucks carrying pallets of supplies from Beaufort to western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene at the beginning of October. Stephen Murray/Facebook

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

and include a description and/or

theislandnews@gmail.com.

VETERAN OF THE WEEK JERRY COINE

Beaufort’s Jerry Coine, 74 joined the United States Marine Corps in Shreveport, La., in 1969 After Boot Camp in San Diego, he trained as a Radio Telegraph Operator. His first assignment was to an artillery battalion at Camp Lejeune with which he deployed to Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, spending 18 months in Thailand.

After returning to Camp Lejeune, he deployed aboard USS

John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), making a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean. He returned to Camp Lejeune and again deployed on other Navy ships, visiting the Caribbean, France, England, Spain and Kosovo. He returned to Camp Lejeune and transferred to Parris Island to be a Drill Instructor, separating in 1978 with eight years of active service. He went to work for Beaufort County as a transportation parts manager for more than a decade, then for Project Head Start as

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Our most private power

As citizens, we are called to exercise this power within the protection of the privacy of the voting booth. While these protections are being challenged by some, it is still an individual act of conscience. There are many issues facing us, and some may be very personal. I’ll be voting out of respect for my father, who served in the Army in WWII, for his service in France, Germany, North Africa, and the Philippines.

For gratitude that he was not alive to hear a sitting President call him a sucker and loser and to see him disgrace our war dead in Normandy and Arlington. That he did not have to watch the insurrection attack on our democracy on Jan. 6, with his fellow first responders being beaten with the very flags that he fought to defend.

I’ll be voting for those who embrace the calling that the teachings of loving our neighbors, welcoming the stranger, the others, and the respect for human dignity regardless of race are central to our humanity. These convictions are a reflection of a professed faith, whether on a Sunday morning or other deeply held beliefs.

How does one reconcile this with the beliefs that the “others” are vermin, subhuman scum, animals who are poisoning our country

ON THIS DATE

October 11

2019: Beaufort High School defeats Bluffton, 35-24, at home to give Eagles Head Football Coach Bruce Lybrand his first win as a head coach.

October 12

1935: John M. Trask, Jr. is born in Wilmington, N.C., to John M. Trask Sr. and Flora Graham Trask. He worked in the family farming business

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

maintenance manager on St. Helena Island. He also coached for Parks and Recreation youth football, T-ball, basketball and girls fast-pitch softball. He finally retired after a stroke sidelined him.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb 1 @gmail.com.

(not my words)?

How one may choose to normalize or ignore this hatred and racism is your business. So the potential for saving Grace is the privacy … knowing that you can vote with a conscience without fear of reprisals and continue to fly whatever political flag, or sign in public, and still hold private what really matters.

May you vote in Peace.

– Charlie Nutting, Beaufort

Who will take care of the children?

The clear result from banning abortion and birth control is more children. Many of them not planned for. Many of them not wanted.

Raising kids requires a lot — food, love, housing, education, safe neighborhoods. But the Republicans [who] plan banning abortion and birth control never mention who will support those kids, and who will pay the cost once they’re born.

Without those basic needs met, the GOP plan falls apart.

If you hate children and you hate women, vote Republican. Otherwise, vote for sanity. Vote Democratic. Vote Kamala.

– John Smith, Sheldon

on St. Helena Island, chartered First Carolina Bank and served as Associate Administrator for Finance and Investment in the Small Business Administration during the

League after being found on a beach. This sweet, no drama senior is always looking for ways to connect with people. She would love a home with a soft bed, chicken treats, and a window seat where she can watch the action outside. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

Dog Of The Week

Ricky is a fun, sweet, silly boy who loves life and wants to live it to the fullest. As you can see, he was really working it at

Carter Administration from 1977 to 1979. In 1971, he partnered with Marguerite Broz and Betty Waskiewicz to form the Beaufort County Open Land Trust.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

1-year-old would love to find an active home where people like to go on walks, laugh, and play. A big backyard would be a bonus. Looking for a sweet soul to share your days with? Ricky is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

For more information about Sandi, Ricky or any of our other pets, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

– Compiled by Lindsay Perry

Jerry Coine

Cat Of The Week

Sandi came to Palmetto Animal

Palmetto Animal League’s Halloween photo shoot! This

Reader Mason Meyer found the largest species of jumping spider known to eastern North America, the Regal jumping spider, in his back yard. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos

names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to

4th arrest made in

17-year-old’s murder

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

A fourth arrest was made on Friday, Oct. 4, in connection to a Sept. 15 shooting incident that left one dead and two others hurt.

Derrick Jerrod McKee of Beaufort was arrested and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during the com-

mission of a violent crime and aggravated breach of peace.

Storm Lemont Zop Polite of Dale, 23, Jeremiah Kieyonte Warren of Beaufort, 18, and Rashod Lorenzo Williams of Grays Hill, 18, were all previously arrested with the Sept. 15 incident and charged with the same crimes.

The victim, Ari’Anna Mulligan was a 17-yearold senior at Bridges Preparatory School when she died because of gunshot wounds that she received outside of the Magnolia Park Apartments off Laurel Bay Road.

Mulligan’s brother, who was one of the other two gunshot victims, was hospi-

talized for his wounds.

The investigation is ongoing, according to a release put out by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

“We encourage the public to report any suspicious or criminal activity to us by calling our non-emergency dispatch line at 843-5242777,” the release said.

Pedestrian killed on Trask Parkway

Staff reports A pedestrian was struck and killed by a motorist Monday night, Oct. 7, on U.S. 17 (Trask Parkway), 13 miles west of Beaufort.

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.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Master Sergeant Duncan at 843-255-3418 or online at BCSO.NET.

Walls comments on lawsuit against Beckert, County

Treasurer settled suit against former auditor

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Beaufort County Treasurer Maria Walls has spoken out about the way that her lawsuit against former Beaufort County auditor James Beckert and Beaufort County concluded.

Walls sued Beckert in August 2020 alleging that he spent years “harassing, bullying, defaming and threatening Walls” and despite alerting the County Administrator, Deputy County Administrator, Beaufort County Council members, the County Attorney, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Human Resources Department, nothing was done to rectify the situation.

In her trial that began Monday, Sept. 9, Walls said that she got the opportunity to say on the record what she had to go through, which made a difference to her.

“The

toxic

environment that I and other women had to endure never should have been tolerated.”

MARIA WALLS,

Beaufort County Treasurer, on on her lawsuit against former Beaufort County auditor James Beckert and Beaufort County

“The toxic environment that I and other women had to endure never should have been tolerated,” Walls said. “I wish it hadn’t been necessary to pursue legal action in order to restore peace and common decency, but I am grateful to have had the opportunity to stand up for myself and to finally be able to move on from a decade of abuse and unthinkable behavior.” The trial abruptly ended on

Thursday, Sept. 12, when a settlement was reached.

Walls also has a second lawsuit that is currently pending against Beaufort County that alleges the county retaliated against her in her official capacity as Treasurer.

When reached for comment about the lawsuit Beaufort County spokesperson Hannah Nichols said that the two parties had come to an agreement about a settlement but did not comment further.

According to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, at 9:02 p.m., a 2009 Lexus sedan and a pedestrian were both traveling north on U.S. 17 in Beaufort County, when the Lexus struck and killed the pedestrian.

The driver of the Lexus was injured and transported by EMS to an area hospital.

Councilman Dawson to host 2024 Sales Tax Referendum meeting

Staff reports Beaufort County Council Member Gerald Dawson (District 1) will host a district meeting to discuss the 2024 Sales Tax Referendum at 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, at Burton Wells Recreation Center, 1 Middleton Drive. Interim Engineering Director Bryan Bauer will be present for questions. For questions and more information Council Member Dawson at 843-986-7265 or gdawson@bcgov.net.

Maria Walls

Infant death under probe

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Beaufort

Police Depart-

ment is investigating the death of an infant as of Monday night.

Investigators responded to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for a report of the death of an infant. Initial investigations revealed that the incident had occurred at Spanish Trace Apartments.

It is currently unknown what events surrounded the incident, and it is being actively investigated.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) had been conateceed and their child fatality unit will help with the investigation.

Anyone with information is required to contact Setian at 843-322-7928 and to remain anonymous, please call the Beaufort Police Department’s TIP Line at 843322-7938 and reference case #24B40738

California Congressman visits Lowcountry

Khanna stops in a domestic violence shelter, speaks to Beaufort County Democrats

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

California Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA17) visited Beaufort County this week, paying a visit to the Hoperful Horizons Domestic Violence Shelter in Bluffton and meeting with Democrats as a surrogate of the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign.

“I’ve been hearing of the inspiring work from Myra [Rivera Vazquez] and Beth [Young] that the entire organization has been doing, and it’s Domestic Violence [Awareness] Month, so it’s something that we need to highlight as a country, and I wanted to go to a place where people are making a real difference, where you can see that there’s not just prevention, but helping people get back up on their feet, so I’m just very inspired by this organization.”

Khanna also met with the Sun City Democrats (Bluffton), had lunch with local

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, California Congressman Ro Khanna visits the Hopeful Horizons Domestic Violence Shelter, where he learns about the various programs available to the community. He gained insights into the crucial work being done not only for victims of domestic violence but also the programs that focus on prevention education and programs provided in the schools. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

leaders sponsored by the Democratic Club South of the Broad (Hilton Head), attended a roundtable at the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce in Beaufort, and attended an evening meeting with the

Democratic Club North of the Broad at Grace African Methodist Episcopal Church in Beaufort.

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

TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

Erickson meet-and-greet at Bricks

the big NGOs … meanwhile people didn’t have water, they didn’t have food, they didn’t have baby diapers or formula they didn’t have basic cleaning materials … so I thought, if we are going to go all the way up there, we might as well bring supplies with us.”

Murray said that after he put a call for donations out on Facebook, Beaufort stepped up.

Local business owners Nick Borreggine and Bennett Schiller agreed to collect supplies at their businesses to allow people easy access to donate.

In three days, they collected more than 100 pallets of donations to take to North Carolina and distribute to those small, rural towns that were devastated by Helene.

“We have probably two pallets of bleach and disinfectant,” Murray said. “I thought we would only get a few pallets of donations to take up to [North Carolina], but the community stepped up and boy was I wrong. They really showed their love for our northern neighbors.”

He said in addition to donations being dropped off at three different locations, he also had a lot of people show up and want to volunteer to help transport product, sort the donations and stack them on pallets with similar donations.

Murray said he went up twice during the week following the hurricane, once at the beginning of the week with Reeves and then again at the end of the week as part of a caravan of 10 trucks and vehicles to deliver supplies and volunteers to help with the cleanup efforts in some of these more rural North Carolina towns.

More than a dozen small towns and areas surrounding Asheville received donations from Murray on behalf of Beaufort, especially ones that the big trucks have a harder time getting to because they were a bit nimbler.

Murray and the other volunteers returned early this week, but he advised that the need has now shifted.

“Now we should be donating to a trusted relief organization up there so that they can put the money exactly where it is needed,” Murray said. “Now that the initial need for goods has been met, now we are switching into Phase 2 of the recovery effort which is really strong backs to go in and muck out things, clean the mold and get all of the stuff out of these waterlogged homes and businesses.”

He said that he and his fellow volunteers are in holding pattern. They have suspended supplies because they have been told by their contacts in North Carolina that they just aren’t needed right now and in some places are more harmful than helpful be-

cause it requires someone to go through and organize the goods before distribution.

That said, in the coming weeks they may need more supplies as they deplete what they have, or they are going to need labor assistance in helping with cleanup.

He also mentioned that they are not unique in this and there are several other groups who are collecting goods and delivering them to those in need in North Carolina.

“There are hundreds of other people who saw a need, loaded up their cars with stuff and brought it and delivered it to people who needed it,” Murray said. “But now that immediate need has been

met, it is time for the government and large NGOs like Red Cross, Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse, it’s really time for them to step in and deliver solutions at a scale that us small folks just can’t.” Murray said that donations and advocacy is the best way to show support and not let the elected officials forget about western North Carolina because it is going to be a long recovery process.

Earley,

Angel Flewelling introduces S.C. Rep. Shannon Erickson, who is running for re-election for S.C. House District 124, during a meet-and-greet hosted by the Beaufort Republican Women’s Club, on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Bricks on Boundary. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

S.C. Rep. Shannon Erickson, who is running for re-election for S.C. House District 124, mingles with supporters during a meet-and-greet hosted by the Beaufort Republican Women’s Club on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Bricks on Boundary. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

The volunteers who helped carry pallets of donations to western North Carolina from Beaufort. Many volunteers stayed and helped to clear debris and trees from people’s homes and businesses. Stephen Murray/Facebook

Lowcountry Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense hosting candidate forum

Staff reports

Lowcountry Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is hosting a candidate forum ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

The public is invited to come out and hear how the various candidates plan to combat gun violence if they are elected.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 19 in the large meeting room at the Bluffton Branch Library, located at 120 Palmetto Way. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Participating candidates include: Melinda Henrick-

son, who is running for State House District 124 against incumbent Shannon Erickson; Charity Owens, who is running for State House District 118; Lisette Cifaldi, who is running for State House District 123; Kate Creech, who is running for State House District 120; Gwyneth Saunders, who is running for State Senate District 46 against incumbent Tom Davos; and Michael B. Moore, who is running against incumbent Nancy Mace for the U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.

More than 20 community nonprofit organizations and numerous other community groups have been invited to the event.

“One of our main goals as an organization is to inform the public about gun issues and legislation,” Lowcountry Moms Demand Action leader Richard Hammes said. “After hearing from the candidates at this event, my hope is everyone will vote for these and other gunsense candidates.”

Hammes believes South Carolina could bring down its tragic statistics with a few common-sense gun

laws. He would like to see requirements for safe gun storage, gun safety and usage training, universal background checks with no time limits, and a ban on guns of war and high-capacity clips.

Despite the fact that the majority of American citizens favor common-sense gun reform, been no change in Washington or here in South Carolina.

“Money speaks,” Hammes said. “These [incumbent] candidates are supported by not just the NRA, but gun manufacturers, who have really deep pockets. In certain states, like South Caro-

lina, with sizable rural populations, there is also part of the population that is very concerned people will take their guns away, which isn’t going t happen. Therefore, they don’t want any restrictions. It’s frustrating to not get much change.”

Hammes said all he’s trying to do is inform the public, get them information and data about what’s happening.

“It’s going to take a while, but I have hope,” he said.

On average, gun violence kills 1 056 people a year in South Carolina. The Palmetto State is ranked 11th

Beaufort Shrimp Festival

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Garrett and LiLy Moore

Garret and Lily Moore were married on September 28th, 2024 at Beaver Creek Plantation in Twin City, Ga. Despite Hurricane Helene having ripped through the city two days earlier, the venue came through and made the wedding happen without water or power.

The bride’s parents are Crystal Ulbricht and stepfather Lars Ulbricht, of Hilton Head. Her grandmother is Katherine Summersill of Halzehurst, Ga.

The groom’s mother is Bonnie Moore of Hilton Head.

The officiant was Pastor Michael Carr from Central on Hilton Head. Lily wore a wedding gown from Bridal House of Beaufort. The couple honeymooned in Breckenridge, Co. and will live in Bluffton.

The bride and groom met in a local gym on Hilton Head when she was 16 and practicing for a cheer competition. They had their first date at Dolphin Beach. They broke up during a brief period in college. After graduating from the University of Coastal Carolina in Myrtle

Impact from page A1

likely generate large waves off the Georgia and South Carolina coast.

“Breaking waves of 5 feet or greater are possible at all beaches Wednesday into Thursday night, peaking around 5-8 feet Thursday afternoon,” their Tuesday afternoon post on Facebook read.

The NWS Charleston says that this could result in significant beach erosion in Beaufort County. Beaufort County likely

Beach they reunited and were engaged within the year. They always had a special friendship and love for each other. It was bound to happen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE ISLAND NEWS

The Island News will publish obituaries, wedding, and engagement announcements up to 300 words at no charge, including a photograph. Obituaries exceeding 300 words will incur a fee of 25¢ per additional word. For more information, please contact jeff.theislandnews@gmail.com.

to see significant rainfall late on Oct. 9 and into Oct. 10 which could cause some localized flooding in the area.

While not expected to be as strong as they were during Hurricane Helene, wind gusts are a concern for many in Beaufort County as they could knock down trees that have been weakened by Helene, potentially resulting in additional power outages.

Beaufort County is not expected to get the tornado activity that it saw during Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby, according to the NWS

Charleston. Hurricane grew to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday, Oct. 7, dropped to a Category 4, then returned to a Category 5 early Tuesday evening.

Meteorologists have predicted that the hurricane could weaken to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall on Wednesday evening.

in the nation for gun deaths per capita, much higher than New York at 47th and Illinois at 24th. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that 113 children and teens are killed by guns in South Carolina every year. Twenty-eight percent of those deaths are suicides, and 65 percent are homicides. If these numbers concern you and you’d like to see them change, Hammes wants you to come hear the candidates.

The candidate forum is free and open to the public. RSVP to lowcountrymomsdemand@gmail.com.

County Veterans Affairs Director Fermin named USC Outstanding Veteran Alumni

Staff reports Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Director Caroline Fermin has been named one of University of South Carolina's Outstanding Veteran Alumni.

The USC website reads, “Each year the Alumni Association has the great honor of celebrating the best and brightest alumni and friends of the university with our six awards. … These awards are the highest honors reflecting the ideals cherished by South Carolinians that include service, integrity, character and leadership.

“The Outstanding Veteran Alumni Award is presented to a graduate who has served in the U.S. military with honor, distinguished themselves in his or her professional career, shown remarkable leadership capabilities and positively impacted the community.”

Fermin, a native Beaufortonian, graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1985. She spent 25 years in the United States Marine Corps with global assignments that took her from Hawaii, to Japan to Washington, D.C.

She has a Masters in Economics from Johns Hopkins University, a Master's in Military Studies from Marine Corps Command and Staff College, a Master’s in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps War College, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Innovation from St Thomas University.

Governor Henry McMaster selected her to serve on the task force that developed the first cabinet-level position for veterans affairs. Under her guidance, the task force created the position description, conduct-

ed interviews, and recommended a nominee for the first Secretary of Veterans Affairs for South Carolina. As a wounded warrior, Fermin is a peer mentor for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), assisting fellow warriors in their recovery journey. She also serves as a WWP Warrior Advocate Leader, advocating for veterans in a grassroots effort in South Carolina.

Fermin has participated in several OPERATION Advocacy Fly-Ins on Capitol Hill and the first Women Warrior Summit in Washington D.C. last Fall. In this capacity, she actively advocates with our Federal legislators for veterans’ benefits such as the PACT Act, Major Richard Star Act, and several bills to combat veteran suicide. As Director of Veterans Affairs for Beaufort County, Fermin has expanded the breadth and scope of operations, increasing the span of veteran services. She has established a Veteran Advisory Council and a Beaufort County Veteran Council, where she brings government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations together to support the veteran population. Under her leadership, the department has exceeded all goals in its first year, notably reducing the untethered population by five percent in less than 10 months.

Fermin is a graduate of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Beaufort program.

Carson Bruce, President of the Sea Island Rotary Club, takes the stage alongside the Sea Island Rotary Shrimp at the 30th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, to discuss the upcoming shrimp race. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

Tyger Snell, owner of Belly Full By Tyger, holds up, the first of many, two freshly fried baskets of crab on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, during the 30th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

Caroline Fermin

Chicken Salad Chick opens next week

Staff reports Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, will open at 3351 Robert Smalls Parkway in Beaufort on Tuesday, Oct. 15, when the first 100 guests in line will win free chicken salad for a year.

During grand opening week, guests can expect several promotions, including:

• Tuesday, Oct. 15: Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the first 100 Guests – The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year.

The next 99 guests in line receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.

• Wednesday, Oct. 16: The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a free Chicken Salad Chick Canvas Tote Bag.

• Thursday, Oct. 17: The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a free Chick Meal or Small Quick Chick on their next visit. Friday, Oct. 18: Buy two Large Quick Chicks, get one free all day. Plus, be one of the first 50 guests to pur -

chase thre Quick Chicks and receive a free tote bag. Saturday, Oct. 19: The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a free Chicken Salad Chick Stadium Cup. The cup can be used through October 31 for a free drink when you purchase a Chick Meal.

Chicken Salad Chick of Beaufort is owned and operated by Julie Beville and Michelle Singleton of Sing Bev Hospitality. These multi-unit franchise owners opened their first Chicken Salad Chick in Greenville in 2013

Chicken Salad Chick is known for its dozen-plus variety of madefrom-scratch chicken salad flavors, fresh side sal ads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts. The new Beaufort restaurant offers in-restaurant and outdoor patio dining, drive-thru, takeout, curbside pickup, third-party delivery, and catering options. As part of pre-opening Friends & Family events in Beaufort, the restaurant will be raising money

for a local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Donations will help the organization’s funding to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. After grand opening week, Chicken Salad Chick of Beaufort will be open Monday – Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com.

Mutt Mixer supporting Palmetto Animal League

Staff reports

Mingle with some of the Lowcountry’s cutest and most eligible dogs at the 3rd annual Mutt Mixer concert event supporting pet rescue from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10 at AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head.

Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beverages, door prizes, and live music by the bluegrass band “Lowcountry Boil.” AutoNation Subaru Hilton

Head is a dog-friendly dealership, which means the party is “BYOD” (Bring Your Own Dog). For those hoping to find their next great love at the event, fee-waived pet

NEWS BRIEFS

Moore endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, announced Tuesday, Oct. 8 his campaign has received the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, a nonprofit, non-partisan group working to defend reproductive rights and advance access to healthcare.

In a letter announcing the endorsement, the organization cited Moore’s “demonstrated strong support for sexual and reproductive health and rights,” and indicated confidence that he “will be a dedicated advocate for Planned Parenthood health centers and the people they serve when elected to the House in 2024.”

A construction reminder

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

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

Habersham hosting Harvest Festival Habersham Marketplace will host the 14th annual Habersham

Voter from page A1

By mail (must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 14). Register in person at the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County offices. The main office is located in Beaufort at 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, S.C. 29906. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

adoptions will be available, made possible through a generous grant from the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

“It has become the can’t miss concert event of the fall,” PAL President Amy Campanini said in a news release. “Not only does AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head throw a great party for people to enjoy, but it’s also a fun night out for the dogs at our

no kill adoption center while they wait to find a loving home.”

The first 100 people to arrive with a donation of pet supplies or cash, valued at $20 or more, for PAL will receive a free event T-shirt.

“The Mutt Mixer creates the perfect atmosphere for animal and music lovers to bring out their lawn chairs and relax while supporting pet rescue,” said AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head Cus-

tomer Relations Manager & Delivery Specialist Bill Harper. “Something about the cooler weather, wet noses, and wagging tails just makes you happy!”

Attendees may RSVP to be eligible for door prizes at https://muttmixer2024. eventbrite.com. As another way to support PAL’s no kill animal rescue programs, AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head will donate $100 to PAL for every dog or cat ad-

opted in October.

“Our dealership is always a lively place, but it’s never more joyful than during this event when playful rescue pups are prancing around in search of their new families,” said Harper. “Helping them find love is what it’s all about, and we love doing it because at the heart of AutoNation, it’s not just about selling cars but helping our communities, whether it’s a person, place, or pup.”

Harvest Festival this weekend – Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13. The event promises a weekend filled with family fun, local culinary delights, and a vibrant array of artisan vendors.

The festival kicks off on Friday at 4 p.m. with a carnival featuring thrilling rides, live music, and delicious food. This Friday night carnival is the perfect way to start the weekend on a high note. For a discounted price, you can enjoy an allyou-can-ride bracelet — exclusively available on Friday.

The festivities continue into Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

LowCo Gardeners hosting Harvest Fest

LowCo Gardeners is hosting a Harvest festival and Truckload Sale from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1 Marina Blvd in Beaufort. The event will feature plants, vendors, games, candy corn coupon hunt, coffee, apple cider, treats and fun.

Milton forces County’s pier inspection to wait a couple days

As part of Beaufort County’s continued effort to provide safe and operable facilities, the County’s consultant McSweeney Engineers, LLC will be conducting underwater inspections of the Broad River Fishing Pier as part of the annual inspection program.

The inspections were expected to occur Wednesday, Oct. 9, but were pushed back to Friday, Oct. 11, as a result of Hurricane Milton. The fishing pier and boat landing will stay open while inspections occur but the public should expect to

see equipment and personnel on or near the pier.

The public is asked to use caution while in the area. Sections of the pier may need to be closed temporarily while inspections are occurring. McSweeney Engineers will return later in the fall to complete above water inspections.

For more information, contact the Beaufort County Engineering Department at 843-255-2700

Public test of precinct

scanners

A public test of the precinct scanners for the November 5, 2024 Statewide General Election will begin on Friday, Oct. 11 2024 at 3 p.m. at the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County office, located at 15 John Galt Road in Beaufort.

Hardeeville hosting Festival on Main

The City of Hardeeville’s 2024 Festival on Main will take place Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Richard Gray Recreation Complex. This annual event offers an exciting weekend filled with live entertainment, family-friendly activities, food, and crafts for all to enjoy.

The festival kicks off on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. with a live performance by 20 Ride, the nation’s leading Zac Brown Band tribute band, performing from 6 tp 9 p.m. Attendees can enjoy unlimited rides with a $10 ride bracelet, offering fun for all ages.

On Saturday, the festival continues from noon to 10 p.m., featuring Sons of Sailors, an acclaimed Jimmy Buffett tribute band, performing from 6 to 9 p.m.. Ride bracelets

LEGAL NOTICES

will be available for $20, providing unlimited access to all rides. Additionally, Saturday's activities will include an exciting 18-hole mini golf course, which will transform into a glow-in-the-dark experience after sundown. Admission to the event is free, and all are welcome to attend.

Beaufort County Assessor hosting community events

Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders is hosting multiple community events at County Library Branches to allow the public an opportunity to meet with her staff and share questions and concerns regarding real property.

Each community event will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The dates are as follows:

Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road: Tuesday, Oct. 29 – SCRoom; Tuesday, Nov. 19 –SCRoom.

St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road: Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Small Conference Room; Tuesday, Nov. 5 – Small Conference Room; Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Large Meeting Room.

Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way: Thursday, Oct. 17 – Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Nov. 7 – Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Dec. 5 – Large Meeting Room.

Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway: Monday, Nov. 25; Monday, Dec. 16

In the event of an unforeseeable change in the date, time, or location, the Assessor’s Office webpage will be updated to reflect rescheduling. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Rigg, Appeal/

BAA Coordinator at BAA@bcgov. net or 843-255-2404

County VA to offer

End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans, families

Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is hosting End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans and their families.

These seminars address things veterans and their families can do today to ensure their personal effects are in order. They also discuss Veterans Affairs benefits that surviving spouses may be entitled to receive.

They will be offered at either 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., at convenient locations around Beaufort County: Tuesday, Oct. 15: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road. Tuesday, Feb. 18: Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook.

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way.

Tuesday, May 20: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.

Tuesday, May 27: Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. RSVPs are required for space and resource purposes. Please contact Crystal at 843-255-6880 to reserve your seat. For questions and more information please contact Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843-255-6880

– Staff reports

Staff reports

Lowcountry writers unite for a cause

Fundraising event to support educational projects of PEO Sisterhood

Join Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) chapter AM of Beaufort/Bluffton for an afternoon of inspiration, insights, and giving back on Wednesday, Oct. 16 2024 in Habersham. The inaugural Lowcountry Writers’ Symposium, moderated by Jonathan Haupt, Director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center, will feature three area authors.

Alicia Bessette is a Beaufort-based, bestselling author of the Outer Banks Bookshop mystery series. She recently published her second novel in the series, “Murder on Mustang Beach.”

Caroline Cleveland, a specialist in labor and employment law, resides in Charleston. Her debut novel, “When Cicadas Cry,” is about a murder case and the surrounding racial tension in the small South Carolina town in which it is set.

Award-winning author John Warley is a South Carolina native and resident of Beaufort and has published six novels and one non-fiction history book on his alma mater, The Citadel. His most recent novel is a murder mystery thriller called “Jury of One.” The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30.p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16

at 2 Habersham Park. The symposium will include a panel discussion with the three authors, question-and-answer sessions, meet-and-greets with the authors, and book signings. Books will be available for purchase at the event from NeverMore Books of downtown Beaufort. Tickets for the event are $50, with all proceeds going to the P.E.O. educational fund. Complimentary wine and charcuterie will be provided for attendees.

P.E.O. is a women’s organization dedicated to supporting and promoting educational opportunities for other women. Founded in 1869

Local author pens new novel on military life

Staff reports

Award-winning author Pete Masalin will be at Beaufort’s NeverMore Books at 702 Craven Street from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 to promote his new novel, “Military Brat,” a story of a young man’s journey from his time growing up in a military family to his acceptance into the United States Marine Corps.

Masalin (“The Sorrow of Loss, The Wisdom of Recovery: A Narrative of an Unwanted Journey,” 2016) once again, brings his unique brand of storytelling to the world of military life. With vivid descriptions and heartfelt

storytelling, Masalin transports readers into the unique experiences and challenges faced by military families as they navigate frequent relocations and the demands of service. Prepare to embark on an emotional rollercoaster filled with laughter, tears, and a profound appreciation for the unwavering dedication of those who serve our nation.

“Military Brat” is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the resilience and sacrifices that shape the lives of military families.

“Military Brat” is published by Rivers Turn Press.

the organization focuses on helping women achieve their educational goals through scholarships, grants, loans, and the stewardship of Cottey College, a private liberal arts and sciences institution. P.E.O.’s mission is to celebrate the advancement of women and provide them with financial and moral support to develop leadership skills, reach their full potential and make positive contributions within their communities. The host chapter for the event, AM, provides ongoing scholarships to local high school women as well as annual sponsorship of two international female students

WANT TO GO?

Who: Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) chapter AM of Beaufort/Bluffton

What: Lowcountry Writers’ Symposium

When: 4:30 to 6:30.p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16

Where: 2 Habersham Park

Tickets: Email Leslie Van Buskirk at leslievbee@gmail.com.

attending institutions of higher learning within the state of South Carolina. For ticketing information, please email Leslie Van Buskirk at leslievbee@gmail.com.

BFS Shorts @ High Noon continues

Staff reports The 2024 Shorts @ High Noon, presented by the Beaufort Film Society (BFS) continues next week.

Every Wednesday at noon through November 13, BFS will screen short film selections from the 2024 Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) at the Technical College of the Lowcountry Auditorium at 921 Ribaut Road, Building 12, in Beaufort. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. Screenings last approximately an hour. Admission is free.

Wednesday, Oct. 16 schedule

Not The Same Clarence (15 minutes, Short): A man must come to terms with his father’s Alzheimer's disease.

Our Males & Females (11 minutes, Short): A father and mother are faced with the painful task of washing and shrouding their deceased transgender daughter. Shrouding is an Islamic religious practice that is deemed obligatory to carry out upon death. But when no one agrees to wash her and shame falls onto the family, how far is the father willing to go to make sure his "son" is washed?

David Again (14 minutes, Short Documentary): David Again' tells the story of David Dennis, his road to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and his lifelong friendship with actor Jon Cryer. It is a story about redemption, the power of friendship, and the promise that it is never too late to ask for help.

Who do you want representing YOU on Beaufort City Council??

“THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LOCAL ELECTION IN AT LEAST 55 YEARS”

Want your city taxes to keep going up 8-12% each year?

Want to bankrupt the City of Beaufort through uncontrolled and irresponsible spending?

Want to sell Beaufort out to Safe Harbor?

Want to continue over-engineering every city project resulting in astronomical costs?

Want to pump more of your tax dollars into a failed commerce park and a failed digital corridor operation?

Want to ignore the major problems at the waterfront park?

Want the lesser qualified people appointed to the city’s boards and commissions?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above... then vote for Neil Lipsitz, Mitch Mitchell, and Josh Scallate!!

If you answered “no”...

VOTE

FOR

VOTE: November 5, 2024

Early voting starts October 21st 15 John Galt Rd

Understanding rabies

Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals, usually through a bite. In the U.S., rabies is mostly found in wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, coyotes, and foxes. Any mammal can get rabies but know that it's extremely rare for an opossum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than 1% of all reported rabies cases are in opossums.

"The rabies virus ascends the nerve up to the brain and then infects the brain," explains Dr. Robert Jacobson, medical director for Mayo Clinic's Primary Care Immunization Program. "It causes inflammation that's overwhelming, changes in behavior—and eventually leads to seizures, coma and then death. We can't do anything to prevent rabies once you've developed symptoms, and, so, we're actually asking people instead to recognize when they might have been exposed."

The first symptoms of rabies may be like the flu, including weakness, discomfort, fever, or headache.

There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. Someone who might have been exposed should seek medical care immediately to get a series of shots to prevent the infec-

tion from taking hold. Rabies immune globulin is a passive immunization of collected antibodies against rabies injected directly into the wound if it's an animal bite that is visible. This works immediately to give

you protection while you're waiting for your body to respond to the vaccine. The rabies vaccine is given on the day of the exposure, then a dose of vaccine given again on the third, seventh and fourteenth days.

To reduce your risk of coming in contact with rabid animals:

• Vaccinate your pets. Cats, dogs, and ferrets can be vaccinated against rabies. Ask your veterinarian how often your pets should be vaccinated.

• Keep your pets confined. Keep your pets inside and supervise them when outside. This will help keep your pets from coming in contact with wild animals.

• Don't approach wild animals. Wild animals with rabies may seem unafraid of people. It's not normal for a wild animal to be friendly with people, so stay away from any animal that seems unafraid.

• Keep bats out of your home. Seal any cracks and gaps where bats can enter your home. If you know you have bats in your home, work with a local expert to find ways to keep bats out.

"We remind parents to tell their children not to play with stray animals that might not have been vaccinated and/or might have been bitten by a raccoon, fox or skunk, which is actually exposing your child to possibly rabies," says Dr. Jacobson.

Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/infectiousdiseases-a-z-understanding-rabies/

• Protect small pets from predators. Keep rabbits and other small pets, such as guinea pigs, inside or in protected cages so that they are safe from wild animals. These small pets can't be vaccinated against rabies. Report stray animals to local authorities. Call your local animal control officials or other local law enforcement to report stray dogs and cats. Know that many feral cats have been trapped, neutered, and vaccinated against rabies. Your local animal control has a list of licensed feral colonies whose caretakers abide by the vaccination rules.

Good heart health early in pregnancy may offset genetic risk for complications

Maintaining good cardiovascular health early in pregnancy may lower the risk for dangerous high blood pressure-related health conditions, even among people at genetic risk for those problems, preliminary new research suggests.

A new study found higher cardiovascular health scores, as measured by adherence to a set of health metrics, were linked to a lower risk for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, regardless of a woman's genetic risk profile. The findings, which were recently presented at the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions in Chicago, are considered preliminary until full results are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"What was really interesting about our findings was how cardiovascular health in the first trimester appeared to be protective for all," study coauthor Vineetha Mathew, a fourth-year medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, said in a news release. "We saw that the odds of developing a hyperten-

sive disorder of pregnancy among those with a high genetic risk combined with favorable cardiovascular health were comparable or even better than those with low genetic risk but unfavorable cardiovascular health."

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, are a leading cause of death for pregnant women and newborns. Polygenic risk scores can be used to predict a woman's genetic risk for developing these conditions.

Using the participating group study scores, each woman's cardiovascular health was classified as favorable or unfavorable. Researchers classified genetic risk using a previously validated polygenic risk score, which estimates a person's susceptibility to disease based on aggregated data for millions of genetic variants.

Women with the highest cardiovascular health scores (not including cholesterol) had a 35% to 62% lower risk of developing pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders across all genetic risk groups. The

lowest rate (11%) of such disorders occurred among those with low genetic risk and favorable cardiovascular health, while the highest rate (37%) occurred among people with high genetic risk and unfavorable cardiovascular health.

The biggest factors contrib-

care TALK ©

uting to hypertensive disorders during pregnancy were higher body mass index, high blood pressure and poor diet. The results remained broadly consistent after incorporating cholesterol into the cardiovascular health score and when looking at ges-

tational hypertension and preeclampsia separately.

The study authors advised OB-GYN and primary care professionals to emphasize cardiovascular health, healthier nutrition, weight management and maintaining healthy blood pressure for their patients who are considering pregnancy. Prevention is at the forefront of any successful pregnancy. Start early, when you are just considering pregnancy. Health practitioners and women considering pregnancy should target cardiovascular health at that stage because it can have an impact on pregnancy outcomes and on later-life cardiovascular disease. It is particularly notable that high cardiovascular health scores, achievable through a focus on healthy lifestyle, may help mitigate the risk conferred by a person's genes.

Source: https://www.heart.org/en/ news/2024/09/09/good-heart-healthearly-in-pregnancy-may-offset-genetic-riskfor-complications

Enjoy Fall comfort foods without weight gain

Packing on the pounds can be problematic for some of us as the season shifts toward cooler temperatures. If you find yourself falling into that comfort food trap, Beth Czerwony, registered dietitian for Cleveland Clinic, said the key to tipping the scale in your favor starts with cooking at home.

You could use pumpkin, roasted pumpkin in oatmeal, instead of having a carby-kind of base to things,” she recommends. “I per-

sonally like to use pumpkin soup a lot and make it savory, so using some curry in that or some coriander, cumin those types of things.” Pumpkin is low in calories, low-fat and starchier, so there’s no need for heavy creams to thicken it. Substituting spaghetti squash for pasta and adding herbs or seasonings is a flavorful way to spice up your meal while providing a healthier alternative. Seasonal vegetables are

plentiful this time of year and can be more nutritious than off-season produce. You can try roasting them instead of sautéing or frying, which reduces additional fat and brings out their natural sweetness. Vegetables, being lower calorie and having more fiber, more fluid—they are going to end up keeping you fuller longer, so this is a good way to bulk up the diet with more food and thinking that you are going to stay

fuller longer without giving a lot of extra calories,” Czerwony explained. Using leaner cuts of meat, choosing smaller portion sizes and tracking food intake can help you avoid unwanted weight. Most importantly, when it comes to comfort foods—be selective and choose seasonal favorites that are special to you and just indulge in those.

Source: Cleveland Clinic News Service

Photo by Nutthaseth Vanchaichana/iStock via Getty Images

A mindset of service: National Guard hero, nurse, mom of 3 turns cancer survivor

Special to Care magazine®

A mother of three, a major in the South Carolina National Guard and a registered nurse working on Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s on cology floor, Constance (Connie) Pope had life figured out. Then, in late 2019, she started feeling a pain in her chest and abdomen.

At first, she and her primary care doctor thought it was a gastroin testinal issue. But by early 2020 she noticed a lump had appeared on her chest.

Beyond the battlefield

Rewind 15 years: Connie was a specialist in the Florida National Guard escorting convoys though the Iraqi desert in a U.S. Army gun truck. She joined the Guard while at Florida A&M University out of a sincere sense of duty, and the experience gave her “a mindset of service” that she said she’s carried with her ever since.

She returned home to Beaufort in 2013, ready for her next challenge: becoming a nurse. She began class es at Trident Technical College in Charleston while working as a cer tified nursing assistant on Beaufort Memorial’s oncology floor.

“Oncology has always been close to my heart,” Connie said. “There’s just something about the patients. You feel good about the work that you do.”

After graduating from nursing school in 2015, she stayed with the Beaufort Memorial oncology team as a registered nurse, becoming the floor’s clinical coordinator in 2019 But just as she was settling in, she was to become a cancer patient herself.

An overwhelming diagnosis

After noticing the lump in March of 2020, she was referred

to the Beaufort Memorial Breast Health Center, part of the nationally accredited Keyserling Cancer Center.

“The doctor told me that it looked like breast cancer and that I’d need to do a biopsy the next day,” Connie said. “I didn’t even know what to do with that information. I was 37 years old at the time and I stayed fit for the Guard. Why would I have breast cancer?”

When her diagnosis came a week later, Dr. Jonathan Briggs, a board-certified radiation oncologist at the Keyserling Cancer Center, said he found that “it was an aggressive type of cancer.” He explained that she would need “neoadjuvant chemo” – chemotherapy given before surgery – along with postoperative radiation therapy to further decrease the risk of recurrence.

She received that overwhelming news while at her annual training with the Guard, where she felt it was her duty to be.

They sent me home,” Connie said. “They told me that I needed to focus on taking care of myself.”

In the trenches of recovery

Connie’s diagnosis was a surprise to her as well as her family and friends; she and her husband

Jeremy – whom she married three months before her diagnosis – encouraged them to keep a positive attitude.

That encouragement was something Connie needed, too, she said.

My mother and I prayed together, and she helped with practical things, like taking my children to appointments, church and preparing meals,” Connie recalled. “I had a huge group of family and close friends that went grocery shopping, sent meals, dropped off care packages and offered to help with chores.”

Even Connie’s three daughters, Aleeyah, Iyana and Niquava, recognized their mom’s recovery needs and helped around the house.

Connie worked in her clinical position throughout her chemotherapy. With the support of her family, combined with the compassion of her colleagues in the Guard, on the oncology floor and in the Keyserling Cancer Center, Connie let go of taking care of others for a while nearing the end of chemo and focused instead on overcoming cancer herself.

Connie is a joy to work with,” said Chimene Heyward, BMH breast care navigator and Connie’s colleague at the time. “She learned

were

about her diagnosis, educated herself about her treatments and made the best decisions for herself. She is truly an inspiration.”

Connie remembered a Breast Health Center radiology technician who held her hand as she underwent one of her first diagnostic biopsies, putting her at ease through what can be a traumatic treatment process.

She was so supportive, and I remember her rubbing my arm as they did the ultrasound,” she said.

“Every time I go there, I feel a genuine compassion from the staff.”

In the end, Connie felt reassured that she was getting the best care possible.

“They didn’t assume that because I’m a nurse I’d know everything,” she said. “No matter who you are, you don’t know what exactly you’re walking into when you find out you have cancer. The staff here were amazingly calm, competent and compassionate. The doctors were willing to explain the science of each treatment and made me feel able to just lean on them.”

Mission: remission

Dr. Briggs said Connie showed a “complete response” following treatment and “continues to undergo routine follow-up visits with her

just three months

EDITOR’S NOTE

For nearly four decades, October has been recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, devoted to celebrating survivors and educating everyone about breast cancer and the importance of early detection and access to timely, quality care. To learn more about breast cancer signs and symptoms, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ Cancer. To schedule a screening mammogram in Beaufort, Okatie or Hilton Head Island, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ MammoAppointment or call (843) 522-5105.

doctors and has regular blood work and a yearly mammogram.”

Connie said her daughters still ask if she’ll have any more surgeries.

They got to see me at my weakest and my strongest, and I can only be grateful,” she said. “Overall, my circle not only eased my daily burdens but also strengthened our bond during a challenging time.”

As of May, Connie has been cancer-free for four years. She completed a master’s program to become a nurse practitioner in June and is now seeing patients at Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services Inc., specializing in adult medicine.

BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS

There are a number of potential risk factors for breast cancer. Research from 2017 notes that the main risk factors for breast cancer are sex and age. In 2016, about 99% of all breast cancer-associated deaths in the U.S. were in women over the age of 40 years, and about 71% were in women over the age of 60 years. However, an individual’s personal risk is a combination of many factors. No single risk factor or group of risk factors will mean that a person develops cancer. Additionally, some people may also get breast cancer without having any typical risk factors.

Some risk factors for breast cancer can include: increasing age

reproductive history personal history of breast cancer or some breast-related conditions • inherited genetic mutations

family history of breast or ovarian cancer or disease dense breast tissue previous radiation therapy some drugs, such as di-

ethylstilbestrol, which was a drug that pregnant people used to prevent miscarriage between 1940 and 1971

Lifestyle factors: Some modifiable lifestyle factors

may increase the risk of breast cancer in some cases, such as: overweight or obesity after menopause sedentarism reproductive history alcohol use hormone use, such as hormone therapy or some types of birth control pills

Managing these factors, however possible, may help reduce the risk of breast cancer. It is advisable to speak with a doctor about personal risk factors and screening for breast cancer in each case.

Early signs and symptoms of breast cancer can vary widely. Some people may have no signs or symptoms at all, and doctors may

discover the cancer during a routine screening. If early signs and symptoms do appear, they may include: a lump in the breast or surrounding tissue, such as the armpit pain in the breast darkening or swelling of the breast dimpling of breast skin pulling in or retraction of the nipple nipple discharge

These symptoms do not automatically mean that a person has breast cancer, as some other conditions may cause similar symptoms. Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should talk with a doctor for a breast cancer screening and full diagnosis.

Connie Pope (center) with her three daughters, (left to right) Aleeyah, Iyana and Niquava. Photo provided

Connie and her husband, Jeremy, who

married

before her diagnosis. Photo provided

Connie, pictured in uniform in 2022. Photo provided

Reasons for Faith

Something Out of Nothing?

What Caused the Universe?

A firework explodes, brilliant in the night sky. Without thinking about it, we assume that there is a reason for the loud sounds and colorful lights we perceive. An empty sky wouldn’t explode into these bright, purposeful patterns on its own. There must be a cause of this explosion.

The universe didn’t always exist; it had a beginning. In the 1920s, scientists discovered that galaxies are moving away from each another at incredible speeds. Further discoveries led scientists to conclude that the universe began expanding outwards from a single point about 13.7 billion years ago. At this moment, all matter and energy came into existence, as well as time and space. But since science is limited to observations within time and space, it cannot explain how or why the universe came into existence out of nothing.

There must be a cause for the universe’s existence.

Different thinkers throughout history have used logical reasoning to explore how the universe could have come into existence. One famous argument goes like this: 1) Everything that begins to exist has a cause for its existence. 2) The universe began to exist. 3) The universe must therefore have a cause for its existence. Like the firework exploding in the sky, the universe cannot have begun to exist unless it had a cause beyond itself.

What kind of cause could have created the universe?

As we use logical reasoning to examine what could have created the universe, certain truths about this “First Cause” become clear. This First Cause must transcend time and space, for neither existed until it created the universe. Since it is timeless, it is eternal, without beginning or end. Since it transcends space, it is non-physical, or immaterial. Since it can create a universe out of nothing, there must be no limits to its power; it is all-powerful.

This First Cause must have chosen to create the universe.

If the First Cause is immaterial, timeless, and all-powerful, it cannot have created the universe out of necessity; it must have chosen to do so. Therefore, it is not a mindless force, but a personal being that freely chose to create the universe. In other words, the First Cause is not a something but a someone.

The First Cause is what Christians refer to as God.

God is traditionally understood as an eternal, immaterial, and all-powerful being who freely chose to create the universe. While these reflections do not tell us everything about him, and they cannot be verified in a laboratory, they nonetheless carry weight. They help us see that belief in God is reasonable and compatible with our scientific understanding of the universe.

Reasons for Faith Message 2 of 8

Eagles come up short

Bluffton holds on to stop Beaufort in shootout

By Mike McCombs The Island News

It was setting up to be one of those games Friday night between Beaufort High and Bluffton at Beaufort High School where whichever team had the ball last was going to come out on top.

After Beaufort’s Xavier Tobias rumbled 9 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles up, 28-21 with 2:19 remaining in the third quarter, the home team looked to be in a good position to claim a much-needed second win of the season.

But Bluffton scored three straight touchdowns, and Beaufort couldn’t keep pace, falling 42-35 in a shootout at The Eagles’ Nest.

“I think they’re a good football

team and they’re well coached and they’ve got a lot of good football players. When you’re playing a team like that, the margin for error is razor thin,” Beaufort Head Coach Bruce Lybrand said.

“You’ve got to make sure you’re not giving them anything. We had some selfish penalties, missed assignments, and that kind of stuff happens. Our kids played hard, but you can’t give them anything in a game like that and we [did].

We’ve got to be better.”

On the ensuing kickoff after Tobias’ score, Bluffton’s Lucas Gates went 83 yards for a touchdown to re-tie the score at 28

“In games like that, you can’t give up big plays on special teams, and we did,” Lybrand said. “… that’s

how quick it can happen.”

The Eagles’ next possession was a brief one. After two Samari Bonds runs and a Bluffton encroachment penalty gave Beaufort a first down at the Eagles 39, Bonds tried to go deep. But his pass landed in the hands of Bluffton’s Ashton Chambers and the Bobcats took over at their own 11

Eight plays later, Bluffton quatrterback Aeden McCarthy hooked up with Nate Ulmer for a 40-yard Bobcats touchdown and a 35-28 lead.

The Eagles were hamstrung from the beginning on their next series, as a block in the back on the

SEE EAGLES PAGE B3

You’re killin’ ‘em, Smalls

LowcoSports.com

Derrick Smalls Jr. had to watch from the sidelines while Battery Creek suffered its 16th consecutive loss to Beaufort High, and Hurricane Helene kept him waiting another week to get back on the field. But Smalls made sure the return was worth the wait — or rather, the returns.

Creek’s star senior took a pair of punt returns to the house and turned a short pass from Chase Olsen into an eye-popping

while Nigil Fripp and

rushing scores, and Antonio Hampton picked off a pass. Battery Creek (3-3, 1-0) has this week off before hosting region favorite Oceanside Collegiate on Oct. 18

First Baptist 41, John Paul II 22 Bryant Jolley took a kickoff back for a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half and Thomas Gehm

Charleston’s

North

Tyquan Anderson protects the ball as he heads

the outside against the Battery Creek defense on Friday night, Oct.

at Battery Creek High School. The Dolphins won, 47-14. Amber Hewitt/

Beaufort High’s Xavier Tobias (8) runs away from Bluffton's Kaleb Gadson (8) during the Eagles’ game against the Bobcats Friday, Oct. 4, at Beaufort High School. Bluffton won, 42-35. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

ART

Budding Artist After-School Art Club

4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15

p.m., Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10 Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.

BOOKS

John Doriot book signing

10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 5, Marshview Mercantile, 2631 Boundary Street, Beaufort. John Doriot, an award-winning author and poet from Georgia, will be reading his poems and signing books. In addition to his latest book of poems, he will be signing his children's books about Oreo, an adventurous dog. The event is free and Doriot will donate $100 to CAPA for every 10 books sold.

CALENDAR

Yemassee Shrimp Festival

6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10; 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12; downtown Yemassee. This year’s festival promises a lineup filled with family-friendly activities, exciting entertainment, and community spirit. And don’t forget about the shrimp and all the delicious food. The festival will feature rides, games, food, and entertainment for all ages, provided by Family Fun Tyme Amusements. Discounted prepaid armbands for rides are available at Yemassee Town Hall, 101 Town Circle, Yemassee.

Habersham Harvest Festival Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13, Habersham. The event promises a weekend filled with family fun, local culinary delights, and a vibrant array of artisan vendors. The festival kicks off on Friday at 4 p.m. with a carnival featuring thrilling rides, live music, and delicious food. This Friday night carnival is the perfect way to start the weekend on a high note. For a discounted price, you can enjoy an all-you-can-ride bracelet — exclusively available on Friday. The festivities continue into Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

39th annual Kiwanis Club of Hilton Head Island Chili Cook Off & Jeep Island Noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island. Event raises funding for local youth charities. Chili cooks will face off to determine the best concoctions in Professional, Amateur, and People’s Choice categories. Winners will earn cash prize donations to the local youth charity of their choice. The Jeep Island expo is a stunning array of Jeeps from around the nation – a mustsee for any Jeep enthusiast. Local favorites RetroRoxx, Hilton Head Island’s explosive ‘80s party cover band, will be performing live! To sign up online to cook, sponsor, and buy tickets, go to https://hiltonheadkiwanis.com/chili-cookoff. For more information, email the Hilton Head Kiwanis Club at hiltonheadislandkiwanis@gmail. com.

LowCo Gardeners Harvest Fest & Truckload Sale

2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, 1 Marina Blvd. Beaufort. The event will feature plants, vendors, games, candy corn coupon hunt, coffee, apple cider, treats and fun.

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.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie

O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.

Trivia with Tom –Bricks On Boundary

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Karaoke at Willie’s

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

Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market

5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly

WHAT’S HAPPENING

curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.

Habersham Farmers Market

3 to 6 p.m., Fridays, Habersham Marketplace. Vendor roster includes B&E Farm, Cottonwood Soap, Flower Power Treats, Hardee Greens, Megs Sweet Treats, Vitamin Bee, Lady’s Island Oyster Company, Pet Wants.

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.

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

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

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

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

DANCE

The Beaufort Shag Club

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

GOLF

Boy Scouts of America

LowCountry Classic

11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 28, The Cat Island Club. Hosted by the Boy Scouts of America Lowcountry District. $150 per golfer or $500 for foursome. 9 a.m. registration; 1 p.m. lunch; 5 p.m. cocktails/ awards. Each player hits from the tee; team selects tee shot they wish to play from; each player may then place their ball within one club length, no nearer the hole and in the same condition (rough, bunker, etc.), and play his/her own ball from that point until holed; 2 lowest net scores will count towards teams total. Each player shall receive 75% of their published handicap; maximum handicap is 24. Proceeds benefit Scouting programs in the Lowcountry District of the Coastal Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America. All the information for players and potential sponsors can be found at https://birdease.com/BSACharityGolfEvent or contact Dave Soloman for more information at d.c.solomon@att.net.

HALLOWEEN

Highway 21 Trunk Or Treat

2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, Hwy. 21 Drive-In. Entry fee is $1. Unlimited bouncy houses and games for $10. Face painting for $10. Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus will be showing that night.

Uptown Trunk or Treat — Kids, Cops, Cars, and Candy 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, Charles Lind Brown Center, Beaufort. Hosted by the Great Grand Family Foundation. A fun and safe afternoon filled with classic cars, police vehicles, and plenty of candy! It's a fantastic opportunity for children to have positive interactions with law enforcement, explore some amazing cars, and enjoy a memorable trick-or-treat experience in a safe environment. Support via donations of candy for the event are welcome and appreciated -- reach out to Previs Walker at perviswalker17@gmail. com.

Port Royal’s Haunted Hallows 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, Naval Heritage Park, Port Royal. A free event featuring food trucks, a vendor market, aerialists, City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department Touch A Truck, games, treats and spooky destinations to fill your passport!! Commemorative Festival T-shirts are available for purchase. Proceeds go to Help of Beaufort.

Port Royal Trunk or Treat

3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, Paris Avenue, between 9th and 12th streets, Downtown Port Royal. A safe trick-or-treating experience for all ages. Bring your vehicle and be part of the fun. Folks with vehicles and goodies to hand out or games for the kids are needed to make this fun for the kids. Sign up at lowcountryjaycees@gmail.com. No pets allowed.

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 410-2121468 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-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www. portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail. com or call 843-524-4333.

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

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Gullah Art Adult Paint & Sip 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Ages 13 to adult. Space is limited, call 843-2556487 to register. Help the library celebrate Gullah Geechee Awareness Month. Join local artis Lynn Schramm to learn acrylic painting tips and tricks and create your own art piece.

Plant Swap 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Take a plant – leave a plant. Bring your divided perennials, extra clippings, and plant propagations to share with others. Visit us at beaufortcountylibrary.org.

“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.

Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Beginning September 18. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-2556458 for more information.

Mahjong Club

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458.

MEETINGS

Zonta Club of Beaufort

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

Rotary Club of Sea Island lunch meeting 12:15 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.

Rotary Club of Sea Island social gathering 5:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of each month, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary. org.

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

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

Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

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

MUSIC

Beaufort Symphony Orchestra feat. Soprano Sophie Thompson 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, USCB Center For The Arts. From The Gilded Age to The Golden Age. An evening of music from Gilbert and Sullivan, Kurt Weill, and Jerome Kern, featuring soprano Sophie Thompson. Ticket range from $11.50 to $46.50 and can be purchased at https://www.tix. com/ticket-sales/beaufortorchestra/4060.

Deas Guyz 7 p.m., Fridays, Nov. 1, Nov. 29; Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Habersham Third Fridays

Music on Market 5 to 8 p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.

OUTDOORS

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

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

RUNNING/WALKING 4th annual Move

Your Mind 5K 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, Providence Presbyterian Church on the south end of Hilton Head Island. 5K run and 1M walk on the beach. Free parking and a free pancake breakfast. During breakfast, race awards will be given, and prizes for Brain Trivia will be won. Register today at https://bit.ly/4dbP0IS.

Yemassee Shrimp Festival 5K Run/Walk 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, Yemassee Municipal Complex. The race will wind through the scenic streets of Yemassee, starting and finishing at the Yemassee Municipal Complex. The mostly flat, fast course offers an enjoyable experience for participants of all ages. Medals will be awarded to the Overall Male and Female winners and top finishers in each age group. Strollers are welcome. Entry Fees are $30 per person through Oct. 1 and $35 afterward. School-aged students (K-12) can register on race day for $15 but may not be guaranteed a T-shirt. The T-shirt Deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 1, so register by that date to guarantee a T-shirt. Race check-in is 7:30 a.m. at the Yemassee Municipal Complex.

SEWING/QUILTING

American Needlepoint

Guild Meeting

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

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

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541 for location.

Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

Beaufort Masters Swim Team

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

YOUR EVENT HERE

Send your events for the What's Happening section to Mike at theislandnews@gmail.com

Run Forrest Run 5K

SCHSL votes to extend fall sports season

LowcoSports.com

The South Carolina High School League on Tuesday voted to extend the fall sports season by one week, pushing back the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs but maintaining the 32-team playoff structure.

An initial proposal to extend the regular season by one week but contract the postseason by one round and cut the number of qual-

Eagles from page B1

ifying teams in half failed, leading to the proposal that was approved, adding one week to the football and volleyball schedules and postponing the playoffs by one week.

The move was made to accommodate schools that were disproportionately impacted by Hurricane Helene, particularly those in the Upstate and Central Savannah River Area, many of whom have had to post-

kick pinned Beaufort deep in its own territory. Three Bonds incompletions later, and the Eagles punted from their own 6, setting up the Bobcats in Bluffton territory.

After four straight Kordell Holley carries, McCarthy hit Tyler Wolfe for a 28-yard touchdown, making the score 42-28 Bluffton, the largest lead of the game for either team.

Bonds scored on a 1-yard run with 4:17 remaining in the game to cut the deficit to 42-35, but the Eagles couldn’t complete the comeback.

After a defensive stop, Beaufort took over at its own 10 with 1:52 remaining. With the Eagles driving near midfield and about 45 seconds remaining Bonds went down awkwardly on his ankle and in a lot of pain, forced to leave the game.

Beaufort’s final two pass attempts were incomplete and Bluffton held on.

McCarthy was the star of the game for Bluffton. He completed 13 of his 21 passes for 239 yards and five touchdowns and carried the ball 13 times for 93 yards.

Ulmer caught four of those 13 completions for 72 yards and a score.

Eight completions from McCarthy went to Carnell Warren, who Beaufort simply

pone at least two games, including a number of region matchups.

The high school football playoffs will now begin Nov. 15 with the state championship weekend slated for Dec. 13-14 at South Carolina State. As a result, the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl was postponed a week to Dec. 21 and will be played on the same day as the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

didn’t have an answer for in the first half. His eight catches went for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

“They do a good enough job of mixing it up to where you can’t say, ‘well, he’s the only one out there.’ ...,” Lybrand said. “No. 3 is special. He’s a special talent and a very good football player and he’ll go as far as he wants to go. You’ve just got to hold him down a little bit. At times we did OK and at times we didn’t.”

For Beaufort, Tobias stepped up at running back for the shorthanded Eagles, who were without two top running backs, and carried 14 times for 104 yards and two scores.

Bonds, before re-injuring his ankle – Lybrand didn’t know anything about his status – carried the ball 17 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 12 of his 30 passes for 229 yards and one costly interception.

Bluffton improved to 4-2 1-0 in Region 6-4A, while Beaufort fell to 1-5 0-1 in the region. Beaufort faces Colleton County (1-5, 0-1 6-4A) on Friday.

“We’ve played a really tough schedule. When you play a really tough schedule and you don’t play up to your best, you get exposed,” Lybrand said. “We’re not going to make excuses. … We’ve got to find a way to get better.”

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

Forrest Gump, played by Paul Dengler of Tennessee, congratulates Parker Stewart, the first place runner, from the sidelines of the 2024 Beaufort Shrimp Festival Run Forrest Run 5K Run/Walk, on October 5 on Bay Street at Newcastle Street. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the

section are not necessarily the opinions of

Remembering the Beaufort Chainsaw Brigade heroes

This picture from 19 years ago shows most, but not all, of

“The Beaufort Chainsaw Brigade,” that traveled with their chainsaws to Long Beach, Miss., in early September 2005 to rescue people trapped without electricity in their damaged homes by Hurricane Katrina.

New Orleans got the storm’s eye and all the publicity. But Long Beach, situated right on the coast on New Orleans’ east side, was forgotten. The people there who did not evacuate endured the sustained 170plus mph winds off the Gulf and the 20-plus-foot storm surge that was driven by those winds.

Long Beach Mayor Billy Skellie told me he needed gas, “because when the Feds showed up they commandeered all the gas in the service stations, so the people here who want to get out, can’t get out.”

TBeaufort’s United Way supplied two tankers full of gas -- one pictured at top right in the photo -- that were parked in the main fire station’s driveway and from which residents filled up for free. And, the mayor said, “Send as many guys with chainsaws as you can.”

Beaufort’s 85-strong Chainsaw Brigade answered the call and drove their trucks 10 hours down to Long Beach, where they slept in the tents they had brought with them, bivouacked in the fire station’s side yard.

Behind the Brigade pictured here is the mess tent where Beaufort’s late, great Steve Brown arranged for everyone to get two hearty squares, and a bag lunch. The refrigerated

Notes from a quiet front porch

here’s nothing like sitting out on your front porch on a country morning, enjoying nature over a piping hot cup of black coffee.

The gurgling of waters rolling along in a nearby creek, birds chirping to coach each other through their morning food gatherings, the buzz of stinkbugs flying around looking for crevices to tuck themselves into.

Sweet sounds are interrupted by the constant hustle and bustle of utility trucks driving past your darkened house to go restore electricity for others.

Life is funny like that sometimes.

You want to be magnanimous enough to place your problems in the context of what everyone else in the world is going through, but your problems are still yours to reckon with. And the outside world can seem nonchalant about issues that affect you, whether your issues are minor annoyances or life-changing disruptions.

Going 10 days without electricity isn’t life-changing, but it certainly is disruptive, no matter how many hot cups of coffee you pick up at the nearest fast-food restaurant or gas station.

I drove to my workplace last Saturday morning. As I and my coworkers greeted each other,

happy to see familiar — and safe — faces, I realized we were all asking the same question: “Do you have power?”

Call it power-outage-poker.

“We got our power back Tuesday.”

“Ours came on last night.”

“Last Saturday.”

And my response: “Ours is still off.” That was the winner if you can call that winning.

We good naturedly booed one colleague who said his electrify hadn’t been interrupted by the storm.

I felt worst for a student from Woodruff who said, “Our power went off. And then it came back on. And then it went off again. And then it came back on. And then it went off and stayed off.”

Mother Nature can be a tricky one. I won’t say “cruel,” because that would assume concern. “Indifferent” might be the most fair and accurate descriptor.

It does seem cruel, though, that

a threat most people associate with coastal living would have devastating impacts so far inland. Flooding. Mudslides. Downed trees and power lines. Homes destroyed. Roadways washed away. Lives lost.

And not just here in the Piedmont. Whoever heard of a hurricane wreaking havoc on a mountaintop?

Still, the sun came up the next day and each day since then. The creeks rolled along. The birds came out to canvass the yard. Nervous stinkbugs peeked out from their overnight hideouts.

And as I finished writing this column on my smartphone, a utility truck from our local electric cooperative pulled up. A young man in a hard hat spoke with me about our house still having no electricity.

I pointed him in the direction of a drooping power line I saw a short distance down the road. Falling trees pulled it down on the Friday morning the hurricane blew through. He said he would investigate and get back to me.

“We’ve been trying to track down these last outages,” he apologized, “but we have never had to deal with this kind of thing before.”

I assured him, “Most of us haven’t.”

I spent three dark days and nights in a one-bedroom apartment in Pensacola, Fla., years ago after Hurricane Georges tore through. I was told then I got off easy because I lived near the Naval Hospital.

It didn’t feel like it, being forced to bathe from cold water I’d saved in my tub before the storm came. Debating every day whether I should leave my patio door open to let a breeze enter while I was at work or close it for security’s sake and just deal with the hot, muggy apartment when I got home after midnight.

In retrospect, three days does feel like I got off easy.

Last Sunday, I bathed for

church in a shower warmed the previous day by a water heater turned on while our new generator ran on the back porch. After the first few days of isolation, we appreciated the near-normalcy my brother’s purchase provided.

A lot of things I used to think were higher priorities – politics, sports, popular culture – proved to be a lot less relevant after the storm. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs asserted itself.

I hope I don’t let that other stuff distract me when the power comes back on, but I know I will.

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

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Bill Rauch was the Mayor of Beaufort from 1999 to 2008 and has twice won awards from the S.C. Press

BILL RAUCH

TERRY MANNING

Fred Gaskin, Branch Leader, Hampton Long and Benjamin Witcher, Financial Consultants

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the

section are not necessarily the opinions of

Water quality, research, education and excellence:

USCB’s next 20 years in Beaufort

ust over 20 years ago,

Jnearly 400 people met on the USCB Campus in Beaufort and agreed that we needed a four-year-degree-granting University in our area.

A volunteer “Citizens for a 4-year College” group organized that meeting in partnership with The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Beaufort. The leaders on the panel were from MCAS, Naval Hospital Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Paris Island, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Beaufort County School District, as well as elected leaders from the City, County, and our state delegation.

What we learned was that our quality of life, our economic prosperity, our ability to recruit health care professionals, our ability to help our military personnel and families achieve their goals while our military bases achieved their missions all would be improved if USCB became a 4-year-degree-granting university. This year USCB is celebrating its 20th year as a 4-year-degree-granting university.

USCB is more than you

imagine. Now it’s time to look at the next 20 years.

The USCB Educational Foundation is holding a forum on October 16 to look at the next 20 years. You will hear USCB scientists and researchers. You will hear from local and state elected leaders. The remarkable programs on Pritchard’s Island will be described.

Also, you will learn about the unique opportunity for USCB to be an Innovation Center in the study of our waterways. Come to the forum, make your views known. Also, follow the Carolina Bight Facebook page to see information you can use.

How are our waterways different? The Carolina Bight refers to the area that includes the Calibogue Sound and the Port Royal Sound plus eight rivers.

Those rivers are the Beaufort, Broad, Chechessee, Colleton, May, Pocataligo, Tulifiny and Whale Branch rivers.

The waterways in the Carolina Bight share common characteristics that are different than other waterways in our state and country. These differences include elevated levels of salinity, high tidal amplitude, relatively clean, and abundant populations of fish, plants, birds, shrimp, oysters, and mammals.

With more than 200,000 acres of salt marsh protecting our shorelines from storms and erosion, the Carolina Bight waterways are critical to our quality of life. South Carolina has more salt marsh than any state on the east coast. The Carolina Bight contains over 53% of that salt marsh. A whopping 200 000 acres.

That’s 8 7 times the size of Hilton Head Island. Each acre of salt marsh absorbs one ton of carbon each year. That’s 4 million pounds of carbon that’s not in the atmosphere.

More research is needed. The Carolina Bight is a unique laboratory for re-

Where: USCB Center for the Fine Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort

search and learning, just as Pritchard’s Island provides a unique opportunity for research on an unspoiled coastal island. USCB, our University, is perfectly positioned with the Beaufort campus on the water.

We know from our shell rings that humans have lived on these waters for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. We know the distinct Gullah culture is shaped by roots in Africa and the waters of The Carolina Bight.

Our culture today includes fishing trips, oyster roasts, and Lowcountry boils as favorite events. I encourage you to take time to sit quietly at the edge of a salt marsh, under one of our majestic live oaks and just listen as the water rises and falls. Put your device to the side for a time. When I do this, it is not an intellectual experience, it is akin to a spiritual experience.

I hope you feel the same

On

sense that this place, this meeting of tides, land, salt water, and the marsh is a special place that nurtures life unlike any other. A place that deserves study and protection.

USCB as our University is perfectly positioned to be an umbrella to bring together all parties and produce enhanced results.

Splendid work is being done by existing institutions including USCB, the Coastal Discovery Museum, Hunting Island State Park (SCPRT), Nemours Wildlife Foundation, Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Game Service), the Port Royal Sound Foundation, St. Philips Island (SCPRT), Waddell Mariculture Center (SCDNR), Pritchards Island Research and Living Shorelines (PIRLs), and Beaufort County parks such as Widgeon Point and Crystal Lake. A USCB Innovation Center focused on the interdisciplinary study of the waters of the Carolina Bight should be a program for the next 20 years and beyond.

If you participated in the forum 20 years ago that led to USCB becoming a

“USCB as our University is perfectly positioned to be an umbrella to bring together all parties and produce enhanced results.”

DICK STEWART, Vice Chair of the USCB Education Foundation on the future of USCB and its role in the community.

4-year university, please come again. USCB is our University and we at the USCB Education Foundation want to hear from you. Please learn and share your thoughts with our local leaders and scientists.

Dick Stewart is Vice Chair of the USCB Education Foundation. He received an honorary doctorate in Community Service from USCB earlier this year.

You are invited to a public

USCB Education Foundation invites you to hear from scientists, professors, local and state elected ofﬁcials and to share your input.

When: October 16, 2024 • 5:30 to 7 pm

Where: USCB Center for the Fine Arts in Beaufort 805 Carteret Street

Forum includes:

Eric Skipper, PhD, Vice Chancellor USCB Mercer Brugler, PhD, Kim Richey, PhD and Tye Pettay, PhD Senator Tom Davis

Representatives Shannon Erickson and Weston Newton City Council Members Neil Lipsitz and Mitch Mitchell County Council Members Alice Howard and York Glover

USCB is celebrating 20 years as a 4-year university. Come hear about the

Cooling the Lowcountry

DICK STEWART

Find your tools and get started

Growing up in the Deep South, two things were constant: from first breath to funeral, religion, and hard work. Neither were to be argued or avoided.

If memory serves me well, naming the books of the bible came before naming all of your cousins. As children, we earned an allowance by helping out around the house. That allowance wasn’t money but our ability to remain alive. We learned early on that money comes from going above and beyond your everyday chores, not from being a decent, contributing human.

Storms came as often as doorto-door salesmen. Both were feared, but one left far more to clean up. One afternoon, after the winds ended their thunderous dance, we stumbled from underneath the mattress, the one we always grabbed because it was lighter than most, and ventured outside to see the job ahead.

My first glance was always to the barn where my best friends

CHERIMIE CRANE WEATHERFORD

and closest confidants lived. It was the capital of my small world, the headquarters for essential matters, and a respite for my introverted soul. Before I had time to grieve its mangled timbers, I had already been summoned to clear debris. I could hear my animals and see most of them finding their way, which gave me hope.

Tears flowed as my small hands collected remnants of normalcy and proceeded with the usual routine. I measured the storms by the damage that hurt the most. The storm’s official designation meant nothing to anyone but the weath-

erman on TV. If it hurt someone you loved, it was the worst kind. If it took your home away, that was always the runner-up to the worst kind. The appraisal of the storm was different for everyone.

I understood this one to be worse than most just by how Daddy and Momma whispered. I could read them as easily as I read the New Testament. Momma always told us to get to our knees, pray, and things would be alright.

My mammaw was always one of the first to show up fully prepared to work. I didn’t know that mamaws with chainsaws were a novelty at the time. Knowing she would tell me the truth without adding sugar, I ran straight toward her.

While many told me to get back inside, Mamaw Mary walked over, set her chainsaw down, and told me to get to work. She and my mom often saw things differently regarding me, so I glanced back to ensure Momma approved; I didn’t want that storm.

Mamaw pointed toward one

The common assumption among pundits, talking heads, influencers, water cooler chatters and many neighbors is that Americans are polarized, deeply divided into two intractable camps. It’s as if they are on opposing football teams and you can almost hear their helmets ready to crack.

But are we making more of so-called political division than there really is? In other words, is there any “there” really there?

Maybe not. Just look at what’s happened in the cleanup after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. People giving aid didn’t ask whether those in need were Republican or Democratic.

Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, warmly shook the hand of President Joe Biden when he landed in Greenville to survey damage and

of the tops of the fallen trees and handed me a small pair of rusty sheers. I felt the disapproving looks and the unspoken annoyance at the presence of a time-wasting child, but Mamaw never broke her empowering gaze. She told me to start cutting. We all have moments of the Butterfly Effect, things that seem small but often change or impact our lives. I will always believe that was one of mine. Instantly, my little mind shifted from panic to purpose with each inch I managed to remove. Understanding that help was help no matter the size. My brain and body were finally in unison. I was one of them. I was a helper. I am sure my Mamaw wasn’t the most popular that day. My little legs may have slowed things down; possibly, I was a hindrance.

My Momma and many other women and children were inside cleaning and helping in ways they understood.

That evening, Mamaw and I were washing our hands and

arms with the yard hose, and I asked her if she had gotten on her knees. Her crystal blue eyes softened as she wiped her hands on her tattered and torn shirt.

“I get on my knees now and then, but God made me to get to my feet. It’s ok to hit your knees when the world doesn’t make sense, but you have to get back up and get to work.”

We are all dealing with the storm’s aftermath as we look around for instruction, guidance, and next steps. Many are on their knees praying, while some are using whatever tools they have to cut through the pain, inch by inch.

Help is help. Debris comes in all forms; it takes all skills to clear a path forward. Idleness from despair is a heavy blockade. Find your tools and start, inch by inch.

real estate broker, small business owner, wife and mom in beautiful Beaufort. She is the Director of Operations and Programs for the Freedman Arts District.

Americans might not be as divided as you think

unleash more floodgates of federal help. People on the receiving end were thankful for the kindnesses and routinely remarked how their communities came together in new ways.

“Def loving all the good,” one North Carolina texted. “Community center feeding everyone.”

And while a new Winthrop political poll in South Carolina says 52% of South Carolina’s likely voters will cast ballots for former GOP President Donald Trump and 42% for Democratic

Vice President Kamala Harris, those results are political choices – not necessarily a reflection of a society at loggerheads. In fact, 72% of respondents said they thought the South was better off as part of the United States than as a separate country – and this in the state where the Civil War started.

Analysts say we may live in a society where there is a myth of polarization – that we think we know where everybody stands, but we really don’t.

A July 2024 article in Time magazine dove into the question by looking at a 2021 survey that tried to figure out what kind of country Americans wanted to leave to future generations.

In the study, researcher Todd Rose concluded Americans think they’re divided, but are pretty bad

at figuring out what other Americans really think.

His American Aspirations Index survey found “stunning agreement” on national goals across the country’s population. There was disagreement on immigration but “intense disagreement was the exception, not the rule.”

Perhaps, the Time story continues, Americans don’t really have the right idea about polarization and society: “It may not be nearly the engine we thought. It’s possible that what it produces, as much as anything, is noise.”

Just look at an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll from July. Core American beliefs, it said, are shared by a vast majority of Americans – beliefs in the rights of equal protection under the law, the right to vote, free-

dom of speech, the right to privacy, freedom of religion, the right to assemble peacefully – and even the freedom of the press.

And a review of studies on polarization by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace seems to point blame at politicians on both sides for fueling ideological perceptions of polarization – that they intentionally ratchet up heat on political issues to score points. And part of the blame is the media that spread the mess.

“The American public feels affectively polarized largely because of misunderstandings about the other side (though the misunderstandings seem sensitive to actual ideological differences),” the review said.

About the only meaningful conclusions to draw from all of this seem to be:

1. Think for yourself.

2. Look inside your heart to check to see if what they’re saying is your reality.

You probably think you are thinking for yourself, but the politicians and media are spinning you to get you to vote red or blue.

Perhaps the best thing during this election season is to look around and consider which candidates will most help your grandchildren to be educated, safe and have a good standard of living. And then take a deep breath and relax. Because, as it turns out, that’s what your neighbors, red or blue, really care about too.

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

Cherimie Weatherford is a long-time

ANDY BRACK

64th annual St. Peter’s Catholic Church Fall Bazaar

The dynamic relationship between love and prayer

Last Sunday, I was asked to bring the morning sermon for a wonderful church in the country called Mt. Lebanon Methodist. I had a dream recently about delivering a message and when I awoke, I went I into my office and asked God to please not let it dissipate before I could write down as much of it as I could remember.

Dreams are like the morning fog that fades when the sun comes out.

I was noticeably rattled and was typing feverishly. How many know when God gives you a word it’s not a suggestion? I ended up separating the content into four parts and here is one of the sections.

Within the dream, even though I was the one speaking, it was a warning of serious discipline to me. I talk a lot about love and prayer but I seldom consider that I cannot have one without the other. Sadly, more often than not, I do not have either one. I’m being bluntly honest about my lack of fervency when it comes to caring and intercession. I comprehend that compassion and having a burden to pray is measured by how filled I am with God’s Spirit. I will not pray if I do not love, and without love, I will not pray.

Do you see how these two important aspects of the Christian life work together and both are driven by faith?

Why did Jesus pray so much?

Because He was filled with love!

The sobering question here is how do we feel about our responsibility to love and pray? Do I want to develop a passionate burden to love more and to pray more, or am I satisfied to just keep going the way that I am?

In the dream, I was told the way to have more love is to pray and ask for it. (I shouldn’t be surprised).

Having a deep conviction and concern for others does not just fall on my head. Yes, the nature and character of Christ lives in me, but this does not automatically transform my conscience or renew my mind.

I’ve been given the demand and responsibility to close myself in with God each day and pray, and then the result of developing my relationship with Him and drawing closer to Him will be to be like Him. What is important to Him will now become my burdens

which causes these priorities to become so strong they will drive me to my knees. This sounds wonderful, but to be honest it does not happen as much as it should. I’m often so busy with my own thoughts, I’m not considering what He wants me to do. I fill my day up with distractions and end up not asking for more sensitivity and love.

And guess what? This leaves me without a burning desire to pray. You see, when we have an understanding of our accountability to be His servant, we no longer have an excuse as to why we fail to obey.

The bottom line is that evidently, I do not care like I should. Where is my reverential fear of God?

How many times have I read the passage in First Corinthians, Ch. 13, and yet I keep thinking it’s talking about someone else. Let’s read it again.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it

“I will not pray if I do not love, and without love, I will not pray”

BILLY HOLLAND, on the connection between love and prayer.

profits me nothing.”

I’m not exactly sure what being nothing and having nothing means spiritually, but I know it’s not good. Here I see what is required of me and yet I am rebellious against it. Why? Because I would rather be absorbed and conformed to the world. Disobedience is a sin and instead of being an overcomer for Christ, I’m being overwhelmed with my own carnality. What I fail to be convicted about is that I cannot blame my failure to live for Jesus on anyone else -- even the devil. I have free will to choose whatever I want to do, and I will be the one who will answer for it.

Billy Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

Prayer gatherings set for Saturday

Staff reports

The public is invited to participate in a “Sidewalk Prayer Gathering” from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12 along Sea Island Parkway on St. Helena Island.

Some will meet in front of the Gullah Grub restaurant and some along the sidewalk to Eddings Point Road. Prayer stations will be set up along the way, with several individuals assigned to pray at each station.

Everyone assembled will be able to hear each prayer by dialing in to a free conference call number – 848-2203100, ID No. 14399. A card will be provided with the number upon arrival.

Also evailable at each station will be masks and gloves for those who desire them.

There will be a second prayer gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. at Whitehall Park at the end of Meridian Road on Sea Island Parkway on Lady’s Island. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs.

Organizers invite the public to join them as they “bombard Heaven four our communities, our city, county, state and nation at both prayer events. Remember that the prayers of the righteous availeth much.”

BILLY HOLLAND

Attendees browse the many various crafts and vendors showcased at 64th annual St. Peter’s Catholic Church Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Proceeds from the Bazaar will benefit Lowcountry Outreach, a ministry of Saint Peter’s parish that provides office space for area nonprofits, meeting rooms for support groups, and services such as a ride program for those with limited transportation. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

The Greer family from Beaufort enjoys the tasty dishes served at 64th annual St. Peter’s Catholic Church Fall Bazaar from the edge of a sidewalk on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Proceeds from the Bazaar will benefit Lowcountry Outreach, a ministry of Saint Peter’s parish that provides office space for area nonprofits, meeting rooms for support groups, and services such as a ride program for those with limited transportation. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

LOCAL MILITARY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 11 October 2024

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

PLATOON 1064

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt K. E. Meier

PFC Acuff, D. G.

PFC Ayala Jr, M. D.

PFC Babel, R. A.

Pvt Banueloslopez, B. A.

Pvt Bonillaolivares, R.

PFC Boon, R. J.

PFC Braswell, O. H.

PFC Broadnax, A. J. *

Pvt Brown, M. J.

PFC Browne, Q. M.

PFC Canzater, S. K.

PFC Collins, S. V.

Pvt Davis, J. N.

Pvt Dejesustorres, J. J.

Pvt Dismukes, W. K.

Pvt Dollarhide, C. R.

PFC Escarenocisneros, J.

Pvt Febus, D. C.

Pvt Figueroa, E. J.

PFC Foster, E. K.

Pvt Freeman, J. K.

Pvt Gardner, G. N.

Pvt Gardner, W. R.

Pvt Garnica Jr, D.

Pvt Gayton, R. C.

PFC Greene, A. J.

PFC Greenwood, B. S.

Pvt Hardy Jr, J. J.

PFC Hawkins, S. E.

Pvt Hickey, E. T.

Pvt Hill, L. O.

PFC Holland, N. R.

Pvt Hunt, W. L.

PFC Jenkins III, I. H.

PFC Kirksey, A. L.

PFC Laboy, J. D. *

Pvt Leslie, J. D.

PFC Levine, R. B.

PFC Libradohernandez, J.

Pvt Long, C. M.

PFC Lupo, L. B.

Pvt Majette, L. L.

Pvt Mang, M.

Pvt Martin, H. K.

Pvt Martin, T. B.

Pvt Martinez, D.

Pvt Mcgill, E. C.

PFC Melchormozingo, F. G.

Pvt Montejohernandez, C. E.

Pvt Montoya, A.

PFC Moss, M. D. *

PFC Oviedo, A. J.

PFC Perez, E. A. *

Pvt Phillips, C. M.

Pvt Pierce, D. R.

Pvt Ponce Jr, D.

Pvt Poppell, J. L.

PFC Porter, Z. A.

PFC Price, J. S.

PFC Reyesavila, G.

Pvt Rice, C. J.

PFC Rigsbee, L. M. *

PFC Rigsby, C. J. *

Pvt Riveraplanas, J. J.

Pvt Saldano, P. J.

Pvt Salome, M. J.

Pvt Sidwell, N. S.

Pvt Smith, J. W.

PFC Strickland, C. M.

Pvt Tep, P. K.

Pvt Tsai, C.

PFC Venega, C. M.

PFC Walters, B. M.

Pvt Ward, C. D.

Pvt Waugh II, R. D.

Pvt Williams, D. L.

Pvt Williams, Z. L.

PFC Wise, A. A.

Pvt Wynne, J. S.

Pvt Zeigler, C. D.

PLATOON 1065

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt J. Bautista

Pvt Abston, J. M. Pvt Beard, D. A.

Pvt Benitezmartinez, F. PFC Bollinger, M. D.* Pvt Bolton, Z. D. Pvt Bond, J. L. PFC Cady, C. D.

Pvt Callihan, L. H.

Pvt Carrizales, A.

Pvt Chamlee, N. G.

Pvt Collier III, J. H. PFC Comerford, R. M.*

Pvt Cox, Q. M.

Pvt Dalton, E. M. Pvt Dean, C. M. PFC Dixon, K. D.* Pvt Dunaway, M. P. Pvt Emanuel, J. J. Pvt Flores, C. J. Pvt Fowler, O. K. Pvt Gantt, D. C. Pvt Gregory, D. J. Pvt Hardin, A. D. Pvt Hart, D. T.

Pvt Hernandez, A. Y.

Pvt Hernandez, I. Pvt Hernandezguzman, A.

Pvt Herring, G. A. PFC Horne Jr, J. D. Pvt Jefferson, A. T.

Pvt Jensen, D. R. Pvt Joaquinlopez, K. Pvt Johncline, J. T. Pvt Jolley, M. T. PFC Knight, J. O.* Pvt Langley, C. M. Pvt Layton, J. T. Pvt Lorentz, I. G. Pvt Mateorivas, A. J. PFC Mcdougald, T. R. Pvt Miller, L. A. PFC Morales, N. L.* PFC Moreira, G. H. Pvt Morse, C. J. Pvt Mumper, S. A. Pvt Olk, P. A. Pvt Ortega Jr, Y. Pvt Partin, A. M. Pvt Puac, D. D. PFC Reed, C. A. PFC Reesman, K. J. Pvt Renville, J. A. Pvt Reynolds, B. M. Pvt Roman, E. J. Pvt Rubiogarcia, O. PFC Rudd, S. K. PFC Rutz, K. F. PFC Salic, O. E. PFC Santana, A. M. PFC Seeley Jr, J. J.* PFC Shinn, N. B. PFC Shultz, S.

Pvt Sidibe, K. E. PFC Smith III, J. N.

Pvt Soto, E. F.

Pvt Stevens, A. C.

Pvt Sweeting, M. T.

Pvt Tucker, M. J.

Pvt Valdiviez, J. V.

Pvt Vanegaserazo, S.

Pvt Vega, J. A.

Pvt Vega, R. D.

Pvt Velazquez, Y. PFC Vlahos, J. S. Pvt Willingham, C. G.

PLATOON 1066

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt T. K. Franklin-Reece

Pvt Ali, T. J.

PFC Antinucci, D. G.

Pvt Bennett, D. K.

Pvt Biswa, Y. R.

Pvt Boner Jr, M. A.

Pvt Boykins, D. L.

Pvt Bregidin, A.

Pvt Brito Jr, A. M.

Pvt Britton, G. L.

Pvt Burlinghaus, M. C.

Pvt Bustamantebenitez, B. J.

PFC Cain, J. L.*

Pvt Coalson, J. R.

PFC Coman, A. R.

Pvt Cupp, D. T.

Pvt Davisross, N. A.

Pvt Dunbar, E. D.

Pvt Evangelous, J. C.

PFC Exantus, T. A.

PFC Fraser, J. P.

PFC Garciaferman, C. E.

Pvt Gleske, A. P.

Pvt Guadarramaguadarrama, K.

PFC Hale, J. S.*

Pvt Hamarics, S. A.

Pvt Hebert, E. J.

Pvt Hernandez, S. A.

Pvt Herrera, A. J.

PFC Howington, J. R.

Pvt Jardine, T. A.

PFC Johnson, A. J.*

Pvt Keltner, B. A.

Pvt Kraeuter, J. R.

Pvt Lamontlink, D. J.

PFC Little, M. C.

Pvt Lugo, N. J.

Pvt Lyrio, R. J.

Pvt Malave, C. M.

PFC Mangistu, T. S.

Pvt Mejiagabriel, A. M.

PFC Melton, A. J.

Pvt Mercadomorales, E.

Pvt Montalvo, T.

Pvt Munivez, C. P.

PFC Navarro, K.

Pvt Nguyen, T.

Pvt Nicholson, A. T.

PFC Nixon, C. J.

Pvt Norton, B. A.

Pvt Owen, J. T.

PFC Pendergrass, C. A.

Pvt Perrigan, L. P.

PFC Pettit, K. A.

Pvt Place, G. N.

PFC Reed Jr, B. L.

Pvt Reinoso, R. A.

Pvt Ricciuti, J. C.

Pvt Rupple, Z. S.

PFC Rogers, K. J.

Pvt Rosas, J.

PFC Sankey, K. D.

Pvt Santomassimo, J. G.

PFC Sauber, C. M.*

PFC Shives, Z. J.

PFC Starnes, M. A.

Pvt Stufflestreet, J. A.

Pvt Valerio, X. J.

PFC Vansen, L. A.*

Pvt Vega, B. B.

PFC Vishinski, J. A.

PFC Weatherford, R. J.

PFC Weaver, O. A.

Pvt West, K. L.

PFC Whatley, J. D.

Pvt White, S. W.

Pvt Zeppieri, M. J.

PLATOON 1068

Senior Drill Instructor

Sgt J. Lafrance

Pvt Aguilera, J. Y.

Pvt Ashby, C. E.

Pvt Bendick, T. M.

PFC Bishop, S. N.

Pvt Bookless, J. D.

Pvt Bowen, J. T.

PFC Bowes, N. M.

PFC Caruso, G. M.

PFC Costello, E. C.

PFC Cox, I. B.

PFC Dean, B. T.*

PFC Dean, D. L.*

Pvt Diaz, W. E.

Pvt Federowicz, E. J.

PFC Florespardo, R. E.*

Pvt Freeman, H. D.

PFC Garciaaguirre, D. A.*

Pvt Garrison, E. D.

Pvt Gomez, J.

Pvt Gomez, R. E.

Pvt Hall, G. A.

Pvt Hallik, J. A.

PFC Hanner, M. T.*

Pvt Hernandezfrias, E.

Pvt Johnson, D. C.

Pvt Kargbo, H. J.

PFC Kaufman, G. M.

Pvt Kinkel, P. M.

Pvt Krueck, B. J.

Pvt Laplante, R. R.

Pvt Ledford, N. K.

PFC Little, E. R.

Pvt Lovinggood III, J. D.

Pvt Lynch, L. G.

Pvt Mcclendon, L. M.

Pvt Mcdonald, J. M.

Pvt Mckinley, P. C.

PFC Mellor, Z. S.

PFC Moore, J. O.

Pvt Moralesdejesus, R.

PFC Morton, J. T.

Pvt Murphy, L. R.

PFC Nangsackda, S. X.

Pvt Nguyen, V. G.

PFC Nortick, R. C.

Pvt Osborne, G. D.

Pvt Osborne, L. T.

Pvt Ouellette, G. A.

Pvt Paschal, J. G.

PFC Pastori, J. A.

Pvt Ramonflores, E.

Pvt Rangel, L. A.

Pvt Rejwan, F.

Pvt Risko, E. C.

Pvt Rivas, B. A.

PFC Riveralanzo, K. D.

PFC Ruiz, S. A.

Pvt Santostavarez, O.

Pvt Sapusek, A. M.

Pvt Schroeder, C. W.

Pvt Segovia, E. I.

PFC Slater, K. J.

Pvt Smith, T. A.

Pvt Smith, T. J.

PFC Spencer, K. L.*

Pvt Theophile, M. M.

Pvt Thomas, J.

Pvt Tomczyk, J. D.

Pvt Tope, R. D.

Pvt Vaughn, A. D.

Pvt Watford, C. D.

Pvt Watson Jr, R. A.

Pvt Wheeler, I. J.

PFC Williams, P. A.

PFC Wolf, C. A.

Pvt Zwier, N. D.

PLATOON 1069

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt D. A. Miller

Pvt Acostafarfan, G. D.

PFC Aristondoarriaza, A. E.

Pvt Beasley II, O. L.

Pvt Berube, M. J.

PFC Best, C. F.

Pvt Boucher, A. N.

Pvt Boudreaux III, C. G.

Pvt Brahimi, L.

PFC Bravo, C. A.

Pvt Brown Jr, T. T.

Pvt Brown, D. H.

Pvt Byles, C. W.

PFC Camposaracena, B. A.

Pvt Chen, A. Pvt Ciccone, J. B.

Pvt Colina, C. Pvt Conde, C. W.

PFC Cowdrey, C. J.

Pvt Davis, C. A.

PFC Delossantosmaldonado, J. J.*

PFC Deuink, L. R.* Pvt Dipaolo, D. A.

Pvt Duboisquail, E. W.

PFC Estevez, J. M.*

Pvt Faggionileon, G. J. Pvt Faison III, L. E. Pvt Faison, C. A. PFC Figueroadelcid, B. L. PFC Francoloor, J. A. Pvt Genchur, L. C. Pvt Geraldinorodriguez, W. B. Pvt Gil, J. E. Pvt Henderson, E. C. Pvt Henry, L. R. Pvt Hicks, T. L. Pvt Hionidis, M. P. Pvt Hudson, J. J. Pvt Jackson, G. A. PFC Johnson, I. P. Pvt Jones, X. M. Pvt Lyons, C. P. PFC Lyons, K. M. Pvt Mathis, R. W. Pvt Mckenna, M. K. PFC Medrano, A. A. Pvt Mejia, J. PFC Mercadocurillo, R. A. Pvt Millan, R. G. Pvt Moran, A. G. Pvt Morgan, M. D. Pvt Mott, I. Z. PFC Odell, M. B.* Pvt Palacios, T. A. Pvt Panozzo, C. A. Pvt Perezmendoza, C. PFC Pui, L. PFC Robbins, B. D. Pvt Robinson, B. L. Pvt Rodriguez, C. M.

PFC Rodriguezrivera, A. J.

PFC Smith, A. C.*

Pvt Stike, E. S.

Pvt Suarez, L. L.

Pvt Sung, K. J.

Pvt Thomas, I. L.

Pvt Velazquezalbornoz, M.

Pvt Verdieu, W. N.

Pvt Washington, D. A.

Pvt Wilkins, A. S.

Pvt Witherspoon, Z. A.

Pvt Wozniak Jr, M. G.

Pvt Zambrano, J.

Pvt Zheng, Z.

PLATOON 1070

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt

D. A. Edeh

PFC Agyeku, R. A.

PFC Allen, C. R.*

PFC Andrade, D. C.

PFC Andrews, G. C.

Pvt Armenia, V. J.

Pvt Bangoura, M.

Pvt Beck, E. M.

PFC Bell, Q. D.

Pvt Beltranrenteral, U.

Pvt Bernal, J. F.

Pvt Blanco, J. J.

Pvt Boozer, R. T.

Pvt Borawski, J. S.

Pvt Brix, C. G.

Pvt Bui, H. Q.

PFC Burgett, D. B.

PFC Butler, C. T.*

PFC Campbell II, R. C.*

PFC Carpinteyro, S.

PFC Carvalhodosreis, K.

PFC Cheeley, J. A.

Pvt Coates, A. S.

Pvt Cowdynunez, S. A.

Pvt Cross IV, S. E.

Pvt Cruz, J.

Pvt Cruzgonzalez, C. PFC Davidson, K. S.

Pvt Davis Jr, J. A.

PFC Elias, C. J.* PFC Fernandez, M. A.

Pvt Fowler Jr, M. D.

Pvt Gallagher Jr, C. R.

Pvt Gallo, F.

Pvt Godfrey, T. J.

Pvt Godwin, A. A.

Pvt Guzman, M. A.

PFC Hernandez, A.

Pvt Hernandez, D. J.

PFC Hill, A. M.

Pvt Irizarry, G. G.

Pvt Jones, H. J.

PFC Kalonji, Y. K.

Pvt Karpew, L. M.

Pvt Kesselring, M. B.

Pvt Lacock Jr, R. J.

Pvt Lamphire, G. H.

Pvt Latsha, B. D.

Pvt Lugo III, R.

Pvt Martin Jr, M. T.

Pvt Martinez, B. J.

Pvt Mateer, T. L.

PFC Mccullough, J. E.

PFC Miochy, D. R.

PFC Miranda, K. J.

Pvt Obed, D. J.

Pvt Oconnor, A. J.

Pvt Ordoricaguzman, B. D.

Pvt Parra, J. I.

Pvt Pelaezrizo, D.

Pvt Pellesco, J. H.

Pvt Post, J. M.

PFC Ramosimpson, S. A.

Pvt Reid, T. D.

Pvt Rios, D. Y.

PFC Rosario, E. M.

Pvt Sanchezcortes, J. A.

Pvt Santosmarcos, C. R.

PFC Schaeffer, J. E.

PFC Schell, D. A.

Pvt Sensenig, J. C.

Pvt Soneye, A.

Pvt Suarez, I. J.

Pvt Sweatt, E. J.

PFC Wesson, R. M.*

PFC Williams, J. K.*

PFC Wishney Jr, R. A.

Pvt Youngerman, K. E.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotion

Aircraft Recovery Training

Applying for VA benefits and a veteran’s Character of Discharge

The purpose of this ar-

ticle is threefold. This writer wants to:

1 Inform military members, veterans, and their families that the VA allows more former service members to become eligible for VA benefits, regardless of their military discharge.

2 Encourage veterans with discharges other than honorable and bad conduct to apply for VA healthcare and benefits today.

3 Encourage veterans with incorrect discharges under other than honorable and bad conduct to appeal their discharge and request it be upgraded to honorable, under honorable conditions, or general.

VA news article

According to a VA News article by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) dated Oct. 1, 2024 (https:// bit.ly/4eQUwkY) titled “More Service Members Eligible for Benefits after VA Amends Character of Discharge Barriers:”

“VA is implementing a new regulation regarding the character of discharge determinations, allowing more former service members to become eligible for VA benefits, regardless of their military discharge.

Generally, to receive VA benefits and services, a former service member's character of discharge must be under other than dishonorable conditions

(For example, honorable, under honorable conditions, or general). However, while the VA cannot change the discharge status provided by the Department of Defense, the VA must make a ‘determination on eligibility for VA benefits’ for all individuals who receive a dishonorable discharge. However, depending on a May 2024 VA determination, individuals receiving undesirable, bad conduct and other than honorable discharges may qualify for VA benefits. The VA issued a final rule amending its regulations regarding the character of discharge determinations, expanding access to VA care and benefits for some former service members discharged under less-than-honorable conditions or by special court-martial.”

Learn more about this final rule at “Update and Clarify Regulatory Bars to Benefits Based on Character of Discharge,” found at https://bit.ly/3ZUDzC4

As stated in the 04/26/2024 rule and Oct. 1, 2024, VA News Release, “There will be only four regulatory bars to VA benefits based on the character of discharge. The bars are: 1 Acceptance of a

discharge under other than honorable conditions or its equivalent in lieu of trial by GCM;

2 Mutiny or spying;

3 Moral turpitude; and

4 Willful and persistent misconduct.

The definition for willful and persistent misconduct has been refined for more objective application, and an expanded compelling circumstances exception now applies to both the moral turpitude (MT) and willful and persistent misconduct bars.

Based on interagency concerns, VA has decided not to alter the current regulatory bar for MT. This will allow the military to retain a deterrent to misconduct that promotes good order and discipline while also allowing the VA to provide a case-by-case, more holistic analysis of whether a former service member who received a Bad-Conduct Discharge (BCD) or Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharge nevertheless warrants “veteran” status and VA benefits eligibility.

The final rule was effective as of June 25 2024. The new regulation expands access to care and benefits for certain former service members by: Eliminating the regulatory bar for “homosexual acts involving aggravating circumstances or other factors affecting the performance of duty” as a bar to benefits.

Creating a compelling circumstances exception for certain former

service members.

Opening the door for previously denied service members to reapply for benefits.

VA Determination does not change military characterization of service

The bad news is that the VA’s character of discharge determination does not change the Armed Forces’ characterization of service and has no effect on the former service member’s military discharge status. The VA’s determination is for VA benefits and services eligibility purposes only.

Apply for VA benefits and services

The VA encourages former service members with discharges other than honorable and bad conduct to apply for VA healthcare and benefits today. The VA will carefully consider the circumstances of your discharge and determine if you are eligible. It is essential to clarify that the regulatory bars shall only be applied when clearly supported by the military record. The benefit of the doubt will be resolved in favor of the former service member. See 38 U.S.C. 5107(b), 38 CFR 3 102. In other words, the bar shall not be applied when there is insufficient evidence of the alleged misconduct, racial bias in the allegation, or an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence about the alleged misconduct.”

Do your homework Veterans, service mem-

bers, and their families should:

Ask a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) and the VA to help them understand their veterans' benefits, apply for those benefits, appeal VA bad decisions, and appeal a Department of Defense/Military wrong discharge status.

Read the information at the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) “How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade” websites at https:// bit.ly/3MAjBG8 and https://bit.ly/480OWuk.

Read The Island News article, dated July 6 2022, by Larry Dandridge, titled “How can a veteran appeal a less-than-honorable military discharge?” See https://bit.ly/4dFBZar.

Do not stop at VA benefits and services — get discharge upgraded also Because a less-than-honorable or bad-conduct discharge can prevent a veteran from getting a job with government agencies and many private employers and destroy a veteran's reputation, mental health, marriage, and self-esteem, veterans interested in applying for a military discharge upgrade should also read the VA webpage “How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade” at https://bit. ly/3MAjBG8

All branches of the military consider you to have a strong case for a dis-

charge upgrade if you can show your discharge was connected to any of these categories: Mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Traumatic brain injury (TBI); Sexual assault or harassment during military service (at VA, we refer to this as military sexual trauma or MST); or Sexual orientation (including under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy).

The bottom line

Do not miss out on your valuable and hard-earned VA and State Veterans’ benefits. If you are a family member or friend of a veteran who has not applied for their VA benefits or may have been unfairly discharged, please encourage the veteran to apply for their VA benefits and encourage the veteran to request an upgraded discharge by referring him or her to a local VSO.

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

Two emergency services Marines from MCAS Beaufort (left) and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan (right),

SERVICE DIRECTORY

ATTORNEY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

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