NEWS: Beaufort extends mask ordinance through Nov. 1. PAGE A7
SEPTEMBER 17–23, 2020 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Cunningham, Mace will meet in Beaufort debate By Mike McCombs If the county zoning board goes ahead with its next meeting, Monday, Sept. 28, will be the night of the showdown over the proposed development at Bay Point. That won’t be the only fight in Beaufort that night. Incumbent Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Republican challenger Nancy Mace will hold their first debate in the race for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat at SCETV’s Beaufort studio.
Monday, Sept. 28 also happens to be the day same day in-person absentee voting for the general election begins in South Carolina. Joe The hour-long Cunningham debate – sponsored by The Charleston Post and Courier, SCETV and S.C. Public Radio – begins at 7 p.m. and will be aired live statewide on SCETV and SC Public Radio. The coverage will also
be streamed live on scetv.org and postandcourier.com, as well as on SCETV’s various social media platforms. The debate will Nancy be moderated by Mace SCETV’s Gavin Jackson and The Post and Courier’s Jamie Lovegrove. Jackson and Lovegrove, along with SC Public Radio’s Thelisha Eaddy, will be busy again Oct. 21 as
the same three news outlets will also sponsor a debate between U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and his Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison at SCETV’s Columbia studio. That debate, as well, will be aired live statewide on SCETV and SC Public Radio and streamed live on scetv.org and postandcourier.com, as well as on SCETV’s various social media platforms. “For decades, SCETV has covered elections, public policy and government officials, providing
South Carolinians with unmatched government transparency,” SCETV President and CEO Anthony Padgett said in a news release. “Through this partnership with The Post and Courier, we’re proud to host and broadcast both of these debates, helping the citizens of this state be informed as they head to the polls this fall.” Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
USCB grad school’s first Fulbright Scholar By Mike McCombs It had been months since Theodora Light – Tedi to those who know her – had gotten the bad news. So long, she doesn’t even remember exactly when she found out. Light, who graduated from the University of South Carolina Beaufort in May with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Spanish, was named a semifinalist for the 2020-21 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. But she had Theodora since been Light informed she wasn’t chosen, instead holding a spot as an alternate. With no idea how many others had met the same fate as her, Light knew her chances were slim and had emotionally moved on. She applied to a short list of schools with strong graduate programs in history, including Harvard, before settling
A volunteer poll worker, far left, gets prospective voters to sign in prior to voting during the 2018 election. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
Election 2020:
What you need to know right now to plan ahead Absentee voting starts soon; registration deadline first week in October
COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY
By Mindy Lucas Unless you’ve been living in a cave these last few months, you know the 2020 election is less than seven weeks away but will you be ready? Below are few things election officials want you to keep in mind, as well as few key dates to remember.
SEE SCHOLAR PAGE A4 WHAT IS A FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR?
Registering to Vote If you’re new to the area or will
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest exchange program in the U.S. It provides grants for research, study and teaching opportunities at international universities in 140 countries. Fulbright recipients work, live with and learn from the people they encounter in the host country. The Fulbright program promotes cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, the field, the home and in the simple chore of performing routine tasks. The goal is to gain a better understanding of other viewpoints and beliefs.
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be voting for the first time, the deadline to register to vote in person is Oct. 2. The deadline to register online, by fax or email is Oct. 4 and the deadline to register by mail is Oct. 5.
You can register in person at either of the two county election offices: Beaufort Office 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday
Phone: (843) 255-6900 Bluffton Office 61B Ulmer Road, Bluffton Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday Phone: (843) 255-6940 Even if you aren’t new to voting, it never hurts to go ahead and dig out your voter’s registration card to make sure everything is up to date. If you’ve moved in recent years, or haven’t voted in awhile for example, you may want to check your voting precinct which you can do at www.scvotes.gov.
SEE VOTE PAGE A4
Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette journalists unionize The Packet/Gazette Guild becomes the state’s first active newspaper guild
By Mike McCombs As reporter Katherine Kokal put it, it was an awkward two days. Months of conversation and weeks of planning culminated around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when the
journalists of The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette (IP/BG ) newsroom announced in a press release that they had taken the first steps toward unionizing. More that 80 percent of eligible reporters, photographers and news producers in the IP/BG newsroom signed cards authorizing representation by the Washington-Balti-
more News Guild, Local 32025 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The employees had requested voluntary recognition of The Packet/ Gazette Guild from management. Now they were waiting. Kokal said that through Thursday evening, the newsroom journalists had heard nothing but “radio
FEATURE
OUTDOORS
INSIDE
Role of father inspired new Marine, Cristhian Varas.
Annual Young Life 2020 Fishing Derby set for October 2 and 3.
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silence” from their bosses. At 6 p.m., the newsroom gathered for a previously scheduled virtual meeting, where the saw IP/BG Executive Editor Brian Tolley, Managing Editor Candy Hatcher and Linda Brooks, a human resources specialist who works in labor relations. “I think a lot of us were expecting a chat about the union or the usual ‘our doors are always open’ talk where
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