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After a roughly 28-hour search finally located the wreckage of an MCAS Beaufort-based F-35B that crashed in rural Williamsburg County on Sunday afternoon, the search for answers has begun.
In a teleconference Tuesday afternoon, MCAS Beaufort Commanding Officer Col. Mark D. Bortnem confirmed that search will likely last months.
“We have the aircraft, we’ve located the aircraft, where the (crash) site is, and now the investigation starts,” Bortnem said. “And so what we’re really looking at really starts at the crash site, looking at the wreckage that’s there, and then we’ll continue on. You can expect this investigation will last, like all of our investigations do, for several months. And the objective is to find out all of the details that occurred, and that will only hap-
pen with a detailed investigative process that looks at the wreckage, talks to the pilot, and talks to really every facet of what happened on that particular day.”
In what the Marines have labeled a “mishap,” a pair of F-35s were flying Sunday over North Charleston in the vicinity of Joint Base Charleston, when at about 1:30 p.m., one pilot was forced to eject. The pilot landed safely in North Charleston and was transported to a local medical facility where he was in stable condition at last update Tuesday.
No further details on the pilot’s condition have been made avail-
By
“I will forever be grateful for the relationships, the support, the kind words, the lessons imparted from so many of you. Local government and some of our partners are full of talented, caring, hardworking people that I have learned so much from. But I be-
lieve it’s time for me to focus more on my family, my friends, my businesses, and my health,” Murray wrote.
“Effective immediately, I hereby resign as the Mayor of the City of Beau-
SEE MAYOR PAGE A6
able, as of press time.
The second pilot landed at Joint Base Charleston, while the first plane, without a pilot and with autopilot reportedly engaged, continued to fly.
At some point, Joint Base Charleston was unable to track the F-35B Lightning II.
“We don’t know anything about the plane,” a Joint Base Charles-
SEE SEARCH PAGE A4
The Post And Courier
Former attorney Cory Fleming was sentenced in state court to 20 years in prison for helping his longtime friend Alex Murdaugh steal millions of dollars, significantly extending a prison term he has already begun.
In a searing address to Fleming, Judge Clifton Newman on Sept. 14 brushed aside the ongoing 46-month federal prison sentence he is already serving, deciding it wasn’t punishment enough for the ex-lawyer’s betrayal of his clients.
Cory Fleming
After some four hours of testimony and arguments before a courtroom crowded with Flem-
SEE SENTENCE PAGE A5
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Mark Pritchard photographed this squirrel enjoying a meal in his backyard on Dataw Island. To submit a Lowcountry
Beaufort’s James Davis, 80, joined the United States Navy in Beaufort after graduating from Robert Smalls High School in 1963. He attended boot camp in San Diego before being assigned to USS Ogden (LPH-5), the last ship built at the New York Naval Shipyard. He was part of the com-
James Davismissioning crew and sailed with her through the Panama Canal to San Diego before beginning deployments to Vietnam delivering Marines
I found the editorial by Roy R. Brown to be right on target with respect to the limited development of Pine Island. It would be better than full development and would be beneficial to the local community with jobs and local perks.
Perhaps another way to look at this is with property taxes. Sixty-six high-end homes built on mini-golf courses on Pine Island would bring bigger property taxes and would likely involve owners that would burden the county the least for services.
I hope people are not forgetting that Beaufort County is planning to spend $439 million dollars on schools. That money will be paid by property taxes from all property owners.
Perhaps the best way to help cover these costs and limit tax increases for most people is to support development that yields the most property taxes with the least demand on resources; Like Pine Island.
That is the type of development that everyone should be able to support, and is the type of development we should expect our elected officials to support. Something that is better for the community and more well thought.
Perhaps the Saint Helena Island CPO
and their equipment. He was on the amphibious landing craft as they landed the Marines under fire in Vietnam earning the Combat Action Ribbon. The ship made multiple trans-Pacific trips delivering Marines and equipment as well as forays to Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines. After three
should be rethought to do something more useful. Clearly negotiation is a better approach than litigation.
– Gerald C. Blount, St. Helena Island
People shop for different reasons. Some shop out of necessity, some enjoy the thrill of the buy, and others go in search of quality items that can last a lifetime. In September, Lowcountry residents got a special opportunity to shop for a different reason; to save lives. The 14th Annual Bid for PAL Online Auction, held September 7 through 10, raised crucial funds for Palmetto Animal League’s no kill adoption center in Okatie.
PAL’s auction is powered by the love and support of so many, including local businesses, individual donors, enthusiastic bidders, dedicated volunteers, and PAL staff. We are truly grateful to all those who generously donated items for our auction, making it an exciting virtual marketplace that allowed compassionate individuals from across the country to shop to save homeless pets. The funds raised will provide life-saving resources for vulnerable and victimized animals for months to come.
From locally owned shops to large
Cat of the Week: Archer is a handsome and spunky guy who wants a home to call his own. He enjoys his time taking a nap in odd locations and playing with feather toys. He may be a senior by age but has the heart of a kitten. Archer is 10 years old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.
SALES/BUSINESS
Advertising Sales Director Amanda Hanna 843-343-8483 amanda@ lcweekly.com
years of nearly constant underway time he transferred to the Naval Reserve.
– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
companies, a wide range of animal-loving businesses donated products and services to the auction, making it a wonderful success for dogs and cats in need of PAL’s compassionate, no kill rescue programs. PAL is fortunate to be part of a community that cares about homeless pets and believes their lives are worth saving.
We would like to extend special thanks to our “Partner in Rescue” businesses that support PAL both during the auction and year-round, including John Kilmer Fine Interiors and AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head. Our appreciation also goes out to our media partners: The Bluffton Sun/The Hilton Head Sun and Dick Broadcasting (Bob 106.9, G100, Rewind 107.9 and La Pantera 96.1), as well as The Island News and other local media that helped publicize the event.
The Bid for PAL Online Auction helps PAL rescue hundreds of animals every year. Participants value the emotional component, knowing that when they donate an item or place a bid, they have a hand in one of our rescues. Plans are already underway for next year’s auction, and anyone who wishes to support Palmetto Animal League throughout the year can adopt, foster, donate, or volunteer at PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.
– Stephanie Bashaw is the Development Coordinator for the Palmetto Animal League
Accounting April Ackerman april@ aandbbookkeeping. com Billing questions only.
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Dog of the Week: Beatrix is an energetic and happy pup. She loves everyone and really enjoys getting to know you. She enjoys her walks and meal times more than anything. She is a quick learner who is eager to please when she is learning new things. Beatrix is 6 months old, spayed, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.
If you are interested in adopting Archer, Beatrix, or any of our other pets, call our adoption center at 843-645-1725 or email us at info@ palmettoanimalleague. org to set up an appointment.
Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Island News, its publisher or editors. Content published from Care Magazine® is intended as a reference and options source only, not as a guide to self-treatment or substitute for profession medical advice. It is provided for educational purpose only. Readers assume full responsibility for how this information is used. The Island News reserves the right to refuse to sell advertising space, or to publish information, for any business or activity the newspaper deems inappropriate for the publication.
The legal process continues for opponents of the City of Beaufort’s approval of 303 Associates’ construction of a new downtown hotel, apartment building, and parking garage in the Historic District of downtown Beaufort with another round of appeals likely.
Judge Edward W. Miller, of the Beaufort County Court of Common Pleas, rendered decisions on Aug. 29 in three lawsuits naming the City of Beaufort and 303 Associates as a defendant. The three lawsuits – two brought by Graham Trask’s companies West Street Farms, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC, and one brought by the Historic Beaufort Foundation – appealed decisions made by the City’s Historic District Review Board and Zoning Board of Appeals regarding development of property in the City of Beaufort’s Historic District. Judge Miller denied all three appeals.
The plaintiffs filed Requests For Reconsideration, dated September 8, in all three cases, a prerequisite for any further appeals.
In all three cases, the City of Beaufort and 303 Associates, LLC filed a joint memorandum Tuesday, Sept. 12, in opposition of the Requests For Reconsideration.
The first case was West Street Farms, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC vs. the City of Beaufort, the City’s Historic District Review Board, and 303 Associates, LLC. Plaintiffs challenged the Historic District Review Board’s decision made on Dec. 8 2021, which granted preliminary approval of an apartment
building at 211 Charles Street.
The second case was Historic Beaufort Foundation vs. the City of Beaufort, the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals, and 303 Associates, LLC. Plaintiff challenged the Aug.
9 2021, Zoning Board of Appeals decision that granted a special exception to allow development of a building with frontage in excess of 100 feet in Beaufort’s Historic District.
The third case was West Street Farms, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC vs. the City of Beaufort, the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals, and 303 Associates, LLC. Like the second case, the plaintiffs challenged the Aug. 9 2021, Zoning Board of Appeals decision granting a special exception to allow the development of a building with frontage in excess of 100 feet in the Historic District.
“We have filed a Request For Reconsideration, and we await a response to that,” Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said last week.
“We don’t know what the judge looked at. All he did was check a box. If you think you might appeal, you have to have filed this.”
Though an appeal is likely, Jenkins wouldn’t say it was set in stone.
“We haven’t crossed that bridge yet,” she said. “We’d like to see what the judge’s reasoning was. I think it’s only fair that anybody who files suit against a public body deserves to know the basis for the decision.”
Trask agreed and made it clear he’d appeal.
"Judge Miller, as Judge (R. Scott) Sprouse, did not rule on the merits of the case,” Trask said in an email. “In fact, Judge Miller pro-
vided no reasons in his ruling as to why he ruled against the Historic Beaufort Foundation and my companies' appeal of the city's Historic District Review Board's misplaced and potentially illegal approval of the apartment building's certificate of appropriateness. What is clear is that the city continues to approve applications and building permits for 303 Associates and the Beaufort Inn, allowing the applicants to move forward despite the continued lawsuits.
“And as Judge Miller did not rule on the merits, my entities are left no choice but to appeal in order to get a ruling on the merits of the case."
These decisions come on the heels of a decision by Judge Sprouse on June 8, denying a request by plaintiffs West Street Farms, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC to overturn the City of Beaufort’s approvals of 303 Associates, LLC projects in the City’s Historic District.
The approvals were granted by the City’s Historic District Review Board. The three projects were publicly considered more than 13 times. Judge Sprouse, in his decision, said that the request was improper given that a similar challenge had already been decided on by the Circuit Court in January 2022 in the City’s favor, and was currently pending appeal. The pending appeal was a component of the decisions rendered on Aug. 29, by Judge Miller.
When reached, City of Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray declined to comment on the decisions. This
was prior to his resignation last week, as well as prior to the September 12 City Council meeting where council voted to amend the city ordinance that gave the Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) the ability to recommend one of the five members of the Historical District Review Board (HRB).
By a 3-2 vote, council voted to strike the sentence from the city’s Code of Ordinances 10 7 3(a), “One of the 5 members [of] the Historic Review Board shall be recommended by the Historic Beaufort Foundation.”
To be clear, HBF can still recommend potential members, but that candidate is no longer guaranteed a seat on the board.
While Murray offered no comment, Dick Stewart of 303 Associates, the other defendant in the suits, did.
“The recent decision by the court builds on a pattern of successive decisions by multiple courts confirming that the lawsuits and appeals are without merit, frivolous and are intended to delay these important projects,” Stewart said. “And while we are gratified by the judges decisions, we are not surprised by any delays or appeals or any other techniques employed to delay, intimidate, discourage, and undermine our confidence in continuing to invest in the well-being and prosperity of downtown Beaufort, as we have been doing for 25 years.”
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
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BEAUFORT
If ever there was a time that tried (political) souls, it might have been this past week in Beaufort.
We were already watching the fallout in the County Council chambers with the exposure of now-former County Administrator Eric Greenway’s questionable dealings.
We watched the hearing on Monday when his attorney explained that Greenway never really wanted to be county administrator and had warned the County Council back in 2018 when he was promoted from County Planning Director to the top job after the Council ran off Ashley Jacobs, the county’s first female administrator.
The attorney said Greenway told the council he didn’t have financial management credentials, one of the issues that’s come back to haunt him as two teams of investigators sort through allegations that he mishandled the purchase of specialty blankets … and other things.
We watched the attorney asking the County Council to consider Greenway’s accomplishments and reverse the decision, calling it a “hasty and reactive” decision to terminate. We watched the County Council, which has spent more hours behind closed doors this summer debating this situation than they’ve spent in open session, ignore that request.
All the while, we watched Greenway, in a room full of county staff members who are probably concerned about where these investigations into misconduct are heading, say nothing. He shook hands and walked out the door. Who knows if a lawsuit against the county will follow?
Mid-week we watched the Beaufort City Council — a majority of them — ignore the requests from a group of constituents who asked them
not to change the wording in a development code which was perceived to weaken the influence of the Beaufort Historic Foundation on the Historic Review Board.
The Council did other business that night, nice things, like recognize U.S. Constitution Week and authorize the purchase of land to start a passive open space park on Boundary Street near Barnard Tire Co. But that vote on the code change — a 3-2 split from an elected body that hardly ever has a divided opinion — was a crucial one in the ongoing argument that the current city administration under Mayor Stephen Murray really didn’t appreciate the historic significance of the action.
Remember Murray “made headlines” back in 2019 during Mayor Billy Keyserling’s administration, got up and walked out of a council meeting as a point of protest when the matter of removing the HBF vote from the review board was being discussed. Murray later explained that he had done so because he did not agree with the voting procedure but his departure from the dais certainly startled those watching.
Then Friday, Murray startled the community and those in his “city hall” family — maybe his own friends and family — announcing his immediate resignation from an elected position he’d held since 2020
In his farewell address, posted on social media, he said a number of things — he was doing so for his business, his health and his fam-
ily, the traditional responses we hear from politicians stepping out of the limelight they appeared to love.
He also said he was tired of “middle school drama” and “the daily barrage of uncivil and rude people.”
In these times of political meanness — obviously not just in Beaufort or South Carolina — “being tired” is a decision many can understand. It takes a strong will to keep on going when the political battles become so personal. Everyone says … and hopefully believes … when a difficult vote is cast, it’s being done for “the best of the community in the long-run.”
But Murray’s sudden decision to resign, apparently prompted by a Tuesday night encounter with HBF Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins at a stop-light on Lady’s Island, where a verbal exchange became a “he-said, she-said” conversation “reported” first on social media, turned into something of an online wildfire, was a reminder we’re all humans.
Maybe the 42-year-old mayor who was recently named President of the Association of South Carolina Mayors and reportedly had higher political ambitions, had indeed “had enough.”
Maybe there is some unknown “second shoe” of controversy to drop that he knows but we don’t. Maybe all this will play out like the mystery of why city attorney Bill Harvey, who had served as legal advisor to the city for 36 years and had only seven months left on his contract, suddenly resigned with neither he nor the mayor offering any additional comment.
Maybe he got tired of being accused of being “in Dick Stewart’s pocket” because of his support for the 303 Associates’ development projects which mobilized those concerned about the historic fabric of this town even more so than
But Murray’s sudden decision to resign, apparently prompted by a Tuesday night encounter with HBF Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins at a stop-light on Lady’s Island, where a verbal exchange became a ‘he-said, she-said’ conversation ‘reported’ first on social media, turned into something of an online wildfire, was a reminder we’re all humans.”
the vote for review board membership. Two points to take away from news: Individuals are complex and the history of this historic place is still being written.
So what happens next?
BEAUFORT — The mayor has resigned. Mayor Pro-tem Mike McFee becomes the interim mayor and a special election has been set for Dec. 12 Will McFee, who’s had to run three municipal elections in the past three years, throw his hat into that ring?
What about Mike Sutton, who served on council before and ran against Murray in 2022? What about Phil Cromer, also a former City Councilman who believes in term limits or maybe current Councilman Josh Scallate, who won election to his first term in 2022 and could run while still holding onto his seat which wouldn’t be up for re-election in 2026?
What about Josh Gibson, who ran for council against Scallate last year and lost by only 23 votes?
While we wait to see how the race shapes up, a political race has formed in Port Royal, where Councilman Kevin Phillips decided to challenge incumbent Joe DeVito for the mayor’s office. Both are serving their first
terms in their current offices.
It’s not clear, yet, the political differences of the two men but a non-partisan mayoral race after one term is somewhat unusual for this unusual but rapidly growing town. Previous Mayor Sam Murray held the office for 24 years before DeVito and before Sam Murray, Henry Robinson was mayor for 18 years.
It’s clear the development of the Port Royal harbor under contract with Safe Harbor, will be a top consideration and citizens are making it clear they’re not happy with the limited plans they’ve seen or the flow of information with the town.
Incumbent Councilman
Jerry Ashmore has filed for a third term and newcomer
Jorge A. Guerrero, a retired Marine sergeant major who ran unsuccessfully in 2021 filed to run for the seat now held by Phillips. Filing deadline for the November election was September 8
One more thing left BEAUFORT — Actually, there are a number of unfinished items left on Murray’s agenda the now-four member City Council will have to consider … or kick down the proverbial road.
Since May, the Council has been considering reappointments to the Historic
Review Board, the review panel they impacted last week with the vote to no longer require a recommendation from the Historic Beaufort Foundation for membership. There are two seats up for reappointment — Jeremiah Smith, who currently serves as chair of HRB but often has to recuse himself because his architectural partners, Allison Ramsey have projects up for review. The other is held by Maxine Lutz who HBF recommended. Smith has said he no longer wishes to serve so didn’t ask for reappointment. Lutz did and in May was one of four candidates interviewed publicly by the city council Surprisingly the council brought in two more candidates in July to be interviewed for the two HRB seats. “Surprising” because the council members often complain they can’t get enough citizens to volunteer for the various committees; more recently they seem to have a surplus. Will the council move forward and appoint someone to fill those two seats?
It’s not stopping the HRB business; last week they gave conceptual approval to two new townhouses at 1106 Craven Street, sharing a lot with the three townhouses at 1105 1107 and 1109 Bay plus the redevelopment of the county jail on King Street and 48 dwelling units. Or will the reduced Council go ahead and make appointments, revealing how they really feel about Maxine and the HBF?
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
From staff reports A suspect in a June murder on St. Helena Island is behind bars.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), Mekhi J. Moultrie, who was wanted for murder and possession of a firearm during the commission
Search
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ton spokesperson told The Island News Sunday night by phone.
The Washington Post reported Monday the jet’s transponder was not working “for some reason that we haven’t yet determined,” according to Jeremy Huggins, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston.
Joint Base Charleston’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted “Based on the jet’s lastknown position and in coordination with the FAA, we are focusing our attention north of JB Charleston around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.”
Still, by Monday afternoon the plane had not been found. Teams from Joint Base Charleston, MCAS Beaufort, the 2nd Marine
of a violent crime, surrendered to authorities in Goose Creek on Wednesday, Sept. 13
Sheriff’s deputies transported Moultrie to the Beaufort County Detention Center Thursday, Sept. 14, where he awaits a bond hearing.
Moultrie’s charges stem from
Aircraft Wing out of MCAS Cherry Point, Navy Region Southeast, the FAA, the Civil Air Patrol, as well as local, county, and state law enforcement across South Carolina had been working to locate the fighter.
During the search, Joint Base Charleston asked that anyone with information that might help their recovery teams call the Base Defense Operations Center at 843-963-3600
Finally, after 6 p.m., Monday, more than a day after the pilot ejected, personnel from Joint Base Charleston and MCAS Beaufort, working with local authorities, located the plane’s debris field in Williamsburg County, roughly two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston. Authorities asked members of the community to avoid the area as the recovery team secures the debris field. The Marine
the June 27 murder of 36-year-old Brandon Lee Simmons on Harbor Breeze Drive on St. Helena Island. Simmons was shot to death in his vehicle in the road leading to his home. At approximately 11:50 p.m., BCSO deputies were called to the
Corps is beginning the recovery process.
“One of the things I’m asking is for any people in the area and anybody from here in the Lowcountry to remain away from the crash site,” Bortnem said Tuesday.
“And that’s for two reasons.
For their safety, and also so we don’t compromise the investigative process and the crash site itself. We’ve established a security area that’s around the crash site, including the air space around the crash site, so we ask that people remain away. Keep away personally, and don’t try to fly drones or anything else around that particular area.”
With three aviation mishaps over the past three weeks, Acting Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith, directed all Marine Corps aviation units to “conduct a two-day stand down in operations this week to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices.”
area for a report of shots fired.
The person who called 911 initially reported hearing gunfire and then noticed a vehicle sitting in the roadway. When deputies arrived, they found Simmons deceased in the car, suffering from multiple gun-
“During the stand down, aviation commanders will lead discussions with their Marines focusing on the fundamentals of safe flight operations, ground safety, maintenance and flight procedures, and maintaining combat readiness,” the order reads. “This stand down is being taken to ensure the service is maintaining operational standardization of combat-ready aircraft with well-prepared pilots and crews. This stand down invests time and energy in reinforcing the Marine aviation community’s established policies, practices and procedures and ensures Marine Corps remains a ready and highly-trained fighting force.”
Bortnem did not field questions during or after his Tuesday teleconference with local news media, but instead encouraged members of their press to email questions to him through
shot wounds. Investigators connected Moultrie to the crime through forensic examination of evidence collected at the crime scene. Arrest warrants were obtained on Sept. 6. Investigators had been actively seeking to locate him prior to his surrender.
Lt. Lyndsay Cribb, Deputy Director of Communication Strategy and Operations for MCAS Beaufort.
As of press time, The Island News had not yet received responses to its queries.
The F-35s involved in Sunday’s mishap are with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and based at MCAS Beaufort. They were carrying no live weapons when the mishap occurred.
The F-35 is manufactured by Lockheed-Martin and cost roughly $80 million apiece. This is the second crash of an F-35 based at MCAS Beaufort.
On Sept. 28 2018, a pilot ejected safely from an F-35 Lightning II with VMFAT 501 before it crashed on uninhabited Little Barnwell Island.
The crash was attributed to a defective fuel tube. The
Marines’ entire fleet of F-35s was grounded until it could be inspected and the defective parts eliminated.
This is also the second incident involving MCAS Beaufort-based planes in the past month.
Maj. Andrew Mettler was killed late Thursday, Aug. 24, when his F/A-18D Hornet crashed during a training flight in the vicinity of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. That crash is still under investigation.
Mettler was assigned to Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd MAW stationed on Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The squadron was participating in Service Level Training Exercise 5-23
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at
The Island News
“I like parts of it, and there’s parts of it I don’t like.”
Beaufort County Council member Alice Howard seemed to sum up what quite a number of people in the room thought Thursday night, Sept. 14 at an open house to review the master plan for the Reimagine Ribaut Road project at Technical College of the Lowcountry.
The Reimagine Ribaut Road project looks to to enhance the 5 5 mile corridor from Boundary Street to the Russell Bell Bridge. Stakeholders Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort, the Town of Port Royal, and Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., are working together to create a master plan for improvements along the corridor.
The open house was another chance for the public — as well as the stakeholders — to see the latest project updates, share their thoughts and concerns, as well as give feedback and share their comments.
Without seeing the plans firsthand, it is difficult to illustrate just how big the changes are.
Roundabouts are introduced — at the intersection of Ribaut Road and Boundary Street; at Ribaut and Lady’s Island Drive; and nearly in front of the hospital where the entrances to TCL are; the four-lane Ribaut Road will be reduced to two lanes with a median
between Boundary Street and TCL; and sidewalks and bike paths will extend the length of the project on both sides of the road among many features.
The roundabouts worry Beaufort Memorial Hospital President and CEO Russell Baxley. Or at least one in particular — one at Reynolds Street, the entrance to TCL, where Ribaut will change from two lanes to four or vice versa, depending on your direction of travel.
“From Beaufort Memorial’s standpoint, I think anything that causes a pinch point getting to and from the hospital concerns us,” Baxley told The Island News. “Anything that may impede first responders or emergency response vehicles getting to the hospital in the required time for us to serve the patients of the area, that’s a concern because we have limited windows for treatment times … stroke, chest pain, etc. We
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ing’s supporters, Newman handed down two back-toback 10-year sentences for Fleming. His time in federal lock-up is expected to count toward his 20-year term.
“You must suffer the consequences of your actions,” Newman told Fleming in the same Beaufort County courthouse where he practiced until the fraud schemes came to light in 2021 State prosecutors accused Fleming, 54, of working in concert with Murdaugh to steal from two clients the notorious ex-attorney referred to him: Pamela Pinckney, who was badly hurt with her family in a car wreck, and the family of Murdaugh’s late housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield. All told, state prosecutors have said, Fleming was responsible for the theft of some $3 7 million — money they say he and
Murdaugh pilfered in their victims’ lowest moments.
Fleming pleaded guilty to one charge in federal court and 23 charges at the state level.
The judge in the federal case said the sentence he imposed was intended to cover the totality of Fleming’s actions in both state and federal court. But Newman was not bound to follow those wishes and made clear he paid them little mind. He said leniency was not his responsibility.
In fact, Newman said he didn’t even read the federal court’s decision before making his. He said Fleming’s actions cast a shadow over the legal profession, sowing doubt into every client’s mind when they interact with their attorneys.
“This is unprecedented. This is unimaginable,” Newman said. “This is, I think, the greatest crime for a lawyer in the history of the state of South Carolina.”
When he pleaded guilty to a federal crime earlier this
year, Fleming acknowledged that he knew Murdaugh planned to take money that belonged to Satterfield’s heirs, but he claimed he didn’t know the full extent of his friend’s plans. Satterfield’s family did not receive a dollar of the $4 3 million Murdaugh’s insurance companies paid after she succumbed to injuries sustained at his remote Colleton County home in 2018 “We not only trusted the system; we trusted what we thought was family to us,” Satterfield’s sister, Ginger Hadwin, said before Fleming’s sentence was imposed.
“As a Christian family, we believe in forgiving, but it still does not take away the hurt that he caused us.”
But while federal prosecutors have said they don’t believe Fleming knew the extent of Murdaugh’s plans, the state Attorney General’s Office has asserted that Fleming participated actively with Murdaugh, his former law school roommate.
Though Fleming pleaded
have concerns.”
Baxley said if the project was about making Ribaut Road safer, he felt the project was “admirable.” But he was less enthusiastic if the goal was simply to beautify without value.
Once again, he emphasized his focus was on the area around the hospital.
“When you have four lanes going to two lanes on a very busy road, could that cause impediments to getting to the hospital coming from downtown Beaufort or from toward the Air Station?” he said. “Those are our biggest concerns. We’ll continue to look and watch it, but the roundabout in front of the hospital, or close to it, is of concern to us.”
Jane Culley, who lives in Spanish Point, has to use Ribaut Road every time she leaves her house, she said. She was not impressed.
“Just looking at it, you have a narrowing of Ribaut Road in front of a fire station,” she said. “That’s just crazy. And I hate roundabouts. Somebody said this is a long way away. I don’t like it.”
The majority of the 5 5mile corridor resides in Howard’s district. Her feeling are mixed.
guilty to the state’s charges, lead prosecutor Creighton Waters offered him little leniency. He questioned Fleming’s remorse and said he hadn’t taken responsibility for his crimes until after the state grand jury “caught him red-handed.”
Waters said Fleming took steps independent of Murdaugh to divert money from the Satterfields, for instance.
Waters also said Fleming chartered a plane to the College World Series for himself and Murdaugh and claimed it as an expense in Pinckney’s file. Other times, he diverted money when his bank account was running low, Waters said, using it to pay taxes and his mortgage.
“It doesn’t fit with the evidence,” Waters said of the notion that Fleming wasn’t aware of the full scheme. “It doesn’t fit with common sense.”
Fleming apologized to Satterfield’s sons and Pinckney before he received his federal sentence in August, acknowledging he had betrayed their
“We will be working through any kinks though the actual design process. This is a planning process for what we would like to envision,” Bishop said. “This doesn’t mean this is exactly what’s going to occur. This is an overview of what we’d like to see in the corridor. We’ll go through those details, those bottlenecks, those placement of medians very strategically in the design process.”
Bishop said despite the complaints about certain parts of the plan, overall the feed back has been positive.
“A lot of very positive feedback,” she said. “People are interested to see the most congested area get improved, such as Lady’s Island Drive at Ribaut Road. People are very excited about our pedestrian accommodations.”
“(I don’t like) the single lane near the hospital, the (roundabout) near the hospital, because people need to get to the hospital,” she said.
Howard likes a lot of the changes from the Mossy Oaks area through Port Royal, but is less enthusiastic about the reduction to two lanes from TCL to Boundary Street.
“I’ve got mixed feeling, but time will tell” she said.
Specifically, Howard was wishing for a pedestrian crosswalk of some sort near Southside Blvd.
“I see so many people cross (at Southside) that walk,” Howard said. “All the people that walk down Southside to get to the grocery store.”
The good thing for people like Baxley and Howard is nothing is set in stone, yet.
“At this point, this is a workshop for what we are proposing as the final design,” said Brittanee Bishop, Transportation Program Manager for Beaufort County. “However, when we go into design, details will again be tweaked.”
Bishop said even a major change to the plan, like the removal of a traffic circle, for example, is still a possibility.
trust and saying he didn’t expect their forgiveness. He said he had turned in his license to practice law and had started pursuing training as a contractor before he was incarcerated.
At his state sentencing hearing, Fleming repeated his apology and thanked the victims of his crimes for the forgiveness they had expressed. Speaking softly in a hoarse voice, wearing handcuffs and a grey-striped prison jumpsuit, Fleming told Newman he was putting himself at the mercy of a court system he had betrayed. He sobbed as he apologized for letting down his victims, his community and his family.
“Today, I offer this court no excuses. There are no excuses,” he said, adding that he harbored “a profound and deep disappointment in myself.”
Fleming turned himself in to federal custody immediately after he received his sentence in Charleston, starting the clock on his 46-month federal term. He
Count Town of Port Royal Mayor Joe DeVito as one of those happy with the design. Recent growth means traffic is up as much as 60% over just a couple years ago over the part of the plan that resides in Port Royal. He says Port Royal needs this.
“We’ve been pushing Ribaut Road needed change since the day I stepped in office,” he said. “It’s been something I have been fighting for and fighting for.”
DeVito said is the project happens in phases, he knows who he wants to go first.
“I’m fine with that as long as Port Royal is Phase 1 if the project gets phased in any way,” DeVito said. “I’m happy with a lot of what I see. I still think there’s more that can be done.”
Citizens and stakeholders still have the time and opportunity to complete a survey and provide comments on an interactive map at www.reimagineribautroad. com. The website is a good resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the project.
For questions or persons requiring additional assistance due to language barriers, contact the Engineering Department at 843-255-2700
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
has since been housed at the Charleston County jail awaiting a prison assignment.
To date, he is the only person to begin serving a prison sentence related to Murdaugh’s alleged fraud schemes. Former Hampton banker Russell Laffitte hasn’t yet reported for his 7-year term in federal prison, though he could as soon as Sept. 21
Meanwhile, Murdaugh has not been tried on any of his alleged financial crimes. Murdaugh, 55, is expected to plead guilty to federal charges on Sept. 21 Murdaugh is currently serving two life sentences in state prison for the June 2021 murder of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul, a conviction he is seeking to overturn. He is scheduled to stand trial on charges related to the alleged Satterfield theft in November.
From staff reports Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators are seeking 39-year-old Andre L. Greene of Sheldon, who is currently wanted for attempted murder.
Greene has been identified as the person responsible for the September 11 shooting at the Oyotunji African Village in Sheldon that left one man injured.
According to the BCSO, at approximately 6:05 p.m., deputies were called to a home on Bryant Lane at the Oyotunji African Village for a fight between two women.
Shortly thereafter, at 6:13 p.m. Beaufort County Communications Center received another call of “shots fired” from the same area.
When deputies arrived at Bryant Lane, they learned that a 47-year-old man had suffered injuries from gunfire and was taken to the nearby Sheldon Fire Department by vehicle. Deputies went to the fire station and found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital and later to the Medical University of South Carolina where he remains in stable condition.
Anyone who may have information on Greene’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Beaufort County Communications Center at 843-524-2777 or if wishing to remain anonymous and for a possible reward, Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111
from page A1
fort and from all my affiliated board seats. The City is in capable hands with an amazing staff and dedicated council, and I am excited to watch our continued progress … as a private citizen.”
The catalyst
Recently, tensions have been high between the City of Beaufort and the Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) due to litigation regarding the construction of a parking structure, hotel and apartments by 303 Associates in downtown Beaufort and City Council voting on Tuesday, Sept. 12, to remove the sentence in the city ordinance that gives the HBF the ability to name one of the five members of the Historic District Review Board (HRB).
It was after the City Council meeting on Tuesday, when Murray, Councilmen Mike McFee and Josh Scallate voted for the second and final time to amend the ordinance, removing the HBF’s ability to recommend a seat to the HRB, that there was an alleged incident between HBF Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins and Murray.
An account of the alleged incident was initially posted online by Beautiful Beaufort Alliance, an organization run by Graham Trask. Trask is a longtime critic of Murray, the parking structure, hotel and apartments that have been approved to be built in downtown Beaufort.
Murray’s final official act as mayor was to appear Thursday night at the open house for the Reimagine Ribaut project at Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL). The City of Beaufort is a stakeholder in the project along with the Town of Port Royal and Beaufort County.
Council members surprised
Under the Beaufort Code of Ordinances, as mayor pro tem, City Councilman Mike McFee in the acting mayor
The Port Royal Police Department (PRPD) is still internally reviewing the arrest of Sgt. Jason Boggess, and no additional actions have been taken as of Monday, Sept. 18, according to Capt. J.H. Griffith, public information officer for the Town of Port Royal Police.
“The Port Royal Police Department cannot comment on personnel matters that are under review,” Grif-
The next Indivisible Beaufort meeting scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Downtown Beaufort Library at 311 Scott Street.
The program for this meeting is entitled LGBTQ+: Attacks, misinformation, and Bridging the Divide.
As of April 3, 2023, at least 417 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the U.S. since the start of the year, more than twice the number of such bills introduced all of last year.
The group will welcome two speakers who can share how these laws impact real life in South Carolina, and, importantly, what we can do to bridge this divide.
Angela Wright is a counselor at The Door’s Open Therapy in Beaufort, where she specializes in the LGBTQIA+ Community. She is also the Co-Chair for LowCountry Pride and is Second Vice Chair for the SCDP LGBTQ+ caucus.
of Beaufort until a new mayor is installed by way of a special election.
“We’ve still got a good leader, Mike McFee,” said Councilman Neil Lipsitz.
“He’ll be very good. We’ve got a special election coming up, but hopefully he’ll retain the seat. He’s been on Council for 26 years. He’s got a good eye on Beaufort.”
McFee said that he was “pretty blindsided” by Murray’s decision to resign.
“I don’t think anyone expected him to resign,” McFee said. “When we did talk, he kept reiterating the fact that he has a business here, he has children here that are going to grow up here, and he was getting tired of the constant attacks. From a healthy standpoint, the demands on him from his personal life and this, he just didn’t want to continue doing it.”
Lipsitz said that he thinks that the most recent attacks on his character are why he resigned.
“I was shocked,” Lipsitz said. “I know his reputation means a lot to him. It was being attacked. And I think it was the final straw.”
Fellow Councilman Josh Scallate also said that he didn’t know anything about the former mayor’s decision to resign.
“I don’t fully understand the reason for the decision, but I hope that the decision was made in the best interest for his family and that he can take some time and be with them, because I know that’s important,” Scallate said.
Scallate continued by saying that this job requires a lot of time and commitment and Murray gave that for “many years” and the city of Beaufort should be thankful for that.
“I was very comfortable with Stephen’s long-term leadership possibilities. We didn’t always agree. There were differences of opinion. But overall, he was good. I liked his enthusiasm, his youthfulness, his visions for the future,” said Councilman
Boggess
fith said in a release. Boggess was arrested by the S.C. Highway Patrol on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 12, at around 10:30 p.m., for driving under the influence, according to Beaufort County Detention Center records.
The arrest was confirmed by Port Royal Police, and according to their website he is an investigator within
Gwenn McLune is a 39-year-old woman who is transgender. She and Angela co-facilitate a support group for transgender individuals. The event is free and open to the public.
The Beaufort County Youth Conference is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Building 9
There will be food, music, fun and breakout sessions.
The conference arms middle and high school youth through its workshops with information that helps them make healthy decisions that will help them throughout their lives. The conference provides lunch, T-shirts, wholesome entertainment and door prizes – all free thanks to generous donations. For more information, call Carrie
the department. The 37-year-old officer was released on Wednesday morning on a $1,017 personal recognizance bond.
Boggess lives on Lady’s Island, according to public records.
According to records, his blood alcohol content was less than .10, more than the legal limit of 0 08 in S.C., at the time of his arrest and this is his first DUI offense.
In 2018, Boggess was recognized by the S.C. Department of
Major at 843-812-4399; Lynn Singleton at 843-476-1888; or Janie Brown at 843-592-0013
The Beaufort County Youth Conference is presenting a Gangs And Violence Prevention Workshop at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Building 4, Room 128
The facilitator is A.V. Strong, a former member of the Bloods street gang in Los Angeles, and now a renowned certified expert on gang culture and behavior.
For more information, call Carrie Major at 843-812-4399 or Lynn Singleton at 843-476-1888. Registration is not required.
Born To Read is hosting a free
Public Safety as an Officer of the Year for an agency having between 11 to 25 officers for DUI enforcement for making 19 DUI arrests during the year.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She joined The Island News in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Yoga Event on Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Contemplative Garden located at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, benefiting Born To Read, sponsored by local yoga studios and Reiki practitioners. Professionally certified yoga instructors will lead participants in yoga in the Contemplative Garden from 6 to 9 p.m. This evening event is designed to promote physical and spiritual wellness while supporting early childhood literacy in the Lowcountry.
Born To Read Inc became an independent 501c3 in 2008. The mission of Born To Read Inc is to promote early childhood literacy and language development while helping new parents understand their critical role as their child’s first and most important teacher. Donations are accepted. For more information, contact Born To Read at 843-379-3350 or borntoreadec@gmail.com.
– From staff reports
ed,” McFee said. “If I had wanted to be mayor, I would have run for mayor two years ago, but I made the choice not to because I have enough irons in the fire.”
He followed up by saying that he would “handle this” as he needs to and make a decision as to if he would be the best person to serve as mayor moving forward.
At this point, McFee has not ruled out running for mayor in the special election in December.
According to a release from the City of Beaufort, the special election is expected to be held on Dec. 12, 2023. Details regarding the filing period will be forthcoming.
Murray wore many hats Murray was elected mayor in 2020, succeeding Keyserling, a three-term mayor who did not run for re-election. His term was set to end in 2024
He first ran for City Council in 2014, winning a seat, and ran unopposed for a second term in 2018 before pursuing the mayor’s seat.
statewide organizations — he was elected president of the Association of South Carolina Mayors and an atlarge delegate to the Board of Directors of the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC).
He resigned from those boards and positions, as well, on Friday.
“I’m resigning … from my affiliated board seats,” Murray said in a letter separate from his resignation letter as mayor. “I plan to lay low for a while to focus on the things noted in my letter, but please reach out if I can ever be of non-political assistance. Keep up the great work!”
Mitch Mitchell. When reached for comment, former Beaufort mayor Billy Keyserling said, “This is not a time where I would recommend anybody be a public servant. I’d thought I’s never say this but I’d not recommend anybody run for public office today.”
Moving forward
McFee, and the other council members, received a letter from Murray by email letting him know of his resignation early on Friday morning and said that they have texted a few times, but McFee is respecting Murray’s wish not to reach out to him.
“I did text and tell him that I’m disappointed and very sorry,” McFee said.
Murray responded by saying that McFee will be fine
and to hold it together until they can move forward.
McFee said that the city will continue with its strategic plan — all the ordinances and plans are in place from a policy standpoint, and they are just going continue going forward.
“It’s business as usual, we’re just one man down for a period of time,” McFee said.
Scallate seconded that statement and said that, “It’s a great loss, but we do have a good team at the table and hopefully we can just continue with the momentum that we have and bring sustainability to our future.”
When asked about how he feels about being mayor, McFee said that truthfully, becoming mayor this way feels “pretty bad.”
“This is not what I want-
Murray, a third generation Beaufortonian and a graduate of Beaufort High School, is a fixture in the Beaufort community in more ways than his time on City Council or as Mayor of Beaufort.
He is the CEO of Kazoobie Kazoos and the owner of New South Shirts. Kazoobie Kazoos is a small business that manufactures plastic kazoos and other musical instruments. It twice has won the National Blue Ribbon Small Business Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. New South Shirts specializes in digital garment printing, embroidery, event merchandising and promotional products.
Murray was a member of the founding Board of Directors of the Beaufort Digital Corridor, as well as a founding Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation. He was also recently elected to positions in two
“Mayor Murray leaves a legacy in Beaufort that is nothing short of remarkable,” Beaufort Digital Corridor Executive Director Jess O’Brien said in a statement emailed to The Island News. “As a founding board member of the Beaufort Digital Corridor, he embodied a relentless passion for fostering job growth and high-paying opportunities right here in our community. His unwavering commitment to volunteerism and support for our organization has been a driving force behind our success.”
Murray is a Past President of the Leadership Beaufort Alumni Association, a Riley Institute Leadership Diversity Fellow and a former Lowcountry Rotarian.
Now, as a private citizen, he’ll spend more time with his wife and twin daughters.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders,” Murray said on Friday afternoon.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She joined The Island News in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
The Island News
Bonny and David Gordon
knew where they wanted to make their home when they stumbled upon Beaufort while driving north from Savannah several years ago, but they never guessed that they would become a part of local history.
The Gordons officially purchased Southern Sweets and took over the restaurant on August 18.
They met the owners at the shop after closing, did the transfer, and then opened the next day for business like usual.
“We fell in love with Beaufort on accident,” Bonny said about their first trip to the city. Six months later they bought a vacation home here and officially moved here on Christmas Day of 2021.
The family moved from Oregon and brought an Ohana Shack Shave Ice food truck with them in hopes of starting a business, and in addition to the truck they are “serial entrepreneurs” who run and manage two vacation rentals in the area.
They ran the truck this summer, but they began to think about what they could do to contribute to Beaufort
in a “massive” way. “Our goal was to be a part of Beaufort and the fabric of the community,” Bonny said.
One day, Bonny was on Facebook and saw that Southern Sweets was up for sale.
“I don’t even think I really thought anything,” said Bonny. “I just messaged them and said that we were interested, please call me. This is exactly what we have been looking for.”
Turns out that the owners wanted to spend more time in the state that we had just left.
“It was one of those cosmic type situations,” Bonny said.
The more they delved into the business, the more they felt like it was the perfect next step for them and their family.
“The joy of this business
that has been in Beaufort for over 20 years and we are allowed to become a part of it,” Bonny said. “A lot of people may not have realized that the store changed hands. We have intentionally tried not to come in and change too much or close down.”
The Gordons don’t plan to make too many changes to the menu right off the bat, but they are planning to add Hawaiian Shave Ice to the menu once they have had a chance to fully under-
stand what is currently being served.
“We think that the menu is exceptional,” Bonny said. “One thing people might not realize is the love that goes into our food. Our pasta salads, soups and gumbo are made from scratch, fresh in our kitchen by our staff.”
They are hoping to add pastrami and a line of sandwiches to the menu, but they don’t want to detract from what is already there.
Bonny said that her fami-
ly has been overwhelmed by the welcome that they have received from the community since they took over the shop in August.
Bonny and David have three children, all who are students at Holy Trinity Classical Christian School, and apparently, it is a family affair when they kids are not in school.
“Everybody has jumped in with both feet,” Bonny said about her family working together to run the restaurant.
Being behind the counter and meeting people is Bonny’s favorite part of her family’s new business venture, and she said that “the area with (their) biggest growth” would be with staffing, permits and paperwork.
In their previous business ventures, it was just the two of them, so learning how to take care of a full staff of employees has been the most challenging part.
Despite the growing pains of owning a new business, the Gordons say that this truly was a “godsend” business for them and it answered every question, every hope that they had for their involvement in the community and has allowed them to dream about future projects that they cannot wait to do.
“Everybody that comes in has a story about the restaurant, and it’s a privilege for us to be a part of a place that has so much history,” Bonny said.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She joined The Island News in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Long-term care is the services needed to help you if a chronic illness or disability stops you from living on your own or performing daily personal activities such as getting dressed, taking medicine, or making meals.
You might not need these services until later in life, but consider planning well in advance. You don’t want to be developing a plan to pay for long-term care after you already need it. Here are four considerations to keep in mind as you develop a long-term care plan:
Know the different levels of care and their costs
Aging in place often refers to services being delivered to you in your home and can include aid rendered by visiting nurses, family and friends. It can also mean living in a continuing care community that has different facilities,
each providing increasing levels of care. You move into the facility that matches the level of care you need and move to higher levels of care as you require them. The benefit of residing in such a community is that you “age in place” as you progress through the facilities that offer the level of care you need. It can be comforting to know that you will not need to seek a new care facility each time your care requirements change. You just progress through the stages within the same community.
An assisted living facility is often a residence that provides staff who can assist with daily needs (showering, dressing, taking medications). Moving into assisted living may also add a level of security knowing that you are not alone if a fall or a health event occurs.
Skilled care refers to a residential facility (or nursing home) that includes on-site medical care.
These facilities often include short-term rehabilitation services following a hospital stay as well as 24-hour nursing care for fulltime residents who require extensive assistance and supervision. Memory care units may also be provided in these facilities for residents with cognitive challenges such as Alzheimer’s who require the most extreme level of supervision and care. As you would expect, the associated costs for care increase with the complexity of the level of care.
Discuss how you want to be looked after with loved ones
It is important for you to communicate your wishes so that they can be understood and considered. Though you may assume your adult children are going to care for and support you if the need for long-term care arises, you should find out whether that is the
From staff reports
In late August a check for $14 600 was presented from100 Women Who Care to Born to Read, (www.borntoread.org) a valuable nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy in Beaufort County.
Janie Ephland, Executive Director of Born to Read, accepted the check in their name. Born to Read’s trained volunteers visit new patients in the birthing center at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where they present a resource bag containing information on oral language development, three books for the baby and a T-shirt. They advise parents of the importance of daily reading and talking with their babies starting at birth. For more information www.borntoread.org.
From their beginning in Beaufort in 2015 100 Women Who Care has donated more than $455,000 to local nonprofit organizations. The group meets quarterly and listens to presentations from worthy groups, located in Northern Beaufort County, who need funding for local projects.
Members who attend the short, one-hour meeting, vote after the presentations and
Janie Ephland, Executive Director of Born to Read, accepts a check for $14,600 from Beaufort’s 100 Women Who Care. Submitted photo.
the chosen nonprofit receives a $100 check from every woman in the organization. Currently there are 146 generous members but the organization is open to any woman in Northern Beaufort County.
If you are interested in attending, the meetings are the second Tuesday of each quarter (Jan-April-July-October).
The next meeting will be October 10 at 5:30 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Fellowship Hall on Church Street. The public is invited. For more information, visit 100wwcbeaufort.org.
case by speaking to them directly. Consider working together to create an action plan that supports your needs.
Consider how you’ll pay for long-term care
Health insurance and government programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, impose restrictions and limits when it comes to paying for long-term care. That means you may need to incorporate other approaches into your plan such as liquidating assets, paying out of pocket, relying on a family member to pay, or purchasing longterm care insurance. For help with deciding, discuss the choices thoroughly with your legal and financial advisors.
Insurance products are offered through nonbank insurance agency affiliates of Wells Fargo
Company
From staff reports
Longtime Beaufort resident and certified financial planner Owen Hand is the 2023 recipient of the Rotary Bowl, the Rotary Club of Beaufort’s highest honor. It was presented by current Rotary Club of Beaufort President Barry Wilson at dinner event held on Friday, Sept. 15 2023
Hand is the 56th recipient to receive the Bowl, which was first awarded in 1936. It is not presented every year, but only when the Rotary Club of Beaufort believes they have a candidate who has exhibited significant selfless service.
Such was the case for Hand. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Beaufort for more than 50 years, having joined in 1970 He is a past President of the Rotary and currently serves as the membership committee chair. He is credited with attracting countless Beaufort area residents to become Rotarians.
Outside of Rotary, Hand’s selfless spirit is evident throughout Beaufort. He was the 24th Commodore of Beaufort’s annual Water Festival; he was President of Beaufort’s Sail and Power Squadron; and almost since its inception in 2009, he has been a board member of Honor Flight Savannah and ac-
Owen Hand receives the Rotary Bowl, the Rotary Club of Beaufort’s highest award. Hand is the 56th recipient of the prestigious award. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Beaufort
tively involved in fundraising and organizing trips to take Lowcountry area veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the nation’s war memorials.
Owen Hand exemplifies the motto of Rotary: “Service above self.”
Problems that today’s young people face are so complex and overwhelming that it’s difficult for parents and elders to figure out the best approaches to help solve them. Our starting point must be the realization that everything has changed.
Young people are incredibly resilient, but they can’t be expected to handle the pressure cooker of today’s world on their own. We owe it to them to educate ourselves, advocate for our children, and empower them to ask for help when they need it. And we need to give them the tools they need for wellbeing, like sleep, exercise, and a solid foundation of faith.
Unfortunately, suicidal thoughts are common among teens and young adults, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nearly 20% of high school students in the U.S. report serious thoughts of suicide, and 9% report a suicide attempt. And while suicide affects people of all ages, in 2021 it was the second-leading cause of death for people 10-14 and 20-34, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Suicide is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations. Most often, suicidal thoughts are the result of feeling helpless or unable to cope with what seems like an overwhelming life situation. Without hope for the future, suicide may seem like the only solution.
There also may be a genetic link to suicide, as people who die by suicide, or have suicidal thoughts or behavior, are more likely to have a family history of suicide.
Teen depression is a serious mental health problem, and untreated depression can result in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your teenager's life. Complications can include alcohol and drug misuse, academic problems, family conflicts and relation-
ship difficulties, and suicide or suicide attempts.
Warning signs that someone is thinking of suicide aren't always obvious, and they can vary from person to person. Some people make their intentions clear, while others keep suicidal thoughts and feelings secret.
When people say they are thinking about suicide or act as though they may be considering harming themselves, it can be upsetting. You may not be sure
what to do to help. You may wonder whether you should take them seriously or if you might make the situation worse.
Taking action is always the best choice. While you're not responsible for preventing someone from taking his or her own life, your intervention may help your teen see that other options are available to stay safe and get treatment.
If you think your teen or someone you know may hurt themself or attempt suicide, get
help right away by taking one of these actions:
• Call your mental health specialist.
• Call a crisis hotline number.
» In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7. Or use Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential.
» U.S. veterans or service members who are in crisis can call 988 and press “1” for the Veterans Crisis Line, text 838255 or chat online.
» The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. also has a Spanish-language phone line at 888-6289454
• Call 911 or your local emergency number. Seek help from your healthcare professional.
• Reach out to a close friend or loved one. Contact a minister, spiritual leader, or someone else in your faith community.
Source: Adapted from an article by David Magee (www.daviddmagee.com), a best-selling author of Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis (Matt Holt, August 2023, ISBN: 978-1-6377439-6-6)
Prostate cancer will affect 1 in 8 men, according to the American Cancer Society. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. More than 288,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year, and more than 34 000 people will die of the disease.
The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
Symptoms:
Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages.
More advanced prostate cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as:
Trouble urinating.
Decreased force in the stream of urine.
Blood in the urine.
Blood in the semen.
Bone pain.
Losing weight without trying.
Erectile dysfunction.
Risk factors:
Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:
• Older age—Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age. It's most common after 50
• Race—Black men are at greater risk of prostate cancer than men of other races, and their prostate cancer is more likely to be aggressive or advanced.
• Family history—If a blood rela-
tive, such as a parent, sibling, or child, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Also, if you have a family history of genes that increase the risk of breast cancer—BRCA1 or BRCA2—or a strong family history of breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be higher. Obesity—Men who are obese may have a higher risk of prostate cancer compared with men considered to have a healthy weight, though studies have had mixed results. In men who are obese, the cancer is more likely to be more aggressive and more likely to return after initial treatment.
If you're concerned about your risk,
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers for men in the United States, which is why early detection is so important.
you may be interested in prostate cancer prevention. While there's no proven prevention strategy, you can reduce your risk of prostate cancer by making healthy choices regarding your diet, weight, and exercise.
If treatment is recommended, options can include:
Surgery to remove the prostate.
Radiation therapy.
Ablative therapies. Hormone therapy.
Chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy. Targeted drug therapy.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/
“Early diagnosis means the possibility of finding the prostate cancer at an earlier stage, so we can offer you less invasive alternatives that can give us good oncological cancer control but reduce the side effects,” explained Ruben Olivares, MD, urology specialist for Cleveland Clinic.
Treatment options for prostate cancer depend on the severity.
For example, Dr. Olivares said some individuals may only need to do active surveillance, meaning they’ll be monitored to see if the cancer progresses. If the cancer is more aggressive, their physician may recommend undergoing radiation or getting their entire prostate removed.
And for intermediate-level cancer, they
Walking is an inexpensive form of exercise that many people of various abilities and ages can do. What about those 10,000 steps a day that many fitness apps recommend?
Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says there is no magic number of steps per day that people should strive for because everyone is different. What matters most, he says, is that people are moving.
"Walking is perhaps the easiest, most affordable and one of the most effective types of physical activity humans can do," says Dr. Lopez-Jimenez. How many daily steps should you take? It depends.
"For a 25-to-30-year-old person, walking 6 000 steps a day is probably too little, whereas for an 85-year-old person, walking 5,000 steps is actually very good," he says.
And make walking part of your daily routine. Use the stairs, walk your dog or park away from the store entrance.
"People should be walking every day, even for a few minutes at a time, and even if it is just 15 or 20 minutes," says Dr. Lopez-Jimenez. Take a break from your desk and take a walk. It's good for your head and heart.
"Walking has many beneficial effects on our health—not just
cardiovascular but even mental health," he says.
Tips to add more steps to your day
Take the dog for a walk or find
a walking buddy Head to the beach or a walking trail
Include the family Walk while waiting Schedule workday walks
could be eligible for high-intensity focused therapy, which uses ultrasound waves to get rid of the cancer. This kind of procedure can help reduce common side effects like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Dr. Olivares said there’s also another newer procedure called “nanoknife” that has similar benefits. It works by killing cancer cells with high-voltage electrical pulses.
“The good news is that the cells just inside that area where the electrodes are located is going to receive the electrical pulses, so that precise area is going to be destroyed, preserving the surrounding structure,” he said.
Men are encouraged to get their first prostate cancer screening by age 50
However, if you have a family history, you should have the exam at 45
Source: ccnewsservice@ccf.org
Park farther away
Take the stairs
Set personal goals
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get 150 minutes of weekly physical activity. There are different goals for people of different ages and abilities.
Source: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic. org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-walkingis-a-step-toward-heart-health/
Incorporating more fruits and vegetables, which provide valuable fiber, is a step in the right direction to help manage cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and overall weight. However, if you are not used to consuming fiber-rich foods in your diet, you will want to do so slowly to avoid bloating and abdominal pain.
The amount of fiber each person needs is based on age. Generally, men aged 50 and younger should aim for 38 grams of fiber daily, whereas women of this age would target 25 grams daily. As we age, fiber intake recommendations decrease.
Men aged 51 and older should aim for 30 grams of fiber daily; women should aim for 21 grams daily.
Some common offenders can trigger excess digestive discomfort, including bloating.
• Fruits with high fructose content: Avoid fruits that are high in fructose, such as apples, pears, and watermelon. Instead, choose bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, and darker-hued fruit
By Mayo Clinic Staff
— such as blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries — which contain valuable antioxidants.
Beans and lentils: To reduce the amount of sugar that may contribute to bloating, always rinse canned beans and ensure they are thoroughly cooked. Cooking beans until they are very soft helps to decrease
gas production. Alternative, easier-to-digest options that won't cause as much bloating include tofu, tempeh, or quinoa.
Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and cabbage are among the most challenging to digest due to their complex fibers, which tend to ferment in the
gut, causing gas and bloating. Alternative nutrient-rich foods that are easier on the gut include dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, and Swiss chard.
• Onions and garlic: Many allium family varieties, including red and yellow onions and garlic, can be difficult to digest. To reduce sensitivity, cook the vegetables well or soak in water for at least 15 minutes if eating them raw. You may also consider using powdered versions—although some people may still have sensitivity. To enhance flavor in your dishes, look to alternatives such as celery, fennel, shallots, or chives. You can also add other spices and herbs such as basil, ginger, and oregano to add depth to your meals without the fear of digestive issues. With some further adjustments, you can ease the bloating and discomfort you currently experience.
• Eat smaller meals,
more frequently. Instead of eating large meals, eat smaller portions more frequently throughout the day. This approach can help your digestive system process food more efficiently, reducing the chances of bloating.
• Eat slowly. Taking time to chew your food thoroughly can help ensure that food is properly broken down in your mouth, which aids digestion and reduces the strain on your stomach. This also helps you to avoid overeating, which can put unnecessary pressure on your digestive system and cause more bloating. Stay hydrated. Ensure you drink enough water daily to support healthy digestion. Being properly hydrated helps move food smoothly through your digestive tract.
• Avoid carbonated beverages. Soda and other carbonated beverages introduce excess air into the digestive system, which leads to more
Life gives lots of reasons — large and small — to feel short bouts of anxiety. For most people, those feelings go away when a problem or situation resolves. However, extreme, and ongoing anxiety and worry that is difficult to control could be symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder can cause feelings of panic, terror or dread during situations that aren't threatening.
Sometimes, people don't even know why they are feeling so anxious. It's possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or as an adult.
What does it feel like to have generalized anxiety disorder?
Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder can include:
Worrying excessively about lots of things, like health, relationships, and money. Not being able to control
feelings of worry.
Planning for worst-case scenarios.
Having problems dealing with uncertainty.
Having difficulty concentrating.
Physical symptoms may include:
Feeling restless, irritable or on edge.
Pounding or racing heart.
Shortness of breath.
Sweating.
Shaking or trembling.
Insomnia or trouble sleeping.
Headache, stomachache, or diarrhea. There may be times when your worries don't completely consume you, but you still feel anxious even when there's no apparent reason. For example, you may feel intense worry about your safety or that of your loved ones. Or you may have a general sense of dread or that something bad is about to happen.
Help is available
If you think that you might have generalized anxiety disorder, or if
you just want some help dealing with your feelings, a mental health professional or other health care professional can help you. You may be asked to fill out a simple survey that asks you to rate, on a scale of 1 to 5, the different types of feelings you're having.
Treatment for generalized anxiety disorder usually involves a combination of talk therapy, also called psychotherapy, and medicine. Talk therapy focuses on teaching new ways of thinking about, reacting to and coping with situations. Over time, this helps you manage your anxiety and return to your usual activities.
• Medicines called antidepressants, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are common treatments. If you think you might have an anxiety disorder, it’s important to remember that help is available. You don't have to deal with this
bloating and gas. Instead, drink still or flat water or try peppermint, chamomile, or ginger tea after meals, which can help promote digestion and soothe your gut. Keep a food journal. As you adjust your diet, consider tracking what you eat and how you feel afterward in a food journal. This practice can help you identify specific trigger foods and let you make further adjustments for your comfort. Hopefully, by incorporating small changes, you can continue enjoying your new diet without unpleasant side effects. Fiber has many benefits, including improved gut health over time. However, if you find that you still experience bloating, gas, or other abdominal discomfort, talk with your primary healthcare specialist. He or she can rule out food allergies or other conditions.
Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayoclinic-q-and-a-food-to-reducebloating/
alone. Talk to your health care team, and together you can find treatment that works best for you.
Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ connected-care/anxious-or-anxiety-disorderhow-to-tell/cpt-20541897; Generalized anxiety disorder. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/
symptoms-causes/syc-20360803. Accessed Sep. 13, 2023; Anxiety disorders. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/AboutMental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/ Anxiety-Disorders. Accessed Sep. 17. 2023; Anxiety disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ health/topics/anxiety-disorders. Accessed Sep. 17, 2023.
ARTS Pritchards Island –Past and Future
8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, Weekends during performances, through Oct. 2, 2023, USCB Center for the Arts
805 Carteret Street, Beaufort.
Free and open to the public. For tickets, visit USCBCenterForTheArts.com. The University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Center for the Arts has unveiled a new installation and an art exhibit to make plain the historic significance of Pritchards Island to barrier island existence in the past and in the present as well as denote the island’s future engagement in environmental and scientific discovery. The art exhibit component features a collection of work by more than 30 artists curated by partnership between the University and the Beaufort Arts Council through an artist in residence program in the early 2000s. Many notable local artists from Beaufort County are represented in the collection, such as Susan Graber, Cabel Heward, Weezie Gibson, Susan Deloach, Melba Cooper and Nan Kresch. For additional information, contact Bonnie Hargrove at 843-521-3145.
CALENDAR
Sharing Hearts Support Group
5:30 to 7 p.m., second Tuesday of every month, 2201 Boundary Street, Suite 208, Beaufort. Free.
Come tell your 10-minute story of a life lesson or healing message using your own creative expression through a song, poetry, reading, art or verbal storytelling. Come away with an uplifting sense of support and connections or to just listen. Register by leaving a voicemail with name, phone and number of attendees at 843-525-6115 or send email to reneesutton@healthierhealing. com. Notification will be done of any location change due to seat requirements.
The Beaufort Shag Club
7 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road Port Royal. We also host a Saturday evening dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Interested in learning the Shag dance? Free lessons for members beginning in September through June. Visit our Facebook page; The Beaufort Shag Club.
Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market
5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.
Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes
5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15 a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point Park. Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.
Wet Willie's Trivia Night 7 to 10 p.m., every Thursday, Wet Willie's, Beaufort Town Center. Win awesome prizes while
on Screen 2; and The Haunted Mansion (PG-13, 7:45 p.m.) and A Haunting In Venice (PG-13, 10 p.m.) on Screen 3. Online ticketing is available at hwy21drivein. com on the Now Playing page. Patrons are asked to arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.
“Our family at the Hwy. 21 drive in feel a responsibility to our community,” a statement from Highway 21 DriveIn management reads.
“We are concerned about many things in these trying times and in making the right decisions. We are concerned with our employees, our patrons, our business, our community’s businesses, and the health and wellbeing of all.”
A reminder: no outside food or beverages can be brought into the drive-in.
Upcoming movies include Exorcist (October) and Paw Patrol Mighty Movie (September 29). And Taylor Swift Eras Tour (October 13).
you sip the worlds greatest daiquiris and munch on delicious bites.
TECHconnect
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 3rd Thursday of each month, Beaufort Digital Corridor, 500 Carteret Street, Suite D, Beaufort. Free. The BDC's signature happy hour “meetup” networking event for tech professionals. Connect with like-minded people, fellow entrepreneurs, start-ups and VCs over local food and cold beverages. Call 843470-3506 or visit https://rb.gy/ e7t2h for more information.
Wet Willie's Bingo Night 7 to 10 p.m., every Friday, Wet Willie's, Beaufort Town Center. Win free giveaways, merchandise, and more cool prizes.
Karaoke with Melissa 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Fridays, R Bar & Grill, 70 Pennington Dr, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Highway 21 Flea Market
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday, Highway 21 Drive-In. Sellers, vendors, handmade items, unique products and yard sale items. For information, email lowcountryfleamarket@ gmail.com.
Port Royal Farmers Market
9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. You will find fresh, local,
seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http:// www.portroyalfarmersmarket. com/, visit @portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843295-0058.
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.
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. The next Reading is Saturday, Aug. 5.
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.
Southern Barrel Bluffton Artisan Market
4 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29, Southern Barrel Brewing Co., 375 Buckwalter Place Blvd, Bluffton. Lowcountry Made is proud to announce that the Bluffton Artisan Market is back at Southern Barrel! The Bluffton Artisan Market will kick off Southern Barrel's Oktoberfest weekend! We want to thank Southern Barrel for their continued patronage and advocacy for small businesses!
Southern Barrel is where Lowcountry Made markets started 3 years ago! And we are so excited to be collaborating again! Vendor applications are open at lcmade. com/bluffton-market-vendor-application/.
Palmetto Bluff Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays, Oct. 4, Oct. 18, Nov. 8, Nov. 29, Dec. 17, Palmetto Bluff Farm, 228 Old Moreland Road, Bluffton. The Palmetto Bluff Farmers Market is back this October! FREE and Open to the Public enjoy local shopping at the Farm at Palmetto Bluff. Lowcountry Made is honored to curate the lineup for the Palmetto Bluff Farmers Market. This will be a wonderful showcase of local growers and makers! The market is at capacity but all area farmers, producers, home bakers, food related makers, food trucks, and artisans are encouraged to apply for the wait list.
Bluffton Night Bazaar
5 to 8 p.m., Thursdays, Oct. 5, Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road, Bluffton. Lowcountry Made is proud to present the 2023 Bluffton Night Bazaar at Burnt Church Distillery. Applications for the fall dates are open now at lcmade.com/bluffton-night-bazaar-vendor-application/.
Beaufort Shrimp Festival
October 6 and 7, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort
Saint Peter’s 63rd
Annual Fall Bazaar
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct.
7, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 70 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort. The bazaar committee seeks Lowcountry artists and crafts people to sell their creations at the bazaar. Booths may be set up inside or outside. Fee is $100. The Bazaar will also feature International Foods, Sweet Shoppe, Beer and Wine Garden, Kids Zone with inflatables, games, and petting zoo, and a Silent Auction. Proceeds benefit the Lowcountry Outreach Center. For an application, contact parishlife@stpetersbeaufort.
org.
Beaufort Drum Circle
6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 13, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Gazebo, downtown Beaufort. Free. Bring a friend, relative or co-worker. It’s free. It’s family friendly. No musical experience is necessary. Extra drums available. Bring a chair and drum joyously with us. Open to everyone. No musical training is necessary as everyone can feel the rhythm of the group and join in. We have extra drums & other percussion in-
struments that may be borrowed for each session. If you prefer, come and just listen and watch as the group drums. Come to dance, hula-hoop, clap or chant.
Sips & Seafood Party
5 to 10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27, Hewitt Oaks, 205 Stillwell Road, Bluffton. $175. Bluffton Self Help’s annual fundraiser. The funds raised provide education, basic needs, career development, and a sense of hope. Last year alone, this event helped 194 families to remain in their homes, keep the lights on, and to get through a difficult time. It supported 413 neighbors as they earned an education through English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education, and GED Preparation classes. Our guests and sponsors provided 168 neighbors with the opportunity to meet one-on-one with client advocates through 672 meetings to connect to resources, develop goals and work toward reaching personal success. Through The Market 858 households received 431,428 pounds of fresh produce, dairy, meat, eggs, non perishable groceries, hygiene items, diapers and more than 20,000 articles of clothing enabling them to stretch their budget and have better health. Purchase tickets at https://rb.gy/kq7ef.
GOLF Beaufort County Democratic Party FUNdraising tournament
Saturday, September 23, The Landing at Pleasant Point, 8 Barnwell Drive, Lady’s Island. 9 a.m. check-in; 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. lunch. $100 per person, $400 per foursome includes golf and cart, plus a ticket to the lunch afterwards. Colleen Condon is our speaker, and the lunch is provided by Mother Smokin Good Catering. We are also selling tickets for lunch only for those who want to join us but don't play golf. Lunch tickets are $50 per person. Pay registration or uy tickets at https://bit.ly/3LlsPVh. Email dlsullivan678@gmail.com with questions.
HALLOWEEN Ghosts and Myths of Hilton Head Island 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18 through Saturday, Oct. 21, Zion Cemetery and Baynard Mausoleum, Outdoor Learning Center at the corner of 278 & Matthews Drive, Hilton Head Island. $15 per person. Presented by The Heritage Library. Experience the chills of the paranormal stories of Hilton Head Island as we bring to life Lydia Davant, Andrew Baynard, Cap’n Jack Stoney, Mary Kirk, Paulson Schwarzer, and Williams Eddings Baynard. Witness the Hilton Head Island of the 18th and 19th centuries through their eyes on a journey beyond the cemetery gates. Hear firsthand the ghost stories about the Harbour Town Lighthouse, the Baynard Funeral Procession, and the Blue Lady of Hilton Head Island. Purchase your tickets early This event always sells out and tickets are limited this year due to spatial distancing. Not recommended for children younger than 10. Register at https://heritagelib.org/ghostsmyths.
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-thecentury 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 843524-4333.
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.
Zion Cemetery & Baynard Mausoleum Costumed Cemetery Tour 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, through Oct. 10, 2023, Zion Cemetery, 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. $10 per adult, $8 per child. The Island’s history comes to life with this trip back in time, featuring costumed tour guides sharing fascinating stories of Hilton Head Island’s past. Visit the gravesites of four Revolutionary War heroes and find out about the bloody skirmish that was fought just steps away. Explore the island’s oldest structure and learn about the planters who built it. You’ll learn their stories of the Colonial era on Hilton Head Island and more as you tour one of the island’s most intriguing sites. Register at https:// heritagelib.org/tours.
Historic Ft. Mitchel Tour
10:30 a.m., Thursdays through Oct. 12, Ft. Mitchel, 65 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island. $10 per adult, $8 per child. Immerse yourself in the fascinating Civil War history of Hilton Head Island with a visit to Fort Mitchel. The site contains the remains of a coastal defense battery erected in 1862 to protect the Port Royal Sound by way of Skull Creek from incursions by Confederate gunboats based in the Savannah River. Costumed characters and an expert tour guide will demonstrate the vital historic importance of this place and the role the fort and its namesake, General Mitchel, played in shaping Hilton Head history, including historic Mitchelville. Register at https://heritagelib.org/tours.
Port Royal Lecture Series:
Who Was Here? Native Americans Before and During European Settlements
6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1004 11th Street, Port Royal. $25 per person – Seating is limited. Lecturers are Stephen Criswell, Professor Chris Judge, and Evan Nooe, University of South Carolina Native American Studies Center. Buy tickets at https://historic-port-royal-foundation.square.site/.
Underwater Secrets of Port Royal 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, Room 213, University of South Carolina Beaufort – Hilton Head Island Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Hilton Head Island. $10 for non-members, $8 for members. With presenter Richard Thomas. Centuries of weather and warfare have left underwater vestiges of a past filled with intrigue and tragedy. The locations and stories behind these known remnants of a former age are revealed through research into documented sources, coincidental encounters, and the use of modern technology in the pursuit of underwater archaeology. Register at https://heritagelib. org/classes.
The Southern Campaign in South Carolina 1776-1780
1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7, Room 213, University of South Carolina Beaufort – Hilton Head Island Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Hilton Head Island. $10 for non-members, $8 for members. With presenter Lee J. Wilwerding. This is a Semiquincentennial presentation.The British had a successful run in the South for four years which led to inflated expectations for victory. But wait there's more to come. Register at https://heritagelib.org/classes.
The Southern Campaign 1781
1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14, Room 213, University of South Carolina Beaufort – Hilton Head Island Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Hilton Head Island. $10 for non-members, $8 for members.
With presenter Lee J. Wilwerding. This is a Semiquincentennial presentation. Nathanial Greene was second only to George Washington in the panoply of Revolutionary War successful Generals. But his campaign in 1781 was a series of tactical defeats that still resulted in victory for the Patriot cause. Register at https://heritagelib.org/classes.
MEETINGS
Zonta Club of Beaufort
6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal. Beaufort Rotary Club Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.
The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group
8 a.m., first Thursday each month, Herban Marketplace, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building off-road/ dirt/wilderness mountain biking/ jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.
Rotary Club of the Lowcountry
7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Sea Island Parkway, Lady’s Island. A light breakfast is provided before the program. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit our website at www.lowcountryrotary.org or contact our President, Bob Bible a reconmc@ aol.com or 843-252-8535.
MUSIC Street Music on Paris Avenue
6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, Paris Avenue, Port Royal. Free. Bring your own chairs. Stage is between 9th and 10th streets. Sept.
9, Angela Easterling; Sept. 23, J.P. Soars & The Red Hots.
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.
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. Upcoming meetings are November 7 at Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville, and December 5 at the Indigo Run Clubhouse, Hilton Head Island. 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.
Sea Island Quilters
6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret Street, Beaufort. Our monthly series returns in September. This month the 2023 Quilt Challenge Color of the Month is “BLUE” and Andrea will have “Honey Bee Lane” Block of the Month Pattern #5 for distribution. Brenda Dyer, a certified Judy Niemeyer instructor presents her lecture “My Quiltworx Journey” and Trunk Show. Quiltworx, or Judy Niemeyer Quilting, Inc., creates patterns and teaching tools for Foundation Paper Piecing, a method for quilters with minimal previous experience to create intricate and complex heirloom quality quilts. Before launching Savannah Sews in Pooler, Ga., in December of 2021, Brenda was an educator for a major sewing machine manufacturer and quilted for others. Brenda will also offer a few items for sale including Judy Niemeyer patterns and various paper.
Maye River Quilters 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way in Hardeeville. The social time begins at 9:30 a.m. To attend as a guest, email RSVP to mayeriverquilters@ gmail.com. For more information and for a membership form, please call 987-464-0585.
SPORTS/GAMES
ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club 9:30 a.m.
Providing our clients unmatched experience and expertise.
Partners Doug Crowley and Lisa Wechsler combine over 50 years experience.
(843) 379-1065
• WWW.CWACPAS.COM
• 1411 QUEEN STREET
The Island News
From staff reports
The Beaufort Theatre Company’s presentation of the classic musical The Sound of Music opens Friday, September 23, and runs through October 1 at the USCB Center for the Arts (CFA), at 805 Carteret Street in downtown Beaufort.
The show will be directed by Christi Barr and features a cast of 30 local actors.
The winner of six Tony
Awards, The Sound of Music tells the story of Maria, a young woman who becomes a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer in late 1930s Austria. Maria brings music and love into the lives of the children, and they eventually come to love her.
However, the family’s happiness is threatened when the Nazis invade Austria.
The Sound of Music is a beloved musical that has been enjoyed by audiences of all ages for generations and features classic Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein (lyrics) songs such as "Do-Re-Mi," "My Favorite Things," and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain."
The musical is also a musical book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and is based on “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria
Augusta Trapp. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and military, and $20 for students They may be purchased at https://bit.ly/3PJcJHl or by calling the CFA Box Office at 843-521-4145. The USCB Center for the Arts is wheelchair accessible, with free parking next to the theater. For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit us online at USCBCenterForTheArts.com.
WANT TO GO?
What: The Sound of Music
Who: The Beaufort Theatre Company
When: September 23, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m., and September 24 and October 1 at 3 p.m.
Where: USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort
Tickets: $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and military, and $15 for students
Special to The Island News
Andrew Armstrong is a brilliant pianist whose talents are in great demand by major concert halls in the world’s grand cities, will once again be coming to Port Royal.
During the last and upcoming seasons, you could and will find him at the keyboard in Glasgow, Geneva, Dresden, Halifax, London, Paris, Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong, and others, but the really good news for the South Carolina Lowcountry is that he will be at it seven times this season right here in our community.
As the Artistic Director of USC Beaufort Chamber Music, Armstrong brings his exuberant personality, his vast knowledge of and passion for the world’s great classical repertoire, and his extremely talented fingers and friends to the USCB Center for the Arts for five Sunday evening concerts from November through April.
Because he loves Beaufort and feels a missionary zeal to bring Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Ger-
shwin to everyone, not just to those who are already their ardent fans, last August he offered to give a free pre-season concert, and St. Marks’ Episcopal Church in Port Royal took him up on the offer.
It was standing room only as Armstrong sat down and played hit, after hit, after hit. Rector Roy Tripp was blown away by the response of the audience to the music and has been working to garner just such a response on Sundays ever since.
Again and again, the clapping was loud and prolonged; again and again, the audience was on its feet demanding more. It was clear that
they loved Armstrong and the music he brought. The feeling was mutual, and he is coming back for Round 2 at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 for more commentary and music. And it’s free.
If you have someone you truly care about, bring them with you because you will never find a better spot for falling in love with the music of the masters. Of course, you could catch him in Hong Kong, but Port Royal is so close, and the price of a ticket is so right.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (www.stmarksc.org) is located at 1004 11th Street in Port Royal.
In Your Wildest Dreams, did you ever believe Taylor Swift would come to Beaufort? Well, Shake It Off, it’s true … in the movies, at least.
In case you haven’t heard … clearly you’re not a Swiftie … Taylor Swift The Eras Tour is coming to the Highway 21 Drive In on Friday, Oct. 13
The concert film culled from Swift’s immensely successful 2023 tour will run for four weeks on Screen 1 the drive-in’s biggest screen. And on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as Halloween, it will run twice a night, back-to-back.
The film will run Friday, Oct 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15; Thursday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Oct. 22
Thursday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Oct. 29; Tuesday, Oct. 31 (Halloween); Thursday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 5
Tickets are $19 89 for adults – see what they did there – and $13 13 for kids, seniors and military. Show times are 6:45 to 9:12 p.m., each day, and 9:30 to 11:57 p.m., for the second shows.
To reserve tickets, go to hwy21drivein.com, click “Book movie tickets” and scroll down to the separate Taylor Swift menu.
Taylor Swift souvenir popcorn buckets and drink cups will be available at the concession stand, as well.
If you’ve got a Blank Space in your October calendar, buy your tickets now. You know All Too Well you’ll kick yourself if you miss it.
From staff reports
The Penn Center National Historic Landmark District is presenting A World Within Worlds: The Visionary Art of Sam Doyle, an exhibition featuring the artistic works of Sam Doyle (1906-1985).
The exhibition launches at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 23 with a panel discussion at Penn Center’s Frisell House. From 7 to 8 p.m., there will be a reception and viewing at the York W. Bailey Museum. Penn Center is located at 16 Penn Center Cir-
cle-West on St. Helena Island.
The exhibition will remain on display from Saturday, Sept. 23 through December 22. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
Doyle, a former St. Helena resident and student at Penn School, is a world-renowned folk artist whose work has appeared at such esteemed museums as the Smithsonian Art Museum, the High Museum of Art, and the Gibbes Museum.
The apparent simplicity of Doyle’s compositions belies the
intricacy of their conception. His pointed allusions, swirled planes of color, and hand-painted phrases create surfaces dense with meaning.
The exhibit will be curated by Shawnya Harris, the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Curator of African American and African Diasporic Art at the Georgia Museum of Art. She has curated exhibitions of the works of Chicago-based sculptor Richard Hunt (b. 1935) and Gee's Bend, Alabama quilter
Mary Lee Bendolph (b. 1935), and a traveling exhibition of the works of painter and printmaker Emma Amos (1937-2020).
Her many awards include selection as the 2022 Georgia Museum Professional of the Year, and as a 2021 Fellow of the Center for Curatorial Leadership. She is the recipient of the 2018 James A. Porter and David C. Driskell Book Award in African American Art History for her publication
Expanding Tradition: Selections
from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection.
A graduate of Yale University, she earned a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Panelists are Emory Campbell, Deacon Peter Smalls, Mary Mack, Louanne LaRoche and Saundra "Renee" Smith.
This project was supported by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. This project is also supported by Penn Center, Inc.
Friday,
LowcoSports.com
For a fifth straight week, the Beaufort High football team found itself in a close game entering the fourth quarter, and for the third week in a row, the Eagles found a way to win.
Jadyn Andrews was able to grind out 107 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 4:26 left, as Beaufort edged visiting May River 16-13 in a defensive struggle.
The only points in the first half came when the Sharks snapped a punt through the back of the end zone for a safety, but May River used a big kickoff return from Gage Duncan to open the second half with a scoring drive, as quarterback Tanner Macy plunged over the goal line for a touchdown and a 7-2 lead.
One play after Elias Johnson broke away for a 49-yard run, Andrews put the Eagles back on top with a 1-yard TD run with 2:17 left in the third quarter, but the Sharks responded with a scoring drive of their own to regain the lead when Macy found Gage Duncan for a 4-yard TD.
Andrews took over on the next drive and broke free for a 14-yard TD to put Beaufort back in front, and the Eagles’ defense held off the Sharks when Isaac Smalls picked off Macy on a deep ball to end the threat.
Eagles rally past Creek
Beaufort High volleyball rallied after dropping the first two sets to visiting Battery Creek, surging to a 3-2 (24-26, 14-25, 26-24, 25-19, 159) win in Region 8-3A play Thursday, Sept. 14. Chloe Sampson had a team-high 15 kills for the Eagles, while Maelyn Toale added 10 kills, four aces, and 19 digs, and Alyson Dennison dished out 29 assists along with seven aces and 12 digs.
Dolphins sweep boys bout
Battery Creek’s boys volleyball team salvaged a split of the crosstown rivalry by avenging the girls
with a 25-11, 25-17 win over Beaufort High on Thursday to open Region 8-3A play.
After suffering their first losses of the season at a tournament over the weekend, John Paul II volleyball got back on track with a 3-0 (25-7, 25-10, 25-13) sweep of Colleton Prep on Thursday. Bela Crespo, Lily Termini, and Emma McKamey each had five kills, Caylin Gecy served up six aces, and Cayce Graves dished out nine assists for the Golden Warriors.
– LowcoSports.com
Beaufort Academy quarterback Dietrich Shuford keeps the ball and gets dragged down by his facemask by an Orangeburg Prep defender during the second half Friday, Sept. 15, at BA’s Merritt Field. The host Eagles extended their winning streak to five games to remain perfect. Bob Sofaly/ The Island News
Beaufort Academy 28, Orangeburg Prep 21
Devonte Green and Jaxen Porter combined for 365 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and Tres Delaney racked up 13 tackles (three for loss) and two sacks to lead Beaufort Academy’s defense in a close game at home. Green broke a 95-yard scoring run in the first quarter and finished with 209 yards on 17 carries, and Porter added 156 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20 carries along with nine tackles.
Next: Beaufort Academy (5-0) at Hilton Head Christian, 7 p.m.
Friday
Whale Branch 62, Burke 0
Darrell Cummings rolled up 136 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries, and KJ Chisholm, Bradford Thompson, Alonzo Allen, Jayvion Harris, and Zaire Polite also added rushing touchdowns as the Warriors rolled at home. Dorien Alston led a dominant defensive effort with eight tackles including five for loss and a forced fumble, while Treshon Hills added eight tackles with four for losses, and I’veon Watson had six tackles with three behind the line of scrimmage.
Next: Whale Branch (3-0) vs. Battery Creek, 7:30 p.m. Friday
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE B2
LowcoSports.com
Their senior season of high school softball is still a few months away, but Battery Creek’s Brooke Crosby and Beaufort High’s Kylie Rast made their college plans semi-official recently by announcing their commitments to in-state NCAA Division II programs.
Brooke Crosby Kylie RastCrosby is a standout infielder for the Dolphins who will take her game to Newberry next year, while the Eagles’ star pitcher Rast has said she’s headed to North Greenville when her high school career wraps up.
Crosby and Rast were teammates on the Badkatz travel team under Battery Creek coach Bob Layman this summer and are the first of several players on the team hoping to land opportunities to play at the next level.
the bottom
of
the
The Island News
Coosa Elementary School (CES) on Lady’s Island has been recognized as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education according to a release.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, Sept. 19, recognizing the 353 elementary, middle and high schools across the country who are receiving the award.
Coosa is one of five in the state of South Carolina who received the award this year.
“We are honored to be recognized nationally for this prestigious award,”
Coosa Principal Melissa Pender said. “This award is reflective of the dedication put forth by all stakeholders — our faculty, staff, students, parents and community members.”
National Blue Ribbon
Schools serve as models of effective and innovative school practices and are among the state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
The National Blue Ribbon award is a highly selective award that recognizes schools’ overall academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps and to qualify public schools are nominated by their state superintendent and must meet
Four Beaufort County School District board members earned recognition by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) for achievement in the association’s 2022–2023 Boardmanship Institute (BI).
Established in May 1982, SCSBA’s BI offers a year-round training program to help school board members better understand and more effectively act upon issues related to governance for their local schools. Training is required by state law only for new school board members.
Board Vice-Chair Col. Richard Geier, Board Secretary Angela Middleton, and Rachel Wisenfski were honored for reaching Level 2 in the School Board’s Association’s six-level recognition system. Level 2 is reached by earning 40 cumula-
from page B1
eligibility requirements.
The process from nomination to award typically takes about a year. If a school meets the eligibility requirements, they are invited by the U.S. Department of Education to apply for the award.
School applications are then screened for completeness, quality, accuracy and eligibility before being provided with feedback and a chance to modify their application before the final submission.
The schools must then be certified by the state superintendent based on the school’s most current performance on state assessments in order to receive the National Blue Ribbon School award.
“This is such an incredible distinction and you have made us so proud,” State Superintendent El-
tive points as a Board member. Board member William Smith was recognized for reaching Level 3 by earning 100 cumulative points.
Each Board member received a certificate and pin.
SCSBA is a non-profit organization serving as a statewide voice for boards governing the state’s 73 public school districts.
9 Beaufort cadets and students named to dean’s
Nine cadets and students from Beaufort were named to The Citadel’s Spring 2023 Dean’s List.
The dean's list is a recognition given to cadets and students who are registered for 12 or more semester hours and whose grade point average is 3 20 or higher, with no grade of I (Incomplete) and no grade below C for work in a semester.
for JPII, and Bryant Jolley contributed 63 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Next: John Paul II (1-4) at Florence Christian, 7:30 p.m.
len Weaver said of Coosa’s award. “Thank you for leading the way for South Carolina and really the entire country.”
The other S.C. schools that were named are Ben Lippen School (private school) in Columbia, Sterling School (Greenville County Schools) in Greenville, Christ Our King-Stella Maris School (The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston) in Mount Pleasant and Wren Elementary School (Anderson School District 1) in Piedmont.
“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to Raise the Bar in education,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a release. “The leaders educators and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire
Beaufort cadets and students on the dean’s list included Alma Orozco-Rico Elliott Ruoff Henry Manley, Brock Durham, Ryan Brozek Joseph Combs Matthew Polk Clayton Vande Burgt and Itzel Volino
The Citadel, located in Charleston, offers a classic military college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. The approximately 2,300 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets are not required to serve in the military, but about one-third of each class earn commissions to become officers in every branch of U.S. military service.
Beaufort’s Martin studied in Livorno, Italy during summer
Stephanie Martin took part in Troy (Ala.) University's Study Abroad program during the 2022-
me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all background to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.”
This year marks 40 years since the inception of the program, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Education, and in that time more than 9 700 school shave received this award.
“This is a huge honor, not only for Coosa Elementary but for our entire school district,” Beaufort County School District (BCSD) Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said. “It recognizes on a national level the strong focus on data driven initiatives at Coosa, and it’s a testament to the leadership of Principal Pender as she embodies collaboration and engagement, achieving in-
2023 school year. Martin, from Beaufort, studied in Livorno, Italy as part of the Digging Vada program.
Troy University is a public, historic, international university with 22,500 students and 154,000 alumni.
Three from Beaufort make
SNHU dean's list
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) congratulates three Beaufort students on being named to the Summer 2023 Dean's List. The summer terms run from May to August.
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3 500 to 3 699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in
creased collective outcomes for the students, families and community she serves.”
Once a school receives the award it remains a National Blue Ribbon School and that status does not expire.
This award is not the first recognition that Coosa has received this year.
Coosa’s assistant principal, Renee Roberts, was also recognized this year as the Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year and teacher April Bryant, a 5th grade teacher at Coosa was named as finalist for the 2023-2024 District Teacher of the Year.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/ The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She joined The Island News in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
fall, winter/spring, and summer. The Beaufort students are Shaunice Pou Jarod Myers and Destiny Loya
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with a 90-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults.
Amanda Sarkisian of Lady's Island graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from James Madison University during commencement exercises in August in Harrisonburg, Va.
Founded in 1908, James Madison University is a public university located in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
– From staff reports
of students and families.
Pinewood
The Golden Warriors couldn’t keep pace with coach DeVonte Holloman’s Panthers without star quarterback Christian Tilton, but freshman Alan Wolf was 6-for-9 for 63 yards and hit Sean Phalen for a touchdown in his first start under center. Brandyn Horton added 48 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown
Friday
The Mighty Lions went on the road to pick up their third consecutive win in the SCISA 8-man ranks following a pair of losses to start the season.
Next: Holy Trinity (3-2) vs. Wardlaw Academy, 7:30 p.m. Friday – LowcoSports.com
From staff reports Beaufort County School District (BCSD) is inviting students, families, staff, and the Beaufort community to be part of a rebranding process by participating in the Rebranding Survey launched Friday, Sept. 15
The survey is a key element of BCSD’s efforts to ensure stakeholder involvement in the district’s rebranding process – launched by district administrators to ensure the BCSD remains relevant in the shifting K-12 education environment, attracts students and quality staff, and enhances community enthusiasm.
The Rebranding Survey will be
collecting the public’s feedback on current perceptions of the district’s branding and visions for the future.
Paired with insights from focus groups to be conducted by K-12 branding and marketing partner, Rhodes Branding, stakeholder survey results will be critical in informing creative direction for BCSD’s new visual identity and brand messaging.
Through a new brand strategy, BCSD will elevate its position in South Carolina’s public education landscape, collectively expressing the spirit that defines the district and appealing to future generations
Like the strategic planning process, the community is being asked to contribute to the rebranding process to ensure the outcome reflects the values and aspirations of BCSD’s key stakeholders.
Lowcountry citizens can take the Rebranding Survey at https://tinyurl.com/2p9hj4fk. The survey is also being sent to BCSD families via email, and is shared on the district’s Facebook page.
Survey results will be collected until Friday, Sept. 29. The new BCSD brand is scheduled to launch early spring 2024
The Island News
Six more books are being returned to the library shelves following the September book review committee meeting on Sept. 13, at Okatie Elementary School.
Two of the six books, Damsel by Elana Arnold and Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli have been returned to library circulation without any additional stipulations or restrictions.
The other four books, Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas, Identical by Ellen Hopkins, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood and Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy, have all been returned to library circulation for Grades 9 through 12 only.
Identical was originally reviewed in May but was returned to the review process after a split vote during the May review committee meeting.
To date, 74 of the 97 books that were removed from Beaufort County School District (BCSD) library shelves have been reviewed, and of those, only four have been removed following their review –
Forever for a Year by B.T. Gottfried, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover and The Haters by Jesse Andrews.
Books removed during the review process will be removed from circulation for five years, and at that time they will be re-reviewed to see if they can be returned to BCSD libraries.
It is currently unclear how long it will take to review the last 23 books, but it is expected that the review process will at least go
into mid to late fall.
The 97 challenged books were originally pulled from shelves to be reviewed in October 2022 after two individuals requested to have the materials removed from school libraries.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/ The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She joined The Island News in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
From staff reports Beaufort Academy senior Craig Bowman has been named a 2024 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, Head of School Carol Ann Richards announced Wednesday, Sept. 13 Bowman is one of roughly 16 000 academically talented semifinalists to be named in the 69th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
More than 1 3 million high school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) last school year. The PSAT/NMSQT serves as the initial screen of program entrants.
Additionally, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay,
and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents fewer than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.
Craig Bowman
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists will continue in the competition for approximately 7,100 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million to be offered in the spring. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and half of the Finalists will earn National Merit Scholarships and the National Merit Scholar title.
Craig is the son of Amy and Craig Bowman of Lady’s Island.
From staff reports
After a hiatus, Pritchards Island, a pristine barrier island off the coast of Beaufort County, is undergoing a remarkable renaissance. Faculty and students from the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) are returning to conduct educational seminars and vital research on this ecological gem.
Once a thriving hub of scientific discovery, Pritchards Island fell out of favor as a research and education site for USCB for more than a decade due to funding challenges, erosion that destroyed a lab on the island, and logistical issues.
However, a newfound funding source has reignited the island's significance to the university. USCB marine scientists and a dedicated group of enthusiastic students are thrilled to be once again focused on the 2 5-mile long island. This renaissance is a direct result of the S.C. legislature’s decision to include a half million dollars in recurring funding for the island in the state budget this year.
"We are grateful to our governor and elected state officials for recognizing the importance of scientific inquiry for higher education,”
USCB Provost Eric Skipper said. "Pritchards will be a vital research hub for equipping the next generation of
scientists to address rising sea levels, beach erosion, and other challenges.”
Pritchards Island is valuable as a living laboratory where faculty, visiting scientists, and students can study natural erosion patterns. Unlike Hilton Head Island and some other barrier islands, Pritchards Island does not receive beach renourishment, which is used to battle erosion. Shoreline erosion has occurred at a rapid pace on Pritchards Island over the last several decades.
This natural phenomenon has impacted the island and structures on it significantly. Philip Rhodes donated Pritchards Island to the University of South Carolina in the 1980s and additionally funded the construction of
a marine laboratory on the island to assist with research and education efforts. The encroaching sea made the lab unsafe to use, and last year it was demolished.
The Rhodes family’s vision was to conserve the island, use it to educate the public, and provide research scientists the opportunity to better understand barrier islands. The recurring state funding of efforts by USCB will continue this vision well into the future, but any plans for the island will need to keep its shifting nature in mind.
Long-term goals for USCB’s science program on Pritchards Island include being effective stewards of the island; establishing an undergraduate research
experience focused on barrier island biology, ecology, chemistry, and geomorphology; characterizing the differences between pristine and impacted barrier islands; identifying the impacts of environmental change on the coastal Lowcountry; and supporting the continued monitoring of loggerhead sea turlte nesting.
“Pritchards Island is an essential nesting ground for sea turtles, and research here is pivotal in helping us understand their nesting behaviors, migration patterns, and the threats they face," said Kim Ritchie, Director of USCB’s Prtichards Island Research Program and Associate Professor of Genetics and Prokaryotic Cell Biology.
In addition to Ritchie, USCB faculty involved with Pritchards Island include Joe Staton, Mercer R. Brugler, and Tye Pettay, all marine biologists’ with wide-ranging research interests. They are assisted by undergraduate research assistants. The research agenda being developed for Pritchards Island is diverse and multifaceted, encompassing studies on coastal erosion, marine life populations, and the island's ecological health. Students and faculty will work in tandem to document the island's
evolving ecosystem, tracking changes in plant and animal populations, and monitoring the impact of climate change on this fragile coastal environment.
Ongoing protection efforts and research studies involving nesting loggerhead sea turtles will continue. These efforts are led by community volunteers supervised by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. USCB plans to engage students to help them.
The South Carolina Legislature’s approval of $500 000 of recurring state appropriations toward the establishment and maintenance of a Pritchards Island Research Program will support hiring a full-time postdoctoral fellow and a full-time field/lab technician, scholarships for students, summer housing for students, research supplies, travel to and from the island, marketing materials, and salaries for students and researchers.
However, additional money is needed to buy a larger research/education boat, a small research boat, a passenger van to transport students and researchers, and additional laboratory and field equipment.
USCB has established a donor fund to fill these
In Scripture, God took pity on his people in their hunger.
As the Israelites journeyed through the desert, God fed them with manna from heaven. (Exodus 16) He fed Elijah with special bread that strengthened him to walk for forty days. (1 Kings 19:8) Twice, Jesus took pity on the great crowds who had gathered to hear him preach, and he miraculously fed them all from a few loaves of bread. He promised the crowds that he would give himself as the Bread of Life, giving his flesh as true food and his blood as true drink. (John 6:55)
As our bodies yearn for food, so our souls yearn for Jesus. Without food, we grow weak and are unable to carry out our daily tasks. Without union with Jesus, we become spiritually weak and lack the strength to do all that he calls us to do. There are many ways that we can allow Jesus to nourish our soul, such as quiet times of prayer and reflection on his Word in Holy Scripture. But Jesus has also given us a very special gift, the Eucharist, by which we are nourished in both body and soul with Jesus himself.
Jesus gave us this gift of himself on the night before he died. At the Last Supper, Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” He then took a cup of wine, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant.”
(Matthew 26:26-29) In a mysterious way, through what looked like normal bread and wine, Jesus was uniting himself with his disciples, in a way that connected them in both body and soul.
Receiving Holy Communion, we become one with Jesus. When Catholics gather for worship, we believe that Jesus works a miracle. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol or a reminder of Jesus, but truly Jesus himself, hidden under the appearance of bread and wine. When we receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion, we are becoming one with Jesus in our entire being, in body and soul. And he is giving himself entirely to us, physically and spiritually, in his humanity and in his divinity.
needs. For more information about the fund, visit USCB. edu/pritchardsisland or contact Tim Daniels, USCB Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations, at tdaniels@uscb. edu.
Pritchards Island educational and art installation
A new educational installation and art exhibit at the USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort — on view through Monday, October 2 — highlights the historic significance of Pritchards Island and its importance for environmental and scientific discovery in the past, present and future. The exhibit features work by more than 30 artists from a USCB and Beaufort Arts Council artist-in-residence program in the early 2000s.
Many notable local artists from Beaufort County are represented in the collection, including Susan Graber, Cabel Heward, Weezie Gibson, Susan Deloach, Melba Cooper and Nan Kresch. Through archival photographs and curated quotes from people who spent significant time on the island, the installation provides insight into the island’s evolution. The installation is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and weekends during performances. Admission is free.
The Eucharist is our most precious treasure as Christians. It is because we believe that the Eucharist is truly Jesus, and not a symbol, that reception of Holy Communion is limited to those who share our faith and are properly prepared. Catholic children, for example, are typically prepared for Holy Communion at about age seven, when they are old enough to begin to comprehend that they will be truly receiving Jesus himself and not ordinary bread.
Through Holy Communion, Jesus nourishes us on our journey. Just as God nourished the Israelites as they journeyed towards the Promised Land, Jesus strengthens us in Holy Communion on our earthly journey towards heaven. What food does for the body, so the Eucharist does for the soul. Receiving Holy Communion with love, we are united intimately with Jesus, grow in our relationship with him, and receive grace to live a life of holiness and faith.
We continue the conversation about those who occasionally think about what their life might have been like had they made different choices. It’s true that if we had decided to make other choices our lives would be different, but what most people fail to consider is that we would be the same person.
A painful reality is the reason why people are not satisfied is because they are not happy with themselves. We might like the idea of changing everything around us, but what about the need to be personally transformed by the renewing of our minds. If we sincerely prayed and asked God to change who we are, we would not be fantasizing about how great things would be if we could do it all over again.
We have all made mistakes, but it’s God that helps us to become the person He died for us to be. If we do not have His peace and contentment in the life we have now, we would not have it in any life we could dream of.
We mentioned Solomon and his negative view of life. Vanity in it’s basic sense is considered a form
BILLY HOLLANDof self-idolatry in which a person begins to see themselves as someone who deserves praise for the sake of their own abilities and accomplishments. If this lofty and calloused attitude is not eliminated it can cause a delusion so powerful it can prevent the divine grace of God from being acknowledged and accepted.
Psalm
2:2-4 says, “In his arrogance, the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
Have you noticed the wealthy and wondered how they became that way and thought if we had made wiser decisions we would be like them? We all have. Our emotions can run wild
with envy and the enemy can whisper his condemning accusations about how we are a loser and being a failure is our own fault. We are not robots, and it’s common for all of us to dwell on missed opportunities while wondering what the future holds for us.
Our nature is competitive and has a tendency to judge and measure what we are doing and compare it to others. These thoughts can become planted deeply within us and if left unattended can even change our personality. When I say
unattended, I mean they must be uprooted and not allowed to conform us into a pessimist.
Envy and jealousy are usually secret sins, hostile but subtle emotions that are like a parasite that quietly drains the joy out of our soul. For example, if we have dreams of being successful, but things have not turned out as we planned, this can cause a painful infection of bitterness in our soul. Especially when we see others living the abundant life we wish we had. We can wear a smile, but within our
conscience we are weighed down with depression and the seldom acknowledged reality of unforgiveness toward ourselves.
It’s very easy to fall into the snare trap of measuring our popularity, wealth, talent, awards, education, material possessions, and family, with others who already have all these things. The bottom line: we believe all these blessings will give us the respect we desperately seek.
Seeing ourselves as someone who has missed the window of opportunity
to achieve these dreams causes wounds and bruises in our self-confidence. Low self-esteem causes us to be apprehensive and can keep us in the shadows of frustration and sadness.
What can we do? We must realize we are being deceived by wrong thinking, and not what is going on around us. Remember, we are the caretaker of our own garden of thoughts. You are a unique individual that must take control of your emotions or they will surely take control of you.
Resist the temptation to compare who you are with what others have, or you will never break free from the agonizing prison of feeling worthless. Being excited to play with the cards you have and trusting God to transform you from the inside out is a huge first step toward being satisfied, joyful, confident, and filled with His peace. We cannot go back and change our decisions, but we can press forward and make excellent choices like this.
Billy Holland is a Christian minister, author, worship leader, and counselor. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.
From staff reports Holy Trinity Classical Christian School is set to launch its annual Aletheia Speaker Series. Throughout the year, Holy Trinity will invite speakers to address thought provoking topics that align with its educational objective of encouraging moral character, civic virtue and the discovery of eternal truths.
According to a release, the school seeks to not only educate their students through content rich classical liberal arts and sciences curriculum, but also to feed the intellectual curiosity of the Beaufort community at large.
The series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 10 with guest lecturer Pastor Alexander McBride. His theme is “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” from 2 Corinthians 3:17
Since its beginning as a “praise house” during the Civil War, First African Baptist Church has been a pillar of faith and strength in the Beaufort community. Pastor Alex McBride will speak about the history of First African Baptist and the significant role it has played in spreading “the freedom of the Lord.”
Born in Greenwood Mississippi in 1958, McBride was raised in a
single parent home by his mother, Dollie L. McBride. He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1975 and became one of the first integrated blacks to be on President Carter’s Presidential Guards and first Black Sergeants Major to serve aboard the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier, The U.S.S. Harry S. Truman and chosen as the second Black Sergeants Major of the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station. He participated in several wars across three timelines: The final months of the evacuation of Cambodia, Operation Kuwaiti Freedom, and the Gulf War.
McBride is an honor graduate across three schools: Bachelor of Science in Management from Wayland Baptist University, Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from Boston University, and a Master of Science in Theology from Liberty University. After 33-years tenure in ministry he is the full time senior Pastor of The Prestigious First African Baptist Church where his motto of teaching is, “Above All Else, Sound Doctrine …”
In November, Holy Trinity will offer a series of three evenings presented by Rev. Joe Lawrence. His theme for these lectures is “Telling Tales: the Mythic Imagination of
Tolkien and Lewis.” The lectures are on Tuesdays, Nov. 7 14, and 21
The Rev. Joe Lawrence graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a major in English Literature and a minor in Philosophy. He also graduated from Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa., with a Masters of Divinity. He is now the Interim Headmaster of Holy Trinity Classical Christian School and Chair of the Humanities Department.
In the modern West we have progressed technologically far beyond anything imaginable to the ancient world. But are we better storytellers? Or has the West, de-
spite its staggering technological proficiency, lost the plot?
Perhaps we’ve traded wisdom for knowledge, and then knowledge for information, as T.S. Eliot laments. The ancient world could really tell tales, on the other hand. And it's tales body forth the deeper truths of human life in a world made by divine power and threatened by evil.
Fortunately, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were steeped in the old stories and summoned a few new tales of their own that have some of the luster and power of the old.
Over three evenings Rev. Law-
rence will investigate these modern storytellers and the deeper truths embedded in their beloved stories.
• Nov. 7: The Song of Creation
• Nov. 14: The Battle of Good and Evil
Nov. 21: The Story of Redemption
All events will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., in the Great Hall at HTCCS at 302 Burroughs Avenue. Admission is $10, and registration in advance is required so that HTTCS can comfortably accommodate the necessary number of guests. Visit www.HTCCS.org/speaker-series/ to register.
From staff reports
One of Beaufort’s most popular fall events returns on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Saint Peter’s Catholic Church Annual Fall Bazaar will once again provide friends and families with a delightful day of delectable food, mouthwatering libations, irresistible arts and crafts, enchanting auction items, and children’s games, activities, and a petting zoo.
Entrance to the bazaar is
free and open to the public.
As in years past, the bazaar will feature scrumptious international foods from several countries. For those desiring more sugary treats, the ever-popular Sweet Shoppe will provide cakes, pies, cookies, and other satisfying delicacies.
Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Cold soft drinks and water, sponsored by Habersham Land Company, will also keep par-
ticipants hydrated.
All that food will require exercise to burn it off. The purchase of a wrist band will allow children access to a large slide, bounce house, football toss, soccer game, Fishers-of-Men fishing booth, face painting, popcorn, and entrance to the popular Beaufort Barnyard and Petting Zoo (from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.).
The Silent Auction will feature new items and ser-
vices donated by local businesses and individuals. New this year is an online auction that will include items such as a chartered full day fishing trip, a vacation rental on Harbor Island, the popular gourmet dinner with the pastor, and paintings.
Returning for its second year is the bazaar Craft Fair. Local artists and crafts people will display a wide variety of beautiful and novel items that make early Christmas
shopping a breeze.
For the gardening enthusiast, the bazaar will also feature a plant sale.
The Saint Peter’s Catholic Church Annual Bazaar is a fundraiser for Lowcountry Outreach, a ministry of Saint Peter’s parish. Lowcountry Outreach and the parish Service Committee work together to break down access barriers and find ways for area non-profits to expand their reach. Housed in the former
insurance services building adjacent to the Saint Peter’s campus, Lowcountry Outreach has partnered with Good Neighbor Medical Clinic to provide rides to people who otherwise would not be able to keep their medical appointments. Lowcountry Outreach is now providing office space for Lowcountry Legal Volunteers which helps provide access to justice regardless of a client’s ability to pay.
So, you live in Beaufort and you’re thinking about running for mayor … here are 10 things to consider.
One, incumbency is a big advantage. So, with Stephen Murray stepping down, the chances are the special December election will be the best time this decade to run and win. But make up your mind. Time’s short already.
Two, the job is way more satisfying if you go into it with a list of things you sincerely want to get accomplished that you know the city needs. We have had mayors who worked hard to get the job because they were under the impression that if they were the mayor, they would be loved. Yes, there’s some love during the honeymoon. But the electorate wants you to get things done that benefit them.
If you are unable to move forward through controversy, then you will become increasingly unloved. Stephen Murray had such a list, and to his credit he delivered on it. But then, at least according to what he wrote in his resignation post, he got fed up with the controversy.
Three, businessmen typically find government frustrating. Mayor Murray who runs two businesses is a great example. Busi-
ness-owners are accustomed to giving orders unilaterally and having their orders followed explicitly. Government at the policy-making level doesn’t work that way. There are checks and balances. There are the interests of constituencies to be considered. There are power brokers. Yes, even in Beaufort. And there are committees, boards and commissions, some of which wield real power. Yes, you make appointments, but your appointees don’t always vote the way you think they should, even after you have instructed them.
It’s a fitting tribute to businessman-mayor Murray that in the last council meeting over which he presided council was primarily engaged in removing various powers from three of its boards and bringing those powers closer to council.
Four, it helps if you actually like people. Some elected
officials prefer helping people in the abstract. These elected officials have a hard time at the grocery store or in restaurants or on the sidewalk when they are stopped just for a chat by one of their constituents.
Casting one’s vote for someone is a personal message. Many of those who vote for you feel entitled by that vote to speak with you directly. Once you are elected, or even if you run and lose, you will have given up some of your privacy. That’s why it’s called “public life.”
Five, you will need physical vigor. Door-todoor campaigning – which is essential to winning –requires that you make up a brochure and start walking neighborhoods passing out your brochure and talking to the voters … today, and on every clear evening and weekend between now and December 11
Here again, it helps if you actually like people. People like people who seem to like them. If you convey that you are snooty, or arrogant, or a know-it-all, it’s going to be tougher to earn that vote. But worst of all is not showing up at all.
Six, it helps if you enjoy the human comedy. There is no way I could count on my fingers and toes the number
of times when I was mayor that I thought silently to myself, “This is better than going to the movies.”
Seven, your public life will be simpler if in your private life you have nothing whatsoever to do with selling real estate or facilitating real estate development. That goes for your spouse – if you have one – too. Henry Chambers and Billy Keyserling were both realtors and both had to endure the slings and arrows of conspiracists who saw – whether actual, perceived or imagined –conflicts of interest between their work and their public service. With the instant communication that is facilitated by social media outlets today, this terrain is far harsher now than it was for them.
Eight, it helps if you are comfortable in conflict. Henry was and Billy wasn’t. Henry forged ahead through the controversy and got big
stuff done. Billy demurred. Nine, it will help if you have some background in design or city planning.
With what Jay Weidner called at the last council meeting “Soviet-style architecture” proliferating along the Boundary Street corridor, and elsewhere, the constituency is becoming uneasy that Beaufort is losing its signature style, that the city’s once-unique built environment is slipping and sliding toward Airport Loop USA. This at-present political squall will inevitably pick up wind speed when the steel for the new hotel and parking garage starts going up downtown. With Scott Street about to close for construction, Mayor Murray surely saw this storm coming. Weathering it, and credibly explaining you will be taking Beaufort in a new -- more consistent with its heritage – direction will make the
next mayor’s public life more comfortable.
Ten, and finally, I hope you have a few spare bucks in your pocket that you are can spend on your campaign. You will need to pay for the filing fee, a website, a list of registered voters, a poll, some online and print advertising, a TV spot or two, and 200-plus signs of various sizes. A good staffer or two will save you time for retail campaigning. And that’s important because, again, time is short.
Yes, you can bank contributions up to $1 000 per contributor per cycle. But even if you are able to raise all the money you need, with time as short as it is, in its early days you will probably need to loan your campaign at least some of the money it will need to get up and running.
But here’s the good news. If you run and win, you will have the time of your life. And the accomplishments you leave behind will for many many years bring joy to your life and to the lives of many many others.
Bill Rauch was the Mayor of Beaufort from 1999 to 2008 and has twice won awards from the S.C. Press Association for his Island News columns. He can be reached at TheRauchReport@gmail.com.
Last month I wrote about the passing of a dear friend, Walter Ledbetter. Walt was a few days shy of his 94th birthday when he left us, and to say that he lived a very full life would be a huge understatement.
But this piece isn’t about Walt, although it is hard to write without referring to him. Instead it is about the military service held for him on Friday, Sept. 15
You see, I had never attended a military funeral ceremony before. Yes, I probably saw clips that may have appeared on the news when some notable figure was interred in Arlington National Cemetery. On that note, I might mention that Colonel Ledbetter could have had his resting place in Arlington. God knows, he met every possible requirement and then some.
Not surprisingly, however, Walt opted for the place where he had spent a good part of his life, Beaufort. While I don’t know this for a certainty, I am willing to bet that his humility came into play when making that decision. I can almost hear him saying to his wife, “Hell, Nancy Belle, I don’t need a lot of pomp and circumstance at a place
CAROL LUCASthree states away.”
While there was pomp and circumstance at the Beaufort National Cemetery, it was completed with such exquisite understatement that I know Walt was looking on and smiling that wonderful grin that always encompassed his face.
The day was surprisingly cooler than the all-consuming heat that had held us hostage for so many days, and there was a comfortable breeze. As we stood waiting for the ceremony to commence, old acquaintances were renewed, and new introductions were made. I had come to know Walt’s two daughters and his grandchildren, now beautiful adults of whom he was very proud.
While we all agreed that we wished our reunion hadn’t been under these circumstances,
hugs of long duration were exchanged, and yes, tears were shed. And the memories; we revisited those as well, and so we were able to laugh at a time of sorrow, a huge relief for all of us.
Finally, we were given the word that the cars could proceed to the small pavilion, and we slowly wound our way to the place where we would commemorate the life of a man so beloved. We were told to gather outside to view the flyover of three military fighter jets. When this occurred, the chills I experienced reflected gratitude more than anything. Gratitude in having been fortunate enough to attend this very meaningful ceremony and gratitude that I live in the United States of America. And most of all gratitude to all those like Walt Ledbetter, who fought and put their lives on the line so that we might live as we do.
Walt’s history while in the military is legendary. He flew helicopter missions that saved innumerable lives of those trapped in mine fields. One of those men who had been saved by Walt and his crew chose to come from Colorado to deliver
a talk about his time serving under the Ledbetter command. I was taken, though not surprised, by the following … he conveyed that when Colonel Ledbetter met with his team the first time, his opening comment was, “I will not ask you to do anything that I won’t do myself.” He went on to talk about his time in Vietnam with Walt, and how he could not have asked for a more compassionate commander. Compassion, such a missing trait these days.
Two of Walt’s favorite poems were read by both grandchildren, showing another side of the man, the lover of poetry that a few of us knew. Then the flag was folded and presented to his wife with all the respect this demands. Yes, I had seen this gesture, and yet to observe the ritual, the exchange of those Marines who were there to honor someone whom I knew as a dear friend and consummate cosmopolitan maker, was something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
And finally, there was the playing of the bagpipes. Is there a more sorrowful sound than the music put forth by this instru -
ment? As they wailed the notes of 'Amazing Grace', the tears I had tried to control were no longer mine to hold back.
It was then that I was reminded of something that had occurred at my late husband’s celebration of life, held at my home. I had secured a recording of Amazing Grace to be played, but somehow forgot to do so. When I mentioned this to Walt and Nancy later, Walt replied, “I’m glad you forgot because I would have lost it. I always do when I hear that song.”
And so my introduction to a military funeral was that of someone I held close to my heart and perhaps it was meant to be that way. I strongly believe that Walt was watching all that took place. I will state with certitude that his pride as a Marine and the tribute provided by those from the local base fulfilled any ceremonial wishes he might have had. I am equally sure that he must have uttered the words “Semper Fi.”
Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”
With apologies to Benjamin Disraeli, Mark Twain or whoever first said,” There are three kinds of lies – lies, damn lies and statistics,” my new version is “There are three kinds of liars – lairs, damn liars, and news weasels.”
The first kind of liar are the nice people from somewhere in Asia or Africa who call you on the phone and are very concerned that that the warranty on your car is about to expire, or want to help you with your Medicare, or a deposed Nigerian Prince who wants to share $6 000 000 with you if you will only send him $1 000 of your money to help him get the $6 000 000 out of his country.
Most of us are too smart to fall for any of it, but I guess that some do because the phone keeps ringing.
Damn liars are the politicians who get elected telling lies. They will tell you whatever it takes to get elected, then they will tell you that it’s not their fault that nothing they told you ever came to pass. All they need is more tax money to make it happen.
They are so good at it, that in spite of the fact that we know they lied, we continue to re-elect them year after year. They come in all political stripes, and about the only difference between them is who they blame for their failure. I am pretty sure that there is a case for term limits here, but that is a subject for another time.
Then there are the news weasels or as they are more commonly known Presidential spokespersons. They routinely stand up in front of the White House Press Corps, and spin the lies of the day.
I think it was Joseph Goebbels who said, “If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it.” This current bunch sure didn’t invent the news weasel
concept, but they have brought it up to a new level.
It is an amazing thing to see the dance that takes place between the news weasel and the press. The weasel knows that they are lying, the press corps knows that they are lying, and anyone who tunes in on TV to watch, knows that they are lying. If, heaven forbid, someone asks the weasel a hard question they can’t answer with a lie, it becomes part of an ongoing investigation, a national security issue, or it’s quickly referred to their colleagues in some other governmental agency who everyone knows never speaks to the press.
The same dance goes on day after day, with every -
one playing their part. Nothing of consequence is accomplished, and the public stays in the dark. Mission accomplished.
It has not always been this way, and it doesn't have to continue this way. It comes down from the top down. If the President and his staff have no regard for the truth, then none of the people below them do either, then you end up with a boggle of weasels spreading the spin of the day.
Believe it or not, there are people in government who value truth, and are honorable people. We have some of them currently in office, and some who are or, will be running for office in the next election.
There are true leaders out there who believe that
only a moral society can successfully rule itself, and they are right. It’s not too late to change the dynamic. Please find out who they are, and vote for them. We can turn things around, but we have to educate ourselves and vote for people who value truth and honor. Otherwise the weasels win, and America will continue to decline.
Born, raised and educated in the Southwest, Jim Dickson served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in Vietnam before a 35-year business career. Retired to St. Helena Island, Dickson and his wife are fiscally conservative, socially moderate and active in Republican politics, though they may not always agree with Republicans. Having lived around the country and traveled around the world, Dickson believes that the United States truly is the land of opportunity.
JIM DICKSON
BILL RAUCH
... your public life will be simpler if in your private life you have nothing whatsoever to do with selling real estate or facilitating real estate development.
It is Wednesday, and this morning I’m at the “Snow Hole,” just off the Taconic Crest Trail as it runs along the border of New York and Vermont.
This morning I have my nylon backpack with its “PyeongChang 2018” patch; my aluminum, Deep Canyon water canister; and a large bag of Fritos.
I was told that the “Snow Hole” always had snow in the bottom but, alas, global warming may have shoved that shibboleth into the Bigfoot category. It had been my plan to eat a snow cone at the “Snow Hole” sending my broiling Beaufort friends a cellphone photo confirming this hard to believe story. But there won’t be any snow cone — although I packed-in little paper cones and a pint of Carnival King (grape).
The Taconic Crest Trail follows the crest of the Taconic Range as it makes its way through Massa-
chusetts, New York and Vermont. A part of this trail was once owned by Colonel Amos Hopkins, an associate of Jay Gould who made his fortune building railroads in the industrial expansion that came after the Civil War. Now Williams College owns 2 600 acres and some of its students their spend their time measuring the hydrology, chemistry and long term growth in more than 400 plots. These measurements have been underway for more than 70 years. Two other colleges maintain similar tracts of land — Harvard and Middlebury.
Harvard has some 4 000 acres where it has measured rain, heat and carbon exchange since 1990. Middlebury also has acreage in Vermont’s Green Mountains that it uses as a laboratory.
Last night I watched the Republican, primary debate and one of the debaters, Vivek Ramaswamy, said that climate change is a myth and Biden’s “Green Initiative” is only giving China a leg up. It is, I think, a good idea to maintain these tracts measuring what is actually happening to the maples, firs and lichen. Are they bigger, smaller, stunted? Or are they gone?
All of which brings me to our very own Pritchard’s Island located just South of Fripp Island and the recent recipient of a $500 000 a year grant from our General Assembly. This yearly stipend only came after the former owners — heirs of Phillip Rhodes — threatened
to give this ever-diminishing island to the University of Georgia.
Pritchards was once involved in research — sea turtle and radar monitored wave and current research to be specific. But that research ended as this barrier island continued to erode and its single laboratory ended up surrounded by surf. This column writer does not know why the University of South Carolina let this asset go under, but there are 63 other places (in the U.S.) to take up the marine science slack. It appears that degrees in this field fell from 1,914 in 2019-2020 to 1 835 in 2020-2021. These numbers seem to be consistent with the flat number of job openings during this same time frame. These numbers can be compared with the number of hospitality majors (17,689) during this time frame.
Oddly enough this current
crop of college students wants good paying jobs at the end of their academic journey and marine biology doesn’t have as much financial allure as, say, commodities trading or hedge fund management. Surely there is still a cohort of different-drummer kids who would rather catch, measure and tag bull sharks than make cold calls from a sterile, dystopian office in downtown Charlotte.
Another problem is finding a professor who can bring his or her research grant over to Pritchard’s. It’s my bet that most of those professors (with transferable grant money) will want a Boston Whaler and some bunsen burners from the Legislature before leaving Duke, Scripps or Woods Hole and coming down to St. Helena Island.
In this connection, a local group has been formed calling itself the Pritchard’s
Island Research Living Shores Project. Perhaps this biblical sounding group will help USCB find new grant money; or a research project that needs this unique, disappearing island — research not already underway on Tybee Island, Baruch, Ft. Johnson or elsewhere in the United States.
In years past, I would have made this five-mile hike with my son and we might have discussed sea level rise and tagging bull sharks. But he is now grown, lives in Connecticut, and has his own son to teach about the ways of the world. Now I hike alone, remembering long ago ascents at Shining Rock and, of course, grape-flavored snow cones at Ocean Drive Beach.
Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.
Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Parris Island, South Carolina, 22 September 2023
Recruit Training Regiment
• Commanding Officer, Colonel C. B. McArthur
1st Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel K. R. Sile
Commander of Troops, Captain R. S. Jordan • Parade Adjutant, Captain A. C. Soto
Company “A”, 1st Recruit Training Battalion
Senior Drill Instructor
SSgt J. A. Kolb
Pvt Abundio, R.
Pvt Amaro, A. C.
Pvt Annis, C. P.
PFC Beck, T. G.
Pvt BenitezHenriquez, C. A.
Pvt Bentley, E. P.
PFC Bey, S. Q.
PFC Bidwell III, D. J.
PFC Bieger, J. J.
Pvt Bishop, J. K.
PFC Bowens Jr., J. L.*
Pvt Brown, J. L.
Pvt Campfield, P. S.
Pvt Cardenas, K. E.
Pvt Carroll, M. J.
Pvt Chavez-Hernandez, C. J.
Pvt Davison, E. M.
PFC Deloach, A. D.
PFC Dominie, J. M.
Pvt Dube, A. J.
PFC Espinoza, E. R.
PFC Faburay, S. A.
Pvt FigueroCuevas, Y. A.
Pvt Flores, E. N.
PFC Frasier, J. R.*
PFC Gardner, N. B.
Pvt Garro, V.
PFC Gregory, W. B.
Pvt Griffin, A. J.
Pvt Gutierrezperalta, J.
PFC Hall, M. A.
Pvt Hanak, J. G.
Pvt Hernandezsoto, R. A.
Pvt Jenkins, K. E.
PFC Jenkins, K. E.
PFC Jensen, A. R.
Pvt Keyes, T. A.
PFC Kirby, A. J.
PFC Krile, G. A.
PFC Leto, M. A.
Pvt Lucas, C. D.
PFC Lucas, J. G.
PFC Manning, T.*
PFC Marroquin, J. L.
PFC McDuffie, M. Q.
Pvt McMinis, M. V.
PFC Moore, D. D.
PFC Mullen, J. P.
PFC Ngo, A. Q.
PFC Nguyen, D. H.
Pvt Osbourne, D. A.
Pvt Owens, D. K.
PFC Pate, K. F.
Pvt Pelletier, J. R.
PFC Phelps, M. Y.
PFC Pimentel, A. H.
Pvt RayonCiprez, J. P.
PFC Revels, M. A.
Pvt Rivera, J. L.
Pvt Ruhlman, Z. T.
Pvt Salgado, R.
PFC SantiagoRosario, D.
Pvt SegoviaHernandez, R.
Pvt Serrano, D. R.
Pvt SmithMorgan, M. O.
PFC Steadman, J. P.
Pvt Thomas, M. L.
Pvt Thornton, H. A.
PFC Torres, B.
Pvt ValenteCuevas, I. J.
PFC Valladares, J. N.*
PFC Wheeler, D. C.*
PFC Whitaker, T. L.
• Commanding Officer, Captain R. S. Jordan
Drill Masters • Gunnery Sergeant L. M. Hinton, Staff Sergeant R. W. McNew Jr.
Senior Drill Instructor SSgt H. J. Benjamin
Pvt Anderson, D. W.
Pvt Arriaga, B.
Pvt Baker, C. C.
Pvt Baker, K. C.
Pvt Bates, J. A.
Pvt Beaver, A. C.
PFC Bryan, J. X.
Pvt Castillo, Y. Y.
PFC Colvinsahagian, M. T.
PFC Cruzpadilla, L. J.
PFC Cruzvargas, A. D.
PFC Cuesta, R. G*
Pvt Derzia, R. A.
PFC Dietz, D. Z.
Pvt Dover, N. N.
Pvt Eison, O. P.
Pvt Elkhiyari, E. A
Pvt Fitts, C. R.
PFC Gomez, J. L.
PFC Gregory, T. G.*
PFC Hall, B. N.
Pvt Harden, D. J.
Pvt Hattaway, C. Z.
PFC Hendricks, B. M.
Pvt Hollow, H. A.
Pvt Jobe, N. W.
Pvt Johnson, Q.
PFC Kemp, D. J.
PFC King, C. M.*
PFC Laureanorodriguez, N. A.
Pvt Lawrence, J. R.
PFC Lee, M. E.
PFC Lochmelendez, E. A.
Pvt Louis Jr., J. J.
Pvt Maingrette, K.
Pvt Martinez, L. W.
Pvt Martinez, N. B
Pvt Mathis Jr., J. B.
Pvt Mcginnis, D. J
PFC Miranda, D. M.
Pvt Moise, R.
Pvt Montoyacardona, K. O.
Pvt Murch, R. L.
Pvt Peak, L. C.
Pvt Peelmangray, E. M.
Pvt Perezcastro, A. D.
Pvt Pleasant, J. A.
PFC Prelle, C. G.
Pvt Quinn, E. D.
Pvt Ramirezdelgado, D.
PFC Reed, E. A.
PFC Reynolds, J. D.*
Pvt Reynolds, K.
Pvt Roberts, P. D.
PFC Robinson, L. K.
Pvt Rondon, J. A.
PFC Scotch, M. J.
PFC Smart, C. A.
LCpl Snow, H. A.
Pvt Soto, C. A.
Pvt Soto, E. J.
PFC Tomochak, B. T.*
PFC Torresgonzalez, J. I.
Pvt Vaneman,Charles R.
PFC Velazquez, A. A.
Pvt Vicenterenoj, B. H.
Pvt Wallace, H. C.
Pvt Weiss, J. A.
Pvt Wilson, D. A.
PFC Winslow, H. B.
Pvt Wright, G. S.
Senior Drill Instructor
SSgt I. H. Jenkins
Pvt Aloguin, S. R.
Pvt Baldwin, S. T.
Pvt Belloviveros, B. A.
Pvt Blanchard, S. A.
Pvt Brewster, J. J.
Pvt Carbajal, A. G.
Pvt Casselberry, L. S.
PFC Cerenzia, L. J.
PFC Cook, J. D.
Pvt Crosby, A. G.
PFC Dejo, J. C.
Pvt Delude, M. T.
Pvt Diazmuniz, M. A.
PFC Dizon, J. A.
Pvt Fernandezberlanga, J.
Pvt Feutz, T. B.
Pvt Fleming, S. D.
Pvt Garcia, J. E.
PFC Gonzalezalezaleluya, B.
PFC Goodmandubon, C. W.*
PFC Gower, M. F.*
Pvt Guillen Jr., G.
Pvt Haines, K. E.
Pvt Hall, J. M.
Pvt Harris, A. A.
Pvt Hatton, J. T.
PFC Haynes, A. S.*
Pvt Hemphill III, R. E.
Pvt Hernandez, D. A.
Pvt Hernandez, R.
PFC Hickman, T. E.
Pvt Hill, L. M.
Pvt Kaulfers Jr., K. J.
Pvt Kelly, O. M.
PFC Kennedy, R. J.
Pvt Ketvirtis, R. J.
Pvt Lindsay, S. D.
Pvt Maximiek II, J. R.
Pvt Melendezvera, S.
Pvt Mselesio, J.
Pvt Mercadohenriquez, J.
PFC Middleton Jr., D. K.
Pvt Miller, J. A.
Pvt Mohamed, A. A.
Pvt Musgrove, L. H.
PFC Navaarista, J. D.
Pvt Ngansi, G. P.
Pvt Onwenu, C. C.
Pvt Parker, G. M.
Pvt Parrett, N. K.
Pvt Pemberton, J. W.
Pvt Pena, N. N.
PFC Picard, M. G.
PFC Ramirezhernandez, L. L.
Pvt Rhodes, D. L.
Pvt Roberts, J. J.
Pvt Rodriguezcorrea, D. R.
PFC Simmons, C. D.
Pvt Smith, L. R.
Pvt Souter, E. J.
PFC Strafella, C. A.
PFC Talbert, T. A.
Pvt Thibeault, T. S.
Pvt Torresbenites, U.
PFC Vega, R. B.*
PFC Webb, I. A.
Pvt Weintraub, K. A.
Pvt Weisenauer, L. J.
Pvt Williams, T. D.
PLATOON 1068
Senior Drill Instructor GySgt M. Lopez
Pvt Aguilar, B. W.
Pvt Allen, N. G.
PFC Almon, A. C.
Pvt Alvarado, B. J.
Pvt Apontevelez, E. N.
Pvt Armato, L. K.
Pvt Arriaza, J. Y.
Pvt Baezmota, E. R.
PFC Barksdale, J. T.
Pvt Beck, J. S.
PFC Blaise, I.
PFC Blanco, M. J.
Pvt Booze, M. M.
PFC Borlace, A. D.*
Pvt Brown, D. C.
PFC Brownsworth, C. G.*
PFC Camacholeon, B.
Pvt Carlton, P. R.
Pvt Cassell, D. V.
PFC Castillo, J. J.
Pvt Cauchi, L. E.
Pvt Cespedespichardo, K.
Pvt Clark, D. G.
Pvt Cockfield, T. L.
PFC Conde, M.
PFC Coppolino, D. M.
Pvt Deleon, C. J.
Pvt Douglas, B. D.
Pvt Earl, T. G.
Pvt Estradahernandez, J. D.
PFC Flood, N. A.
PFC Fontenot Jr., D. J.
Pvt Galeasalvarez, J. J.
Pvt Gorham, M. J.
PFC Guaman, A. J.
Pvt Guillory Jr., K. B.
Pvt Guzdek, C. B.
PFC Hafer, I. N.
Pvt Hafez, A. D.
Pvt Hambrick, C. J.
PFC Harrisgrier, Z. N.
Pvt Hartley, A. R.
Pvt Huff, G. D.
PFC Hughes, C. R.
PFC Lotak, J. E.
PFC Massa, D. T.
PFC Mcfarlain, D. R.
Pvt Meyers, L. D.
Pvt Motta, A. R.
Pvt Munoz, J.
Pvt Nash, C. A.
PFC Nivelo, A. S.
PFC Payne, K. B.
PFC Pena, C. A.
Pvt Perkins, G. J.
PFC Picerno, M. A.*
Pvt Prezagachupin, B. R.
Pvt Qaisar, S. D.
Pvt Rose, R. J.
PFC Sanchez, J.*
PFC Sanders III, F. E.
Pvt Scolastico, D. N.
Pvt Shannon Jr., T. M.
PFC Smith, K. T.
PFC Smith, S. J.
Pvt Soth, R. S.
PFC Strykeracosta, O. S.
Pvt Tekle, N. A.
PFC Thurman, J. R.
Pvt Witter, C. J.
Pvt Zaid, R. A.
PLATOON 1069
Senior Drill Instructor SSgt D. J. Hanson
PFC Albertson, N. T.
PFC Ansman, X. A.*
PFC Asbury, D. J.
Pvt Bastien E. J.
Pvt Baudertaranto, B. J.
Pvt Berg, L. M.
Pvt Bosaller, T. M.
Pvt Boursiquot, K. E.
Pvt Bravonajera, Y. A.
PFC Brown, J. L.*
Pvt Carnathan, H. A.
PFC Chavez, B. H.
Pvt Chisholm, R. M.
PFC Codianna, L. C.
Pvt Dawson, S. J.
PFC Duchi, L. G.*
Pvt Frascolla, M. J.
PFC Funes, J. F.
Pvt Godfrey, E. M.
Pvt Graves, T. G.
PFC Hardin, I. T.*
Pvt Harley, C.
Pvt Hathaway, D. J.
PFC Hedrick, N. A.
Pvt Hernandezrojas, J. A.
Pvt Hernandezsilva, I.
Pvt Hopkins, S. P.
Pvt Horner, A. O.
Pvt Huston Jr., E. J.
Pvt Hutson, L. D.
Pvt Hynson, W. M.
Pvt Iannacone Iii, J. M.
Pvt Jarama, A. J.
PFC Johnson, S. L.
Pvt Kennard, L. A.
Pvt Kern, K. S.
PFC Kowalczyk, E. S.
Pvt Krueger, R. H.
PFC Langley, P. G.
Pvt Latham, C. L.
PFC Longwell, M. D.
PFC Martinez, I. C.
Pvt Martinezvazquez, C.
PFC Miller, E. L.
Pvt Moore, K. C.
PFC Morejon, M. A.
Pvt Myers, A. R.
Pvt Nichols G. D
Pvt Noblitt, W. C.
Pvt Ozbolt, C. J.
Pvt Pennell, J. T.
PFC Pham, K. T.
Pvt Rios, C. G.
Pvt Rojas, A. D.
PFC Roper, C. H.
Pvt Sanchezrodriguez, C. Y.
PFC Sansoucie, D. L.
Pvt Saxby, R. A.
PFC Sholtz, J. R.
Pvt Spence, I. G.
Pvt Stathes, N. P.
Pvt Test, R. H.
PFC Tomao, K.
PFC Turner, K. D.
PFC Vega, J. A.
PFC Wheeler, E. P.
PFC Wieczorek, L. J.*
Pvt Yoder, L. L.
Senior Drill Instructor
GySgt J. F. FloresPerez
Pvt Anderson, J. E.
Pvt Beard, E. A.
Pvt Bista, P.
Pvt Brandt, J. P.
PFC Burnell, M. A.
Pvt Cargill Jr., D. A.
PFC Casteel, C. A.
PFC Cavell, E. B.
PFC Clifton, M. A.
PFC Devercelly, T. A.
Pvt Doak, D. M.
PFC Downey, C. J.
Pvt Ford, A. D.
PFC Gallo, I. J.*
Pvt Goldsmith II, A. L.
Pvt Grover, K. N.
PFC Gunter, W. E.
Pvt Heafer, C. E.
Pvt Hill, G. A.
PFC Hopper, P. A.
PFC Hunter, L. M.
PFC Isaacs, D. J.
PFC Jarrett, T. A.
Pvt Johansen, R. S.
PFC Joseph, R. M.*
Pvt Klopstein, C. M.
Pvt Kretser Jr., M. A.
Pvt Leibold, D. J.
Pvt Leonard, M. R.
Pvt Lowrance, S. J.
Pvt Maddux Jr., W. M.
PFC Marroquin, S. A.*
Pvt Martinez, M. J.
Pvt Martinezcampos, D.
Pvt Martinezmarte, E.
PFC Mihalik IV, V. E.
PFC Mikus Jr., R. A.
PFC Moen, T. R.*
Pvt Morcilla, E. G.
Pvt Musanto, T.
Pvt Olszewski, C. E.
Pvt Orozco, J. E.
Pvt Ortiz, S. B.
PFC Osborne, D. J.
Pvt Ourobossi, J. R.
Pvt Padgett, G. W.
Pvt Parke, C. J.
Pvt Pasquini, G. A.
PFC Pitts III, J. D.
Pvt Poitras, C. R.
PFC Powell, D. A.
PFC Quinones, W. L.
PFC Rai, A.
PFC Rebolledo, G. G.
Pvt Reyes, J. A.
PFC Rogers, A. L.
Pvt Rushizky, A. T.
Pvt Schlegel, G. B.
PFC Severino, K. L.*
PFC Sevilla, S. S.
Pvt Stevens, D. Z.
Pvt Tabana, R. M.
Pvt Talanca, L. I.
Pvt Tenelandalazo, M. A.
Pvt Vangestel, L. D.
Pvt Villarrubia, S.
Pvt Walsh, B. T.
Pvt Willis, R. J.
PFC Wilson II, D. I.
Pvt Yeager Jr., K.
Pvt Zantowsky, K. V.
*Denotes Meritorious Promotions
From staff reports Beaufort County Veterans Affairs has announced that Post 9/11 Combat Zone Veterans are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits, until 11:59 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30
Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between September 11 2001
and October 1 2013 are qualified for this special enrollment period which gives Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones an opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without having applied for VA benefits. This special enrollment period is a part of the PACT Act, the largest expansion of VA health care and benefits in generations.
Some things the PACT Act does are:
Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras; Adds more than 20 presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures; Adds more presumptive-ex-
posure locations for Agent Orange and radiation; Requires the VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care; and Helps the VA improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures. Beaufort County Veterans Affairs office encourages all eligible
South Carolina Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800MYVA411 to learn more and sign up for VA health care before the deadline.
For more information or to set up an appointment, call Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843255-6880. Visit Beaufort County Veterans Affairs to learn more about programs and services for veterans and their families.
This is the final part of a two-part article on military serviceconnected disability compensation claims. The goal of this series is to provide helpful information about service-connected disability claims.
Suggestion 2: Use a VA-accredited VSO (or Attorney or Claims Agent). Veterans should contact a local County or State Area Veterans Affairs Office and Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to get help filing claims for veterans’ benefits. VSOs provide free services. VA-accredited attorneys and claim agents can (and usually do) charge for their services. County VSOs and independent VSOs are swamped with requests for assistance, so veterans should call and make an appointment. Veterans can only have one VA-accredited person represent them to the VA at any one time. Learn more at https://www. benefits.va.gov/vso/.
Find:
S.C. County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL. Georgia VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7. VA-accredited representatives nationwide at https://bit. ly/3QnCk5M. VSOs at VA Regional Offices at https://bit. ly/3TahNn1.
Suggestion 3: Make a list of your service-connected conditions. Veterans should make a list of their service-connected conditions that developed before, during, and after military service. Service-connected conditions can include:
Wounds (From bullet, blast, fire, cold, shrapnel, glass, plexiglass,
etc. Traumatic brain injuries, severe hearing loss, scars, nerve damage, chronic back pain, loss of range of motion, etc.).
Injuries (From every kind of accident and injury including back sprains/fractures, strains/fractures, compression fractures, broken bones, mental traumas, etc.),
Illnesses and health
conditions (Cancers, asthma, hepatitis, malaria. diphtheria, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, arthritis, Parkinson's, ulcers, and others, and mental health conditions like Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD, Anxiety, etc.),
Hazardous material contamination caused Injuries and illnesses. (Caused by Agent Orange, burn pits, asbestos, radiation, etc.). Disabilities that appear within one year after discharge. If a veteran has certain long-lasting conditions that started within 1 year after their discharge from military service, they may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Eligible conditions include high blood pressure (hypertension), arthritis, diabetes, or peptic ulcers. Learn more at https:// bit.ly/3KPYQoe.
Suggestion 4: Make a list of the symptoms for each service-connected condition. Veterans should make a list of their symptoms, pain level, and range of motion limitations for each of their service-connected conditions.
Suggestion 5: Make a list of the medications you are taking. Veterans should make a list of all the medications they take for each of their service-connected conditions to use as evidence supporting their claim.
Suggestion 6: Learn about before, during, and after service-connected claims. Veterans can claim based on when the injury or illness took place: Before service and worsened. Conditions veterans had before they joined the military, which has “worsened” by military service, During service. Conditions that were caused by military service and happened while the veteran was serving, and After service. Conditions that showed up after separation from service and were caused by your active-duty service – like the long-delayed illnesses and injuries caused by Agent Orange, asbestos, radiation exposure, burn pits, contaminated water, and other HAZMAT.
Suggestion 7: Learn about secondary (injuries and illnesses) conditions. Veterans can file a secondary claim to get more disability benefits for a new disability that’s linked to a service-connected disability they already have. Veterans
might file a secondary claim if they develop arthritis that is caused by a service-connected knee injury or develop migraine headaches caused by Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Suggestion 8: Learn about the categories of service-connected claims. Learn about Secondary Claims, Fully Developed Claims, Original Claims, Increased Claims (Worsening Conditions), New Claims, Special Claims (special needs), Supplemental Claims, Pre-Discharge Claims, and Appeals at https://bit.ly/3m6K3M9.
Suggestion 9: Sign up for VA Healthcare. Sign up online, at the closest VA Medical Center, or at the closest VA CBOC (Community-Based Outpatient Clinic) and start using your VA healthcare for each of your service-connected disabilities.
Suggestion 10: Get letters (evidence) from Your Medical Providers. Ask each of your doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and healthcare specialists (Physical Therapists, etc.) to write supporting letters stating your diagnosis and the cause of the problem being service-connected.
Suggestion 11: If eligible get registered and get a free exam with the VA’s Hazardous Material Registries. Contact your local VA Environmental Health Coordinator and schedule a free HAZMAT Examination at your closest VA Medical Center. There are VA Registries for: (1.) Agent Orange, (2.) Ionizing Radiation, (3.) Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits, (4.) The Gulf
War, (5.) Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Program, and (6.) Toxic Embedded Fragment Surveillance. Health Exam and Enroll in the Agent Orange Registry. The acting Environmental Health Coordinator (EHC) at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is Contact RN Jill Cleary at jill.Cleary@ va.gov. Once you have been examined and registered, your EHC will give you a supportive letter that you can use as evidence in filing for presumptive conditions like cancers, high blood pressure, and more. Learn more at the VA’s Public Health Military Exposures & Coordinators web page https://bit.ly/3JAp4cy and https://bit.ly/3Rrz3E8.
Suggestion 12: Become an expert in presumptive conditions for toxic exposure. To get a VA disability rating, veterans’ disabilities must connect to their military service. For many health conditions, veterans need to prove that their military service caused their condition.
However, for some conditions, the VA automatically assumes that the veteran’s service caused their condition. The VA calls these “presumptive conditions.”
The VA considers a condition presumptive when it is established by law or regulation.
If a veteran has a presumptive condition, the veteran does not need to prove that their service caused the condition. The veteran only needs to meet the military service requirements for the
presumption and be diagnosed with the condition. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3ARbVrn.
The bottom line
Ask your local VSO to explain your federal (VA) and state (S.C., Ga., etc.) veterans’ benefits, and then ask the VSO to help you file for your benefits.
If you are still serving in the military and you have less than 180 days left on active duty, you can file a claim for a service-connected disability. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3vmbvaa.
Do not go to sleep after being awarded a VA service-connected disability. Expect some or all of your service-connected disabling conditions to get worse. As those conditions worsen, ask a VSO to help you submit a new claim for worsening conditions.
Sign up for VA health care and make appointments with a VA specialty doctor who can treat each of your service-connected conditions. Start with asking for treatment for any mental health conditions you have — having a healthy mind will go far towards having a healthy body, a healthy marriage, a successful job, and a happy life.
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
Christopher J. Geier Attorney at Law, LLC Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation 16 Professional Village Circle, Lady's Island Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450 chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com
Beaufort Audiology & Hearing Care
Wiser, M.A. CCC-A
Audiologist
Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007 Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center Dr. Larry Bridge, AU.D./CCC-A
Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort
Read with caution; not necessarily the opinions of the editorial staff.
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