August 13 edition

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY

Open Land Trust seeking new executive director Williams departs Open Land Trust after 9 years

By Delayna Earley The Island News The Open Land Trust is searching for its next executive director following the departure of Kristin Williams, who left the Beaufort-based conservation organization after nearly nine years to become president of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation.

Williams' final day with the Open Land Trust was July 31. The organization's Board of Directors has formed a search committee and is accepting applications for her replacement as the land trust continues conservation projects across the southern Lowcountry.

"There are some emails that are easy to write, and then there are ones like this," Williams wrote in a message announcing her departure to

LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN

Open Land Trust supporters.

Williams said the opportunity to lead Nemours Wildlife Foundation represented the right next step for her, but described leaving the Open Land Trust as difficult after nearly a decade with the organization.

"The Open Land Trust is so much more than an organization to me. It is family," Williams wrote.

Williams joined the Open Land Trust as director of stewardship after

moving to Beaufort from the Bahamas, where she had spent 10 years as executive director of Friends of the Environment. She later took over leadership of the Beaufort organization, serving as executive director since 2018.

During Williams' tenure, the Open Land Trust expanded its conservation footprint significantly. According to Williams, the organization protected more than 15,000 addition-

al acres, expanded its work across seven counties, added staff and programs and strengthened partnerships throughout the region.

Today, the Open Land Trust says it has permanently protected more than 38,000 acres across seven Lowcountry counties.

Founded in 1971, the organization is South Carolina's first and oldest

SEE TRUST PAGE A5

BACK TO SCHOOL

LOLITA HUCKABY

Dominion tree-cutting clears view of power-line clutter

S

BEAUFORT ome folks have spent so much time recently staring up at the trees to gasp at the latest damage done to the local trees by dear Dominion Energy, they’re noticing another related man-made blight to our landscape.

Power lines. Multitudes of them.

They’re not new – well, some of them are thanks to the arrival of Sparklight which took over Hargray Communications in 2021, and its competitor Brightspeed, both of which are working to replace older lines with fiber broadband options.

All in the name of faster internet.

Take a look at those sagging wooden poles along some of the town’s major thoroughfares. Some are carrying as many as 10 power lines connecting services to people.

And now that the tree limbs have been hacked back it’s even more obvious Beaufort has a plethora of overhead power lines.

SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A5

Ms. Khe”Mani Polite, Social Worker at Beaufort Elementary, welcomes Sarai Cook to the first day of school on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Beaufort Elementary kindergartener Cosmina Rolan is all smiles and excited for her first day of school on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Beaufort Academy senior Emma Fleming prepares to begin painting her parking space for the upcoming school year on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Beaufort Academy. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Parris Island woman named 2026 Military Spouse of the Year Shelby Bateman recognized nationally for leadership, advocacy, work building community among military families

Based at Parris Island with her family, Shelby Bateman has been named the 2026 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year.

Submitted photo

By Delayna Earley The Island News A Marine Corps spouse at Marine

Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island has received national recognition for work that began much closer to home: helping military families find connection and a sense of belonging amid the constant change that comes with military life.

Shelby Bateman has been named the 2026 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year, earning the top honor in a national program that recognizes military spouses for

their leadership, community involvement and service to military families.

Bateman, who is based at Parris Island with her family, was selected from seven branch winners representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and National Guard. She had previously been selected as the 2026 Marine Corps Spouse of the Year.

SEE SPOUSE PAGE A3

NEWS

NEWS

ARTS

INSIDE

Sheriff's Office seeks public's help to find missing teen.

A man was rescued after a fiery crash that trapped the driver on Parris Island Gateway.

Two artists won first-place honors at the’ (NAWA) South Carolina exhibition

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News A2–7 Health A8A9-10 Voices A11 Arts A12-13 Military A15 Directory

ISLAND NEWS PUBLISHING, LLC

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS Melissa Howell took this photo of a century plant Monday, June 29, 2026, on Mattis Road on St Helena Island.

PUBLISHER Margaret Evans

EDITORIAL/DESIGN Editor-in-Chief

Mike McCombs theislandnews@ gmail.com

Assistant Editor Delayna Earley delayna. theislandnews@ gmail.com

Sports Editor

Justin Jarrett LowcoSports@ gmail.com

SALES/BUSINESS Advertising

Amanda Hanna

VETERAN OF THE WEEK American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you David Breton, 65, who joined the United States Marine Corps in Tupper Lake, N.Y., in 1980. After Boot Camp at Parris Island, he trained at Camp Lejeune to be a Motor Transport mechanic and then as a wrecker operator skilled at removing engines from tanks and large trucks.

He continued service at Le-

jeune before being transferred to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. After that tour he was assigned aboard USS Mobile (LKA-115) servicing all types of motor transports and boats. While aboard he deployed to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and even into the Indian Ocean to Diego Garcia and Mombasa, Kenya.

The Corps next brought him to

843-343-8483 amanda@ lcweekly.com

DAVID BRETON

MCAS Beaufort for a tour before sending him to Okinawa with deployment to Korea. His final assignment was at David Breton Camp Pendleton, Calif., working with heavy motor transport. He separated in 1989 as a Sergeant

and went on to work with trucks and engines. His identical twin brother retired from 20 years of service in the Navy.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207.

For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.

Samuel "Sam" McGowan III

Associate Degree in Business Administration and Dec. 11, 1947 — June 18, 2026 Management and Beaufort went on to build a successful career Samuel "Sam" McGowan III, 78, in mortgage of Beaufort, South Carolina, passed Sam banking. In 1989, McGowan III away peacefully, surrounded by he founded Hilton family, on June 18, 2026, at the Head Mortgage Corporation, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical where he dedicated many years to Center in Charleston, S.C. helping families achieve the dream Sam was born on Dec. 11, 1947, of homeownership. He was a at Beaufort Memorial Hospital in respected member of the Beaufort Beaufort, S.C., to Beau Sam McChamber of Commerce and the Gowan and Emma Frances MadBeaufort County Board of Realtors. dox Mulligan. He often delighted Sam was also a proud veteran in telling others that his mother of the Vietnam Era. He honorably had carefully saved the Beaufort served in the United States Coast County Hospital receipt from the day he was born, a cherished keep- Guard from June 21, 1968, until sake that reflected his deep appre- June 20, 1972, where he participated in search and rescue operations. ciation for family history and the stories that connected generations. He carried great pride in his miliHe also loved telling anyone about tary service and the opportunity to assist others in times of need. his childhood adventures that he He found immense joy on the related to "The Little Rascals." water and was happiest offshore A proud son of Beaufort, Sam remained devoted to his hometown fishing and boating, pursuits throughout his life. He earned an that reflected his lifelong love of

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

the South Carolina coast. Sam treasured time spent with family and friends and was known for his engaging stories, warm smile, and generous spirit.

Faith was an important part of Sam's life. He attended Saint Helena's Anglican Church, the church in which he was raised, and was especially proud to serve as an usher. He considered it an honor to welcome fellow parishioners and visitors alike, continuing a tradition of faith and fellowship that meant so much to him.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Beau Sam McGowan and Emma Frances Maddox Mulligan; his sister, Angie McGowan; and his brother, John Pierre "JP" McGowan.

He leaves behind his devoted wife, Virginia "Anne" Bohler-McGowan; her daughters, Jennifer Anne Redman (Kevin) and Jodi Redd Tyler (Travis); and their beloved grandchildren, Sydney Alese Redman, Payton Jolie Tyler, Emma Caroline Tyler, and

OBITUARIES

The Island News publishes obituaries, including a photo, free of charge. Please contact theislandnews@gmail.com for more information.

Abigail Elizabeth Tyler. He also leaves behind numerous extended family members, lifelong friends, colleagues, and fellow parishioners who will cherish his memory and carry forward the stories, laughter, and love he so freely shared.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parish Church of Saint Helena, honoring Sam's enduring love for his church and his commitment to preserving its rich history for future generations.

Sam's legacy is one of service, faith, hard work, and devotion to family. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

JereRusso@ gmail.com

Advertising and Digital Strategy Sasha Horne Hirshout

1940: The Marine post on Parris Island is re-designated Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Parris Island.

1686: The Spanish destroy the Scottish settlement of Stuart’s Town somewhere in the vicinity of present-day Beaufort.

2019: Beaufort Academy names Bobby Smith its head boys basketball coach.

1837: Charlotte Forten (Grimke) is born a free Black in Philadelphia.

Forten would later become the first Black teacher at the Penn School on St. Helena Island. She would reside at Seaside Plantation and chronicle her time there in a collection of essays, published in 1864 in Atlantic Monthly, entitled Life on the Sea Islands. She became close friends with Robert Gould Shaw, the commander of the famous all-Black 54th Massachussetts Regiment during their Sea Islands campaign. Among her writings in 1862, she was also one of the first writers to make reference to “the blues,” already attached to a sad, depressed state, to refer to a style of song or music popular among Blacks, in church and among the slaves.

August 15 2019: Democratic Presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall in Beaufort.

2021: In a private service, Beaufort’s Jill Striebinger becomes the first South Carolina woman ordained by the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. Her ordination is not recognized by the Roman-Catholic Church.

August 16 1965: Beaufort-born Joe Frazier makes his professional boxing debut with a heavyweight victory by TKO over Woody Goss at Convention Center in Philadelphia.

April Ackerman april@ aandbbookkeeping. com Billing questions only.

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

DEADLINE

August 17

2021: Tim Ogden is sworn in as the Chief of the City of BeaufortTown of Port Royal Fire Department, replacing Reece Bertholf, who was named the Deputy City Manager for the City of Beaufort.

Accounting

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August 13

2019: South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a Democratic candidate for President, speaks to supporters at Whale Branch Middle School.

August 19 2019: S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson speaks to Beaufort Academy students during the school’s annual convocation.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

CORRECTIONS

• In the Aug. 6 edition of The Island News, the name of Nancy Lacore, a U.S. Navy veteran and Democratic candidate for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, was misspelled.

Do you value your free hometown newspaper – made by locals, for locals? Free news isn’t cheap. Please help support The Island News!

Donations gratefully accepted at www.yourislandnews.com or The Island News, PO Box 550, Beaufort, SC 29901 AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

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NEWS

Spouse

using spouse groups, social programs and direct mentorship to help military spouses develop connections and confidence.

Her own path into leadership was not immediate.

Bateman has said she struggled after the birth of the couple's second child in 2020.

While stationed at Camp Lejeune, another military spouse encouraged her to become more involved.

In the years that followed, Bateman went from observing from the sidelines to volunteering in Family Readiness positions, facilitating small groups through Camp Lejeune Leadership Seminars and eventually mentoring other spouses herself.

That experience now shapes one of her primary areas of advocacy: encouraging military spouses to recognize their own abilities and step into leadership roles.

Military life can require spouses to put careers and personal goals on hold while navigating relocations, deployments and family responsibilities, Bateman wrote.

Those disruptions can leave spouses questioning their identity and what they have to offer.

Her goal is to help change that.

"I am passionate about ensuring spouses are defined not by gaps or relocations, but by their resilience and adaptability," Bateman wrote.

from page A1

The recognition places a national spotlight on work Bateman has been doing within the Parris Island and Beaufort military communities, where she has focused on connecting spouses with one another, military leadership and resources available to their families.

Bateman currently serves as a Family Readiness Assistant at Parris Island, supporting communication, connection and advocacy for families whose Marines are part of the recruit training mission. She also serves on the Community Advisory Board for Hunt Military Housing and participates in Installation Family Readiness Group meetings.

Her work extends beyond the installation.

Bateman serves as the Beaufort ambassador for Stronghold Food Pantry, which works to address food insecurity among active-duty military families. She also launched Giving Tuesday Military at Parris Island, leads a women's Bible study and has helped develop a homeschool co-op community for active-duty families in and around Parris Island. She is also a contributor to the Military Mom Collective, where she writes about the experiences of military spouses.

For Bateman, that involvement grew out of her own experience navigating military life.

She and her husband have been together since they were teenagers, with their lives eventually taking them from New York to California, Camp Lejeune and Parris Island while raising two children.

Each move meant starting over, Bateman wrote in her Military Spouse of the Year

Shelby Bateman has been named the 2026 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. Submitted photo profile, from finding a new home and establishing new routines to figuring out how to belong in another community.

Over time, her role changed from primarily supporting her husband's Marine Corps career to deliberately building a support system for other military families.

"My military spouse story is one of growth, resilience, and choosing community over isolation, every single time," Bateman wrote.

That emphasis on community is particularly significant at Parris Island, where many families are connected to the recruit training mission and

repeatedly experience changes in schedules, assignments and personnel.

According to the National Military Community Foundation, Bateman has concentrated on helping bridge the gap between families and the resources and leadership intended to support them,

What the title means The Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year program was founded in 2008 to recognize the contributions military spouses make to their communities and the country.

Candidates can be nominated by members of both civilian and military communities and move through four rounds of advancement

before the overall winner is announced. The program includes recognition at the installation and service branch levels before an overall Military Spouse of the Year is selected.

Nominees are evaluated based on their involvement in the military community, leadership, ability to build community, communication skills and personal story.

But the title is intended to be more than an annual award.

Recipients participate in a yearlong program centered on leadership, networking and community impact, while the Military Spouse of the Year organization works to provide recipients opportunities to expand their advocacy, reach more military spouses and bring greater attention to the issues they are working to address.

Bateman said she hopes to use that platform to amplify the voices of military spouses whose experiences may otherwise go unheard.

She also wants spouses to recognize that leadership does not require them to fit a particular mold.

"If I can help even one spouse find confidence, discover their voice, and step into new opportunities, that impact extends far beyond me," Bateman wrote.

More than anything, she said, she wants military spouses to understand they do not have to become someone else in order to lead.

"They simply need to show up as themselves, authentically and courageously, walking this journey side by side."

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

Saturdays ARE FOR

Screening Mammograms Appointment required • No physician order needed

Screenings available at the following dates and locations from

8a.m.-1p.m.

Aug. 15 – Beaufort Medical Plaza –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sept. 19 – Beaufort Medical Plaza –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Oct. 10 – Okatie Medical Pavilion –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Oct. 17 – Beaufort Medical Plaza –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Nov. 14 – Beaufort Medical Plaza

Beaufort Medical Plaza 989 Ribaut Road, Beaufort

Okatie Medical Pavilion

122 Okatie Center Blvd., North, Okatie

TO S C H E D U L E YO U R S C R E E N I N G M A M M O G R A M CA L L

843-522-5015

VISIT

BeaufortMemorial.org/MammoAppointment

S CA N

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

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NEWS

Beaufort rehires former capital projects director months after resignation

Raul Dominguez returns as major downtown drainage work continues, Waterfront Park project looms

By Delayna Earley The Island News Eight months after resigning while one of the city's largest downtown infrastructure projects was underway, Raul Dominguez is returning to lead Beaufort's capital improvement program as work continues downtown and another major undertaking at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park looms.

The City of Beaufort announced Thursday, Aug. 6 that Dominguez had been hired as its Capital Improvements Project Director. His first day back in the position was Monday, Aug. 10.

Dominguez previously served as the city's capital projects director for about 15 months before resigning in December 2025, citing personal reasons.

His departure came at a particularly busy time for the city's capital improvement

program and less than a month after construction began on the Charles and Craven streets stormwater project downtown.

The project, which includes installation of new stormwater infrastructure intended to alleviate chronic flooding, drew criticism from some downtown business owners after construction disrupted traffic near Bay Street during the 2025 holiday shopping season.

Last-minute changes to the construction schedule, including the earlier-than-expected closure of the Bay and Charles streets intersection, caught some businesses off guard.

The city said at the time the change was necessary after excavation uncovered conditions requiring additional engineering evaluation.

The city also faced criticism over communication surrounding the construction and the removal of a live oak tree to accommodate the new stormwater infrastructure.

At the time of his resignation, it was unclear whether criticism surrounding the project played any role in Dominguez's decision to leave. City

Manager Scott Marshall said Dominguez cited personal reasons for his departure.

Now, Dominguez is returning while work on the downtown drainage system is still underway.

As of Aug. 10, weather had delayed base paving on Craven Street between Charles and West streets. The work was rescheduled for Aug. 11, with the road expected to reopen after the asphalt cures and roadway markings are completed.

And another major downtown capital project is on the horizon.

The city is moving forward with plans for the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park relieving platform, a project intended to restore safe public access along the waterfront.

The riverside portion of the park has been closed since June 2025 because of structural concerns.

The city held a public meeting in April to present and discuss design concepts for the project, with McSweeney Engineers, Davis & Floyd and city staff participating.

The project has since moved further toward im-

plementation. Beaufort City Council approved a resolution supporting a design type for the relieving platform, and the city issued a request for qualifications in July seeking professional services for a design-bid-build project. The city's solicitation describes the project as an effort to restore safe public access to one of Beaufort's most important civic spaces.

Dominguez's return puts him back at the helm of the city's capital improvement program as those projects and others move forward.

In announcing his hiring, the city pointed to Dominguez's familiarity with Beaufort's infrastructure projects and his more than 28 years of experience in community management and operations in the private sector. Dominguez also served 12 years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"We're excited to welcome Raul back to the City of Beaufort," Marshall said in the city's announcement. "His knowledge of our organization and ongoing capital projects allows him to make an immediate impact as we continue

investing in our community."

Marshall has also defended both the hiring process and Dominguez's previous work for the city.

Marshall said the position was publicly advertised and Dominguez competed against other candidates through the city's interview and selection process.

According to Marshall, Assistant City Manager Eric Claussen led the process.

Claussen joined the city after Dominguez's departure and, to Marshall's knowledge, had no prior professional history with him.

Claussen joined the City of Beaufort as assistant city manager in December 2025, shortly after Dominguez left.

Following the interview process, Claussen recommended Dominguez for the position and Marshall approved the recommendation.

"I am confident in that process and in the decision that was made," Marshall said.

Marshall also defended Dominguez's performance during his previous tenure with the city.

"During my prior experience working with him, I

found him to be highly effective in managing major construction and capital improvement projects," Marshall said.

Marshall said Dominguez's familiarity with the city's capital program, combined with his professional experience and the assessment made through the competitive selection process, supported the decision to bring him back.

Dominguez said in the city's announcement that he is looking forward to returning and picking up the work that began during his first tenure.

"Sometimes life leads us in different directions, and it's not often that you are fortunate enough to rejoin a team such as Team Beaufort," Dominguez said. "I look forward to continuing the work started in 2024 and continuing the great work in progress by the staff and contractors."

Dominguez originally joined the city in September 2024.

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

Patient found after leaving Beaufort Memorial Hospital

Beaufort Police located the patient after responding to a search near the hospital Tuesday night

By Delayna Earley The Island News A patient who reportedly

left Beaufort Memorial Hospital last week was located after the Beaufort Police Department responded to assist in the search.

Beaufort Police responded Tuesday night, Aug. 4, to search for the patient near Beaufort Memorial Hospital, according to a Nixle alert issued by the department.

The patient was described as a mental health patient and was believed to possibly be nude at the time of the search.

Police later announced that the patient had been located.

Few details about the circumstances surrounding the incident have been publicly released, including how the patient was able to leave the

hospital, whether the patient was under an involuntary commitment or otherwise prohibited from leaving, how long the patient was away from the hospital or where the patient was ultimately located.

Around the same time as the search, Burton News Today reported that someone had attempted to take a Beau-

fort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority vehicle near Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

It has not been officially confirmed whether the reported attempted vehicle theft involved the patient who left the hospital.

Additional details about the incident, including whether any charges were filed, have

not been released.

The Island News will update this story as additional information becomes available.

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

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND INTENT TO SELL TIMESHARE ESTATES PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 27-32- 330(E) OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS REGARDING NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF TIMESHARE LIENS, MARIA BELBAS PARKER, ESQ., TRUSTEE FOR THE GOLDEN ISLE-NAUTICAL WATCH TIME SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., HEREBY PERFECTS DELIVERY OF THE MANDATORY "NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND INTENT TO SELL" UPON THE FOLLOWING TIMESHARE OWNERS IN GOLDEN ISLE NAUTICAL WATCH LOCATED IN UNIT 4 OF GOLDEN ISLE NAUTICAL WATCH, HARBOUR ISLAND, BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

BY PUBLISHING NOTICE THE NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND INTENT TO SELL IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE TIMESHARE PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Owners—Timeshare Unit/Week—Tax Map Parcel Thomas & Eileen Fitzgerald—Unit 4/Week 3—R300 020 00A 0124 3 June M. Williams—Unit 4/Week 4—R300 020 00A 0124 4 Frank & Mary Richardson—Unit 4/Week 1o—R300 020 00A 0124 10 Richard A. Delong—Unit 4/Week 17—R300 020 00A 0124 17 Augusta McD. Ball—Unit 4/Week 25—R300 020 00A 0124 25 Anne Anderson & Robert Johnson—Unit 4/Week 32—R300 020 00A 0124 32 Willie J. & Helen Odums—Unit 4/Week 33—R300 020 00A 0124 33 Willie A. (Sr.) & Jessie R. Deloach—Unit 4/Week 37—R300 020 00A 0124 37 Lillie M. Allison—Unit 4/Week 39—R300 020 00A 0124 39 Freddrick & Betty Hargrove—Unit 4/Week 40— R300 020 00A 0124 40 Edsel & Shirley Mitchell—Unit 4/Week 41—R300 020 00A 0124 41 Mabel J. Davis—Unit 4/Week 42—R300 020 00A 0124 42 Lou Ann Adams—Unit 4/Week 43—R300 020 00A 0124 43 Phyllis A. Ford—Unit 4/Week 44—R300 020 00A 0124 44 James & Dorothy Hightower—Unit 4/Week 50— R300 020 00A 0124 50 Albert & Elena Keenan—Unit 4/Week 51—R300 020 00A 0124 51 TO THE ABOVE-LISTED OWNERS OF THE IDENTIFIED OWNER USE PERIODS (WEEKS) IN UNIT 4 OF GOLDEN ISLE NAUTICAL WATCH, HARBOUR ISLAND, BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: THIS PUBLICATION hereby constitutes the NOTICE required by the applicable South Carolina statutes regarding the foreclosure of your respective timeshare weeks: If you fail to cure the default or take other appropriate action with regard to this matter within thirty (30) calendar days after the date of publication of this notice, you will risk losing your interest in this timeshare estate through a nonjudicial foreclosure procedure. However, under the nonjudicial procedure, you will not be subject to a deficiency judgment or personal liability for the lien being foreclosed even if the sale of your timeshare estate resulting from the nonjudicial foreclosure is insufficient to satisfy the amount of the lien being foreclosed. You may object to the sale of your timeshare estate through the nonjudicial foreclosure procedure and require foreclosure of your timeshare interest to proceed through the judicial

A4

PLACE YOUR LEGAL NOTICE HERE Please contact ads. theislandnews@gmail.com for more information on placing your legal notice in The Island News.

process. An objection must be made in writing and received by the trustee before the end of the thirty-day time period. You must state the reason for your objection and include your address on the written objection. In a judicial foreclosure proceeding that results from your objection, you may be subject to a deficiency judgment and personal liability for the lien being foreclosed if the sale of your timeshare estate resulting from the judicial foreclosure is insufficient to satisfy the amount of the lien being foreclosed. Furthermore, you also may be subject to a personal money judgment for the costs and attorney's fees incurred by the lienholder in the judicial foreclosure proceeding if the court finds that there is a complete absence of a justifiable issue of either law or fact raised by your objections or defenses. You have the right to cure your default at any time before the sale of your timeshare estate by payment of all past due assessments, accrued interest, late fees, taxes, and all fees and costs incurred by the lienholder and trustee, including attorney's fees and costs, in connection with the default.

This right to cure shall cease on the date the Trustee issues the Certificate of Sale.

Absent the trustee's receipt of a written objection from any of the timeshare owners as set forth above, a NOTICE OF SALE shall be recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Beaufort County, South Carolina, and the timeshare owners whose timeshare weeks in Unit 4 of Golden Isle Nautical Watch will be sold (pursuant to the Notice of Sale) shall be provided with a copy of the said Notice at their last known addresses. Once the Notice of Sale has been published, the sale of the timeshare weeks in Golden Isle Nautical Watch Unit 4 shall take place at the time and date set forth therein at the office of the Trustee.

This Notice of Default and Intent to Sell Timeshare Estate is being issued by Maria Belbas Parker, the trustee for the Golden Isle-Nautical Watch Time Share Owners Association; Maria Belbas Parker can be reached at the mailing address of Post Office Box 7926, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938; physical address is 7 Finch St., Suite 7A, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926; 843 341 9200 phone; 843 341 9228 fax.

Date:August13,2026 Maria Belbas Parker, Esq., Trustee NOTICE OF APPLICATION Notice is hereby given that The Kitchen intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a permit that will allow the sale and on-premises consumption of beer and wine at 136 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 5, Beaufort, SC 29907.

To object to the issuance of this permit, submit an ABL-20 protest form by August 20, 2026. Submit the ABL-20 online at MyDORWAY.dor.sc.gov, or email ABL@dor.sc.gov.

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES All persons having claims against the following estates, MUST file their claims on FORM #371 ES with the Probate court of Beaufort County, the address of which is 102 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29902, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred at to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371 ES) indicating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

DECEDENT

PERSONAL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE

PUB. DATE PUB. DATE

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

PUB. DATE

Joseph Frank Anastasia Corinne Annette Baker 05/17/2025 Date of Death: 5/4/2026 Case Number: 2026ES0700800 2025ES0700899

Elisa O’Connor Carrie L. Kleinjan C/OStonegate 16 WilliamDrive Pope Drive, Ste. 202 23 Bluffton, SC Island, 29909 SC 29926 Hilton Head

08/21/2025 07/30/2026

Frederick Ray LilesIII Samuel McGowan Date of Death: 07/05/2025 6/18/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700943 2026ES0700848

Melaine Anne S. Smith Virginia Bohler-McGowan C/OFiddler PO BoxDrive 1107 34 Beaufort, SC 29907 29901

08/28/2025 08/06/2026

Jerry Ann Joseph June BeckDittle 03/01/2025 Date of Death: 4/26/2026 2025ES0700903 Case Number: 2026ES0700813

Lori R.Marie CullenCooney Adele 16 William Pope Drive, Ste. 202 C/O P.O. BOX 7906 Bluffton, SC Island, 29909 SC 29928 Hilton Head

08/21/2025 07/30/2026

Alan Michaelson; MaryJoel Kathryn Scanlin AKA Alan J. Michaelson Date of Death: 06/29/2025 2/3/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700944 2026ES0700694

Catherine Grubell John Vincent Scanlin 16 William Pope Dr., Ste. 202 1C/O Myrtle Bank Road Bluffton, SC 29909 Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

08/28/2025 08/06/2026

Marguerite AnneIIIFord Robert C. Beck, 07/01/2025 Date of Death: 6/26/2026 2025ES0700906 Case Number: 2026ES0700811

MichaelMarie Ralph Ford Adele Cooney PO Box C/O P.O. BOX5098 7906 29938 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

08/21/2025 07/30/2026

John Miracle; AKA John E. Miracle SusanEdward Anderson Wilson-Rich Date of Death: 04/05/2025 6/24/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700932 2026ES0700834

Geraldine Miracle Noah S. E. G. Wilson-Rich PO Box C/O P.O. BOX5098 7906 Hilton Head Island, SC 29938

08/28/2025 08/06/2026

Anna Maria Wilhelmina James Langhorne BreenLa Haije 07/21/2025 Date of Death: 6/24/2026 2025ES0700892 Case Number: 2026ES0700796

Helma FraniscaHarr Cap Ann Elizabeth 17 Brams Point Rd. C/O P.O. BOX 5098 29926 Hilton Head Island, SC 29938

08/21/2025 07/30/2026

Raymond Carl Pettersen Robert Joseph Camoosa AKA Robert J. Camoosa Date of Death: 06/09/2025 7/7/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700929 2026ES0700871

08/28/2025 08/13/2026

Rita Marie O’Brien Kerri Ann Kolwicz Date of Death: 4/10/2026 07/25/2025 2025ES0700913 Case Number: 2026ES0700814

John M. O’Brien, Jr. Thaddeus Henry Kolwicz, Jr. C/O P.O. PO Drawer DRAWER1107 6067 Beaufort SC Island, 29901 SC 29938 Hilton Head

08/21/2025 07/30/2026

MarilynXavier KolbeLand Olsen Frank 05/30/2025 Date of Death: 6/18/2026 Case Number: 2026ES0700784 2025ES0700733

08/21/2025 07/30/2026

RobertDarby A. Parham, Anne MobleyJr. 07/09/2025 Date of Death: 6/5/2026 2025ES0700912 Case Number: 2026ES0700812

Connie L.Bridget Olsen Land-Hartman Michele C/O 112 Executive Center 1208 Verde Farm Road 1Raleigh, Corpus NC Christi Place, #112 27603 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 V. AlexM.Dorobantu James Mixson C/O 1110 Pocket Plantation Dr. Ste. A 1310 GatchPick Court Beaufort,OHSC45150 29902 Milford,

Donald Gilbert Campbell Patricia Ann Wilson Date of Death: 6/28/2026 Date Death: 2026ES0700872 07/12/2025 Case of Number: Case Number: 2025ES0700916 Kathleen A. Cassidy Mary Grey Boatwright Date of Death: 7/31/2025 Date Death: 2026ES0700856 08/04/2025 Case of Number: Case Number: 2025ES0700963 Martha Royette Conway AKA Martha R. Conway, Francis Martha Charles ConwayBrien; AKA Francis C. Brien Date of Death: 07/11/2025 7/16/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700946 2026ES0700858

Cynthia K. Hutcheson Keith Camoosa Christina R. Lesher1107 C/O P.O. DRAWER C/O 10 Hospital Center Commons, Ste. 400 Beaufort, SC 29901 Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 Elizabeth Campbell Mumaw Edward Harry Tobergte C/O P.O. DRAWER 1107 C/O PO BoxSC7906 Beaufort, 29901 Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 Derek M. Cassidy Louise C/O P.O.Brunson DRAWER 14 C/O POHead Drawer 1107 SC 29938 Hilton Island, Beaufort, SC 29901 Robert Dale Conway Lisa POST BrienOFFICE BOX 1107 C/O C/O PO Drawer 1107 Beaufort, SC 29901 Beaufort, SC 29901

William Roberson, Jr. Gary JonM.Rielly 05/20/2025 Date of Death: 6/2/2026 2025ES0700645 Case Number: 2026ES0700791

Lacey Michelle Godec Jennifer Joan Rielly C/O PO Drawer 1023Circle 1084 Trojan Horse Beaufort, SCNC29901 Fleetwood, 28626

08/21/2025 07/30/2026 Arthur AndrewGuida Emerson Molly Kathryn AKA Molly Kathryn Young Date of Death: 07/27/2025 5/29/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700956 2026ES0700863

Clara Marie Emerson Christopher J. Guida PO Box 1C/O Jones Farm3435 Lane Bluffton,NJSC07863 29910 Oxford,

09/04/2025 08/13/2026

AndrewLittle Gerard Schiavone, III Robin Satterwhite 06/09/2025 Date of Death: 5/13/2026 2025ES0700751 Case Number: 2026ES0700818

Melissa M. Schiavone Trent Landon Satterwhite C/O PO DrawerRiver 1107 Road 1209 S. Green Beaufort,SCSC29341 29901 Gaffney,

08/21/2025 07/30/2026 Ervin Fitzgerald BerthaGene Graves AKA Ellen Bertha Goethe Graves Date of Death: 12/24/2024 5/22/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700948 2026ES0700857

DanielG.Gene Fitzgerald Gloria Williams 27187BOX Chippendale Ter. P.O. 1798 Salisbury,SCMD29901 21801 Beaufort,

09/04/2025 08/13/2026

RonaldStuart GeneVance, Tune AKA Mark S.Vance Mark Date of Death: 12/2/2025 06/30/2025 2025ES0700914 Case Number: 2026ES0700807

Rodney A.D.Schaake Jonathan Vance C/O 233 PO Box 22230 Street E. Graham Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 Shelby, NC 28150

08/21/2025 07/30/2026 Robin AndrewRaines RobertHoffer Richdale Date of Death: 04/27/2025 6/5/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700964 2026ES0700864

WilliamC. Myers Hoffer, II Wyatt Richdale 2015DRAWER Boundary6067 St., #227 C/O P.O. Beaufort, 29902 SC 29938 Hilton HeadSCIsland,

09/04/2025 08/13/2026

Melva Jean Shelton Wheeler Nelson I. Adelman 07/16/2025 Date of Death: 2/25/2026 Case Number: 2026ES0700852 2025ES0700893

Teresa Joy LynnAdelman Anthony Donna C/OCougar PO BoxRun 7906 10 Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 29938

08/21/2025 08/06/2026 Stanley M. Lawson Evelyn Brock Roane Date of Death: 06/21/2025 9/17/2025 Case Number: 2025ES0700961 2025ES0701156

Melissa L. H. Davis Lawrence Roane, Jr. C/OEast PO Drawer 1107 28 River Drive 29901 Beaufort, SC 29907

09/04/2025 08/13/2026

Charles FainRamesh WilliamsDesai Bhartendu 07/23/2025 Date of Death: 6/11/2026 2025ES0700889 Case Number: 2026ES0700833

LauraDesai Ann Richardson Tejal 2662P.O. Broad C/O BOXStreet 7906 Beaufort, 29902 SC 29938 Hilton HeadSCIsland,

08/21/2025 08/06/2026 Joe William Lieser Patricia H. Shelburne Date of Death: 07/12/2025 6/10/2026 Case Number: 2025ES0700857 2026ES0700870

09/04/2025 08/13/2026

Donald Simeon Zuidema; AKA Donald S. Zuidema Richard Donald Gassner 04/29/2025 Date of Death: 5/19/2026 2025ES0700904 Case Number: 2026ES0700850

Marianne Zuidema Randi Melzer 3404Orleans Salterbeck C/O 852 RoadStreet, Ste. 204 Mt. Pleasant,SCSC29407 29466 Charleston,

08/21/2025 08/06/2026

Matthew J.S.Lieser Elizabeth Fisher, Anne Shelburne Newell 112 Executive C/O P.O. BOX 1938 Center 1Bluffton, Corpus Christi Place, #112 SC 29910 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 Dawn McCulloch Janese W. Davis 37 Ferebee Court 180 Pearl SC Davis Road Bluffton, 29910 Springfield, GA 31329 Andrew H. Shapiro R. Willis Post 3153 Hambletonian Lane C/O 17 Professional Village Walnut Creek, CA 94598 Beaufort, SC 29907 Keith W. Walston James 22D BowF. Holland Circle C/O POHead Box 7906 Hilton Island, SC 29928 Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 Inez Washington Deborah F. Kopp C/O P.O. BOX 2358 C/O PO Drawer 1023 Beaufort, SC 29901 Beaufort, SC 29901 Jennifer C. Wolfe 4 Fox Grape Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

08/21/2025 07/30/2026

DECEDENT DECEDENT

Elender Hardin Barrett Jahde Date of Death: 2/9/2026 Case Number: 2026ES0700836

Catherine Louise Snyder Larry Millender Date ofCecil Death: 3/21/2026 Date Death: 2026ES0700865 02/19/2025 Case of Number: John F. Crocco 08/28/2025 Case Number: 2025ES0700974 Reggie Jay Heiser & Kelly Ann Heiser 08/06/2026 PO BoxBroken 118 Wheel Road 38084 Carol J. Strother Southport, CT 06890 Suzanne Rekate6/16/2026 Post Polson, MT 59860 Date of Death: Date Death: 2026ES0700808 07/21/2025 Case of Number: Case Number: 2025ES0700962 NancyEans L. Golson 08/28/2025 Sarah Hester 08/06/2026 C/O 935 16 William PopeDrive Dr., Ste. 202 Equestrian William Dewaine Walston, Jr. Kelly Lynn Sullivan Bluffton, SC 29909 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Date of Death: 6/8/2026 Date Death: 2026ES0700801 07/21/2025 Case of Number: Case Number: 2025ES0700954 CharisseA.Parker 08/28/2025 Nicolas Hills 08/06/2026 C/O School PO BoxStreet, 2478 Apt. 3 140 Clarence Washington, Jr. James Willard Beaufort, SC 29901-2478 Waltham, MA 02451 Date ofFranklin Death: 12/22/2025 Date Death: 2026ES0700874 07/02/2025 Case of Number: Case Number: 2025ES0700957 Lillian Seigler 08/06/2026 42 Mary Jenkins Circle Robert William Wolfe Saint Helena, SC 29920 Date of Death: 6/14/2026 County, SC Heather R. Galvin, Probate Judge, Beaufort Case Number: 2026ES0700851 Heather E. Nagle 08/06/2026 C/O P.O. BOX 7906 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Rosalyn Riddle Kolb Date of Death: 5/14/2026 Case Number: 2026ES0700839

Benjamin J. Kolb C/O 17 Professional Village Beaufort, SC 29907

PatriciaEdward FrancisHeiser, CroccoSr. David 07/29/2025 Date of Death: 6/11/2026 2025ES0700931 Case Number: 2026ES0700838 CharlesMatthew Oliver Golson Ryan Hester III Date of Death: 7/1/2026 09/28/2024 2024ES0701357 Case Number: 2026ES0700828 Gladys Kline Legare Wayne Edward Hills 04/27/2025 Date of Death: 5/29/2026 Case Number: 2026ES0700785 2025ES0700933 Emily M. Howard Date of Death: 12/31/2025 Case Number: 2026ES0700829

08/06/2026

Heather R. Galvin, Probate Judge, Beaufort County, SC

08/13/2026 08/28/2025

08/13/2026 09/04/2025

08/13/2026 09/04/2025

08/13/2026 09/04/2025

08/13/2026 09/04/2025

08/13/2026 09/04/2025

08/13/2026 09/04/2025

08/13/2026

NEWS

Trust

from page A1 land trust. Its conservation work includes farms, forests, marshes, wildlife habitat, historic landscapes and properties tied to the cultural heritage and rural character of Lowcountry communities.

Williams' departure comes as the organization continues several significant projects, including work on St. Helena Island.

This spring, the Open Land Trust helped secure just less than 10 acres at the intersection of Sea Island Parkway and Polowana Road in the Corners Community, an area identified for community-serving commercial development.

The property, described by the organization as the last large undeveloped tract within the Corners Community,

Lowdown from page A1

It’s reached the point that city officials are hearing the complaints. City Manager Scott Marshall, in one of his recent weekly newsletters, “The Bridge Report,” said the building codes staff is working with the utility companies and Dominion to enforce a city ordinance which requires outdated lines to, at least, be removed.

At least one of our local utilities – Verizon – is expanding its service, erecting wireless cell phone poles in several locations, such as in front of Beaufort Memorial Hospital and Dominion Energy offices on Robert Smalls Parkway.

For years, some folks have been urging city officials to push our sole-service-provider Dominion Energy, and before that, its predecessor S.C. Electric & Gas, to put lines underground.

Anyone who’s followed this debate knows there are pros and cons to underground wires. But every time the electric utility company undertakes its scheduled tree trimming, in the name of preventing outages, the cry for underground lines goes up.

It’s not impossible.

In 2014, as part of the $33 million Boundary Street renovation project, city officials worked out a deal with the utility companies – at that time, S.C. Electric & Gas,

had been poised for sale to a national retailer before St. Helena residents, nonprofits and community organizations began working toward an alternative.

The Open Land Trust is temporarily holding the property while a community-led feasibility study and public engagement process examines its future. No permanent decision has been made about the property.

Williams said other proj-

ects involving wildlife habitat, local family farms, public access to nature and new community initiatives also remain underway despite the leadership change.

"As we begin the search for our next Executive Director, our work will not stop," Open Land Trust Board President Charley Webb wrote in an August message to supporters.

"Protecting and conserving Lowcountry land forever remains our highest priority."

Hargray and CenturyLink – to place 35 miles of overhead lines along one mile of Boundary Street.

The bundles of wires, 24 miles of which belonged to the electric utility alone, were placed in huge underground duct banks.

The negotiations, under the guidance of then-city manager Scott Dadson, special projects coordinator Neil Pugliese and Mayor Billy Keyserling, took time.

Part of the delay was establishing whose lines were on those Dominion-owned poles since some of the utility companies were no longer in existence, … but their lines were.

Cost of the underground placement was close to $3 million, paid for by a 7 percent special franchise fee that was collected from the utility customers along that part of Boundary Street.

The redevelopment project itself was paid for by a federal grant matched by an earlier penny sales tax approved by county voters.

An agreement on the utility lines was ultimately reached and the entire Boundary Street project, which included planted medians and a reworked intersection at Robert Smalls Parkway, was finished in 2018.

No doubt, city officials these days have a big bag of “fish to fry” with the ongoing stormwater update project downtown, the future of the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, negotiations with

Safe Harbor over their lease agreement of the Downtown Marina, and more improvements to the Southside Park, all big-ticket items.

BUT there is an election coming up. With two city council seats on the ballot.

Maybe, just maybe, the future of overhead power lines will be an issue.

County committee hears Flock cameras moratorium request, discuss data centers BEAUFORT — In addition to power lines multiplying all over the county, the number of Flock cameras being installed by law enforcement had reached 70.

The County Council’s Natural Resources committee last week, among other things, heard a citizen’s request for a moratorium on the Safety Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), commonly called Flock cameras because of the manufacturer.

The individual cited concerns about the invasion of privacy.

While the committee took no action on the request, another committee – Community Services and Public Safety – did ask the planners to work on zoning revision which would regulate construction of data centers which are increasingly important to the provision of wireless service for features such as the Flock cameras.

Although there has been no plans for one of the con-

Webb thanked Williams on behalf of the organization's board and staff for her leadership and said the organization was excited for her move to Nemours.

"It has been our privilege and pleasure to share in her amazing energy, leadership, and commitment," Webb wrote.

The Open Land Trust is seeking what it describes as an experienced, community-minded leader to oversee the organization's conservation work and operations.

The executive director serves as the organization's chief executive and is responsible for strategic leadership, financial oversight, fundraising, community programs, advocacy and the organization's public presence.

The position also requires working with landowners, donors, elected officials, government agencies and con-

servation partners throughout the land trust's seven-county service area.

The organization is specifically seeking candidates with senior nonprofit leadership experience and demonstrated fundraising and financial management skills. Familiarity with conservation easements, land trust operations or real estate transactions is strongly preferred.

The full-time position is based in Beaufort and requires regular work in the office as well as travel throughout the seven-county service area.

The advertised salary range is $95,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience.

Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until it is filled.

Although Williams has left the organization, she said her new position will allow her to remain involved in conserva-

tion efforts in the Lowcountry and continue working with the Open Land Trust and other regional partners.

"Although I'm leaving this role, I'm not leaving this work," Williams wrote.

She said the shared goals of Nemours Wildlife Foundation and the Open Land Trust could also create additional opportunities for collaboration.

Williams said she leaves the organization confident in both its staff and its future.

"That community is the reason this land trust is stronger than ever," she wrote, "and it's the reason I know its best days are still ahead."

troversial centers announced in Beaufort County, neighboring Colleton County is looking at one on the outskirts of the protected ACE (Ashepoo, Combee and Edisto) river basins.

to a residential community … unless you get a variance or know someone … but that’s another column.)

In June, Beaufort County planners held two public meetings to discuss the most recent update of the county’s comprehensive plan which was adopted in 2010 but designed to direct county growth until 2040.

There was an online survey for residents to review the established goals and 230 did before the Aug. 7 deadline.

The County Planning Commission will next take a look at the document and there will be more discussion before County Council, which has an election to get through, blesses it.

Across the street in the city, the municipal Planning Commission has mapped out a plan for presenting its 2021 comp plan to the public and “stakeholders,” groups

like the school district, Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, Palmetto Breeze, the Beaufort-Jasper Housing Trust, the Beaufort Housing Authority, etc.

The Commission is just finishing its two years of work to review and update its development code which still must be finalized by the City Council.

In the meantime, as we talk about planning and how we’d like to see the community look, the area keeps changing and growing.

Talking about ‘planning’ not unlike watching Nero fiddle BEAUFORT — Believe it or not, Beaufort County officials as well as those from its five municipalities spend a lot of time planning.

In these dogdays of summer, it’s time for Beaufort County and the city of Beaufort folks to pull up to the proverbial table to review and update their comprehensive master plans which are required by state law if they’re going to have legal zoning regulations.

(You know, those regulations which say things like you can’t build a landfill next

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

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. The Rowland, N.C. native’s goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.

Lauren Nates

.......... MSN, APRN, FNP-C, IBCLC .......... to Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists

B

eaufort Memorial welcomes experienced nurse practitioner Lauren Nates to the team at

Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists in

Beaufort and Okatie, further expanding access to exceptional women’s healthcare across the Lowcountry.

A board-certified nurse practitioner and lactation consultant, Lauren is dedicated to caring for women through every stage of life. Her passion for women’s health grew from years of experience caring for patients in emergency medicine, labor and delivery, and both inpatient and outpatient women’s health settings throughout South Carolina and Georgia.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Master of Science in Nursing, she most recently provided prenatal, postpartum and gynecological care at Rural Health Services in Aiken. Her expertise includes prenatal, maternity, postpartum, gynecological and menopausal care, as well as preventive health services, contraceptive counseling and lactation education.

“I help patients feel comfortable, informed and empowered during some of their most vulnerable moments. I believe in developing collaborative partnerships that support personalized healthcare decisions.”

Tuesday evening, Aug. 4, 2026, a male driver involved in a Burton crash was rescued after his vehicle erupted in flames. Photo courtesy of Burton Fire District

Man rescued from burning vehicle in Burton crash

Staff Reports Just before midnight, Tuesday night, Aug. 4, 2026, the Burton Fire District and Beaufort County EMS and Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to reports of a crash with a trapped driver on Parris Island Gateway. Initial reports also indicated that the vehicle was

on fire.

Burton fire units arrived on scene to a red pickup truck in flames. The male driver, who sustained serious injuries, had been rescued by BCSO deputies and local Marines before fire units arrived.

Firefighters extinguished the fire while Beaufort Coun-

ty EMS personnel stabilized and transported the patient to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

Parris Island Gateway, in the area of Broad River Blvd., was closed for approximately an hour while emergency crews worked and removed roadway hazards and the collision was investigated.

CALL 843-522-7820 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. Beaufort Medical Plaza

989 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC

Okatie Medical Pavilion

122 Okatie Center Blvd. N., Okatie, SC

At the practice, Nates joins board-certified OBGYNs Drs. Curtis J. Elam, Rebecca A. Keith, Tempest Allen and Tiffany Bersani, as well as certified physician assistant Peyton Erb McManus, certified nurse midwife Catherine Tambroni-Parker and certified nurse practitioner Melissa Mesenburg.

MOST MAJOR INSURANCE P L A N S A R E AC C E P T E D.

BEAUFORTMEMORIAL.ORG

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

A5

NEWS

A view of 1107 Washington Street in Beaufort after City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal firefighters extinguished flames inside the home on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Firefighters tackle fire at Washington St. home

Staff Reports Firefighters from the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department and the Lady’s Island–St. Helena Fire District responded to a structure fire on the 1100 block of Washington Street in downtown Beaufort on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 4, 2026.

The call came in at approx-

imately 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and the first arriving responders reported black smoke coming from the front door of the residence. The first arriving engine company quickly entered the home and extinguished the fire.

According to Ross Vezin, Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Beaufort/Town of

Port Royal Fire Department, two occupants – an adult and a child – were inside the residence at the time of the fire.

Both occupants were transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Leadership Beaufort selects Class of 2027

Staff Reports Leadership Beaufort, a program that for more than 40 years has cultivated community trustee leadership by providing participants with an in-depth look at the cultural, economic, historic, social, educational, environmental, and governmental resources that shape the Beaufort region, has selected its Class of 2027.

The program, run by the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, connects participants with influential civic, business, and government leaders while inspiring them to become active contributors to the future of our community.

Beginning with a retreat in September, followed by monthly class sessions through the spring and a concluding retreat in May, the Class of 2027 will gain valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing our region while building lasting relationships with fellow leaders from diverse backgrounds and industries.

With nearly 1,000 graduates, Leadership Beaufort has developed a remarkable network of alumni who continue to make lasting contributions to the quality of life throughout the Beaufort region.

Leadership Beaufort is led

by Connie Hipp, Rob Bridgers, and an outstanding team dedicated to providing participants with an engaging and impactful leadership experience with the help of many local businesses and organizations that open their doors each year to share their knowledge, experiences, and passion.

Leadership Beaufort Class of 2027

Karey Aitken – Retired Jenn Ball – Decluttered & Designed, LLC, Owner & Lead Organizer Emily Boyle – South Atlantic Bank, Assistant Manager Fleetwood Bradshaw – Retired Sara Bustamante – U.S. Navy, Officer in Charge/Optometrist Alison Chambers – Cat’s Meow Productions, Owner/ Educator/Voice Teacher Casey Crane – Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Director of Hospital-Base Physician Services Geoff Cunningham – Hail Logistics, VP of Sales Lisa DeMarsico – Schiller & Hamilton Law Firm, Executive Operating Officer Melanie Fisher – Solaris, Fractional CMO & Creative Director Rachel Floyd – CAPA, Family Services Coordinator Kevin Ford – Dominion Energy, Local Manager Ana Catalina Garcia-Oliva – United Way of the Lowcountry, Community Trainer & Data Specialist Rebecca Godboldte – Aeril, Inc., UX Manager Tom Grygowski – College student Christine Henning – MCCS, Deputy Director, Family Team Building Sasha Hirshout – USCB, Adjunct Professor, Public Speaking/Interpersonal Communication Richard Ivens – Pound Pool Maintenance, Co-Owner A.J. Jackson – Ex Dir, Beaufort Digital Corridor Bernard James – New Life Deliverance Church, Church Administrator Bailey Kato-Dutton – City of Beaufort Public Works, Office Manager

Joslyn Kenyon – Burton Fire District, Asst. Chief, Medical Division Scott Klumb – Palmetto State Bank, Vice President Aimee Lofton – Mirasol Hospice, Community Liaison Kelly Mason – Port Royal Police Department, Administrative Sgt./Community Engagement Pat Moore – Retired Lily Moss – IHG Hotels & Resorts, Director, Openings/ Transitions, Luxury & Lifestyle Kyle Peeples – City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department, Battalion Chief Casey Peters – City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department, Firefighter/ EMT Andre Piedra – City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department, Fire Lieutenant Will Walker – Energy Evolution, Fatherhood Protection Strategist Katherine Younce – Merrill Lynch, Financial Advisor

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help to find a missing teen.

BCSO seeks public’s help to find missing 16-yearold from St. Helena

Staff Reports The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's assistance in locating Jeremiah Donnell Byas, a 16-year-old male from St. Helena Island, who has been reported as missing.

According to the BCSO, Jeremiah was reported missing by his family during the evening hours of Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. He was last seen late Monday night.

Jeremiah is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall and approx-

imately 200 pounds.

Anyone with information about Jeremiah's whereabouts is asked to contact the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777.

Experience the joy of worship with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Sunday Services 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM *Nursery & Children’s Sunday School at 11:00 AM

Wednesday’s Service

Hope & Healing Service at 12:00 PM

FOR MORE DETAILS: VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR LIKE US ON FACEBOOK www.stmarksportroyal.org www.facebook.com/stmarksportroyal 1004 11th Street Port Royal, SC

Interested in joining a future class?

Applications for the Leadership Beaufort Class of 2028 will be available May 1.

Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, Sasha Hisrshout, a member of the Leadership Beaufort Class of 2027, has a prior relationship as a digital strategist with The Island News. Also, The Island News staff members — Mike McCombs (editor), Amber Hewitt (photographer) and the late Jeff Evans (publisher) — are all graduates of Leadership Beaufort.

NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB

MONTHLY MEETING Thursday, August 20th 6:00 p.m.

Grace AME Chapel 502 Charles Street, Beaufort

SPEAKERS Alphonso Small

Join Us for Sunday Morning Worship at 8:30 & 10:30 81 Lady’s Island Drive Pastor Steve Keeler (843) 525-0696 seaislandpresbyterian.org A6

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

Democratic Candidate for Beaufort Co. Sheriff

Shauna Bishop

Democratic Candidate for SC House District 124

We welcome new members and guests!

NEWS

Going back to school

Beaufort Elementary students, like the rest of the Beaufort County School District, returned to school on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

A Rising Star: Alani Crawford building her future in healthcare

Special to The Island News In many ways, Alani Crawford is an average 19-year-old.

She loves shopping, music and movies, and has a girly streak, gravitating toward all things pink.

The ambitious teen, however, is anything BUT average.

Alani spent her high school years challenging herself athletically and loading her schedule with community service, clubs and other extracurricular activities.

She graduated with a fulltime job lined up at Beaufort Memorial, and she says her journey in healthcare has only just begun.

has supported her through everything and is her best friend.

A taste for healthcare As tempting as it is for a teenager to lay around “bedrotting” (Gen Z slang for lounging around in bed), Alani said she has always been a go-getter.

In high school, Alani was a cheerleader, a tennis player, a record-breaking track and cross-country superstar, a leadership ambassador and president of the “Ladies First” club at Whale Branch Early College High School, as well as vice-president of her school’s branch of HOSA-Future Health Professionals.

That interest in healthcare brought her to Beaufort Memorial through the Rising Star Youth Volunteer Program in June 2024. The two-week program, which allows high school volunteers to experience different career areas within the main hospital, shed new light on the healthcare

here.”

She’s always inspired while watching the physicians and nurses work together and has learned strategies to manage stress during high-intensity situations.

Having the support of her team helps, she said.

“When you’re as close as we are, it makes stressful moments easier to deal with,” she said. “You start to get used to it and learn to be calm and think critically – like a nurse.”

While her work family inspires her constantly, her support system also has a critical component cheering her on from home: her mom, Latessa,

Expanding services, growing careers As Beaufort Memorial continues to grow, including the planned opening of a second hospital in Bluffton and a combination emergency and urgent care facility on Hilton Head Island in early 2027, opportunities to join its healthcare workforce are expanding, too.

Beaufort Memorial is hosting a “Careers & Connections” career fair on Thursday, Aug. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Burnt Church Distillery in Bluffton.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet leaders from across the organization and explore current and future job openings in nursing, imaging, clerical and patient care roles.

Register to attend this free career fair and networking event at BeaufortMemorial. org/CareerFair.

Grant Program. Applications will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 28. Any applications received after that date will not be considered. Interested organizations may access the application at https://bit. ly/4wDFbwW. Funds for this grant program are provided by County Council of Beaufort County. Established in 2013, the Beaufort County Community Services Grants Program supports local non-profit human service organizations in enhancing residents' quality of life. All grant awards are contingent upon the availability of funding.

To be eligible for the Community Services Grant, organizations are required to meet specific criteria: • Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose mission aligns with the program's goal of improving quality of life for Beaufort County residents with an emphasis on

enhancing the well-being and self-sufficiency of vulnerable or disadvantaged populations • Agencies must directly serve Beaufort County and use all awarded funds for the benefit of its residents • Only one application per organization (identified by EIN) will be accepted, and fiscal agents are not permitted Eligibility, criteria, application timeline and the application itself are all outlined at https://bit.ly/4f3eSck for interested groups.

Funds may not be used for: • Fundraising or capital campaigns • Endowments or scholarships • To reduce debt of any kind • Religious or political activities • Legal services.

For questions or more information, please call Beaufort County Finance Director Sandra Novak at 843-255-2314..

— Staff reports

Planning for the future Alani is currently enrolled at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort and has her sights set on nursing, thanks in part to her inspiring team on 3T. When she gets her license, she wants to become a nurse on the floor.

“I want to keep climbing the ladder,” she said. “After that, maybe a nurse practitioner. I want to keep going back to school. Maybe I’ll even be a director or a doctor here one day…who knows?”

Alani Crawford's drive has led her to starting her journey to working in healthcare. profession, Alani said.

“It was a big eye-opener to go from roaming the hallways in high school, talking with friends and going to class, to a place where people are saving patients’ lives,” she remembered.

Alani was one of the inaugural high school seniors who entered the Beaufort Memorial PATH (People Achieving their Highest) program as part of the health system’s partnership with the Beaufort County School District.

After her cohort completed the PATH program, five graduates, including Alani, accepted jobs at Beaufort Memorial.

By the time she received her high school diploma in May 2025, Alani had not only a job but, thanks to dual enrollment opportunities with Technical College of the Lowcountry, a completed associate’s degree of both Science and Arts.

“It’s great to go off to college and have fun,” she said, “but I’ve found that with Beaufort Memorial, there are some really good opportunities right here, and I’m in a really good place.”

She’s now a certified patient care technician (CPCT) on the hospital’s third floor.

“It felt really good to know that I had a job secured be-

fore I graduated,” Alani said.

“Knowing that the PATH program supports you each step of the way was really reassuring.”

Both workshops will be held at Beaufort City Hall at1911 Boundary Street in the Community Development Conference Room (first floor).

Workshop dates are Thursday, Aug. 13 (10:30 a.m.) and Thursday, Aug. 20 (2 p.m.).

Additional application deadlines and meeting dates include Thursday, Sept. 10 (4 p.m. – Application deadline) and Thursday, Sept. 24 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Applicant presentations to the Tourism Development Advisory Committee).

Applicants are encouraged to review the program requirements and prepare all required materials before the application deadline. For questions or additional information, contact the ATAX Administrator by email at atax@cityofbeaufort.org or by phone at 843-525-7071.

meeting

NEWS BRIEFS

Forbes: Beaufort Memorial ranked among SC’s top hospitals

Beaufort Memorial has been named one of South Carolina’s top hospitals in Forbes’ inaugural “Top Hospitals by State” rankings, recognizing the community health system’s commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care across the Lowcountry.

The rankings, published July 14, are based on CMS data evaluating hospitals on patient outcomes, best practices, value and patient experience.

Beaufort Memorial was one of only three hospitals in South Carolina to earn a 5-star overall rating, placing it among the state’s highest-performing healthcare organizations.

“This recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our physicians, nurses, clinical teams and support

staff who work every day to provide exceptional care for our patients and community,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a news release. “Being recognized by Forbes reinforces our commitment to quality, safety and delivering the best possible patient experience.”

City accepting FY27 state ATAX grant applications

The City of Beaufort is now accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2027 (2026–2027) State Accommodations Tax (ATAX) grants.

Eligible organizations interested in applying can access the application on the City's website under Government > Tourism Development Advisory Committee.

As part of the application process, all potential applicants are required to attend one of the City's mandatory Learn and Share Workshops.

Small, Bishop to speak at Democratic Club

Support from all sides Alani always shows up to work with a smile on her face and a positive mindset.

Her team on the floor is very close-knit, and she has found a strong support system there.

She’s the “baby” of the floor, she added with a laugh.

“All of the nurses I work with are always willing to help and teach me,” Alani said.

“Teamwork is huge on our floor. I really feel like I belong

Alphonso Small, Democratic candidate for Beaufort County Sheriff and Shauna Bishop, Democratic candidate for S.C. House District 124 will be the guest speakers when the Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club (NOB Dems) meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Old Grace AME Chapel at 502 Charles Street in downtown Beaufort.

Meetings are open to anyone committed to “fighting for democracy, upholding the Constitution, and ensuring equal justice for all.” Free parking is available.

Beaufort County Community Services Grant Program accepting applications

Beaufort County is accepting applications for the FY27 Community Services

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HEALTH

Understanding, managing UTI risk factors

By Peyton Erb McManus, PA-C Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists Experiencing the burning and frequent urination of a urinary tract infection (UTI) is no fun. You might be surprised to know that many of the risk factors of UTIs are under your control. If you find yourself getting UTIs frequently, talk with a medical provider about what you can do to lower your risk.

A UTI occurs when bacteria (often Escherichia coli, or E. coli) in the genital area enter the urethra and make their way into some portion of the urinary tract.

There are multiple types of UTIs, depending on where in the urinary tract the infection occurs. A bladder infection, for example, is a urinary tract infection that affects the bladder, while a kidney infection is a UTI that travels to the kidneys.

Peyton Erb McManus Bladder infections are the most common type of UTI, but kidney infections can be the most serious.

UTIs are more common in women, but they can also affect men. If you have a UTI, you may experience a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms, including: • Abdominal pressure or cramping • Bloody or cloudy urine • Foul-smelling urine • Pain or burning while urinating • Persistent urge to urinate, even when the bladder

is empty People who have a kidney infection may also experience fever, chills, lower back pain, and nausea or vomiting.

If you think you have a UTI, check in with your medical provider. A UTI can be confirmed by testing a urine sample to detect bacterial growth in the urine.

Up to 60% of women and 12% of men will experience at least one UTI during their lifetime. Many factors can increase the risk of UTIs, and some of them change over time. Risk factors for urinary tract infections can include: • Abnormalities of the urinary tract, such as an enlarged prostate in men • Age (older adults and very young children are at greater risk) • Blockages in the urinary tract, such as kidney stones • Changes in the balance of vaginal flora caused by

menopause or spermicide • Frequent antibiotic use • Health conditions, such as diabetes, that impact the immune system • Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause • Sexual activity, which can move bacteria into the urethra • Vesicoureteral reflux, where urine flows backward into the ureters Some people develop UTIs more frequently — what’s known as “recurrent urinary tract infections.”

Many people believe that poor hygiene causes UTIs. But in reality, hygiene usually has little to do with it.

There are many factors that can increase your risk of developing a UTI or of having recurrent infections.

While there’s no way to fully prevent urinary tract infections, you can take steps to lower your risk. If you’re experiencing recurrent UTIs, these tips may be

particularly helpful: • Drink up. Staying hydrated is important when it comes to preventing UTIs. Fluids help flush bacteria in the urinary tract out of the body.

• Empty your bladder after having sex. Sexual activity can enable bacteria to enter the urinary tract, so pausing to urinate after sex can help flush bacteria back out.

• Go when you need to go. While it can be tempting to hold your urine when you’re busy, it’s not a good habit. Make sure you’re taking regular bathroom breaks to fully empty your bladder.

• Reconsider the type of birth control you’re using.

Some types of birth control, including diaphragms and spermicide, can increase the risk of UTIs. Talk with your OBGYN about other options for preventing pregnancy.

It’s also a good idea to rethink using scented prod-

ucts or douches in the genital area.

• Talk with your provider about preventive meds.

In some cases, antibiotics may be recommended as a preventive strategy, either in a daily dose or in a dose taken after sexual activity.

For postmenopausal women, vaginal estrogen therapy may also help prevent UTIs. If you frequently experience UTIs, don’t think you just have to suffer through them. By talking with your medical provider, you can come up with a plan that will help you reduce the risk of future infections.

Peyton Erb McManus, PA-C is a board-certified physician assistant who sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists in Beaufort and Okatie, offering wide-ranging OBGYN care to women of all ages.

Men’s mental health: Breaking the silence Special to The Island News Men’s mental health is a critical and often overlooked aspect of overall wellbeing.

Awareness has grown, but many men still struggle with mental health challenges due to stigma, cultural expectations and lack of open communication.

Why men’s mental health matters Mental health conditions affect millions of men each year. In the U.S. alone, about six million men experience depression, and many go untreated, as men are often significantly less likely than women to seek care for mental health concerns.

“We often see men delaying care for their mental health until symptoms become overwhelming,” said Katie C. Durden, DNP, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified and fellowship-trained psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with Beaufort Memorial Sea Island Psychiatry. “Early intervention can make a big difference, in both recovery and quality of life.”

The gap in men seeking treatment for mental health conditions can contribute to: • Higher rates of suicide • Increased instances of substance abuse • Worsening physical and emotional health over time Recognizing the signs: What to watch for

A simple conversation and check-in can help someone feel seen, heard and supported.

The mental health of men is often overlooked when it comes to healthcare.

Mental health challenges look like more than just “sadness.” In many cases, conditions can present an array of behavioral or physical symptoms, including: • Irritability, anger or aggression • Fatigue or sleep issues • Loss of interest in usual activities • Increased alcohol or drug use • Difficulty concentrating • Physical complaints, like headaches or digestive issues • Risk-taking behavior • Feelings of hopelessness

“Many of these symptoms can be misunderstood, and many men don’t recognize that they may need help,” Durden said. “Men are more likely to express emotional distress through physical symptoms or changes in behavior.”

Understanding the stigma Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to mental health care. Many men grow up hearing messages such as, “Be strong,” or “handle it yourself.”

“Those expectations can keep men from speaking up, even when they are struggling,” Durden said. “Reaching out to a healthcare provider and seeking help isn’t a weakness, but an important step toward getting better.”

The stigma surrounding seeking care for mental health concerns can lead to: • Delayed care • Isolation • Worsening mental health • Crisis-level situations How we can help Mental health is part of

overall health and well-being, just like heart health or physical fitness.

Individuals can help break down the mental health stigma by: • Starting the conversation – Talk openly with a trusted friend, family member or provider.

• Seek professional care – Therapy, medication and lifestyle changes can significantly improve outcomes. “One of the most powerful steps you can take is simply reaching out,” Durden said.

• Check in on each other –

Men’s mental health in the Lowcountry For residents across the Lowcountry, Beaufort Memorial offers comprehensive mental health services, including: • Inpatient and outpatient care • Counseling and therapy • Medication management • Treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD and more Providers take a whole-person approach, recognizing the connection between physical and mental health.

“At Beaufort Memorial, we look at the full picture: mental, physical and emotional health,” Durden said. “Our goal is to help patients regain stability, confidence and quality of life.”

Moving forward together Men’s mental health is a conversation we all have a role in shaping.

By recognizing the signs, reducing stigma and supporting one another, we can create a culture where men feel empowered to seek help without hesitation or judgment.

“No one should feel like they have to face mental health challenges alone,” Durden emphasized. “Support is here, and recovery is possible.”

Understanding your care options

Special to The Island News Are you looking for additional primary care options?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) and concierge medicine present distinctive yet complementary approaches to healthcare, each with its own set of benefits.

While they both strive to elevate the patient experience and offer personalized care, they also have notable differences that set them apart.

“Traditional primary care provides essential medical services to help you maintain good health,” says Chris Ketchie, vice president of physician services at Beaufort Memorial. “DPC and concierge medicine are two options that offer many of the same essential services as traditional primary care but differ in their approach

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and cost.”

What Is Concierge Medicine?

Concierge medicine, also known as concierge care, is a personalized healthcare model that provides 24/7 access to primary care services, enabling patients to receive care beyond normal business hours. This level of accessibility can be particularly beneficial if you need immediate assistance from your primary care provider or have a busy schedule.

In addition to standard primary care services, some concierge medicine practices also offer specialty or subspecialty care, allowing patients to receive comprehensive treatment options in areas such as: • Cardiology • Gastroenterology

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• Neurology • Oncology • Orthopedics • Psychiatry With this model, your care provider can spend significantly more time with you during appointments, ensuring a more thorough and tailored approach to your healthcare needs.

What Is Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care makes proactive, preventive healthcare accessible and affordable. This service is offered through contracted employers. If your employer participates, you can trust DPC for all your primary care needs. In some instances, you can make same-day appointments through your membership.

Covered services in DPC

include: • Annual physicals and select laboratory services • Cancer screenings • Diagnostic testing and treatment of flu, sinus infection and other acute illnesses • In-person or telemedicine visits • Management of diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other chronic conditions • Annual flu vaccinations “Direct primary care is a very powerful tool for improving and maintaining good health, particularly for those without insurance or a catastrophic plan,” Ketchie says. “The range of services is expansive, and it makes accessing care seamless.”

Cost comparison: DPC vs. Concierge According to the Ameri-

can Academy of Family Physicians, concierge medicine is more expensive than DPC. However, the differences go beyond out-of-pocket expenses.

• Concierge costs — The cost of concierge medicine varies. Expect to pay thousands of dollars, or even tens of thousands, for membership with a concierge specialist group. This fee does not cover services. Rather, it guarantees 24/7 access to a provider. Along with your membership fee, you may need Medicare or other health insurance coverage.

• DPC costs — Membership in the Beaufort Memorial Direct Primary Care program is available through local employers and costs $50 a month. While the membership fee covers primary care services, includ-

ing an annual physical and up to 30 sick or video visits per year at our primary care practices, patients may still incur additional costs for services provided outside the practice. This includes expenses for specialist care, emergency room visits, imaging, pathology, telemedicine, medications and certain laboratory testing.

“With this area’s growing need for primary care services and limited number of providers, the need for concierge medicine and DPC will only continue to grow,” Ketchie says. “For the right person, these services are a great way to access care when you need it, whether you’re healthy or sick.”

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

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Air power is fine, but in the end ...

s we were landing, a bullet came thru the windshield made of plexiglass and passed between us. We landed and dropped off our troops. We took off and perhaps the ship took more rounds because the helicopter developed a severe vibration. Lance Ruck said, ‘I don’t think the helicopter will make it back to Khe Sanh (20 minute flight) in this condition.’ We spotted a nearby LZ and made an emergency landing. Immediately NVA (North Vietnamese Army) was running towards us and firing the AK 47s in our direction.

“A second helicopter followed the crippled helo down. What he did next earned him the Silver Star and a permanent place in the company’s idea of itself.

“He hung his Huey at a four or five foot hover between the downed crew and the North Vietnamese coming out of the tree line, and let his ship soak up the

SCOTT GRABER

fire. His crew chief and door gunner operated their M-60s until both were shot—one hit twice the other three times.

The unconscious door gunner’s hand stayed clenched on the trigger. …”

— Excerpt from the history of Lancers B Company, 158th Battalion, 101st, a/k/a Lam Son 719 And so went the largely forgotten heroism during a disaster also known as Lam Son 719 where American forces (transporting South Vietnamese infantry into Laos) lost 107 Huey and Cobra gunships and where another 600 were damaged.

Lam Son was supposed

to demonstrate that in 1971, the ARVN — the Army of Vietnam — could conduct a large-scale ground offensive to interrupt and destroy southbound traffic on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It was supposed to prove that ARVN was strong enough to withstand the North Vietnamese troops who were moving south and threatening Saigon.

What this late-in-thegame operation actually proved was that the Vietnamese army could not succeed without the American ground troops that Richard Nixon was then pulling out of Vietnam.

It was all part of Nixon’s campaign promise to bring the American boys home — home with with honor.

And Lam Son did just the opposite. From that point forward the U.S. Army — its young officers made up of idealistic, baby boomers — would be blamed for the loss of Vietnam.

Vietnam cleaved my

generation in half — one half fought that war and the other half took to the streets calling the conflict a mistake or worse. What got lost in this intra-generational debate was the valor and the skill of those who flew those thin-skinned Hueys into the teeth of orange-glowing .51 calibre anti-aircraft fire.

Lam Son also marked the beginning of the end for the Huey and its successor, the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk.

We are, I think, witnessing the end of the helicopter and the advent of the so-called “drone swarm.”

The battlefield will never be the same.

And at the moment, another American President is trying to disengage from another war in a far-off place.

The American public — some veterans of Vietnam — gave Donald Trump the keys to the White House with the specific understanding that he would end these “forever wars.”

But then Mr Trump met

with Mr. Netanyahu who told Mr. Trump this was his moment to remake the Middle East, specifically, to take out the nuclear bomb-making Iranians and their Israeli-killing confederates, Hezbollah and Hamas.

“And, by the way, we can take them out using your F-35s, your Tomahawks, and your the bunker busting GBU-57s delivered by your high-flying B-2 stealth bombers,” Mr. Netanyahu might have added.

But Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu must have missed the memos saying air power is fine, but in the end the infantry has go ashore and secure the minds and bellies of our misguided brothers.

If there is one example of this reality it is Ukraine.

At this writing Ukrainian civilians have endured years of “ordinance” targeted at women, children and ancient babushkas living in Kyiv. These include the Iskander-M, the Kh-47M2

Kinzhal and the Zircon hypersonic variant.

These ballistic missiles come at night, together with as many as 185 drones, that sometimes overwhelm the Ukrainian defensive efforts.

But, so far, these “drone swarms” have only made the Ukrainians more determined as their apartment buildings randomly explode, implode and collapse.

Meanwhile the Shahed 135 un-manned drone has become the backbone of Iran’s retaliation. The mullahs, with help from Russia, send these un-manned bombs into Iraq, Oman and into the Gulf.

This toxic bouillabaisse being one part Israeli fear; one part American uncertainty; one part Iranian outrage; seasoned with Russian intelligence and Ukrainian drone-killing experience.

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

Are you feeling nervous, edgy? (Part 1) I often wonder if other folks are feeling nervous, edgy, overly cautious, even distrustful, as I do these days. After all, this insanity within these so-called news cycles have never, as far as my history knowledge goes, ever been so emotional draining since, say, 1930 through the 70’s. Especially since the resurrected dead-horse of “Communism” is again now among us for people to beat upon.

By way of fate, our mother lost our family wealth in the Cuban revolution in 1960 after my father’s death. Ask me, I’ll send you her little book about it. After that traumatic episode my mother and older brother went very far right, seeking communist blood.

By 1966, Chip, before he was 30, had worked his way into the top echelon of white men within the John Birch Society. He was a senior staffer within their propaganda department.

Mom had, by then, founded her own OFC (Organiza-

TIM WOOD

tion to fight communism) with its little newspaper: “The Organization to Fight Communism.” She had even composed her banner song for her OFC, which I can still sing, flawlessly, even today. Ask me.

Mom had become a player in the anti-communist world often conferring with J. Edgar Hoover, Strom Thurmond, George Wallace and Barry Goldwater. She re-invented herself after 1960 into a type of newand-improved Joe McCarthy by 1962. I was 12 years old in ’62. Believe me, I’ve never met anyone who has hated communism more than my mother and brother, Chip, to this day.

You know me, back to the

dictionary. “Communism: A system in which goods are owned collectively and are available to all members of society.” These ideologies were developed by Carl Marx and Friedrich Engels in “The Communist Manifesto.”

Friends, I guarantee you, the five countries that claim to be communistic – China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea and Cuba – don’t even practice true communism in today’s world. Each of these countries are closer to capitalistic-oligarchist systems presently. These are political systems that I think Trump most admires, although I think of him as more a weird mix of plutocrat and oligarchic.

All I really know is that Trump is not a fan of a true democracy. I do believe Donald Trump’s foreign policy and rhetoric seems to embrace the conceptional “Sphere of Influence” theory in which the U.S., China and Russia divvy up the nations of the world among themselves. A whole differ-

ent concern.

So I truly believed that old communist-dead-horse would never get life back after, say, 1978, but Trump never ceases to amaze us with his “conning and cunning” magic. After what I experienced dealing with my early home life, I’m hoping you understand my present day edginess. I’ve already woken up from that side of the bed and I never want to see anyone buy into that tired, worn out fear mongering being reinvented now as just another “Red Scare” tactic.

Although I do believe Trump is simply an evil person, I just can’t believe there are people out there that aren’t simply bored and weary from his monotonous and very dangerous leadership. It’s really beyond me.

Castro was more of a socialist than a communist when he first became popular in Cuba. The U.S. actually supported him back then and helped him with overthrowing Batista

when Castro stated his movement was not anti-democratic.

That all changed in April 1961 when he formally announced and declared Cuba’s government was socialist and declaring that he himself believed in a pure Marxist-Leninist personal ideology. To this day, America has never forgiven Castro, nor has the U.S. government felt a need to help the Cuban people that still live there.

Since that day American politicians have relished being able to marry socialism with communism without any right to a divorce. If you really want learn some interesting history, read about the Socialist Party of Oklahoma in the early 1900s and with Eugene V. Debs’ run in the 1912 presidential elections. That may quell any nervous conditions dealing with a term like “Democratic Socialist.”

What is really scaring me these days is the endless comparability of the Trump regime to the Hitler regime.

Socialism is the least of my concerns. Communism in its original Marxist form does not even exist in our present day world. Those five countries mentioned earlier just don’t have the nerve to put a real, accepted terminology to what their regimes actually are.

So please, don’t grab another whip and join the beating of that old dead horse called communism.

Study and learn exactly what democratic socialism is: “A political movement calling for the establishment of a decentralized socialist economic system within a democratically run political system” … period.

Tim and Kristy Wood moved to Beaufort in 1974. He worked as a carpenter in both restoration and new home construction, as well as operating a shop specializing in custom woodwork, Wood on Wood Specs. He is semi-retired, involved with fine woodworking and formerly sat on the City of Beaufort Zoning Board of Appeals.

People with disabilities still face neglect I n 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Olmstead v. L.C., holding that unjustified segregation of people with disabilities can violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. People should receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

That principle is right. It should be enforced.

But moving people out of large institutions does not automatically create integration, dignity, or safety. Buildings can become smaller while the people inside remain hidden.

The failure is not only institutional size. It is what happens when vulnerable people disappear into a system that no single agency fully explains.

Consider Park Circle Home, a licensed community residential care facility on Bexley Street in North Charleston.

Thaddeus Moose was 64.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office alleges that neglect at the facility between June 12, 2024, and April 10, 2025, caused his

PATRICIA D. SANFORD

death.

He was taken to the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center on April 10 and died four days later from septic shock, bronchopneumonia and dehydration associated with multiple Stage 4 pressure ulcers and osteomyelitis.

The coroner ruled his death a homicide.

He was not the only one.

The Attorney General’s Office alleges that, between Nov. 9 and Dec. 5, 2024, the same operators failed to provide another resident essential care and that the neglect contributed to that resident’s death.

That resident has never been publicly identified.

On March 3, 2026, investigators executed a search

warrant and, according to the Attorney General’s Office, found two vulnerable adults locked in a room with no means of leaving the building. Investigators also allege that a third resident was criminally neglected in the days before the search and suffered great bodily harm.

Three people have been charged, including the facility’s licensed administrator. The charges include neglect resulting in death or great bodily injury and kidnapping allegations involving the residents reportedly found locked inside.

The cases are pending.

Everyone charged is presumed innocent.

Here is what troubles me most.

I cannot tell you whether the resident who allegedly suffered great bodily harm is alive today. I cannot tell you the name of the resident who died in 2024. I cannot tell you what became of the people removed from the home.

I have looked. The public

record does not answer those questions.

I am not saying no one responded. The Attorney General’s Office credited several state agencies and the Long Term Care Ombudsman with helping remove residents.

Agencies acted.

But the record is scattered. Licensing, Medicaid oversight, protective services, ombudsman functions, death investigations and criminal enforcement are divided among different offices. Each agency possesses one piece.

The public is left to assemble fragments after someone has already been harmed.

Privacy should protect residents. It should not make a publicly licensed and publicly funded care system impossible to examine.

This is personal for me.

My son Walter is nonverbal and autistic. He has high support needs and has remained on South Carolina’s Medicaid waiver waiting lists for more than

five years. South Carolina calls these places community-based care. But a smaller building with a different name is not automatically safer or more integrated.

A court decision cannot inspect a bedroom. It cannot examine a pressure ulcer, test a locked door, count missed medications or determine whether a resident received food and medical care.

Olmstead is only as good as the system that checks.

South Carolina should enforce the integration mandate and fund meaningful home- and community-based services. It should also require unified oversight of licensed residential care facilities.

When a resident dies, suffers serious injury or is removed from a state-licensed, publicly funded home, the public should receive a basic incident-accountability report after necessary privacy redactions.

It should identify the facility, the nature of the incident, the agencies noti-

fied, whether an inspection or investigation followed, any regulatory findings, corrective action imposed and the facility’s current license status.

Not private medical records.

An answer.

Without that accountability, someone can enter one of these homes, disappear from public view, and we may never know what happened to them.

We did not end institutionalization.

We changed the address.

Patricia D. Sanford is the founder of MyWallyBot LLC, a South Carolina company building privacy-first safety technology for people who can't speak for themselves. She is the full-time caregiver for her son Walter, who is nonverbal and has been on South Carolina's disability waiver waiting lists since 2021. She writes about disability policy, congregate care, and public records, and builds her work from documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests to state agencies.

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

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

Order in the court

T

oday is Monday, and as I sit at my computer and attempt to write this week’s article, I find myself challenged. That challenge is magnified 10 times over by the fact that it is Monday. By now (usually), I would have written on Saturday, proofread for the second time on Sunday, and submitted by Sunday evening.

This self-imposed schedule usually serves me well although I recognize that there are those who prefer I don’t write at all. I am always amused by those who occasionally have to rend their clothing and cry out about my TDS. Yes, there is TD, that of 47 on a grand scale; and there is WI, the willful ignorance of those who refuse to see 47’s deranged state of mind. But I digress.

What I finally settled

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CAROL LUCAS

upon is something I think is often lost in the shuffle – the one group that permits our democracy to hang on by the skin of our teeth. I am referring to the legal decisions rendered by the courts, Supreme Court being the exception. We know where that vote lies. SCOTUS has given Trump 90% favorable rulings.

I am speaking about the numerous decisions handed down during 47’s time in the presidency, many set forth

by judges nominated and placed by 47, himself. That last statement should speak volumes to those of you who are deniers.

Perhaps one of the most edifying for those of us who see clearly the corruption of this administration came from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams. She ruled that “Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns was filed for an ‘improper purpose’ and described it as an effort to use the courts to legitimize a deal benefiting Trump, his family, and his allies.”

The agreement would have protected Trump and members of his family from future tax audits while also creating a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate people claiming they had been unfairly targeted by the

government.

She added that the case was “an attempt to use the Court to provide some legitimacy to an agreement to confer immunity to people and entities affiliated with the President and to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers to redress grievances not defined in the law.”

I found many examples where the present administration has been thwarted in the efforts to overtake so many aspects of our lives. There is no way I can include all of these, but if you, dear reader, are so inclined, the internet is rife with information.

One aspect of this was made over and over – judges critical of this administration were appointed by both parties. More than one third of the judges in critical cases

were appointed by Republicans, including 11 by 47 himself.

My research found that some of these cases involved agency closures, many impacting middle and lower income families. Others included museums and libraries. I can only surmise that cuts made here would impact education as well as our history, something 47 and his cohorts desperately wish to rewrite.

They also want to cut funding to public funding of media, such as Voice of America. Anyone with a pulse recognizes the motivation behind that, whether or not they choose to acknowledge it.

And then there is one I must include, State of New York v. Kennedy. Attorneys general from 19 states and WDC challenged cuts to

the U.S. Health and Human Services agency. Perhaps a serving of bear stew might have saved the day. Again, I digress.

This is just a sampling of the examples this administration has pushed into the legal arena. The status of executive action is this: partially or fully blocked, 150; left in effect, 102; pending, 107.

I will conclude with this.

It is apparent that the lower court judges are challenging 47’s war on “the rule of law.”

The wheels of justice often grind slowly. Let’s just pray they continue to grind.

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.”

Seeing America through their eyes

s the summer of 2026 passes into the rearview mirror, I want to remember an unexpected occurrence that made me very happy.

The World Cup brought many thousands of visitors to the United States, and their reactions to everything from cowboy hats to Buc-ee’s brisket were fantastic. Before national teams started elimination rounds, I could open up YouTube or any news website and see a plethora of positive stories about the United States. I did not see any negative posts.

Perhaps our guests had been misled by their home news media to think we are all ugly Americans suffering in a national socialist dystopia, but these football manic tourists from Europe, Asia, and South America seemed to be overwhelmingly joyous at the marvels of America.

LOUISE MATHEWS

There is the famous Fred from Germany who lauded the South. I could not help but smile at the antics and vocalizations of the Tartan Army first in Boston and then in Miami. They gave a new persona to the humble traffic cone which could end up on any statue’s head. The Norwegians who rowed their way up an escalator should have been given a prize for creativity as well as muscle.

Folks from other lands could not stop praising Walmart, Buc-ees, Costco, Target, McDonalds, any Tex-

as barbecue joint, and Waffle House. They raved over free refills on their soft drinks and sweet tea. We, who take the behemoths of capitalism for granted, can only ask ourselves if we have been missing something, or if the food in their home countries is really that bad.

This reminded me of the story of Boris Yeltsin’s 1989 visit to a Texas grocery store to see how the average American shopped. At that time, Yeltsin was a reform-minded member of the Soviet hierarchy.

Later, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, he was the first president of post-USSR Russia. Mr. Yeltsin arrived with the expectation that the store would not be as good as those in his collectivized country. Because the visit was unplanned, Mr. Yeltsin soon realized that the quantity and quality of goods in

the store, which far exceeded anything he had ever seen before, was not a staged event. One aide who was present with him during the trip said that "the last vestige of Bolshevism collapsed inside.” Mr. Yeltsin later instituted many capitalist reforms in his country in hopes of bettering his people’s standard of living.

I was also reminded of the time, 29 years ago, that my husband and I went to the People’s Republic of China to bring home our daughter.

As part of the process, we had to visit the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. There was nothing special going on that day other than for us as this was the last task we had to complete before getting on a Boeing 747 and flying home. Hundreds of people milled around outside the consulate. I only could think that they were hoping to get

inside for a visa or immigration appointment. Our small group just sailed in through the zigzag corridors to a pleasant room where we completed the necessary paperwork.

I remember how moved I was to see Old Glory flying above the high consulate wall. At that moment, I appreciated the gift of having been born in this country more than I ever had before and possibly since. At the time, we thought every American should go to another country to appreciate our own.

As part of our local July 4th celebrations, USCB presented Benjamin Franklin, reincarnated by GregRobin Smith. “Dr. Franklin” noted that the blessings of liberty and our own industry have made us the wealthiest and healthiest country in the history of the world. He was not

referring just to the billionaires that some politicians and influencers demonize; he referred to Americans as a whole. Our freedoms to create, to innovate, to choose our own paths in life have made us a beacon for the world.

In this 250th year of our independence, the world came to us. For a few weeks this summer, I was continuously reminded of the blessings of America. Seeing the wonders with which we live every day through eyes that had never before seen a superstore or Beaver Nuggets put a big smile on my face and a lot of gratitude in my heart.

Louise Mathews retired from a career in community colleges and before that, theater. A 13-year come-here in Beaufort, she has been a dingbatter in North Carolina and an upstater from New York.

Chance encounter with past leads to questions

R

iding along in the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains is a lot like traveling in Oconee and Pickens counties. Soothing, curvy highways slide across the dense, verdant landscape. The differences: More poverty, fewer stores and a lot less people.

So when the Tahoe’s navigation system reported the town where my great-grandparents lived almost 100 years ago was just six miles off the highway, it was a no-brainer to steer east to Ravenden Springs, Ark. The road got worse. Interspersed between bumps and lush forests were large pastures with few cows. Suddenly came the city limits, population 119.

Just past what seemed like a worn post office, a man fiddled in his yard. He was the only person visible

ANDY BRACK

during a 20-minute exploration. At a crossroads (no stoplight) to the left was a dip across a bridge that led to two different churches joined in the middle, a volunteer fire department and a few small old cottages that needed tending. On the other side of the crossroads was a rickety, empty store next to an empty building, an American Legion and a building with a caved-in roof.

The city hall/water department was next door in a tan metal structure with a red

roof. Parked in front was a silver town truck with capital letters on the tailgate: “IN GOD WE TRUST.” So much for separation of church and state.

My 89-year-old mother remembers visiting her grandparents in this town that just seems sad. She recalls the four storefronts had a connected wooden walkway – like in the Old West – because the dirt roads got muddy when it rained.

Around the corner was her favorite building – a oneroom stone structure that then housed the town’s jail.

Today, the sole window has no bars. In the background is an odd house that’s half log cabin and something else completely that’s painted maroon.

Across the street is an empty modern playground below a closed stone school

built in 1941. One end of the school now houses a library that’s apparently been open four days a week since 2022.

My mother says when she was a child, townspeople would watch movies at the school but she wasn’t allowed to go because she was too little.

Her grandparents lived in Ravenden Springs. They moved there from eastern Missouri sometime after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Why they moved is a mystery that likely will never be solved. There’s nobody left to answer questions – and my mother was too young to know much more.

That side of the family is kind of a mystery because her father – my grandfather – died three years before I was born in a Faulknerian tractor accident outside Macon, Ga. He stopped the tractor while

plowing to move a big rock and, let’s just say, he died.

His father, who ran a Missouri hamburger restaurant at one point, and mother may have moved to northeast Arkansas because they picked up some pasture land during the Depression.

The area also apparently was popular with Seventh-Day Adventists, which also may have been a lure.

My grandfather, an educator at the start of the Depression, eventually started work on a master’s degree in agricultural economics at the University of Arkansas.

He got the degree in 1935 and my mother thinks her grandfather may have been raising some cattle with him.

Makes sense. Around that time, he and my great-grandmother would have been approaching 60.

While Ravenden Springs

are produced mostly in China and shipped to Mexico where the Mexican cartels mix the chemicals and create fentanyl. The chemicals are not illegal in themselves so China gets away with selling the chemicals to Mexico without getting in trouble. The Mexicans then send the fentanyl to America illegally with illegal immigrants and [through] other pathways across our border. So the Chinese and Mexicans make millions of dollars and thousands of

Americans die.

In 2025, 38,000 Americans died of fentanyl overdose. As a result of the Trump administration curtailing illegal immigration, fewer Americans are dying.

This could be your child who goes to a party and is offered a pill that is supposed to be speed and dies.

But think about it. If the Chinese and Mexicans were shooting missiles into the United States and killing 38,000 Americans every year, what would the

seems much like a sparsely populated ghost town these days, it apparently got started around 1880 after a minister’s dream about a nearby mineral spring. The water apparently healed his ailments, leading a businessman to build a 40-room resort. That led to seasonal spa visitors and “boom years,” but by the 1930s – about the time my great-grandparents moved there – the town started to decline as a summer resort.

This week’s chance encounter with the past certainly led to more questions than answers. Next time I’m nearby, I’ll remember to go when the library is open.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of the Charleston City Paper and Statehouse Report. Have a comment?

Send it to feedback@statehousereport. com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A ‘shortage of followship’ On my mind: We don't have a shortage of leadership so much as a shortage of followship. We think our opinion is paramount and others need leadership to our [point of view]. From this comes ... nothing much.

We must end the MAGA grift. I am preparing to follow Democrats even when some of their POVs don't line up precisely with mine. We need change. Democrats are mo-

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awareness days? In 2022, 78,000 Americans died from overdoses to fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is so powerful that a very small amount can can kill a person.

Fentanyl is inexpensive to produce so it is mixed in — Carol Brown, Beaufort with many other drugs to increase the high and the bulk. Therefore users are What can we do? buying other drugs for a April 29 and August 31 high and dying from the are designated as National fentanyl.

Fentanyl Awareness days.

Fentanyl is produced from a mixture of chemicals that Why do we need fentanyl

tivated to undertake change.

Get them in, and continue the never-ending arguments for BEST government.

Citizenship doesn't begin OR end with voting – not in a government for, of, and by the people.

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

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

response be?

What can we do? Only vote for politicians who are committed to eliminating illegal immigration and policing the border to stop the flow of illegal drugs.

— Sam Annand, Beaufort

ARTS

‘Gaucho Roundup’ by Sandy Dimke. Photo courtesy of Sandy Dimke

2 Lowcountry artists win at NAWA SC exhibition

Staff reports Two Lowcountry artists won first-place honors in their respective categories recently at the National Association of Women Artists’ (NAWA) South Carolina exhibition at the Center for the Arts in Aiken.

Sandy Dimke and Saundra Renee Smith each won in their respective categories in the exhibition, which featured approximately 50 works in a variety of mediums, including oil, acrylic, pastel, egg tempera, mixed media, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and fiber art by artists from six states.

Smith was awarded first place for her painting, “At the Edge of Giving.” Her work explores the Gullah relationship with water as a source of sustenance, renewal, and cultural continuity. The figure pours water from a basket, symbolizing cycles of giving and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next. The surrounding landscape reflects a history shaped by labor and inspired by traditions of gathering and providing for others.

“I use bright colors and simplified forms to emphasize the sacred within everyday life,” Smith said in a release. “My process focused on flow and movement, allowing water to function as both subject and symbolic

force, with the white horse representing freedom, resilience, and Spirit’s guiding presence.”

Dimke won in Photography for her image, “Gaucho Round-up.” Horses have long been deeply connected to our country’s history, and Dimke captured the powerful relationship between horses and the people who work with them.

She cropped the image horizontally to place the focus squarely on the horses, which first captured her attention and inspired her to photograph the scene. The misty atmosphere, created by dust rising from the horses’ galloping hooves, adds a sense of movement and almost spiritual connection between the people and the animals.

The National Association of Women Artists, headquartered in New York City, was founded in 1889, at a time when women faced significant barriers to exhibiting their work in prestigious museums and galleries. Since its founding, NAWA has continued to promote awareness of the monumental contributions women have made to American art and culture.

It continues this important mission by supporting and encouraging contemporary and emerging women artists.

‘At the Edge of Giving’ by Saundra Renee Smith. Photo courtesy of Sandy Dimke

ARTS BRIEFS Penn Center’s Bailey Museum hosting Ingram exhibition

and sculpture by the South Gallery hours are 10 a.m.

Carolina folk artist Bruce In- to 4 p.m., Tuesday through gram through Monday, Nov. Saturday.

30, 2026.

The exhibition showcases BAA’s Featured Ingram’s mastery of visual Penn Center’s York W. Baistorytelling through memory Artist for July, ley Museum is hosting a solo exhibition featuring painting and found objects.

August — John

Meckley

The Beaufort Art Association Gallery is hosting a Featured Artist solo exhibit by local artist John Meckley. Meckley’s signature show, “Wings Over the Lowcountry,” will be on display

through Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery located on Bay Street in downtown Beaufort.

For more information about Meckley and his art, visit LowcountryFineArtByJohnMeckley.com.

For additional information about the Beaufort Art Association, visit the Gallery at 913 Bay Street Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or go online at beaufortartassociation.com.

— Staff reports

Bluesman Wayne Baker Brooks was the featured act during the first concert of the fall season of Street Music on Paris Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Port Royal. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

Tess Malijenovsky shares a mother-daughter dance with her 3-year-old daughter, Maya, during the first concert of the fall season of Street Music on Paris Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Port Royal.

Bluesman Wayne Baker Brooks was the featured act. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

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LOCAL MILITARY & NEWS

Carrying the flag

NEWS BRIEFS

Red Cross hosting blood drive at Wardle Family YMCA

The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17 at Wardle Family YMCA at 1801 Richmond Avenue in Port Royal.

All donors will receive a $20 Amazon eGift card.

To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code; make an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code Wardle; use a direct link at https://bit.ly/459Hs7F; or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Download the blood donor

app at www.redcrossblood. Court. He will share his insights regarding the shadow org. docket, the Texas redistricting case, the presidential imIndivisible munity case, and the gutting Beaufort of the Voting Rights Act. This event is free and guest speaker open to the public.

to address ‘Supreme Court in crisis’

Beaufort Police hosting blood Charles (Chuck) Roessing will be the guest drive Aug. 14A speaker when Indivisible Beaufort meets at 11 a.m., Saturday Aug. 15, at the Beaufort Downtown Library at 311 Scott Street.

Roessing, a practicing attorney and university law professor for more than 30 years, will speak about “The Supreme Court in Crisis.”

At DeSales University, Savannah Law School, Armstrong State, and the Charleston School of Law, he has taught courses in legal ethics, legal process, healthcare law, and the Supreme

One Blood’s Big Red Bus will be at the Beaufort Police Department from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14 for a blood drive.

All donors will receive a $20 eGift card and a “First Responder” T-shirt, as well as a wellness checkup – blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and cholesterol screening.

Appointments are encouraged. Visit oneblood.org/ donate-now and use sponsor code 69776.

— Staff reports

Veterans revisit MCAS Beaufort

U.S. Army Cpl. Jayson Velasquez, of Beaufort, S.C., assigned to the 82nd Combat Engineer CompanyArmored, 16th Engineer Battalion, runs with the Croatian flag on Tuesay, Aug. 4, 2026 during the Army obstacle course competition of the Croatian Victory Day Competition at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland. Teams from the NATO Forward Land Forces (FLF) Battle Group-Poland competed in soccer, volleyball and Army obstacle course competitions from Aug. 2-5. The competition coincided with Croatia’s Victory Day on Aug. 5, which commemorates the Croatian War of Independence. The threeday competition reinforced the interoperability and readiness of the NATO FLF Battle Group along the alliance’s eastern flank, while giving troops an opportunity to enjoy themselves and strengthen esprit de corps. Staff Sgt. Emilie Lenglain/U.S. Army Reserve

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, Marine Air Control Group 28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Marine Corps veterans pose for a photo Friday, July 17, 2026, during a tour at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. This tour provided Marine Corps veterans of MWSS-273, MACG-28, 2nd MAW, the opportunity to revisit their old memories at the air station. Lance Cpl. Julius Hackney/USMC

VA decision reviews and appeals (Part 2) A ccording to VA Claims Mastery, 63% of initial VA disability claims are denied or under-rated, but appeals are successful in 65-75% of cases.

Veterans can get an overview of the VA Appeals Modernization by watching the VA YouTube video titled “VA appeals modenization” at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=thLQaaGqqVI and at the Veterans Benefits Administration “Appeals Modernization” webpage at https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/appeals.asp.

Last week’s article covered: • Reviews and Appeals of VA Non-Medical Treatment Decisions.

• Appeal of a VA Medical Treatment Decision.

• Patient Advocates.

• The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical System Patient Advocates.

• The first three of the top nine Reasons Why a Veteran’s VA Disability Claim May Be Denied: 1) The veteran gave incomplete information on the application forms; 2) The veteran submitted the wrong forms; and 3) The veteran missed a deadline.

This week’s article will cover six more of the top nine reasons why a VA Disability Claim may be denied.

Six more reasons why a veteran’s VA Disability Claim may be denied 4. There is a lack of medical evidence. The VA must have sufficient proof of a veteran’s disability to consider their claim. The claims process relies on a combination of the veteran’s statement and evidence, evidence from medical doctors and medical specialists (Physical Therapists, Occupational Specialists, Audiologists, etc.), VA Disability Benefits Questionnaires, lay witness statements, and evidence of your medical visits related

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AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

her injury or illness is connected to their military service. The burden of this responsibility falls on the veteran to furnish proof of doctor’s visits during military service and evidence of the events that led to the injury or illness.

The veteran’s doctor can help LARRY DANDRIDGE the veteran prove their claim by explaining to the VA (in a NEXUS Letter and healthcare records) how to the disability. the event(s) have contributed to When you cannot show sufficient the veteran’s current symptoms or evidence of a disability or a doctor disability. Veterans should submit fails to fill out forms correctly or pro- all evidence they can muster to vide enough evidence, the veteran support claims. is likely to receive a claim denial.

7. VA determines that you don’t Veterans need to submit complete, have a disability. To qualify for relevant, and organized medical disability benefits through the VA, evidence. Veterans should submit a veteran needs to have a medically records (evidence) that tell a clear diagnosed disability that stemmed story: diagnosis, onset, treatment, from or got worse because of their progression, and negative impact. service.

5. The VA rejects the veteran’s 8. VA doesn’t believe your doctor statement. The veteran’s symptoms warrant compensation. doctor can provide a statement that The VA rates a veteran’s disability supports the veteran’s disability on a scale that determines how claim. However, this statement may much compensation the veteran not adhere to the VA’s requirements will get. Some disability claims get to prove sufficient evidence of your approved as long as symptoms disability. The VA’s decision can and disability are proven. However, rely on a few factors, including your if the VA determines that those doctor’s ability to do the followsymptoms are not severe enough ing: 1) Thoroughly explain your to meet even its lowest rating that disability – the frequency, severity, gives compensation, the veteran will and impact of symptoms on the receive no monetary compensation. veteran’s working, social, and family The rating scale goes from 0% life – and why it should be treated to 100% disability, and ratings as a disability; 2) Fill out all required always increase in 10% increments. paperwork accurately and complete- To increase your rating through ly; 3) Explain why your service-relat- the appeals process, you will need ed wound, injury, or illness and your medical proof of the severity of your current disability are connected; 4) symptoms and how they affect your Use language (For example, more daily life. likely than not …) that the VA looks 9. You have a pre-existing confor; and 5) Furnish proof of medical dition. The VA will only approve credentials. claims for pre-existing conditions 6. A lack of service-related inju- when they become worse because of ry or illness evidence. The VA may your service. The VA typically prenot consider the evidence a veteran sumes that a condition is a result of submits sufficient proof that his or your service unless there’s specific

proof of you having a pre-existing condition before entering the service.

Six types of service-connection According to the VA webpage “Types of disability claims and when to file,” at https://www.va.gov/ disability/how-to-file-claim/whento-file/, there are six types of disability claims, including: • Original Claim, which is your first claim for disability compensation.

• Increased Claim, which is when a veteran files a claim for more compensation for a disability that the VA already determined to be service-connected and that has gotten worse.

• New Claim, which is when you file a claim for added benefits or other benefit requests related to an existing service-connected disability.

• Secondary Service-Connected Claim, where a veteran can file a claim for a new disability that is linked to a service-connected disability you already have (Example: Migraines caused by TBIs).

• Special Claim, which is when a veteran files a claim for special needs linked to the veteran’s service-connected disability.

• Supplemental Claim, which provides new evidence to support a disability claim that was denied.

EDITOR’S NOTE

This article is the second in a series of five.

related to the illness or injury (like doctors’ reports, physical-occupational-speech therapist statements, X-rays, and medical tests), service personnel records, Purple Heart, line-of-duty investigations, accident reports, lay witness statements, the veteran’s statement, pictures, medical study reports, and much more.

Use a VA-accredited VSO to help you appeal A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) must pass a police background check, attend initial and annual recurrent training, pass a comprehensive examination, and provide services free to veterans, veterans' family members, caregivers, and survivors. VSOs will help veterans review their VA Claim and VA Denial Letter, clarify any errors, and strengthen their appeal with more evidence to: 1) Correct any mistakes or misunderstandings in the original VA decision.

2) Make certain that the VA considers all relevant evidence and documentation.

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, Evidence needed ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel.

According to the VA “Evidence He is a past VA-accredited VSO, a Patient Adviser needed for your claim” webpage at Charleston and Durham VA Hospitals, a at https://www.va.gov/disability/ Fisher House Charleston/Friends of Fisher House how-to-file-claim/evidence-needed/, Charleston Goodwill Ambassador, and the Veterans when a veteran files a disability Benefits Adviser for his local Association of the claim, the VA reviews all available U.S. Army (AUSA) Chapter and Cary, N.C., evidence (supporting documents) to VFW Post 7383. Larry is also the author of the determine if the veteran is eligible award-winning “Blades of Thunder (Book One)” for benefits. Evidence can include: and a contributing freelance writer with The Island The Veteran’s DD214, service News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164. medical records, medical evidence

LOCAL MILITARY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 14 August 2026 Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel A. P. Bariletti First Recruit Training Battalion • Lieutenant Colonel G. T. Moynihan Commander of Troops, First Sergeant K. F. MartinezLopez • Parade Adjutant, Sergeant T. P. Gensitskiy Company “B”, Recruit Training Battalion • Captain A. P. McCollum Drill Master • Staff Sergeant D. M. Brodie • Staff Sergeant R. T. Frye PLATOON 1040

Senior Drill Instructor Sgt L. D. Hutto Pvt Bacchus, Nicholas Pvt Bicknell, Jackson N. Pvt Bostick, Dylan W. Pvt Brown Jr, Charles R. Pvt Camposperez, Carlos Pvt Cienfuegos, Osvaldo Pvt Davis, Patrick C. PFC Davis, Timothy L. Pvt DelvalleMendez, Edward Pvt Diaz, Kristian L. * Pvt Diazmartinez, Jose A. Pvt Earp, Aiden Pvt Ellsberry, Riley S. PFC Gadd, Wyatt F. Pvt Gay, Sean H. * Pvt Gill, Rhett D. Pvt Gilliam, Kaden M. Pvt Guthrie Jr, Anthony D. Pvt Hall, Ethan K. * PFC Henderson, Ryan D. Pvt Holman, Simon E. Pvt Huckeba, Richard M. PFC Ivey, Jordan L. Pvt Jones III, Richard B. PFC Jordan, Tristan B. Pvt Kennis, Silas D.

Pvt Jean, Chamore A.

Pvt Porzio Jr, Francis M.

Pvt Musgrove, Octavian B.

PFC Valencia, Kent L.

PFC Jessop, Vivian M.

Pvt Reyes, Sebastian O.

Pvt Pepper III, Anthony M.

Pvt Vaughn, Matthew D.

PFC Jones, Carla D.

Pvt Rieder, Carter R.

PFC Pero, Landric M.

Pvt Wolff, Garrett J.

PFC Lafontant, Aryelle J.

PFC Rivera, Jonaer J.

PFC Quear, Michael B.

Pvt Zamora, Joshua G.

PFC Mcmichael, Karlazjah D.

PFC Robinson, Nicholas R.

Pvt Reyes, Xavier D.

PFC Mercadomarte, Melissa

Pvt Rowe, Adrian K.

Pvt Reynolds, Colin M.

Pvt Milne, Devin A.

Pvt Smalls, Landon C.

Pvt Orellanagaitan, Kimberly Y.

Pvt Smith, Gabriel D.

Pvt Osorio, Jade

Pvt Smith, Travis J.

Pvt Osorio, Jasmine

Pvt Soto, Carlos A.

Pvt Pena, Catalina N.

PFC Stiltner, Issac H.

PFC Perez, Joreliz

Pvt Stusse, Justin N.

Pvt Ramirezsoriano, Mary L.

Pvt Victory, Joquam X.

Pvt Richardson, Elayjah M.

PFC Waldrop, Kaleb A.

PFC Rosadoleyva, Yunailys

PFC Watts Jr, Gregory L.

Pvt Siggers, Kyesha T.

PFC Williams, Dakota O.

Pvt Suarezleon, Mia

Pvt Williams, Jaylen

Pvt Tiburciodelossanto, Wilkania

Pvt Williams, Jonathan T.

Pvt Tomaslopez, Carina

Pvt Wirgau, Ezekiel T.

PFC Torillamendoza, Maria J.

PFC Woods, Kiontaye G.

Pvt Varela, Yaneth

Pvt Young, Cameron L.

PFC Villagomez, Alexa D.

PFC Zevallossantander, Tomas A.

Pvt Wrightjackson, Keyona I. Pvt Yado, Jakeline PFC Zunigaespinoza, Syani F.

PLATOON 1042

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt J. L. Robbins

PLATOON 1044

Senior Drill Instructor Sgt M. L. Morontaalmonte

Pvt Ricketts, Benjamin A. Pvt Rivera Jr, Luis G.

PLATOON 1046

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt N. P. Miracle

PFC Russell, Patrick D.

Pvt Aguilar, Jesus F.

Pvt Russell, Tariq I.

Pvt Aguilarlara, Axel B.

Pvt Smith, Marcus P.

Pvt Barke, Keith A.

Pvt Veizagavilla, Daniel R.

Pvt Becerrasoto, Oscar A.

Pvt Villamizar, David J.

PFC Berchert, Michael S.

Pvt Webb, Mason A.

PFC Boldin, Blake W.

Pvt Wise, Isaiah A.

Pvt Bryant Ii, James W.

Pvt Wright, Michael P.

PFC Caldwell, Maxwell T.

PLATOON 1045

Senior Drill Instructor Sgt C. J. Peach Jr

PFC Cary, Alan E. Pvt Castillo, Mike A. Pvt Chalk, Isaac J.

Pvt Augustin, Miradel L.

PFC Diethrich, Hunter L.

Pvt Bailey, Lamor C.

Pvt Dowdy, Liam A.

PFC Bareford, Aidan C.

Pvt Dunnavant, James W.

Pvt Barham, Grayson L. Pvt Barry, Justin S. Pvt Bello, Jake R. PFC Blackburn, Zackary X.

PFC Edwards, Alec W. Pvt Evans, Brandon T. Pvt Felton, Daniel J. Pvt Garciarodridguez, Jeriel O.

PFC Amsini, Emmanuel L.

Pvt Bonilla, Jose R.

Pvt Andradesalvador, John

Pvt Bouddier Jr, Ruben A.

Pvt Gould, Mason B.

Pvt Barnes, Jarrett K.

Pvt Bounds, Christopher H.

Pvt Grijalva, Luis E.

Pvt Barnes, William C.

Pvt Burden, Jayden R.

Pvt Guevarayumbla, Esteban I.

Pvt Beaty, Iyenda J.

PFC Collier, John C.

Pvt Hanrahan, Brody P.

Pvt Beaupre, Gabriel A.

PFC Cousins, Dillan L.

Pvt Hanselman, Ashton W.

Pvt Bergren, Seth T.

PFC Deleon-Mazariegos, Kevin E.

Pvt Hawkins Jr, Brian D.

Pvt Betke, Augustus J.

Pvt Depaz, Dilson A.

Pvt Henigan, Noah J. Pvt Huescaagapito, Oscar

Pvt King, Tristan *

Pvt Alcaniz, Aizen D.

Pvt Luehrs, Noah N.

PFC Benimadhu, Ethan R.

Pvt Mandujano, Gabriel

Pvt Blackmon, Judson A.

PFC MartinezPena, Osmany F.

Pvt Bolden, Jakob M.

PFC Matos, Jayden A.

Pvt Brown, Cail C.

Pvt Brown, Gabriel S.

PFC Duarte Jr, Carlos D.

Pvt Quickbear, Dakota

PFC Brown, Stephon J.

PFC Brown, Landon T.

PFC Ebersole, Robert A.

Pvt Raulerson, David L.

Pvt Carson, Mason K.

Pvt Bryant, Javion E.

PFC Edwards, Jemuel C.

PFC Revis, Jack E.

Pvt Castille, Logan J.

Pvt Buhl, Ethan E.

Pvt Elias, Yousif A.

Pvt Stevener, Corey

PFC Castillo, Arthur

Pvt Cabrera, Fernando

Pvt Esposito, Yan

Pct Tann Jr, Robert C.

Pvt Castillohidalgo, Christian E.

Pvt Ciacaxelhua, Cristofer A.

PFC Fernandez-Hernandez, Jackdian A.

Pvt Thomas, Elijah M.

PFC Castorenadelrio Jr, Sergio

Pvt Condon, Jonathan J.

PFC Fragassi, Lucas M.

Pvt TrinidadSanchez, Gerdiel A.

Pvt Chima Jr, Ferdinand U.

Pvt Dixon Jr, Jarvis S.

PFC Gregg, Terry N.

Pvt Martinezguzman, Kemuel

Pvt Wiley, Jayven A.

PFC Dailey, Anthony C.

Pvt Edwards, William P.

Pvt Gustafson, Owen B.

PFC Matos, Jonathan A.

PFC Yang, Changfue S.

Pvt Decker, Joshua M.

Pvt Farraj, Abdullah

Pvt Joiner, Preston C.

Pvt Matthews, Michael I.

Pvt York, Tate O.

Pvt Denham, Hunter C.*

Pvt Fernandez III, Andres E.

PFC Keller, Christopher

Pvt Mauger, Wyatt J.

Pvt Gahm, Daniel R.

PFC Keller, Joseph Z.

Pvt Mccrary, Austin D.

Pvt Galouch, Ethan R.

Pvt Landi IV, Michael J.

Pvt Mcdonald, Matthew C.

Pvt Garciaquiroz, Luis

PFC Lay, Tyler R.

PFC Munroe, Drake M.

Pvt Graham, Shawn R.

Pvt Livingston, Jordan M. Pvt Londono-Velez, Sebastian

Pvt Rendon, Fabian A.

PFC Greenway, Parker J. Pvt Greshauk, Joshua C.

PFC Ma, Jerrid C.

PLATOON 1041

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt K. Nepomuceno

Pvt Dossantos, Diogo PFC Duncan, Sean L. Pvt Ellenburg, Nicholas E.

Pvt Kier, Conan M. PFC Kless, Logan M. PFC Komilov, Amonullo PFC Lopezpacheco, Brian Pvt Lordpickett, Timothy E.

PFC AlemanMartinez, Solange E.

Pvt Espinola, Danniel N.*

PFC Amlin, Lindy M.

Pvt Esquivelzamores, Emmanuel

Pvt AnotaMorales, Lindsay A.

Pvt Farrier, Zacchaeus N.

Pvt Hadaway Jr, Brian A.

Pvt Marsala, Quentin L.

Pvt BonillaRodriguez, Ashley S.

Pvt Floyd, Richard I.

PFC Hendren, Elijah T.

Pvt May, Leroy K.

Pvt Brown, Bianca M.

PFC Gibson, Darian M.

Pvt Hernandez, Johnathan

Pvt Mcdowell, Dhamin

PFC Brown, Ida C.

Pvt Gitalado, Sean E.

Pvt Hernandezromero, Bryan

Pvt Nhkai, Joshua

Pvt Small, Jayden T.

PFC Campos, Jacqueline E.

PFC Goudelock, Paul T.

Pvt Higgins, Bryson B.

Pvt Norman, Montrice L.

Pvt Smith, Skyler R.

PFC Castillo, Nataly J.

Pvt Grant, Qamar F.*

PFC Ighalo, Seth E.

Pvt Norton, Jeremy O.

Pvt Sostre, Yomar N.

PFC Cintron, Anais M.

PFC Grundler, Anthony M.

PFC Isris, Arthur

PFC Ortiz, Evan S.

PFC Stalzer, Christopher J.

Pvt Cortesuribe, Yozelyn

PFC Hall, Julian B.

PFC Jimenezandres, Chano

Pvt Pace III, Richard S.

PFC Stegenga, Bryan A.

PFC DeceanoEspinosa, Montserrath

PFC Hartless Jr, Darryl A.

Pvt Jones II, William T.

Pvt Penagos, Carlos F.

PFC Thomas Jr, Lecovian D.

PFC Degraff, Woodlydianie

Pvt Htoo, Nay

Pvt King, Iziah R.

Pvt Petion, Keyshawn J.

PFC Tobin, Jeremiah M.

PFC Donnelly, Katrina J.

Pvt King, Landon W.

PFC Kinsley, Tyler J.

PFC Pharis, Titus T.

PFC Dunn, Mya S.

Pvt Little, Caleb D.

Pvt Platel, Harriel D.

Pvt Vasquezcarty, Javier A.

Pvt Lee, Jonathan B.

PFC Evans, Nieasia M.

PFC Mccoy, Walter C.

PFC Luna, Baltazar

Pvt Powell, Noah M.

Pvt Farley, Britta R.

PFC Mccoy, William L.

Pvt Madison, Tayshaun T.

Pvt Prew, Beauregard C.

Pvt Mckenzie, Decker W.

Pvt Rago, Ryan A.

PFC Fetkenhier, Elizabeth A.

Pvt Melton, Austin L. Pvt Merson, Ryan J.

Pvt Rarick, Matthew D.

Pvt Fumero, Gianna M.

PFC Meeks, Nathan A.

Pvt Metts, Landon J.

PFC Rios-Martinez, Diego F.

PFC Williams, Luke D.

PFC Hernandez, Maya

PFC Molina, Dan E.

Pvt Mineshughes, Nahsirr M.

Pvt Rolle, Roshawn A.

PFC Woodley, Affion K.

Pvt Hodges, Nyrea A.

PFC Peacock, Gavin M.

Pvt Monnin, Keaton R.

PFC Savage, Preston B.

PFC Wu, Wai T.

Pvt Jackson, Lauryn A.

PFC Perkins Iii, Charles G.

PFC Mooney, Ruger A.

PFC Sidway, William J.

Pvt Zapolski, Blaine J.

PFC James, Allacia A.

Pvt Petty, Giovanni I.

Pvt Morenolaureano, Alejandro

Pvt Smith, Colt J.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotion

Pvt Rose, Waylon E. Pvt Sanders, Xavier D. Pvt Silvestre, Guillermo Q. Pvt Simeon, Geno

PFC Welch, Kolby J. Pvt Whipp, Matthew J. PFC Wilbourn, Elijah E. Pvt Williams, Hunter E.

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

A13

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES ANNOUNCEMENTS We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-855-704-3381 DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-397-7030 www.dental50plus. com/60 #6258 AUCTIONS SPECTACULAR ESTATE AUCTION. Sat., Aug. 22 at 9:30AM. 302 Oak Street East, Hampton, SC. Selling contents of Confederate Col. Hoover House built in 1875. Also included is the partial estate of Mr. and Mrs. Haig Mosley.

This auction is packed! Partial listing: plenty of nice Antique and Contemporary Furniture, Bedroom/Dining Room Suites, China Cabinets, Estate Shotguns, 1870s Victorian Pieces, Dressers/Chests, Wicker, Tables/Chairs, 20th Century Oil Paintings, Rugs, Coins, Pottery, Lots of Glassware and China, Linens, Cast Iron Stove, Yard Furniture, Tools, Lawn Mowers, Cast Iron Safe, Drill Press, Shop Equipment and Much More! Accepting Consignments!

Call now to consign! Preview Fri., Aug. 21 from 10AM-6PM. Browse www.cogburnauction.com.

803-860-0712.

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 1.5 million readers.

Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561.

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

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

BOAT FOR SALE For sale: 2007 Boston Whaler 170 Montauk complete with galvanized trailer and full Sunbrella boat cover as well as console cover.

Boat and trailer (new boat trailer tires & wheel bearings) in good shape. Has original 90 HP 4 stroke Mercury outboard in need of some extensive work. Butler Marine estimate $8k-$10k for repairs. Asking $7500 for all “as is” and happy to refer anyone interested to Butler to verify motor estimate.

Don Lady’s Island 843 271 8361 HELP WANTED – DRIVERS ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 80 S.C.

newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 1.5 million readers.

Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE No more cleaning out gutters. Guaranteed!

LeafFilter is backed by a no-clog guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty. Call today 1-855-820-2770 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Plus, Military & Seniors get an additional 10% off. Limited time only. Restrictions apply, see representative for warranty and offer details.

Audien Hearing. The world’s first hearing aid with touchscreen controls. No tiny buttons, apps or prescriptions. 45-day risk free trial. Free shipping. Lifetime support. More than 1.5 million happy customers. Call Audien 1-855-6209614.

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-775-0366 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES DIRECTV OVER INTERNET – Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84.99/mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees!

Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-2379741 DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply.

Call DIRECTV 1-844-624-1107 Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-877-542-0759 VACATION RENTALS ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 1.5 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561.

PLACE YOUR AD IN MORE THAN

80 SC NEWSPAPERS Reach up to 1.5 million readers using our small space ad network!

Contact Randall Savely 803.750.9561 | scnnonline.com Newspaper Network Statewide and regional options available South Carolina

See Into The Future . . . . . . read Opinion, Arts, Culture, Lifestyle, Homes, Cuisine

Discover What You’re Going To Do Next More coverage and content at LowcountryWeekly.com

THEME: BACK TO SCHOOL ACROSS 1. Eye affliction 5. Mowgli to Raksha in "The Jungle Book" 8. Cured pork product, pl.

12. *Every lap you run in gym class completes one 13. Ripped 14. Throw up 15. Mythological ship 16. Agitate 17. Like worthless promise 18. *"Go to the ____'s office" 20. Hatchling's home 21. Wasted on the young?

22. "Amazing!"

23. *____ Core, academic standards 26. *"Rock N'Roll High School" band 30. Be obliged 31. Orange ____ tea, pl.

34. Of low density 35. Earthenware pots 37. Farm layer 38. Bagpipes sound, in Scotland 39. Vessel's "spine" 40. "Mary, Mary quite contrary" place 42. Radio knob, abbr.

43. Blended family family member 45. Trotters 47. Owned 48. San Diego baseballer 50. Castle defense 52. *a.k.a. lunch room 56. "____ little cubby all stuffed with fluff" 57. Knight's breastplate 58. Bit of smoke 59. Willow twig 60. Pub arrow 61. Popular street-lining trees 62. Post-deductions amount 63. Opposite of WSW 64. Somebody ____ DOWN 1. Dueler's blow 2. Unit of pressure 3. Jellystone Park denizen 4. Amerigo to America 5. *Plagiarize, technically speaking 6. Heep of "David Copperfield" 7. *School signaling device 8. *Unwelcome load 9. Current unit, pl.

10. Catcher's catcher 11. Chester White's home 13. Three in one 14. Animal toxin

19. Poultry houses 22. "It ____ a dark and stormy night..."

23. Too many in the kitchen?

24. Baby owl 25. Free-for-all 26. Tear 27. Lacking guile 28. Baseball fielding mistake 29. "She ____ sea shells..."

32. *____ Academy, online study aid 33. "____ the land of the free..."

36. *Reading building blocks 38. Stall call 40. *Character in Greek Mythology reading assignment 41. Firstborn 44. Nymph chaser 46. Diminutive 48. Like nature worshipping, e.g.

49. Flamb 50. Dante's Beatrice, e.g.

51. Passing mention 52. Relinquish 53. Small brook 54. Doctrines 55. Part of church 56. *Unit in measurement and weight math lessons

LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD & SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

A14

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

SERVICE DIRECTORY FURNITURE / HOME DECOR

APPAREL PRINTING

PET SERVICES

Furbulas Dog: Grooming, Boarding, and Pet Sitting

SCREEN PRINT EMBROIDERY CUSTOM APPAREL

Brittany Riedmayer

1001 Bay St, Beaufort, SC 29902 open Tues.-Sat. noon to 5pm, Sun. by chance

843-476-2989

furniture, home decor & more

Member of National Dog Groomers Association of America

(843) 379-4488

NEWSOUTHSHIRTS.COM

Allison & Ginny DuBose, Owners aldubose@yahoo.com

843-982-0170

POOL & FIBERGLASS REPAIR

MOBILE HOME INSURANCE

ATTORNEY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

John D. Polk Agency INSURANCE

Manufactured Homes • Cars • Boats RV's • Homes • All Commercial

2048 Pearl Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450 chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING

Beaufort Audiology & Hearing Care Monica Wiser, M.A. CCC-A Licensed Audiologist

843-524-3172 info@polkagency.com

CALL FOR A QUOTE TODAY!

PEST CONTROL

38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007

REALTOR

Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You

The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center Dr. Larry Bridge, AU.D./CCC-A 206 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort thebeaufortsound@gmail.com

residential commercial real estate

843-379-0185

www.BeaufortPestControl.com

YOUR AD HERE

www.thebeaufortsound.com | 843-522-0655 CHIMNEY SERVICES

Be Seen, Be Chosen!

Put your business in the spotlight by advertising in the Service Directory.

Connect with eager customers, showcase your expertise, and secure your space today!

Amanda Hanna – amanda@lcweekly.com | Sasha Horne Hirshout – sasha.theislandnews@gmail.com

E-Edition

Digital Newspaper

START READING

YOURISLANDNEWS.COM

TODAY

A customer favorite! Enjoy the classic newspaper format in a digital environment. Published every Thursday, the E-Edition is a digital replica of the print newspaper, with all of the same news issuu.com/theislandnews and advertising content, on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Meet ATHENA! She truly is a goddess. Athena has the most kind eyes that stare into yours with pure love. She would love nothing more than a comfortable lap to lie in.

Meet BRONWYN, a 4-month-old gray and white tabby kitten with a curious spirit and playful personality. She loves exploring, chasing toys, and turning everyday moments into little adventures.

IRENE is an irresistible, adorable dilute tabby with the sweetest little face — and no eyes. But don’t let that fool you. Her blindness doesn’t slow her down or dim her spirit one bit.

HEY JUDE is a 4-month-old Carolina Dog mix weighing 15 pounds. This sweet, spunky boy never stops smiling and turns ordinary days into adventures. He loves making new friends.

KATARA is a gorgeous tabby girl with truly eyecatching markings — she’s the kind of cat you notice right away. Even better, her personality is just as lovely as her looks.

KLAUS is a 1.5-yearold terrier/hound mix weighing 37 pounds.

This silly dude is always ready for running, playing, and doing zoomies. He is affectionate, outgoing, and great with other dogs.

At 9 years old, LEXI is ready to settle in a home filled with love and cuddles.

She prefers a quiet home, with the softest blankets, and a nice long lasting bone to chew on.

Meet MARROW, a 4-month-old black and white kitten with a sweet, cuddly personality. This curious little guy loves exploring new places and chasing toys before snuggling up for affection.

Meet MOLLY! This sweet and gentle girl was found as a stray, completely malnourished.

With the help of our staff, she has reached a healthy weight and is as happy as ever.

MARTA is a sweet 4-month-old Entlebucher mix weighing 13 pounds.

She is full of curious energy and ready to grow up with you. This adorable girl loves making new friends, treats, and belly rubs.

ZADIA is a lovely young orangeand-white tabby who strikes that balance between social and independent. She gets along well with the people she meets.

PENELOPE is a beautiful 13-yearold tortie cat with a heart full of love and affection. She deserves comfort, love, and endless naps in her golden years. Give this sweet senior a home!

All animals above are available at Hilton Head Humane’s Hilton Head campus at 10 Humane Way, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29926. Open Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 843-681-8686 or email adoptions@hhhumane.org.

AUGUST 13-AUGUST 19, 2026

A15

820 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902

843.521.4200 $749,900

CAT ISLAND | MLS 197543 3BDRM | 2.5B | 2230sqft Bryan Gates 843.812.6494

$799,999

$153,600

$354,000

PORT ROYAL | MLS 195945

BATTERY POINT | MLS 192646

SPANISH OAKS | MLS 196904

3BDRM | 2B | 1700sqft Completely Renovated | Seller Related to Agent Shannon Denny 843.575.7055

.2 Acre Homesite | Marsh/Water View Community Amenities Paige Walling 843.812.8470

3BDRM | 2.5B | 1948sqft Lloyd Williams 843.754.4735

www.LowcountryRealEstate.com

r e c n a C t r o pp u S BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Second Wednesday of the Month | 6 – 7pm*

The SCIIJ supports the development and production of independent and nonprofit news in S.C. to promote democratic ideals.

Donate now at SCIndependentJournalism.org

JOIN IN-PERSON OR ONLINE

ALL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Fourth Wednesday of the Month | 1 – 2pm* Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center 990 Ribaut Road, Beaufort • Room 317, 3rd Floor

SCAN TO RSVP

To RSVP for a free Support Group, scan our code or visit:

Thank you to

BeaufortMemorial.org/CancerSupportGroup

*Meeting schedule subject to change and may be impacted by holidays.

for generously sponsoring this ad.

QUESTIONS?

Call Kianna Brown, LMSW • 843-522-7328

Interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith?

Sessions starting soon!

Saint Peter’s will soon be offering introductory sessions on the Catholic faith. All are welcome!

There is no commitment, no cost to participate, and no need to register. Free child care is available, too.

The gatherings will be on Wednesday evenings in our Why not come to our first session on September 9 social hall from 6:30 to 8:30, starting September 9. to see what it’s like? Feel free to bring a friend.

Each evening begins with dinner, followed by a presentation by our pastor, who teaches in an informal and down-to-earth way.

70 Lady’s Island Dr, Beaufort Office: 843-522-9555

For more details, reach out to us or visit our webpage using the QR code or link below.

We would love to answer any questions!

www.stpetersbeaufort.org/intro office@stpetersbeaufort.org