April 9 edition

Primary filing deadline draws flurry of candidates

The stage is set, at least for now. Last week’s filing deadline for the June 9 Republican and Democratic primaries produced a flurry of individuals interested in serving the voters, … some surprises, some not so surprising.

The Beaufort County sheriff’s race, of course, got exciting after P.J. Tanner announced, one week before the March 30 filing deadline, that he wasn’t going to run again. Needless to say, there was some behind-the-scene scrambling among local politicos before Doug Seifert and JoJo Woodward stepped forth to file on the Republican ticket and Democrat Alphonso Small Jr. paid to put his name on the Democratic ticket.

Both Seifert, who has received Tanner’s endorsement, and JoJo Wardward have worked with the sheriff’s department under Tanner’s administration, while Woodward has run in two previous elections.

Small, from Bluffton, is a member of the county Board of Education but has law enforcement experience as well.

The other surprise, as last week’s The Island News reported, was the arrival of former Governor Mark Sanford into the First Congressional District race, on the last day of filing. Sanford, who beat-out 16 fellow Republicans in the 2013 congressional race, will face 10 Republicans in June, including Beaufort County Councilman Logan Cunningham who wishes to serve voters from Washington.

The winner of that Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary, where seven have filed, plus candidates from the Libertarian and Alliance party, whose candidate Margo Ellis has already been campaigning locally.

While neither of the county’s two state senators — Tom Davis of District 46 (which no longer includes city of Beaufort and Port Royal) and Chip Campsen of District 43 (which does include Beaufort, Port Royal and parts of Charleston County) — are up for election this year but all of the county’s five state House of Representative races drew competition. Indeed, for the first time in recent memory, the state Democrat-

SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A9

Port Royal blindsided

$1.3M tax loss tied to state law loophole; Development avoids property taxes while claiming affordable housing status

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

The Town of Port Royal didn’t learn about a $1 3 million tax loss from a report. It found out on social media.

“Ding, ding, ding, ding. Lights go off,” Town Manager Van Willis said.

That moment, sparked by a post questioning how the Preserve at Port Royal’s tax bill dropped from more than $1 3 million to just a few thousand dollars, led town officials to uncover what they now describe as a loophole in state law.

The loophole allowed a private apartment complex to avoid paying property taxes while claiming to provide affordable housing.

A tax bill that disappeared Just last year, the Preserve, a 400-unit apartment complex in the center of Port Royal, paid more than $1 34 million in property taxes. This year, it is expected to pay none.

“For us, losing that kind of revenue is significant. My budget is only $11 million.”

VAN WILLIS, Port Royal's Town Manager

The result is a loss of about $349 000 to the town, roughly 6% of its $11 million budget. More than $700 000 in funding for the Beaufort County School District is also affected.

“For us, losing that kind of revenue is significant,” Willis said. “My budget is only $11 million.”

How it happened

According to Willis, the exemption stems from a section of South Carolina law that allows compa-

nies to carve out a small portion of their corporate structure under the premise of providing low- to moderate-income housing.

In the case of the Preserve, that portion is just 0 1%

“They have set aside 0 1% of their ownership structure, which has now enabled them to exempt $1 345 million in property taxes,” Willis said.

The property is owned by Sundance Bay, a Utah-based private equity firm with roughly $4 billion in assets.

Despite the scale of the development, which sold for $92 million, the exemption means it now contributes nothing in property taxes.

“That $6,000 people are seeing is stormwater fees,” Willis said. “They paid nothing in property taxes.”

A discovery after the fact The timing made the impact

SEE LOOPHOLE PAGE A6

Beaufort Memorial names Jess O’Brien Director of Marketing and Communications

Staff reports Former Beaufort Digital Corridor Executive Director Jess O’Brien has joined Beaufort Memorial Hospital as the Director of Marketing and Communications.

O’Brien, who joined Beaufort Memorial in March 2026, brings with her more than a decade of experience leading strategic marketing, brand development and client service initiatives at organizations

Jess O’Brien

ranging from small businesses to national brands. A seasoned leader and community advocate, she most recently served for five years as the Executive Director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC) and the BDC Foundation, advancing the region’s technology ecosystem. At the BDC, O’Brien led programs supporting local entrepreneurs, innovation and workforce development, helping position Beaufort as a growing hub for digital talent. Her leadership there focused on creating opportunities and fostering community partnerships while helping develop the next generation of professionals.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jess to the Beaufort Memorial team,” Beaufort Memorial Vice President of Marketing and Development Kim Yawn said in a media release. “Her genuine love for the community and passion for making a difference align perfectly with our mission at Beaufort Memorial. We’re excited for

SEE DIRECTOR PAGE A8

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

submit a Lowcountry Life

theislandnews@gmail.com.

you must be the

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Richard Bone, 38 who joined the U.S. Navy in Tucson, Ariz., in 2006. After Boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., he first trained to be a Torpedoman, but changed to Gunners Mate. His first of five sea duty assignments was aboard the USS Boxer (LHD-4) where he participated in the rescue of Capt. Philips off the coast of Somalia. His next served aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC19) visiting Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Aus-

tralia; and in 2011 helped in the rescue of multitudes of Japanese swept to sea after the tsunami that destroyed coastal towns and a nuclear power plant. In 2012 he retrained as a Cook

Specialist and served at Naval Base Ventura, Calif. After three years, it was back to sea aboard the USS Porter (DDG-78), homeported in Rota, Spain, visiting Mediterranean and UK ports. Assigned next to Naval Hospital Portsmouth, Va., he worked as a cook for the OB-GYN clinic. Going back to sea aboard the USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), he deployed to the Mediterranean again visiting Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. His final sea assignment was aboard the USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26), seeing service

in the Western Pacific and Hawaii, with typhoon recovery operations at Guam, and with NASA on the Artemis II shakedown test. Today he serves at Naval Hospital Beaufort with a variety of duties including mail, food for recruits at the hospital, managing the command’s 27 vehicles maintenance and in the laundry.

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

Help us keep bringing you local news

Dear Readers,

We need your help, and Thursday is the perfect moment to answer the call.

April 9, 2026 is the inaugural Local News Day, a national day of action connecting communities with the trusted local news they rely on. Modeled after Giving Tuesday, it's a nationally coordinated effort inviting Americans to seek out and support local news in their communities. We're proud to be part of it, and we're asking you to show up for us the way we've always shown up for you.

Do you love having a local newspaper? One you can actually pick up and hold in your hands, produced by locals, for locals? We're the only one.

While local newspapers across the country are being swallowed up by impersonal hedge funds or disappearing altogether, The Island News remains proudly family-owned. Our editors, reporters, photographers, and salespeople actually live in Beaufort. They shop at your grocery store, cheer at your kids' games, and care deeply about what happens here. We are a newspaper of this community, by this community, and for this community.

SCAN TO DONATE

Do you value knowing what happened at last week's City Council meeting? Yesterday's school board decision? Where that new restaurant is, or what festival is coming up this weekend? So do we. And we believe that access to that information isn't a luxury. It's essential to a healthy democracy and a connected community.

For the past seven years, we have delivered all of it to you at no charge, because we believe everyone deserves access to the news.

But we need your support to keep going. Like many of you, we have felt the squeeze of the past few years. Inflation has hit us hard. Paper prices have skyrocketed. We are fighting for our survival, and we are asking you to fight alongside us.

In honor of Local News Day, please consider making a one-time donation to The Island News. Any amount makes a difference. Because when local news disappears, so does the voice of the community.

With gratitude, The Island News

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

April 9

1865: Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Ulyssess S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Va., effectively ending the Civil War.

1890: Robert Smalls marries Charleston schoolteacher Annie E. Wigg. It was Smalls’ second marriage.

April 12

1915: State Dispensary Constable J. Rollins Cooler is shot and killed in an ambush on St. Helena Island. The State Dispensary was the forerunner of the Alcohol Beverage Control. Cooler was the first law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty in Beaufort County.

2019: Twenty-one-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler P. Wallingford, an Aircraft Ordinance Technician with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) is shot and killed aboard MCAS Beaufort.

April 14

1865: Robert Anderson raised the United States flag over Fort Sumter in Charleston, four years to the day after he surrendered it to Confederate forces. The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher delivered the oration on the occasion, also attended by Beaufort’s Robert Smalls and abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. President Lincoln was assassinated on this day in Washington D.C.

April 15

1715: The Yemassee War begins with the massacre of nearly 100 white settlers near Port Royal. With the help of free Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and reinforcements from North Carolina, the white settlers quelled an uprising of the Yemassees, Cheraws, Creeks, Shawnees and other tribes, which threatened the safety of the colony.

2019: More than 450 people pack Whale Branch Middle School to hear U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) speak as part of her 2020 campaign for President.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

Staff reports

The beloved A Taste of Beaufort festival, now celebrating 20-plus years, is expanding in 2026 with the addition of two exciting venues: Washington Street Park and the USCB Center for the Arts.

On Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Washington Street Park will host A Taste of Community, a vibrant event inspired by the gatherings that once brought the community together “back in the day.” Reminiscent of historic traveling variety shows like the Silas Green from New Orleans tent per-

NEWS

Taste of Beaufort festival will expand

A Taste of Community, Taste of the Arts will take place at Washington Street Park, USCB Beaufort

formances, the event will celebrate local culture, history, and creativity.

Guests can enjoy a lively lineup of musicians, storytellers, magicians, and interactive activities, including a scavenger hunt, time-period photo booth, dunk tank, and more. Food offerings will include a Sons of Beaufort Lodge No. 36 fish fry, along

with hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, and a variety of baked goods prepared by the Parish Church of St. Helena, the Beaufort New Church of Christ, the First Presbyterian Church, and the Family Worship Center.

A special clothesline art display will feature student artwork from Beaufort Elementary School and Robert Smalls Leadership Academy.

The event will also include the unveiling of the South Carolina historical marker for Washington Street Park (SC-C-963). Representatives from the National Park Ser-

vice will be on hand to share the rich history of the area, with a focus on the Northwest Quadrant and Old Commons neighborhoods.

In addition, Second Founding of America: Reconstruction Era will offer guided tours of the historic Stokes Cottage, located at 1313 Congress Street.

The USCB Center for the Arts will present Taste of the Arts, featuring both an outdoor art market and an indoor juried exhibition. The outdoor market will take place Friday, May 1 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday,

May 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beneath the shade of the Center’s majestic live oak, visitors can stroll through artist tents showcasing original works in acrylic, pastels, oils, photography, wood, jewelry, outdoor water features, handbags, and more.

The outdoor market will also feature food trucks, live music, and additional attractions, creating a lively, festival-style atmosphere. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet artists and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces while enjoying the day’s entertainment.

The Taste of the Arts Indoor Juried Exhibition will feature 73 works by 40 artists from Georgia, North Carolina, California, and South Carolina. More than $2,500 in awards will be presented during the opening reception on Friday, May

Beaufort’s Bob Corsaro honored by America's Boating Club

Well-respected instructor honored with Chapman Award at National Meeting

Staff reports Beaufort’s Lt. Robert (Bob) Corsaro, SN-IN, was recognized by America's Boating Club (ABC) as a recipient of the 2025 Charles F. Chapman Award for Excellence in

Teaching during its 2026 annual meeting held in February in Myrtle Beach. The award honors his outstanding performance and skill in teaching the science and art of Navigation, Seamanship, and Small Boat Handling. Corsaro, a member of the Amer-

ica’s Boating Club of Beaufort in District 26, has distinguished himself as a knowledgeable and gifted educator who consistently exemplifies these qualities. A member for 13 years, he has earned the rank of Senior Navigator and a BOCtrained boater.

Corsaro served as Beaufort squadron Education Officer from 2016 to 2019, Commander in 2019, and has held numerous other lead-

ership roles. His commitment to educational excellence extends nationally through his work with the Boat Systems Committee, where he has contributed to the development of new Marine Electronic Systems curriculum to enhance learning opportunities for members across the country. As an instructor, he is widely respected for his depth of knowledge, patience, and creativity in the classroom.

According to ABC, letters of commendation consistently praise his engaging teaching style and his dedication to presenting material in a clear, understandable manner that empowers students to succeed. America’s Boating Club congratulates Corsaro on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his continued service and leadership in advancing safe and enjoyable boating through education.

TJoseph Michael DiMaria

M.D., MBA,

o meet the growing demand for primary care services in the Lowcountry, Beaufort Memorial is pleased to welcome board-certified family medicine physician Dr. Joseph M. DiMaria.

Dr. DiMaria has joined Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group Primary Care, where he provides comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages. His clinical interests include preventive medicine, women’s health, minor in-office procedures such as skin tag and mole removal, and thoughtful management of chronic conditions. He takes a balanced approach to care, combining evidence-based medicine with holistic, wellness-focused strategies.

Dr. DiMaria began his healthcare career as a pharmacist before pursuing his training as a physician, a path that shaped his commitment to building strong, meaningful relationships with patients.

“I take the time to get to know my patients and work with them to develop a care plan that fits their individual needs,” said Dr. DiMaria. “By combining traditional medicine with wellness-based therapies, we can better support long-term health.”

CALL 843-770-0404 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

300 MIDTOWN DRIVE, BEAUFORT

At the practice, Dr. DiMaria joins (l to r) Emi Rendon Pope, M.D.; Veronica Smalheiser, AGNP-C, ANP-BC, CVNP-BC;

Board Certified – Family Medicine

Residency – Family Medicine

Atlantic Health System/ Overlook Medical Center Summit, New Jersey

Doctor of Medicine

St. George’s University Grenada, West Indies

Doctor of Pharmacy

St. John’s University Queens, New York

Bachelor of Science – Pharmacy St. John’s University Queens, New York

By Adrian Ashford and Seanna Adcox SCDailyGazette.com

4 candidates for SC governor keep it civil at 1st SC GOP debate

NEWBERRY — Four Republicans

seeking to be South Carolina’s next governor met on stage Wednesday, April 1, for a debate that turned out to be mostly congenial, with the most obvious separation on their stances coming from a question about gambling.

The front lawn of the sold-out Newberry Opera House, which seats about 400, was decked out in campaign signs as the party faithful filed in to hear from candidates in the first debate ahead of the June 9 primaries. This year is the first time in 16 years with no incumbent running for governor.

The four who participated were state Sen. Josh Kimbrell of Spartanburg County, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of Charleston County, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman of York County, and Attorney General Alan Wilson of Lexington County.

Each had only 45 seconds to respond to questions, save for their opening and closing statements. Here are some highlights of the one-hour televised event.

Gambling In the last two years, efforts to legalize gambling in various forms have intensified. One thing preventing real traction is the guaranteed veto of Gov. Henry McMaster, who’s opposed gambling throughout his career, to include campaigning against the state lottery question on ballots in 2000

Asked about their position on casinos, online sports betting or other types of gambling, candidates gave widely different answers. No one, however, used the word “veto.”

The closest answers came from Norman and Wilson. Both made clear they oppose casinos, which both said bring in criminal enterprises including human trafficking. Norman didn’t address other forms but pledged not to take any donations from gambling interests.

Wilson said he’d be open to having a conversation about legalizing online gambling, saying “the technology doesn’t exist to stop” it.

Kimbrell, on the other hand, stressed he opposes “being able to pull out your phone and gamble.”

But he would be OK with putting a casino along I-95 as an economic boost to a poor region.

“I don’t believe South Carolina should be Atlantic City,” he said, but the idea of a casino “should not be discarded if we do it properly.”

Mace didn’t take a stance on any form of gambling, other than to say “people are already online betting.”

She said she’d want to review any legislation and ask voters what they think.

All behaved Even the candidates seemed surprised at how well they got along.

The questioning ended with a request for a show of hands of who would support the eventual nomi-

nee. All four raised their hands.

“We did good,” Mace said.

Kimbrell then started his closing statement with, “Didn’t we all behave so well, by the way?”

A ‘misprint’

The only pushback in the debate came when Wilson attempted to correct Norman on a claim of wasteful government spending.

As an example of “waste, fraud and abuse,” Norman criticized “the billion that they found last year, all of a sudden it just got spent with the Legislature. No one in the Legislature spoke up about that.”

When it was his turn to speak, Wilson said, “I think the billion dollars you were talking about, Ralph, wasn’t actually real money misspent. It was a misprint.”

In a rebuttal, Norman said, “Whether it was a misprint or not, no one spoke up in government to say, ‘This is a problem.’ They just let it go.”

Actually, there are several things wrong about that claim.

It was a $1 8 billion accounting error that surfaced in 2024 in the treasurer’s office as senators delved deeper into a $3 5 billion accounting snafu in the comptroller general’s office. Ultimately, outside auditors determined the bulk of the money was never real. All but $200 million existed only on paper. No misspending was found. And there was no excess to spend.

Fortunately, the errors did not affect state budgeting, since the Legislature relies on revenue numbers from a different state agency altogether. The inflated figures were in reports given to Wall Street investors.

The errors did go unreported, including to the General Assembly, which prompted the state Senate to vote last year to remove Treasurer Curtis Loftis. But the House declined to take up the issue, and Loftis is seeking re-election. No Republican is challenging him, so he is the GOP nominee. He maintains

he did nothing wrong.

Tax cuts

In the first question of the debate, candidates were asked to name what they believed to be the “single biggest issue facing South Carolina right now.”

All of the candidates except for Norman cited “affordability” and the cost of living, and emphasized cutting taxes as a way to fix that.

Norman started his list of issues with “fraud, abuse, and corruption,” saying “term limits is the only way to get career politicians out.”

As for cutting taxes, Mace pointed to what she called “almost $3 billion extra in new money” in the state’s general fund this year as proof it’s possible to eliminate state income taxes quickly.

That refers to the $2 45 billion total available to the Legislature for the upcoming budget, according to last fall’s estimates from the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. That’s a combination of expected continued growth, unspent reserves, and taxes that came in above expectations in prior years.

Less than $735 million of the total is recurring money that’s meant for ongoing expenses, according to the November report. However, that number has dwindled since.

A bill signed into law Monday cutting income tax rates is expected to reduce collections by $309 million in the upcoming budget. A separate bill passed unanimously in February by the Senate, which Kimbrell noted he co-sponsored, would further reduce available revenue by $259 million. It would expand property tax breaks for homeowners 65 and older.

The House hasn’t taken that up, as representatives instead passed a bill further reducing income tax collections by $289 million. Senators said “no” to that Tuesday. What becomes of the property tax bill may come down to a budget fight between the two chambers.

Kimbrell, a senator since 2020,

was the only candidate on stage to talk about working with legislators to get things accomplished. The governor doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally change tax policy — or any other state law.

Norman, a former legislator in the state House, said he’d use the power of the line-item budget veto to eliminate spending.

But, as he knows from experience, those vetoes are usually overridden, particularly when the governor takes a combative approach to the Legislature. While Norman backed the vetoes of GOP governors Mark Sanford and Nikki Haley, his colleagues overturned them. Sanford famously took piglets into the Statehouse in 2004 to protest how quickly the House voted to undo his budget vetoes.

Who wasn’t there

Ahead of the debate, a person in a chicken costume held up a sign outside the venue’s front doors that read “chicken Pam,” a barb at Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who was one of the three GOP candidates who didn’t attend.

Asked if the costume was in support of any particular campaign, the person responded only with a squawk.

Evette told reporters last Thursday it would be too expensive to bring as many of her volunteers as she’d like. The GOP offered each candidate a maximum of nine free tickets for five family members and up to four campaign workers.

Isle of Palms businessman Rom Reddy, who jumped into the race March 16, was ineligible to attend until the party changed its rules Friday for qualifying. A spokesperson said he couldn’t be at the first debate for scheduling reasons but would attend the party’s other debates.

Jacqueline Hicks DuBose of Hartsville was a surprise entry into the race. She submitted her paperwork Monday with just an hour left in the two-week filing period.

The party formally invited all of the other GOP candidates Friday afternoon. She did not respond to phone and text messages from the S.C. Daily Gazette on whether she asked to participate.

The next debates Future debates organized by the state GOP are set for April 21 at the College of Charleston and May 26 at Wofford College in Spartanburg. A fourth debate, in the likely event of a runoff, is scheduled for June 16 at Coastal Carolina University in Conway.

The candidates participating Wednesday will convene again April 9 at a forum in Florence hosted by U.S. Rep. Russell Fry of Horry County. Evette has said she’ll attend that event, which is not a debate. All participants will appear on stage separately to lay out their platform and answer questions from the 7th District congressman, who has no primary opposition. Reddy’s senior strategist said he won’t attend: “We are not going to be agreeing to every forum and following the ruling class around the state,” Wesley Donehue said, adding that Reddy will host his own events ahead of the primary.

Adrian Ashford covers campaigns and elections for the S.C. Daily Gazette. Before moving to South Carolina, he covered faith and religion for The Dallas Morning News. He studied religion and politics at Harvard and wrote a thesis about evolving interpretations of the First Amendment.

Seanna Adcox is a South Carolina native with three decades of reporting experience. After covering the S.C. Legislature and state politics for 18 years. she launched the S.C. Daily Gazette in November 2023 as the 37th state affiliate under the States Newsroom umbrella. Her previous employers include

Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology adds experienced OBGYN

Staff reports

Dr. Rebecca A. Keith, a board-certified OBGYN, has joined Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists, bringing more than 30 years of clinical expertise — including several years of practice on Hilton Head Island and in Hardeeville.

She will provide comprehensive, patient-centered

Dr. Rebecca A. Keith

care for women of all ages at the practice’s Beaufort and Okatie locations, and with a special interest in high-risk obstetrics, she is committed to creating a respectful, supporting environment for patients at ev-

ery stage of life. Dr. Keith earned her medical degree from Indiana University and completed her post-graduate training at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Although much of Dr. Keith’s early was spent in the Lowcountry serving Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Hardeeville, she saw patients for many years in Greenville.

At Beaufort Memorial, Dr. Keith will provide general obstetric and gynecologic care, including diagnosis and treatment of common women’s health conditions.

At the practice, Dr. Keith joins board-certified physicians Drs. Tiffany Bersani, Curtis J. Elam and Tempest Allen, as well as certified nurse practitioner Melissa Mesenburg, certified phy-

sician assistant Peyton Erb McManus and certified nurse midwife Catherine Tambroni-Parker. With locations in the Beaufort Medical Plaza, at 989 Ribaut Road in Beaufort, and Okatie Medical Pavilion, at 122 Okatie Center Boulevard North, the practice provides the full range of women’s health services, including

comprehensive obstetrical and gynecological care for patients at every stage of their lives. The latest screening and diagnostic technologies, among them state-of-the art digital ultrasound, are available in both locations. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith or any of the practice providers, call 843-522-7820

Step back in time

Beaufort History Museum hosting 2 events this weekend celebrating

Staff reports

The Beaufort History Mu seum will step back in time Friday, April day, April 11 250 years of America’s his tory.

From 2 day, April

Family Day at the Arsenal Saturday, April 11 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | 713 Craven St.

Branch Library, Dr. Tray Dunaway — a retired sur geon from Camden, S.C., and former chairman of Historic Camden, as well as former Natural Resources Director for the Camden Battlefield and Longleaf Pine Reserve — will team up with Liberty Live battle coordinators to present the interactive pro gram “Battle & Bones.” Through archaeology and modern science, audiences of all ages will help uncover the mysteries of long-lost battlefields. Arrive early be cause space is limited. Then, from p.m., Saturday, April 11, the Beaufort History Museum will celebrate “Family Day tion.” The event is free and open to the public. According to a media mercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by SC250

A happy, hoppy Easter

Easter evening, April 5, 2026, saw the arrival of two tiny bunnies at the Beaufort Memorial Collins Birthing Center. Ma Del Socorro Jiminez and Jesus Salgado of Hardeeville welcomed their baby girl Isabel at 11:40 p.m., while Bluffton parents Thoai and Vu Tran celebrated the arrival of their baby girl Di. Easter bunny hats were crocheted by Birthing Center nurse Victoria Mayo, RN, and the festive quilts were provided by Sea Island Quilters. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Berkeley

Rotary hosting annual Vidalia onion fundraiser

Staff reports The Rotary Club of Beaufort is hosting its annual fundraiser – the sale of farm fresh Vidalia onions in either 10-pound or 25-pound bags ($12 or $25). The onions must be pre-ordered before May 8 and will be available for pick-up between noon and 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Lady’s Island, on May 13 The money raised by this fundraiser is used to support grant requests from nonprofit organizations north of the Broad River in Beaufort County. Onions can be ordered and paid for through the website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.

Revealing the Revolution

Scavenger hunt makes it easy to discover Beaufort’s Revolutionary War past

Staff reports When we think of the Revolutionary War, we often conjure up thoughts of Valley Forge and the Crossing of the Delaware. But mischief was afoot in bucolic colonial South Carolina, as well.

And while Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, was creating havoc north of here, others like Thomas Heyward, Jr. and William Moultrie were making history in the Beaufort District.

The Beaufort County Historical Society, the Beaufort Public Library’s Beaufort District Collection, and the Beaufort County 250th Committee have combined forces to make it easy and fun for

Loophole

from page A1

worse.

Willis said the exemption was finalized in May 2025, after the county had already provided the numbers Port Royal uses to build its budget.

The town adopted its budget in June 2025 expecting that revenue to be there.

Emails between the county’s chief financial officer and auditor show the exemption was included on a list provided by the South Carolina Department of Revenue on May 30, 2025, during the height of local budget planning. There was no direct notification to the town about the loss of one of its largest revenue sources.

“I don’t want to cast aspersions,” Willis said, “but nobody notified us about a $1 3 million exemption.”

It was not until months later, while reviewing lagging revenue, that the town realized something was wrong.

The issue was discussed publicly during the Port Royal Town Council workshop on April 1 2026, where officials walked through how the exemption was discovered and what it could mean moving forward.

Council members said the lack of notice left them working with incomplete information.

“We’re making decisions based on numbers that weren’t accurate,” councilman Jorge Guerrero said.

“It’s a mess” Mayor Kevin Phillips said the issue goes beyond one apartment complex.

“It’s a mess,” he said.

visitors and residents alike to discover Beau fort’s rich Revolutionary War past by playing “Revealing the Revolution; One Marker at a Time!” — a free and self-guided historical marker scavenger hunt. Through July 2, participants simply need to pick up a Scavenger Hunt brochure from any Beaufort Branch Library (or bookmobile) and set out to find the markers listed inside. Brochures can also be downloaded and printed from the Beaufort County Historical Society Website.

private equity firm taking advantage of a South Carolina law and really hurting the citizens of Beaufort County as a whole.”

Phillips said the loss affects the town’s most basic services.

“Almost 80% of our budget is police, fire and public works,” he said. “That’s quality of life. That’s who this hurts.”

He also questioned how the exemption was granted in the first place.

“Every single property owner in Beaufort County now pays more in property taxes than this corporation,” Phillips said. “This is a Utah-based private equity firm with about $4 billion in assets. If you look at their website, it’s about maximizing growth. You don’t see anything about nonprofit work or affordable housing. They are taking advantage of how the law is written, and nobody is stopping it.”

The affordability question

At the center of the issue is whether the Preserve is providing affordable housing. Town officials say there is little evidence that it is.

During the council discussion, Willis said a firefighter earning about $48 000 a year contacted the complex to ask about an affordable unit. He was quoted about $1 450 for a one-bedroom apartment.

That would require roughly 36% to 38% of his income, well above the standard definition of affordability.

“He said, ‘No, I want one of the affordable ones,’” Willis said. “And they said, ‘We don’t have any.’”

Council members said the lack of transparency makes it difficult to determine

A QR code on the front of the brochure provides a Google map of all marker locations, and each marker’s text supplies the answers to questions that must be completed.

Locate five markers, and participants receive a “Revealing the Revolution Marker Hunt” car sticker. Visit 10 markers, and they receive the car sticker and a beautiful commemorative coin for their efforts. Visit all 15 markers listed, and they earn the first two prizes and the chance to win the grand prize, a 22-inch-

meets the requirements for affordable housing.

“We don’t know,” Willis said. “We can’t prove it or disprove it.”

Officials also noted that key financial and tenant data tied to the exemption appli cation has been redacted in public records.

A loophole with broader impact Town leaders say the structure used by the Preserve could spread if the law is not addressed.

“What’s scary about this is this could spread like wildfire,” Willis said. “Municipalities, counties, fire departments and police departments could be hit hard by this loss of revenue.”

Phillips said the burden ultimately shifts to local residents.

“We want businesses to succeed,” he said. “But when that success comes at the expense of the people providing the core services in our community, that’s when we have a problem.”

What happens next

Port Royal officials are working with state lawmak ers to address the issue, though they have been told any fix may not apply retro actively.

If that happens, the Preserve could remain tax exempt indefinitely.

by-26-inch framed replica of the Robert Mills 1825 map of Beaufort District.

Completed game sheets can be dropped off at the Branch libraries or mailed directly to the BCHS, which will send out prizes by July 30, 2026

Sample brochures will be provided to Beaufort County teachers of American History in 8th and 11th grades to generate some “buzz” among students about local contributions to the American Revolution. They will be eligible to win prizes too, based on their level of participation.

Don’t like to drive? Take part in an “in-house” version of the Scav-

enger Hunt at each Branch Library and Bookmobile location. “Tour” the markers from the comfort of a chair with a special brochure listing five historical markers and the actual marker text. Participants must answer a question about each one to earn their car sticker -you don’t even need a library card to play.

“This exciting program will give locals and tourists a reason to stop and absorb these historical tidbits as we all celebrate the many ways Beaufort District helped shape the Revolutionary War effort,” Beaufort County Historical Society project planner Leah Roche said in a news release.

In the meantime, the town is working to close a budget gap it did not know existed.

“This has kept me sleep less at night,” Willis said.

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

Beaufort County Airports to host Frogfest 2026

Event includes Flying Frog 5K/10K, food, fun

es after March 31

Staff reports

In celebration of South Carolina Aviation Week, Beaufort County Airports will host the first annual Frogfest 2026. It will be held Saturday, April 18, at Beaufort Executive Airport at 39 Airport Circle on Lady's Island. Frogfest 2026 is open to the public and will kick off with the Flying Frog 5K/10K, a runway race with all proceeds going to support OPFOB. The event also includes music, food, fun and airplanes. The event is $10 However children 12 and younger are free. The event cost is included for registered Flying Frog 5K/10K runners.

Registration Options

The Flying Frog 5k under 12: $25

Registration ends April 16

The Flying Frog 5k Student ages 12-17:

$30 -- Price increases after March 31

The Flying Frog 5k: $35 -- Price increas-

RobeRt CaRRoll PRoCtoR JR. Beaufort

Robert Carroll Proctor Jr., known simply — and memorably — as “B-O-B,” died peacefully at home in Beaufort, S.C. He was 87 Robert Carroll Proctor Jr., who introduced himself as “B-O-B (spelled frontwards and backwards),” rarely met a stranger he didn’t turn into a friend. He shared nearly 64 years of marriage with his wife, Janelle Holley Proctor.

If you met Bob Proctor, you remembered him.

He had the kind of presence that filled a room without trying. Warm, quick to laugh, and endlessly conversational, he could strike up a dialogue with anyone and leave them feeling like they had just made a new friend. His default greeting, delivered with a smile and unmistakable energy, was a cheerful, “Hey, hey, hey.”

And if you asked how he was doing, the answer was always the same: “Pretty good ... considering.” It wasn’t a throwaway line. It was a philosophy.

No matter what he faced — whether in war, in hardship, or in the ordinary challenges of life — Bob carried himself with a steady, optimistic attitude. He didn’t let things get him down. He met life head-on, often with humor, and always with resilience. He often reminded his children, “Remember who you are and what you represent.”

He served 28 years as an Army Infantry officer, including two tours in Vietnam. He was an Airborne Ranger and, in one of the most extraordinary chapters of his life, the sole survivor of a military plane crash — an experience that would mark most men permanently. In Bob’s case, it seemed only to deepen his appreciation for life and sharpen his instinct to meet each day with gratitude and grit.

The Ranger creed, “Rangers Lead the Way,” was not just something he said; it was something he embodied. He stepped forward when things were difficult, lifted others when they needed it, and lived with the quiet conviction that no one gets left behind.

For all his toughness, he was, at his core, a softie.

The Flying Frog 10k: $45 -- Price increases after March 31

Register today for the Flying Frog 5K/10K at https://bit.ly/3NZlKxZ. Please note, registration is not refundable.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the event.

South Carolina Aviation Week is April 19 through April 25, and is an annual, week-long celebration, promoting aviation through events that highlight airports’ educational and economic impacts throughout the state. Learn more about S.C. Aviation Week at https://bit.ly/4lPSkit. Learn more about OPFOB at https://bit.ly/40VJrKz. For questions and more information, please contact Beaufort County Airports Business Manager Marlene Myers at tracy.myers@bcgov.net or 843-929-7967

Robert Carroll Proctor Jr.

Though he sometimes joked that you could call him “Colonel,” he was far more likely to be found giving someone a nickname, telling a story (with just enough embellishment to make it better), or pulling off his signature quarter trick — an act of sleight of hand that delighted children and adults alike. It was classic Bob: engaging, playful, and just a little magical.

To his grandchildren — William, Grace, Cole, and Landon — he was “Pop-Pop,” a title he wore with pride.

Bob loved humor in all its forms, including his daily ritual of reading the “You Might Be a Redneck” jokes by Jeff Foxworthy — a small, consistent joy that reflected his appreciation for life’s lighter moments.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Carroll Proctor and Kathleen Leatherwood Proctor, and his grandson, William Eppes Proctor.

He is survived by his wife, Janelle; his son, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert Eppes Proctor (Lesley); his daughter, Holley Proctor Miller (Cameron); his grandchildren Grace Proctor, Cole Miller, and Landon Miller; and sister Peggy Brown (Wilson).

To try to summarize Bob Proctor’s life in titles — soldier, husband, father, grandfather — is to miss the point. What defined him was not just what he did, but how he made people feel.

He was memorable. Generous with his attention. He made people feel seen.

And as his family and friends often said, with both affection and certainty: God broke the mold when He made Bob.

A service will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Friday, April 10 at noon, followed by burial at Beaufort National Cemetery at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of Fort Fremont.

Lowcountry Food Truck Festival

Director

from page A1

the energy, creativity and leadership she brings as we continue to grow and advance how we serve and connect with our community.”

In her new role, O’Brien is the spokesperson for the growing healthcare system, leading strategic marketing, communications and brand initiatives and supporting the organization’s mission to deliver high-quality, patient-focused care throughout the Lowcountry.

“Healthcare has always been deeply personal to me,” said O’Brien, a 2023 graduate of Leadership Beaufort. “I’ve seen the difference a compassionate care team can make during life’s most difficult moments. I’m honored to join Beaufort Memorial and help share the stories, services and people that make this organization so special.”

NEWS BRIEFS

Human trafficking topic of discussion at next LWV Beaufort meeting

Rachel McBride, Executive Director and Founder of The Helianthus Project, will be the featured speaker when the League of Women Voters Beaufort meets from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 9, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort at 108 Sams Point Road.

The topic will be “The Fight for a Future Free of Human Trafficking.” The meeting is free and open to the public. Visit linktr.ee/beaufortvotes for more information.

Bagg to speak at Indivisible Beaufort meeting Saturday

Samuel Bagg, an assistant professor of Political Science at McCausland College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina will be the guest speaker when Indivisible Beaufort hosts its next meeting at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 11 at the St. Helena Branch Library at 6355 Jonathon Francis Sr. Road. The event is free and open to the public.

The discussion topic will be Rescuing Democracy From Oligarchic Capture.

Bagg teaches political theory at South Carolina. Before coming to USC, he taught at the Uni-

LEGAL NOTICES

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 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 LOAN PAYMENTS OR 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. Any response or inquiry should be made in writing to King Cunningham, LLC, Attn: Jeffrey W. King, Esq. who is serving as Trustee in this matter, at the following address: 1000 2nd Ave S, Ste 325, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582. EXHIBIT “A” Owner(s), Address, TS Interest, Interval Control No. (Unit, Week, OEB), Deed BK/ PG, MTG BK/PG, Default Amount, Costs, Attorney Fee, Total Amount Due, Per Diem; RAYANN AYMAN NASSER&ABDULMOHSAN AMEER ALOBAIDAN, 180801 N SUNITA AVE APT 1210, HIGHLAND VILLAGE, TX 75077, 0.0147723220820258%, U2204 -W38B, 4065/2209, 4065/2214, $25,743.04, $50.26, $450, $25,893.30, $9.17.; JULIUS QUINTIN MALLETTE&SHARON FREEMAN MALLETTE, 517 CRESTLINE BLVD, GREENVILLE, NC 27834, 0.0147723220820258%, U2202W47B, 3724/2518, 3724/2523, $15,585.72, $50.26, $450, $15,735.98, $7.49.; JAMES DAVID DELOOF&LORETTA ANN SANDORA-DELOOF, 1102 OTTAWAS LANE, EAST TAWAS, MI 48730, 0.0147723220820258%, U2405-W9B, 4048/603, 4048/608, $25,606.03, $50.26, $450, $25,756.29, $7.51.; SHANNON ADRIANSE&RONALD ADRIANSE, 166 ROBBINS DR, FOREST CITY, NC 28043-9504, 0.0073861610410129%, U2405-W3E, 4197/812, 4197/818, $25,517.73, $50.26, $450, $25,667.99, $13.49.; MICHAEL J. SEILER JR&JENNIFER FULTZ SEILER, 1460 BRENTWOOD WAY, EARLYSVILLE, VA 22936, 0.0147723220820258%, U1202-W9B, 4338/1544, 4338/1549, $36,545.85, $50.26, $450, $36,696.11, $15.19.; SYLVIA NICOLE BROWN&ANTHONY BROWN, 5388 W BLOOMFIELD LAKE RD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323-2410, 0.0073861610410129%, U1301-W1E, 4284/676, 4284/681, $13,059.12, $50.26, $450, $13,209.38, $6.19.

versity of Oxford, McGill University, and Duke University, where he received his PhD in 2017

Fralix to speak at April LIBPA meeting Beaufort County Assistant County Administrator of Infrastructure Jared Fralix will be the featured speaker when the Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association (LIBPA) meets at 8 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane on Lady’s Island. Stop by for coffee and conversation concerning the community.

Port Royal hosting marine alligator biologist

The Town of Port Royal will host a special presentation by Rebecca Cavalier, a marine alligator biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Cavalier will speak at 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 14, at Port Royal Town Hall Council Chambers. The presentation is free open to the public.

This informative session will provide residents with valuable insight into local alligator populations, safety practices, habitat conservation, and how the community can responsibly

coexist with wildlife in the Lowcountry.

The community is invited and encouraged to attend. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from a leading expert, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of alligator behavior in our area.

Bishop to speak at NOB Dems meeting

Shauna Bishop, Democratic candidate for S.C. House of Representatives District 124 will be the featured speaker when the Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club (NOB Dems) meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 16, at the Old Grace AME Chapel at 502 Charles Street in downtown Beaufort.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Ample free parking is available.

The NOB Dems, along with several other groups, rally together every Monday at 4 p.m. in front of the Beaufort City Hall to exercise their 1st Amendment rights. Those who wish to add their voice in support, bring a sign (no vulgarity), stay behind the sidewalk, and off the median. The NOB Dems welcome anyone who does not support what is happening under the current administration.

– Staff reports

Beloved Lowcountry food truck damaged in fire; community steps up to help

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

A familiar Lowcountry food truck, one that has shown up for weddings, birthdays and long lines of hungry locals, is now relying on that same community to show up for them.

A food truck belonging to The Southern Peel, a Bluffton-based mobile pizza business, caught fire Saturday evening, April 3, 2026, near the intersection of Savannah Highway and Parris Island Gateway in the Port Royal area.

Just after 7 p.m., the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department dispatched Engine Company 4, Engine Company 3 and Battalion 1 to a reported vehicle fire off Savannah Highway. The first arriving crew reported a working fire in the passenger compartment of the food truck.

One lane of traffic on Savannah Highway was shut down as crews worked the scene.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported, but the damage was significant.

The truck, a restored and customized 1953 Chevrolet that houses the business’s brick oven, is central to The Southern Peel’s op-

eration. While the fire was brought under control, it left behind more than just a scorched vehicle.

It damaged essential equipment and, at least for now, brought dayto-day operations to a halt. For a small business like The Southern Peel, that loss hits on multiple levels.

The truck is not just transportation. It is the kitchen, the storefront and the primary source of income.

The concept itself is part of what

has made the business stand out locally.

Operating out of a vintage 1953 Chevrolet pizza truck, The Southern Peel built its reputation on wood-fired pizzas made with handmade dough and locally sourced ingredients, while bringing a full-service catering experience directly to events across the region.

Founded in 2020 by owner

Chloe Zmolek, the business quickly carved out a niche in weddings,

private events and community gatherings, with an emphasis on both food quality and hospitality.

In the days since the fire, the community response has been swift.

An online fundraiser launched shortly after the incident describes the fire as a devastating and unexpected loss, leaving the business facing significant financial hardship, including damage to essential equipment and disruption to

daily operations.

“As a small business, The Southern Peel relies heavily on their truck to serve customers and keep their business running,” the fundraiser reads. “Without it, their ability to operate and generate income has been severely impacted.”

Organizers are asking the community to come together and support the business as it works to recover, noting that donations will go directly toward replacing equipment and helping offset lost income.

“The Southern Peel has always been there for our community,” the page states. “Now it’s our turn to show up for them.”

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.

First Friday – Cruisin’ in Beaufort

Lowdown from page A1

ic Party has recruited candidates for all 124 state House races. Locally, that means:

District 118 (Hilton Head Island): Incumbent Bill Herbkersman, Republican who has held the seat since 2002, will face Democrat Bernie Scolaro in November.

District 120 (Bluffton): Incumbent Weston Newton, Republican, will face the winner in the Democratic primary, Debbie Subera-Wiggin or Robert Weinfield.

District 121 (St. Helena Island, Burton): Incumbent Michael Rivers, the county’s only Democrat in the state legislature, will face opposition from within his own party, Rev. Shannon DeLoach on the June primary ballot. The winner will face Republican Shelley Gay Yuhas in November.

District 123 (Hilton Head Island, Jasper County): Incumbent Jeff Bradley, Republican, will face the winner in the Democratic primary, Willie Aiken or Ann Shippy.

District 124 (Beaufort, Port Royal): Incumbent Shannon Erickson, Republican, will face Democrat Shauna Bishop in November.

The eight Beaufort County Council seats on the ballot this year drew considerable interest. Three members, all Republicans — Chairwoman Alice Howard of District 4, which includes Port Royal, Shell Point, parts of Mossy Oaks, has opted not to run for a fourth term as well as Joseph Passiment of District 5 which includes Sun City and Larry McElynn of District 10, Hilton Head Island. Candidates who DID file include;

District 2: Incumbent David Bartholomew, a Republican, has no opposition in the primary or general election.

District 4: Michael Anderson and Thomas A. Grygowski, both Republicans, will face off in the primary to take the seat held by Howard.

District 5: Joshua Hower, Joe Maiorano and Mary Jeans Otto, Republicans, will run in the primary. The winner will challenge Lynn Gerson, Democrat, in November

for the seat now held by Passiment.

District 6: Incumbent Tab Tabernick, council vice chair, will face Democrat Carolyn Fournier on the November ballot.

District 8: Incumbent Paula Brown will face competition from Kraig Gordon in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Bill Beltz in November.

District 9: Incumbent Mark Lawson will face Beth Gillespie in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Jannine Mutterer in November.

District 10: Republican John Casey will face Democrat Travis Ludwig-Hodges in November to fill the seat held by McElynn.

District 11: Incumbent Tom Reitz will face Elizabeth Libby Galloway-Dextraze in the Republican primary.

County Treasurer Maria Walls, a Republican, will face opposition from Democrat Scott Songer in the November election. Auditor David Cadd, a Republican will be running against Democrat Carletha Frazier in November.

Probate Judge Heather Galvin, a Republican is running unopposed.

Seven Beaufort County Board of

Education seats will be on the November ballot but since the seats are non-partisan, candidates don’t have to run in the primaries. Filing for the school board, which takes place with the county elections office, has an Aug. 17 deadline. Former board chairman Dick Geier of District 4 (Port Royal, Beaufort) and Chloe Gordon of District 2 (Beaufort, Lady’s Island) have announced their plans not to seek re-election.

Victor Ney of District 5 (Burton, Okatie, Bluffton) has already filed for re-election and Genie Brainerd of Lady’s Island has already made public her plans to run for the District 2 (Beaufort, Lady’s Island) seat.

Other seats open include: District 7 (Bluffton), now represented by Dick Carr; District 10 (Hilton Head) now represented by Elizabeth Hey; District 3 (St. Helena Island) now represented by William Smith; District 8 (Hilton Head Island), now represented by board Chairman Carlton Dallas.

Two Beaufort City Council seats will be on the November

ballot for Beaufort city voters.

The terms of Mayor Pro-tem Michael McFee and Councilman Joseph Scallate are up. Filing for the city offices begins July 1 with an Aug. 15 deadline.

Port Royal town council is on an alternate schedule and will not have elections this year.

Of course, there’s the gubernatorial, state board of education, state treasurer races and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s future to follow so, plenty to watch besides the FIFA World Cup.

For the best information on state voting, check out scvotes. gov, … lots of information there especially about voting procedures and polling place locations which are subject to change.

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

HEALTH

Pink eye relief in sight with home remedies

By Dr. Michael R. Kaup Beaufort Memorial Express Care and Occupational Health

Few common conditions are more uncomfortable than pink eye, which is when the white part of the eye becomes pink or red and swollen.

Dr. Michael R. Kaup

Also known as conjunctivitis, this condition can cause pain, itching and burning in one or both eyes. These symptoms usually clear up on their own within two weeks. Until they do, you can find relief using home remedies for pink eye.

Knowing what type of pink eye you have can help you choose which home remedies to use. The main types of pink eye include: Viral pink eye (viral conjunctivitis) — Viruses, including those that can cause a runny nose and other upper respiratory symptoms, are the most common cause of pink eye. Often, viral pink eye starts in one eye and spreads to the other, leading to watery eyes. This type of pink eye is contagious.

Bacterial pink eye (bacterial conjunctivitis) — Bacterial infections are another frequent cause of pink eye. Like

viral pink eye, bacterial pink eye is highly contagious.

Bacterial infections, however, cause pus in the eyes rather than clear, watery discharge. Allergic pink eye (allergic conjunctivitis) — Allergies to pollen, pet dander or other irritants can affect your eyes, leading to pink eye in both. A (slight) silver lining: this type of pink eye is not contagious.

You may need to see a healthcare provider to identify what type of pink eye you have.

Whether you have viral, bacterial or allergic pink eye, soothing your eyes is important. You can

use over-the-counter artificial tears to moisten your eyes and calm itching and burning.

For bacterial or viral pink eye, place a warm compress over your eyes several times a day, but be sure to use a clean washcloth each time. Cool compresses are better for allergic pink eye.

There’s more you can do to manage symptoms. Try these pink eye home remedies:

Do take allergy medicine if you have allergic pink eye.

Don’t wear contact lenses un-

til pink eye runs its course.

Do take over-the-counter medications, such as anti-in-

flammatories, to relieve pain due to viral or bacterial pink eye.

• Don’t wear eye makeup until your symptoms clear up.

If you have viral or bacterial pink eye, doing your part to keep from spreading it to others — and not reinfecting yourself — is just as important as using home remedies to feel better. Here’s what you can do:

Clean the area around your eyes at least twice daily.

Clean your glasses often.

Don’t let others borrow your makeup, glasses or other items that could spread bacteria or viruses to them.

Don’t touch your eyes.

Use new eye makeup, as well as contact lenses, solution and cases once the infection runs its course.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water to remove germs.

Pink eye usually clears on its own, but that’s not always the case. If your symptoms are severe or don’t improve after a few days, see an immediate care or primary care provider.

Your healthcare provider will examine your eye and ask about your symptoms to determine whether you have pink eye and, if so, what type. Pinpointing the

cause of pink eye helps guide treatment.

If it’s unclear whether the infection is viral or bacterial, your healthcare provider may need to take a sample of discharge from your eye to send for laboratory testing.

Prescription medications usually aren’t necessary to treat viral pink eye. However, healthcare providers sometimes use antiviral medications to treat certain cases of pink eye, such as those caused by the herpes simplex or varicella-zoster viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Antibiotics aren’t effective against viral pink eye, but they may be necessary to treat pink eye caused by bacteria. If your healthcare provider prescribes antibiotic eye drops, take them as recommended and finish the whole course.

Dealing with pink eye due to allergies? Avoid the allergen causing your symptoms and use overthe-counter allergy medications. If they don’t work, your healthcare provider may prescribe allergy eye drops that can help.

Michael R. Kaup, M.D., is a boardcertified emergency medicine specialist who sees patients of all ages at Beaufort Memorial Express Care & Occupational Health in Bluffton, Port Royal and Okatie.

The facts about hemorrhoids

What they are and what to do about them

Special to The Island News

It might surprise you to learn that everyone has hemorrhoids.

Technically, hemorrhoids are small clusters of veins lining the anus and the lower part of the rectum. While we all have them, they sometimes become swollen and painful — that’s the condition we know as hemorrhoids.

These swollen veins are quite common. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, approximately half of people in the United States who are 50 and older have hemorrhoids.

“Hemorrhoids are a problem that many people encounter throughout their life,” says Dr. Taylor Turnbull, general surgeon with Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists. “While they can be quite painful and troublesome, there are many good options available for treatment. Many patients will

find that their symptoms improve tremendously with the use of simple over-thecounter remedies.”

If we all have hemorrhoids, what causes these veins to sometimes swell and become uncomfortable?

The short answer is pressure.

Any time you have a bowel movement, you’re putting a small amount of pressure on the anus and rectum.

That normally isn’t a problem, but extra or prolonged pressure placed on these veins can cause them to swell.

What causes that extra pressure? Any number of factors, including:

Having chronic constipation

Having chronic diarrhea

Lifting heavy objects frequently

Sitting on the toilet for long periods of time

Straining during bowel

Pregnancy and aging can also increase the risk of developing hemorrhoids — for different reasons.

The symptoms of hemorrhoids vary depending on which type of hemorrhoid you have. Internal hemorrhoids develop on the lining of the lower rectum and anus, inside the body. External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, develop on the skin under the anus, outside the body.

If you’re experiencing discomfort, you probably have external hemorrhoids. Unless they prolapse, internal hemorrhoids are often painless.

Your provider will perform a physical exam, often accompanied by a digital rectal exam, to determine whether hemorrhoids are causing your symptoms and how best to treat them. You may be able to find relief from hemorrhoids by adjusting your habits and trying

• Bathe in warm water several times a day, either in a bathtub or using a sitz bath to immerse your buttocks and hips in several inches of water. After bathing, gently pat the anus dry or use a hair dryer to blow it dry.

• Get moving. Being physically active, even in small bursts, can help regulate the digestive system and stimulate bowel movements. Increase your fiber intake by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains or taking fiber supplements. Fiber can regulate your digestive system and allow bowel movements to pass more smoothly.

Use over-the-counter products, such as hemorrhoid creams or suppositories, to reveal

pain and itching related to external hemorrhoids. Anti-inflammatory medications or pain relievers taken by mouth may also be helpful.

While home treatments often provide relief from hemorrhoids, check in with your primary care provider or another medical provider if you’ve tried at-home treatments for one week or longer without relief. You should also see a medical provider if you have rectal bleeding. This can include bright red blood in your stool, or traces of blood in the toilet or on toilet paper after a bowel movement. Rectal bleeding is also a symptom of more serious conditions, such as colorectal cancer, anal cancer and ulcerative colitis.

Because of that, it’s always best to have this symptom checked out by a medical provider.

Rubber band ligation for hemorrhoids If home treatments don’t provide relief from hemorrhoids or you’re experiencing severe symptoms, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure called rubber band ligation. During this procedure, a small band is placed at the base of a hemorrhoid. This band cuts off blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink and fall off, relieving symptoms.

“While it is not right for everyone, rubber band ligation is a great option for many patients who struggle with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids,” says Dr. Turnbull. “It is a quick, safe, and painless procedure that can be performed in our general surgery office."

If you’ve had hemorrhoids once, the last thing you want is to have them again. Making changes to your habits and routines can help you prevent hemorrhoids.

John McCutcheon … so much more than a folk musician

By Margit Resch Special to The Island News

ncore, encore, encore!

ESeven years ago, the audience here on Fripp Island would not let John McCutcheon quit singing and playing one of the dozen instruments he has mastered. With his folk music and his incredible talent as an entertainer he had dazzled everyone.

So, in a way, McCutcheon’s concert Sunday, April 19 on Fripp is an encore. We just had to have him back. And if you heard him here in 2019, you will be back, too, I am sure. John’s talents? Where do I start? How about in Wisconsin, where, as a youngster, he fought a lopsided battle between being a mediocre pianist, so John confessed, and being an all-star catcher until he “found his voice,” thanks to a cheap guitar and a used book of chords.

And he never looked back, not even after graduating summa cum laude from Minnesota’s St. John’s University. From there, he

proceeded on his path to becoming “one of the best musicians in the USA,” as Pete Seeger claimed, and according to Johnny Cash, “the most impressive instrumentalist I've ever heard.”

I did not exaggerate when I said John plays a dozen different instruments. He is the master of the rare hammered dulcimer. Have you ever heard a hammered dulcimer, that weird percussion instrument with strings stretched over a trapezoidal sound board? Or the lovely autoharp, a hand-held, chorded kin to the zither?

Or the jaw harp, often called a Jew’s harp? Yet

another weird instrument consisting of a flexible reed attached to a frame. The performer places the frame between his teeth while plucking the reed with the forefinger. And John plays the guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer, and fiddle. You have to come to Fripp to find out what else.

John might play some of these instruments for us. He will definitely sing material by Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, from whom, by the way, he professed to have received the best advice ever:

“Take it easy, but take it.”

And, of course, John

Gullah/Geechee CREATE Showcase 2026

will sing songs of his own making. He has created hundreds, most of them recorded on 45 albums published since the 70s (seven of them for children) and yielding eight Grammy nominations. All reveal a profound love of place, family, community, and strength; qualities he adopted during his apprenticeship in the hills of Appalachia, when, around age 20, he was developing his musical skill sets — qualities that inform his story-telling style, not unlike that of Will Rogers and Garrison Keillor. Be prepared to listen to John tackle even current affairs with humor, bite and wisdom. Wisdom like he demonstrated when answering questions such as: “What is the most overrated virtue?” “Obedience … the blind kind.” Or, “Whom do you admire?” “People who never give up.”

John McCutcheon is a whirlwind of energy, and he never gives up. In the past few years alone he headlined more than a dozen different festivals in North Amer-

ica, recorded an original composition for Virginia Public Television involving more than 500 musicians, gave a special concert in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, toured Australia six times, performed in Chile in support of a women's health initiative … on and on.

Look up his résumé, you’ll be impressed. Oh, did I mention that he is also an intriguing storyteller and has written three children’s books, maybe inspired by novelists and poets Barbara Kingsolver and Rita Dove, with whom he is working on a project called “writtenwork-put-to-music.”

John McCutcheon will entertain us at 5 p.m., Sunday, April 19 in the Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Boulevard. But come and join us at 4:30, when a duo of talented little musicians from Beaufort will play their hearts out for us. Both shows are sponsored by Fripp Island Friends of Music and supported by the South Carolina Arts Commission. Tickets at the door are $30

Coastal Discovery Museum hosting High School Art Exhibition

Staff reports

The Coastal Discovery Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, will showcase the talents of Beaufort County's young artists in a new juried exhibition featuring high school student artwork. The exhibition will be on view in the museum’s main gallery from through May 5

The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, April 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. The awards presentation begins at 6 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.

The fifth annual Beaufort County High School Regional Art Exhibition presents more than 100 works by high school students from public and private schools, including Beaufort High School, Bluffton High School, Bridges Preparatory School, Cross Schools, Hilton Head Island High School, Hilton Head Preparatory School, May River High School, and Heritage Academy.

Island, and alumna of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. She earned her MFA from the New York Academy of Art and has studied with leading contemporary painters including Jenny Saville and Vincent Desiderio.

By Silas

“Across painting, photography, ceramics, mixed media, and digital art, it’s a reflection of the value of arts education to inspire creativity and innovation.”

Elliot Pearson, a 9th-grader at Hilton Head Island High School, designed the postcard image for this year’s exhibition.

The juror for this year’s competition is Jessie Peterson Tarazi, a contemporary painter from Hilton Head

“Walking through the exhibition, you see how our high school students are experimenting and expressing themselves through art,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions.

“As someone who was raised in this community and has built a career as a professional artist, it’s especially meaningful to see the museum’s continued commitment to supporting emerging talent,” said Tarazi. “The students demonstrated an impressive level of creativity, technical skill, and individuality — the depth of talent on display is truly inspiring.”

The Coastal Discovery Museum, located at 70 Honey Horn Drive on Hilton Head Island, is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The museum and grounds will be closed April 18, and 19

Society of Bluffton Artists celebrates Grand Reopening

artists, highlighting the vibrant creative community that defines Bluffton’s historic arts district. A special ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 1 p.m., marking an exciting new chapter for SOBA and its ongoing commitment to supporting artists, students, and arts education through-

out the Lowcountry.

Throughout the afternoon, guests can enjoy refreshments, meet local artists exhibiting work on the lawn, and participate in hands-on art activities designed for visitors of all ages.

“This reopening celebrates not only our new space but also the incredible community that supports the arts in Bluffton,”

said SOBA President Karen Richards. “We’re excited to welcome residents and visitors alike for a day filled with creativity, connection, and celebration.”

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, stop by the SOBA Gallery on Church Street, visit sobagallery.com, or follow SOBA on Facebook and Instagram.

Beaufort High girls dominate Beaufort Track Classic

Battery Creek’s Cathey Olivia lands the long jump during the 2026 Beaufort Track Classic on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Beaufort High School. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

LowcoSports.com

Beaufort High School’s girls track and field team continued its dominant season with another team title Saturday, running away from the compe tition at the 21st annual Beaufort Track Classic.

Beaufort’s girls claimed gold in six events and racked up 176 points to easily outpace runner-up May River (115), while the Sharks won the boys title by a wide margin over second-place Hilton Head.

The Eagles cleaned up

in the field events, as Dejah Singleton won the high jump, eighth-grader Ahmyna Belk edged teammate Zion Patrick in the triple jump, freshman Tania Smalls took the discus, Kimoralee Milton claimed the shot put, and Amir Harrison won the javelin as the Eagles swept the podium. Eighth-grader Lakrah Lynard also blazed to gold in the 100-meter dash.

Beaufort’s boys finished fourth and won the 4x400 relay, while Andre Ellison claimed gold in the discus.

Battery Creek’s Isaac Smalls won the triple jump. The Whale Branch girls also had a strong showing, finishing fifth in the team standings and claiming gold in the 4x100 relay.

JPII baseball will play for region crown

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

Only one team stands between the John Paul II baseball team and a region championship — but it happens to be the two-time defending state champions. The Golden Warriors continued their outstanding season last week, sweeping a home-andhome series from region rival Laurence Manning Academy to set up a Saturday afternoon showdown with perennial power Hilton Head Christian Academy. An impressive pitching staff has carried JPII to a 10-3 record,

as Stewart Misko has emerged as the ace, posting a 0 66 ERA and holding opponents to a .160 batting average. With a team ERA of 1 48, the Golden Warriors haven’t always needed a lot out of their offense, but the bats are producing nonetheless. Zachary Moulton and Landen Davis have been the biggest producers in the lineup, combining for 11 extra-base hits.

The degree of difficulty steps up at 4 p.m. Saturday at HHCA. The Eagles were 17-1 and had posted four straight shutouts heading into Tuesday’s game at Northside

Christian. The Golden Warriors will likely have to face freshman left-hander Colt Spargur, who has posted a 0 72 ERA in 29 innings, and their pitching staff will have to contend with a dangerous lineup.

Georgia Southern commit Slaide Burd has smacked eight home runs among his 18 extra-base hits, and catcher Roman Colella has added five doubles and three homers.

The teams meet a second time to end the regular season on April 23 at John Paul II.

Bucs enjoying breakthrough season Bridges Prep’s fledgling baseball program has arrived this spring, taking a 13-2 record into

Tuesday’s Region 5-2A matchup at Hampton County.

The Bucs have won six straight since a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to region rival Barnwell, and they’ve done so in dominant fashion, outscoring their opponents 82-8 over that stretch, including four mercy-rule wins in region play.

Bridges Prep can wrap up a region title with two wins over Hampton County on Tuesday and Friday.

JPII soccer takes first L

It took six weeks and 22 matches, but John Paul II’s soccer teams are no longer undefeated. Or, one of them.

JPII’s girls suffered their first

loss of the season Thursday, though the Golden Warriors acquitted themselves well in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of nationally-ranked Porter-Gaud, MaxPreps’ No. 15 girls soccer team in the country. JPII gets a rematch in its next outing, as the Cyclones make the return trip to the Lowco on April 15

The JPII boys are still unblemished, though, sitting at 11-0 with six games remaining on the regular-season schedule. There are several tough tests among them, including home games against Bluffton, Hilton Head High, and Hilton Head Christian Academy, plus a trip to Pinewood Prep in the finale.

No. 1 Scheffler, defending champ Thomas commit to RBC Heritage

LowcoSports.com

As one of eight limited-field events on this year’s PGA Tour schedule, the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing will once again feature the world’s top golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Justin Thomas.

South Carolina’s signature event returns to Harbour Town Golf Links for the 58th annual RBC Heritage next week, and most of the tour’s top stars are expected to make the short

trek from Augusta, Georgia, after this week’s Masters.

Players have until Monday to commit, but a handful of stars have already made their plans official, including Scheffler, Thomas, and past champions Matt Fitzpatrick and Jordan Spieth.

Thomas has amassed 16 career PGA Tour wins and two major championships since turning pro in 2013 After a challenging stretch in 2023–24, he regained top form in 2025, returning to the winner’s circle with an emotional playoff vic-

tory at the RBC Heritage, his first win in nearly three years. Thomas underwent surgery late in 2025 and was sidelined him for several months, but he recently returned to competition and is ranked 14th on the OWGR.

Scheffler, the 2024 Heritage champ, has been on a tear. Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Scheffler has accumulated 20 PGA Tour victories, including a major win at the 2024 Masters, and captured four straight PGA Tour Player of

the Year awards. His 2024 RBC Heritage win marked one of multiple victories during a historic stretch in which he won seven of 13 starts. In addition to his PGA Tour success, Scheffler captured the 2024 Olympic gold medal and has now surpassed 20 career PGA Tour wins before turning 30, joining Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in this rare achievement. Fitzpatrick just earned his third win on the PGA Tour at the Valspar Championship, his first victory

SCORES AND SCHEDULE

since the 2023 RBC Heritage. Internationally, he added a 10th title at the 2025 DP World Tour Championship, and he earned a solo second-place finish at the 2026 Players Championship, narrowly missing a playoff after a strong final-round push. Now 31 Fitzpatrick has longstanding ties to Harbour Town, having first earned a spot in the 2014 RBC Heritage as the 2013 U.S. Amateur champion, and continues to view the course as one of his favorites.

Spieth, a three-time major champion and former world No. 1, has earned 13 wins on the PGA Tour including 3 majors and his memorable 2022 victory at the RBC Heritage. He first played the RBC Heritage in 2013 on a sponsor’s exemption and will be making his 10th start at Harbour Town Golf Links.

PGA Tour professionals have until Monday, April 13 to commit to compete. The complete field will be posted on RBCHeritage.com at that time.

Editor’s Note:

VOICES

Runaway growth is dangerous but may be inevitable

Well folks it’s official. Jasper County is — as reported by the Charleston Post and Courier — the fastest growing county in the United States of America.

This statistic is not qualified by anything like Jasper is the fastest growing county in South Carolina; or in the Southeast. No, it’s the fastest growing county; full stop; end of sentence; exclamation mark.

In 2020, there were 28,811 souls living in this political subdivision; then 36,330 in 2024; then 38 563 in July of 2025

Some may know that I have spent most of my adult life writing columns many of which were condescending, “Poor Jasper” stories. Columns about failing schools; no industry; little tax revenue; and a small cohort of rich folk who spent December hunting quail and turkeys on thousands of acres of unimproved, undeveloped pine forest.

If someone had told me in, say 1980, that Jasper County would be leading the nation in something other than poverty or pellagra; I would have said, “I’ll believe that when a young, club-hopping Manhattan realtor tries to annex Greenland.”

It seems like every recent retiree in Greenwich, Conn. —formerly commuters on the New Haven Railroad — wakes up fevered and sleepless yelling, “Babs, we’re putting the house on the market and moving to a place called Hardeeville.”

This flow of rich refugees is so strong that Exit 8 — the exit on I-95 used by these desperate, Lexus-driving people — is undergoing a major, multi-million dollar redesign.

Hardeeville is not alone in this category; Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Spartanburg are all seeing growth that is erasing every field and farm; clogging-up roadways; forcing municipalities to spend millions of dollars on asphalt and rebar. According to a March 20 editorial in the Post and Courier these “governments” are worried.

“Last year, Charleston County Council made a move to condition some of its rezoning decisions on the availability of infrastructure to support the new development, and now Dorchester County is expressing interest in following suit.

Both local efforts are good ideas, inasmuch as they respond to increasing concerns that growth is outpacing government’s ability to keep pace with improved roads and transportation options, drainage infrastructure, schools and more.”

Much has also been written about the creation of a brand new exit (Exit 3) in Jasper, and the 20,090 “housing units” that Hardeeville has approved; all of which presents the Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority with serious challenges.

Why?

In May of last year, BJWSA revealed its Capital Improvement Plan FY26-FY28; and that plan showed it intended to spend a total of $558 965 667 on capital projects over the next 3 years. Of this

amount $196 053 406 was designated for water and $327,456,500 was targeted for sewer.

There were other, lesser administrative expenditures planned but the entire spending package was $558 965 667

A good bit of this money would be spent for “improvement,” repairs and maintenance — $273 726 106; but $284,739,561 would be spent on “growth”; a big part of that “growth” centered on Hardeeville.

In fact, the Authority’s Cherry Point (sewer) Plant will be expanded to 11 25 MGD: the Hardeeville (sewer) Plant will be expanded to 6 MGD; and a brand new sewer facility near New River in Southern Jasper

County will be constructed to help handle the flows connected with the 20,000 new homes being built around Hardeeville.

Some know that the Water and Sewer Authority collects what is called a “capacity fee” from developers in an effort to off-set the cost of new facilities — I happened to be on the BJWSA Board in 1984 when Bill Cochran, a man instrumental in the development of Dataw Island, suggested the Authority collect these fees upfront as was then being done in Florida.

But at this point it cannot be said whether or not these fees will cover the cost of expansion — BJWSA is, apparently, now in the process of reviewing these fees.

Right at the moment there is a bill — authored and introduced by Sen. Tom Davis — that may help with the situation around Hardeeville, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and the rest of South Carolina.

“That could change soon if the General Assembly passes a bill that would clearly authorize local governments to enact concurrency programs — the formal name for programs to ensure that roads, utility lines and other infrastructure won’t be overburdened by development and, if it is, to ensure that developers pay their fair share of the costs to develop it.” (Post and Courier, March 20 2026).

Senate Bill 227 authorizes “local governments” to deny

Lawmakers owe victims a vote on hate crimes

“You better keep running, boy!” If that line sounds familiar, it should. You’ve likely heard it a hundred times in a hundred B movies, invariably shouted by the racist White guy who just fired a shot in the general direction of an innocent Black man who’s running for his life in the other direction. Know who else has heard that line recently? Jarvis McKenzie. Only he didn’t hear it in a movie. Instead, he heard it from one of his White neighbors, Jonathan Felkel, in the Columbia-area gated community of Spring Valley last July. Right after Felkel fired a shot in the air in his direction.

Our military deserves ‘much better than this’

Why did Felkel do it? Because as he later told investigators, McKenzie was a Black man — and as such, no doubt associated with “dangerous criminals.” The kind of people who should “not be around this area.”

You better keep running, boy!

Last month, Felkel pleaded guilty to a hate crime in a Richland County federal courtroom, where he’s now facing up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Which, well, good. Imagine being terrorized by some rifle-toting rube who decided you didn’t belong in your own neighborhood because of your skin color. Mr. McKenzie deserved justice — and thanks to federal prosecutors, he got it.

Donald Trump's planning was exquisite, down to the smallest detail. He had buy-in from key stakeholders and he had contingency plans in place, just in case anything went wrong. Of course I'm talking about Trump's top priority, his "big beautiful ballroom" which is attached to the White House. When it comes to the war in Iran, it is a completely different story. It is increasingly evident that Trump's "planning" was based on wishful thinking without any serious thought about the consequences. He claims no

The problem? His case should never have seen the inside of a federal courtroom. And the only reason it did is because South Carolina is one of just two states where lawmakers refuse to pass a state-level hate crimes law — forcing federal prosecutors to do our job for us.

What’s worse, S.C.’s hate crime bill — titled the Clementa Pinckney Act in honor of the former state senator and pastor who was murdered in the 2015 Mother Emanuel massacre — has long had majority support in both legislative chambers. In fact, it passed the S.C. House overwhelmingly in 2021 and 2023, only to be killed by parliamentary maneuvers that kept it

from coming up for a vote in the S.C. Senate, where opponents say its harsher penalties for crimes motivated by hate are unfair.

“I think we ought to treat everybody the same,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, told reporters last year. “If somebody assaults you, it ought to be the same as a penalty for assaulting me.”

Fair enough. And to Massey’s credit, he’s voted against other “enhanced sentencing” bills on the same grounds. But note that the operative word in that sentence isn’t “against” — it’s “vote.”

Which is precisely what hasn’t happened with the hate crimes bill.

In a City Paper story this week, Charleston Rep. Wendell Gilliard

one could have anticipated Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, when in fact every previous President had plans exactly for that scenario.

His administration decommissioned all of our minesweepers in September 2025, even though Iran's mining of the Strait was entirely predictable.

Trump now expects NATO and other countries to come to our assistance, even though he launched his war without consulting any of them. One by one, these other nations are politely declining to participate in Trump's foolishness.

Trump's "Secretary of War", Pete Hegseth, brags about the lethality of our bombing efforts. Unfortunately, we

rezoning requests if those local governments determine that there isn’t sufficient infrastructure — when there isn’t enough water and sewer capacity available for example.

The Senate’s Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee heard testimony on Senate Bill 227 last week with supporters, including Representative Wetmore saying this was a “safety valve” for local governments facing rapid growth and “creates a mechanism for a proportional share …” But others, like Alex James from the Home Builders of South Carolina, said it could duplicate the state’s existing impact fee statute while removing or weakening “guardrails” like independent studies by qualified consultants.

Meanwhile Hardeeville itself seems to have little interest in losing its No. 1-inthe-nation (growth) rating.

“You go back 20 or 25 years ago, and Hardeeville was a small, rural community,” City Manager Josh Gruber told the newspaper last year. Now we are a growing metropolitan area. Not only are our neighborhoods growing. But just the area in general is growing. That is not likely to change anytime in the near future.” (Post and Courier, March 31). It seems that almost every candidate for office in South Carolina speaks about the dangers of runway growth. But here, in the Concurrence Bill, we have simple “tool” to help municipalities cope. It will be interesting to watch how this plays out in the Legislature.

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

says he’s “optimistic” about passing the crime bill in the House again this year, noting that he met for 40 minutes last week with Republican Speaker Murrell Smith on the issue.

That’s right. We could be heading for another Senate showdown on hate crimes between now and the close of the 2026 session on May 14

At which point, we’d ask only this of every senator: Listen to your constituents. Listen to the arguments. Listen to Jarvis McKenzie.

And then finally, at long last, take a vote.

This editorial was first published in the April 3 edition of the Charleston City Paper.

killed 175 innocent school children and teachers based on badly outdated intelligence. Hegseth also claims we will give captured Iranian soldiers "no quarter" even though doing so is a war crime and it would invite Iran to execute any prisoners they capture.

The brave men and women who serve in our military deserve much better than this. They are being placed in harm's way by a president who has very little regard for their lives ("suckers and losers") and no coherent plan. Forget impeachment, as Commander in Chief Donald Trump should be court-martialed for involving our military in his foolish war.

— Peter Birschbach, Port Royal

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

A book review ... with a mix of serendipity

The closest I have ever come to a book review was back in my teaching days. I participated in curriculum meetings where we determined what kids would read, Grades 9 through 12. This was at a time when teachers held sway, and parents didn’t become hysterical about banning books. But, I digress (early, I know).

Providing one’s opinion of a book is akin to reviewing a restaurant. Is the food good? (Is the plot interesting?) Is the service great? (Has the author caught and held your attention?) You get the idea, and quite simply it is still one’s opinion … in this case, mine. With that disclaimer, let me provide a bit of background.

What has to have been at least three years ago, I attended a presentation of Tim Johnston’s “Reciprocity” at the Pat Conroy Center. Prior to discussing the book, he provided some of his background, saying he had attended Davidson, a college north of Charlotte, N.C. This will be important as I continue.

Tim’s presentation was filled with humor on an otherwise serious topic, and as I stood in line to buy his book, I had, what was to

be later, an insightful idea. I went to my car, retrieved a copy of my own book, “A Breath Away,” and when it was my turn to purchase “Reciprocity,” I asked Tim if he would accept a copy of my book. His response? “Only if you sign it.”

I include this simply because it gives you a glimpse of the kind of person he is. Gracious hardly describes that moment.

Days later I was on Facebook, communicating with a former student, Skip Brown. Skip and I maintained a friendship after his graduation, and I have often met with him and his family when they visit Hilton Head. In fact, he still talks about the recommendation I wrote when he applied to Davidson. Davidson!

Ah, are you beginning to sniff the serendipity of this? As I

was reading a post by Skip, who should respond but Tim Johnston. Whoa! What is that old saw about six degrees?

The thrust of my writing this piece, however, is Tim Johnston’s newest book, “The Furtherer.” As I write this, I know I must be careful not to give away anything that will spoil your read of this fabulous work, something you must promise me you will do, dear reader.

The title alone should tweak your interest; it certainly did mine. What is a furtherer? Can there be such a word? Well, yes; it is a mortal guardian angel as you will discover.

So, in order to do this book justice, and to convince you that this is a must-read, I found myself reflecting upon my past experience. I have made known many times about my spiritual leanings. I don’t dwell upon this because, those leanings are personal and of little interest to anyone. I am, however, reminded of my teaching Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” If you are familiar with the play, you will know to what I refer when I talk about “the willing suspension of disbelief.”

Your disbelief? Your choice. My belief, mine.

Tim cleverly tells the story from the vantage point of 7-year-old Dalton Evers, a bright, intuitive young man who encounters evil at its worst. His abilities aside, he’s everyone’s son, and his innocence is palpable. That perspective is translated to adult characters as well, and the author accomplishes this switch with the grace of a well-choreographed ballet. Each character is believable, even those who are so evil. You will relate, and you will shake your head because in the depths of your mind, recognition of what or who you know worms its way in. As I read, I could not help but think, “If I were teaching this, I could write a whopper of a study guide.”

It is John MacIlroy, a noted Beaufort writer himself, who says, “… sweeps you into its rapid rolling river of thrilling suspense and depth of meaning, leading to the inescapable conclusion that the battle between Darkness and Light may come from the Universe, but is fought by human beings.” By the way, John, I like your alliteration, but again, I digress. Another published writer of

Beaufort fame (we have a lot of them, folks, for a town our size) Matthieu Cailler, compares young Dalton to Huck Finn or Holden Caulfield. He calls “The Furtherer” rich, daring, and incredibly alive.” I am in total agreement.

I will conclude my strong recommendation for your reading “The Furtherer” with this: if you have a penchant for Stephen King, this book is your icing on the cake, your cherry on the sundae. Even if you don’t like being scared, pick it up anyway because it holds many truths about life. And to Stephen King, who is one of my favorites, consider moving over. I believe you have met your match.

Note: I believe there is nothing quite like a book whose author has signed it. If you agree, consider going to www.timjohnston.co. If you are impatient to read this extraordinary book while supporting our local bookstores, I have given them a heads-up about this article, and they should be able to accommodate you. Happy reading.

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.”

Closing the gap: Why postpartum nutrition is essential for SC mothers

After childbirth, a mother’s body undergoes a period of intense healing, milk production, and significant physical and hormonal adjustments.

While much of the health care focus remains on the pregnancy itself, the nutrition required for recovery and infant health after birth is often overlooked. This lack of awareness creates a critical gap in maternal health, but by increasing access to existing state resources, we can support South Carolina families during one of their most demanding stages of life. Nutrition needs do not end in the delivery room; in fact, the postpartum period increases the body’s demand for key nutrients.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, good nutrition for breastfeeding mothers is vital to support

the health of both the mother and her infant. Specifically, iron is essential for healing and energy levels, while nutrients such as iodine, choline, and Vitamin B12 play critical roles in infant brain development during breastfeeding. Vitamin D and calcium are also necessary to protect long-term bone health.

When these needs are not met, mothers are at higher risk for fatigue, mood changes, and challenges with milk production. Despite these stakes, nutrition is rarely a primary topic of clinical conversation once

the baby is born.

A major barrier to better outcomes is the confusion surrounding available support.

Many postpartum women in South Carolina qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), yet participation frequently drops after delivery.

It is important for families to know that WIC is by their side long after birth: support is available for up to six months postpartum for non-breastfeeding mothers and up to one year (until the infant’s first birthday) for those who are breastfeeding.

The program provides far more than just food assistance. It provides access to nutrient-dense groceries — including fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy — alongside one-on-one breastfeeding support and personalized nutrition education.

Families can begin this

process immediately by visiting the official state Department of Public Health’s WIC website to find a local clinic, or by calling the state appointment line at 1-855472-3432. While an online pre-application tool exists, calling the appointment line remains the most direct way to schedule a visit and finalize enrollment.

Insurance coverage represents another significant “missed opportunity.”

In our state, South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid provides health coverage for eligible residents and specifically pays for care for 12 months after a mother delivers. This coverage may include nutrition counseling, yet many mothers are never informed this benefit is available to them postpartum.

Furthermore, if a mother or her children already receive Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program (or SNAP, commonly called food stamps), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, they are automatically income-eligible for WIC, simplifying the path to support.

Closing this gap does not require reinventing our healthcare system; it requires actionable commitment from our local institutions.

Hospitals can lead the way by integrating WIC enrollment screenings and insurance benefit reviews into their standard discharge checklists, ensuring no mother leaves without knowing how to access her benefits.

Community organizations can normalize these needs by hosting peer-led workshops focused on the practicalities of postpartum nourishment. Furthermore, healthcare providers should routinely discuss specific nutrient needs during every postpartum visit, and

families can play a role by sharing information about these vital resources.

The first year after birth shapes the long-term health of both mothers and children in South Carolina. By recognizing postpartum nutrition as essential care rather than optional support, we can ensure that every new mother has the fuel she needs to heal, thrive, and care for the next generation.

Darby Mihelich is a candidate for Master of Public Health in epidemiology at George Washington University. She grew up in Lugoff, South Carolina, and earned her undergraduate degree in public health from the University of South Carolina. She has experience working with the South Carolina Department of Public Health, where she analyzed maternal health data and contributed to policy efforts, and has also engaged in community health outreach and nutrition education in both local and global settings.

LOCAL MILITARY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 10 April 2026

Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel A. P. Bariletti

1st Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel G. T. Moynihan Commander of Troops, Captain B. S. Paris • Parade Adjutant, First Lieutenant D. B. Bivins Company “B”, 1st Recruit Training Battalion • Captain B. S. Paris Drill Master • Staff Sergeant D. M. Brodie, Staff Sergeant R. T. Frye

PLATOON 1008

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt C. M. Bailey

Pvt Adairireland, Dixon L.

Pvt Adams, Zavion D.

PFC Almontemerejildo, John A.

Pvt Ammons, Alex C.

Pvt Amos, Samuel W.

Pvt Arensman, Benjamin R.

Pvt Babcock, Lucas C.

Pvt Blackstock, Treyon L.

Pvt Blanco, Christopher

PFC Bouloudene, Amir

Pvt Boyd, Karson L.

Pvt Brown, Gabriel I.

Pvt Conant, Michael E.

PFC Conner, Cain L. *

Pvt Driggs, Charles S.

Pvt Drye, Jonah C.

PFC Evans, Jonathon R.

Pvt Ferguson, Kevin W.

PFC Gaddist Jr, Aiken T. *

PFC Garciamendez, Cesar R.

Pvt Glover, Nolan E.

Pvt Gray, Steven J.

Pvt Green, Tyrelle A.

Pvt Hockaday, Tylor T.

Pvt Hunter, Joseph M.

PFC Laraantonio, Jesaias *

Pvt Lay, John T.

Pvt Lee, Jayden T.

PFC Lilly, Justin A.

Pvt Lippencott, Malichi D.

PFC Logan III, Marion L. *

PFC Lynch, Michael D.

Pvt Maxwell, Ian J.

Pvt Mendozacuevas, Raymond W.

Pvt Mondo, Joseph J.

Pvt Mounger, Justin K.

Pvt Napper, Andrew M.

Pvt Navarretereyes, Joseph A.

Pvt Norris, Ethan J.

PFC Pacheco, Juan A.

PFC Perez, Samuel A.

PFC Portalescruz, Brian J.

Pvt Ramirez Jr, Mario

Pvt Ramirez, Raymond A.

PFC Ramirezzarate, Dylan

Pvt Roberson, Gage A.

Pvt Rojaszarate, Isaac G.

Pvt Samayoagudiel, Anthony A.

PFC Sankey Jr, Roderick L.

Pvt Shively, Wyatt J.

Pvt Stapleton, Anthony

Pvt Stephens, Joab W.

Pvt Szanyi, Ryan A.

Pvt Taylor, Caleb A.

Pvt Thomas, Willie J.

Pvt Wallace, Isaiah C.

PFC Warhola, Ashton J.

Pvt White, Sumner L.

Pvt Wilson, Kyle D.

PFC Zarumalituma, Andy J.

Pvt Zimmerman, Robert E.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotion

PLATOON 1009

Senior Drill Instructor

Sgt T. M. Juan

PFC Aguilarrosales, Cesar

Pvt Ali, Kyran A.

Pvt Atkinson, Aiden M.

Pvt Bamba, Dramane A.

Pvt Benavides Jr, Marvin A.

PFC Boylecoan, Xzylur J.

Pvt Carriego, Jack N.

Pvt Caughell, Samuel J.

Pvt Clare, Gabriel R.

Pvt Colts, Adir

Pvt Cristler II, Ryan M.

PFC Duqueperez, Jose D.

Pvt Fox, Vincent A.

PFC Gaines Jr, Deaonn L.

Pvt Garciabarbonalvarez, Danger A.

Pvt Guardadootero, Eddie N.

Pvt Gueffroy, James M.

Pvt Hairston, Kuraan E.

PFC Hass, Chandler M.

PFC Herndon, Carmarion C.

Pvt Howell, Tyler D.

Pvt Huntley, Brody J.

PFC Israel, Jayden A.

Pvt Jailall, Richard E.

PFC Jenkins, Malachi D. *

Pvt Jones, David W.

Pvt Kane, Andrew R.

Pvt King, Emory A.

Pvt Lewis, Cristiano R.

Pvt Lynch, Chase A.

Pvt Maddock, Jacob A.

Pvt Marshall, Jacob M.

Pvt Martinezsantiago, Cristian E.

PFC Maurer, Tyler S. *

Pvt Mccrea, Matthew R.

Pvt Mendoza, Mason D.

PFC Moreno, Jaden J.

PFC Moses, John M.

Pvt Noel, Elijah A.

PFC Oconnor, Colin P. *

Pvt Ortiz, Jonathan O.

Pvt Paulino, Jeremiah A.

Pvt Pearson, Jeovany J.

Pvt Peguero, Angel C.

Pvt Pitaoliva, Bryan A.

Pvt Reyescollazo, Michael G.

Pvt Reyessoliz, Carlos J.

PFC Reyesvelazquez, Armando J.

PFC Rodriquez, James H.

PFC Romanmejias, Jermain X.

Pvt Sanagustin III, Alberto E.

PFC Sayles, Jackson L.

PFC Silfin, Marcus J. *

Pvt Smith, Logan N.

Pvt Spencer, Elisha T.

PFC Swartz, Shawn S.

Pvt Sykes, James D.

PFC Vilchez, Enrique D.

PFC Wilson, Bryce B.

PLATOON 1010

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt J. A. Goins

Pvt Acevedo, Elvin, D

Pvt Barnatowicz, Dax, P

PFC Barros, Brenno, N

Pvt Barzizza, Jack, A

Pvt Baum IV, William, F

Pvt Brea III, Patrick,

Pvt Brown Jr, Joshua, Q

Pvt Burge, James, P

Pvt Carilli, Luke, A

Pvt Carl, Carson, A

PFC Cope, Nathan, P

PFC Cross, Xavier, M

Pvt Daulton, Daymion, B

Pvt Dort, Wensley, D

PFC Dunwell Jr, Menileke, S

Pvt Fernandez, Deangelo,

PFC Flowers, Kevin, L *

Pvt Gomez, Jose, F

Pvt Hanzer Jr, Quanteve, L

PFC Henderson, Asher, F

Pvt Hole, Payton, Y

PFC Johnson, Jordan, A

Pvt Jones, Antonio, T

PFC Jordan, Tyius, A *

Pvt Kenda, Josh, D

Pvt Khamtheang, Anthony,

PFC Letourneau, Daniel, J

PFC Leung, Tony, W

Pvt Lindor, Ezequiel,

Pvt Lopez, Jose, L

Pvt Marcelo, Isaac, B

PFC Mccaffrey, Declan, M

Pvt Medina, Caleb, D

Pvt Merrick, Ian, W

PFC Messick IV, Carles, C

PFC Montgomery, Jackson, J

PFC Moore, Lucas, C

Pvt Mower, Nathan, A

Pvt Murphy, Gabriel, D

Pvt Navarro, Kaden, J

Pvt Nogalesvargas, Bryan, V

Pvt Olivier, Joseph, J

PFC Perez III, Juan, F *

Pvt Perezgonzalez, Jafet, O

Pvt Pitts, Eddie, M

PFC Ramirezacosta, Achilles,

PFC Recinosyanes, Fernando, A

Pvt Sanders Jr, David, R

PFC Schoolcraft, Rico, J *

PFC Scille, Andrew, K

Pvt Senmache, George, A

PFC Silva, Bryan, B

Pvt Thomas, Jamarcus, T

Pvt Thornsbury, Landin, M

Pvt Vazquezpomales, Ricardo, L

Pvt Viars, Andrew, C

PFC West, Jacob, D *

Pvt Weyer, Trevor, J

Pvt Williams, Danny, L

Pvt Zaffar, Maheen, M

PLATOON 1012

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt M. T. Solorzano

PFC Acosta, James A.

Pvt Ambrosiovaquero, Obrien

Pvt Arbolaeztorrient, Nelsond

PFC Baker, Blayton. G.

PFC Bonilla, Adrian. E.

Pvt Bowhall, Zane. C.

Pvt Callahan, Jordan. L.

Pvt Cook, Cullen. A.

Pvt Delgado, Adrian

Pvt Demello, Malachi J.

PFC Dyess, Walter C. *

Pvt Elrod, Caden A.

Pvt Fissel, Matthew J.

PFC Flowers, Brandon Z.

Pvt Flowers, Judson E.

Pvt Glidewell, Evan M.

PFC Graham, Ulester N.

Pvt Green, Kenneth A.

PFC Harris, Johnz K. *

PFC Harris, Taylor I.

PFC Hernandez, Jordan R. *

Pvt Hidalgo, Jacob L.

Pvt Ibrahim, Evan

Pvt Jones, Bobby L.

Pvt Khamsomphou, Xaysana V.

PFC Laboy, Diego J.

Pvt Lawson, Jacob G.

Pvt Lopezperez, Juan D.

PFC Lynn, Brian M. *

Pvt Martin, Chauncey J.

Pvt Mercado, Caleb J.

Pvt Monroyalvarez, Justin A.

Pvt Morales, Jeremiah J.

PFC Noordzy, Gionni W.

Pvt Pantojapena, Erik Y.

PFC Pate, Layne J. *

Pvt Pierre, Mackenley

PFC Pitts, Alexander M.

Pvt Posey, Giovani A.

Pvt Regmi, Ayush

Pvt Ridley, Daniel I.

PFC Rogers, Ian N.

Pvt Sadler, Adrian I.

Pvt Santiagolopez, Bryan A.

Pvt Sedivy, Chase A.

Pvt Shea, Bradley P.

Pvt Smith, Zaylan A.

Pvt Soch, Maxden N.

Pvt Thoms, Ian T.

PFC Ulrich, Quinten A.

Pvt Valladaresayala, Steven A.

PFC Vegahermina, Ian E.

Pvt Venegas, Rafael S.

Pvt Vinson Jr, Derek L.

PFC Walling, Logan L.

Pvt Weber, David K.

Pvt White, Jaylin C.

Pvt Williams, Logan J.

Pvt Yimenu, Musse B.

PLATOON 1013

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt J. L. Robbins

PFC Ahmed, Umair

Pvt Aung, Aung

Pvt Baisden, Christopher J.

Pvt Bay, Aandrew A.

PFC Bertrand, Hunter J.

PFC Binglester Jr., Andrew M.

Pvt Birch, James R.

Pvt Buell, Matthew C.

PFC Caporali, Wraith V.

Pvt Chapman, Benjamin L.

Pvt Chavez, Rodrigo F.

Pvt Class, Nicolai A.

Pvt Clayton, Mason R.

Pvt Collum, Terrell P.

Pvt Cruz, Johnathan

Pvt Cruzvellez, Angellico A.

Pvt Dewallace, Kadin J.

PFC Diaz, Zachfranz D.

Pvt Diiorio Jr., Dominick A.

PFC Estrella Jr., Steven V.

PFC Farro, Damiano *

PFC Felixorozco, Christain V.

PFC Finstrom, Riley D.

PFC Fortes, Malcom E.

Pvt Gallardosmith, Cedric

PFC Garciadelbusto, Michael L. *

PFC Gibson II, Michael V.

Pvt Guayllasacaaucay, Michael S.

Pvt Gutierrezrojas, Brando M.

Pvt Guzmanjiminez, Christain J.

Pvt Hall, Kevin M.

Pvt Heuman, Timothy C.

PFC Hodge, Samuel A.

PFC Holder, Ewan J. *

PFC Hooks, Kairon I. *

Pvt Howser, Bryson L.

Pvt Justice, Charlie M.

PFC Kelley, Kristian M. *

Pvt Krenzer, Justin T.

Pvt Landry, Gideon J.

PFC Massengale III, Grady L.

Pvt Miller, Paul A.

Pvt Minto, Fabian R.

Pvt Murphy, Collin D.

Pvt Ordonez, John S.

PFC Pachecofranco, Emanuel

Pvt Pierrelouis, Darlens

Pvt Rice, Kerry G.

Pvt Rodriguez, Miguel A.

Pvt Rosalescambray, Paolo A.

Pvt Sanchessevilla, Andres

Pvt Sanchezcalle, Julian

Pvt Santome, Cesar J.

Pvt Scepanski, Ryan J.

Pvt Schmidt, Darius A.

Pvt Shull, Cason M.

Pvt Sparks, Jesse W.

PFC Thompsonwood, Hunter R.

Pvt Wallace, Aiden K.

Pvt Wang, Stanley

PLATOON 1014

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt N. Prosper

PFC Acevedo, Diego H.

Pvt Adams, Stephen T.

PFC Allemand, Titan A.

Pvt Almonte, Joshua A.

Pvt Alvarado, Eduardo N.

Pvt Ariasrodriguez, Dennis A.

PFC Atienza, Kyanmiguel B. *

Pvt Azzarelli, Salvatore

Pvt Baptiste, Luiji E.

Pvt Beidel, Braedon T.

PFC Bittinger, Kaden M.

PFC Brandt, Connor D.

Pvt Caesar, Daniel L.

PFC Chonko, Adam J.*

PFC Clethen, Kenneth Z.

Pvt Comaingking III, Roy

Pvt Conteh, Belale

Pvt Crespo, Elias N.

Pvt Daniels, Curmell E.

Pvt Delbridge Jr, Frank L.

Pvt Figueroasalinas, Yonathan J.

Pvt Foster III, James E.

Pvt Gaither, Salvatore H.

Pvt Gonzalez Jr, Nelson E.

PFC Guerrero, Alexander V.

Pvt Gutierrezsanchez, Jordy

Pvt Hertzler, Ian M.

PFC Heyward, Christian P.

Pvt Hixson, Jacob R.

PFC Howells, Owen S.

PFC Juarez, Angel R.

Pvt Kelly, Damani K.

Pvt Lacroix, Trey A.

Pvt Lagoslares, Alexis

Pvt Landis, Noah A.

Pvt Lawrence, Ronald A.

PFC Liz, Jacob

PFC Malave, Davidjose

Pvt Martinezrodriguez, Christopher

PFC Medina, Brandonlee *

Pvt Moratayatazen, Byron A.

Pvt Murray, Aiden J. *

Pvt Nawalaniec, Sebastian M.

Pvt Pangia, Joseph T.

Pvt Parks Jr, Brandon C.

Pvt Penamerino, Yadier E.

Pvt Peredapereda, Brandon

Pvt Poquee, Messiah D.

Pvt Quevedoquevedo, Nery A.

Pvt Ramirez, Orlando

Pvt Ramostzum, Julio E.

Pvt Rexachtoro, Dixon

PFC Ricketts, Benjamin P. *

Pvt Riveracastillo, Albert

PFC Riveraperalta, Jhosfring A.

PFC Rollock, Christopher N.

PFC Sanmiguel, Ashton X.

Pvt Siab, Tayab

Pvt Snyder, Aden W.

Pvt Stockstill, Landon R.

Pvt Suomi, Isaiah C.

Pvt Woltman, Alexander J.

PFC Yehia, Abdellhaleem A.

PFC Yim, Younjun

LOCAL MILITARY

Fox Company Gas Chamber

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Joseph Rodriguez, a drill instructor with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, creates the gas in the gas chamber during chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense training Friday, April 3, 2026, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Recruits are exposed to CS gas in order to familiarize themselves with the use of their gas masks. Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano/USMC

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Chris Miraihl, a drill instructor with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, corrects Rct. Dave Michel of Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion for leaving the gas chamber during chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense training Friday, April 3, 2026, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Recruits are exposed to CS gas in order to familiarize themselves with the use of their gas masks. Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano/USMC

My next five articles on veterans’ benefits will cover VA health care, vet centers, priority groups, VA copay rates, Medal of Honor recipients, registry health exams, service-connected disabled veterans, veterans' income levels, other special eligibility factors for veterans, and how these affect VA healthcare.

According to the VA webpage titled “Your Health Care Costs” (https://bit.ly/4c62Opm), the VA is committed to providing free health care for conditions related to military service and for veterans with catastrophic disabilities and disability ratings of at least 50%. The VA is also committed to caring for veterans who cannot afford to pay for care. The VA’s “Your Health Care Costs” webpage covers:

• Can I get free VA health care as a Veteran?

How does the VA decide if I will pay copays for non-service-connected care?

How does a veteran’s income affect their VA health care costs?

More about when to provide income information.

Can a veteran get free VA health care?

A veteran can get free VA health care for any illness or injury that the VA determines is connected to their military service (called a “service-connected disability”).

The VA also provides these other services for free: Readjustment counseling. Learn about free readjustment counseling on the VA’s Vet Centers website at https://www.vetcenter.va.gov. Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including profes-

sional counseling to eligible veterans, service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military, including military sexual trauma (MST). Individual, group, marriage, and family counseling are offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief, and transition after trauma.

• Other mental health services. Find out how to get mental health care at https:// bit.ly/4t0zO9U. Find out how to access VA mental health services for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST), depression, grief, anxiety, and other needs. Veterans can use some services even if they are not enrolled in VA health care.

• Care for issues related to military sexual trauma (MST). Learn more about services for military sexual trauma at https://bit.ly/48xArPP. MST refers to sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment experienced

during military service. MST can happen to anyone. The VA can help the veteran learn more about how MST affects people. The VA can provide treatment that helps the veteran cope with how the experience of MST is impacting their life. Or if the veteran prefers, the VA can provide treatment that involves discussing their experiences in more depth.

• A registry health exam to determine if the veteran is at risk of health problems linked to their military service. Explore health issues related to service history at https://bit.ly/47Qcinw. Certain health concerns may be more likely to affect veterans who served in a specific time and place. Find out which health concerns a veteran should be aware of depending on when and where they served. 1) Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Oct. 7, 2001 – present, learn about health issues related to the OEF at https://bit. ly/4mi9NAg; 2) Iraq War — Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, March 19, 2003 – Dec. 15, 2011, learn about health issues related to the OEF at OIF & OND at https://bit.ly/4dyMqAi; 3) Gulf War — Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Aug. 2 1990 – present, learn about health issues related to the ODS and DS at https:// bit.ly/4slu8Gj; 4) Cold War Era 1945-1991, learn about health issues related to the Cold War Era, at https://bit. ly/4bXgDb1; 5) Vietnam War Nov. 1 1965 -April 30 1965 learn about health issues related to the Vietnam War, at https://bit.ly/4e2SSzy; and 6) World War II, Sept. 1, 1939-Sept. 2, 1945, learn

about health issues related to World War II at https://bit. ly/4skVVGP. Other Services that the VA provides at no cost. Some Veterans do not pay copays. Effective Jan. 1 2026, some veterans do not have to pay copays (they are exempt) based on their disability rating, income level, or specialty eligibility factors. Veterans can review 2026 copay rates for VA and VA-approved healthcare at the VA “Current VA Health Care Copay Rates” webpage found at https://bit. ly/4ctZoOu. Veterans may also be eligible for additional free VA health care based on factors such as their disability rating, service history, or income. Or veterans may be eligible for care but must pay a fixed amount (called a “copay”) for some types of care, tests, and medications to treat conditions not related to their service.

How does the VA decide if a veteran pays copays for non-service-connected care?

(Which of the 8 Priority Groups Assigned)

Whether or not a veteran needs to pay copays — and how much the veteran pays — depends on which of the VA’s 8 priority groups the VA assigns the veteran to when they enroll in VA health care.

The VA assigns the highest priority to veterans with service-connected disabilities. The VA assigns the lowest priority to veterans who earn a higher income and who do not have any service-connected disabilities that make them eligible for VA disability compensation.

Example: If a veteran 1) has a VA service-connected disability rating of 50%; 2) if the VA determined that the veteran can’t work because of their disability; or

3) if the veteran received a Medal of Honor, the VA assigns them to priority group 1; the veteran won’t pay copays for any type of care, tests, or medications.

Learn more about priority groups at https://bit.ly/4bVlcCB. Learn more about VA healthcare costs at https://bit.ly/4mgqtrH, review copay rates at https:// bit.ly/4cgip5P, and ask your VA Patient Team Aligned Care Team (PACT) Social Worker about VA health care, vet centers, priority groups, copay rates, registry health exams, service-connection, income levels, special eligibility factors, and how these affect VA healthcare.

The bottom line It is wise to use a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer to help you file for state and federal benefits and services. Your benefits are more valuable to you and your family than you realize. Do not procrastinate -- enroll in VA healthcare and claim your benefits now!

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past VA-accredited VSO, a Patient Adviser at Charleston and Durham VA Hospitals, a Fisher House Charleston/Friends of Fisher House Charleston Goodwill Ambassador, and the Veterans Benefits Adviser for his local Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA)

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

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

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

Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You

The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center

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

CHIMNEY SERVICES

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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AUCTIONS

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 80

S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803750 - 9561

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

Audien Hearing. The world’s first hearing aid with touchscreen controls. No tiny buttons, apps or prescriptions. 45day risk free trial. Free shipping. Lifetime support. More than 1 5 million happy customers. Call Audien 1-855-620-9614 Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844775-0366 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 1-855-237-9741

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

YOUR AD HERE

Looking to advertise your business, announce a yard sale, or share other classifieds? Contact Amanda Hanna (amanda@lcweekly.com) or Sasha Horne Hirshout (sasha.theislandnews@gmail. com). It’s an easy and affordable way to reach thousands of local readers right here in the Lowcountry.

CancerSupport

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Second Wednesday of the Month | 6 – 7pm*

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

To RSVP for a free Support Group, scan our code or visit: BeaufortMemorial.org/CancerSupportGroup

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

QUESTIONS?

Call Kianna Brown, LMSW • 843-522-7328

Christ Is Risen!

Good Friday was a disaster.

Earlier in the week, all had been going as the apostles expected. As Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover celebrations, the crowds had cheered him as a king: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matt 21:9) But now everything was turned upside down. Jesus had been arrested and executed, and they had abandoned their friend in his time of need. Their hearts were filled with grief, shame, and doubt.

Was Jesus not who he claimed to be?

He had claimed to be divine, and he had worked many miracles to support this claim: casting out demons, healing the sick, and even raising the dead! But now he had been crucified on a hill outside of the city, the mocking inscription “King of the Jews” above his head. Had they been wrong about him? Had their faith in him been misplaced?

Everything changed on Sunday.

Terrified of being arrested, the apostles had been hiding behind locked doors. We can imagine their astonishment when, on Sunday afternoon, Jesus suddenly appeared in the room with them! He was no longer dead; he was alive! He spoke to them with love and encouragement. He reassured them that he was real, not a ghost: “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39) For forty days, Jesus appeared often in this way and prepared his followers for their coming mission.

The apostles rejoiced!

Their sorrow had turned into the greatest joy! And almost two thousand years later, the resurrection of Jesus is still our greatest reason for joy. It means that Jesus really is who he claimed to be! He is not a lunatic, nor a liar, but truly the Lord. Everything he taught and revealed is true. God is real; heaven exists; eternal joy is possible.

Christ’s victory is our victory!

The resurrection of Jesus means that the crucifixion was not his defeat, but actually his moment of victory! Jesus has conquered sin and death. United with Christ, we too can share in the glory of his resurrection; death will not have the last word in our lives! Even in moments of sorrow and hardship, we too can exclaim with joy, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ...Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor 15: 55-57)