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Arrest video sparks investigation Women arrested by Beaufort PD on Thanksgiving; one while filming police from her vehicle interfering with By Delayna Earley by officers with the the execution of a The Island News Beaufort Police dewarrant. The Beaufort Police Department partment. The filmed inciis conducting an internal investiShortly afterdent took place on gation after a video of an arrest on ward, her friend, Thursday, Nov. 28 Thanksgiving that was shared on Ar’mireya John- Johnson at the intersection social media drew allegations of Simmons son, who was filmof Palmetto and excessive force. The video shows Shandela Sim- ing the arrest was detained and Boundary streets. On November 30, the Beaumons, of Yemassee, being arrested charged with resisting arrest and
fort Police Department released a statement saying that they were aware of the video that had been circulating on social media. “As part of standard protocol, every incident involving a response to resistance undergoes a multi-step review process to en-
VIDEO To watch the video of a Thanksgiving arrest in the City of Beaufort that has prompted an investigation, follow this digital link or go to https://bit.ly/3ZiPkQD.
SEE ARRESTS PAGE A5
Alpha Genesis under scrutiny after alleged monkey deaths Whistleblower reported deaths of more than 20 monkeys
Members of Daisy Girl Scout Troop 83 place wreaths on some of the more than 26,000 headstones during last year’s Wreaths Across America Day at Beaufort National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Bob Sofaly/File/The Island News
‘We are very short on wreaths’
Wreaths Across America Day set for December 14 By Mike McCombs The Island News Wreaths Across America Beaufort Coordinator David Edwards hates talking about the numbers. Yet each year, as Wreaths Across America Day approaches, it’s inevitable Edwards will be asked, “How close are they?” “Just write this,” Edwards said. “… Tell everybody I said, ‘We are very short on wreaths. There’s still time, though. We’ll take order right up until they close the doors on the truck. I know times are tough. I know people gave to Helene, I know people gave to other hurricanes. Everybody’s having a little difficulty.
But if you can help out, please do.” The Remembrance Wreaths cost $17, and it takes roughly 26,000 to adorn every headstone in Beaufort National Cemetery. At press time, Edwards and Wreaths Across America Beaufort are about 60 percent of the way to reaching their goal of a wreath on every headstone, a goal they’ve met the past four years. To sponsor a Remembrance Wreath, click on the QR code on Wreaths Across America Beaufort’s Facebook page or visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ GA0175P. That code at the end of the web address guarantees the wreaths
purchased make their way to Beaufort. This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14. This is a free event open to all, and the organization encourages community members to participate by volunteering locally or sponsoring a wreath for an American hero. For more information, visit www. wreathsacrossamerica.org. Once again, to sponsor a wreath for Beaufort National Cemetery, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/GA0175P. Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
By Delayna Earley The Island News The facility in Yemassee from which 43 monkeys escaped last month is under scrutiny once again. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal welfare group, is calling for an investigation into allegations that more than 20 monkeys died at Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee on Castle Hall Road due to a malfunctioning diesel heater that caused temperatures to fatally rise in the building where they were living. Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel, a primate scientist with PETA, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking the agency to investigate the incident. According to the statement put out by PETA, Jones-Engel said, “a diesel heater may have malfunctioned at the facility late on [November 22].” The statement continued to say that the monkeys “likely endured agonizing deaths – either slowly roasted alive or suffocated by deadly carbon dioxide fumes,” per multiple whistleblower reports. PETA was reportedly contacted by the whistleblowers that reported the monkey deaths. The USDA’s Animal Care, a program that enforces the Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act, told PETA that it would take 30 to 60 days to investigate the complaints. Alpha Genesis’ facility in Yemas-
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Beaufort set to mark 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit.
Don't miss Read With a Ranger on Saturday in Port Royal.
BAA to feature Daniel McSweeney’s clay pottery.
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