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February 24th & 25th, 2023 on Paris Avenue in Port Royal
Friday, Feb. 24 WING THROW DOWN • 6-9 pm BBQ Tasting Saturday, Feb. 25 • 11-4 pm E N T E R TA I N M E N T B Y: Steel Rail Express • Chris Jones • The Bull Grapes • The Chiggers // F R E E A D M I S S I O N ! POSTAL PATRON LOCAL
FEBRUARY 23–MARCH 1, 2023
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PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Committee removes second book from Beaufort County Schools
Committees discuss their assigned books during the third Beaufort County School District Book Review Committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2at Okatie Elementary School. Each committee is made up of community member, a parent, a school administrator, a member of a School Improvement Council in the school district, a district-level administrator, a teacher and a school librarian. Delayna Earley/The Island News
By Delayna Earley The Island News BEAUFORT – Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult has become the second book to be removed from Beaufort County School District libraries. In January, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover became the first book removed since the process of reviewing the books began in October. The third BCSD Book Review Committee meetings were held
on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Okatie Elementary School, and the committees reviewed and voted on 10 books from the list of 97 books that are currently under review. Three other books were deemed appropriate for grades 9 through 12, five books will be returned to grades 6 through 12, and one book is being returned to circulation with no restrictions. During the committee meeting, the members of each committee have a chance to discuss
their assigned book with the rest of their committee before voting anonymously on if the book should be returned to circulation at all, with restrictions, or without restrictions. Each committee is made up of a community member, a parent, a school administrator, a member of a School Improvement Council in the school district, a district-level administrator, a teacher and a
SEE BOOK PAGE A4
Daffodils! LIZ FARRELL
One picture, so many different images
Bands, Brews & BBQ is back
From staff reports Beaufort Memorial Hospital presents the 2023 Bands, Brews & BBQ, bringing two days of food, music and fun with wings, barbecue, craft beers, and live music on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25 on Paris Avenue in Port Royal. This official South Carolina Barbecue Association sanctioned event benefits FRIENDS of Caroline Hospice. Friday night is the Wing Throw Down from 6 to 9 p.m., where you can sample wing recipes from participating cookers while enjoying live music from Mike Ponder and Steel Rail Express. Saturday is the barbecue tasting day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with cook teams from across the Southeast serving their award-winning butts. Don’t forget the beautiful view, live music from local favorites Chris Jones, The Bullgrapes, and The Chiggers. Awards will be presented on Saturday by the South Carolina BBQ Association. One award that is quickly gaining popularity is the Hometown Heroes award. Local teams representing First Responders, Veterans, Education, and Health Care compete for $500, a flag, and bragging rights for the year.
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WALTERBORO was sent a photo last night that perfectly captures what the past five weeks have been like. This photo was taken by Grace Beahm Alford of The Post and Courier, one of the handful of photographers designated by the court to capture images of the trial on behalf of all news agencies. In it, Alex Murdaugh — guarded by a deputy — is walking past his adult son, Buster, during a break in Buster’s testimony Tuesday morning. Alex is presumably being taken to a restroom. Buster is standing by the court reporter, his hands deep in his pockets, his chin at his chest. As Alex passes by, he reaches out his hand and seizes this opportunity of sudden proximity to pat Buster on the backside. The photographer captured that exact moment. The image is not one I ever wanted or needed to see — but I had a strong reaction to it. It immediately became all things at once. A tall ginger man getting touched on the posterior by an
SEE FARRELL PAGE A4
Anastasia Ewald, left, and her 2-year old brother, Werner, were busy picking daffodils at the U-Pick Daffodil Farm in Okatie on Tuesday afternoon. The two were at the farm with their mother, Kierstin, who told them they could pick 10 flowers each. As it turned out, Werner did the picking and Anastasia did the arranging in the bucket. The farm is generally open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or whenever they run out of blooms to pick each day, according to Chuck Merrick, owner of the 40-acre farm. Merrick said weather didn’t co-operate this year causing a late opening, and recent rains caused a lot of mud, creating an unsafe environment. “But it’s all good now,” he said. Merrick said its best to go to http://upickdaffodils.com to make sure. Photos by Bob Sofaly/The Island News
SEE BANDS PAGE A4
ARTS
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EDUCATION
INSIDE
Norma Deal featured at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery.
Beaufort Memorial hosts 34th Annual Valentine Ball.
Broad River Elementary educator honored as School Counselor of the Year.
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