JANUARY 15–21, 2026
WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
More than 350 in Beaufort protest killing by ICE By Mike McCombs The Island News More than 350 people gathered Saturday, Jan. 10, in front of Beaufort City Hall at the intersection of Boundary Street and Ribaut Road to protest the Wednesday, Jan. 7, killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis. The “ICE Out For Good” protest in Beaufort was held on short notice — word began to spread about the event on Thursday night — as part of a National Day of Action touted by organizers “to demand justice, accountability and an end to deadly ICE lawlessness and cruelty.”
Like the smaller weekly Monday protests, as well as the larger “No Kings” protests that saw more than 1,000 people turn out each time to demonstrate in June and October, the “ICE Out” protest was supported by a number of organizations, including the Democratic Party, Indivisible Beaufort, and several others. Beaufort’s Ben Barnes had previously been on the fence about taking part in any of the previous protests. According to Barnes, 65, Good’s killing was “kind of the tipping point.” “You live in a country for 65 years, you grow up working your whole life, and everything goes
pretty good,” Barnes said. “And now, I have to protest my government? That's why I'm here. I mean, they're shooting [Americans]. … I absolutely don’t like the direction things are [going in] here.” Barnes said it’s a mistake to characterize him as a liberal or a Democrat, that he grew up basically politically independent. “I still am. But you know, there's also right and wrong,” Barnes said. “[My] dad's a preacher. I grew up a preacher's kid, and you know, what sticks in your mind is what's good. Yeah, it’s good to walk humbly, love justice, you know, practice
Sue Denny from Port Royal stands holding a sign during the ICE Out For Good protest in Beaufort on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, stating it’s important to be at this protest and “it is a very sad time in this county.” Amber Hewitt/ SEE PROTEST PAGE A2 The Island News
Aw shucks, it’s time!
6th annual Beaufort Oyster Festival set for this weekend
Anne Gantt makes sure each aluminum tray contains the same amount of oysters prior to being roasted the old fashioned way, over an open fire, during the 2nd annual Beaufort Oyster Festival in 2022 at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Bob Sofaly/FILE/The Island News
By Mike McCombs The Island News There have been some bumps in the road this year, but the 6th annual Beaufort Oyster Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16 and 17, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort, and according to organizers, things are going really well. “Things are going great,” said Ashlee Houck, Executive Director of the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association, organizer of the Oyster Festival. “We've had a few little hiccups, of course with the downtown [street] closure but we've pivoted. That's what we do within our organization. We make lemonade, you know, when we're handed lemon. “[The 5K] has been pushed up farther on Bay Street, so there are
no issues there, and everywhere else has accessibility like the marina parking lot and throughout downtown. The fence, of course, is up in Waterfront Park, so you know you can't access the promenade, but that's no issue. You can still see the beautiful water and it's more about the oysters than it is anything.” The oysters Once again, the Beaufort Oyster Festival will feature 100% locally harvested oysters, other Lowcountry seafood and local food vendors, and local beer by Shellring Aleworks. “Sutton Construction they always do our fire roasted authentic local oysters,” Houck said. “Mike Sutton
SEE OYSTER PAGE A4
A crowded field: 14 candidates running to replace Mace in Congress 10 Republicans, 4 Democrats vying for the Lowcountry’s 1st district seat
By Adrian Ashford SCDailyGazette.com As U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace runs for governor, a whopping 14 candidates have announced bids to replace her in Congress, making the race for the coastal 1st District by far the most crowded among South Carolina’s 2026 elections for state or federal offices. The field breaks down to 10 Republicans and four Democrats. Five are military veterans. Many are first-time candidates: They include a mechanic, a waiter, and a Marine pardoned for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. State Rep. Mark Smith of Daniel Island is the only legislator.
Three other Republicans — Logan Cunningham, Jay Byars, and Jenny Costa Honeycutt — have elected experience as county Logan Cunningham council members. One Democrat has political experience as a former county chair. Another Democrat ran for the seat unsuccessfully two years ago. On their websites and in conversations with the S.C. Daily Gazette, most Republican candidates put a heavy emphasis on border security and reducing the national debt. Some called for hardline policies
THE 14 ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES Republicans: Dan Brown, Jay Byars, Logan Cunningham, Tyler Dykes, Jack Ellison, Jenna Costa Honeycutt, Sam McCown, Justin Myers, Mark Smith, and Alex Pelbath Democrats: Mac Deford, Max Diaz, Matt Fulmer, and Mayra Rivera-Vázquez
to curtail immigration. Alex Pelbath, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force who lives in Mount Pleasant, supports President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship. Tyler
SEE CONGRESS PAGE A7
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1, 2025. Jennifer Shutt/ States Newsroom
NEWS
HEALTH
STATE NEWS
INSIDE
BMH expands emergency mental health services with new ER unit.
Comprehensive women’s health screenings for every stage of life,
SC bill would allow only adults to wed; current SC law requires citizens to be 16 to marry.
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