July 16 edition

Fifth, sixth suspects arrested in connection with July 4 shooting

Staff Reports

The total number of arrests in connection with the shooting that occurred July 4 at Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island is six as of Friday morning, July 10.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, Amarion Jameer Riley, 22, of Ridgeland, was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a machine gun and breach of peace, aggravated in nature Friday morning with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). He is the sixth person arrested in connection with the shooting. According to the BCSO, Riley, who was initially injured during the shooting at Coligny Beach, was later identified as a suspect

involved in the incident.

Previously, the fifth person arrested in connection to the incident, Jacob Malik Johnson, 22, of Beaufort, was taken into custody Wednesday, July 8, on an arrest warrant charging him with breach of peace, aggravated in nature.

These arrests follow the arrests of four other individuals charged

in connection with the incident.

• Jayden Lorenzo Hawes, 18, is charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and aggravated breach of peace.

• Marcello Lopez Royal, 17, is charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during

Beaufort Water Festival returns Friday

Here's what to know before heading

By Delayna Earley

Tportunities to gather with family and friends.

This year's theme, "Sunny Days and Friendship Waves," was chosen by Commodore Dusty Vickers, whose year at the helm has focused on celebrating the friendships and traditions that have

accepted the appointment

the Statehouse

to serve out the remainder of the term of her late

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Darline Graham

Nordone will finish out the term of her older brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who adopted and raised her following their parents’ deaths. Gov. Henry McMaster’s appointment Monday comes a day after word of Graham’s sudden death, at the age of 71, stunned not only

t’s been hot and the oppressive summer heat has probably contributed to keeping political activity to a minimum. That and the political primaries being behind us.

But Beaufort City Council, at its last meeting for a month, had its lively moments.

Three of the council’s most vocal critics, Amanda Patel, Graham Trask and Felice LaMarca were on hand to lambaste the elected officials on a variety of topics but primarily, their

Taken at 5:32

a.m., from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, this photo by Daniel D’Orazio captured the SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink after it’s 5:25 a.m., launch from Cape Canaveral. The sun had risen just enough to illuminate the impressive exhaust plume as the vehicle maintained its steady climb and acceleration towards the northeast.

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

VETERAN OF THE WEEK GREGORY BLACKBURN

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Gregory Blackburn, 81, who, after graduating from The Worcester Polytechnic Institute and with some graduate work at Harvard, joined the U.S. Navy as an Officer Candidate in 1969. Late that year he was commissioned as an Ensign Cryptologic Officer and sent to the Naval Communication Station at San Miguel, Philippines. He next served at the Naval Systems Command (Space War -

fare) in Washington D.C., before completing a Master’s Degree at Harvard and an MBA in Operations Research at the University of Rochester. He then was assigned to the Naval Security Group in Washington for four years.

In 1980 he transferred to the Fleet Intelligence Center for the Commander Atlantic Fleet and twice made deployments to the Barents Sea. Returning to D.C., in 1985, he served at the National

Security Agency and then with the Naval Security Group. From 1996 until he retired in 1999, he served as Director of Information Warfare for the Secretary of Defense (War). He retired as a Navy Captain (O-6) with 30 years of service.

He then filled positions with various Defense contractors be-

fore moving to Beaufort County in 2009. Today he is intimately involved with the Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition among middle school, high school and college students in the Lowcountry. He also works with the Navy League in Charleston.

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

May CRoCkett

July 9, 2026

Beaufort

May Mazyck Rosenblath Crockett, age 92 of Beaufort, S.C. passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at home surrounded by family.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 20, 2026 at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Lady's Island. Interment will follow at the Beaufort National Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her late husband, Charles Crockett Sr. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles Burleson Crockett Sr. and her son William Carl Crockett.

Mike Rainey June 29, 2026 Beaufort

Lt. Col. Michael “Irish” Rainey, USMC (Ret.), born in Carlisle, Pa., passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 29, 2026 in Beaufort, S.C. A decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot, respected antiques dealer, and devoted friend, he lived a full life in the cockpit, in his hangar, in his amazing garden and among his cherished friends. He leaves a legacy of devoted service, lifelong friendships and fiercely held passions.

Michael’s Marine Corps career started at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, with VMFA-235 flying the F-4 Phantom. A graduate of Top Gun, he served at many posts during a 20-year career. In 1983 he was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, where he transitioned to and proudly flew the F/A-18 Hornet.

July 17

May Crockett

She is survived by her children Charles Burleson Crockett, Jr of. Beaufort, William Stuart Crockett of Florida, Naomi Crockett Trask of Beaufort, and Katharine Crockett Harrelson of Beaufort and grandchildren Caroline Barnwell Crockett , Elizabeth Burleson Crockett, Alma Devereaux Cappelmann, Glenn Hudson Cappelmann, William Stuart Crockett, Robert Charles Crockett , May Harrelson Winsness, Ruby Katharine Harrelson, Joseph Cusack Harrelson, and five great grandchildren.

Mike Rainey and his vintage Tiger Moth biplane at Beaufort Executive Airport. Photo courtesy of W.L Laney

Irish retired in 1993 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after two decades of “incredible fun” and dedicated service. He remained in Beaufort and called it home for over 45 years.

Michael remained an avid aviator beyond his military career, and took special pride in his two vintage airplanes, a Gypsy Tiger Moth and his always immaculate Meyers OTW. His hangar, a museum-quality collection of artifacts and aircraft, reflected a life-long

WEEK IN HISTORY

2021: Beaufort karate instructor Chuck Elias is promoted to ninthdegree Black Belt at the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) International Training Conference in Las Vegas. At the time of his promotion, by Chuck Norris, there were only 10 ninth-degree black belts in the system.

July 18

1865: Maj. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore assumes command of the military department of South Carolina.

2019: Beaufort’s Mike Rainey, dealing with a damaged propeller, makes an emergency landing on the 18th fairway of the Cat Island Golf Course in his vintage 1943 De Haviland Tiger Moth biplane.

2020: After the annual concert on the sandbar in the Beaufort River

In a story in the July 9 edition of

the Exhibits and Interpreter

May lived her Christianity every day. She quietly served others without expecting recognition. She volunteered at a nonprofit clothing ministry, rocked and cared for newborn babies in the hospital nursery, served on a bereavement team comforting families in their darkest moments, read books over the radio for the blind, and faithfully worked the election polls because she believed in doing her part. She was adventurous, fearless, and curious about the world. She traveled to places many people only dream of — Hong Kong, Thailand, Africa, Italy, Greece, and beyond. She embraced new cultures, new people, and new experiences long before it was common to do

so.

OBITUARIES

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

May will be remembered for her outrageous sense of humor, quick wit, adventurous spirit, her love for tennis, unwavering faith, and the way she made every story unforgettable.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to Cardinal Hospice. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

love of flying and military history, much of which are now on display at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. His presence in Beaufort was always known as he loved touring the Lowcountry in his biplane. After the Marines, Michael found great success and wide respect in the world of antiques Michael Rainey Antiques in Beaufort was soon recognized as one of the finest antique shops in the Southeast. His expertise was sought by collectors and auction houses alike, including Sotheby’s and Christie’s. He was known for an exceptional eye, an uncompromising standard of quality, and a profound knowledge which he generously shared. Passionate in everything he pursued, Michael cultivated an extraordinary garden and croquet court at his home in town. An animal lover, he cared deeply for his pets throughout the years. Petey, Tucker, Trevor, and many more

were a large part of his life. He was a devoted friend and a connoisseur of storytelling, whose laughter and toasts will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his sister, Kathleen (Kathie) P. Rainey of Raleigh, N.C., and her daughter, Patricia (Trish) Grimes of Charlotte, along with Trish’s sons: Evan, Avery, and Liam. He is also survived by his brother, Patrick F. Rainey, and his wife, Kristin, of Beaufort, S.C. Their children, Taylor Rainey, Robert Bowles, Reese Bowles, and Cashiel Bowles, along with their granddaughter, Grayson Bertrand. Additionally, he leaves behind a great many friends who were like extended family.

Details regarding a celebration of life will be announced in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may raise a glass in his memory, or make a donation to a charity of your choice, he would have loved either gesture.

that usually coincides with the Beaufort Water Festival is canceled because of COVID-19, dozens of boaters hold an impromptu gathering at the sandbar anyway.

July 21

2008: Beaufort Mayor Bill Rauch resigns with less than four months left in his administration after being charged the previous week by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with insider trading. Mayor Pro Tempore George H. O’Kelley Jr. presides over the Beaufort City Council and held the office on an interim basis until November.

2019: Erin “Tank” Morris is named the 65th commodore at the close of the 64th Beaufort Water Festival. Morris took the reins from Brian Patrick.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

CORRECTIONS

made the Beaufort Water Festival a summer staple for generations.

What's new this year

Although the festival is celebrating a milestone anniversary, much of this year's layout will be familiar to returning visitors.

The Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park promenade remains closed for safety as repairs continue, making this the second consecutive year the closure has affected the festival. As a result, festival organizers have again adjusted the layout, and visitors can expect things to look much as they did during last year's celebration. The Raft Race will once again be held at The Sands in Port Royal, while the remainder of the festival's major events will continue to take place in and around Waterfront Park.

many changes to the overall festival experience.

"Pretty much the festival is going to look the same as it did last year."

One noticeable addition this year comes Thursday night, when comedian Brian Moote with Bored Teachers headlines the Lowcountry Supper, bringing comedy back to the festival lineup after many years. Earlier this spring, organizers also introduced a new 3D archery tournament as part of the festival's sporting events.

Vickers said bringing comedy back was a way to revive a piece of the festival's history.

"That last hour is going to be a comedian act like we used to have back in the day,” he said.

Opening weekend

River. Admission is free.

Saturday is one of the busiest days of the festival, beginning with the Raft Race at The Sands in Port Royal. The day also includes the bocce and badminton tournaments, the Children's Toad Fishing Tournament, Sponsor's Expo and the Festival Arts & Crafts Market before country music star Joe Nichols takes the stage Saturday evening with special guest Tyler Reese Tritt and opening act Blake Proehl.

Sunday continues with the River Rally, Children's Day, the Ski Show and the annual Teen Dance. Children's Day and the Ski Show are both free to attend.

During the week

and Wednesday's annual Talent Show returns with free admission for anyone wearing an official 2026 Beaufort Water Festival T-shirt.

Thursday combines one of the festival's longest-running traditions with something new as the Lowcountry Supper returns alongside performances by WGB, Katie Lynn, The Whistlers and Brian Moote with Bored Teachers.

Closing weekend

Ball featuring The Catalinas.

The festival concludes Sunday with the annual Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats before wrapping up at 3 p.m.

Know before you go Festival organizers encourage attendees to plan ahead before heading downtown.

Many daytime events are free, including the Opening Ceremony, Children's Day, the Ski Show, Sponsor's Expo, Meet & Greet with the Air Show pilots, the Grand Parade, Non-Profit Expo, Air Show and Blessing of the Fleet. Evening concerts and several special events require tickets.

A clear bag policy is in effect for ticketed events.

events. Bay Street between Harrington and Charles streets will close from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 24, for the Bed Race. Streets along the Grand Parade route will close from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 25, and the Beaufort River will be closed from 1 to 4 p.m. during the annual Air Show. Festival officials encourage both motorists and boaters to plan accordingly.

The Festival Arts & Crafts Market remains open throughout the week while evening entertainment shifts each night.

The final weekend begins Friday with a free Meet & Greet featuring the Air Show pilots at Beaufort Executive Airport before one of the festival's most anticipated traditions, the annual Bed Race, takes over Bay Street. Friday evening concludes with Rockin' the River featuring Hot Red Chili Peppers.

Outside food and beverages, coolers, pets and professional photography are prohibited inside festival gates.

While the promenade remains closed, Vickers said visitors shouldn't expect

The festival officially begins Friday afternoon with the opening of the Festival Arts & Crafts Market before the Opening Ceremony at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. The ceremony will feature the Parris Island Marine Band followed by fireworks over the Beaufort

Monday features Motown Monday, Tuesday brings Caribbean Night — including free admission for active military members, educators and first responders with valid identification —

Saturday offers another full day of events, beginning with the Beaufort Water Festival Grand Parade through downtown, followed by the Non-Profit Expo, the free Air Show over the Beaufort River and the Commodore's

Free shuttle service will be available from the Beaufort County Government Center for several of the festival's largest evening events.

Drivers should also expect traffic delays during some of the festival's biggest

Vickers said the festival's success depends on much more than the events themselves.

"A lot of people don't realize all the people underneath the tents are from nonprofits or civic groups," he said. "That manpower is a necessity to make the festival happen."

Delayna Earley, who joined The

worked as a

as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna. theislandnews@gmail.com. Festival from page A1

for

St. Helena Island woman charged in domestic-related shooting released on $25,000 bond

By Delayna Earley The Island News

A St. Helena Island woman charged in connection with a domestic-related shooting earlier this month has been released from the Beaufort County Detention Center after posting a $25,000 surety bond.

Stephanie Elaine Legree, 55, was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office following a shooting

reported shortly after midnight July 5 at a residence on White Sands Circle on St. Helena Island.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded after receiving a report of a gunshot victim and found an adult man suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was alert and responsive when deputies arrived, and deputies provided aid until Beaufort

County Emergency Medical Services transported him to a local hospital for treatment. His injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening.

The Sheriff's Office determined the shooting occurred during a domestic argument at the residence. Lt. Danny Allen, public information officer for the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, confirmed the victim and Legree were in a domestic relationship.

Investigators also recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting.

Legree was arrested without incident and charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.

Court records show the charge was filed in Beaufort County General Sessions Court on July 6, where the case remains pending.

According to the South Carolina Judicial Branch

Public Index, a judge set Legree's bond at $25,000 cash or surety on July 5. Court records show the bond was posted July 6 through Larry Bail Bonding/Palmetto Surety, and Legree was released from the Beaufort County Detention Center later that day. Domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature is a felony under South Carolina law and is the state's

most serious domestic violence offense. The incident remains under investigation by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.

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.

Paul Slota, M.D.,

Dr. Paul Slota, a board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional cardiologist, has joined Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists, expanding access to advanced cardiac care across the Lowcountry.

With more than 30 years of experience in general and interventional cardiology, Dr. Slota brings extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating a wide range of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias and high cholesterol.

Early in his career, Dr. Slota was a founding physician of Hilton Head Heart, where he practiced for over a decade, caring for patients on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, as well as performing procedures in Savannah. He later relocated to Rock Hill, where he played a key role in establishing Carolina Heart Specialists and cared for patients there for nearly 20 years.

Now returning to the region, Dr. Slota sees patients in Beaufort and Okatie and performs procedures at Beaufort Memorial, strengthening the health system’s ability to provide comprehensive, high-quality cardiac care close to home.

Board-certified Interventional Cardiology

Doctor of Medicine

Jefferson Medical College (Now known as Sidney Kimmel Medical College) Philadelphia, Pa.

Residency Internal Medicine

Cooper Hospital University Medical Center Camden, N.J.

Fellowship

Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, Pa.

BCSD BEACON

The Beaufort County School District's Class of 2026 has much to celebrate From earning millions in scholarships to serving their communities and committing to a variety of postsecondary pathways, this year s graduates have set a high standard for success

CL ASS OF 2026 AT A GL ANCE

DESTINED FOR EXCELLENCE

Long after students leave the classroom, the lessons and the teachers who taught them often stay with them for a lifetime

Watch as seniors were invited to write heartfelt letters to a teacher who made a lasting impact on their lives Some chose a high school teacher while others returned to the elementary classrooms where their educational journey first began

The seniors surprised their chosen teachers by reading the letters aloud in person For many educators, the unexpected visits brought smiles, tears, and a powerful reminder of why they chose the profession

Members of the Class of 2026 will attend prestigious institutions across the nation, including Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, NC State, the College of Charleston, Florida Institute of Technology, Winthrop University, Georgia Southern University, and the University of South Carolina Beaufort, among many others

The achievements of the Class of 2026 reflect the talent, determination, and bright future of BCSD students The district congratulates its graduates and looks forward to the positive impact they will make in their communities professions and beyond

JUSTIN VAUGHN

Red Cedar Elementar y School

R EDCEDARELEMENTARYSCHOO L HOMEOF REDFOXES

Justin Vaughn, former assistant principal at Red Cedar Elementary

ley, who has retired after a 47 year career in education, 27 of which were serving Beaufort County School District as the first principal of Bluffton and Red Cedar elementary schools where she set the standard for excellence

Prior to serving as assistant principal at RCES, Vaughn, whose entire educational career has been with the Beaufort County School District, spent over a decade at Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts teaching first and second grades and serving as MTSS Coordinator and Math Interventionist A former Teacher of the Year, Vaughn holds a master s degree in educational administration from the University of South Carolina (UofSC) as well as a bachelor s degree in Early Childhood Education from UofSC Beaufort

RENEE ROBERTS Broad River Elementar y School

Renee Roberts who recently served as acting principal at Broad River Elementary School, replaces Jamie Allen who accepted a district-level position Roberts, a native Beaufortonian, previously served as assistant principal at Coosa Elementary, a National Blue Ribbon School A National Board Certified Teacher Roberts has experience teaching in grades 3-5, as well as working with students and teachers as both a math and literacy coach Roberts holds master’s degrees in Literacy and Educational Leadership from Lesley and Capella universities, respectively

DR STACI SOUHAN

Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts

Dr Staci Souhan formerly the associate principal at Mounds View

High School in MN, replaces Nikki Lucas, who has accepted a district-level position Souhan, whose educational career has spanned over two decades, brings prior experience in both high school and elementary leadership positions having also served as an associate principal at Irondale High School and in principal roles at Turtle Lake Elementary and CE Jacobson in MN Her educational career includes first and second grade teacher positions at schools in FL and MN, as well as serving in a management capacity for district transportation In addition to serving in leadership roles in the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association, Souhan holds doctorate and master s degrees in Education from Hamline University as well as a bachelor s degree in Business from University of St Thomas

DR KYCTRELL SWINTON-ATKINS

Lady ’ s

Dr Kyctrell Swinton-Atkins, former assistant principal at

Beaufort High School (BHS), replaces Dr Chavon Browne who has accepted the position of Deputy Superintendent for Colleton County Swinton-Atkins has had an educational career spanning nearly 20 years, including 16 at the Beaufort County School District where she also served in assistant principal roles at Whale Branch and Hilton Head Middle schools Prior to this, she was an English teacher at H E McCracken Middle School and at May River and Battery Creek high schools Named assistant principal of the year for 2022-23, Swinton-Atkins holds both a doctorate in curriculum and instruction and a master’s degree in education administration from Capella University as well as an additional master s degree in literacy and learning in the content areas from Walden University, and a bachelor’s degree in English education from South Carolina State University

AIMEE WHITESELL H E McCracken Middle School

(BCHS) replaces Roger Ward who has been promoted to BCSD Executive Director Whitesell, whose educational career has spanned over a dozen years, brings prior experience in high school leadership positions having also served as an assistant principal at May River High School Her educational career began as a high school science teacher in North Carolina and Louisiana, in addition to serving in this role at BCHS Named BCSD teacher of the year for 2021-22, Whitesell holds a master s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education and a bachelor’s degree in natural science and biology education from Missouri Western State University H E MCCRACKEN MIDDLESCHOO L HOMEOF THE BULLDOGS

Aimee Whitesell, former assistant principal at Battery Creek High School

DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

May River Elementary School Takes Shape as Construction Advances

Construction of the new May River Elementary School continues to move forward with the building s structural framework now complete and work shifting to the next phase of development

The 113,000-square-foot school, located next to May River High School, is designed to serve approximately 800 students and is scheduled to open for the 2027-28 school year Funded through the Beaufort County School District's 2023 referendum, the project will help accommodate continued growth in the Bluffton area

With the steel structure now in place crews will begin installing the roof while advancing interior work, including HVAC systems, electrical and lighting infrastructure, ceilings, walls and windows Site work will also continue, with paving and parking lot construction taking shape in the coming months

Project leaders praised the rapid pace of construction, noting the site progressed from underground work to a fully framed structure in approximately four and a half months

Construction is underway on a new Lady’s Island Middle School, funded through the voter-approved 2023 Beaufort County School District Bond Referendum

The 84,000-square-foot school will replace the existing campus and provide modern classrooms, flexible learning spaces and updated infrastructure designed to support student success The new facility is scheduled to open in January 2028

District leaders say the project reflects BCSD’s commitment to creating innovative learning environments that meet the needs of current and future students

DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

BCSD Budget Approved for 2026–2027

The Beaufort County School District s approved $395 3 million budget

employee compensation, with the majority of new funding dedicated to salary

and staff

New Montessori Program Coming to HHI Early Childhood Center

This school year, Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center is expanding its early learning opportunities with the introduction of a new Montessori program for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students

Open to all Beaufort County residents, the program offers a child-centered approach to learning that emphasizes hands-on experiences independence and whole-child development Montessori classrooms are designed to encourage students to learn at their own pace while building confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking skills in a supportive environment

This program is designed to inspire independence and academic growth while nurturing the whole child in a developmentally appropriate environment,” said Ashley Gould, Beaufort County School District's Director of Readiness

In addition to the new academic program, families will also have the option of onsite after-school childcare providing greater flexibility for working parents

Beaufort High School will soon expand its career-focused learning opportunities with a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) building

The 10,875-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in August 2027, will house construction trades and public safety programs, including firefighter training The new building will provide dedicated classroom and lab space for hands-on learning experiences

Funded through the 2023 BCSD Bond Referendum, the project supports the district’s efforts to prepare students for high-demand careers and workforce opportunities after graduation

a strong focus

Under the plan, the district’s starting teacher base salary will increase by $2,500

Combined with the district’s locality supplement, first-year teachers

earn $64,087, making BCSD one of the highest-paying districts in South Carolina

All teachers will receive a $2,500 raise in addition to

administrative and professional employees will receive a 3%

annual step increases where applicable

“ This budget is a direct investment in th every day,” Superintendent Frank Rodrig and expanding services for students, we exceptional employees while ensuring ev

The budget also includes investments in and Technical Education Montessori ex initiatives District leaders noted the bud Beaufort County residents

Beaufort County School District is proud to announce that Pritchardville Elementary School has been named a recipient of the 2026 Data Trailblazer Award by the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC)

weekly breakfast and lunch meal kits are available for children 18 and under through

s Groceries-to-Go Summer Food Program Families can pick up meal kits at convenient locations in Bluffton, Beaufort, St Helena, Seabrook, and Hilton Head

�� Weekly pickup available through July 31 �� Registration is required each week ✅ One meal kit per eligible child

For locations, eligibility information, and to reserve tickets scan the QR Code

Pritchardville Elementary is one of only three schools in South Carolina to receive this prestigious recognition which honors schools that use data effectively to improve student outcomes engage families support informed decision-making, and protect student privacy

“Data Trailblazer schools exemplify how utilizing student-centered data produces results that boost student achievement, said EOC Executive Director Dana Yow

The award highlights Pritchardville Elementary s commitment to using data-driven practices to support student success and continuous improvement

“We are incredibly proud of the Pritchardville Elementary team for earning this distinguished honor,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez “This award reflects the school's dedication to using data thoughtfully and strategically to support student achievement, engage families, and ensure students have the opportunity to thrive ” Pritchardville Elementar y Named 2026 Data Trailblazer

Lowdown

from page A1

lack of “transparency.”

Patel, who has been an active online critic of City Council activities, continued her criticism of the manner in which the city – from the police department to the elected leaders – handled the distribution of public documents earlier last year involving a missing girl.

LaMarca continued her criticism of the city’s business dealings with the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, in executive session. She even asked to be allowed into the sessions if she made a pledge not to repeat what she heard.

Both Patel and LaMarca noted the secrecy issues continue as the council continues to hold closed-door discussions on the subjects.

Trask came right out and called the councilmembers “cowards.”

His comments came after accusing them of “bowing down” to, among others,

Shooting

from page A1

the commission of a violent crime, aggravated breach of peace and sale or delivery of a pistol to and possession by certain persons unlawful involving a stolen pistol.

• Quazeir Rasheem Davis, 17, faces the same four charges as Royal.

• Christopher Charles Capers, 17, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Dominion Energy and their never-ending mutilation of trees in the name of maintenance.

On the topic of trees (seems there’s always a way to bring tree protection into a column when you live in a recognized “tree city”), several residents were on hand to voice their concern about the latest butchery of Dominion’s contractor.

The topic was even on the council’s agenda, but since Dominion declined to send a representative to the meeting, City Manager Scott Marshall explained he had to be the “messenger” giving a detailed corporate slide show of why tree canopies have to be trimmed to protect against service outages.

Marshall said cities have little leverage to oppose the tree cutting policies, a point those present objected.

If you think you’re powerless, you’re powerless, was the response Trask offered. He encouraged the elected officials to follow the lead of Martin Luther King Jr. and continue to fight for what is right.

Council members did

agree it was time for the utility company to at least remove the secondary power poles that were installed when high transmission lines were run through the city in 2006.

The city manager said he would communicate those concerns.

One other tree-related matter: the council bid farewell, after six years, to Public Works Director Nate Farrow, who is moving out of state.

After years of making sure public spaces were looking nice, hanging Christmas decorations on street lights, picking up debris after storms, responding to dead animals in the road, and patching holes in broken sidewalks, Farrow said he would remember his time with the city fondly.

City tries to balance economic growth, traffic concerns

BEAUFORT -- City Council, at their meeting last week, tried desperately to walk the tight-wire between economic growth and citizens’ concerns about development “creep.”

The subject was a rezoning request for the former

briefing.

Beaufort Gazette building on Salem Road, a one-story brick facility that has remained empty since the newspaper gang moved to Hilton Head Island in 2011.

The request was made by owners of Tidewater Windows and Doors who hope to operate a business out of the old office space and printing press.

Because those business plans require a zoning change, the matter came before the City Council, giving the public a chance to comment.

Comment they did, opposing the increase of more commercial space adjacent to a rapidly growing residential district whose traffic numbers are multiplying almost daily with the construction of new apartments at Garden Oaks and new homes at Salem Bay, Salem Point and Battery Point neighborhoods.

Their concerns about the future of traffic on their single, two-lane road were acerbated by knowledge that a senior citizen apartment complex adjacent to the Gazette location is somewhere in the

city government permitting process.

But, in an effort to keep the business owner from moving his proposed operation out of the city limits, the council suggested creating a special exception zone which would allow the window/door distribution center to operate ... but not the multitude of commercial and retail uses allowed under the proposed Downtown Mixed-Use zone.

City planning staff said they will work to create a new zone within the next three months and get it past the planning board. The business owner said he’d see.

Port Royal has speed bumps

PORT ROYAL -- The town of Port Royal has a new splash pad. It also has new speed bumps.

In addition to the 28 speed bumps installed last year down Paris Avenue and throughout the “village” part of town, it was recently announced the coming of nine addition speed bumps to be installed in the Shell Point area.

The addition of the “traffic calming” devices is the result of at least five years of neighborhood pressure on the S.C. Department of Transportation, which owns those roads. The town also paid for the bumps, to the tune of approximately $3,000 each. The thing is, Beaufort city residents have been asking for speed bumps in their neighborhood in their neighborhoods for years, especially as traffic counts on “back roads” through residential areas have continued to increase. But the city’s response always has been they’re not allowed on state-owned roads, which are most of the roads within the city limits.

Hmmmm???

and ongoing investigation.

The shooting occurred shortly after 8:20 p.m., Saturday, July 4 near the public beach access and volleyball courts at Coligny Beach as thousands of residents and visitors gathered for Independence Day festivities.

According to Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received multiple calls reporting gunfire at approximately 8:21 p.m. Because numerous deputies and other law enforcement officers were already assigned to the island for the holiday, the first deputies arrived about 17 seconds after the initial calls were received.

"It was one of the quickest responses you're ever going to see," Tanner said during a Sunday afternoon media

Riley’s bond has been set at $500,000, while Johnson’s was set at $250,000. Along with Hawes, Royal and Davis, Riley and Johnson remain confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center, as of Friday afternoon. Public Index records show Capers was granted a $50,000 surety bond and has since been released from custody.

Investigators believe the violence began when two groups of young people, consisting of both men and women ranging in age from 17 to 19, encountered one another near the beach access. According to Tanner, an argument between the groups escalated into a physical fight between one individual from each group. Moments after the first punches were thrown, gunfire erupted, sending beachgoers running for cover.

Authorities said eight adults suffered gunshot wounds or gunshot-related injuries during the incident. Tanner said one victim suffered a grazing wound to the head, another was shot in the neck, and another was struck three times, including twice in the stomach. Other victims suffered

New trailer now in reach for ‘Beaufort’s greeter’

Staff Reports

The initial response to the Friends of Tom Allen GoFundMe page was overwhelming, thanks in part to an initial column and photos by former Beaufort Mayor Bill Rauch.

By Sunday, $17,252 had been raised, putting within reach the possibility of the community getting “Beaufort’s Greeter” an upgraded single-wide mobile home.

Its a success story of people from all walks of life coalescing around a single cause. Its hero is a friend whose name most people did not know, but who was widely appreciated for his generous show of love to each passing car over the course of nearly two decades.

Equally remarkable is the team that formed to make a dream come true. Here again, ethnicity didn’t matter.

These are the effective people and groups who have

come together to help someone who touched us.

Marilyn Harris, Executive Director of The BCBCC Center for Culture and Commerce, stepped right up to form a team that will put the various necessary pieces together.

Derek Gilbert, the Beaufort attorney, has said he will address and paper whatever title and lease issues arise.

Brenda Dooley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity for the Lowcountry, has said Habitat will help build Mr. Allen a new front porch and provide other building services as necessary.

Alex Navarro, President of the Hispanic Business Association of the Lowcountry, has agreed to help with the trailer identifying and moving issues.

Coastal States Bank has agreed to keep the money safe and accounted for. Caribbean Tree Services

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Arthur Horne Wetlands Park enters design phase

has stepped up to offer its services for free to do what’s necessary to clean up Allen’s lot to ready it for its new trailer, and to do whatever other landscaping is necessary to provide a clean and safe residence for Allen.

That means that all that’s left is to find a two-bedroom trailer and to raise no more than about $7,000. more to get a good one that’s been traded in or that is being sold on the open market.

Harris and Navarro are in discussions with several trailer sales organizations and dealers, to find the right one at the right price. However, if readers know of any opportunities here, please contact Bill Rauch at therauchreport@gmail.com.

For contributions to close the final gap, the link to the Friends of Tom Allen GoFundMe page is https://gofund.me/363fad69a.

wounds to the shoulder, arm, leg and foot. Some injured victims declined medical treatment at the scene.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office has not released the identities or conditions of the victim

This remains an active

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact investigator Sgt. Aaron at 843-255-3436.

This wetlands restoration capital project has been

Beaufort County Stormwater has entered the design phase for improvements to the Arthur Horne Wetlands area. The wetland system, located between Camelia Road and Ivy Lane in Port Royal, once functioned as stormwater mitigation; however, it was damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and has not recovered. The intended water flow path was interrupted by downed trees and clogged with debris.

planned since early 2021, when County staff applied for a federal grant to cover design and construction costs. With federal funds now on hold, Beaufort County is moving ahead with funding project design out of the Stormwater Utility Fund. — Staff reports

from page A1

South Carolinians but people around the globe.

“It’s my honor to ask his little sister to finish his work,” the governor said in making his announcement at the Statehouse. He took no questions from reporters.

Graham Nordone, who heads the state Commission for the Blind and has spent her career helping people with disabilities find jobs, will fulfill the term that expires in January. Voters will decide through a special GOP primary next month who will be on the November ballot for the next six-year term.

“Lindsey has always been there for me, and now, I’ll be there for him,” she said.

The brief news conference ended with her speaking to her brother: “I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I’m going to do this. I got it.”

The mother of two daughters has never sought elected office herself. She and her husband, Larry Nordone, live in Lexington. They have one grandson.

Graham died unexpectedly Saturday night following a ruptured aorta related to cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner released by his office.

Graham, who never married and had no children, shared a tight bond with his sister.

Even before their parents died, she said, she relied on her brother.

“My parents, since they had to work a lot, Lindsey was kind of the one there that took care of me. If I fell down and scraped my knee, Lindsey was the one I ran to,” she said in a 2014 campaign ad for Graham.

Hours before the governor’s announcement, President Donald Trump publicly backed her as the choice, writing on social media, “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”

Lawmakers, past and present, quickly endorsed the idea, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, who called her a “fantastic pick.

“There is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state, and

our country,” he wrote on X. McMaster indicated Trump’s post didn’t influence a decision he’d already made: She “agreed to serve through tears,” the governor said about his phone call with her early Sunday.

“I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve,” McMaster said at the news conference.

“I called the president afterward, and he thought it was a great idea.”

Graham Nordone, who was 13 when their parents died, periodically joined her brother on the campaign trail, including his short-lived bid for president in 2015, which started his relationship with Trump on rocky grounds. Graham, however, quickly became a golfing buddy, friend and confidante to the president.

Mourning

On Monday, white flowers sat atop a black cloth draped over Graham’s desk on the U.S. Senate floor, and flags flew at half-staff across the country.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

McMaster on Sunday ordered flags above the Statehouse dome to fly at half-staff in Graham’s honor until further notice. Normally, such orders last through a funeral service.

On Monday, Trump ordered the same for flags on public buildings nationwide until 6 p.m. Saturday.

Tributes to Graham that flooded inboxes and social media platforms came from politicians, as well as current and former staff.

“Senator Graham never forgot who he was or where he came from. He loved Chick-fil-a so much that in the pre-smart phone era, staff provided a map of Chick-fil-A restaurants in South Carolina for his car so he could get a meal while on the road,” Scott Farmer, Graham’s campaign manager of 22 years, wrote on X.

“He loved S.C. and her people. If you needed help with Social Security benefits, the V.A., or a passport, the Senator’s constituent service team was second to none – modeled after his predecessor, Senator Strom Thurmond,” Farmer added. “If the Port of Charleston needed to be deepened to keep our state’s economy humming, Senator Graham made sure it happened. South Carolina’s

congressional delegation hit above its weight because of Lindsey Graham and his tenacity to get things done.”

College leaders offering condolences included the president and board chairman of South Carolina State University, an alma mater of Graham Nordone. She earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling in 2009 from the state’s only public historically Black university.

“He devoted himself to serving both our state and our nation. His commitment to national defense, the men and women of our armed forces and the security of our country defined much of his public life,” reads the joint statement from the president, retired Col. Alexander Conyers, and board Chairman Douglas Gantt.

“His legacy of leadership, public service and dedication to South Carolina and the nation will endure,” it continued.

Other women who filled vacancies

Graham Nordone, who earned her bachelor’s in sociology from the College of Charleston, is not the first South Carolinian to fulfill a deceased family member’s term.

In the 20th century, four South Carolina women, all Democrats, were elected to finish serving their husband’s term in the U.S. House following his death. None sought election to the next full term:

• Rep. Elizabeth Hawley Gasque (Sept. 13, 1938-Jan. 3, 1939)

• Rep. Clara Gooding McMillan (Nov. 7, 1939-Jan. 3, 1941)

• Rep. Willa Lybrand Fulmer (Nov. 7, 1944-Jan. 3, 1945); and

• Rep. Corinne Boyd Riley (April 10, 1962-Jan. 3, 1963).

In all, 47 women nationwide have been elected or appointed to fill congressional vacancies created by the deaths of their husbands: eight to the U.S. Senate and 39 to the U. S. House, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. Four additional widows took office — three by election, one by appointment — after their husband won an election but died before his term started, according to the Office of the Historian of the U.S. House.

The most recent include Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Louisiana, who won a 2021 special election after her husband,

Luke Letlow, died before taking office. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-California, won a 2005 special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rep. Robert Matsui. She’s since been re-elected to 10 terms.

And acting Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson appointed the late Sen. Jean Carnahan to the Senate in 2001 after voters posthumously elected her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan, who died in a plane crash three weeks before the election.

Pool hall to Capitol Hill Graham’s is a story of a self-made man who went from humble beginnings in small town South Carolina to the halls of political power in Washington, D.C.

Born July 9, 1955, Graham grew up in the Upstate town of Central, just 5 miles outside Clemson.

His family lived in the back room of the Sanitary Cafe, the restaurant and pool hall his parents owned. His father, Florence “Dude” James Graham, and mother, Millie, ran the pool hall six days a week.

It was a textile bar during the industry’s heyday, serving up hotdogs and hamburgers to the local millworkers. It had a pinball machine, a jukebox and a rocking chair where his mother sat at the end of the bar, according to multiple media accounts of an e-book autobiography Graham self-published during his 2016 presidential bid.

The family cooked its meals in the bar’s kitchen and shared a bathroom with patrons. To bathe, they heated water on the stove and washed in a metal tub, Graham wrote.

When some customers left to use the restroom, Graham wrote he sometimes snuck swigs of their beers or puffs of their cigarettes, earning him the nickname “Stinkball.”

A “C” student in high school, Graham once told a teacher, “I want to be governor,” garnering snickers from his classmates, Graham wrote. After scoring an 800 on his SAT, he became the first person in his family to attend college, enrolling at the University of South Carolina.

Not long after he started school, the family went to Disney World for their first vacation. But when they returned home, tragedy struck.

His mother became exhausted and nauseous. A few months later, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. The doctors gave her six months to live.

The next spring, Graham’s father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Graham and his younger sister were in and out of the hospital with their ill parents.

On June 9, 1976, Millie Graham died holding her son’s hand. Then, 15 months later, their father died of a massive heart attack.

“I remember that day, Lindsey came running in and just grabbed me up and hugged me and he was like, ‘I’m so sorry, but it’s going to be OK. I’m going to take care of you.’ And he did. He’s always been there for me no matter what,” she said in a May campaign ad and mailer for Graham’s latest Senate bid.

Graham was 22 and his sister was 13. An aunt and uncle took his sister in, but Graham still helped raise her, driving home from college every chance he had.

Graham graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and became a commissioned Air Force officer before starting law school. To help pay his parents’ lingering medical bills and care for his sister, he sold pots and pans door to door in Columbia and tended the family’s liquor store on weekends.

After the bar exam, Graham began four years of active duty. The Air Force assigned him to the legal office at Shaw Air Force Base, where he took on cases related to the military’s flawed drug testing program.

His sister was in college when Graham was assigned as one of four Air Force prosecutors in Europe at the tail end of the Cold War.

He adopted her so she could receive his military benefits.

In all, he served in the U.S. Air Force for 33 years, more than six of those on active duty as a lawyer. He joined the Air National Guard in 1989 and joined a small-town law practice in Walhalla.

His political career began with a run for the state House, beating out the Democratic incumbent in 1992.

He served just one term in the state Legislature. In 1994, he won a U.S. House seat, replacing retiring U.S. Rep. Butler Derrick to become the first Republican from the 3rd

District since Reconstruction. Around this time, Graham also joined an Air Force reserve unit, serving for a decade before retiring as a colonel.

Graham spent four terms in the U.S. House, where in 1999 he gained public attention as one of the House managers during the Senate’s impeachment trial of then-President Bill Clinton. After the House voted to impeach Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice over his relations with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the Senate found him not guilty. In 2002, Graham won election to the U.S. Senate as the chosen successor to retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond, who remains the only senator in U.S. history to reach age 100 in office. Thurmond, who died within six months of retiring, ranks fourth among longest-serving senators in history at 47½ years.

Who will run?

A special primary to select a new Republican nominee to the seat Graham held for 23½ years is scheduled for Aug. 11. Last month, Graham soundly defeated five GOP competitors to win the primary with 57% of the vote. A long list of candidates is expected to file to replace on the ballot. A runoff Aug. 25 will almost certainly be needed. In South Carolina, a runoff is necessary if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

So far, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman has said he will run. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace also is considering it, a former campaign staffer told the S.C. Daily Gazette. Both lost their bids for governor last month. Norman placed third, while Mace placed fifth in the GOP primary. On the other hand, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, who called Graham a “patriot” during a tribute Monday on the U.S. House floor, made clear he will not run for Senate.

Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization,

Vickers reflects on year as Water Festival Commodore

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

As the 70th annual Beaufort Water Festival gets underway, Commodore Dusty Vickers says the reality of leading the community's signature event still hasn't completely sunk in.

"It hit me, but it hasn't hit me," Vickers said just days before festival setup began. "We start loading in tomorrow, so I'm sure it'll feel real tomorrow."

For Vickers, becoming Commodore is the culmination of more than a decade of volunteer service, countless late nights and a commitment to an event he says feels more like family than work.

His Beaufort Water Festival story began around 2012 while working for The Greenery Inc., helping deliver trailers and landscaping materials during festival setup and teardown.

Although he wasn't officially part of the festival organization at the time, the experience introduced him to the volunteers who make the event happen.

By 2014, he earned his first director's badge as parks director, overseeing many of the same setup

responsibilities that first brought him into the organization.

What kept him coming back wasn't the recognition or the title.

"The family feeling, the camaraderie," Vickers said. "Everybody will bend over backwards to help anybody."

That sense of community has also required sacrifice.

Like many Commodores before him, Vickers said the festival has demanded long hours away from his wife and young children. On top of his Water Festival responsibilities, he also spent the last year and a half building a 1,600-square-foot addition onto his home.

As his Commodore year comes to an end, he admits the moment is bittersweet.

"I'm ready for a vacation," he said with a laugh. "Time has been served."

Still, he says he's confident the organization is in good hands.

"We've got a good group of coordinators around the table and directors and staff and chair people," he said.

Every Commodore leaves a personal mark on the festival, and Vickers introduced several new ideas during his year.

One was the addition of a 3D archery tournament, inspired by his own love of bow hunting. The inaugural event, held this spring, attracted nearly 50 participants competing on a course featuring three-dimensional animal targets, including deer, ducks, turkeys and hogs.

He's also bringing comedy back to the festival.

Following Thursday night's Lowcountry Supper, Brian Moote with Bored Teachers will perform after local musicians, bringing a comedy show back to the festival. Vickers said the event is reminiscent of entertainment the festival featured years ago and offers something different from the traditional musical lineup.

His theme for the year, "Sunny Days and Friendship Waves," reflects what he believes the Beaufort Water Festival represents beyond its concerts and events.

Vickers describes the festival as "the reunion of reunions," bringing together friends and families who may only see each other during those 10 days each summer.

"As we all grow apart and our kids get different ages, you might not see people as much anymore," he said. "For those 10 days of festival, everybody's going to come together."

That broader vision also influenced this year's official T-shirt artwork.

Rather than focusing

solely on downtown Beaufort and Waterfront Park, the design features a boat on the river, live oak trees, a sunset and Hunting Island in the background.

"There's so much more to offer than just the seawall," Vickers said. "It's the Beaufort Water Festival. It's not the downtown Beaufort Water Festival."

The festival will again operate with the Waterfront Park promenade closed because of ongoing construction, much as it did last year. Vickers said most events will remain downtown, with the Raft Race continuing to launch from The Sands in Port Royal.

He also noted that the city's temporary dock and access ramp near the promenade were expected to open in time for the festival.

While the Commodore often serves as the public face of the Beaufort Water Festival, Vickers is quick to redirect attention to the hundreds of volunteers working behind the scenes.

He credited the festival's coordinators, directors, staff, chairpeople, sponsors and the many civic organizations whose volunteers work under the tents

throughout the festival.

"A lot of people don't realize all the people underneath the tents are from nonprofits or civic groups," Vickers said. "That manpower is a necessity to make the festival happen."

As another Beaufort Water Festival begins, Vickers says he's looking forward to opening ceremonies, seeing Joe Nichols perform and watching the community come together for what he calls "the reunion of reunions."

After more than a decade of volunteering, he'll spend the next 10 days doing what he's always done – helping make the festival happen – before handing the Commodore's hat to someone else and, for the first time in years, taking a well-earned vacation.

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..

Mony’s House summer camps celebrate the pursuit of a creative life

By Luke Frazier

The Island News

In late October of 2015, 36-year-old Ver’mon “Mony” Steve was duct-taped, kidnapped, and murdered in Beaufort. As with many violent deaths, the jagged ripples tore through family, friends, and the community at large, leaving heartache behind.

Now, more than 10 years later, his spirit is being celebrated through the creation of Mony’s House, which includes efforts to educate young people about audio engineering, music production, and cinema at camps this summer. These are all things that aligned with Ver’mon’s interests while he was alive.

Janice Steve is Ver’mon’s mother and describes her son as having been gentle, quiet, and caring. She says he believed there was good in everybody and wanted to see the best in people come out. According to Steve, that belief is part of the fuel for the summer camps happening in Columbia and Port Royal this month.

“Anything that we can do to allow the young people to see that they can truly be whoever they'd like to be,” Steve said recently, “Whatever we can do to keep them focused or help get them focused.”

a pipeline that introduces young people to career opportunities in the creative arts,” Walker insists, “Now kids can come and enjoy being creative and learning at no cost.”

Walker said it’s important that students can see how their passions can become careers.

One young person poised to express her creativity in the upcoming cinema camp is 15-year-old Jene’lle Tuttle-Burgess of Beaufort. She wants to be in the film industry when she is older, based on her limited experience with it.

Edify, a company that creates digital film assets for nonprofits, government institutions, schools, and other youth-serving agencies.

Fleming was excited when Walker reached out to collaborate in realizing the vision for Mony’s House, especially given the inspiration behind it.

“There is hurt and heartache in the community,” Fleming acknowledged, “But how do we move beyond that loss and still commemorate that loss?”

“I think Mony’s House is here as a result of him being very focused on the arts and music,” Steve said, “[Because] those are the things that he tried to pull out of other people as much as he possibly could.”

The existence of Mony’s House is also a result of work by Pervis Walker, the Executive Director of the Great Grand Family Foundation. Walker wanted to find a meaningful way to honor Ver’mon, a friend since childhood. He reached out to Janice Steve about a year ago and shared his vision. He got permission to name the program

Steve says the summer camps can help young people avoid having regrets later in life when they consider what they could have been had they explored passions and gained skills.

after Mony and invited her to join the board and help develop something that positively reflected Mony's life and legacy.

“To partner with his mom in order to keep that creative legacy alive is a deep honor for me,” Walker said. “It was these types of programs that my friends and I were looking for when we were young. … I wasn't a big athlete or scholar. We were dreamers, we were creators, and there wasn't a lot of space for creators.”

Then the challenging work of figuring out funding, goals, responsibilities, partnerships, and myriad related details began in earnest.

“Our goal has never been to simply host a summer camp. We wanted to create

“When I was younger, I used to always make movies and like mini videos on my mom's phone,” she recalls, “I want to learn more about actual things people who are in the film industry use and what they actually do day-today.”

Although she was not aware the cinema camp was created to honor Ver’mon’s life after his death, Tuttle-Burgess said it adds to the experience.

“I think it does because there's meaning behind it,” she reflected, “I think it makes it more deep, and you can kind of feel more connected to it.”

One individual who will be teaching Jene’lle Tuttle-Burgess and other students is Jamie Fleming. He is founder of

Fleming is a self-described social entrepreneur who came back to Beaufort to help his elderly parents. He says he noticed a gap in creative services that also looked to serve the community, a niche he hopes his company can help fill.

Fleming says he used to run something called “Poetry & Pancakes,” and a light bulb went on.

“I was able to see the rippling effect of that,” Fleming said, “How having a place where all types of people, young people, older people you know could express themselves through the spoken word, whether it's poetry, whether it was song. How empowering that is.”

This made Fleming a natural partner in the effort to honor Ver’mon and teach kids to let their creative spirit soar.

And while Janice Steve’s

spirit has been damaged, she has taken some small comfort in articulating what she thinks Ver’mon’s message to camp students would be.

“If I focus on what I want to do I can become any and every thing that I feel like I can become — if I stay focused and aim high.” Steve also takes comfort from her faith, and this has helped her forgive her son’s murderer.

“I know that me being a Christian and believing in every word that I've learned from the Bible, that the forgiveness is for me, and not necessarily for the person. From the beginning God gave me that peace that surpasses even my understanding.”

Luke Frazier is a writer and award winning media producer who moved to the Lowcountry in 2024. He runs NOW Communications and can be reached at nowandfuturecomms@gmail.com.

Resident, city manager clash over Beaufort FOIA breach

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Questions surrounding the City of Beaufort's handling of last year's Freedom of Information Act records breach returned to the forefront Tuesday as a resident, the city manager and a city council member publicly disputed key details about who received the email containing a download link to the unredacted records and how that information has been presented to the public.

The exchange came nearly a year after the city inadvertently released more than 9,000 unredacted records in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. The records included sensitive documents, including forensic interviews involving minors, and have prompted multiple investigations, public records requests and continued scrutiny over how the records were distributed and handled.

Patel questions city's public account

During public comment, Beaufort resident Amanda Patel challenged the city's account of the breach, tell-

ing council members that for nearly a year the public had been led to believe the unredacted records had been shared only with the original requester and Councilman Josh Scallate. She said records that have since become public show City Manager Scott Marshall and former Deputy City Manager JJ Suave also received the email containing the download link.

"For almost a year, the people of this city were led to believe that the city's FOIA breach involving more than 9,000 unredacted pages was shared only with the original requester and Councilman Josh Scallate," Patel said. "Less than two weeks ago, we learned there was more to this story. Our own city manager, Scott Marshall, and the former deputy city manager also received that very same link to those records."

Patel said the facts surrounding the breach had not changed, "only the story," referencing statements Marshall made during a February council meeting that she said continued the narrative that only the original requester and Scallate had

NEWS BRIEFS

Beaufort County Community Services Grant Program accepting applications

Beaufort County is now accepting applications for the FY27 Community Services Grant Program. Applications will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 28. Any applications received after that date will not be considered. Interested organizations may access the application at https://bit. ly/4wDFbwW. Funds for this grant program are provided by County Council of Beaufort County. Established in 2013, the Beaufort County Com-

received the records. She argued the official public record had never been corrected after it became known Marshall and Suave had also received the email containing the download link.

"I say this because the public record is important," Patel said. "And what gets left out of the story matters just as much as what gets put into it."

Patel also referenced another child's unredacted forensic interview that she said was included in the released records and cited recent public comments from former City of Beaufort Public Information Officer Ashley Brandon, who said she would not serve as "the scapegoat for city leadership" in connection with the breach.

Before concluding, Patel posed two questions directly to council.

"Were you aware that Scott Marshall and JJ Suave received that FOIA link? If the answer is yes, when? Was it when I emailed y'all? When it got reported? Why has the public record yet to be corrected?" she asked.

Marshall, Scallate

respond

Rather than responding immediately, Marshall addressed Patel's remarks during his City Manager's report later in the meeting.

"I admire Amanda Patel's energy and her passion for the truth. I truly, truly do," Marshall said. "But that does not give her license to propagate her own version of the truth. She's trying to connect dots that don't exist to create details that aren't true."

Marshall acknowledged that he was copied on the email sent to Scallate that contained the download link but said he never opened the link or obtained the records.

"I was copied on the email that went to Councilman Scallate that had the link to the FOIA file in question," Marshall said. "I did not access the link and I have never been in possession of the file. Council knows this and I've also communicated this to Ms. Patel, but that truth doesn't fit her narrative so she chose to leave out that part of the story."

Marshall challenged Patel to produce evidence showing he had ever possessed the records, saying he has proof the download link

"was never accessed" by him. He also questioned how Patel became familiar with the contents of the released records, noting she "is not an intended recipient of the records that were released."

As Patel attempted to respond from the audience, Marshall interrupted, saying, "You do not. This is my time. You had yours," before continuing with the remainder of his report.

Later in the meeting, Scallate also addressed the issue, saying his name had been referenced several times and offering his own clarification.

"I did know that I was on the same thread that they were on when that file was sent," Scallate said, referring to Marshall and Suave.

"What I did not know and what was a surprise to me was the revelation of our city attorney's letter to the Department of Crime Victim Services in September stating that I was the only other recipient of that file. That was the issue that I had because I do not feel like that was an honest representation."

Patel was not the only resident to criticize the city's

handling of the FOIA investigation and the council's use of executive sessions. During public comment, Graham Trask criticized what he described as an excessive reliance on executive sessions, arguing that too much city business is discussed outside of public view. He repeatedly referred to council members as "cowards," accused them of avoiding public accountability and called for the release of information related to the city's ongoing FOIA investigation.

Following the public comments, council later voted to enter executive session to receive legal advice regarding the city's ongoing FOIA investigation, along with discussions concerning Parcel K in Beaufort Commerce Park and several personnel appointments. The FOIA breach remains under investigation.

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.

counties over the next five years.

munity Services Grants Program supports local non-profit human service organizations in enhancing residents' quality of life. All grant awards are contingent upon the availability of funding.

To be eligible for the Community Services Grant, organizations are required to meet specific criteria:

• Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose mission aligns with the program's goal of improving quality of life for Beaufort County residents with an emphasis on enhancing the well-being and self-sufficiency of vulnerable or disadvantaged populations

• Agencies must directly serve Beaufort County and use all

awarded funds for the benefit of its residents

• Only one application per organization (identified by EIN) will be accepted, and fiscal agents are not permitted

Eligibility, criteria, application timeline and the application itself are all outlined at https://bit. ly/4f3eSck for interested groups.

Funds may not be used for:

• Fundraising or capital campaigns

• Endowments or scholarships

• To reduce debt of any kind

• Religious or political activities

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

Family Promise announces a name change

Family Promise of Beaufort County has changed its name to Family Promise of the Lowcountry, a change, according to the organization, that reflects the its expanding reach and its commitment to children and families experiencing homelessness across the region. The nonprofit has also launched a new website, fp-lc.org.

According to the organization’s media release, “the new name better represents the families the organization already serves throughout Beaufort and Jasper counties and signals its plans to extend services into additional Lowcountry

Family Promise’s mission is to help children and their families experiencing homelessness in the Lowcountry break the cycle and build a brighter future. ‘It’s a hand up, not a hand out.’” Family Promise of the Lowcountry helps children and their families experiencing homelessness break the cycle and build a brighter future. Through the Family Promise of the Lowcountry programs, including the Freedom House shelter, the organization offers families a hand up toward lasting, independent housing. Every gift stays local. Learn more or donate at fp-lc.org. – Staff reports

The heat is on in South Carolina, nation

With heat indices at more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit along most of the South Carolina coast this past weekend, it’s a good thing that we don’t face global warming. That was sarcasm, if you didn’t figure it out.

Seriously, even climate change deniers have to admit that something kooky is going on with the weather – from more than five dozen flooding days last year in Charleston alone to droughts and more intense hurricanes. Remember Hurricane Helene? People in the North Carolina mountains do. They continue to face flooding impacts from the 100-year storm two years later.

South Carolina’s high temperatures typically combine with lots of humidity to create cloying,

IANDY BRACK

damp air that is sometimes difficult to breathe. And as we all know, if you stay out in it too long, you’ll sweat like the devil. (If you stop sweating, you’re in a danger zone and might need medical help.)

In the southern California desert, however, there’s no real humidity to make it feel worse than it is. Why? Because it actually feels as bad as it is. On Thursday, for example, it was 100 degrees in Palm Springs at 10 a.m. One hundred degrees! A hotel manager noted it

was supposed to rise to 117 degrees later in the day.

But instead of being a smothering wet blanket, this kind of desert heat presses against your cheeks. It burns. It dries your nostrils. It makes you fully appreciative of air-conditioning.

While in South Carolina we are accustomed to being outside in the high 90s with triple-digit heat indices, there’s little to prepare you for the blazing heat and too-bright sun in the desert. It is, quite frankly, miserable. And to everyone who says it’s a “different kind of heat” that’s not as bad because of the low humidity, spend a little time here. The heat is horrible. It’s inconceivable why people even live here in July.

While high temperatures are capturing headlines

across the state and nation, here are some other headlines that should grab your attention:

Opioid deaths down in S.C. For the second consecutive year, opioid and drug overdose deaths in the Palmetto State dropped by a third from 2023 to 2024. Fentanyl, however, continues to be the leading cause of fatal overdoses with 914 of the 1,481 overdose deaths in 2024. Big reasons for the drop in overdose deaths are better education and broader availability of life-saving medications like Narcan and widespread distribution of fentanyl test strips.

Blood donations needed. Officials with the American Red Cross say it’s a vital time for blood donations across the state and nation. Why? Because in the hot months of summer, dona-

tions decline. Needed now in South Carolina: Group O blood donations. Check with your local chapter to help by giving a pint.

Data centers. South Carolina currently has 20 planned or operational data centers spread across the state, as shown in a new map published by The State newspaper. Nine are operational, two are operational and expanding, and nine more are planned. But advocates in a few counties are fighting them for how they suck away fresh water. Look for this issue to raise more of a political profile in the months to come.

Tax-free weekend. August will bring an annual gimmick – the state’s tax-free weekend in which consumers of school-related items (plus lots of other stuff where it’s hard to see a school connection) can

save money. It’s a continuing gimmick because most people don’t use it, which creates inequities. But legislators keep approving it so they can have something to brag about. When: Aug. 7 to Aug. 9.

Bridge replacements.

South Carolina has received $23.5 million in federal funding to help pay for 18 replacement bridges in nine counties, announced the state, which will chip in $93 million on the projects. That’s great. But remember, there still are about 2,800 bridges – yes, 2,800 – that need significant work. State lawmakers need to get more serious about fixing them.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of the Charleston City Paper and Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send it to feedback@ statehousereport.com.

A spiritual ‘bridge too far’

t is Sunday, early, and it is warm.

This morning I’m on our reconditioned deck; watching the sun illuminate the low-hanging moss; listening to a “meditation” supplied by Rev. Richard Rohr. Rohr’s meditation deals with the early days of the Christian Church. It deals with a recently crucified man who lived in Judea — a man who emphasized love of neighbor, sharing of one’s wealth and simplicity when it came to wearing apparel.

Rohr tells us that this ancient “influencer” didn’t pose much of a threat to the Roman Empire that then controlled all of the Mediterranean basin and beyond. (The Romans couldn’t rein-in the Scots or the Germans and so they built walls to keep them out.)

In those early days there wasn’t much theology beyond love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus didn’t

Ilike incense, or small animal throat-cutting, or wear the ermine-lined robes that were popular with the restive and sometimes rebellious Jews who lived in this dusty, desiccated province.

The “Jesus people” were really strange dudes who operated on the lowest rung of society’s ladder, an unimportant splinter; and yet there was something strangely attractive in their sandal-wearing simplicity.

The Romans — sensing their own Greek-inspired gods were no longer providing the spiritual sustenance that supported their regime — decided a change was necessary. So,

starting with Constantine, they changed horses.

The Romans slowly embraced this now-expanding splinter group deciding that what it needed was a beefed-up theology (more rules); better vestments and a building program that was on par with the temples and amphitheaters it had been building for centuries.

But, if the truth be told, the Romans were really focused on rules — details around divinity that had been largely side-stepped by the early Christians. They got into, for example, the concept of Original Sin and whether we entered the world corrupted or uncorrupted. Starting with Paul, then moving on to Augustine, Aquinas, Ambrose and others volumes were written on the nature of God; the nature of sin; the nature of evil; a half-way house called “purgatory”; the status of women, and why it was wrong to eat meat on Friday.

By the time I came along all of this was condensed into something called the Catechism which was as important (to Catholics) as the Bible itself.

In 1957, I was a uniformed school-boy at St Michael’s Catholic School in Columbus, Ohio. I was in the complete thrall of the nuns who taught me the Catechism every morning; relishing the certainties and marveling at the “mysteries” they taught. I continued my rule-based education at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas.

Eventually I strayed from that well-paved pathway finding comfort in John Sholar — a Presbyterian preacher here in Beaufort; and in Roger Smith who was, for a time, the Rector at St Helena’s Church.

While John was certain of the Resurrection of the robe-and-sandal wearing man in Judea, I remember sitting with him in an Augusta cafeteria discussing

the contents of the Ark of the Covenant and where that fabled vessel might be hidden. My conversations with Roger Smith were equally colloquial and, perhaps, my comments bordered on blasphemy.

All of which brings me back to the Richard Rohr, the Catholic cleric, who does not focus on rules or espouse a transactional relationship with God.

His meditations usually reinforce the idea that one’s life has two parts — the first part being a time of hustle, bustle, status-seeking and finding a reasonably priced time share in Aruba. It’s mostly about status — status, perceived success and stability — that at some point in the future will be utterly shattered.

Rohr says this shattering is not a bad thing — it opens the door to doubt, reflection, re-evaluation and, ultimately, a craving for grace, goodness, compassion and — if you’re lucky — a second chance at

finding the Divine. Recently Rohr also said that (in this second and final phase) we should not care about what other people think of us. We should focus on being “awake” to what is happening around us. After a lifetime of self-promotion, resume-writing and virtue-signaling are we really expected to stop the flossing, the sit-ups and any effort to appear productive and successful?

I, myself, think the Roman padre goes too far. Asking us to give up our near-constant campaign to appear successful, worthy of respect and, yes, happy is a ship that has sailed for me; a Leviathan that cannot be turned around or, to use the disaster at Arnheim as a metaphor — “a bridge too far.”

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

Remembering Senator Graham

t is Sunday afternoon, and again I am a day late getting started on my soon-to-be-due article. Had I started yesterday, however, with the advent of Sunday’s news, I probably would have deferred to what I am about to write now. Timing really is everything.

Of course, I am referring to the passing of the senior Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham. I am of the generation that stands pretty staunchly behind the notion that one does not speak ill of the dead. That said, I am not about to become the same kind of hypocrite that I constantly berate, thereby making me every bit as bad as those I criticize. Thus, while I never am gleeful at the news of anyone’s death, there are certain things I trust are God’s way of intervening … whether we like it or not. And to that end, I am going to talk about what became my total disappointment with Sen. Graham.

CAROL LUCAS

Some history is called for, and I begin back when John McCain was still alive. Let me say here that despite his being a conservative, I had so much respect for Senator McCain. I remember when he stopped a woman mid-sentence at a rally who was spewing so many lies about Barrak Obama. That was a pivotal moment for many of us whose votes would go to Obama, but whose admiration would land squarely on McCain. I bring this to your attention as a contrast to 47’s ramblings about McCain. He asserted that he didn’t like people who were captured; he of 'bone-spurs fame' went on to casti-

gate the military folk who protect us as “suckers and losers.” For the life of me, I will never understand how anyone in the military, now or before, could vote for someone who made this a talking point. But I digress. I mention John McCain because we all know that he and Lindsey Graham were very close friends. Oddly enough, as I was researching comments about the passing of the latter, it was Hunter Biden who said this: “When I heard about Senator Graham’s death, the first thing I thought of was before Donald Trump when he was a brother to John McCain. This was a time when a conservative Republican could say of my father, “If you can’t admire Joe Biden as a person, you have a problem. He’s the nicest person I’ve ever met in politics. As good a man as God ever created.”

What happened to the Lindsey Graham shown above or the one I am about to further quote? This may

be something we will never understand.

In December 2015, Graham called Donald Trump a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” By February 2016, he said: “I think he’s a kook. I think he’s crazy.” That May: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed ... and we will deserve it.”

Then Trump won. Despite knowing what Trump was, and having said so aloud, Graham spent nine years in subservience anyway.

The following is an excerpt from a piece by Michael Jochum entitled “The Great Betrayal.” In all my research, this best sums up my feelings.

“The Lindsey Graham I once respected disappeared the day he surrendered his conscience to Donald Trump. I remember the senator who stood beside John McCain and spoke of honor, alliances, constitutional responsibility, and moral leadership. We often

disagreed politically, but I never questioned that he believed what he was saying. Somewhere along the way that man vanished. In his place emerged someone willing to explain away almost anything if it meant remaining close to power.

I didn’t watch a politician evolve. I watched a man slowly negotiate away pieces of his character until there was almost nothing recognizable left.

"That is the tragedy I see. Not simply that Lindsey Graham died, but that he had already abandoned the very qualities that once made him worthy of respect.

He traded independence for obedience, integrity for influence, and conviction for proximity to a president he himself once warned Americans about. When I think about Lindsey Graham’s legacy, I don’t think of the man who served beside John McCain. I think of the man who chose to spend the final chapter of his career defending nearly

every excess, every assault on democratic norms, every attack on truth, and every excuse offered on behalf of Donald Trump.” I have made clear my feelings about the current president -- multiple times. I know for some folks this has been ad nauseam; for that I make no apologies. Democracy dies because intelligent people who know better decide that preserving their own political future matters more than preserving the institutions they swore to defend. No. 47 didn’t create what became a movement alone. He required willing participants. Sadly, Lindsey Graham became one of the most indispensable among them.

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.”

VOICES

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

You are entitled to your own opinion

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. -Attributed to Voltaire

This week I lifted my head out of the sand long enough to start investigating a question for which I had not found an answer until now. I queried, “Trump and pardons” and “Trump and bribes” and began reading articles such as “The bombshell inside Trump’s $1.3 billion pardon market,” “More days go by, more bribes for trump,” and “How Trump became the biggest crook in the history of democracy.”

I tiptoed through the website, oversightdemocrats.house.gov until I noted that lame duck Jasmine Crockett and boorish Ro Khanna are on the committee. There’s even a “Trump Family Digital Grift Profits” tracker. I scanned a few reports that made claims and relied heavily on Democratic party talking points for evidence.

TLOUISE MATHEWS

I began to feel like the Dementors of Harry Potter novels were sucking out my soul, and I needed a ton of chocolate to save me. I cannot defend Donald Trump. For one thing, I am limited by word count. Like the rest of us, he sins. He has made egregious mistakes. Whether he and his family have committed actual crimes will, I am sure, come out in the interminable impeachment hearings that will probably start Jan. 3, 2027.

I am cynical enough to believe that Washington, D.C., is rife with quid pro quo dealings. Why else would there be an entire industry of lobbyists? They

are not just talking.

I would probably be upset about President Trump’s pardons seemingly related to payments for the ballroom construction if President Biden had not issued pardons to family, friends, and followers for anything they had done or might still do. It’s sad but true that actions that are illegal for us little people are lawful for those in power. Look at the insider trading Nancy Pelosi used to such great advantage.

I do think, though, that we the people must at least attempt to understand the difference between fact and opinion.

When I was teaching, a text we used defined fact as something that is known to have happened or to exist, especially something for which proof exists. Opinion is a thought or belief about something or someone. This distinction bothered me as it put spiritual faith into the realm of opinion because it cannot be

definitively proven in the way that biology can prove conception occurs when a sperm penetrates an egg.

For example, it is a fact that Tom Homan was the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at ICE under President Obama. Tom Homan served as Acting ICE Director during the first Trump administration. He serves as border czar during the second Trump administration.

It is opinion that ICE agents can murder people without consequences.

It is fact that Donald Trump won 49.2 percent of the popular vote in the 2024 presidential election while Kamala Harris won 48.3 percent of the vote.

It is opinion that Donald Trump is a dictator bent on destroying democracy.

All of us are entitled to our own opinions. We are not entitled to our own facts. Sometimes it is difficult to discern the difference. We are products of

our upbringing, education, experiences, and information sources, all of which are biased. Most of us are guilty of confirmation bias, that is, we read or view media that agree with our views and beliefs.

Some of us believe whatever we think is right, or that our group or class owns the truth. A long time ago, a mentor told me to repeat, “I can be right, or I can be happy.” I say the Serenity Prayer daily –sometimes several times a day – to remind me of what I can and cannot control. What I can control is pretty much limited to me.

Recently, I broke one of my own Facebook rules and commented on a friend’s July 4th post. I viewed the website to which she referred as making claims without evidence. She wrote a lovely reply, which I have thought about a great deal: “We may have different views on politics, but I still value you as a friend and neigh-

bor. I believe strongly in your right to publish your opinions. As I do in mine. I don’t bear you a drop of ill will.”

I am reminded of her gracious reply when I think of Sen. Lindsey Graham who passed away 24 hours before I finished this essay. Sen. Graham was known for his ability to reach across the aisle to find compromise when he and Senate Democrats disagreed on an issue. He worked for what he believed to be the best path forward for America, but he was always respectful of people who disagreed with him.  Let us honor his memory by following his example.

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

Scott Marshall must go!

he decision making of our Beaufort City Council members proves their collective ability to stand for nothing! Our City Council will not even stand up in support of one of its own, Councilmember Josh Scallate, who himself tried to stand up against Scott Marshall, the City Manager, in response to Marshall’s blatant insubordination.

Our City Council refuses to stand up to Dominion Energy as it butchers our landmark trees -- the same butchering City Council allowed five years ago. City Council moans "nothing can be done." The truth, however, is that no will exists for action.

City Council refuses to stand up for 12-yearold girls whose rape kits, among 20,000+ pages of other sensitive data, have been publicly released. This data breach has been "under investigation” for a year now. Any “progress”, however, is discussed in myriad, secret executive sessions while the public remains in the dark.

Attempting to "clean up" the data breach to protect itself from liability, the City has implored innocent

bystanders to sign legal documents shielding the city from legal liability and erroneously threatened that those same individuals will have legal liability if they don’t sign the documents. Where are the results of the so called “investigation” and why is the city trying to protect itself prior to releasing the “investigation” results?

Beyond the confidential information released in the data breach itself, many of the 20,000+ pages of unredacted documents reveal atrocious mismanagement and ineptness endemic to our city government and specifically in our police department to include mishandling evidence. Even you will be horrified at the extent of the mismanagement! Also, defense lawyers may want to pay attention as such evidence mishandling could provide

When the cat’s away …

The old saying “When the cat’s away the mice will play,” is taking on real world and frightening political significance today. Since Trump won the presidency, rather than offering a reasonable opposition plan (let alone one that makes any sense), the mainstream Democrat party (the Cats) have focused 100% of their attention on opposing anything he does, says or proposes for the betterment of our country. In doing so, they have created a political vacuum that has allowed the insidious and growing Social Dem-

ocrat wing of their party (the Mice) to gain more and more control. This of course is not good … for them or for America. The “Cats” claim it’s all OK, invoking the “big tent” party reasoning, which I challenge by simply asking: “If your party were your body would you gladly invite a potentially lethal disease to invade it?” Not likely. Wake up, Cats … you need to do better than this … for your own sake and for the sake of our Democracy. Loyal opposition has always been a hallmark of our political process but where you’re headed with your Mischief of Mice (and, yes, that’s the collective noun for

avenues to reopen prior criminal convictions.

Councilman Scallate understands the gravity of the data breach as he has read the documents; Scott Marshall understands the gravity of the data breach even though he has a) denied receiving them (he has, however, received them) and b) denied viewing the documents; If in fact what he says is true and he has not read the documents, Marshall has committed unconscionable gross negligence. Without knowledge of what’s in the documents, Marshall cannot control the damage, meaning for the past year no damage control has occurred.

You, council members, refuse to stand up for our Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park by ignoring preventative maintenance for decades and failing to set aside money to replace the park. Instead, millions of dollars were spent on a separate, extravagant park. Millions more dollars were given to developers to build speculative warehouses in the failed commerce park. All is discussed in secret, executive sessions so the public is kept in the dark.

You enable Scott Mar-

a group of mice) is contrary to what has made us great for 250 years.

-- Frank Wainwright,

St. Helena Island

Join the real patriots

I agree with Mr. Dickson that 47's picture should not be on U.S. currency. Actually, why do we need a $250 bill? Who's going to make change? But that's not the point.

And yes FDR was a great president! What I take issue with is your last paragraph. "...because whatever else [he] is, he is an American

shall to mismanage our city, alienate residents, and thumb his nose at you, his bosses. Marshall knows you won't fire him; it’s why he continues with his egregious behaviors.

You, council members, refuse to hold Marshall accountable for his mismanagement of TIFF money resulting in our city losing access to millions of dollars – money which could have contributed to rebuilding our Waterfront Park.

You refuse to hold Marshall accountable for his heavy handedness with at least one black employee contributing to, it appears, that same employee’s resignation. You’ve seen the exit interviews. You know what happened.

You refuse to hold Marshall accountable for taking every bit of feedback personally and his fatal flaw of lashing out at those who give him feedback. He repeated such behavior at council’s Tuesday, July 7th meeting, by blasting and attempting to discredit Amanda Patel in response to her public comment. Just watch the video recording.

Unbelievably, you shower Scott Marshall with 5-star performance reviews and

patriot." Once again a Republican implies that 47 has a lot of faults which are too many to enumerate, but then finishes with the good guy baloney. You can't be mostly a bad guy and still, in some way, be a good guy. It's like saying a wife beater isn't really bad because the wife still has most of her teeth left and she can still see out of one of her eyes.

In this day and time a real Patriot is not a nationalist. In the current world situation we should be promoting our allies, and America should be proud that we have been the world leader in defense (not war), health and economics. It is also hard to believe a patriot, while serving

increase his salary as your misplaced monetary approval of his job performance.

Are you blind?

You, council members, refuse to solve and settle lawsuits and instead allow them to grow and attract further lawsuits. And you do nothing. You each individually and collectively offer excuses as to why "your hands are tied" or how "you are powerless" or how "you have no legal basis for action" or "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."

Doing what's right requires moral rectitude; it requires a backbone; it requires a belief; it requires doing something good with the power that one has. It does not mean "shrugging ones shoulders"; saying "Well, I'm only one of five council members"; or I'm "only the mayor"; or we/I am "powerless."

Beaufortonians are finally fed up.

You, City Council, can no longer hide on the dais, behind the "power" of the city, and in executive session.

Your inaction has finally caught up with you, and you will be held accountable, as will Scott Marshall, for your individual and collective

actions of inaction, lack of transparency, refusal to represent your constituents, and refusal to hold Marshall accountable for his incompetence, missteps, and insubordination.

You have lost our trust and have allowed our city government to devolve into a state of dysfunction and stasis. This stasis will only change when our citizens act at the ballot box and elect a majority on City Council who will stand up for what’s right. Only then will Scott Marshall be excised from our city. Mark my word -- we'll get our city back on track. There is no alternative.

Graham B. Trask grew up in Beaufort and continues to be a resident of Beaufort. He owns a home in Beaufort’s landmark historic district. He also owns several businesses as well as residential and commercial real estate located throughout the City of Beaufort and specifically in the historic district. He adds value to almost 50 different resident business owner tenants to help them grow their enterprises. He is also the president of Protect Beaufort Foundation, Inc., and Beautiful Beaufort Open Land Trust. Contact him at Graham@ grahamtrask.com.

as the people's president, could increase his wealth by billions of dollars and run our deficit up by trillions.

So Mr. Dickson tell us why you think he is a patriot. Is it because he started a war that has yielded no gain for us or the rest of the world? Or went after immigration using gestapo-like tactics? Or because he has appointed unqualified people to serve in the most important roles in our government? Or because he wants his name on buildings and institutions?

Or because the only campaign promise he has kept was pardoning the non patriots of January 6 fame?

Or because he wants to attack and seize an ally (think Greenland)? Or because he has really weaponized the DOJ to go after his personal antagonizers?

He's not just tearing down the White House, he is tearing down our country. And on and on. You need to open your eyes just a little wider and step over the line and join the real patriots.

-- Bob Lewis, Port Royal

ARTS, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS

YMCA Family Day

Beaufort County Adult Baseball

Maci Dean, left, and shortstop Gunner Hollingsworth after walking in a run against the Honey Badgers during the third inning of their Beaufort County Adult Baseball League game Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Burton Wells Park. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

ARTS BRIEFS

Penn Center’s York W. Bailey Museum hosting Bruce Ingram exhibition

Penn Center’s York W. Bailey Museum is hosting a solo exhibition featuring painting and sculpture by the South Carolina folk artist Bruce Ingram through Monday, Nov. 30, 2026. The exhibition showcases Ingram’s mastery of visual storytelling through memory and found objects.

An opening reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, July 18, providing an opportunity for the public, collectors, and press to meet the artist and view the collection first-hand.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Shrimp City Slim returning to Beaufort

Shrimp City Slim will

return to Hop Dog at 223 Scott Street, Beaufort from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 24. Slim will perform his “world piano blues and original music.” There is no cover.

Frankie Valli tribute returning to USCB Center For The Arts

If you loved “Jersey Beach Boys” last summer, don't miss the return of Lights Out with their funfilled “Tribute to Frankie Valli & More” at 9 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the USCB Center For The Arts at 805 Carteret Street. Known as "The Nation's No. 1 Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons," Lights Out delivers soaring harmonies, incredible falsettos, audience interaction, and all the timeless hits you know and love. Tickets are on sale now. Be sure to secure your seats early — last year’s was sold out.

Experience history, culture through handmade crafts at Penn Center

Saturday, Sunday mark National Craft Open Studios Weekend

Staff Reports

Penn Center invites the public to experience the artistry, history, and cultural significance of handmade crafts during a special exhibition featuring Lowcountry artists Torreah "Cookie" Washington, Amiri Farris, Bruce Ingram, Monique de La Tour, and Teniqua Pope.

The workshops will be held from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the York W. Bailey Museum on the Penn Center campus as part of the inaugural National Craft Open Studios Weekend. The nationwide event brings together artists from across the country to welcome visitors into their creative spaces while celebrating the enduring traditions of American craft.

The St. Helena Island event was spearheaded by Washington, Penn Center's 2026 Artist-in-Residence, in partnership with the University of Georgia's Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, with support from the Mellon Foundation.

"The National Craft Open Studios Weekend provides a unique opportunity to showcase the artistic traditions of the Gullah-Geechee community while welcoming visitors to Penn Center," Penn Center Executive Director Robert Adams, Ph.D., said in a media release. "We are proud to partner with Cookie Washington and the University of Georgia's Willson Center for Humanities and Arts to celebrate the artists and cultural traditions that continue to shape this community."

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet a diverse

group of artists whose work reflects the history, culture, and creative traditions of the Lowcountry.

-- Monique de La Tour, Penn Center's Interpretive and Exhibitions Lead, curated the current Bruce Ingram exhibition at the York W. Bailey Museum. She also shares her knowledge of traditional Lowcountry arts through indigo dyeing workshops and guided medicinal plant walks that explore the connections between culture, history, and the natural landscape.

-- Teniqua Pope is an artist, abolitionist, and healing arts practitioner with deep ancestral roots in South Carolina's Lowcountry. A 2025 Gullah Geechee CREATE artist, she transforms ocean debris and natural materials into works that explore resilience, displacement, and heritage. Her projects include Selah Sound, which combines art, agriculture, and activism to support Gullah Geechee cultural and land preservation, and Sojourner's Staff, a collection of hand-carved walking sticks inspired by personal stories of the Great Migration.

-- Amiri Farris, Penn Center's 2023-24 Artist in Residence, is a Bluffton-based interdisciplinary artist whose work has been featured in more than 50 solo and museum exhibitions nationally and internationally. During his residency, themed "Land and Justice," Farris explored Gullah Geechee culture, land conservation, heirs' property, and the history of Penn Center through photography, painting, and other media.

All seats are $32 (plus tax and fees) and available at https://bit.ly/4w1I7DG.

BAA’s Featured Artist for July, August — John Meckley

The Beaufort Art Association Gallery is hosting a Featured Artist solo exhibit by local artist John Meckley. Meckley’s signature show, “Wings Over the Lowcountry,” will be on display through Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery located on Bay Street in downtown Beaufort.

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

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

— Staff reports

"This residency at Penn Center allows me to root that work in place, history, and community, connecting past to present through hands-on making and a practice of craftivism," Washington said. "For me, Gullah rag quilting is a language of memory, an act of honoring the lives, labor, and creativity of those whose stories were rarely recorded but deeply felt," Washington said. "Every stitch carries history forward and reminds us that craft is not only an art form but also an act of cultural preservation."

The community is encouraged to experience Gullah rag quilting, indigo dyeing, artist demonstrations, and other hands-on craft activities during National Craft Open Studios Weekend. Admission is free, and all are welcome.

RSVP for Crafting Workshops at https://bit.ly/4fhv4Hi.

As part of the weekend's festivities, visitors are also invited to an opening reception for Bruce Ingram's exhibition at 6 p.m., Friday, July 18, at the York W. Bailey Museum. The reception offers an opportunity to meet the artist and celebrate the exhibition in advance of the weekend's public programming.

Details are available athttps://bit.ly/3TynjVW. RSVP for the Bruce Ingram Opening Reception at https://bit.ly/3TdmbqH.

As the 2026-2027 Artist in Residence, Washington has engaged community members and students through workshops, collaborative quilting projects, and intergenerational programming exploring Gullah Geechee history through textile arts. Her vision is to ensure these traditions continue to thrive, not only as artistic practices but also as living records of family, place, and identity.

Ask these four questions to help prep for

Provided by Wells Fargo Advisors

To determine how much you will need to fund your retirement, it’s helpful to estimate what your budget will look like. These four questions could help you identify your retirement lifestyle and plan for the related costs.

1. What will I be doing?

Do I plan to continue working past age 65 or after I reach my full retirement age? Full time or part time? Are there hobbies I want to pursue that will either cost money or make money?

Is there volunteer work that may also have costs associated?

Do I plan to travel? Where?

Are there things I enjoy that have related costs?

2. Where will I be living?

Will I stay in my current home or downsize to something smaller or a rental property?

Will I move to a retirement community or assisted living facility?

Will I sell my home and replace it with an RV or other alternative living option?

3. What situations could impact my expenditures?

• What health care cov-

retirement

erage do I need for my medical conditions?

Do I have an emergency fund for unexpected situations such as a health care crisis or property loss due to a natural disaster?

What if I stop working sooner than expected? What happens if I experience a significant income loss?

4. What barriers are keeping me from investing? I have nothing extra to invest. I have education loans or other debt. I don’t know how to start an investment plan. I have time to start saving later.

Next steps

Prepare rather than panic. Create an outline from your answers to these questions. It should give you the framework to calculate the income you may need to support your retirement lifestyle.

Decide to adjust your spending patterns today. Choose something you really don’t need and redirect that amount into your retirement savings. Take advantage of growth potential over time. Pay yourself first instead of spending money on something that won’t support your future retirement needs. Creating that nest egg now could reduce your stress about money. Start or add to an emergency fund. Even if the amount seems very small, it’s important to take the first step. As that amount grows and the behavior becomes a habit, you will likely gain confidence and momentum in your investment activities. Meet with a financial advisor to review your answers and turn your outline into

LOCAL MILITARY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

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

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

Third Recruit Training Battalion • Lieutenant Colonel S. L. Gross

Commander of Troops, First Sergeant W. T. Tompkins • Parade Adjutant, Staff Sergeant Cornelious A. Reynolds Jr Company “N”, Third Recruit Training Battalion • Captain D. Nunezrenteria Drill Master • Staff Sergeant D. M. Brodie

PLATOON 3048

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt A. E. Murphy

PFC Abbey, Joeljayden N.

PFC Austin, Berechiah D.

PVT Barton, Kaleb M. *

PVT Burrell, Logan M.

PVT Copeland Jr, Matthew E.

PVT Cosby Iii, Patrick J.

PFC Derstine, Keith A.

PVT Flannery, Shane M.

PVT Galabi, Ahmed S. *

PFC Herrera Jr, Alexander L.

PFC Holbert, Maxwell T.

PVT Krueger, Hayden R.

PVT Lawton, Kheaton G.

PVT Mcnulty, Austin K.

PFC Mecen Olivera, Roussel A.

PFC Medranocampos, Ismael E.

PVT Miller, Preston S.

PFC Moreno, Alexander J.

PVT Morgan, Cody A.

PVT Newman, Jonathon H.

PFC Ocanas, Adan E.

PVT Oliver, Lorenzo M.

PVT Ramey, Brian W.

PVT Rodriguez, Izreal L.

PVT Salinascasoverde, Daniel A.

PVT Scott, Noah R.

PVT Sikorski, Cooper W. *

PVT Smith, Hudson W.

PVT Trauth, Brendan N.

PFC Ugbaja, Raphael C.

PVT Williams, Joshua R.

PVT Womack, Malachi C.

PLATOON 3049

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt B. I Dessouky

PFC Anderson, Claire S.

PVT Barnes, Kaisha L.

PFC Boarman, Bailey J.

PFC Buckley, Ava N.

PFC Capehart, Abigail R.

PVT Case, Kellan R.

PFC Coreasrodriguez, Cindy Y.

PFC Crayton, Cameia D.

PFC Demark, Laila N.

PFC Dewitt, India M.

PFC Dillard, Mya R.

PVT Glaser, Mackenzie M.*

PVT Granadoschilders, Gianna

PFC Grunenwald, Isabelle R.

PVT Hernandez, Valeria E.

PFC Hester, Faith P.

PFC Hulsizer, Jade L.

PFC Jevning, Layla E.

PFC Kemp, Clara E.

PFC Kurek, Aubry M.

PFC Lawrence, Apollonia

PFC Leon, Brianna

PVT Lopes, Victoria R.

PVT Lopezcastaneda, Angelica

PVT Madera, Abigail

PVT Malcolm, Annakay C.*

PFC Martinez, Martha I.

PVT Mcbride, Aubrey R.

PFC Mcduffie, Akira L.

PFC Mcwherter, Addilyn L.

PFC Mirandaoliveira, Sarah J.

PFC Murray, Juliet E.

PFC Parton, Olivia

PFC Penacoronado, Annette

PVT Prinsloo, Camryn*

PFC Rivera, Anna L.

PVT Roberts, Sariah C.

PVT Rojasosorio, Jennifer

PFC Romannaccerosado, Isabella

PVT Romo, Karla M.

PFC Sanchezponce, Sandy

PVT Sarmiento, Jenidy

PVT Schroeder, Laken M.

PFC Segeren, Cassidi J.

PFC Stickler, Kiana L.

PVT Velalopez, Jennifer

PFC Velascogallegos, Paola Y.

PFC Velaskez, Natasha M.

PVT Williams, Jayden M.

PVT White, Nyla O.

PFC Wolfe, Cheyenne E.

PFC Zhinin, Jailene Y.

PLATOON 3050

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt C. M. Alexander

Pvt Bellew, Z. T.

PFC Bowers, R. C.

Pvt Carter, D. E.*

PFC Castaneda, A.

Pvt Castillo, A. D.

Pvt Charland, G. A.

Pvt Cooper, M. N.

PFC Delara, D. M.

PFC Delvalle, G. A.

PFC Driskell, J. E.

PFC Feliciano, J. R.

Pvt Hadtrath, S. S.

Pvt Hotchkiss, J. P.

Pvt Inga, A. D.

Pvt Jordan, C. D.*

Pvt Leete, C. A.

Pvt Lue, A. C.

Pvt Luna, M. A.

Pvt Marescruz, M. A.

Pvt Mellody, C. J.

Pvt Moorer Jr, D. L.

Pvt Nelson, T. D.

PFC Perkins, C. R.

Pvt Prater, A. P.

PFC Railing, I. K.

PFC Railing, I. K.

Pvt Rasmussen, C. L.

PFC Rio, V. M.

Pvt Roby Jr, C. L.

Pvt Rodriguezbermeo, J. A.

Pvt Scottevans, E. H.

Pvt Shah, S. A.

Pvt Sisson, C. J.*

Pvt Smith, P. J.

Pvt Topping, A. L.

PFC Truitt, C. T.

Pvt Webb, W. C.

Pvt White, G. L..

PLATOON 3052

Senior Drill Instructor

Pvt Amao, H. O.

Sgt W. C. Edwards

PFC Atkerson, N. J.

Pvt Atkinson, L. G.

Pvt Bailey, A. L.

PFC Barksdale, J. C.

Pvt Bobo, H. J.

Pvt Borders, J. E. *

Pvt Bruski, Z. L.

Pvt Caouette, K. A.

Pvt Chesley, M. A.

PFC Costemartinez, L. R.

Pvt Coveney, J. H.

Pvt Cruzsanchez, M. A.

PFC Cummings, D. M.

Pvt Curry, N. M.

Pvt Gaviria, S.

Pvt Gazzola, L. C.

PFC Huttenberger, J. D.

PFC Johnson, J. J.

Pvt Kerr, I. R.

Pvt Lach, J. M.

Pvt Mack, J. A.

Pvt Martin, C. J.

Pvt Mcdaniel, J. A.

Pvt Meeks, P. M.

Pvt Myers, R. C. *

PFC Obrien, G. W.

Pvt Paris, J. D.

PFC Pedrazagetzama, A. D.

Pvt Priz, D. M.

Pvt Robbins, Z. F.

Pvt Sandovalsantos, B. E.

Pvt Sellers, B. J.

Pvt Teos, J. E.

Pvt Williams, J. P. *

PLATOON 3053

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt G. A. Hill

Pvt Alayon, R.

PFC Alexandre, M. D.

Pvt Aponte, J. J.

PFC Aragon I.A.

Pvt Bates A.D.

PFC Benitezjeda E.E.

PFC Blanc K.

PFC Bondi G.C.

PFC Calle B.E.*

Pvt Camerata R.

PFC Carlin J.H.*

Pvt Chapman G.J.

Pvt Cruzmugarra J.M.

Pvt Diazrivera C.A.

Pvt Egly C.L.

PFC Golson J.J.

Pvt Hoskins H.

Pvt Jackson G.P.

Pvt Lubin S. JR.

Pvt Murray A.N.

Pvt Namoc L.A.

Pvt Neff A.F.

PFC Peek H.I.

PFC Perez M.S.

PFC Perezjimenez D.A.

PFC Powers M.C.*

Pvt Richemond J.J.

Pvt Sanford W.L.

Pvt Warnick Z.J.

Pvt Wilkie A.C.

Pvt Williams A.R.

PFC Wisdom A.D. Jr

PLATOON 3054

Senior Drill Instructor

GySgt R. F. Hegwood III

Pvt Aguinagagarcia, B. J.

PFC Atkinson, E. I.

Pvt Barcia, J. S.

Pvt Bates, D. M.

Pvt Changlee, G. M.

Pvt Delgadososa, A.

Pvt Demelo, N. M.

PFC Donchetz, D. J.

Pvt Eckert, B. A.

Pvt Eckrich, T. D.

Pvt Familia Jr, F.

PFC Foster, G. N.

Pvt Frankenstein, G. T.*

Pvt Funez, A. D.

Pvt Geyer, E. D.

Pvt Gibbs, M. J.

Pvt Gonzalezfrometa, A.

Pvt Heagney, R. L.

Pvt Kamara, M.

Pvt Kegley, B. A.

Pvt Lalonde III, M. R.

PFC Marincardoso, J.

PFC Meyer, A. J.

Pvt Oritayo, E. A.

PFC Pennesi, J. A.

Pvt Phelps, N. J.

PFC Powell, C. M.

PFC Reid, J. A.

Pvt Sheaffer, T. D.

Pvt Silveira, A. F.

Pvt Smith, G.

PFC Swart, J. S.

Pvt Walker, R. B.*

Pvt Walth, J.

Pvt Washington, S. E.

Pvt Williams, T. A.

Pvt Woitaszewski, R. J.

Pvt Yupanguicajisaca, D.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotion

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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AUCTIONS ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561

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

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TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

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Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450

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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

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Donate now at SCIndependentJournalism.org

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

Truth Matters

Should We Speak Out?

Truth Is Meant to Be Shared

Should Christians speak out?

When Christians attempt to share Christ with others or speak out about moral issues, we are often accused of being “intolerant.”

The fear of being labeled as intolerant can keep us from lovingly sharing truth with others.

A false understanding of tolerance has become popular. In recent years, tolerance has come to mean that one should accept all viewpoints as equally true or good. It is seen as arrogant and judgmental to think that you know the truth in a particular matter, especially regarding faith or morals. It is seen as intolerant to share truth or help another person see that they are making a mistake. We must accept and celebrate everyone’s actions and beliefs, and leave everyone to whatever they want to do.

Should we tolerate a friend driving drunk?

Imagine seeing a friend at a restaurant, clearly intoxicated and about to drive himself home. Is it judgmental or arrogant to recognize that drunk driving is a dangerous and immoral course of action? Is it intolerant to challenge the friend and help him to choose a different course of action? Of course not!

Authentic tolerance means respectful disagreement. In its original sense, tolerance means that we respect and care for all people, even if we disagree with them on important subjects. Opposing views can be discussed in an atmosphere of mutual respect. For example, an atheist and a Christian could disagree on the existence of God and still hold each other in great esteem. They could respectfully talk about these matters, trying to help each other see the truth, and even be close friends.

Without authentic tolerance, true dialogue ceases. The irony of our “tolerant” culture is that views contrary to current political correctness are not tolerated. All viewpoints are supposed to be equally true and good, but quite often Christians are rejected as fools or bigots for adhering to Christian beliefs. Christians are expected to change their own beliefs to match what is politically correct. This is the opposite of authentic tolerance.

Christians should share the truth with love and respect. If we really believe that Jesus is divine, and that knowing him is the source of happiness both now and after death, how can we not want to share this good news? Like Jesus himself, we do not force anyone to our way of thinking, but with love we joyfully share what is good and true!