July 9 edition

Four St. Helena Island residents charged after Coligny Beach shooting wounds eight

Sheriff Tanner: Fourth of July violence began with fight between two groups; investigators continue search for additional suspects

By Delayna Earley

According

Kudos to the city of Beaufort and town of Port Royal –their employees and dozens of volunteers -- for providing folks, by most accounts, wonderful July 4th activities.

The city’s First Friday, which has been a monthly Main Street Beaufort tradition for more than a decade, of course had a 4th theme, with a live band music playing on Bay Street -- which was closed to traffic -- a petting zoo and a miniature train that toured waving kids around the block.

The retail stores – at least the half that stayed open after-hours – and restaurants seemed to be doing a booming business. Real estate offices, of which there are certainly plenty in the downtown area, were closed.

Reportedly, there was little evidence of the city’s new “social district” provisions, which allow participants to walk about with adult beverages purchased at either of the two bars participating in the program.

On Saturday, there was a children’s parade through the downtown area and into the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, an event which brought out dozens of decorated kiddies and flag-waving parents. There was a real “family vibe” in the air. Same down in Port Royal, where

Habersham’s

Ron Callari

submitted this photo of a “late bloomer” -- Amaryllis (genus Hippeastrum).

After flowering, they can be made to rebloom by allowing a dormant period (cool, dark, dry rest) before restarting the cycle with water and sunlight.

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

VETERAN OF THE WEEK

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Mary Heyward, 72, who graduated from Beaufort High School in 1972 and joined the Women Army Corps. She attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson and then Advanced Computer Training to become a computer operator. Her first duty station was at Fort Gordon, Ga., processing data for logistics and statistics. These were the days of punch cards, large reels of tapes and noisy

line printers. After 3½ years, she transferred to Worms, Germany for another three-year assignment doing the same thing. She returned to the states to Fort Lewis, Wash. During that three-year tour, the Women Army Corps was transitioned into the Regular Army.

She went back to Germany for another tour at Stuttgart before reporting to Fort Jackson for Drill Sergeant School and duty as a drill instructor in a gender

MARY HEYWARD

Mary Heyward

integrated unit. She followed that tour at Advanced NCO Training at Fort Benjamin Harris, Ind., before returning for another three years in Stuttgart. Her final assignment was at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where she retired in 1994 as a Sergeant First Class with 22 years of service. She then returned to Beau-

fort where she began a career with the Beaufort County IT Department and telephone services for 22 more years. Her oldest daughter has earned a MS/Ed.S. degree and is working towards her PhD while serving at TCL.

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

DonalD F. Miller

June 24, 1930 – June 23, 2026

St. Helena Island

Don Miller, of St. Helena Island, passed away on June 23, 2026. Don was born to Ethel and Floyd Patton on June 24, 1930, in Albany, N.Y, where he spent his formative years. After receiving a Masters Degree from the University of Albany, he taught school and served in the National Guard.

Don began his career with the Foreign Service Division of the U.S. State Department in 1960. During his 30-year career, he was with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and served in the African countries of Nigeria, Ethiopia, The Ivory Coast, Mauretania, Burundi, and Liberia. USAID’s core mission was to end extreme poverty, promote

democratic governance, provide disaster relief, and advance U.S. foreign policy and security interests globally. While serving with USAID, Don graduated from the National War College, where employees of federal agencies receive high level strategic leadership training in national security, defense, and foreign policy.

Due to his responsibilities as Regional Director of African Affairs, his position required a security detail. His assigned security codename was "HIPPO.”

Don’s professional career granted him extensive travel, resulting in visits to six of the seven continents of the world.

Between his overseas assignments, he maintained residences in Washington, D.C., and Mt.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

July 9

1868: Francis L. Cardozo is elected the state’s first African American Secretary of State.

1868: South Carolina, after the elections of 1868, ratifies the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

July 12

2019: Coinciding with the opening of the 64th Beaufort Water Festival, the League of Women Voters Beaufort and Indivisible Beaufort stage a Lights For Liberty vigil in protest of U.S. detention camps along the southern border.

Vernon, Va.

In 1990, Don retired from the U.S. State Department, and moved to St. Helena Island, S.C. He was an avid tennis player and played competitively on Dataw Island. In addition to tennis, he excelled at every sport in which he competed, including baseball and basketball.

After retirement, Don was a dedicated volunteer, devoting much of his time to the Beaufort History Museum, and the Penn Center (the first school in the South for formerly enslaved West Africans). Don loved history, religion, teaching, travel, and collecting many different styles of art.

Don accumulated a wide variety of stunning artwork during his life, including everything from an extensive collection of African Art to Pipka Santas. In 2009, Don gifted a large portion of his African art collection to

OBITUARIES

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

the University of Virginia.

Don was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beaufort, S.C.

Don is survived by his wife, Bonnie H. Miller of St. Helena Island, and his son, Gregory Miller of Beaufort, S.C. Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Sara, and his infant son, Brent.

In accordance with Don’s wishes, no funeral service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 157 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort, S.C. 29907. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

2019: Nate Livesay steps down as head boys basketball coach at Beaufort Academy.

2020: Twelve-year-old Gavin Moore of Beaufort wins the 50-mile Cremator Ultra endurance race from Beaufort Town Center to St. Helena Island and back, twice.

July 14

2020: After being elected to three terms as Mayor of the City of Beaufort, Billy Keyserling announces he will not seek re-election.

-- Compiled by Mike McCombs

CORRECTIONS

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

In the July 2, 2026 edition of The Island News, in a story about the arrest of Beaufort County Communications Manager Laura Fanelli, her hire date and job duties were inaccurate. Fanelli was hired in 2018, and as Beaufort County’s communications manager, according to Beaufort County Public Information Officer Hannah Nichols, she is responsible for “strategically creating, designing, writing, publishing, and communicating county information to the public and media. This includes promoting County services, programs, news, and events while managing crisis communications when needed, and at the direction of the PIO.”

For press releases and advertising, please submit by noon on Friday for the following week’s paper.

TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor should consist of fewer than 275 words and be emailed with a name and contact information to TheIslandNews@gmail.com

Shooting from page A1

gan 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 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 victims.

Four St. Helena Island residents charged Deputies quickly obtained descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle from witnesses while investigators simultaneously began reviewing surveillance footage from cameras positioned in the Coligny area.

According to Tanner, investigators identified the suspect vehicle on Pope Avenue at approximately 9:02 p.m., and stopped it on the Charles Fraser Bridge at about 9:07 p.m., less than an hour after the shooting.

Six occupants of the vehicle were detained and interviewed.

Following interviews and additional investigation, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of four St. Helena Island residents.

• 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 the commission of a violent crime, aggravated breach of peace

Lowdown from page A1

citizens on Wednesday celebrated opening of the town’s new splash pad. Located in the Bruce Edgerly Park on 16th Street, the pad is being promoted as “a new way to play in Port Royal.” Beaufort City Council, at one time, discussed putting a splash pad in the waterfront park but it was considered too much of an injury liability. Port Royal’s schedule carried on most of the day with the Parris Island Marine Corps Band and others playing down at the Sands, concluding the annual fireworks display which lit up the river. Some might not remem-

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.

A review of Beaufort County Public Index records by The Island News shows separate General Sessions cases have been filed against each defendant.

Court records show Royal and Davis each received $10,000 cash or surety bonds on the charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, $20,000 cash or surety bonds on the aggravated breach of peace charge and $10,000 cash or surety bonds on the charge involving possession of a stolen pistol. As of Monday afternoon, Public Index records reflected no cash or surety bond on the attempted murder charges.

Public Index records also show Capers was granted a $50,000 surety bond and has since been released from custody.

During Sunday's media briefing, Tanner stated that five people had been arrested and investigators expected charges against a sixth suspect.

Following the press conference, however, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Lt. Daniel Allen clarified to The

ber this northern Beaufort County fireworks tradition hit a snag in 2020 when Port Royal AND Parris Island canceled their fireworks because of concerns about COVID.

The Marine Corps Recruit Depot chose not to continue with its show, due to security issues but Port Royal “played on,” even though the 2021 show did have to be postponed due to an embarrassing technical malfunction.

(The Port Royal show did go on in September, kicking off the Labor Day Weekend.)

All this in the midst of a heat wave that’s keeping many – dare we say, most – folks inside for air-conditioned conditions.

One interesting observation, driving down Bay Street Saturday afternoon, was the presence of a number of small groups, with their

Island News that the sheriff misspoke. Allen confirmed four people have been arrested in connection with the shooting, consistent with the Sheriff's Office's written news releases.

Tanner said investigators continue gathering information regarding another possible suspect and indicated additional arrests and charges remain possible as detectives continue processing evidence, interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage.

Technology helps investigators quickly identify suspects

Tanner credited technology, combined with witness statements and the large law enforcement presence already assigned to Hilton Head Island for the Fourth of July holiday, with helping investigators move quickly.

Investigators reviewed video from the Sheriff's Office's mobile Verkada surveillance trailer, which had been positioned near the Coligny Beach entrance prior to the holiday following concerns about late-night criminal activity in the area.

The sheriff said the system captured the altercation and provided investigators with critical evidence.

In addition, license plate reader technology helped investigators identify and locate the suspect vehicle as it left the Coligny area.

"We have remarkable video," Tanner said. "We have

folding chairs and glasses of ice tea, set up along the Bluff, looking out at the Beaufort River, enjoying the breeze, possibly thanking God they’re not out there on that sand bar.

‘Ben Franklin’s’ visit to Beaufort adds to 4th fun BEAUFORT -- Since this column seems to be taking a positive note, kudos are due to the Historic Beaufort Foundation and their partners, the City of Beaufort, the county 250th Committee and others who started off July with a patriotic splash (no one fell in the water!).

To bring focus to the historic aspect of the 250th anniversary, the group sponsored several speaking events on Wednesday including a visit from GregRobin Smith, a living history presenter and Shake-

believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.

"We believe this was an isolated incident between these two groups," he said.

Mayor calls shooting heartbreaking Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry joined Tanner during Sunday's media briefing, calling the shooting devastating for the island community.

"I've been sick to my stomach since last night," Perry said. "I grew up here. This is my home."

Perry thanked law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel and first responders for their rapid response, saying the outcome could have been much worse.

the entire incident."

Investigators also recovered four firearms during the investigation. According to Tanner, deputies recovered two firearms from marshland near the Charles Fraser Bridge after observing items being thrown from the suspect vehicle during the traffic stop. A third firearm was recovered from inside the vehicle, while a fourth was recovered from the beach.

One of those firearms, Tanner said, had been illegally converted to fire fully automatically.

Investigators continue gathering evidence Tanner said investigators are continuing to determine whether the shooting was gang-related but cautioned that it is too early to reach any conclusions.

"We're looking at every possibility," he said.

The sheriff also said investigators have identified approximately 150 witnesses and are continuing to review a large amount of surveillance and cellphone video collected from businesses, members of the public and law enforcement cameras.

The investigation has already generated numerous search warrants, and detectives continue processing evidence gathered from the scene and the traffic stop.

Despite the scope of the investigation, Tanner emphasized that officials do not

spearean actor from Seattle who brought the presence of “Benjamin Franklin” to Beaufort.

(The Waterfront Park looked amazingly nice, with new landscaping and a perimeter fence, proposed by businessman Dick Stewart but paid for by the city, even if the city officials haven’t gotten an estimate yet on the cost to repair this failing asset.)

In addition to Smith braving the heat in his authentic Ben Franklin attire, special tribute must be paid to HBF director Lisa Sundra who stood with Smith, holding a kite, waiting, but not hoping, for lightning to strike.

Presence of ALRP cameras highlighted at HHI shooting

BEAUFORT -- On a less than positive note, there’s been considerable online

"Thank God nobody was killed," he said. "That's the fortunate thing. The unfortunate thing is that it happened in our backyard with thousands of people that we care about."

Perry said the Hilton Head Island Town Council plans to hold a special meeting to discuss additional public safety measures following the shooting.

He also said the town will continue working with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office to expand security measures around Coligny Beach, including additional camera coverage and other technology aimed at preventing future violence.

Referring to the four defendants, who are listed in court and detention records as residents of St. Helena Island, Perry said, "When these thugs come in from out of town, we need to push them right back out."

At the same time, Perry urged residents and visitors not to allow the shooting to define Hilton Head Island.

"We can't rest our laurels on one bad incident," he said. "That's not who we are as a community. That does not define Hilton Head Island."

Sheriff disputes "mass shooting" label

One of the more notable moments during Sunday's press conference came when Tanner interrupted a reporter's question after the incident was described as a mass shooting.

"This is not a mass shoot," Tanner said before answering the question. He later explained that,

discussion recently about the growing presence of surveillance video cameras in the community, a presence which played out July 4 at Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head Island.

Unfortunately, seven individuals suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds in a shooting after an altercation near the beach.

Fortunately, the area had security cameras and Flock Safety Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) which helped the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office to arrest four suspects within hours.

In response to public concerns about crime in the in the area, Hilton Head Island town officials were all ready at work to install surveillance cameras.

A recent report in The Island Packet stated there are at least 70 such automat-

in his view, whether an incident qualifies as a mass shooting depends on the intended target rather than solely on the number of people injured.

Tanner's comments drew a distinction from the public discussion following the October 2025 shooting at Willie's Bar & Grill on St. Helena Island. That incident also stemmed from violence involving rival groups in a crowded public setting and left several people dead and others wounded, including bystanders. While the Willie's shooting was widely described as a mass shooting in public reporting and discussion, Tanner did not publicly challenge that characterization during his public briefings at the time.

The sheriff also said the Coligny Beach shooting underscores the need for additional investment in public safety infrastructure.

He pointed to surveillance technology as one of the most valuable tools investigators used in quickly identifying suspects and said he would like to see expanded camera coverage throughout the Coligny area, along with improved lighting and landscaping changes designed to eliminate places where people can conceal themselves after dark.

"It's critical and crucial that we continue to invest our energy and our money into things that work," Tanner said. "Technology is just one of those things." The investigation remains active, and additional arrests and charges remain possible.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact lead investigator Sgt. Matthew Aaron of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office at 843-255-3436.

Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County using the P3 Tips app, by visiting TIPSBFT.com, or by calling 844-TIPS-BFT.

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.

ic pole-mounted surveillance devices, which can also read auto license plates, placed throughout the county. Some consider the ALPR’s an invasion of privacy because the data they collect can be used to determine individual’s travel patterns. Their use has been legally challenged in lawsuits across the country.

Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. The Rowland, N.C. native’s goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.

Voices of Mather: Speaking about the life of a persistent pioneer

By Luke Frazier The Island News

Every place has its own rhythm and flow of history, oft-told stories, and wise guides. In the Beaufort area there is an abundance of places offering each, especially when it concerns the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Examples include the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, Penn Center, Secession House, and the beautifully evocative Harriett Tubman statue outside Tabernacle Baptist Church.

But it was the pleasantly compact Mather School Museum and Interpretive Center on the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) campus that provided a place for history buffs to gather on Saturday June 27, 2026.

The wise guide on this occasion was Sharon Beasley, Ph.D., who spoke on the life and legacy of Rachel Crane Mather, the namesake of the school founded in 1868. Beasley is now an Assistant Dean of Accreditation and Assessment at Mercer University, and her presentation was part of the “Voices of Mather” oral history project, a larger effort to collect and share Mather School alumni stories.

Beasley herself has a deep connection to TCL and Rachel Crane Mather, having graduated from nursing school at TCL and eventually becoming a faculty member and administrator. When it came to figuring out the subject for her dissertation a few years ago, she was inspired by her proximity to Rachel Crane Mather’s legacy, writing “Pioneering Women of Southern Education,” which featured Mather.

Interestingly, Rachel Crane Mather’s educational background itself remains a mystery in terms of where it took place. She was born in New Hampshire in 1823 and was a teacher in Boston for more than a dozen

years before moving to Beaufort in 1868. She came to start a “normal school” for teacher training at the behest of the American Missionary Association (AMA) but quickly decided to change her course. Beasley described the pivot as rooted in what Mather found when she arrived in the Sea Islands.

“She did her assessment of the area and realized the children needed something different,” Beasley said, “They did not have the capacity at the time to matriculate into a normal school but needed to be boarded and provided food.”

Beasley said that led to a conflict with her AMA benefactors, and that is when things took a serious turn. Beasley, with her warm smile and bright orange blouse, peered over bold, red-framed glasses and labeled Mather a kind of disrupter for defying what the funding folks wanted.

“That money was very specifically designated for normal schools,

and so they did not want a boarding home. They did not want to support distribution of food and clothing,” Beasley explained, “Those were the things the young pupils needed, and she just didn't see the concession from AMA. And then she had a deep talk with God.”

Beasley asked the audience to imagine Rachel Mather looking out over the Beaufort River and then projected a quote on a slide taken from a letter written by Mather pondering her future after she spoke her truth to powerful AMA funders.

“I was unsure of my purpose and how I would adopt a work that I came to start devoid of help from my original primary sponsors. I spent time in prayer and asked God for his guidance.”

What Mather decided was to proceed according to her own plan. She lined up additional funding by

authoring a book about her work in Beaufort, publishing letters in The New York Times, appealing to politicians, and challenging those who stood in the way of her vision. All this raised awareness and developed a national donor pool.

Beasley says this proved what a force Mather was in terms of political astuteness and resourcefulness, characteristics she tried to impart in her students even as she worked to ensure that these young girls would be able to provide for themselves and their families.

“I think [Mather’s] personality was one that was very serious. She was a thoughtful and deliberate person. I think she thought through things in totality,” Beasley marveled, “The Bible was her foundation, and she was a deeply spiritual person, and I do believe she was an evangelist at heart.”

Dorothy Johnson was in the audience this day listening in rapt attention to Beasley. Johnson might also

be considered an evangelist of sorts, based on her love of being a Mather alumna.

Johnson, who graduated in 1958, sat there 68 years later making notes, nodding, and participating in the exchange of questions and answers afterward. Johnson testified to the power of this historical place.

“I’m from Dale, South Carolina. I didn't have my own room or my own bed. We had outdoor toilets and all of those things, and this was new to me, but my aunt had been [a Mather student],” she said.

Johnson said the teachers were very bright and she learned both practical skills and more during her time at Mather and launched into a career in the military and the U.S. Postal Service.

“I was the first black female from Beaufort County to go into the military in 1961, “Johnson proudly related, “I had to be a mediator between black and white [persons] and then they chose me to speak to teach others about getting along.”

Johnson was also named the Grand Marshal for the 2025 Beaufort County Veterans Day Parade. Between Sharon Beasley and women such as Dorothy Johnson, the ripples of Mather School’s history continue to positively impact the wider world. Beasley points to Rachel Mather’s persistence as a fundamental piece of her identity and how she got things done.

“Rachel Mather was a very strong woman of faith,” Beasley concluded, “And I think her faith was the inner strength that fueled her persistence over nearly 40 years.”

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.

Paul Slota, M.D., FACC, FSCAI to Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists

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.

At the practice, Dr. Slota joins board-certified cardiologists Drs. Stuart Smalheiser, Francis O’Neill and Terry Grainger, as well as board-certified physician assistant Tara

Georgia court records reveal new details in case against Beaufort County communications manager

Laura Fanelli released from Georgia jail following first court appearance as county confirms cooperation with law enforcement

By Delayna Earley The Island News Beaufort County Commu-

nications

Manager

Laura Fanelli has been released from a Georgia jail after making her first court appearance on felony charges, according to court records and Newton County jail officials. Fanelli was arrested June 22 by the Beaufort Police Department on a fugitive from justice warrant issued from Georgia. According to Beaufort County Detention Center records, she remained in custody in Beaufort until June 27, when she was transferred to Newton County, Georgia.

Newton County jail officials confirmed to The Is-

land News that Fanelli was released from the Newton County Detention Center on July 2. As of publication, she was no longer listed as an inmate in the jail's online inmate database.

Court records filed in Newton County Superior Court show the State of Georgia has charged Fanelli with one count of felony theft by deception and one count of computer theft stemming from an alleged April 1, 2026, incident. The felony warrants were received by the Superior Court on June 29. The case remains pending and has not yet been presented to a grand jury. In response to questions from The Island News, South Carolina Law Enforcement

Division Director of Public Information Renée Wunderlich confirmed SLED assisted the Covington Police Department in locating Fanelli in Beaufort County on June 22.

"SLED assisted the Covington Police Department in Georgia locate Ms. Laura Fanelli on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Beaufort County," Wunderlich said in an email.

Wunderlich referred additional questions regarding the investigation to the Covington Police Department.

Additional court records obtained by The Island News show Fanelli made her first appearance in Newton County Magistrate Court on June 29. During that appearance, Fanelli invoked her right to counsel. The magistrate's order states that no further proceedings will take place until counsel is present, except for scheduling and housekeeping matters. The order identifies Sam Burdette as Fanelli's retained attorney and schedules a future committal hearing. The court order does not

Former Beaufort probation officer faces three new misconduct charges

Shytle faces 10 criminal charges; two civil lawsuits allege similar misconduct

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Former South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services officer David Johnathon

Shytle Jr. is facing three additional criminal charges after the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced this week that investigators had filed new allegations stemming from its ongoing investigation into his conduct while serving as a probation officer in Beaufort County.

SLED charged Shytle, 48, on July 1, 2026, with three counts of misconduct in office. He was booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center, and the case will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office.

According to arrest warrants, the new charges allege Shytle engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a parolee he supervised while acting in his official capacity as a probation officer.

One warrant alleges that between May 2024 and July 2025, Shytle exchanged inappropriate text messages and images with the parolee and engaged in sexual intercourse with the individual.

Investigators allege the conduct violated his duty to faithfully perform the responsibilities of his office and maintain the public's trust. The second charge alleges

Shytle sent inappropriate text messages to the same parolee between July and August 2024 while serving as the individual's supervising probation officer.

The third charge alleges he continued those communications between September 2024 and February 2025.

The latest charges bring the total number of criminal charges filed against Shytle by SLED to 10.

The new charges come as Shytle continues to face seven criminal charges filed in August 2025, including two counts of second-degree assault and battery and five counts of misconduct in office. According to SLED, those charges stem from allegations involving inappropriate conduct with women under his supervision while serving as a probation officer.

Court records show all seven of those earlier charges remain pending in Beaufort County General Sessions. A Beaufort County grand jury returned indictments in January 2026, and the cases have continued through the pretrial process. No dispositions have been entered.

In addition to the criminal cases, Shytle and the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services are defendants in two civil lawsuits filed in Beaufort County by women identified in court records as “Jane Doe” and “Jane Doe #2.”

The first lawsuit, filed in 2025, alleges Shytle sexually assaulted and harassed a woman while she was on probation under his supervision. According to the com-

plaint, the plaintiff alleges Shytle used his authority over her probation, including her request to transfer supervision to Texas, to coerce sexual contact and sexual communications. The lawsuit also alleges he used his position to pressure her into complying with his demands while she faced the possibility of imprisonment for violating probation.

A second lawsuit, filed in 2026 by a plaintiff identified as “Jane Doe #2,” alleges Shytle sexually harassed and assaulted another woman while she was on probation in Beaufort County. The complaint alleges Shytle made sexual comments, unwanted advances and inappropriate physical contact while exercising authority over the plaintiff as her probation officer.

Both lawsuits also allege the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services knew or should have known of Shytle's alleged conduct and failed to properly supervise him or protect women under his supervision. Shytle and the department have denied the allegations in court filings, and both civil cases remain pending.

As with all criminal cases, the charges against Shytle are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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.

Tree trimming set to start July 13 in Beaufort

indicate whether bond was granted or denied, and no bond amount is listed on the form. However, Newton County jail officials confirmed Fanelli was released from custody on July 2.

Beaufort County Public Information Officer Hannah Nichols said Beaufort County Administration made the decision to place Fanelli on administrative leave without pay on June 22 pending the results of an investigation.

"We have complied with all law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation and will continue to do so," Nichols said in a statement to The Island News. "We trust the judicial process to take its course, but are unable to comment further. Beaufort County remains committed to serving the people of our community with the highest level of service possible."

Fanelli joined Beaufort County in 2018 after previously serving as communications manager for Newton County, Georgia. According to Beaufort County, her duties include creating, writing

and publishing information for the public and news media, promoting county services and programs, and assisting with crisis communications under the direction of the county's public information officer.

In late 2020, Fanelli was placed on paid administrative leave after thousands of posts from a social media account attributed to her resurfaced publicly. The posts, many of which predated her employment with Beaufort County, included profanity and commentary on politics, race, religion and the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting public criticism and an internal investigation.

County officials ultimately concluded the posts did not violate county policy because they were made before Fanelli's employment with Beaufort County. She returned to work following the investigation and remained the county's communications manager. The Island News has submitted requests for the arrest

warrant affidavits, investigative records and additional court documents related to the Georgia case. Follow-up requests for comment have also been submitted to the Beaufort Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Covington Police Department, the Newton County Sheriff's Office and the Newton County District Attorney's Office. As of publication, those agencies had not responded.

The publicly available court records identify the charges against Fanelli but do not describe the allegations supporting them. The Island News will continue to update this story as additional information becomes available.

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.

Pharmacy will shut down in about two weeks

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Those who live in the Mossy Oaks area of Beaufort and Port Royal will soon have one fewer pharmacy option.

The Walgreens located at 1294 Ribaut Road in Beaufort is set to close in August, with its pharmacy actually shuttering roughly two weeks from now on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

According signs at the entrance of the store, the pharmacy will close at noon on July 15, while the store

will close entirely at noon on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. Pharmacy records from the location will be transferred to the Walgreens location at 2363

Boundary Street. There is also a Walgreens location at 155 Sea Island Parkway on Lady’s Island.

The closest pharmacy to the soon-to-close location is the CVS pharmacy at 1500 Ribaut Road in Port Royal.

According to a Walgreens employee, most merchandise from the location will be transferred to other stores or back to the warehouse,

while products that expire prior to the end of 2026 will be identified and marked down accordingly for faster sale.

On Sunday evening, there was a cart of perishable merchandise near the front of the store already marked as low as 50 percent off.

Prior to Walgreens, the building was home to Rite Aid and, before it, Eckerd Drugs. Before that, there was a restaurant on the site.

Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

Red, white and babies! Putting Down The Roots Of Liberty

Four Independence Day arrivals made their appearance alongside the fireworks on July 4 at the Beaufort Memorial Collins Birthing Center. Three sets of Beaufort parents welcomed their sweet newborns on the nation's 250th, including Jasmin and Cole Ditore, who welcomed Joshua (7 pounds, 3 ounces) at 1:08 a.m.; Nami Yoshimatsu and Scott Maynard, who welcomed Noah (6 pounds, 15 ounces) at 9:04 a.m.; and Gypsy Garcia and Roberto Enrique Cribas, who welcomed Aiden (7 pounds, 2 ounces) at 7:12 p.m. Damaris Vasquez and Jovani Aravjo of Ridgeland also met a sweet arrival — their daughter Elizabeth (6 pounds, 4 ounces), who was born at 7:40 a.m. Festive quilts were handmade by the Sea Island Quilters, and Birthing Center staff Merick Murdaugh, CST and Donna Mixon, LPN crafted the Popsicle swaddles. Photos courtesy of Charlotte Berkeley Photography

Pulling for the USA

Die-hard fans of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team react after the USA scores to tie the game at 1 against Belgium on Monday night, July 6, 2026, at Carolina Tavern in Port Royal. The Belgians scored their second goal just seconds later to retake the lead and went on to win, 4-1, to advance to the Quarterfinals of the World Cup. Carolina Tavern owner Larry Fries said his place has been packed all week during the games. “You can’t find a seat anywhere when Team USA is playing.” Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Lands End July 4 Golf Cart Parade

Community Freedom Fest

Penn Center’s York W. Bailey Museum hosting exhibition by folk artist ARTS AND COMMUNITY

Staff reports 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 firsthand. In the exhibition, Ingram, who lives and creates his art in Horry Coun-

ty, South Carolina, invites viewers into a deeply personal dialogue with artwork reflecting the griot (oral storytelling) tradition of his family. The artworks on display visually tell the

stories Ingram has grown up with, and reflect generations of African-American history in rural South Carolina.

Ingram utilizes sustainably sourced wood and recycled objects, adding these elements of the past into his paintings and sculptures, evoking a powerful emotional response.

“Bruce Ingram’s body of work represents the importance of African-American oral histories by using creative and unexpected ways to honor and remember the past,” said Monique deLaTour, Curator of the York W. Bailey Museum.

Gary Erwin, AKA Shrimp City Slim, performs during the 10th annual Pleasure Island Seafood Blues and Jazz Festival held in 2003 at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation Area in North Carolina. Submitted photo

ARTS BRIEFS

Holiday Market on Paris Avenue seeking band

The fourth annual Holiday Market on Paris Avenue is looking for talented local musicians to make the event in Port Royal even more festive.

The event’s longtime band has dissolved, presenting an opportunity to showcase another amazing local act (or two).

The event, to be held

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, is in need of one

to

from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or two

acts to perform from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then 1:30 to 4 p.m. The musical act can be a band, solo artist, acoustic duo, or performer – as long as it’s a great fit for this family-friendly community event.

Musicians interested in performing should email Kelly@LowcountrySpotlight.com with their infor -

mation, links to their music, and their performance rates.

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.

– Staff reports

Registration open for Beaufort County Walk for Water

Staff reports Registration is open for the 10th annual Beaufort County Walk for Water on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal and Saturday, Oct. 3, at Bluffton United Methodist Church.

An estimated 1,000 walkers are expected to participate, helping raise a record $100,000 to fight the global water crisis.

Beaufort County Walk for Water promotes awareness of the global water crisis and raises money to provide sustainable, safe water around the world. All money raised benefits Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization based in Charleston that builds safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas, such as western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

“We’re celebrating our 10th anniversary this year by offering free registra-

tion for all participants,” Beaufort County Walk for Water committee leader Nan Krueger said in a media release. “This creates an opportunity for even more people to learn about the global water crisis, engage with Water Mission’s work, and raise money to support safe water solutions around the world.”

Walkers who register by Aug. 18 and raise or donate at least $25 will receive a free T-shirt.

Participants can carry a bucket of water on part of a 3-mile walk to symbolize the burden millions of women and children in developing countries carry daily to collect water that’s often contaminated. That unsafe water has dire consequences: A person dies from water-related illness every 37 seconds somewhere in the world, according to Water Mission.

“Participation by Beaufort County residents, businesses and churches

makes a life-changing difference for thousands of people in desperate need,” Krueger adds. “The money the walk raises lifts up people for generations in communities around the world. As little as $50 provides one person ongoing access to safe, clean water, $500 can create latrine sanitation for a community, and about $1,000 can build solar panels for a power source. These are things most of us take for granted but make a transformational difference to those who don’t have them.”

Follow Beaufort County Walk for Water on Facebook and Instagram @ BeaufortWalkforWater, and on Twitter #bftwalkforwater. For more information, call 843-769-7395. For sponsorship information, contact Bob Burroughs at 404-213-5513 or burrou_ bob@bellsouth.net.

The people chose change: A new chapter for District 121

The voters of District 121 have spoken, and I am deeply humbled, honored, and grateful to have earned the Democratic nomination for the South Carolina House of Representatives.

This victory does not belong to me alone. It belongs to every volunteer who knocked on doors, every supporter who made a phone call, every church member who offered a prayer, every family that displayed a yard sign, and every voter who believed that our district deserves a stronger voice and a brighter future.

Throughout this campaign, I traveled across Beaufort and Colleton Counties listening to the concerns of our residents. Their stories reinforced what I have believed all along: The people of

Ordinarily I would try to write the first draft of my weekly article on Saturday. With few exceptions, this day is pretty much freed up, and it gives me the following day to reread and determine what stays and what goes. This weekend, however, I had the pleasure of being with both daughters and their husbands. My sonsin-law are truly wonderful men, and I consider them to be the sons I never had. Thus our gathering on the 4th was filled with fun, back and forth banter and, of course, lots of good food. The icing on the cake was the inclusion of my dear friend, Marge, who lives in our neighborhood.

So now it is a day later, and after all the festivities, I find myself contemplating an appropriate topic for the celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary. Nationally, this should have been a day filled with grandeur, awe, and a sense of gratification for where we are.

Well it appears that we will have a brand new $250 bill to add to our currency in the near future to help celebrate 250 years of American freedom. Although I am not too sure that printing a bill of that denomination sends the right message at a time when inflation is still not under control, unless of course, we can still blame it on Joe Biden.

It seems like printing larger denomination bills is a common tactic among socialist nations like Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba when inflation soars out of control and you need a cart to carry enough money to buy a loaf of bread. That aside, it might be nice not to have to carry all those $100 bills around with you all of the time. Most will be surprised to know that there is a movement in the administration to have President Trumps image and signature on the

District 121 are not asking for special treatment. They are simply asking for fair opportunities, responsive government, and leadership that will put people before politics.

This campaign has never been about personalities. It has always been about purpose.

As a husband, father, pastor, small business owner, and former law enforcement officer, I understand the challenges that many families face because I have lived many of them myself. I know what it means to work

hard, to serve others, and to fight through adversity. Those experiences have shaped my belief that government should be accountable to the people it serves and focused on improving their quality of life.

South Carolina is blessed with tremendous potential, yet we continue to face significant challenges. Too many communities lack adequate healthcare access. Too many schools struggle with teacher shortages and insufficient resources. Too many working families find it increasingly difficult to afford housing, insurance, and basic necessities.

These are not partisan issues. They are people issues.

As we move toward the general election, I will continue to advocate for the priorities that I have championed from the

beginning of this campaign: Affordability, access, and accountability.

We must work to make life more affordable for working families and seniors. We must expand access to quality healthcare, educational opportunities, workforce development, and economic growth. We must demand accountability from government institutions and elected officials entrusted with serving the public.

We must also continue protecting the unique character of the Lowcountry. Our natural resources, waterways, historic communities, and Gullah-Geechee heritage are treasures that deserve preservation and respect. Economic development should never come at the expense of the communities and cultures that make our region special.

The people of District 121 deserve a representative who listens, communicates, and remains accessible.

Public service is not about holding a title; it is about serving people. If elected, I will work every day to ensure that residents know their voices are being heard in Columbia.

The primary election may be over, but the work is just beginning.

I invite Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and voters of every background to join this effort.

While we may not agree on every issue, we all share a common desire for safe communities, strong schools, economic opportunity, and a better future for our children and grandchildren.

The challenges before us are too important for division and political games-

‘Just say hell, no!’

While there was that sense hovering in the distance, I believe I am correct when I say that many of us felt less than gratified and more than slightly fearful. That latter reaction was substantiated by how the president chose to celebrate our country.

On July 4th, we should have been able to anticipate a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of our republic which came with the signing of the Declaration of Independence by those 56 men who put their lives on the line and risked the hangman’s noose.

In my research, I discovered that 10 years ago, Congress created

a bipartisan “America 250 Commission” for the purpose of celebration. Of course, money was set aside for just this. Instead, this money “bought” a tribute to 47, himself, through what could reasonably be called a MAGA rally. But even that wasn’t sufficient; he chose to actually call it “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.”

Of course there was the cage fight as well as all that led to further degradation of the White House property. You know, dear reader, “the People’s House.”

I don’t think it is outrageous to say that 250 years ago, we declared our independence from just this kind of ruler who saw the people, as well as their possessions, and the government, as his personal property. Our nation’s founders overthrew a king; I believe that today, we are confronted with virtually the same challenge.

The signers wrote in the Declaration, “we mutually

JIM DICKSON

new bill. That has run into a small problem called the Thayer Amendment of 1866, which says that no living person shall have his image on United States currency. This came about because a Treasury official had is own image printed on a 5-cent note.

Think about that one, a 5-cent note. How times have changed since 1866! Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that although they have a mock up of the Trump bill, they will fully adhere to the law unless Congress acts.

Our very own Congressman Joe Wilson has introduced the Donald J. Trump

$250.00 Bill Act that would amend the Thayer Amendment to allow for President Trump’s image to be on the new bill, but so far it is stalled in committee and has not moved to the floor where it can be voted on, and without Congressional approval, no Trump $250 bill.

In the event that Congress chooses to disappoint us all and not act on the Wilson bill, I have an alternative proposal, that will probably shock some of my fellow Republicans. How about Franklin Delano Roosevelt?

Think about it, if not for FDR, we probably would not be celebrating 250 years of American freedom. We might instead be celebrating Adolf Hitler’s 137th or Emperor Hirohito's 125th birthday this year.

Roosevelt’s politics and mine don’t always mesh, but he did some good that many of us enjoy today, for example the Social Security Act and the Federal Deposit

pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor,” and it was a simple statement of fact. The day they signed that document, each legally became a traitor and was sentenced to death for treason by the ruler who controlled their lands and their homes. 17 of the 56 signers of this document lost all they had and died in poverty. So when we all gathered yesterday for our cookouts, did we bother to think of the damage one man can cause when left unchecked?

Think about this when you try to answer that question. No. 47 pardoned 1,500 insurrectionists and nothing has been done. In fact, one was hired for a White House position. The ranks of our military have been decimated. People who never should have been deported were and are still being sent from the country. ICE has been given carte blanche to kill without retribution. No. 47 and his family continue to blatantly

take bribes and have made, heretofore, unheard of sums of money.

Perhaps a post that I saw best describes where we are.

It stated: “America will not be destroyed by undocumented immigrants, safety net programs, marriage equality or DEI. Instead, that destruction will come about through the actions of a felon with no ethics, indebted to a dictator with no morals, enabled by a party with no integrity, promoted by a network with no honor.

It is Ken Burns who pointed out on Meet the Press that the United States of America is the oldest democracy on earth. I had never quite considered it in that context, but what an honor it is to think of our country as such. This alone should prompt all of us to say to ourselves and aloud, “We will not have that honor ripped away from us, not now, not ever.”

In conclusion, 47 may well celebrate this country’s 250th by erecting monu-

manship. The time has come to focus on solutions.

District 121 has chosen a new direction. Now we must continue moving forward together.

Thank you for your trust, your support, and your belief in this campaign. I look forward to earning the support of voters throughout Beaufort and Colleton Counties in the months ahead.

Together, we can build a district where families thrive, businesses grow, communities prosper, and every voice matters. The people have spoken. Now it is time to get to work.

ments to himself, arches, ballrooms, trying to put his face everywhere, debasing long-standing parts of our country. We, on the other hand, can stand up to this as a unified country that embraces diversity on all levels.

Back in the 80’s, a campaign against substance abuse was established, headed by Nancy Reagan. The slogan that caught on was, “Just say no.” The abuse our country is undergoing right now at the hands of the present administration deserves an equivalent response. At the risk of offending those with delicate ears, this deserves, “Just say hell no!”

is a

and

Insurance Corporation. His efforts to end the Great Depression where not as effective as he would have liked, but his early recognition of the danger that Germany and Japan posed to the United States and to the world was critical to the survival of Democracy.

At the time, the general feeling in America was that the war in Europe was Europe’s problem and that we should not get involved in any way. Congress even passed the Neutrality Act that forbid our involvement. Roosevelt could see that if Britain fell to Hitler, we would be next on the list, and history has proved him right.

He began efforts to quietly re-arm the nation by increasing the size of the military, building more airplanes, ships and other war material. He worked with British Prime Minister Churchill to send arms and food to England so

that it could withstand the relentless attacks by Hitler’s air force and navy. FDR persuaded Congress to pass the Lend Lease Act to provided Britain aid and 50 U.S. Navy Destroyers that helped keep the sea lanes open to and from America. When war came to America in the form of a sneak attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, he mobilized American industry to become the “Arsenal of Democracy,” which was an unstoppable war machine that ended up defeating both Germany and Japan. Without his early efforts America would not have been ready for war, Great Britain and Russia would have fallen to the Nazis and Japan would have dominated the Pacific. America and the world would be a very different place today, so even though Roosevelt was a Democrat, although I doubt that he would recognize most of

the “leading lights” of the party today, he would be my choice for having his picture on the new $250 bill. The best we have ever done for this great man was put is picture on a dime back in the 1940’s. This would be a good chance to do better, and if that don't work, how about Ronald Reagan? I would hope that Mr. Trump would be OK with that, and be content to have his signature on the bill and his image on the new Commemorative Gold Coin, because whatever else his is, he is an American patriot.

Born, raised and educated in the Southwest, Jim Dickson served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in Vietnam before a 35-year business career. Retired to St. Helena Island, Dickson and his wife are fiscally conservative, socially moderate and active in Republican politics, though they may not always agree with

I am not holding my breath

It is Saturday, early, and it is relatively cool considering what is coming later this morning. This morning I have my coffee — Starbuck’s French Roast — as well as a new rendering of Port Royal’s slowly changing waterfront.

This rendering involves that area right around the two existing restaurants — Shellring Ale Works and Fish Camp — that draw in hundreds of hot, thirsty customers almost every evening.

In this connection, there was a meeting on June 30 wherein Town Manager Van Willis, Town Planner Noah Krepps, Dean Moss, Whit Suber, Nick Borregine and representatives from Safe Harbor and Fish Camp met to discuss what this particular waterfront was going to look like.

This area is slated for a bike trail — an extension of the Spanish Moss Trail — a vehicular access road and some sort of seafood market that will preserve Port Royal’s attachment to the crabs, shrimp and its oyster-harvesting past.

If one squints a little bit, one can see a slightly diminished bike trail entering the property at 12th Street. One can see that the bike trail travels along the access road and to the Northeast of the two restaurants. It then jogs Southwesterly onto a strange, completely finished section of the trail. After that it joins a boardwalk crossing the marsh just below Fish Camp restaurant.

As previously mentioned this inverted bottleneck-shaped parcel will also get an access road connecting Ribaut Road with Safe Harbor’s yet to be built improvements; as well as a three-storied building that is slated to be a seafood market or a seafood processing plant depending

on who one talks to. (This is shown as Lot “G” on the attached rendering.)

This appears to be an awful lot of activity — including parking — in and around this elongated parcel. All of which begs the question about Lot G and what kind of activity that building will bring.

In this connection, I called Woody Collins who has been a shrimper, boat builder, deep sea “Snapper” fisherman, restaurant

owner and author of the acclaimed, “Where Have All the Shrimp Boats Gone?”

Woody says that the “old days” are gone — gone with regard to the old fashioned ways that shrimp were caught, sorted, de-veined, de-headed and packaged for sale. Shrimping now involves huge, steel-hulled ships that stay at sea for weeks at a time.

“These modern shrimp trawlers are safer and more productive than ever. Freezing the shrimp on the boat is more and more common. With capacities of 30,000 pounds and up, these newer trawlers unload when they want to. They can play their shrimp like the commodity they have become. A 10cent increase or decrease in price can mean thousands of dollars one way or the

other. … These boats now go where the shrimp are, wherever that may be. Recently a hot spot has been off the coast of North Carolina. A new phenomenon, shrimp in Chesapeake Bay, has recently yielded unheard of catches. Most of the Beaufort County fleet was up there working.” (Where Have all the Shrimp Boats Gone?)

Woody has met with Willis and pitched an idea that the smaller boats — those without on-board freezers and unable to stay at sea for days on end — be allowed to dock at the proposed “Lot G dock.” Those boats would be allowed to sell their justcaught catch directly to the public. If the local, small-boat shrimpers can avoid a

middle man — the Florida brokers who once met their boats on the dock and dictated a price to the weary captain — Woody believes the boats and the crowds craving fresh shrimp “will come.”

But those crowds may not have any room to park.

It would appear that only 15 spaces are dedicated to Lot G. That doesn’t sound like enough for the captains, crews, employees and shrimp-buying customers. Shellring Ale Works appears to have about 21 spaces in its immediate vicinity although there are about 46 proposed parallel parking spaces along the access road which could be utilized by Shellring, Lot G and the Fish Camp customers and staff. There is no doubt there

will be alterations to the proposed plan, but when, we wonder, will ground be broken on any of these “improvements.”

Apparently Safe Harbor will have its marina-connected construction underway “within a year’s time.” But funding for Lot G, its dock, the bike trail and the access road are less certain. I happen to be an 81-yearold curmudgeon who has watched many draft plans come and then yellow and eventually disintegrate. I, for one, am not holding my breath.

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

Unfavorable comparisons – A path to improvement

Ihave been asked by several friends and business associates why the City of Beaufort staffing and budget is so much higher than other local governments in the area. I was surprised by the numbers. Seems reasonable to ask a few questions.

People asked me if I think the government in Beaufort is delivering better services than other local governments. I suggested they ask the City directly. To my surprise, they didn’t want to ask because they were worried that they would be labeled troublemakers and experience some form of retribution. I don’t believe that is a problem. In the 28 years since I returned to Beaufort, every single City Council member I have met has had the best interests of the citizens of Beaufort at heart. I was asked if I could explain the comparisons. I’m trying to understand why Beaufort

has nearly three times as employees per thousand residents as Bluffton and nearly four times as many employees per thousand residents as Port Royal.

There are certainly differences. As an example, the City of Beaufort staffing may include fire department personnel that work in Port Royal. County staffing may include the Sheriff’s staff that provide police services on Hilton Head. Hilton Head doesn’t have a municipal police force.

‘Understanding how our planet works’

Climate change has too long been one of those topics that many people avoid. It feels political, overwhelming, or simply too big to understand. But it doesn't have to be. At its heart, climate science is simply about understanding how our planet works. It's about the oceans that shape our weather, the marshes that protect our communities, and the choices we make that influence the future. You don't have to become a scientist to

understand the basics any more than you have to be a mechanic to drive a car. Here in Beaufort, climate change isn't an abstract concept. It's higher tides in our neighborhoods, hotter summers, stronger rain events, changing fisheries, and the health of the salt marshes that define the Lowcountry we love. Learning about climate change isn't about choosing a political side. It's about becoming an informed citizen. The more we understand, the better decisions we can make for our families, our businesses, and our community. Imagine a Lowcountry

where our neighborhoods are more resilient, our air and water are cleaner, our marshes are thriving, and our families are spending less on wasted energy and disposable products. That future isn't built all at once, it begins with the choices we make today. Turn off the air conditioner when you leave the house. Bring a reusable cup instead of buying another disposable one. Recycle what you can, and take advantage of Beaufort County's composting program. Small actions save money, reduce waste, and remind us that caring for our community and caring for

our wallets often go hand in hand. A better future for the Lowcountry doesn't begin in some distant future. It begins with each of us, today.

-- Kate Ray

‘Pull your head out of the sand’

A very good, self-reflecting, article from Tim Wood. And as always, thoughtful commentaries from Carol Lucas, who I am going to paraphrase a little later, and Andy Brack. Andy, the 2026 elections can't come soon enough either!

But now to my real reason

Perhaps services are better in the City and both Port Royal and Beaufort County should double their staffing levels to provide the same quality of services. I just don’t know but the comparisons do raise real questions. Right now, campaigns are beginning for two new City Council members. This is a perfect opportunity to understand the comparisons and chart a path to improvement. After all, better and more efficient government is what voters want and expect. I’m happy to help. We are all in this together. I’d like to hear what you think at stewartthoughts@ gmail.com.

for writing today. I tore out a page in the June 18 The Island News with an article from Ms. Louise Mathews entitled "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" and just couldn't throw it out. But then Ms. Lucas' article in the June 25 paper gave me my response.

Apparently some people can't see their own willful ignorance when the facts are right before their eyes. To quote Dorothy Celene Thompson, "There is nothing to fear except the persistent refusal to find out the truth. ..."

Dick Stewart has been honored with a “Lifetime Achievement” award from the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce. He holds an honorary doctorate degree in Community Service from the University of South Carolina. Stewart serves on multiple nonprofit boards in the area.

Ms. Mathews, you almost came over to the truth. Just a little more analysis and you will realize that there are some people in power who should not be there. He is not just a naughty boy who makes a few innocent mistakes. I am pretty sure you are not so naive. It's time to pull your head out of the sand and step over that line.

-- Bob Lewis, Port Royal

Local parents Ashlei Dore and John Cook had a goal in mind -- creating a welcoming space for families. On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Hoppin’ John Play Center, a new indoor play facility located

Island, celebrated its grand opening. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Hoppin’ John Play Center celebrates grand opening

Staff reports

Hoppin’ John Play Center, a new indoor play destination for children ages 8 and younger, celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Created by local parents Ashlei Dore and John Cook, Hoppin’ John, located at 37 Sam’s Point Road, Suite A on Lady’s Island, was designed with families

in mind. Their center offers a fun, safe, and air-conditioned environment where children can climb, bounce, ride, explore, and play while parents relax.

The center, which features large play structures, bounce houses, ride-on toys, electric scooters, and dedicated toddler-friendly spaces, also offers birthday party packages, member-

ships, and open play sessions throughout the week.

Hoppin’ John Play Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6;30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Sundays. Open Play is $16 per child for a two-hour session. For more information or to reserve open play, visit www.hoppinjohnplaycenter.com.

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, 4-year-old Sylvie Harris of Lady’s Island plays in a swing on a jungle gym during the grand opening of Hoppin’ John Play Center, a new indoor play facility located at 37 Sam’s Point Road, Suite A on Lady’s Island. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Tick talk: Protect yourself from Lyme disease

Special to The Island News

Every spring, ticks emerge as the talk of the town – and for good reason. As rising temperatures mean more time outdoors (more time on the golf course!), they also can mean an increase in the presence of ticks.

Ticks love warm, humid weather – something that the Lowcountry has in spades. As summer rolls around and outdoor activities continue to boom, the risk for tick-borne illnesses – the most known being Lyme disease – grows.

What are the biggest risks when it comes to tick bites, and how can you reduce those risks?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection generally spread through the bites of deer ticks and is the most common tick-based illness found in the nation.

While the numbers of deer ticks are lower in the Lowcountry than they are in other areas of the state, Beaufort County residents can still develop the disease while spending time outdoors – especially due to a longer overall warm season, making for ideal conditions for the tiny arachnids.

Lyme disease symptoms to look for

Not every tick bite will result in Lyme disease. In fact, most don’t – but it’s important to be aware of early symptoms of the disease, which typically appear anywhere from three days to three weeks after

the initial bite.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease

• Fever and chills

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Muscle and joint aches

• Swollen lymph nodes

• A “bull’s-eye” rash, which occurs in around 7080% of Lyme disease cases

Later symptoms (if left untreated)

• Severe headaches

• Neck stiffness

• Facial paralysis or drooping on one or both sides of the face

• Irregular heartbeat

• Nerve pain or tingling in hands or feet

“Early detection of the disease is important,” said Dr. Michael Kaup, who sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Express Care and Occupational Health in Port Royal, Bluffton and Okatie. “Lyme disease is generally treatable with antibiotics, but delaying treatment can lead to more serious complications.”

Know your tick risk –and lower it

Ticks wait in vegetation and latch onto passersby that become their hosts.

You’re most likely to encounter a tick in:

• Tall grass or brush

• Forested or wooded ar -

eas

• Yard edges near trees or shrubs

• Leaf litter or marsh edges

While ticks can be found throughout this Lowcountry environment, there are simple precautions that

can reduce the risk of tick bites and Lyme disease.

Before going outdoors

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents like DEET or picaridin

• Wear long sleeves and tuck long pant legs into socks

• Treat clothing with permethrin spray

• Avoid tall grass and brush; when hiking, stay in the center of the trail

After coming indoors

• Check your entire body for ticks, paying particular attention to warm areas like armpits, behind your knee and your scalp

• Shower within two hours of being outside

• Put clothes in the dryer on a high-heat setting to kill ticks

• Closely inspect pets and any backpacks or gear

Found a tick? Now what?

If you discover a tick attached to your skin:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to carefully grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible

• Pull upward steadily without twisting or squeezing the tick

• Clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol

“Removing a tick within 24 hours significantly reduces your risk of contracting Lyme disease,” Dr. Kaup said. “Monitor your bite for several weeks and consult a healthcare provider if you develop a rash or any flu-like symptoms.”

FIFA World Cup 2026 Watch Party

This is the first article in a series of three on “Veteran Service Officers, Social Workers, and Patient Advocates (VSOSWPA) can answer most of your non-clinical questions and solve many of your problems regarding VA health care, services, and benefits.”

I have had hundreds of veterans call me with (non-medical/non-clinical) questions or problems about VA healthcare services and benefits. Most of their questions could be answered best by one or more of the following places and experts in VA healthcare, services, and benefits.

· Place 1: The “VA Health Care” webpage at https://www.va.gov/ health-care/;

· Place 2: “The Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center” webpage at https://bit. ly/4aDImfP;

· VA and state benefits Expert No. 1: A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO);

· VA health benefits and services expert No. 2: A VA Social Worker; · VA health benefits and services expert No. 3: A VA Patient Advocate.

Stop Stop reading and ask yourself the following important questions:

· Have I signed up for VA Healthcare? If not, do so as soon as possible. A veteran can receive certain VA health care benefits even without being formally enrolled in the VA healthcare system, but the scope of care is limited and depends on specific circumstances. Enrolling is easy and can be done in person, online, by phone, by mail, or with the help of a trained professional.

· Do I have a VA Healthcare iden-

tification card with my picture, name, barcode, member ID, plan ID, and expiration date on it? If not, find out if you are eligible, sign up for VA healthcare, and get your ID.

· Have I seen my VA-assigned Primary Care Provider in the past 12 to 16 months? Your VA Primary Care Provider is either a Physician, a Physician Assistant (PA), or a Nurse Practitioner (NP). If not, call or visit MYHealthe Vet online to make an appointment.

· Do I know that if I do not see (in person or by phone) my VA Primary Care Provider at least once every 12 to 16 months, I may be disenrolled from VA Healthcare? If you have been disenrolled, re-enroll.

· Who are the members of my Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)? If you do not know, find out who they are and record their contact information. PACT Teams consist of a Provider, Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Pharmacist, Social Worker, and Clerk.

· Do I have the contact information (phone numbers and names) of my PACT Team members in my phone, on my refrigerator door, or in my paper address book? If not, find out the phone number needed to contact each of them.

· Do I have the contact infor-

mation (name, address, phone, and email) for the county or local Veterans Service (Affairs) Office and my VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) in my phone, on my refrigerator door, or in my paper address book? Each South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina county (or region in Georgia’s case) has a county Veterans Service Office. If not, find out the phone number needed to contact them.

Find S.C. county VSOs at https:// bit.ly/3QQPEWN. Find N.C. county VSOs at https://bit.ly/4fkcKOP. Find Georgia county/regional VSOs at https://bit.ly/4aWZtJJ.

· Do I have the phone number and email address for my VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Patient Advocate Office? If not, read the information on the RHJVAMC&HCS webpage “Patient Advocates” at https://bit.ly/4f89Iw2 and find out the phone number and email address needed to contact them. The RHJVAMC&HCS and its Myrtle Beach, North Charleston, and Goose Creek CBOCs Patient Advocates' Office phone number is 843-789-6066. The RHJVAMC&HCS Patient Advocate phone number for the Savannah, Hinesville, Beaufort, and Brunswick VA Outpatient Clinics is 912-9200214 Ext. 412205. Find the answers and keep them in a place ready to use if needed.

I am not talking about a medical question like, “Should I have surgery or pain-reducing injections?” Those kinds of medical questions should be directed to your VA Primary Care Provider (Physician, Physician’s Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner) or Specialty Care Physician (Orthopedic Doctor, Cardiac Doctor, Pain

Management Doctor, Neurologist, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, or other specialty care physician).

I am talking about questions like:

1. Sample Non-clinical Question 1: How can I get my family referred to the local Fisher House while I (the veteran or military member) am an inpatient in the VA Medical Center?

Short answer: Ask your VA Primary Care Provider (and Social Worker). Contact your VA PACT Primary Care Provider and Social Worker to arrange a referral to the local Fisher House (and other services). With few exceptions, to use VA health care and a Fisher House, a veteran must be enrolled in VA health care.

Sign up for VA Healthcare

If you have not yet signed up for VA Healthcare, you should find out if you are eligible at the VA webpage “Eligibility for VA Healthcare” at https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/, and then enroll in VA Healthcare by going to the VA webpage

“How to apply for VA Healthcare” at https://www.va.gov/health-care/howto-apply/ and follow the instructions to enroll in any of the following ways:

1. In person at a local VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

2. By phone, call 877-222-8387 with your application.

3. By mail, by sending your completed application to Health Eligibility Center, P.O. Box 52-7, Janesville, WI 53547-5207.

4. With the help of a trained professional, a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) whose services are free, a VA-accredited Attorney, or a VA-accredited Claims Agent. Attorneys and Claims Agents

charge for their services.

5. Online at the VA webpage “Apply for VA Healthcare” at https:// bit.ly/4y1jcln.

Long answer to Question 1, continued, Primary Care PACT: If enrolled in VA Healthcare, the veteran needs to contact his PACT’s Primary Care Provider and Social Worker to arrange a referral to the local Fisher House (and other services).

Long answer to Question 1 continued, PACT Teams: Learn more about VA PACT Teams on the VA webpage “Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT),” at https://bit.ly/4f5mwDh and the VA webpage “Your primary care provider and PACT Team,” at https://bit.ly/4wrKY8H.

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded

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

2nd Recruit Training Battalion • Lieutenant Colonel R. J. Russell

Commander of Troops, Captain D. M. Webster • Parade Adjutant, Staff Sergeant A. G. Johnson Company “H”, 1st Recruit Training Battalion • Captain D. M. Webster Drill Master • Staff Sergeant X. J. Francisco

PLATOON 2032

Senior Drill Instructor

Sgt M. D. Stotenbur

PFC Adusmith, Kevin

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PLATOON 2034

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CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You

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CHIMNEY SERVICES

CancerSupport

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Truth Matters

Always in Style

Truth Is Timeless

Are new ideas more true?

How often people reject an idea by saying that it is “old-fashioned” or “out-of-date!” The underlying assumption is that if an idea is not new, it no longer applies to us today. One author memorably described this mindset as, “the newer is the truer; only what is recent is decent.”

The greatest truths are timeless.

Technology can become obsolete, with new versions of phones and gadgets released each year. In fashion, what seemed so trendy in one year can seem silly the next. But the greatest ideas, the truths worth discovering, are timeless. They remain true for all peoples and all time periods. They don’t expire; they don’t go out of style.

We see timeless truths in science and math.

Scientists spend their lives to discover timeless truths about the world around us. When we discovered that our planet rotates around the sun, we were discovering a fact that will remain true for as long as Earth exists. Similarly, math is the study of timeless principles. The multiplication table, for example, will be as true a million years from now as it is today.

Timeless truths can be discovered in faith and morality, too.

If we discover a truth about morality, it is timeless as well. If stealing is wrong, then it was wrong in the days of Moses, it is wrong today, and it will still be wrong when our future descendants are tempted to steal spaceships from one another. Similarly, truths about God and faith are timeless. If Jesus of Nazareth was actually God in our midst, then this is still the most amazing event in human history, even if it happened two thousand years ago.

Ideas must be explored on their own merits.

Just because an idea has been around for a while, we should not rule it out as unworthy of our consideration. Just because an idea is not fashionable or politically correct at the moment, this does not make it a false idea. In both cases, the idea in question has to be explored on its own merits. Instead of asking, “Is it new?” or “Is it popular?”, we should ask ourselves, “Is it true?”

Are you seeking timeless truths?

The most beautiful truths, the ones that change our lives, are the timeless truths. These truths change our minds and hearts; they bring meaning and joy to our lives. Rather than shunning anything old, we can do the opposite and seek out those truths that have endured from century to century. We can choose to seek out the truth, wherever it may be found, and wherever it may lead us.