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Seven books go back on BCSD shelves Book review process attracts 60 Minutes coverage
Ruth James, of Lady’s Island, is interviewed by 60 Minutes journalist Scott Pelley following the June book review committee on June 14, 2023, at Okatie Elementary School in Beaufort. Delayna Earley/The Island News
By Delayna Earley The Island News OKATIE – No additional books have been removed from the Beaufort County School District shelves following the June book review committee meeting at Okatie Elementary School on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Seven books were up for review during the meeting – Ask the Pas-
sengers by A.S. King, Collateral by Ellen Hopkins, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, More Happy Than Not by Adam Silva and Perfect by Ellen Hopkins. All were voted to be returned to library circulation for Grades 9 through 12 only except for Ask the Passengers, which will be returned to library circulation without any restriction. Reviewing the 97 books that were originally removed from Beaufort County School District
(BCSD) libraries has, to date, taken nine months and will likely continue into the fall. During this time, committees have reviewed 61 books and all except for four have been approved to return to library circulation. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and The Haters by Jessie Andrews have all been removed from school district shelves, and Identical by Ellen Hopkins will be returning to the review pro-
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LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Is Beaufort’s pace of development broken?
Master Gunnery Sgt. Denise Shepherd sheds a tear as she stands for the deactivation of the Fourth Battalion flag during the ceremony held on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The ceremony marked the official deactivation of the Fourth Battalion, which has been the singular battalion training female recruits since 1986. Delayna Earley/The Island News
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BEAUFORT f it ain’t broke, why try to fix it? That was the question raised more than once Tuesday night during the City Council’s review of the Development Code and the regulations that direct construction within the city. While the Council has been working through the Code review for the past four months, Tuesday night’s focus was on the five-member Historic Review Board and whether a specification that allows the Historic Beaufort Foundation to recommend an appointment to the board should be removed. Currently, HBF recommends to the Council appointments to the review board but new Planning Director Curt Freese, as part of the code review, recommended removal of that “privilege.” To put even more pressure on the change, the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce has asked the Council to make sure at least one HRB member represents the business community,
A bittersweet day
Marine Corps deactivates 4th Battalion in historic ceremony By Delayna Earley The Island News PARRIS ISLAND – The last all-female training battalion was deactivated in a ceremony on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at the Marine Corp Recruit Depot Parris Island. Parris Island has been the sole en-
trance point for women to enter the Marine Corps since 1949, according to a press release, and the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion has been the battalion training female recruits since 1986. “This is a moment to celebrate the legacy of so many of our Marines who
made the transformation through Fourth Recruit Training Battalion,” Gen. David H. Berger, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, said in the press release. “It’s also a moment to celebrate progress. I’m proud to
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Marine recruit found dead at Parris Island
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A11
By Delayna Earley The Island News A Marine recruit was found dead early Monday morning, June 12, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, according to a press release issued on Friday, June 16.
BUSINESS
ARTS
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INSIDE
Local kids are all business during Saturday’s Entrepreneur Pop-Up.
Kenney featured artist for Beaufort Art Association through August.
What last week’s lawsuit dismissal means for downtown hotel, parking garage projects.
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Pvt. Marshall Hartman was pronounced dead at 7:18 a.m., Monday by Beaufort County Coroner David Ott. According to the press release, Hartman died from a “non-training incident” and the cause of death is
67th Annual
Beaufort Water Festival Tides of Lasting Memories July 14th - July 23rd , 2023 bftwaterfestival.com
currently under investigation. “It would be premature to speculate about individual details because the case is currently under investigation,” said Maj. Philip Kulczewski, Director of Public Affairs at MCRD Parris Island.
Hartman was on his sixth day of recruit training at the time of his death and had been assigned to Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment.
SEE RECRUIT PAGE A5
Education Faith Military Voices Legals Directory
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