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June 6 edition

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THE LOCAL FAMILY Certified FAVORITE Pre-Owned Inventory POSTAL PATRON LOCAL

JUNE 6–12, 2024

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SC Primary set for Tuesday Voters will decide Democratic, Republican candidates for 1st District seat in Congress By Delayna Earley The Island News Voters in Beaufort County and all over South Carolina will take to the polls on Tuesday, June 11, to vote in both Democratic and Republican primaries. Here is everything that you need to know to vote.

The Ed Dwight sculpture of Harriet Tubman is unveiled on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Who can vote? South Carolina holds open primaries, meaning that voters can choose to vote Republican or Democrat but may only vote in one primary. Anyone age 18 or older with a valid voter’s registration and a valid photo ID may vote. Acceptable forms of identification include: • S.C. Driver’s License • S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles ID card • S.C. Voter’s Registration Card with Photo • U.S. Passport • Federal Military ID

Harriet Tubman monument unveiled Sculpture honors former Beaufort resident’s role in Civil War’s Combahee River Raid, freeing more than 750 slaves

By Mike McCombs The Island News Harriet Tubman made her long awaited return to Beaufort as a crowd of more than 500 people celebrated at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Saturday, June 1. Tubman’s appearance was in the form of a bronze sculpture by Ed Dwight honoring her participation in the 1863 Combahee River Raid. The unveiling of the work was a

State law requires a person to register to vote at least 30 days before an election. Voters can check their registration status by visiting scvotes.gov.

long time coming for Rev. Kenneth Hodges, the pastor at Tabernacle and a former State Representative for House District 121, taking place eight years and $600,000 in private donations after the Tabernacle membership decided to erect a monument. Despite the time passed and the challenges of the recent COVID-19

Who or what will be on the ballot? All seven of South Carolina’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election in 2024.

Harriet Tubman, portrayed by Lucinda Carr, makes her appearance during the Harriet Tubman Monument unveiling. SEE MONUMENT PAGE A6 Amber Hewitt/The Island News

SEE PRIMARY PAGE A4

School district asks community to weigh in on cell phones in schools

By Delayna Earley The Island News Beaufort County School District, along with the Student Improvement Council, has reached out to parents, students, staff and members of the community to weigh in on whether cellular phone usage is cause for concern by asking them to fill out a survey by Wednesday, June 5.

The survey states that the school district is “proactively preparing for potential state guidance on the topic as legislators in Columbia are also currently debating the issue.” According to Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, budget bills have already been passed by the state Senate and House of Representatives that include a provision that would require individual

school districts to adopt policies that stop students from using unauthorized electronic devices during school hours. In the survey, participants are asked to weigh in if they believe schools should be cell phone free or if there should be limitations put on usage and what the negative and positive impacts of allowing cell phones in schools are.

Potentially removing the electronic distractions was originally discussed during the May 7 Beaufort County Board of Education meeting where the board directed Rodriguez to assess potential regulations that would prohibit cellphone use during school hours. Currently, per the BCSD Student Manual, students are allowed to use “electronic communication

devices” on school property, including school buses, while attending school-sponsored activities, or when using the district technology system in accordance with Administrative Regulation. If a student violates the rule, they could have their device confiscated and a parent would have to pick the

SEE PHONES PAGE A7

NEWS

EDUCATION

STATE NEWS

INSIDE

Former Beaufort County employee sues for alleged harassment.

Riverview Charter School Board appoints Davontae Singleton as new Director.

What’s next in shift of SC’s health, environmental agencies.

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