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SEPTEMBER 15–21, 2022
WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Ellis brings bid for education superintendent to Beaufort Lisa Ellis, a school teacher from Richland School District Two and Democratic candidate for S.C. School Superintendent with 22 years of teaching experience, tries to explain what it’s like to teach students while dealing with burdensome red tape and outdated rules. Ellis said that one way to improve South Carolina’s schools is to start electing a pro-school governor, state legislators and local school boards. Ellis addressed a small but enthusiastic crowd Saturday, Sept. 10, at Gilligan’s Restaurant. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
By Tony Kukulich Addressing the shortage of teachers in the state was central to Lisa Ellis’ message when she appeared in Beaufort on Saturday to make her pitch for election as the next South Carolina superintendent of education. She noted that at the start of the 2021-2022 school year, there were 1,000 classrooms in the state without a teacher. By December 2021, another 977 teachers had left the classroom. “The number one problem in
South Carolina today is, not only do we not have enough teachers, we don’t have enough instructional assistants,” Ellis told The Island News. “We don’t have enough bus drivers. We have a shortage of any of those positions that affect children. We can talk about all of the other issues, but none of that is going to get improved until we have high-quality teachers, dependable bus drivers, all of them in places to help student’s achievement.” Appearing at Gilligan’s Seafood Restaurant on Saturday, Sept. 10,
VIDEO For a brief video from Lisa Ellis’ campaign stop in Beaufort, follow this digital link.
Ellis spoke for more than an hour to roughly two dozen in attendance about her qualifications and her platform.
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Student detained after handgun discovered on school grounds
sures like speed bumps, stop signs or traffic circles to slow vehicles as they move through urban, commercial or residential neighborhoods. During a public meeting held Wednesday, Sept. 7, county staff displayed four different plans us-
By Tony Kukulich The discovery of a loaded firearm on the campus of Whale Branch Early College High School led to charges for a 15-year-old student Friday, Sept. 9. School officials there received a tip from a student indicating a potential threat stemming from a conflict between two other students. The school was placed in a modified lockdown status, meaning that teachers and students remained in their classroom while the tip was investigated. The investigation included a search of student lockers and backpacks. The handgun was found in a book bag in a student’s locker. “This is your principal, Dr. Patricia Brantley,” said a voicemail left for the parents of students at Whale Branch. “I am calling to personally let you know that earlier today a rumor of a potential conflict between two students was reported to school administration. A loaded weapon was discovered by administration while the school was on lockdown. The students involved will be charged accordingly by law enforcement.” The student in possession of the weapon was expected to be detained at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia on a charge of possession of a firearm on school property. Following the incident, the football game scheduled for Friday night between Whale Branch and Baptist Hill was canceled, which resulted in a forfeit for Whale Branch. The cancellation sparked rumors that members of the football team were involved in the incident. The district said those rumors were unfounded. “We cannot comment on an active law enforcement investigation or student disciplinary matters,” Candace Bruder, Beaufort County School District director of communications, told The Island News. “However, we can clarify that the
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The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office officially opened its new autopsy lab Thursday, Sept. 8, in Port Royal. From left are Coroner David Ott, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Joni Skipper, and Assistant Pathologist and Office Manager Sheldon Phillips. Beaufort County is the first county in South Carolina to have a full-time forensic pathology staff. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
A forensic first for SC New county autopsy facility will help families, law enforcement with quicker turnaround
By Tony Kukulich Last week’s official opening of a forensic autopsy suite in Beaufort County is expected to have benefits for law enforcement and for families waiting for information about the death of a loved one by cutting the time required to complete a forensic autopsy. “This new suite will give our families closure in hours instead of days and weeks,” District 4 Councilmember Alice Howard said. “It will provide our police officers with critical clues and advantages to bring justice for victims'
families. It will help our community navigate the tragedy and aftermath of losing a loved one.” The opening of the facility was marked Thursday, Sept. 8, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by elected officials, law enforcement representatives and others. However, Beaufort County Coroner David Ott noted that a number of autopsies had already been completed by the staff there. When the Beaufort County Coroner's Office opened its current location on Old Shell Road in Port Royal in 2014,
VIDEO For a brief video from Beaufort County’s new forensic autopsy suite, follow this digital link.
former Coroner Ed Allen planned for the eventual development of autopsy capabilities. A part of the building was set aside for that purpose and sat
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County selects plan to slow traffic on Sunset Blvd.
By Tony Kukulich With input from the public, county officials have a tentative plan to slow traffic along Sunset Boulevard on Lady’s Island, but a source for funding the entire plan has yet to be identified. According to Beaufort County District 2 Councilmember Paul
Sommerville, speeding along narrow Sunset Boulevard has long been a problem for residents who live on or near the roadway. “This has been a thorny issue for at least a decade,” Sommerville said. “People use (Sunset Boulevard) as a cut through to get to Sam’s Point without going through an intersec-
tion. A lot of them speed. I own a house on Wallace Road. I’ve seen plenty of it. I’m talking about people driving absolutely crazy on that road. There have been a couple of deaths and I don’t know how many accidents.” Traffic calming is the use of physical road design and/or other mea-
EDUCATION
SPORTS
INSIDE
Charity, church give free shoes to elementary school students.
Beaufort smothers Goose Creek on wet night.
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Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–5 Legal Notices A4 Education A6 Arts A7 Health A8–9
Sports A10 Local Events A11 Military A12–13 Voices A14 Faith A15 Directory A16