GOVERNOR MCMASTER IS NOW MAKING DECISIONS AS TO WHAT FOODS FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS CAN BUY, ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TAKING CANDY, SODAS, SWEETENED BEVERAGES- INCLUDING SWEET TEA- AND ENERGY DRINKS OFF THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE FOOD PURCHASES WITH FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS. HE SAID, ‘IF YOU WANT TO BUY IT WITH YOUR MONEY, YOU CAN GO RIGHT AHEAD, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE TAXPAYERS, THERE’S CERTAIN THINGS THEY DON’T NEED TO BE PAYING FOR.’ IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPROVES HIS ORDER, SOUTH CAROLINA WILL JOIN 11 REPUBLICAN-LED STATES AND COLORADO IN GETTING JUNK FOOD WAIVERS AS PART OF H-H-S SECRETARY ROBERT KENNEDY’S ‘MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN’ MOVEMENT. HOT FOOD, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER NON-FOOD ITEMS ARE ALREADY RESTRICTED, AND THE NEW ORDER WOULD ALLOW SNAP RECIPIENTS TO BUY COFFEE, TEA, BAKED GOODS, MILK AND SPORTS DRINKS.
SEA TURTLE NEST-LAYING SEASON IS OVER ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, EVEN IF THERE ARE STILL DOZENS OF NESTS STILL WAITING TO HATCH. THE SEA TURTLE PATROL REPORTS 237 NESTS WERE LAID ON THE ISLAND, MORE THAN THE 204 LAST YEAR, BUT A BIT LOWER THAN THE EXPECTED 350, NOT SURPRISING CONSIDERING THIS YEAR’S WACKY WEATHER THAT EVEN INCLUDED SNOW LAST JANUARY. THE HATCHLINGS WERE ALSO AFFECTED BY THE RECENT SERIES OF STORMS- INCLUDING HURRICANE ERIN, EVEN THOUGH IT MISSED THE ISLAND BY HUNDREDS OF MILES. THE PATROL HAS ALSO HAD TO RE-LOCATE SOME NESTS FOR THE UPCOMING BEACH RENOURISHMENT. NEXT YEAR IS EXPECTED TO BE A BIG YEAR FOR NESTING, APPROACHING THE RECORD 463 NESTS LAID IN 2019.
TWO BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCILWOMEN SAY ONE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES MANAGED TO TAKE A SELFIE WITH AN INMATE INSIDE THE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, WHICH CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS A FELONY BECAUSE CELLPHONES ARE CONSIDERED CONTRABAND IN JAILS. NOBODY IS IDENTIFYING THE COUNCIL MEMBER YET, BUT SHERIFF P-J TANNER SAYS THE INCIDENT IS SERIOUS AND THE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGTING. ALICE HOWARD AND TAB TABERNIK BROUGHT FORWARD THEIR CONCERNS THAT THE PHOTO WAS BEING CIRCULATED. THE INCIDENT APPARENTLY TOOK PLACE AUGUST 20TH, ACCORDING TO THE ISLAND PACKET. MORE THAN THE SELFIE, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BREACHES IN POLICY BY DETENTION CENTER STAFF.
THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS NOW OFFERING TO PAY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN. EARLIER, THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE ICE-287-G PROGRAM AND LOCAL OFFICIALS HAD THE LOCAL DEPARTMENTS COVERING THE COSTS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, BUT THE FEDS, FLUSH WITH CASH FROM THE ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’ ARE NOW OFFERING TO COVER 25% OF THE COSTS FOR OFFICERS TRAINED IN THE PROGRAM AND QUARTERLY BONUSES FOR LOCATING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE 287-G PROGRAM, INCLUDING BEAUFORT COUNTY.