A little ‘turkey’ made her appearance on Thanksgiving Day at the Beaufort Memorial Collins Birthing Center: baby Carmen Leveron was born weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces, to Glenda Mejia and Misael Leveron of Bluffton.
The crocheted turkey pouches and hats — as well as the sweet pumpkin pies — were made by Donna Mixon, who works on the Collins Birthing Center labor and delivery team.
Carmen Leveron and Goldie Kasay (born to Jillian and Steven Kasay of Charlotte, N.C.) were two babies born at Beaufort Memorial on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.
Walterboro, S.C. – USC Salkehatchie is proud to announce that Sydney Kashner has been awarded a $500 scholarship from the John Winthrop Endowed History Fund. This generous scholarship will enable Sydney to participate in the summer travel course, HIST 315 “The Rise and Fall of the Athenian Empire.”
The course will take students on an immersive journey to Italy and Greece in late June. This opportunity will allow students to explore ancient sites, museums, and historical landmarks firsthand. By studying the history and culture of these regions, students will gain a deeper understanding of the classical world.
“We are thrilled that Sydney has received this well-deserved scholarship,” said Sarah Miller, associate dean for academic and student affairs. “This opportunity will undoubtedly enrich her academic experience and broaden her horizons. We are grateful to the John Winthrop Endowed History Fund for their continued support of our students.”
Walterboro, S.C. – Unwrap the possibilities of a college education at USC Salkehatchie’s Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Warm up with delicious cookies and cocoa while mingling with friendly faculty, staff, and deans. They’re ready to answer your questions and guide you through the application or registration process.
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This Open House is the perfect opportunity to discover why USC Salkehatchie is the ideal place to jumpstart your college journey. Explore a welcoming and supportive environment that provides personalized attention and a strong foundation for success.
The public is invited to view the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trust archaeologists as they conduct an archaeological survey at Green’s Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve in Beaufort County. The archaeological survey will take place from Tuesday, Jan. 7, through Thursday, Jan. 16.
Free guided public tours of Green’s Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve will be offered daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Each tour is limited to 15 participants, and pre-registration is encouraged. The public can register for guided tours here.
Green’s Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve is located on the edge of a marsh beside Skull Creek on Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Heritage Trust Program along with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreations and Tourism acquired this 3-acre preserve in 1991 to protect and preserve a cultural site constructed of discarded shells and other material left by the Indigenous people who once lived here. The Town of Hilton Head and SCDNR maintain joint ownership of this preserve that is managed by Heritage Trust.
This small preserve features an embankment made of shells measuring a little more than one meter in height and about 10 meters across. Radiocarbon (carbon-14) dating of charcoal from this site produced an approximate date of 1335 BCE, a period known as the Irene phase (1300 to 1450 BCE) of the Mississippian Period. This embankment is predominantly made up of discarded shells and also includes artifacts such as pottery sherds that bear unique decorations from the Irene phase. These pottery decorations include complicated paddle-stamped designs, incising, punctations, and appliques. Based on research from other Irene phase sites, the Green’s Shell Enclosure likely provided defensive protection for a village, with walls, palisades, and ditches. This site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Learn more about Green’s Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve in the story map Skull Creek Chronicles: Stepping into the Past at Green’s Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve.
From 2024 through 2026, the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program is celebrating its 50th anniversary. On Feb. 27, 1974, Gov. John C. West signed an executive order inaugurating the Heritage Trust Program and establishing the Heritage Trust Advisory Board. Following two years of lobbying, the South Carolina legislature passed the Heritage Trust Act, and the act was signed into law by Gov. James B. Edwards on May 25, 1976. This anniversary is a monumental milestone for a program that was the first of its kind in the entire nation to protect natural and cultural properties for current and future generations.
Learn more about the early history of the Heritage Trust Program in the story map The Heritage Trust Program: Acquiring the Past for the Future.
FEMA Medical Assistance available for South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene
COLUMBIA, S.C. – If you sustained an injury or illness due to Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for medical/dental assistance from FEMA.
Medical/dental assistance can help cover uninsured expenses for medical care related to the disaster-caused injury or illness. This funding can also be used to help replace medical/dental equipment, breastfeeding equipment or prescribed medicine damaged or lost due to Hurricane Helene.
In addition to medical/dental assistance, FEMA offers several other types of assistance for which you may be eligible. To find out what assistance you qualify for, submit your application for disaster assistance. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation who were affected by Hurricane Helene are eligible to apply.
You can apply in several ways:
For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.
FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – FEMA’s Individual Assistance program and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan program are the federal government’s two primary sources of financial assistance to help individuals and households recover and rebuild from a major disaster. In many cases, homeowners and renters find that they need assistance from both programs to support their recovery.
Disaster survivors in need of an SBA loan for personal belongings, residential property damage, and business damage and disruption should not wait to apply.
The SBA continues accepting new applications and preparing borrowers to receive their disaster loan offers as soon as Congress allocates funding. The SBA continues loan processing operations including supporting current borrowers and new applicants.
Provided Congress makes funds available, SBA can make disaster loans up to $500,000 to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters may be eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses may be eligible for loans up to $2 million for both physical damage and economic injury from business disruption.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, without credit elsewhere, and terms are up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement, and monthly payments begin 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
FEMA urges South Carolinians to apply for assistance despite concerns regarding Homeowners’ Insurance
COLUMBIA, S.C. – If you were affected by Hurricane Helene and have an active insurance policy, state and FEMA officials urge South Carolinians to check with their insurance company and FEMA to start their road to recovery.
“We know that some survivors of Hurricane Helene are concerned about the impact filing a claim may have on increasing their premiums,” said Director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance, Michael Wise. “We urge people affected by Hurricane Helene to talk with their agent or company representative to understand their deductible and associated out of pocket expenses to determine whether it makes sense to file a claim. In many instances, damages may fall below the policy deductible or otherwise not be covered by the policy. We encourage insurance companies to provide documentation necessary for consumers to file for assistance for uncovered losses with FEMA to help them and their households recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene.”
Survivors are urged to apply because they may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance for basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses. While they do not have to file an insurance claim before applying for FEMA disaster assistance, survivors will be required to provide FEMA with documentation regarding their insurance settlement or denial of coverage before being considered for certain types of assistance. Also, if survivors’ insurance benefits are delayed, FEMA can provide assistance to meet their immediate needs.
Survivors can apply in several ways:
While FEMA assistance can only cover uninsured and underinsured losses, the assistance may help provide additional coverage for losses caused by Hurricane Helene.
Survivors do not need to have insurance to qualify for FEMA assistance and should not wait to submit their FEMA application. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation who were affected by Hurricane Helene are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance.
Hilton Head man serving in Navy’s largest fleet
Seaman Sergio Gonzalez, of Hilton Head, recently prepared to receive cargo during a replenishment-at-sea with the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) in the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
Abraham Lincoln, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Three, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
