Chiropractic Care in Walterboro, SC

By: Heather Ruppe

The future of one of Walterboro’s oldest and most historic churches continues to hang in the balance after a long-awaited ruling passed by the South Carolina Supreme Court last week.

Established in 1855 and located in the historic district of downtown Walterboro, St. Jude’s Church will be losing its rights to the property and church.

A legal battle has ensued between the Anglican and Episcopal churches for the last ten years. Historically, all churches were originally part of a trust that belongs to the National Episcopal Church. The battle was sparked by the separation of some parishes from the Episcopal Church, according to legal opinion. This separation prompted an ongoing legal battle about property rights.

St. Jude’s filed a petition for a rehearing by the Supreme Court on May 5, 2022. There has been no movement by the court since it was filed.

Some churches in the Lowcountry have already left their properties, leaving a number of them seeking other areas to worship in.

“What this means for us is that we have to wait for the court before any final plans are made,” says Rev. Newman H. Lawrence, rector of St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro. “We are in a place of waiting and praying that the Holy Spirit will guide us as to what happens next.”

According to Lawrence, who spoke to The Press and Standard on August 1, there is no timeline yet on when the church may have to leave, should the S.C. Supreme Court still rule against them.

Fourteen of the twenty-nine currently Anglican churches involved in this legal decision will lose all rights to their property and must begin the legal process of transferring their properties to the Episcopal Church as part of the S.C. Supreme Court’s original ruling. The impacted churches are scattered throughout the Lowcountry, from Charleston to Colleton counties. St. Jude’s is the only Anglican church in Colleton County impacted by the ruling.

The other half of the churches involved in the lawsuit will be unaffected by the Supreme Court’s ruling and retain their personal property. Based upon how the individual church laws, or “canons,” were written, those particular churches never conceded to the church law.

“The decision from the Supreme Court is a difficult one to have learned. Our hearts mourn the loss of historic buildings where we have worshiped for generations,” Lawrence said in a prior interview with The Press and Standard. “But, we know the church is more than a building. We will continue to gather and worship the risen Lord, wherever that may be.”

Legal counsel continues to weigh in on both sides of this case. Details include many “what if’s,” such as how the Anglican churches who are losing their properties will be reimbursed or compensated for “betterments” made during the ten years that this court case was being heard. These “betterments,” as they are called in the ruling, refer to physical improvements, expansions, and general upkeep of the church properties.

Other uncertainties include the future of parishioner grave sites that have been purchased and planned for by Anglican members, as well as current graves and cemeteries. The question also remains of whether the new owners of the church properties will allow the Anglican churches to remain as leaseholders.

“The ruling raises many issues that will have to play out in the coming weeks before any actions are taken, so our first response must be to quiet our hearts before the Lord as we pray for the grace to meet the days ahead,” state the Rt. Rev. Chip Edgar in his letter to all Anglican churches in the area. “Some of our churches are relieved that the court ruled their property does indeed belong to them. Some are grieving deeply, as the court’s ruling went in the opposite direction. Edgar continues, “The Lord has provided, and always will provide, all we need to proclaim the gospel, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick, set the captives free, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”

Edgar also asked for continued prayers “for those of us who are called to lead as we sort through the difficult decisions of the days ahead.

According to the S.C. Supreme Court, the fourteen Anglican churches that must hand over their properties to the Episcopal Church are:

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Charleston

The Church of the Holy Comforter in Sumter

St. Bartholomew’s Church in Hartsville

St. John’s Parish Church on John’s Island

St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro

St. Luke’s Church in Hilton Head

St. David’s Church in Cheraw

St. Matthew’s Parish Church in Fort Motte

Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church in Charleston

The Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg

Trinity Church in Myrtle Beach

Holy Trinity Church in Charleston

Christ Church in Mount Pleasant

St. James Church in James Island.

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South Carolina’s sales tax holiday will take place August 5-August 7, 2022 this year.

Inflation has caused many families’ budgets to be a little tighter than usual heading into the 2022 school year. Back to school shopping can be a sizable expense, especially for families with multiple children. Thankfully, Tax Free Weekend can help create much needed savings. In fact, according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue shoppers have enjoyed savings of between $2-3 million in past years.

The 6% sales tax and other applicable local taxes will be waived on qualifying purchases both online and in stores for South Carolina shoppers this Friday through Sunday. The South Carolina Department of Revenue says on their website that “generally, exempt items include school supplies used for school assignments, apparel, electronics, and bed and bath items.”

These exempt items include the standard back to school essentials like pencils and notebooks, clothing, musical instruments used for school, and uniforms among others. For those not heading back to the classroom, Tax Free Weekend is the time to take advantage of sales tax being waived on everyday items like diapers, bedding, and towels.

Although savings seem minimal on smaller purchases, the sales tax break could make bigger ticket purchases a little easier on the wallet. Tax Free Weekend is a prime time to invest in a new computer or quality clothing/footwear with a little steeper price tag.

There are a couple things shoppers can do to make Tax Free Weekend shopping more efficient and stress-free. First, gather all necessary school supply lists and make a master list of items that still need to be purchased. Then, make a plan surrounding where and when you will shop for the items on your list, whether that will be online or at a physical location. Tip-veteran sales tax holiday shoppers suggest hitting stores like Walmart shortly after midnight on Thursday night. Waiting until Sunday may seem like a way to beat the crowds, but late weekend shoppers will most likely find shelves have been picked over by that time.

One last tip-think outside the box! Think about what you and/or your children will need in the coming seasons or next year, and take advantage of seasonal sales on top of the sales tax exemptions.

For more information on exactly which items make the list for tax exempt status this weekend, visit the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s dedicated Tax Free Weekend website here: https://dor.sc.gov/taxfreeweekend

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Deer hunters still have time to apply for deer-lottery hunts that will be held on public lands throughout South Carolina.

The deadline to submit an application for deer lottery hunts on public lands is 5 p.m. on August 15th. These hunts are for several different states throughout South Carolina. They are also unrestricted, meaning hunters who win this lottery can harvest deer on many different Wildlife Management Areas, including Bear Island, Donnelley and Bonneau Ferry. Donnelley is located in Colleton County.

These sites also includes Botany Bay WMA on Edisto Island and several preserves and Wildlife Management Areas in the Upstate of South Carolina.

For each deer lottery, applicants can choose up to 15 hunt sites.

For more information on the deer lottery on public lands, or to actually apply, go to www.dnr.sc.gov/hunting/deerlotterysites.html.

Deer Lottery Hunt Site Information

Each hunter must have a Wildlife Management Area Permit and a Big Game Permit in addition to a valid hunting license to attend the hunt.

The Multi-site, Unrestricted Multi-site, Webb Gun, Webb Archery, and South Fenwick Archery lotteries operate independently and maintain separate preference points. Applicants can apply for more than one deer lottery but be mindful of date selections of each. Antler restrictions apply to the Multi-site Lottery, but there are no antler restrictions for properties included in the Unrestricted Multi-site Lottery.

A hunter younger than 16 years of age is not required to have a hunting license, but must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older who was also selected for the same hunt.

All hunters must wear a coat, vest or hat of solid visible International Orange color while hunt is in progress. All Wildlife Management Area rules and regulations apply.

Successful hunters who are unable to report at the required check-in must make arrangements for check-in with their assigned hunt site.

Cancellations will not be refunded. Canceled slots will be filled by random selection of applicants who were not selected. If you are unable to attend, contact Emily Kearse at 803-734-3887.

Deer Lottery Hunt Weapons Restrictions

Shotguns and rimfire cartridges are not permitted for any Multi-site deer hunt. Only centerfire rifles .22 caliber and larger, and muzzleloaders .36 caliber and larger are allowed for Webb Wildlife Center Gun hunts

Shotguns and rimfire cartridges are not permitted. Any other legal firearm, muzzleloader, or archery equipment are allowed.

WEBB GUN HUNTS - All gun hunting will be from assigned stands. Only centerfire rifles .22 caliber and larger and muzzleloaders .36 caliber and larger are allowed. Archery equipment, rimfire rifles, handguns, and shotguns are not permitted. Pneumatic guns or guns firing an arrow, bolt, or similar type of projectile are not permitted. All hunters must wear a visible coat, vest, or hat of International Orange color while hunt is in progress. Youth under age 16 must hunt in the same stand as an accompanying adult.

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By: Jessica O’Connor

The first youth day for deer hunting in Colleton County (and game zone 3 as a whole) will be August 13, 2022 for private land. Licenses and tags are not required for youth on statewide youth days. However, if the participating youth (up to 17 years of age) has not completed a hunter education course they must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older.

Deer taken must be antlered, and the limit is set at one per child. Adults may only participate as a guide or in a supervisory role. Any animals harvested must be taken at the hands of a youth.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation projects that for every 100 hunters lost, whether that is due to aging or other factors, only 69 young hunters step up to take their place. South Carolina’s youth hunting days are much anticipated by both “seasoned” and new young hunters alike. Creating this excitement and anticipation surrounding the different hunting seasons is imperative to creating a new generation of hunters to replace those that the sport loses.

Some tips to create a fun and successful youth hunting day for your child:

Get them involved in preparations for the hunt. Knowing that he/she played a part in making the hunt come together is a great source of pride for youth.

Create a comfortable hunting environment. A ground blind or tower stand may be the best option for very young children, whereas older youth may find a ladder stand plenty acceptable. Regardless, ensure that your child is comfortable getting into and out of the blind or stand and choose a method of concealment that is age (and attention span) appropriate.

Thoroughly acclimate the child with the weapon he/she will be using. Giving proper gun safety instruction is of utmost importance, but ensuring that the young hunter is comfortable and confident using their weapon will go far in creating a positive experience in the field.

Bring snacks and entertainment items, especially for younger children. These will greatly help them to stay still and quiet!

Emphasize that harvesting an animal is not the most important indicator of a “successful” hunt. Observe other wildlife and their habits, set mini-goals that you celebrate, and just enjoy your time together in the outdoors. When your child has grown into an adult, they will cherish the memories of each hunt with you, whether they were able to take an animal or not.

Good luck, Colleton County youth deer hunters!

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PRESS RELEASE-For years, it’s been the dream of a small, but dedicated group of Edisto volunteers to create a recreation area where young people---and adults --who live here could enjoy basketball courts, walking trails, softball fields, an indoor track, gym and pool.

For the love of youth and sports, the group created Edisto Island Youth Recreation (EIYR) an all-volunteer organization. In 2020 with help from Tom Austin of Edisto’s Open Land Trust, the group succeeded in purchasing 145 acres on Clark Road with a grant from the Charleston County Green Belt Program.

EIYR got a real boost this spring when 10 energetic and talented Clemson Architecture students adopted the organization as their design project.

With the guidance of Professor Raymond Huff, the third-year students created three, distinct concepts for the 145 acre complex off Clark Road. Their work began with workshops during which they gathered input from the community.

They toured the island and the property and

researched the history and culture of Edisto and the

sea islands.

They presented the volunteer group with possible scenarios and gathered their comments and criticisms before creating their final renderings and models of a gym, ball fields, basketball court, hiking trails, a pool, and a library. Most importantly they explained how they envisioned the complex would be used by both the island and the beach communities of Edisto.

The project was then turned over to architects Brian Wurst and Thomas Jasper of the Charleston architectural firm LS3P. After meetings with EIYR volunteers, the two presented a site plan and a gym concept which are necessary in order to for permits to be granted.

The work of LS3P architects is part of the firm’s commitment to yearly in-kind services to the community and Charleston County citizens.

Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission has pledged considerable resources to insure the first phase of the recreation complex would be completed once the permits are in place.

CCPRC Director of Planning & Development Patty Newshultz will oversee the work once all permits are secured and the site plan is finalized.

Efforts are ongoing to secure state funding and meetings have been held with SC

Senator Chip Campsen and Al Jenkins of Sen. Scott’s office.

Meanwhile, young people from Edisto Island and the surrounding communities continue to participate in the EIYR sports programs.Through the generosity of area churches, organizations and individuals EIYR conducts programs in gymnastics, softball, baseball, track, basketball and cheerleading. There is never any charge to the young people.

If you would liketo learn more about Edisto Island Youth Recreation, please call Geno Middleton, 843-209-3001, Jack DiLuna 843-345-0533 or Claudette Alexander, 843-817-4747.