As residents of the Lowcountry, we all understand that growth is coming. The question is not whether we improve S.C. 170, but how we do so responsibly.
The proposal to expand portions of S.C. 170 to as many as eight lanes should give us pause. An expansion of that scale would fundamentally change the character of this corridor, replacing tree-lined roads and natural buffers with a high-capacity highway. Once that shift occurs, it cannot be undone.
Beyond aesthetics, there are real and lasting consequences. Increased pavement means increased stormwater runoff, which directly impacts our creeks, wetlands, and the broader health of our waterways. Loss of tree canopy and habitat fragmentation would further strain an already sensitive ecosystem. For those of us who live here, these are not abstract concerns. They affect our daily lives and the natural beauty that defines this region.
There is also a practical reality: wider roads do not necessarily solve congestion long term. They often invite more traffic and more development, creating the very problems they aim to fix.
We can do better. Targeted intersection improvements, smart traffic management, limited widening in high-need areas, and the addition of safe pedestrian and bicycle pathways offer more balanced solutions. These approaches improve safety and mobility while preserving the environmental integrity and rural character that make the Lowcountry unique.
Progress does not have to come at the expense of what we love. Let’s choose solutions that respect both our future and our heritage.
— David & Diane Sesler, Ridgeland
Re: Coast Guard decision on new training center
I read, with great interest, [Delayna Earley’s] article in The Island News about the Coast Guard’ decision to establish a new training facility in Birmingham, Ala., instead of at the Naval Hospital in Port Royal. This decision is one of the more blatant examples of pork barrel legislation seen in recent times.
I certainly hope this is not the end of this story. Keep up the good work.
— Peter G Eschauzier, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.
When you have clowns, expect a circus
Journalists, pundits and others are wringing their hands and gnashing their teeth over the prosecution of the war in Iran They say:
“We don’t know the goals.”
“They change regularly depending on what Trump posts on Truth Social in the middle of the night.”
“What about the Strait of Hormuz?”
“Gas prices are going through the roof.”
Just a few issues that could be mentioned.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense (War, as he prefers to be called), is leading the war effort. Hegseth, as is well known, is a former Fox News host. His main qualification for the job is that Trump likes him. So, we have put a Middle East war in his (and Trump’s) hands. No wonder the media, and many, many others worldwide, are frustrated.
Have you given any thought at all regarding how Pete Hegseth, a totally unqualified person, got to be head of the Department of Defense? Republicans in the Senate put him there! Republicans voted for Hegseth’s confirmation. The vote was a tie, 50-50, broken by Vice President Vance. Republicans have voted to confirm a number of incompetent persons to run government agencies, notably Kristi Noem, recently fired. Every sane person knows that many of these people do not belong in government. Why were they confirmed? Because Trump wanted them and Republicans who control both house of Congress have no backbones and can’t say no.
Republicans let Elon Musk run rampant through government agencies, destroying as much as possible and firing thousands of employees. Why? Because Trump wanted it and congress let him.
When are people going to open their eyes to see what is going on in the United States today? The situation is dire. In a previous letter, I recommended prayer.
When you have clowns, expect a circus.
— Terry Gibson, Beaufort
Endorsement, JoJo
If there has been any question; my endorsement to be the new sheriff of Beaufort County is JoJo Woodward.
I met JoJo in the beginning of my law enforcement career and have witnessed his work and devotion since. JoJo has done almost every law enforcement assignment there is and commanded large multi-faceted groups of heroic professionals, from a multi-jurisdictional drug task force to the entire Southern Command of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, he has done it all and is ready on Day 1 to lead, command and inspire the heroes of the BCSO.
His devotion to actually putting more “boots on the ground” and make a true difference in battling crime will make us all safer and happier. His promises to end understaffed patrols and overstuffed offices will immediately affect us all. His focus on crime, traffic, transparency and accountability will do even more.
I urge anyone on the fence or anchored to complacency to research JoJo and his solutions, join his movement and finally get the protection we deserve.
— Tim Newman, Lady’s Island