Voices

Opinion pieces, commentary, editorials, and columns that reflect community perspectives from Beaufort’s writers, thought leaders, and residents. This category provides a platform for voices shaping local discussion on issues, values, culture, civic life, and public debate in Beaufort and the broader Lowcountry.

Engineering a deathbed peace

Scott Graber, Voices /

When mother was leaving this realm, I was with my brother and sister at her bedside. We were not fighting, although there were lingering disagreements, unresolved. We had — thanks to a last minute gift of Scotch — been passing around a bottle of Dewar’s; talking in the semi-darkness; recounting our peripatetic, mostly happy childhoods thinking mother might still hear us. Eventually the nurse came in the room, looked at each of us in turn, then said, “You know she passed 30 minutes ago.”

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It was a close call

Doug Pugh, Voices /

A group of students from the local elementary school appeared and thanked Dorothy for her lesson on duplicity. As a reward, they presented her with a pair of magic slippers made in class, slippers that, when their heels were clicked together in a joyful leap, could grant a wish.

So Dorothy leaped joyfully, clicked, wished, and she and Toto were back in Kansas.

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Lowcountry Lowdown: County budget talks already target Human Services department

Lolita Huckaby, News, Voices /

Last week’s column lead with news of the annual Point in Time count of local “unsheltered” individuals, a project lead by Beaufort County’s Human Services staff and volunteers. This week, we learn that county officials, as part of the annual budget preparations, are proposing to eliminate this five-member department to save money.

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