By Lolita Huckaby
BEAUFORT
It started in 1994 as a way to capitalize on the release of the movie “Forrest Gump,” which had been partially filmed in Beaufort and promoted the livelihood that made Forrest, aka Tom Hanks, a rich man.
The Beaufort Shrimp Festival celebrated its 31 anniversary this past weekend, and as most festivals in Beaufort, shrimp dishes were as much the attraction as the men and women who supplied the ocean harvest. The single commercial shrimp trawler highlighted at the two-day festival was there but had to anchor in the Beaufort River, off of the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront, whose promenade is now it appears to be collapsing.
But the domestic, wild-caught shrimp were there for the festival goers, in all types of dishes prepared by local restaurants. The message throughout the festival, more pronounced than in the past few years, was “Eat Local,” part of the educational campaign to remind consumers of the importance to support U.S. shrimpers and avoid imports.
The S.C. Shrimpers Association, working with other commercial shrimpers associations in the coastal Southeast, are part of a federal lawsuit challenging the restaurants that sell shrimp dishes advertised as “local” when in fact, imported shrimp are served. The association is also pushing for state “truth in labeling” regulations which are already in place in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas.
Beaufort’s shrimp festival follows two weeks after the Yemassee Shrimp Festival, also celebrating its 31st anniversary. The Yemassee festival is more a tribute to the recreational harvest of shrimp using bait. The state regulates shrimp-baiting, with appropriate permits, between Sept. 12 and Nov. 10.
The practice has declined in popularity, with only 6,000 permits used last year compared to 17,000 in 1998, as many find it easier just to buy the tasty crustaceans from a variety of sources.
But while the festivals are fun and a great excuse to get together, enjoy food and music, remember … it started with shrimp … and a tribute to the hard-working individuals who earn their living on the sea. There are certainly not as many as there used to be, but the shrimpers of the Lowcountry were here long before the developers, real estate sales people and part-time residents who thought those anchored shrimp boats looked pretty.
Wayward deputy, ICE raid – Sheriff has plenty to explain
BEAUFORT — Much has been said, particularly online, about last month’s Hilton Head Island incident where an off-duty Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputy was seen shoving two teenagers to the ground in the middle of a neighborhood street and threatening them with bodily harm.
As is often the case these days, the incident played out largely online because the teenage victims were able to record the situation with their cell phones and immediately share that footage. The situation quickly became a viral phenomenon.
Most observers know by now the 19-year-veteran law enforcement officer was initially suspended and then fired by Sheriff P.J. Tanner who, as painful at the situation probably was for him and other law enforcement officers, was probably glad to have something else to talk about other than the county’s first publicized ICE raid a week earlier.
Tanner did discuss during a Friday press conference last week the Sept. 25 ICE raid which occurred in Bluffton, but he stressed his deputies were only helping State Law Enforcement Division, or SLED, officers hand out warrants. The sheriff’s department’s two additional officers who will be part of the 287 (g) agreement with ICE, are still in training and probably won’t be active until next month, Tanner told reporters.
Not unexpectedly, the role of social media, i.e., Facebook posts and podcasts, magnified “news” of the Hilton Head incident and hundreds of folks were immediately commenting online, giving their opinions on what exactly IS the truth.
The “truth,” thus far, has been the firing of a 19-year-veteran law enforcement officer. Whether further charges against the individual will be brought remains to be seen, but if there are, they most certainly will be the results of “some very bad decisions” on his part.
The “truth” behind the arrests of the five men in the ICE raid last month and charged with identity fraud is clouded by political implications and not nearly so clear-cut.
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. The Rowland, N.C. native’s goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
