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<p><strong>Gubernatorial candidate McLeod to visit St. Helena</strong></p>
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<p>State Senator Mia McLeod, a Democratic candidate for governor, will be at the Gullah Geechee Visitors Center at LyBensons Gallery &amp; Studio, 870 Sea Island Parkway, at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, to get to know the citizens of Saint Helena and Beaufort County.</p>
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<p>Senator McLeod, (District 22, Richland County), has made history as the first black woman in South Carolina history to enter the state's gubernatorial race. McLeod, 52, was elected to the State House in 2010 and the Senate in 2016.</p>
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<p><strong>Men’s, women’s clubs hosting GOP barbecue fundraiser</strong></p>
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<p>The Beaufort Republican Women’s Club and the Beaufort Federation of Republican Men will hold a fundraising event from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30 at the Quality Inn, 2001 Boundary Street in Beaufort.</p>
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<p>The event will feature a barbecue buffet by Jimmy Fitts, a silent auction, and a beer and wine cash bar. The guest speaker will be State Senator Chip Campsen.</p>
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<p>Tickets are $25 each, and there will be no tickets at the door. Mail checks to BRWC, P.O. Box 1835, Beaufort, S.C. 29901 prior to Sept. 22. For more information, contact Elaine Gantt at 843-379-0056.</p>
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<p><strong>LIBPA Meeting set for Sept. 14</strong></p>
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<p>The Lady’s Island Business Professional Association will meet at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island.</p>
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<p>Robert Merchant, Acting Director of the Beaufort County Planning and Zoning Department, will be the featured speaker. Please stop by for coffee and conversation concerning our community.</p>
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<p><strong>County hosting electronics recycling</strong></p>
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<p>The Beaufort County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling will host two free electronics recycling events for County residents from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, at Beaufort County Public Works, 9 Benton Field Road, Bluffton and Beaufort County Public Works, 140 Shanklin Road, Beaufort.</p>
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<p>Citizens are asked to please remain in their cars during the event. Staff will unload electronics.</p>
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<p>Any personal computers, laptops, CRT monitors, LCD monitors, CRT televisions, non-CRT televisions, printers, hard drives and miscellaneous electronics (microwaves, cell phones, radios, fax machines, and typewriters) will be accepted.</p>
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<p>For more information about Beaufort County recycling events, call the Solid Waste and Recycling Office at 843-255-2736 or visit the website at www.beaufortcountysc.gov/recycle.</p>
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<p><strong>County accepting applications for 2 percent tax grants</strong></p>
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<p>The Beaufort County Accommodations Tax Board is now accepting applications from organizations in Beaufort County wishing to receive grants from the 2 percent state accommodations tax fund.</p>
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<p>South Carolina law allows for a 2 percent tax levy on the rental of all transient accommodations to help provide financial support to promote tourism and fund tourism-related activities in municipalities and counties within the state.</p>
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<p>As a result, individuals staying overnight in hotels, motels, inns, and vacation rentals pay 2 percent in addition to the statewide sales tax and any local sales and use tax applied to their lodging cost.</p>
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<p>The current year application (2021/2022) is available online at https://bit.ly/3tioIPo.</p>
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<p>Applications will not be accepted or reviewed if received incomplete or after 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8.</p>
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<p>Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Shannon Milroy at atax@bcgov.net or 843-255-2302.</p>
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<p><strong>Cougar Community Campus Clean-up</strong></p>
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<p>All Lady’s Island Middle School students, parents, teachers, staff, alumni and community friends are invited to join the first Cougar Community Campus Clean-Up from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 18.</p>
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<p>Enjoy a fall morning with the LIMS community as we work together to “spruce up” our campus. No experience needed; just a willingness to help out.</p>
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<p>A prize will be awarded to the homeroom class with the highest participation (students, parents and teachers). Contact Nan Burvenich, LIMS STEAM2 Coordinator at nan.burvenich@beaufort.k12.sc.us with any questions.</p>
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