[caption id="attachment_31589" align="aligncenter" width="1003"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/legion.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-31589"><img class="size-full wp-image-31589" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/legion.jpg" alt="American Legion Beaufort Post 9 is striving to promote both patriotism and businesses in the Beaufort area by calling attention to those that proudly display the U.S. flag at their location. Post 9 presents those enterprises with a framed certificate thanking them. Here Post 9 Commander Chuck Lurey presents the staff a certificate thanking Murr Printing for displaying the flag. From left are Sarah Evenden, Lurey, Victoria Orem and Mary Crosby." width="1003" height="768"></a> American Legion Beaufort Post 9 is striving to promote both patriotism and businesses in the Beaufort area by calling attention to those that proudly display the U.S. flag at their location. Post 9 presents those enterprises with a framed certificate thanking them. Here Post 9 Commander Chuck Lurey presents the staff a certificate thanking Murr Printing for displaying the flag. From left are Sarah Evenden, Lurey, Victoria Orem and Mary Crosby.[/caption]

<b>Job fair coming&nbsp;</b><b>to Beaufort County</b>

The 2017 Lowcountry Job Fair will be held form 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at the Beaufort National Guard Readiness Center (1 Cavalry Lane). The public is welcome.

<b>Investment control focus&nbsp;</b><b>of upcoming program</b>

“Take Control of Your Investments” will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Bluffton Branch Library at 120 Palmetto Way. Investors will learn about value investing and its advantages compared to mutual funds and other related topics. &nbsp;

The speaker will be Michael Osteen, MBA is Chief Investment Strategist at Port Wren Capital LLC. He is also a member of the Lady's Island Business &amp; Professional Association (LIBPA), as well as, the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Seating is limited to 23. To sign up in advance, visit www.portwrencapital.com/Bluffton_Library_Event_031117.htm.

<b>Vehicle complaints take&nbsp;</b><b>top spot among consumers</b>

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) received 3,913 consumer complaints from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2016, resulting in a total of $1.24 million going back to consumers in the form of credits, refunds and adjustments.

The No. 1 category in 2016 was vehicle complaints, totaling 16 percent (697) of SCDCA’s complaints. It was the third year in a row that vehicle complaints took the top spot.&nbsp;

The most common vehicle complaints reported were in reference to used vehicles, repairs and credit sales of motor vehicles.&nbsp;

Rounding out the top five are utilities at 13 percent (515); debt collection at 8 percent (317); contractors at 7 percent (281); and finance at 6 percent (240).&nbsp;

“While DCA stands ready and waiting to help consumers resolve issues encountered in the marketplace, we always encourage South Carolinians to be savvy consumers,” said SCDCA’s Administrator Carri Grube Lybarker. “Taking a few up front steps like researching a company before deciding to do business with them and carefully reading a contract before signing can save consumers from major headaches down the line.”

SCDCA processes and mediates consumer complaints against businesses regulated by the DCA, refers complaints that fall within another agency’s jurisdiction, and mediates those complaints against businesses that are unregulated. To file a complaint, visit www.consumer.sc.gov and click FILE A COMPLAINT. To see if a business has complaints against it, consumers should take advantage of the Search Complaints tool on the Consumer Information page of SCDCA’s website.