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A long-awaited ruling passed down last week by the S.C. Supreme Court has the future of one of Walterboro’s oldest and most historic churches hanging in the balance.

St. Jude’s Church members in Walterboro will be losing the rights to their property and to their church. The church was established in 1855 and are in the historic district of downtown Walterboro.

This ruling was passed down by the S.C. Supreme Court, which has been listening to the legal battle between the Anglican and Episcopal churches for the last 10 years. According to the legal opinion, some parishes broke away from the Episcopal Church more than 10 years ago, prompting the ongoing legal battle about property rights. Before the split, all churches were a part of a trust that belongs to the national Episcopal church.

The S.C. Supreme Court issued their ruling on April 20th.

As part of their ruling, 14 of the 29 now-Anglican churches involved in this legal decision – impacted churches are scattered throughout the Lowcountry, from Charleston to Colleton counties – will lose all rights to their property and must begin the legal process of handing over their properties to the Episcopal Church. The other half of the churches involved in the lawsuit will keep their personal property and are unaffected by the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The reason that 15 of the 29 churches can keep their properties is because those churches never conceded to the church law, through the way in which the individual church laws, or “canon,” were written.

St. Jude’s is the only Anglican church in Colleton County impacted by the ruling.

“The decision from the Supreme Court is a difficult one to have learned. Our hearts mourn at the loss of historic buildings where we have worshipped for generations,” said Rev. Newman H. Lawrence, rector of St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro. “But, we know the church is more than a building. We will continue to gather and worship the risen Lord wherever that may be,” he said.

While the ruling has been handed down, details of this case still remain in limbo as legal counsel for both sides continue to weigh in. These details include many “what ifs,” such as how the Anglican churches who are losing their properties will be reimbursed or compensated for “betterments” that were made during the last 10 years while this court case was being heard. These “betterments,” as they are called in the ruling, refer to physical improvements or expansions made to the church properties. They also refer to general upkeep.

Other “what ifs” that are still being decided as part of an ongoing legal conversation include the future of parishioner grave sites that have been bought and planned for by Anglican members; current graves and graveyards; and whether or not the new owners of the property will allow some of the Anglican churches to remain as lease-holders.

According to a letter issued on April 20th by the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina to the church’s clergy and parishioners,

“The ruling raises many issues that will have to play out in the coming weeks before any actions are taken, so our first response must be to quiet our hearts before the Lord as we pray for grace to meet the days ahead. Some of our churches are relieved that the court ruled their property does indeed belong to them. Some are grieving deeply, as the courts ruling went in the opposite direction,” stated The Rt. Rev. Chip Edgar, in his letter to all Anglican churches in the area. “ … The Lord has provided – and always will provide – all we need to proclaim the gospel, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick, set the captives free, do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with our God,” Edgar wrote, in part, in his letter.

Edgar also asked for continued prayers “… for those of us who are called to lead as we sort thorugh the difficult decisions of the days ahead.”

According to the S.C. Supreme Court, the 14 Anglican Churches that must hand over their properties to the Episcopal Church are:

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Charleston;

The Church of the Holy Comforter in Sumter;

St. Bartholomew’s Church in Hartsville;

St. John’s Parish Church on Johns Island;

St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro;

Saint Luke’s Church in Hilton Head;

St. David’s Church in Cheraw;

St. Matthew’s Parish Church in Fort Motte;

Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church in Charleston;

The Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg;

Trinity Church in Myrtle Beach;

Holy Trinity Church in Charleston;

Christ Church in Mount Pleasant;

Saint James Church in James Island.

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PRESS RELEASE. In Colleton County’s first Colleton County Community Read (CCCR), organizers of the event say this day of dedicated reading was a “big success,” according to Colleton County Children’s Librarian Shiela Keaise. To orchestrate the event, the library partnered with many community partners, including the Colleton County School District, First Steps, North Walterboro Christian Academy, the Lowcountry Community Action Agency, Colleton Preparatory Academy, the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, the local library, and some homeschoolers. These groups prioritized reading during the week of April 4 – 7, 2022.

“CCCR promoted parent/child, teacher/child, community/child, and librarian/child read-a-longs for one full week. These relationships are perfect for nurturing the child’s physical, emotional, and social development. Each unique bond that every child and parent/teacher/librarian/community member plays a part in makes Colleton county more literate. These relationships lay the foundation for the child’s personality, life choices, and overall behavior, but their literacy level,” said Keaise.

The program ended on April 8th with the “Big Read,” where more than 77 readers (community leaders) went to schools, daycares, and libraries to read to students in Colleton County.

The books they read were selected from various reading levels and for all ages of children by committee members and staff of the CCCR project.

“I was thrilled with the level of community support during our Big Read day,” said library Director Carl Coffin. “Thank you, Colleton County readers, Colleton County First Steps, teachers, and administrative staff for supporting literacy and education in the lives of our youth.”

As a part of the event, more than 5,900 students in Colleton County received free books, thanks to the $10,000 Save The Children grant and a $23,000 Colleton County Memorial Library (CCML) donation. Colleton Dental Associates donated $500 that helped provide gifts for our volunteers and partners. The Colleton County Memorial Library purchased the Illustrate-A-Book projects written and illustrated by the local children’s librarian and over 100 youths of Colleton County.

“Promoting a love of reading has always been a priority in the Children’s Department,” said Keaise. “We would not have been able to accomplish our first Colleton County Community Read project without the idea and assistance from Colleton County School District Superintendent Dr. Vallerie Cave. Thank you to Sean Gruber, who served as our liaison to the schools and videographer.”

PRESS RELEASE. To help keep South Carolina beaches a favorite destination during the summer months, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is soon beginning its seasonal monitoring of water quality along the coast. Every state with ocean-facing beaches performs beach water monitoring to help detect instances of elevated bacteria levels that have the potential to impact people’s health.

From May 1-Oct. 30, DHEC collects either weekly or bi-weekly water samples at more than 120 locations along South Carolina›s beaches, from Cherry Grove Beach near the South Carolina-North Carolina border to the southern end of Hilton Head Island. DHEC staff test these water samples for Enterococci bacteria. If elevated levels of the bacteria are detected, the agency issues public notices at that beach location and to local media outlets because high levels of Enterococci bacteria can negatively impact some people’s health.

“If levels of Enterococci bacteria exceed the standard limit, we quickly issue a short-term swimming advisory for that portion of the beach to help alert beach-goers,” said Bryan Rabon, manager of Aquatic Science Programs with DHEC’s Bureau of Water. “A swimming advisory does not mean a beach is closed, it just means that this particular area of ocean water should be avoided until the bacteria levels return to normal. Most short-term swimming advisories last just a single day.”

DHEC tests ocean water for Enterococci bacteria, which are naturally found in warm-blooded animals, including humans. However, high levels of Enterococci in water indicate the potential risk for other organisms that may cause disease in humans, such as gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.

DHEC issues two types of swimming advisories: short-term (or “temporary”) and long-term:

Short-term swimming advisories typically last just one to two days and are issued once two consecutive water samples exceed the state water quality standard of 104 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters (104CFU/100mL). Often, short-term swim advisories due to elevated bacteria levels are issued after heavy rains because rainwater carries nearby pollutants and contaminants into the ocean.

Long-term swimming advisories are issued for areas that have an increased possibility of high bacteria levels, typically where stormwater from pipes or small creeks flows across the beach and into the ocean. Signs posted at these locations provide advice about swimming in the immediate area due to the potential of high bacteria levels, usually associated with rainfall events.

“We don’t always know the cause of the increase in bacteria in a certain area because there could be various contributing factors, however, it’s our job as South Carolina’s public health and environmental agency to keep people up to date on bacterial counts in ocean water,” Rabon said. “It’s considered safe to wade, collect shells and fish within a swimming advisory area, but we advise people who enter the water in an affected area to refrain from swallowing it, and we advise people with open wounds or compromised immune systems to avoid contact with the water in a swim advisory area.”

In 2020, DHEC worked collaboratively with the City of Myrtle Beach, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and other Grand Strand-area organizations to pilot the Check My Beach program, which is designed to provide quick access to water quality information as well as general beach safety tips. In addition to being a one-stop-shop for online information about Horry County beaches, local businesses, governments, and tourism groups offer brochures and signage that promote Check My Beach.

DHEC is working to expand Check My Beach to include other coastal communities. For additional information, visit scdhec.gov/beachmonitoring or CheckMyBeach.com.

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Hunters who want to be a part of a computer-based lottery drawing to hunt alligators on public lands in South Carolina can start applying online on May 1st. A $10 nonrefundable application fee is required to participate in the drawing and applicants must be at least 16 years old in order to apply. If selected, the permit/tag fee is $100, and if not selected, the applicant will be awarded one preference point for future alligator lottery hunts. All selected hunters are required to possess a SC Hunting License in addition to the $100 permit/tag fee. Any nonresident alligator hunter chosen must pay an additional $200 Nonresident Alligator Hunting Fee along with the permit/tag fee, and must possess a SC Nonresident Hunting License. Anyone may assist a permitted hunter during the hunt, but all assistants must possess a hunting license unless they are under the age of 16. In addition, ALL nonresident alligator hunting assistants (16 years of age or older) must pay the $200 Nonresident Alligator Hunting Fee and possess a SC Nonresident Hunting License, available from any license sales vendor. The deadline for applying for each year’s Public Alligator Hunting Season is June 15th at 5:00pm. The application link and other details may be found on the SCDNR website. For information regarding the Alligator Program, and licensing requirements for taking, possessing, and sale of alligators or their products, call 843-546-6062 or 803-734-3886 (the Nonresident Alligator Hunting fee for nonresident alligator hunters and nonresident assistants may be paid at any license vendor location, online at www.dnr.sc.gov, or by phone at 1-866-714-3611). According to the S.C. DNR, it is unlawful to feed or entice an American alligator with food (50-11-750), or possess any live alligator without a permit (50-15-40). Areas that are not open to alligator hunting include: Hatchery WMA within Lake Moultrie. Potato Creek Hatchery Waterfowl Area adjacent to Lake Marion. Stony Bay in Sandy Beach Waterfowl Area. Any North Dike WMA Borrow Pits accessed by canal or ditch via Lake Moultrie. Any portion of Yawkey Wildlife Center accessible from a waterway, ditch, or canal. This includes Mosquito, Beach, and Bird Bank Creeks. National Wildlife Refuges, many of which that have navigable waters within their boundaries. Goose Creek Reservoir is owned by the city of Hanahan and is closed to public alligator hunting.

Alligator q&a

1. I was selected to hunt this year. Where can I go alligator hunting? You are allowed to hunt on any of the navigable waters of the state as long as you stay in the alligator management unit you were selected to hunt. In some instances, rivers are the boundary between two alligator management units. In such cases, you will be allowed to hunt in the main river channel on «your side» of the river, and you may only proceed into smaller tributaries and streams on the side of a river boundary contained in the unit you were selected to hunt. You can also hunt on private lands that are not enrolled in the Private Lands Alligator Program as long as permission has been granted by the landowner. WMAs and other state and federal properties (such as parks and refuges) are not open for public alligator hunting. Please note that some WMA and Wildlife Refuges› jurisdictional boundaries extend into the water and thus would not be open to alligator hunting. Check with the managing authority of any State or Federal property located in the area you wish to hunt if you are unsure of the boundaries to ensure you do not accidentally enter into closed hunting areas.

2. Why can’t I just mail in an application with a $10 check, like I do for some of the other DNR draw hunts, why must I do this online? What about refunds? Printing, mailing and entering every application is extremely time-consuming and expensive. Likewise, to issue a refund requires additional paperwork to be processed by the DNR and then by the Comptroller General before anyone can be issued a refund. To do this would potentially cost the state a high percentage of any revenue that it brings from the successful applicants. We believe that the cost of the hunt, as well as monitoring of the alligator population and the hunt itself should be self-sustaining with the costs borne by the participants.

3. I was unable to apply for the alligator hunt until the last day of the application period (June 15th). Won’t this hurt my chance of being selected? Not at all. The computer selection process treats all applications submitted during the application period the same whether you apply on the first day, last day, or any day between May 1st and June 15th.

4. My friend wants to apply but he doesn’t have a computer. How can he apply? In person applications will be accepted at a DNR Regional Office located in Charleston, Clemson, Columbia and Florence. A credit card or debit card will still be required.

5. I do not have a credit card to pay for the application. Can I mail in a check? Unfortunately, at this time only those applications accompanied with a credit card or debit card payment can be processed at this time. This applies to in-person applicants as well.

6. I do not like to pay for things online because I do not want to put any kind of account information on the Internet, shouldn’t there be an alternate method of payment? The online payment system is secure. Many people do not realize that if you have any kind of bank account, credit card, loan, or mortgage, your information already exists on the Internet in a database that you or other banks can access remotely by computer. Every effort has been made to keep your information private.

7. I was selected and paid for the permit but my plans have changed and I cannot hunt this year. Can my friend use my permit, or can I get a refund? No, alligator permits are non-transferrable. Alligator hunting permits are issued to the individual that was selected for the hunt. Only the person selected during the drawing can be issued and use the alligator permit. No refunds will be issued.

8. I was selected for the hunt, but I have not paid for my permit yet. However, my plans have changed and I cannot hunt this year. Can I get a refund? No refunds of the $10 application fee will be issued regardless of selection status.

9. Can I apply just for Unit 1 and 3? Yes, you can apply for any combination of units, including or up to all units (i.e. 1, 2, 3 or 1 & 4, or 3 & 4, or 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on)

10. Does it matter what order I put the units on the application page? Yes, select the management units in the order you would prefer to hunt. Select the site you would like to hunt most in the first slot, the second slot for the next preferred site, and so on. If there are any management units where you do not wish to hunt do not list them on the application.

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The Edisto Natchez-Kusso tribe hosted their 45th Annual Powwow on April 22-24 on tribal grounds on Ridge Road. The tribe lives near Cottageville and Ridgeville in Colleton and Dorchester counties.

A powwow is a Native American celebration bringing together families and friends to enjoy food and dancing, participate in centuries old traditions, and honor their culture.

The annual event began on Friday evening with families greeting other families while celebrating with food, dancing and fellowship. On Saturday, festivities began at 11:00 a.m.

People brought lawn chairs and blankets, prepared to sit and watch the Native American dancers. Food was available, and vendors were on hand to sell handmade crafts.

At 1:00 p.m., the Grand Entry of the host drum, head man, head lady and Chief John Creel officially opened the powwow.

Dr. John Creel is a physician in Walterboro and serves as chief of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso tribe.

On Sunday, attendees were invited back to tribal grounds for a community church service featuring preaching and singing from local tribal members.

Tribal spokeswoman Sabrina Russell said she is excited that the powwow is back after Covid-19 interrupted the festivities for the last few years. “I feel proud that we were able to hold the powwow again,” said Russell. “We are still here in the same area where my ancestors lived.”

At this time, the Edisto Natchez- Kusso people are only recognized in the state of South Carolina as a full-fledged tribe, but there is hope that in the near future, they will be recognized federally as well.

The process of federal recognition has been challenging and ongoing. In the 1990s and early 2000s, journalist Wes Taukchiray and Native American John Israel Muckenfuss conducted a series of interviews of people who were Indians or worked with the Indians of Creeltown, the community belonging to the Edisto Natchez-Kusso people, to document their lives.

Some tribal ancestors came from Mississippi in the 1700s, but most had been born and lived in S.C. on the Ashepoo and Edisto Rivers. Henry Creel who was born in 1880 and his brother Ivy who was born in 1891 were the last two Indians at Creeltown who knew how to make white oak baskets, a craft they learned from their father. The Creel brothers were also the last Indians at Creeltown to carve cypress boat paddles. Although the craft relatively disappeared in 1939, the tribe recently became interested in resurrecting the skill and are working and learning to create the paddles, baskets, draw knives, and turkey calls out of cedar.