The swing-span Woods Memorial Bridge in downtown Beaufort, seen from the Henry C. Chambers waterfront park in this file photo. A woman was rescued after jumping from the bridge on Wednesday night, firefighters said.
File photo
frustration bridge
Ridiculous. Scandalous. Scandalous. These words apply to the Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge’s current random opening policy for smaller sailboats.
It only takes a few minutes for traffic to return to Carteret Street to Boundary. On Lady’s Island, traffic will back onto Sea Island Parkway to Sam’s Point Road.
Why disturb thousands of people so that one or two people in a sailboat can pass under the bridge at any time? Why can’t there be designated times for the bridge to open so everyone knows and can avoid the bridge at those times?
I ask: Who of you hasn’t been stuck for 10-15 minutes rushing to a date or a meeting? Come on, let’s do something about this useless problem.
Terry Gibson, Beaufort
Disappointed reader
Shame on you for posting the photo of the three “bored” teenage tourists riding an alligator in Hilton Head. While their reckless action is newsworthy and a timely reminder to locals and visitors alike, you missed the heart of the matter.
Such actions are illegal and dangerous.
All you accomplished was give them a stage, sending them home with the glimmer of accomplishment – not just for subduing the young (but large) alligator, but with the added feat of having done the one of the newspapers.
They learned nothing from the encounter. . . except their rude behavior has earned them a spot in the spotlight.
This journalistic error could be excused if the responsibility rested on the shoulders of a young journalist, but we all know that editors decide what goes on the front page.
Alas, the resulting tragedy unfolded a week later, on August 16, with The Gazette’s front-page report that a woman had been found dead after an alligator attack in Sun City.
We don’t want sensational news, we want news that informs us so that we can become a vibrant and caring society. You can do better.
Brenda Hood, Beaufort
defend democracy
I will not forget what I have learned from the January 6 hearings so far – that what happened that day was not an isolated attack on our Capitol, but part of a conspiracy ongoing criminal attempt to undermine our freedom to choose our elected leaders.
Trump and his cronies worked together to try to stop the peaceful transfer of power because the 2020 presidential election didn’t go their way. Now they are working to ensure that all of our elections take place in the future, whether we vote for them or not.
Never before have we seen so many candidates running for office on a platform that promises to destroy our democracy from within. Worse still, many of these extremists seek to take over election administration, running for secretary of state and county clerk positions. Once sworn in, many will not hesitate to cancel future elections if they or their MAGA allies lose.
It’s up to us to hold Holocaust deniers to account at the polls and elect democracy advocates at the polls on November 8.
Susan Baukhages, Bluffton
Stop the wait
Anywhere in the United States. more than 800,000 people with disabilities remain stuck on waiting lists for the services they need to live in their homes and stay in their communities.
Funded by Medicaid, Home and Community Services (HCBS) provides support for independent living, employment, meal preparation, money management, health, and safety. Compounded by the pandemic, people with disabilities and their families are forced to wait years, even up to a decade, for these essential services.
More funding would mean more resources (job training/coaching, etc.) for my autistic adult son and others like him.
Our country must invest in the Medicaid HCBS system. This funding would be a game-changer for the hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities.
We need Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham to pass legislation that will help people with disabilities and their families.
Danni Bloom, Chapin
