ITS BEEN MORE THAN A MONTH SINCE FOUR ATTENDEES OF A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION PARTY WERE GUNNED DOWN OUTSIDE WILLIE’S BAR AND GRILL IN ST. HELENA. BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF P-J TANNER UPDATED THE SITUATION THREE DAYS LATER AND WILL FINALLY HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE LATER THIS MORNING. HE’S BEEN WAITING ON FIREARM AND BULLET ANALYSIS FROM THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUREAU AND OTHER INFO FROM THE F-B-I AND A-T-F INVESTIGATIONS. AT HIS EARLIER PRESS CONFERENCE, HE LAMENTED THE LACK OF COOPERATION FROM ANY OF THE 700-OR-SO WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTINGS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF MACHINE GUNS IN THE LOWCOUNTRY AND THE EXCEEDINGLY LOW BONDS GRANTED TO SUSPECTS IN THOSE CASES.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM SPENT PART OF THE FIRST FULL DAY WITH THE GOVERNMENT RE-OPENED IN BLUFFTON PRESENTING A LOCAL REPUBLICAN PARTY AWARD TO GOVERNOR MCMASTER, TELLING REPORTERS THAT HE’S GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROVISION IN THE NEW AGREEMENT TO SUE HIS OWN GOVERNMENT FOR A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE FEDERAL PRESECUTOR JACK SMITH SUBPOENAED HIS PHONE RECORDS WITHOUT NOTIFYING HIM. HE ALSO TOLD WSAV THAT REPUBLICANS WILL FIND A BETTER WAY TO DO HEALTH CARE THAN THE CURRENT OBAMACARE, SOMETHING THAT WOULD SEND MONEY DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHO CAN’T AFFORD INSURANCE RATHER THAN TO INSURANCE COMPANIES.
PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT RESULT OF THE RE-OPENING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE THE RE-ISSUANCE OF SNAP BENEFITS, WHICH SHOULD SHOW UP ON E-B-T CARDS TODAY ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. OVER 260-THOUSAND SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSEHOLDS WERE IMPACTED BY THE CUTOFF OF SNAP BENEFITS, AND THOSE BENEFITS WON’T BE A CASUALTY IF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN AFTER JANUARY 30TH, WHEN THE CURRENT FUNDING DEAL EXPIRES.
A BLUFFTON RESIDENT WHO WAS ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF RIOTERS ARRESTED ON JANUARY 6TH, 2021 AND PARDONED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS PAST JANUARY HAS FILED THE PAPERWORK TO RUN FOR ELECTION TO THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL SEAT HE TRIED TO TAKE BY FORCE FIVE YEARS AGO. TYLER DYKES’ WEBSITE SHOWS A PLATFORM BUILT AROUND AN ANTI-IMMIGRATION POLICY. HE BLAMES IMMIGRATION FOR DISRUPTING THE HOUSING AND JOB MARKETS AND DRIVING DOWN WAGES. HE PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO COUNTS OF ASSAULTING, RESISTING OR IMPEDING LAW OFFICERS USING RIOT SHIELD, THOUGH HE DESCRIBES HIS ACTIONS NOW AS WALING INTO A BUILDING AND WAVING TO A FRIEND. HE WAS SENTENCED TO 57 MONTHS IN PRISON, BUT PARDONED IN JANUARY. HE HAS EARLIER BEEN CONVICTED OF INTIMIDATING COUNTER-PROTESTORS IN THE UNITE THE RIGHT RALLY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA IN 2017. DYKES HAS HAD TROUBLE FINDING A HOST FOR A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT, TURNED AWAY FROM THE V-F-W POST IN BEAUFORT AND A HOTEL IN OKATIE. HE’S AT LEAST THE SIXTH REPUBLICAN TO FILE FOR THE SEAT CURRENTLY HELD BY NANCY MACE.