Neighboring islander urges support for highway expansion alternative on Johns Island

Support Alternative 6

The Chucktown newspaper is not being honorable to true South Carolina islanders. Our state beach is gated by Kiawah-Town -- not doing unto others the way they want to be treated.

A five-lane roadway proposal threatens. Most of the alternatives stand to impact many without justifiable need.

Kiawah/Seabook have long contributed to their own traffic-delays by refusing low-income housing to eliminate service workers’ commute time. Charleston-County’s own traffic-data shows that five-lane-highway to dead-end gates is not needed.

Bohicket and River now meet with four-lane Betsy-Kerrison. The PGA is a gem, but Bohicket, River and Betsy Kerrison along with a fresh-cut four-lane direct route on Kiawah would end this nuttiness.

The overdue improvements are supported by flyovers at Highway17/MainRoad. This coupled with improvements along Maybank/Bohicket crossroads are sensible solutions – low-cost, low-impact and realistic time frame without endless legal-actions over eminent-domain.

The designated scenic highway parallels acres of Bohicket River, one of the longest saltwater river-systems. Abundant wildlife, active farmland, grand-tree canopy, and longstanding family land thrive here.

Please support Alternative 6 during the comment period closing May 27. Email your elected state officials directly.

Capers Owings, Johns Island

Help all retirees

I am very disappointed that again this year the General Assembly has ignored the needs of retired state employees.

Many have worked for the state in low paying jobs for 28-30 years with retirement being very low. A few years ago the General Assembly approved a 1% yearly raise with the maximum being $500. Most of the increase is less than $15 per month.

The state needs to help its own. Instead they are trying to help the retired military in our state, but why not both? This has become very political rather than being bi-partisan.

A.B. Turner, Columbia

What’s next?

In light of the pending Supreme Court decision ending the rights of women to control their reproductive health, it is worthwhile to look at the ramifications of the decision beyond the usual arguments.

First, the derivative law from which abortion rights were established was the Griswald v. Connecticut decision in the 1960s that stated there was a right to privacy. This ruling overruled Connecticut’s ban on women taking a pill for contraception.

Apparently, this right to privacy no longer exists. According to the Alito argument, such words do not appear in the Constitution. (Neither is executive privilege mentioned in the Constitution). Given the Catholic majority on the Supreme Court, it is fair to assume that the right to contraception is also in danger now.

Second, if rights held by Americans can be removed, what is next? The right for homosexuals to marry? The right for a black man to marry a white woman (Loving v. Virginia), the right for a state to pass discriminatory laws based upon race or sex or national origin?

Seems that it may all be up for review now.

Warren Hix, Columbia

Restoring America

I wish to thank President Joe Biden and his very capable Administration for restoring America to its historical role as leader of the free world.

In a matter of months, he and his team have been able to erase some of the most egregious anti-democratic policies foisted upon the world by the previous administration.

With the assistance Western democracies, the brave and courageous people of the Ukraine will prevail in their efforts to oust the Russian invader from their country. I

My sincere hope is that Putin will be arrested, tried, and executed for committing war crimes against the innocent men, women, and children of Ukraine.

John M. Hartz, Columbia