LOWCOUNTRY CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY MACE’S MELTDOWN AT THE CHARLESTON AIRPORT OVER THE WEEKEND HAS NOW DRAWN THE IRE OF THE STATE’S TWO SENATORS, WHOSE NAMES SHE INVOKED WHEN SAYING THEY WOULDN’T BE TREATED LIKE SHE WAS BY AIRPORT POLICE AND T-S-A AGENTS. SENATORS TIM SCOTT AND LINDSEY GRAHAM CALLED HER BEHAVIOR OUT OF BOUNDS, SCOTT SAYING THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS WORK FOR THE OFFICERS, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF OVER 60 CHARLESTON-AREA LAWMAKERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE ISSUED A PUBLIC LETTER DEFENDING THE AIRPORT STAFF. ATTORNEY GENERAL ALAN WILSON, WHO’S RUNNING AGAINST MACE FOR GOVERNOR, EVEN CATERED BREAKFAST TO THE T-S-A EMPLOYEES, WHO ARE WORKING WITHOUT PAY DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, ONE MORNING THIS WEEK. MACE’S RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO HIRE NATIONALLY KNOWN CONSERVATIVE LAWYER LARRY CLAYMAN AND THREATEN TO SUE AIRPORT OFFICIALS, POLICE OFFICERS AND EVEN AN AIRLINE GATE AGENT FOR DEFAMATION.
SPEAKING OF TRAVEL ISSUES, THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IS JUST THREE WEEKS AWAY AND 11 STATE TOURISM GROUPS HAVE SIGNED A LETTER ASKING CONGRESS TO RE-OPEN THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS ALREADY SUFFERED A 4-BILLION DOLLAR LOSS. THE LETTER SAYS THE SHUTDOWN THREATENS TO DERAIL FAMILY TRAVEL PLANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CREATING THE POSSIBILITY OF A ‘THANKSGIVING TRAVEL CRISIS.’
BOYS AND GIRLS’ CLUBS ARE CONSIDERED SAFE, OPEN PLACES FOR KIDS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, BUT A KERFUFFLE AT THE BLUFFTON BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HAS FOLKS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. WTOC IS REPORTING THAT 27-YEAR EMPLOYEE AND ONETIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MOLLY HORNBEAK HAS BEEN FIRED AND NO ONE IS SAYING WHY. HORNBEAK SAYS SHE WAS CALLED IN TO A LAWYER’S OFFICE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND FIRED FOR POOR WORK PERFORMANCE, THOUGH SHE WAS NEVER GIVEN A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OR WAS TOLD OF ANY COMPLAINTS. THAT STARTED A GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT FOR HORNBEAK. BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OFFICIALS SAY IT’S A PERSONNEL MATTER AND WON’T COMMENT.
MOST ORGANIZATIONS CREATE AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT IS OFTEN A FAIRLY MUNDANE ACCOUNTING OF ITS ACTIVITIES. ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING ONES COMES FROM GROUPS LIKE SHORE BEACH SERVICES, THE LIFEGUARDS WHO PROTECT HILTON HEAD’S BEACHES, WHO REPORT MAKING CONTACT WITH NEARLY 10-THOSUAND BEACH-GOERS THIS PAST SUMMER, RESCUING 106 POTENTIAL VICTIMS, HELPING WITH 67 MAJOR MEDICAL INCIDENTS AND TAKING OVER 10-THOUSAND PREVENTIVE ACTIONS TO AVOID FURTHER ISSUES. AND BY THE WAY, THE 4TH OF JULY WAS THE BUSIEST DAY THIS SUMMER ON HILTON HEAD’S BEACHES.