Port Royal speed limit sign draws attention to veteran suicides

Beaufort County This Week

STORY 1

From the Island News

Port Royal took steps to shine a light on a glaring issue facing veterans in America on Friday.

Local military leaders, Port Royal Town Council members and a veterans group met on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, to unveil a new speed limit sign on Paris Avenue in front of Port Royal Elementary School that they hope brings awareness to the large number of veterans who commit suicide every day in this country.

“22 veteran suicides per day is 22 too many,” is written on a sign below the speed limit sign.

The speed limit sign lowers the limit to 22 mph, which represents the number that is often cited as the number of veterans who commit suicide every day in the United States.

Lowering the speed limit from 25 mph to 22 mph was decided on in July 2023 with a 5-0 vote when former Port Royal Mayor Joe DeVito brought forward the proposal after being encouraged to do so by members from the local AMVETS, a nonprofit organization that serves veterans.

Story 2

From the Island News

The Zonta Club of Beaufort has presented Shannon Erickson with its Leadership Award, recognizing Erickson for her outstanding leadership in paving the way for other women business owners.

Rep. Erickson (R-124) grew up in Florence and graduated from USC Beaufort with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. She is President of Lowcountry Building Blocks, Inc., which operates preschool and childhood development centers. She is a pro-business and pro-environment leader, an advocate for children and families, a “whole child” education supporter, higher education, and workforce policy leader. Erickson is a member and supporter of several local groups and organizations such as AMI Kids, Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association and Reconstruction Beaufort: The Second Founding of America Advisory Board, just to name a few.

Story 3

From the Island News

Once again, actor Gary Sinise has come through for the City of Beaufort.

Earlier this year, the The City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department applied for a grant through the Gary Sinise Foundation for a new forcible entry door with which to train firefighters how to enter a locked business or home.

This door will allow firefighters to train on more advanced forcible entry operations, along with commercial and residential doors. While the Gary Sinise Foundation was in Beaufort for the Lt. Dan Band concert at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, the Gary Sinise Foundation awarded the grant to the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department for an amount of $12,100.