Local National Guard Unit deserved mention in reporting about 1974 bridge incident | Opinion

The Guard was there

Your story on the 1974 Hilton Head bridge collision was very complete except for one item.

You were very detailed about the area agencies and people who responded to the incident, but glanced over the mention of the use of the South Carolina National Guard.

I was a member of the National Guard involved with the site security in the Moss Creek parking zone and on the bridge itself.

As this was our local Guard unit here in Beaufort, (located behind the National Cemetery), it deserved to be mentioned that Detachment 1, Troop B, 713th Cavalry was activated by the governor and commanded by 1st Lieutenant Jerry Gallop of Ridgeland.

The unit was awarded the “Governor’s Unit Citation” for actions in a declared emergency.

John W. O’Connell Jr., Beaufort

Expand child tax credit

Despite the positive impacts of previous Child Tax Credit expansion, the lack of current expansion comes with repercussions.

There has been a history of successes as a result of the Child Tax Credit being expanded in the past, as the expansion in Congress in 2021, caused a decrease in poverty by 40 percent. However the Child Tax Credit has been inactive, specifically, since the expiration of the expansion in 2021, there has been a dramatic increase in poverty among children.

According to Health Promotion Practice, Immediate effects of deprivation including lack of food, housing, transportation, etc, are not the only ways poverty impacts families, it also causes chronic stress.

Health Promotion Practice explains that for those in poverty, conditions related to socioeconomics, culture, and environment, have damaging health effects, including, health risk behaviors, communicable illness, higher rates of chronic disease, and premature mortality.

As a volunteer with RESULTS, an anti-poverty organization, I call for Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham to support the expansion of the Child Tax Credit.

Candace Fant, Irmo

Support recess bill

Parents of public school children should be allowed to sue the schools, legislature, senators and the governor for abuse.

If children live in hell at home, and then live in hell at school, they lose hope.

Even if the child has the perfect home, school is so stressful that a third of students are on medication – some become suicidal or “shooters.”

We have the most stressful school schedules in the history of the world.

We also have the sickest children.

Insist that our legislators vote for the recess bill right away.

Patricia Milley, Conway

Reality or internet?

Inflation has been a global issue, not just in the U.S.

Covid started the problem by closing offices, hurting all the supporting small businesses and restricting much of the manufacturing sector and supply chain.

Western governments responded to the crisis by providing massive stimulus in the form of relief checks to prevent an economic collapse.

When you have limited supply and increased demand, the result is inflation, and we had it worldwide.

The Fed responded to the jump in inflation in the 9% area by raising interest rates, which brought inflation back down to the 3% area while keeping the economy growing.

The Biden Administration has done a better job of dealing with this crisis than any of our Western allies, exceeding the most optimistic expectations – check out the stock market performance over the last few years – yet the public continues to give them very low marks on the economy.

Maybe it’s time to stop believing what the internet tells us to believe and take a look at the reality that surrounds us.

Paul J. Lambdin, HHI