Behind the Mask

COASTAL OBSERVER Vol. XXXVIII No. 43 Pawleys Island, South Carolina ~ April 9, 2020 50 cents Face mask dispute goes viral as hospital prepares for surge By Chris Sokoloski equipment unless dealing with a Ambrosia Perry was released “Having something like that that is being predicted by state COASTAL OBSERVER patient who was “under investi- from the hospital Sunday and go viral like it did, and not be as and federal officials. gation” for the coronavirus. is recovering at home. She had accurate as we would have hoped “We’re not at the peak, we’re As they prepared for a surge “There’s no need to waste three COVID-19 tests, and all it would have been in portraying not at the downside at the state or of coronavirus patients, officials PPE on them,” Troy Perry said his were negative. the situation at hand, it wasn’t local level of COVID positive pa- at Tidelands Health dealt with wife, Ambrosia, was told. Bruce Bailey, president and helpful,” Bailey said. “One of the tients right now,” Harmon said. a surge of criticism that they More than 11,000 people com- CEO of Tidelands Health, said biggest challenges is having a “So we’re anticipating that we’ll weren’t protecting their staff ad- mented on the post and it was he was pleased that she “came strong, consistent scientifically- need more [PPE]. But we don’t equately. shared 20,000 times. Perry said through it and is home and re- based message to our employees anticipate needing more than The husband of a nurse at he and his wife have gotten mes- covering well.” about what the proper use of PPE what we have. We have strict Waccamaw Community Hospi- sages from nurses all over the Bailey and Dr. Gerald Har- in the face of a pandemic.” rules about all this and we’re tal posted Saturday on Facebook country who tell the same story. mon, vice president of medical Perry said he stands by his updating them literally daily de- that his wife was exposed to the “It just goes to show that I’m affairs, both said Tidelands fol- claims. pending on the latest available coronavirus after she was told not the only one who feels that lows state and federal PPE guide- Tidelands is preparing for scientific data.” not to wear personal protective way,” he added. lines. a surge of coronavirus patients See “Surge,” Page 2 CORONAVIRUS NORTH INLET DeBordieu Behind loses bid to intervene the in title suit By Charles Swenson mask COASTAL OBSERVER A Circuit Court judge last Sewing machines hum week denied the DeBordieu Col- ony Community Association’s to fill gap in supplies bid to join a lawsuit over the title to marsh land at North Inlet say- By Chris Sokoloski ing there is no evidence that its COASTAL OBSERVER members will lose access to the waterways. Whether it’s for individuals The Belle W. Baruch Founda- in need or health care workers, tion filed suit against the state Waccamaw Neck residents are last fall seeking a ruling that it producing masks to help slow the holds a king’s grant title to the in- spread of the coronavirus. Photos by Charles Swenson/Coastal Observer tertidal land at Hobcaw Barony, Karen Fedor of Heritage Plan- Karen Fedor assembles masks in her sewing room. The only material in short supply is elastic. which amounts to about half of tation has made more than 100 Below, a colorful mask that will be be pleated and ironed. its 16,000 acres. masks for friends, neighbors and The state has asked the court acquaintances who work at hos- to deny the foundation’s claim pitals in Chicago and Maryland. plenty of fabric for masks. How- or declare that the public has a Fedor spends six to eight ever, she has struggled to find prescriptive easement over the hours a day working on masks. elastic and fears when her supply marsh lands. DeBordieu argued “I just sew, sew, sew. It’s a full- runs out she’ll have to stop mak- that its members have an eco- time job,” Fedor said. “I figured ing masks. nomic interest in the outcome of I’ve been this God-given gift to The most important person the suit that cannot be adequate- sew.” Fedor has sewn for is her son, ly represented by the state. She has heard from people who works for an IT subcontrac- Judge Paul Burch ruled that with pre-existing conditions like tor at Tidelands Health. the DeBordieu suit doesn’t meet cancer who are desperate for “I talk to him every night,” Fe- the standard required to inter- masks. dor said. “You can just hear the vene because its claims are “not a “They’re just scared,” said Fe- stress in his voice.” ripe controversy.” dor, who is also a cancer survivor. After buying him five N95 “Title has nothing to do with Fedor is a retired special edu- masks, she made covers for the rights of navigation over water- cation teacher. She now has a masks to give him an extra layer ways,” the ruling states. If Ba- quilting business, As the Hum- of protection. ruch’s title claim is upheld, “the mingbird Flies, that provides her See “Masks,” Page 2 See “Suit,” Page 3 EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT | Sea turtle nesting District considers Permits delayed, volunteer monitors will keep their distance remediation plan once students By Chris Sokoloski Mary Schneider, standing COASTAL OBSERVER center, leads a nest inventory return to class last summer. Coronavirus will not keep sea By Chris Sokoloski turtles from nesting on South Charles Swenson/Coastal Observer COASTAL OBSERVER Carolina beaches, but it may keep some nests from being protected. The issue of how far behind The state’s Department of “They’re going to come in regard- students will be during the next Natural Resources has forbidden less.” school came up at a virtual meet- volunteers from collecting egg “The turtles are going to get ing of the Georgetown County samples and relocating or “ma- through it, with us or without us,” School Board on Wednesday. nipulating” nests. said Jeff McClary, co-founder of The meeting was held on- “We can walk the beach but SCUTE. line so the board and staff could we cannot touch the nests,” said Volunteers who collect sam- maintain their social distancing. Betsy Brabson, who monitors ples or mark, relocate and inven- Board Member Mike Cafaro DeBordieu for S.C. United Turtle tory nests get training and are raised the issue, since students Enthusiasts. “We’ve never had certified by DNR. They must ap- are only working on a handful of a year like this. I think we’re all ply for a DNR permit every year. also insert a piece of pipe in the “There are ways we can still mon- assignment each day through an kind of groping in the dark.” Those processes are on hold. sand near the nest as a marker. itor the beach.” e-learning pilot program. DNR employees now work Brabson plans to have her Volunteers will have to find Volunteers will have to be “We’ve got right now a spring from home and not allowed to volunteers start walking around other ways to get onto beaches more vigilant in July looking for lag, and possibly a summer lag do field work. All activities by the May 1 and try to at least take pic- since Gov. Henry McMaster unmarked nests that are hatch- also,” Cafaro said, adding that he volunteer monitors are on hold tures of nests and mark them closed public accesses. McClary ing. “It will be a challenge,” is especially concerned about the until things get back to normal. with a GPS. said some oceanfront property Schneider said. district’s younger children. “We know the turtles don’t go “It doesn’t take long for the owners allow volunteers access. The earliest that SCUTE has Superintendent Randy Dozier by South Carolina Department evidence of a nest to disappear,” There will be no trespassing, he ever recorded a nest was May 5. said it was something the district of Natural Resources directives,” she said. “You can’t go back a added. “A lot can happen in a month,” will have look into. The indepen- said Mary Schneider, who moni- week later and usually find it.” “I don’t want to violate the McClary said. “We’re taking it dent learning style required by tors Pawleys Island for SCUTE. McClary said volunteers may walkway order,” McClary said. one day at a time.” e-learning isn’t suited to every student, he added. “It will probably take a year, not a semester, to catch every- body up,” Dozier added. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cafaro suggested that the district have some supplemental or Obituaries ............................................ 2 remedial programs available at Land use: Lack- Crime .................................................... 3 the beginning of the next school ing only a street Opinion ................................................6 year. name, work ready Crossword ............................................ 7 Schools have been closed to start on 42 new Property transfers ............................. 10 since March 16, but district staff homes. Classifieds .......................................... 12 have continued to work. They Page 11 will have next week off for spring Online break. Sports: Senior coastalobserver.com Meals will be served on a re- athletes find ways duced schedule: Monday and to keep busy while Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 Seasons of change: The man who team sports are on p.m. at Waccamaw Elementary designed the last Pawleys pavilion looks hold. and 11:30-11:45 a.m. at Mount back on 70 years of change.

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