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LATE NEWSPAPER DELIVERY UPDATE If you received your Sumter Item after church and lunch on Sunday, you were not alone. The Sumter Item prints in Charleston through The Post & Courier. Unfortunately, the printing presses in Charleston suffered issues while printing The Sumter Item on Sunday, and the
call the Item’s customer service at (803) 774-1200 or (803) 774-1258, and a carrier will deliver a newspaper to you. “The Sumter Item strives to offer the best customer service possible,” Osteen said. “We appreciate the patience and understanding that many customers expressed.”
newspaper did not arrive for carriers until after 10 a.m. Sunday. Item Editor and Publisher Jack Osteen said the newspaper apologizes for the printing issues that were related to the press equipment in Charleston. If you did not receive your Sunday edition, you can
Rembert family offers to forgive relative’s killers KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Kelli DuRant, 13, displays her skills with the Hula Hoop at The Gathering social club’s dance for special-needs adults and teens on Friday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3034.
The Gathering hosts dance for residents with special needs Halloween event helps teens, adults develop friendships BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Timothy English, brother of Jacobia Lane, is comforted by Jacobia’s aunt Carolyn English, third from left, while Jacobia’s sister Felicia Rhodes, far left, and Jacobia’s husband, Willie Lane, lend support. Timothy English talked Friday about the killing of his sister at the family home near Rembert.
Kelli DuRant, 13, who suffers from autism, enjoyed displaying her skills with the Hula Hoop as one of 120 people who participated in The Gathering’s dance for special-needs adults and teens on Friday. The Halloween-themed party, held at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3034, included dancing, food and various games for everyone to enjoy. The Gathering is a social club for adults and teens with special needs. The organization’s goal is to provide an opportunity for special-needs adults and teens to have fun and socialize in a safe environment, said Darlene Wilson, the organization’s co-founding DARLENE WILSON president/secretary. Co-founding president/ “The ultimate secretary of The Gathering goal is to close the gap on friendships,” Wilson said. “Many special-needs adults and teens have trouble making friends. This gives them the opportunity to build positive relationships among them.” The group’s members, who include adults and teens with special needs and their chaperones, meet for dinner at different restaurants and participate in activities such as game night, bowling, movies, dancing and socializing.
Jacobia Lane was shot while members gathered for funeral
SEE DANCE, PAGE A8
SEE BIDEN, PAGE A8
‘Many specialneeds adults and teens have trouble making friends. This gives them the opportunity to build positive relationships among them.’
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BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com A local family is offering forgiveness after a beloved wife, sister and friend was shot and killed in North Carolina about 12 hours before a funeral. Jacobia Lane, 37, wife and mother of two, was shot and killed on Oct. 22 by unknown individuals while staying at her brother’s house the night before her sister-in-law’s funeral in Gastonia, North Carolina. Jacobia Lane was always lov-
ing, 24 hours a day, said her husband, Willie Lane. She was very quiet and peaceful, and she loved people, he said. “I couldn’t imagine her having any enemies,” he said. She was a good mother and wife, he said. “She didn’t deserve this. But we don’t question God.” Timothy English, Jacobia Lane’s brother, said his sister had come to visit him many times during his wife’s 7-month battle with cancer. “We talked every day,” he said. Jacobia made the 2.5-hour trip
to visit even on her days off, he said. He said Jacobia Lane came to visit his family the Monday before the funeral to help around the house. He said his sister got upset with him when he offered to take her to get a massage to show how thankful he was for her help. She got mad because she wanted to cook for her brother, he said. “That’s what she did,” English said. “She took care of us.”
SEE LANE, PAGE A7
Vice president, elected officials will visit Morris College today BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
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Vice President Joe Biden will be at Morris College at 10 a.m. today for a get-out-the-vote event.
DEATHS, B4 Ronald L. Sims Susie Mae Porter William D. Kolb Beaugard Wilkes Jr.
Robert S. Watcher Titus Rembert Sr. Evelyn T. Cato Annette B. Sigmon
The South Carolina Democratic Party will host Vice President Joe Biden for a get-out-the-vote event today at 10 a.m. at Morris College, 100 College St. Biden will be joined by U.S Rep. Jim Clyburn, congressional candidate Fran Person and others. Doors will open at 8 a.m. The public is asked to arrive no later than 9 a.m. The program should last for an hour to an hour and a half, said Joe Diver, campaign man-
ager for Person. He said Clyburn, Person and several local elected officials will speak. “Sumter is a very blue district, and we wanted to have a rally at that location,” Diver said. Sumter County Democratic Party Chairman Allen Bailey noted that with the vice president visiting today and presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton visiting during the primary, it will mark the first time both major party
WEATHER, A10
INSIDE
IS IT REALLY NOVEMBER?
3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOL. 122, NO. 15
Mostly sunny today; mainly clear tonight HIGH 77, LOW 56
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