Longtime F.J. Delaine Employees Reflect the School’S ‘Family’ Atmosphere Made It Special, Duo Says by BRUCE MILLS [email protected] WEDGEFIELD — F.J
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PANORAMA From snipers to mothers World War II exhibit focuses on women’s roles A4 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018 $1.75 IN SPORTS: P-15’s hold off Orangeburg to stay unbeaten B1 Longtime F.J. DeLaine employees reflect The school’s ‘family’ atmosphere made it special, duo says BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] WEDGEFIELD — F.J. De- Laine Elementary School’s Willie Jenkins and Gloria An- derson share many things in common. The duo are the lon- gest continuous-serving em- ployees at the small school that will officially close at week’s end as part of a con- solidation effort by Sumter School District. Jenkins has been at F.J. De- Laine for 25 years — dating back to 1993 — as the school’s head custodian, while Ander- son has served as a parapro- fessional teacher for 24 years. Like most students and other staff at DeLaine, Ander- son will move to nearby Cher- ryvale Elementary School — located three miles away — next year as part of a com- bined pre-K through fifth- grade elementary school. Jen- kins will move to Oakland Primary School near Shaw Air Force Base and hold a PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM similar position. Willie Jenkins, head custodian at F.J. DeLaine Elementary School, looks over the school grounds recently. DeLaine was officially close as a Both said they loved and en- school later this week in a district consolidation effort. joyed their careers at the school and that because of the Guess. She said Guess was an would walk into.” Gloria Anderson, a close “family” atmosphere at outstanding teacher and that Anderson said she will miss paraprofessional DeLaine, they never had a de- she learned a lot from her. the children the most, even teacher at F.J. De- sire to leave for another op- Both also take a lot of pride though most of them will be Laine, discusses her portunity. in working hard and helping going to Cherryvale. years of service at Their favorite memories re- children. She said her parents and the school recently. late to staff and the kids. Even though he and his as- her sisters inspired her the “It’s the good times and the sistant maintained both the most while she was growing people I worked with over inside and outside of the up to get an education and do here,” Jenkins said. “There school, Jenkins said his favor- her best. were a good many teachers ite part of the job was being “My mom always inspired that came through here and outside and cutting the grass us to get an education and moved on. It was real, and we on the grounds. then enjoy your job,” Ander- all got along well.” He said he takes pride in the son said. Anderson said her favorite fact that in his first years at Then, she got the opportuni- memory was working for 10 DeLaine, he got the school up ty to join the school district years with the kindergarten to par, and “it was one of the classes under teacher Beth cleanest schools that anyone SEE F.J. DELAINE, PAGE A8 Best of Sumter celebration COLD CASE banquet will 1994 be Tuesday HAVE YOU SEEN HIM? Tickets available to public on first-come, first-served basis FROM STAFF REPORTS The Sumter Item’s first-ever Best of Sumter red carpet event is fast ap- proaching, and there are a limited num- PHOTOS PROVIDED ber of tickets available to the public. Richard Gary’s gold 1980 Oldsmobile Regency was located about half a The red-carpet-style mile off St. Pauls Church Road one month after he was reported missing. event will start at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at La Piazza in down- Disappearance still a mystery town Sumter. An awards ceremony BY ADRIENNE SARVIS tion started nearly 24 years will include all [email protected] ago. the winners Gary, who was 56 at the being called out Richard Gary has been missing since time, was last seen about 8 to receive their 1994 after his last sighting buying Unlike the number of years p.m. on Nov. 27, 1994, by a con- Best of Sumter kerosene at a convenience store a that have accumulated since venience store clerk in Cher- plaque they can display in their busi- few minutes from his home. Richard Gary's disappearance ryvale about three minutes ness or office. in 1994, Sumter County Sher- from his home when he This will be a way to celebrate every- iff's Office has been able to col- bought kerosene. thing Sumter has going for it, from lect very little information and evidence since the investiga- SEE COLD CASE, PAGE B8 SEE EVENT, PAGE A8 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Darnell Frierson HOT AND HUMID 4 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Mabel M. Kelly Sunny, hot and humid VOL. 123, NO. 161 Classifieds: 774-1200 Larry R. Cress today; tonight, cooler Classifieds C6 Panorama A5 Delivery: 774-1258 Pearl Holmes Comics D1 Reflections C3 News and Sports: 774-1226 with spotty showers Bronco Frazier Jr. or storms possible. Education A4 Sports B1 Jessica R. DuBose HIGH 94, LOW 69 Opinion A9 USA Today C1 Outdoors C5 Yesteryear C4 A2 | SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] 3 teens arrested in carjacking of delivery driver Acton Road in Dal- p.m. on Tuesday, according to ery driver was able to break gional Detention Center, and 14-year-old sent zell; Jason Tyrell Capt. Robert Burnish with free from the second suspect the 14-year-old is in the custody Ford, 17, of Valley- Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. and run away from the area. of South Carolina Department to S.C. Department brook Road in The three suspects allegedly The three suspects then left of Juvenile Justice. of Juvenile Justice Sumter; and a approached the victim as she the area in the Ford Focus. Burnish said a $75,000 bond 14-year-old male returned to her 2013 Ford Anderson, Ford and the has been set for both Anderson BY ADRIENNE SARVIS ANDERSON have been charged Focus after no one answered 14-year-old were identified and and Ford, who will have to [email protected] with armed rob- the door at the residence. subsequently arrested after the wear ankle monitors if they bery and carjack- The victim said one of the sheriff’s office received infor- are released. Three teenagers, the young- ing. The 14-year-old’s name and men presented a large gun, mation about a burglary in the The suspects could face more est 14, were arrested in connec- address are withheld because possibly a rifle, and threatened same neighborhood, Burnish charges as the investigation tion with the carjacking of a he is a minor. to kill her if she looked at him, said. continues, he said. pizza delivery driver’s vehicle The three suspects are ac- Burnish said. Burnish said the delivery Burnish said investigators lo- from the street in Dalzell where cused of attacking the delivery Another suspect is accused driver positively identified all cated the Ford Focus in Colum- one of the suspects lives. driver when she brought an of pulling the victim from the three suspects in a photo line- bia and that crime scene inves- After one day of investigat- order to a residence in the 5900 vehicle and taking the keys as up. Anderson and Ford are tigators will examine the vehi- ing, K’Shawn Anderson, 18, of block of Acton Road about 4 she tried to get away. The deliv- being held in Sumter-Lee Re- cle and bring it back to Sumter. LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS Stretching their legs Sumter man calm after winning $25K a year for life A Sumter man who recently won $25,000 a year for life remained calm when he found out he bought a win- ning ticket. The ticket sold at Mozingos Grocery on North Main Street matched the first five numbers in Monday’s Lucky for Life drawing. They were 4, 6, 13, 16 and the lucky ball of 7. The winner discovered his ticket matched all the numbers at a retailer, according to the South Carolina Education Lottery. The clerk told him, “You’ve got to go to Columbia.” When he asked what for, the clerk said, “You just hit a jackpot!” The winner didn’t let it go to his head and calmly said, “Well, OK then.” He told lottery officials he has not visited Columbia since 2006. He had the choice between receiving $25,000 a year for life or a one-time cash payment of $390,000 if there are less than 21 winners and chose the one-time payout. The winner said he plans to pay off his home and put the rest in the bank. SCDOT to hold meeting on possible Bishopville truck route South Carolina Department of Trans- portation will hold a public information meeting on Thursday in Lee County to consider preliminary alternative corri- dors for a proposed Bishopville truck route. An informal drop-in meeting from 5-7 p.m. in the Lee Central High School caf- eteria, 1800 Wisacky Highway, will dis- MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM play each potential alternative, and Young Canada geese relax May 26 at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens before the Iris Festival began that day. SCDOT staff and project team members will be on hand to gather feedback, an- swer questions and to address specific concerns such as property impacts and project background.