RESULTS: See how Sumterites voted on holiday poll A2 Area teams hit the road as region play continues SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018 75 CENTS B1 2 officers released from Bicyclist hospital after shooting killed in collision with semi BY ADRIENNE SARVIS [email protected] The bicyclist killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer on Wednesday night has been identified as a Pennsyl- vania man by Sumter County officials. Coroner Robbie Baker said Seth Vaughn, 39, of Eldred, Pennsylvania, was pronounced dead at the scene when he was struck by the 18-wheeler on U.S. 15 North about 11:45 p.m. An autopsy will be performed in Newberry at a later date. Vaughn was hit while he and the tractor-trailer were both traveling south on the highway near Dubose Siding Road, according to Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins with South Carolina Highway Patrol. “No charges have been filed at this point,” he said. The collision is still under investiga- tion. Crew begins filming movie PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A member of the Florence County Sheriff’s Department exits the crime scene on Ashton Drive in the Vintage Place neighbor- hood where several members of law enforcement were shot, one fatally, on Wednesday in Florence. across Sumter Suspect opened fire on Florence officers serving warrant, killing 1 ‘Old Man and the Pond’ has BY JEFFREY COLLINS cers were released from and MEG KINNARD the hospital. A third offi- ‘well-known Hollywood’ actor The Associated Press cer was listed in serious but stable condition, the BY IVY MOORE FLORENCE — The Viet- police chief said. He said Special to The Sumter Item nam veteran and dis- he did not know the condi- barred lawyer accused of tions of three wounded The film crew you may see around shooting seven law en- sheriff’s deputies. town this week is in the process of forcement officers, killing Hopkins is accused of making “The Old Man and the Pond,” one, bragged online about opening fire Wednesday a feature-length movie written and his marksmanship and from his home in an afflu- now being directed by Sumter native love for the “smell of gun- ent South Carolina neigh- Jason Mac (McElveen). McElveen is powder” in the years be- borhood after deputies also the star of the film being pro- fore the deadly standoff, tried to carry out a search duced by John Lerchen, an actor and records and social media warrant. He also allegedly a member of the Producers Guild of posts unearthed Thursday Police patrol the area of a fatal shooting in Florence on Thurs- held children hostage in- America. showed. day. Frederick Hopkins, a Vietnam veteran who bragged online side, authorities said. Filming began Wednesday and will Frederick Hopkins lost about maintaining his target-shooting skills, was being held in It was not clear exactly continue through Oct. 19, Lerchen said. his law license in the 1980s the shooting of multiple law enforcement officers as deputies how the confrontation Through his Forever Safe Productions, for mishandling money tried to serve a search warrant at his home Wednesday night. ended. Authorities would based in Los Angeles, Lerchen also and faced several minor say only that the gunman criminal charges in recent records and posts. who lay bleeding on the released the children as he SEE MOVIE, PAGE A7 years, including disorderly More details also ground. The slain officer, a was taken into custody, conduct in 2014. It was emerged about the two- 30-year veteran, was tear- authorities said. about the time of his dis- hour standoff in which au- fully described as the Hopkins was hospital- barment that he got seri- thorities said Hopkins’ “epitome of a community ized with a head injury ous about amateur target gunfire prevented officers police officer” by his chief. shooting, according to the from rescuing comrades Two wounded city offi- SEE SHOOTING, PAGE A7 Sumter alum wants parents, students to understand ‘full rides are possible’ BY BRUCE MILLS is sometimes referred to to help students — and their parents PHOTO PROVIDED [email protected] as the “Scholarship — navigate the wide landscape of col- Producer John Lerchen and Jason Mac, Lady” because of her lege scholarship opportunities. star, writer and director of “The Old Man Want a solution to rising college side venture. A 1993 graduate of Sumter High and the Pond,” now being shot in Sumter, costs? Sumter native Melinda Mihl- This week, she sat School, Mihlbauer still lives in Sum- confer over the working screenplay for bauer probably has an answer. down to discuss her ter and commutes daily to Woodland the feature-length film. Mac (McElveen) is A career high school guidance MIHLBAUER PACE Scholarship Acad- near St. George in upper Dorchester a Sumter native who has an extensive list counselor during the day at Wood- emy, which allows her to County. of film and TV credits. Lerchen is produc- land High School in Dorchester travel the state, North ing the film through his company, Forever County School District 4, Mihlbauer Carolina and other neighboring states SEE PACE, PAGE A7 Safe Productions. VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Michelle Y. Chapman Adrian LaBar Ingram HOLD OFF ON GETTING OUT 3 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES the .com Ivory Taylor Jr. Evelyn Waggett Dabbs VOL. 123, NO. 250 Clara Mae Richburg Morant Sharon Romaine Solomon Cruz YOUR COZY SWEATERS Clarendon Sun C1 Religion A4 Robert James Hammett Garrett Eugene Vining Mostly sunny and very Classifieds B5 Opinion A10 James Anthony McDowell Alfred Jarrett Harvin warm; mainly clear, warm Comics C10 Television A8 Charity Laquinta Jackson Patricia Elkovich and humid tonight Cynthia George Wilson Wilhelmina Jones Editor’s note: USA Today pages Willie Maude Solesby Jones HIGH 92, LOW 71 will return soon to Friday’s edition. A2 | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Clemson Extension works to get hay to Sumter man surrenders without livestock producers incident in shooting of teenager BY STEVEN BRADLEY BY ADRIENNE SARVIS tim, 18, on Monday evening. returned and fired more shots to- Clemson Extension [email protected] Prior to the shooting, residents ward the victim as bystanders tended called deputies during a to the teen. No one was struck, states CLEMSON — With widespread Attempted murder and possession fight in the same area the release. flooding in eastern South Carolina of a weapon during a violent crime that ended before they The victim was transported to Pal- in the wake of Hurricane Florence, are the charges Byron Lyons is fac- arrived about 9 p.m. metto Health Tuomey to undergo Clemson University Cooperative ing after he turned himself in to After deputies left, the surgery. Extension is offering resources to county authorities Thursday morn- victim stopped by a resi- Lyons surrendered at Sumter-Lee help meet hay needs of the state’s ing. dence when Lyons alleg- Regional Detention Center without livestock producers, both in the The 25-year-old was wanted for al- edly pulled up in a vehi- LYONS incident. short term and throughout the win- legedly shooting a teen on River cle, got out and fired He is scheduled to have a first ap- ter. Birch Drive earlier this week. multiple shots before pearance hearing at 2 p.m. today at An online hay request form al- Sumter County Sheriff's Office re- fleeing. the detention center at 1250 Winkles lows producers in immediate need ported Lyons allegedly shot the vic- Witnesses told investigators Lyons Road in Sumter. of hay to enter their location and description of livestock for Clemson Extension to better assist them. The form is also available online at Ex- Lt. James tension’s Livestock and Forages at Dukes with https://www.clemson.edu/exten- It takes a the Sumter sion/livestock/. County “We’re trying to make sure we Sheriff’s Office have a place for people who have talks with a immediate needs for hay to fill out a community family during short online form to let us know National that they have that need, where Police, fire departments Night Out on they are located and how many ani- Tuesday. mals they need to feed,” said Mat- visit neighborhoods thew Burns, Extension beef special- ist. for National Night Out PHOTO PROVIDED Significant amounts of hay in the Pee Dee region and parts of the BY ADRIENNE SARVIS Lowcountry have been sitting [email protected] under water. Clemson Extension is working to be responsive to the In the spirit of strengthening rela- needs of producers who have ani- tionships with law enforcement, resi- mals that may be trapped by flood dents hung out with Sumter’s first re- waters and cannot reach other food sponders for an evening of communica- lice department and our community program is working in the community, sources. tion and fun during the annual celebra- that we serve get along and work to- he said. “We’re really looking for people tion of National Night Out on Tuesday. gether,” he said. “Because the police After the kickoff event at Shiloh-Ran- who are in need and just need People all over the country join with can’t be everywhere at one time.” dolph Manor, first responders visited enough hay to get them through the their local law enforcement agencies to Neighborhood watch groups are a big different community events around the next week,” Burns said. “It’s an celebrate the event every year, Mayor help to law enforcement, Sinkler said, city and county. emergency situation where they Joe McElveen said Tuesday evening at because neighbors come together to “National Night Out gives us an op- have nothing to feed their animals, Shiloh-Randolph Manor.