Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 34

I 4 Thursday, January 19, 2012 I Tampa Bay Times PSC Pasco Times tampabay.com for more Pasco County news iJ Deputies are recognized for heroics in wreck PASCO tampabay.com Their November plunge into a murky pond is among several officially commended actions. HOMETOW Sl.iiji.igf'-IL'lWlm-W.W-Ji.llii.Ut JL Ujli Si PJ MJJ.jmff-B 33? 1 UJJ-. -1' tftfr Rtfft Courtesy of Judy Lynn VETERANS DONATE BICYCLES AND TOTS: Veterans Group of Country Place commander Danny Mallory and vice commander Joe Lynn presented John T. Durkin from Toys for Tots with 108 bicycles and many toys for the Christmas distribution. LUKE IS GOLDEN: LukeT.

Richter, 2011 Pasco High graduate and valedictorian of his class, has accepted membership into the Golden Key International Honor Society at the University of Florida. Richter is the son of Patty and Frank Richter of Dade City. The Golden Key International Honor Society, founded in 1977, provides academic recognition to top performing college and university students. The society has nearly 2 million student and alumni members and more than 375 campus-based chapters in eight countries. For information, go to www.Goldenkey.org.

arrests. Deputies-Ronald Boone, 47, and Joseph Zoccoli, 30; property clerks Donald Conner, 25, and Frank Darienzo, 36, and former Deputy Renee Gol-isano, 33, helped design a Challenge Coin that will be given to employees when they've done good work. The coin features the Pasco sheriff's star and the phrases "I swear to protect those who cannot protect themselves," and a statement in Latin for "We fight as one." Child Protective Investigator Ginger Davenport received a Meritorious Service Award for Accomplishment for her efforts to investigate abuse allegations involving a 3-year-old girl. When she went to the house, the child wasn't there and the family was hostile, the Sheriff's Office said. The child's mother didn't live there and was about to be incarcerated out of state.

Davenport never gave up and found the child in Tennessee. The toddler is now in state custody in Florida. Deputies Shane Metzler, 31, Robert Monsegur, 42 and Adam Cinelli, 30, received a Meritorious Service Award for Accomplishment for making more than 100 DUI arrests in Pasco. Deputies James Helton, 44, and JeanTerkowski, 44, and nurses Joseph Filippelli, 59, and Jeffrey Black, 37, received a Lifesaving Award for helping an inmate found unconscious and frothing in a jail shower. The team was able to get the inmate breathing again before paramedics arrived.

Deputy Benjamin Beson, 31, received a Lifesaving Award for shooting and killing two dogs who had attacked an elderly man in Zephyrhills in August. When Beson got on scene, the aggressive dogs were near where paramedics were trying to save the victim, who had serious wounds from numerous dog bites. Beson was honored for preventing another attack on the man or rescue workers. Deputies William MacK-enn, 56, and Austin Douglas, 26, and Cpl. Michael Molnar, 38, received a Lifesaving Award for preventing a suicide at the jail.

The deputies tried to calm the inmate and persuade him not to jump off a railing. MacK-enn tried to grab the inmate, who jumped and landed on Molnar, who suffered shoulder and hand injuries. The inmate survived. Molnar was also rewarded the Pasco Sheriff's Office Purple Heart Award for being injured in the line of duty. Erin Sullivan can be reached at esullivantampabay.com or (727) 869-6229.

BY ERIN SULLIVAN Times Staff Writer When the car crashed into a Holiday pond in November, the deputies didn't know how many people were inside or whether anyone had survived. Cpl. Jesse Coker and Deputy David Pugh dove into the black, mucky water where a 6- foot alligator lives, trying desperately to break the car's windows. A firefighter arrived with a glass-breaking tool. Coker and the firefighter dragged driver Mary Stucky, 85, to the shore.

She was rushed to the hospital, where she died. The deputies couldn't reach her husband, Sam Stucky, 88, who was found dead when the car was towed out of the lake. Though the ending of the story was tragic, the two men's actions were recognized at an awards ceremony Wednesday. Coker, 36, and Pugh, 39, were given the Meritorious Service Medal for Courage for their efforts to save the lives of the Stuckys, who had been married for 65 years. The men were two of several deputies and citizens recognized by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Elizabeth Nicoletto, 39, received the Citizen's Service Award for contacting deputies when she noticed two suspicious men in her Land O'Lakes neighborhood in November. Nicoletto followed the men and saw them carrying a TV. When deputies arrived, they had everything needed to make an arrest Brion Hensley, 36, also received the Citizen's Service Award for calling the Sheriff's Office when he saw two men enter a New Port Richey 7-Eleven this month, run out and knock down a clerk, who later died from his injuries. Hensley's description of the men helped deputies catch them. Child Protective Investigator Kori Roberts, 25, received an Incentive Award for her dedication in a child neglect case.

The Sheriff's Office said she worked long hours making sure the child received the needed medical care and drove the child to an appointment when no one else could. She secured funding for treatment not covered by Medicaid. Deputy Thomas Dorr, 45, received an Incentive Award for his work in the inmate processing section of the jail. The Sheriff's Office says Dorr trains other employees and is always willing to help. Deputy James Berberich, 27, a patrol deputy who works the midnight shift in Holiday, received an Incentive Award for his quality and quantity of investigations that have led to 1 JI Js4 i.O-y-Q-V-a-.D' ELECTED MEDICAL SOCIETY PRESIDENT: Cardiologist Rao Musunuru, M.D.

has been elected 2012 president of the Pasco County Medical Society. Courtesy of Daniel Blevins HARD WORK PATS OFF: Several local athletes racked up wins at the Dec. 17 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pan Americans tournament in Kissimee. Pictured are, from back left, Coach Brandon Hunter, Hunter Solem, 15, who was named a winner; and Coach Daniel Blevins; front, Ethan Blevins, 6, and Ariana Blevins, 9, both strong finishers with second-place wins; Taylor Kearbey, 12, who was named a winner; and Mike Sylvester, 11, who scored a second-place win. These athletes represent Gator MMA in Port Richey.

Musunuru has been serving residents of Pasco and Hernando counties since 1981. He has held numerous leadership positions in the medical community includ 1 2i mm? ing chief of medicine, chief of staff, chairman of continuing medical education and chairman of board of trustees at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point Musunuru received the Florida Board of Medicine Chairman's Recognition award in 2006. He also received the 2010 Outstanding Physician Award presented by the Florida Medical Association in recognition of exemplary medical, scientific, humanitarian, advocacy, educational and philanthropic contributions at local, state and national levels for three decades. He is the recipient of National Physician of the Year recognition from American Heart Association in 2005. Courtesy of Clereen Morrill Brunty ZEPHYRHILLS MEMORABILIA ON DISPLAY: Clereen Morrill Brunty and Madonna Jervis Wise organized the exhibit of Zephyrhills posters, artifacts and memorabilia on display through Feb.

29 at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St, Tampa. "We are so excited to be the first community in Pasco County to be featured in the elegant and expansive 8-feet high by 14-foot wide display case that adorns the second floor of the museum," Brunty said. The exhibit, which comes on the heels of the city's 2010 centennial, includes an original school desk from first Zephyrhills School, along with photographs and artifacts from the famed Skydive City, Zephyrhills Water, Zephyrhills High School and several local historians and collectors, including Zephyrhills public works director Rick Moore, who loaned many framed photos and postcards he has collected for more than 40 years. For information about the museum call (813) WALLPAPER MART In-stock Wallpaper and Borders 727-938-8382 530 S. Pinellas Ave.

(Alt. 19), Tarpon Springs HOLIDAY PARTY: Santa and little Charles Wagner 20 months, joined more than120 others who attended the Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando and Healthy Start Parents as Teachers' holiday party of Mommies, Daddies and Me at the Healthy Families Hudson Are you concerned about The NEED for a REVOCABLE or IRREVOCABLE TRUST? i We know t'' I I 1 jr" -it is--' i r-u iT-nm mil Li-hntiZ office. Turkeys and hams were donated by Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point and the Greater West Pasco Kiwanis. Other donors included Pit Boss Bar-B-0, the Healthy Start Coalition of Pasco, the Pasco Hernando Early Learning Coalition and several 9 I TRUSTS 7278l5- ji Courtesy of Becky Bennett LAW GROUP elder law charting the course U54 Hook' EkkrlM Attorney Udfr Lm Aiiomey Courtesy of Becky Bennett GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY: Participants and staff members of the Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando and Healthy Start Parents as Teachers programs, including from left, Annette Saxon, Cathy Boyer, Dorota Dmchowska, Cindy Cook, Mary Sandvik, Helen Campolettano, Rose Appiah, Sonia Torres, Michelle Atwood, Linda Graham, Sharon Meade, Francis Calapardo, Belkisa Zora-ja, lliana Molina and Rachel Garrison spent an afternoon stocking and organizing the food pantry at the Volunteer Way. This took place as part of the Healthy Families' monthly Mommies, Daddies and Me group.

"Our team decided they wanted to show the importance of volunteerism and giving back to the community," said Healthy Families program manager Becky Bennett. It also gave those who attended an opportunity to see another great resource that the Volunteer Way provides. community volunteers. The children were thrilled to hear Santa's bells jingle, and they lined up to have their picture taken with him, each receiving a wrapped gift Each child also made a decorative frame for their picture. Pasco Kids First executive director Rick Hess read the "Elf on the Shelf" story and each family received an elf to take home, thanks to Vicki Baker of Healthy Start For information about Healthy Families, contact Becky Bennett at (727) 967-7509.

49 1 8 Floramar Terrace New Port Richey, FL 346S2 inside (727)842-1001 www.ElderLawCenter.com Subdivision fsrnjjHmvgaj? We need VOUr news! Hometown publishes Thursdays and Sundays with your good news. Tell us about your club or thank someone for a job well done. Keep It under 100 words. E-mail photos in JPEG format. Contact Hometown news coordinator Gall Diederich at gdiederlchtampabay.com; by phone at (727) 869-6243 or (813) 909-4600, ext.

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