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Volume 11, Issue 9
Brandon Edition
First Community Valor Awards Honors 12 Public Safety Personnel Staff Report
In September, 12 public safety personnel were honored for acts of heroism over the past year.
The 2016 Public Safety Valor Awards, a new event introduced by the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, honored 12 public safety personnel for acts of heroism in central Hillsborough County over the past year. It was held September 7 at The Regent in Riverview. The program, sponsored by Platinum Bank, featured the following awards: Valor Awards - The highest award for valor and heroism were awarded to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Deputies Ryan Jones and Ian Genevish for preventing a suicide off the 50th Street Bridge, and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer Gregory Patterson for rescuing three women from an overturned personal watercraft in the water near the Gandy Bridge. Sadly, Officer Patterson passed away earlier this year, in a tragic bicycling accident when he was off duty. Lifesaving Award – In recognition of official acts taken to save a life in a situation where an individual’s life is in jeopardy, either medically or physically were awarded to: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer Richard Dearborn for helping Officer Patterson in rescuing the three women near the Gandy Bridge. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Master Detective Jeffery Harris for rescuing a child from a dog attack; Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Captain David Macaluso for rescuing
a man trapped inside a gasoline tanker, overcome by fumes; Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy John Skjefte for saving a 2-year-old from drowning in a pool; Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy Cabot Brown from saving a woman from drowning in a hotel bathtub; and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputies Daniel Jones and Jeffery Stout for rescuing a woman from carbon monoxide poisoning in her garage Award of Merit – In recognition of work on projects over time, or which required exceptional dedication and perseverance, was presented to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Boyer, a Community Resource Deputy assigned the role of Homeless Initiative Liaison for District II, which includes the Greater Brandon area, since 2014. By linking to available resources in the area, Deputy Boyer has been able to change countless lives by helping those willing to accept a new start people to move beyond a crime based life. A tribute to the late HCSO Deputy John Robert Kotfila who was tragically killed on March 16 by a wrong-way driver, was given by Major Robert Bullara, his commanding officer. Kotfila was the 16th deputy to give his life in the line of duty. The Greater Brandon Chamber represents more than 800 businesses and nonprofits in the greater Brandon area. For more information, visit www.brandonchamber.com.
Valrico Resident Helps Ugandans On Mission Trip
By Nick Nahas
Valrico native and sharing the Taylor Green is conGospel so that peotinuing his family’s ple can be introduced commitment to servinto God’s Kingdom.” ice by helping people Kelly Green in need. He recently Global worked in unireturned home from a son with Green’s mission trip to Africa mom’s ministry, God helping provide inforis Grace. This organimation and resources zation teaches the to the impoverished women of Uganda a people of Uganda. trade or how to start He spent 11 days in their own business Africa doing work because the majority with both his mom of them have very litand dad’s ministry tle education, and tragroups, Kelly Green ditionally, it falls on Global and God is the shoulders of the Taylor Green (left in white) and Brock Grace. women to work in Bell (in purple) speaking at a local school in Uganda. Green, 31, head order to provide for trainer/manager for RobZ Fitness and for- their families, Green said. They are taught mer baseball player for Bloomingdale how to sell their trades, such as clothing High School, spent some time teaching or necklaces. Sponsors from the U.S. children aged 7-16 how to play baseball. give a fixed amount of money each He also went to high schools to teach the month for 10 months to help these importance of abstinence, and also to women get their businesses started after raise awareness for HIV and AIDS. “They they graduate from the course. just wanted to know what you had to say, Taylor said he and his mom, Beth, they were super respectful, they were spent a couple of days with these women very eager to know more about you and to hear their stories about how this organyour family and where you are from,” he ization has changed their lives. They colsaid. “Everybody wanted to have some lected clothes to bring for the women and sort of interaction with you.” their families, with the help of the Osprey Kelly Green Global was founded by Observer, as well as resources such as Green’s dad, Kelly, in 1979. According to fabric to help them get started. their website, over the last 40 plus years, “Going to Africa and realizing that I Kelly has visited over 1,500 churches and don’t have to necessarily give money, I has made several international mission can just give myself, my time, my trips to help spread the word of the resources — just to be able to do that for gospel. The Kelly Green Global mission people in need is very fulfilling,” Taylor statement says they model Jesus’ minsaid. “It was good for me to experience istry, “caring for the sick, training leaders, that.”
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