Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Ashley Dunn

Staff Writer

LUTZ — On Sept. 11, 2001, Wilson Morse wasn’t even two years old, but he still knows what happened on that tragic day.

“I know that there were terrorists and they crashed into the two Twin Towers,” said Wilson, a fourth-grader at Lutz Elementary.

On Sept. 11 this year, Wilson and the rest of the school’s student body celebrated Patriot Day with a special outdoor program. Each grade wore either red, white or blue and sang a patriotic song. The school also recognized the Lutz Patriots, military personnel, veterans and first responders. Lutz Elementary has put on the annual presentation since 2002.

Some students knew how Patriot Day originated. Others didn’t. It’s not something many classes talk about, said Mary Fernandez, school principal.

“Depending on their age, we do what’s appropriate,” she said.

Instead of focusing on the terrorist attacks, teachers convey the importance of police officers, firefighters and those in the military.

It’s a lesson that wasn’t lost on third-grader Mackenzie Young, 8. When asked why the school had the patriotic celebration that morning, she said, “To thank America for all the freedom and to thank the troops and the military, who are giving us freedom.”

Fourth-grader Leigh Dittman, 9, said she remembers her parents explaining what happened in 2001.

“It was just so sad to hear,” she said, adding she understands the jobs that soldiers and first responders do each day are dangerous. “They risk their lives to make sure that we are free — that we are one country — so it’s just important to show that we appreciate what they do for us.”

Wilson, 9, agreed.

“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.

By Steve Lee

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — Sniffing out drugs is among the numerous duties for a dog in the Pasco Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit and Missy answered the call in the largest drug bust in county history.

Scott Grant, a detective in the vice and narcotics department, and Missy teamed up to help get $1.8 million worth of cocaine off the streets. The Aug. 26 bust unearthed more than 114 pounds of cocaine and $200,000 in cash from under a shed off Duck Lake Canal Road in Dade City.

“I’m a fan of them for drug work,” said Sgt. Brian Brosnan, who supervises the sheriff’s K-9 unit. “She indicated where (the alleged drug dealers) had drugs buried.”

For Missy and Grant, it actually marked the second million dollar drug bust. The also were part of 2008 apprehension of a truck hauling $1.5 million in cash and 71 grams of marijuana.

Brosnan helps train the sheriff office’s 10 dogs, along with four police dogs in Dade City, New Port Richey and Zephyrhills. He knows first-hand how valuable the K-9 unit can be in the war on crime.

“It shows you they work,” Brosnan said of a dog’s role in busts like the one in Dade City. “The good ol’ dog nose just keeps going on. It’s a team effort. The dogs will tell you stuff using their bodies and their tails.”

As for team efforts, Grant has been paired up with Missy, a Malinos (pronounced mel-in-wah) for the past year and a half. He could not be more proud of his partner’s efforts.

“She’s done amazing things,” Grant said. “She actually located the money that had a narcotic odor on it, as well as the 52 kilos in the barn.”

Missy is Grant’s four and final dog. At 49 and with nearly 25 years in law enforcement, retirement is on the horizon. Until then, Grant and Missy will remain inseperable.

“The dog’s your best friend, other than your wife,” said Grant, who has been married to Jackie for 10 years.

Although the sheriff’s office has its full compliment of dogs, the county is down one dog, having lost Zephyrhills Police dog Gunner to a tragic accident in August. The black German Shepherd was struck and killed by an SUV while returning to handler Josph Rinaldo after responding to a burglary.

Zephyrhills still has Jenko, who is partnered with police officer Billy Adams, but Brosnan is assisting the department as it searches for Gunner’s replacement. Brosnan, who has worked with the sheriff’s K-9 unit since 1987, will help train Gunner’s replacement like he has with most of the other law enforcement dogs in the county.

“We’re a very tight-knit group,” Brosnan said. “We generally get together (once a week) to train.”