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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Debate over multifamily in Pasco continues

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A Pasco County Commission proposal to halt the use of commercial land for multifamily development has met resistance from the Pasco County Planning Commission.

The county board directed its staff on Feb. 9 to pursue modification of the county’s land development code to remove the consideration of multifamily development as a conditional use on land zoned for commercial use.

A majority of the county board members said they wanted to preserve commercial land for commercial use.

County planners drafted a proposed amendment, to meet that directive, and took it to the planning commission’s March 4 meeting.

Planning commissioners, however — as well as a county staff member and two private attorneys — raised questions about the proposed change.

Planning commissioner Jaime Girardi said, “I understand what the board’s direction here is, and the way they’re trying to go, but I’m just worried if there’s any other unintended consequences here, by moving forward with this ordinance.”

Planning Commissioner Charles Grey asked: “What is the real purpose for doing this, out of curiosity?”

County zoning administrator Denise Hernandez responded: “Based on the conversations that were had, I think the board of county commissioners want to see commercial on commercial uses. And, they also want to see an integration of uses.”

Private attorney Barbara Wilhite often appears before the county board and the planning commission on land use and zoning issues.

Wilhite told planning commissioners: “I’m not speaking on behalf of any client. I just want to make sure there’s no unintended consequences here.

“So, I raise the concern. It has to do with affordable housing,” she said.

Typically, when conditional uses comes in for a multifamily development on commercial property, it’s for affordable housing, Wilhite said.

A pending controversial request in Wesley Chapel is an exception to that general rule, she said.

“I raise the concern. I certainly don’t want to see us make it harder for us to have some of these affordable projects,” Wilhite said.

It also could make it more difficult for the county to compete for state funding for those kinds of developments, Wilhite added.

“When we apply for the lottery, we’re competing statewide for money to bring these projects to Pasco, to help our residents,” she said.

Marcy Esbjerg, director of community development for Pasco County, echoed those concerns.

“Perhaps because of (the) pandemic, because of just growth in Florida — housing costs and rental costs are all exorbitant. Right now, under the eviction moratorium and foreclosure moratorium, our markets have become extremely strained.

“Houses are selling in a day. People are having a really hard time finding housing,” she said.

Even with rental assistance funding available, it has been very difficult to find housing, to help people get out of homelessness, she added.

She urged planning commissioners to retain any tool the county has in its toolbox to increase the supply of the housing.

That is critical, she said, to create a balanced community.

“It concerns me, No. 1, that the county would be going against what would be an Urban Land Institute best practice, or a best practice, again, all over the country. But we decide to go in another direction.

She added: “It’s critical for the county, to always consider any changes in policy, how it’s going to affect affordable housing — either the amount of affordable housing or the cost of affordable housing.

“The need has exacerbated just in the 2 ½ years that I’ve been here, and to put a policy like this in place, would only exacerbate it even more,” Esbjerg said.

Preserving flexibility
Private attorney Joel Tew raised numerous concerns about the proposed amendment.

“I think the commissioner who made the motion was very well-intentioned, but I think, with respect, I think we’re getting in a little bit too big of a hurry to try to do something in a knee-jerk fashion, dealing with this multifamily apartment issue,” Tew said.

“I don’t know if any of you, commissioners, had a chance to review the industry expert presentation that was made by the private industry at the commissioner workshop, but, if not, I would suggest, if you have time, pull that up and look at the presentation about the market demand.

“It’s not only the Class A market demand, which is substantial, but also the changing demographic in Pasco County and the realities of the marketplace,” he said.

Tew also pointed out that online shopping has caused a seismic shift in America, relating to commercial retail.

“Why would you take away one tool that you have? Just because you can apply for conditional use certainly doesn’t mean that this board is obligated to approve it,” Tew said.

Planning commission Chris Poole reiterated Girardi’s concerns about potential unintended consequences.

Grey added: “My only concern was, why would you want to limit yourself in terms of what you can do?

“Are they taking away tools that we should be using in the future that can benefit the county? Is this a knee-jerk reaction to something that we don’t like?” Grey added.

Girardi added: “I think there’s a lot more commercial out there, a lot more commercially zoned properties, in light of what’s going on in the market today — a lot more commercial than there is ever going to be demand for commercial uses.”

David Goldstein, who is the chief assistant county attorney, told planning commissioners if they recommend against the change, they need to do so based on inconsistencies with the county’s comprehensive plan policies.

Tew told planning commissioners that he would be happy to provide “a litany of policies that it’s inconsistent with,” including those relating to the county’s urban service area, affordable housing and density.

Poole said he wanted time to review the board’s workshop, and made a motion to continue the issue until April, which the planning commission approved.

Published March 17, 2021

Library team sets out on scientific challenge

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Pasco County Libraries is taking on the NASA challenge — “Plant the Moon” — to attempt to grow plants in a simulated moon base environment.

A libraries team has embarked on a 10-week challenge that started in February, to examine how vegetation grows in lunar soil.

Science is ‘sprouting’ at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City, as Pasco County Libraries embarks on a NASA challenge. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

When the growing period is complete, the findings will be submitted and showcased during a virtual symposium scheduled for April 29 and April 30, with NASA scientists and other researchers.

The challenge was issued by the Institute of Competition Scientists in collaboration with the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) Exolith Lab, according to a news release.

The UCF lab provided lunar soil simulant for the libraries to use, to conduct the experiment.

“We are so excited for this unique opportunity,” said Hugh Embry Library associate Sarah Pass in the release.

“Our team, the MoonRakers, is attempting to find ways to grow plants effectively in a simulated moon base environment. We hope our customers will enjoy this experience as much as we are,” said Pass.

The public is welcome to stop by to see the plants growing in the center of the library, at 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City.

Those interested also can track the plants’ progress on the Hugh Embry Library’s Facebook page.

Published March 17, 2021

Another expansion for Meals on Wheels

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Meals on Wheels for Kids Tampa Bay (MOW4Kids) is now being delivered in two more Pasco County areas — Zephyrhills and San Antonio. The Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger (TBNEH), a tri-county leader in hunger relief, research and program development, has added the expansion.

The MOW4Kids program was launched last March and was developed in response to COVID-19 school closures and remote learning, to serve children age 18 and younger, with lunchtime meals delivered to their homes by volunteers.

The program gives an alternative option for kids who are not able to access meal distribution sites throughout the county, and/or kids that have difficulty accessing open food pantries.

In addition to the expansion into Zephyrhills and San Antonio, the MOW4Kids service includes most of Pinellas County; Lutz, Tampa and Wimauma in Hillsborough County; and Dade City in Pasco County.

For the added areas, deliveries will take place out of Farmworker’s Self Help in Dade City, and the program is looking for volunteers to help pack boxes each week.

Volunteers who have a level 2 background check also are needed to help deliver Meals on Wheels for Kids on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting at 10 a.m., using their own vehicles. Routes take about an hour to complete.

To apply for MOW4Kids, visit MOW4Kids.com, or call 813-344-5837.

To sign up to volunteer, visit NetworkToEndHunger.org/volunteer/.

Published March 17, 2021

Grants to bolster Pasco library programs

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The Pasco County Public Library Cooperative has received two state grants that will allow it to expand its services.

The library has received a grant for $20,315 for fiscal year 2020-2021 to create a Books by Mail program, which will serve homebound residents who are physically unable to visit the library.

Homebound residents include those who can’t leave home during the pandemic, but also could be expanded to include people who live far away from a library.

The program will deliver materials to patrons through the United State Postal Service, and will  provide postage for the materials to be returned, according to information included in the agenda backup for the Pasco County Commission’s March 9 board meeting.

The county’s library system also received a grant through the Library Services and Technology Act for $50,413, to be used for a “Mobile Makerspace.”

In other library news, these appointments were made:

  • Douglas Butler will represent District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano on the Library Advisory Board
  • Richard Hayes will represent District 3 Commissioner Kathryn Starkey on the Library Advisory Board
  • Joan Clark will represent Pasco County at large on the Library Advisory Board
  • Susan Dillinger will represent Pasco County at large, west side, on the Library Cooperative Advisory Board
  • Anjali Bedi will represent the City of Zephyrhills on the Library Advisory Board and Pasco County at large, east side, on the Library Cooperative Advisory Board.

Published March 17, 2021

Crowd gets to see ‘Elvis,’ a ‘teen angel’ and classic cars

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Spectators at the “Grease is the Word” event at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park had a chance to listen to an Elvis impersonator, check out a musical rivalry between Pasco Fire Rescue and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and to take a look at some classic cars. There were also games and other attractions at the event on March 13.

Billy ‘Elvis’ Lindsey ends his set draped in an American flag. ‘If you see any other Elvis impersonator do this, he got it from me,’ Lindsey said. (Fred Bellet)
This 1965 Buick Skylark, owned by David and Maria Aponte, of Wesley Chapel, was one of the standout vehicles on display.
Twelve-year-old Payton Garver gingerly places a Jenga block on top after taking it from the bottom of the tower that she and her mom, Marie Garver, were building in front of the Life Church tent.
Pasco firefighter Logan Mielke appeared as a teen angel, during the sing-along competition between Pasco Fire Rescue and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Mielke was assisted by the Bobbie Sox Dancers, and the songs were sung karaoke-style.
Donna and Don White of Land O’ Lakes are accompanied by the musically inclined Moxie, left, and Mia — two Pembroke Welsch Corgis, at ‘Grease is the Word.’
The “Grease is The Word” performances put a smile on Dottie Morgan’s face as the Tampa woman watches Billy “Elvis” Lindsey on the Heritage Park stage.
Classic car judge Dallas Stevens, of the Land O’ Lakes, peers into a car dubbed ‘Pink Panther’ during a car contest at the ‘Grease is the Word’ event, at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. Howie and Barbara Mendick, of Lutz, own the 1950 Mercury.

 

Two new STEAM magnet schools coming to Pasco?

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The Pasco County school district is looking to convert Centennial Elementary School in Dade City and Marlowe Elementary School in New Port Richey, from traditional elementary schools into STEAM magnet schools.

The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Students now assigned to Centennial and Marlowe would be reassigned to nearby schools, and a lottery system would be used to assign students to the new magnet schools.

If the district proceeds with this plan, the change would not occur until the 2022-2023 school year, and boundary hearings would not occur until this coming fall, according to Steve Hegarty, district spokesman.

The issue came up at the Pasco County School Board’s March 2 meeting, when Don Peace, president of United School Employees of Pasco (USEP), complained about the district’s handling of future staffing for the two schools.

Peace objected to the new job description for STEAM magnet teachers.

“Normally, for contract waivers, major changes in curriculum — such as Wendell Krinn (Technical High School), Pine View (Middle) and Gulf Middle  — or school closings, as in Hudson Elementary, Ridgewood, and the Lacoochee proposal, USEP is invited to go to the school, along with district staff, to explain the contractual protocol for what is about to transpire.

“That did not happen with these two schools.

“In fact, when I first heard the details of what was transpiring, I had a district employee make a phone call to put a stop to what was going on. But that did not happen.

“Interviews took place, in an unacceptable manner, for jobs that do not yet exist, at schools that have not yet been voted to be closed, and for a job description that is yet to be approved.

“It appears the cart is in front of the horse,” Peace said.

Peace then told board members that approving the proposed job description would, in essence, create an elite position.

“Why would you want to create divisiveness among teachers?” the union president asked district officials.

“I would contend that with training, professional development and proper guidance, there are numerous teachers across this district that would be able to work in a STEM/STEAM school and be highly successful, if given that opportunity,” he said.

Peace suggested the board delay voting on the new job description, and instead hold a workshop to discuss the issue in greater detail.

Superintendent Kurt Browning responded to the assertions.

“I agree with Mr. Peace when it comes to the fact that any of our teachers, given the opportunity and the professional learning, could probably make it work in a STEM or STEAM environment.

“What Mr. Peace didn’t mention is what I call the ‘want to’ (factor). Do you want to put the effort into working at a STEM or STEAM school?

“We learned lessons when we converted Bayonet Point Middle and Centennial Middle. We did not have a separate job description for that. Honestly, it was more difficult to set the expectations for our staff.

“I will tell you that this job description, in no way, shape or form, is — as Mr. Peace has indicated — divisive. It is not intended to do that. It is merely to set expectations, for teachers that want to move to a STEM or STEAM environment.

“It is different, a lot more technology-driven, project-based learning.

“It is a choice school,” Browning said.

When the schools held faculty meetings to discuss the change, a number of teachers approached the principals and said, “I get it. I just don’t want to do it,” Browning said.

The new magnet schools will choose teachers based on the new job description.

While current teachers may be assigned to different schools, they will not lose their jobs, Browning said.

Before approving the new description, school board members asked for more information.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong asked for more details about how the job description was developed. Board member Alison Crumbley echoed that request.

Samantha Del Valle, assistant director of leading and learning, said “we knew we needed a job description to really be transparent with the staff that we’re going to hire and to share with them what would be expected, as they take those positions.”

So, the job description is based on the practices that happen in a STEAM classroom.

Hiring will mirror the process used in hiring teachers for Sanders Elementary STEAM Magnet School in Land O’ Lakes, Del Valle said.

The questions district officials asked, when drafting the new job description, included: “What is a STEAM teacher? What practices are happening in the classroom? What does STEAM look like and how do we make sure that that occurs in our two new schools?” Del Valle said.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin emphasized that she wanted it to be clear to district teachers that the new job description does not create an elite class of teachers.

“We’re not saying that these teachers are any better than any other teachers. These are just a specific skill set needed for these types of schools. I don’t want to give the impression that we’re saying that teachers at one school are any better than teachers at another school,” Beaudoin said.

Besides looking for teachers who have the attributes described in the job description, they also must be willing to undergo additional training, Del Valle said.

Plus, there is a preferred qualification related to computer science.

Browning reiterated Beaudoin’s point, noting the teachers are not better teachers.

“They’re different teachers.

“This job description was not designed to divide teachers,” the superintendent insisted.

He also said the shift to the STEAM magnet schools is intended to give parents additional options.

“Parents are wanting something different,” Browning said.

Published March 17, 2021

All dressed up, and ready to go — at St. Patrick’s Day parade

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Noah Royak, of St. Petersburg, assumes the role of a super-tall leprechaun — dancing and singing to ‘Oh Danny Boy,’ as bagpipe music played, at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. (Fred Bellet)

A super-tall leprechaun, bagpipers, men dressed in kilts, decorated golf carts, and people of all shapes and sizes sporting green — were among the many highlights of the second annual St. Patrick’s Day parade at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, in San Antonio.

Decked-out golf carts rolled along Old Tampa Bay Drive, offering a spectacle to behold for onlookers lined up along the road.

Some decorated golf carts represented branches of the military. Others carried families and golf and country club residents who turned out to enjoy the day.

Special touches included the performance of the song ‘Danny Boy,’ participation by scout troops, a pipe and bugle band, and miniature therapy horses, among other things.

In an atmosphere of good cheer, the sentiment seemed clear — that those gathered there felt fortunate to be enjoying a wee bit of Irish luck.

Published March 17, 2021

Members of Boys Scouts Troop 311, from San Antonio, carry a banner to express appreciation for first responders. The troop meets at the Presbyterian Church in Dade City.
Mary-Jo Fuller, a resident of Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, makes some last-minute checks on the Tampa Bay Zumba Club golf cart she decorated for the second annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Many-Dears Grinder, a veteran of the Vietnam War and a resident of the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, watches the road as she steers her golf cart and waves to spectators.
A booming beat and the sounds from the Dunedin Pipe Band create an air of excitement, as band members make their appearance, dressed in kilts, for the St. Patrick’s Day parade at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.
One-year old Harmon Windschill watches in awe, as the pipe and bugle band goes by. He is flanked by his mom, Stephanie Windschill, left, and his dad, Nathan Windschill. Nathan and his parents are visiting his grandparents, John and Donna Windschill, residents of the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.
Seven-year-old Aiden Riley, of Land O’ Lakes, sports a beard as he rides the back of a golf cart during the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 13 in the community of the Old Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, in San Antonio. He was there with his grandparents, Mary Ann and Robert Cleaves. His 4-year-old sister, Addison Riley, sat up front with the grandparents, as they rolled along Old Tampa Bay Drive.
Decorated golf carts in the parade honored various branches of military service.
Grace Oddo gets into the spirit of the parade by donning a sculpted balloon hat representing a rainbow with a pot of gold. The former New York resident recently moved to the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.
Horse handler Maria Horvath, of Tampa, gets a kiss from Calypso, a miniature therapy horse. Calypso’s half-brother, Chardonnay, took part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, courtesy of the Angel of God Equine Sanctuary.

 

Government stimulus check inspires kindness, generosity

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When Wesley Chapel’s Carmen Quiles’ family received a stimulus check from the federal government, her initial reaction was — who can’t use some extra cash during a pandemic?

But then, she thought, there are others who need the money more.

Carmen Quiles stands near some of the ‘Bags of Love’ containing food and other items that she and her husband distribute to the homeless. Quiles used money from the government’s stimulus check to pay for items. She hopes to build on the effort, by inspiring more people to become volunteers or make donations. (Courtesy of Carmen Quiles)

She turned that generous impulse into action, packing up “Bags of Love” for the homeless — and distributing them in hot spots throughout North Tampa.

She packs sausages, cookies, crackers, peanut butter cups, sanitizers, socks, blankets, Band-Aids, ointments and more into her bags.

Quiles’ husband, Hector, a retired Navy Captain and former nurse manager of specialty clinics at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital, had no idea what his wife had in mind when he noticed various supplies being stocked in their garage.

When she outlined a plan to help the needy with their excess funds, he was delighted and supportive.

“You see the happiness and excitement in people’s eyes and that’s a feeling that’s very satisfying,’’ he said. “We’re not looking for publicity or kudos, but if it could inspire others to help or do something similar, it’s worth shining a light on this.

“You can always find people in need. Sometimes, I will be driving and see someone. I wish I had brought a bag in the car to give them. I need to start doing that,” he said.

Quiles said her idea has been greeted enthusiastically — sometimes with disbelief.

“The first time I was out, a policeman stopped me and asked, ‘What are you doing here?’” Quiles said. “I think he was concerned about safety and my husband was, too. So he comes with me.

“You see white people, Black people, Hispanic people. You see males and females, sometimes couples. You never know the circumstance or what has happened. But when you give something and it might be the only thing they eat that day, it’s an overwhelming feeling.’’

Quiles said she returned to an area where she had distributed her gift bags and she noticed a group of people were gathered around, sharing the food.

These Bags of Love are ready for delivery.

“That gave me a little tear,’’ she said.

Quiles and her husband, originally from Puerto Rico, were on active military duty for 30 years. They lived in places such as Orlando, Jacksonville, Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia during the Navy stint. Quiles did volunteer work at most of those stops and that opened her eyes.

“I was a nurse before, and I worked at free clinics and soup kitchens,’’ Quiles said. “You would see the same faces. There is great need.

“Sometimes, we tend to judge people. You don’t know their situations. Sometimes, people wind up on the streets because things happen. They might lose their jobs. It’s tough out there, especially these days. A lot of people were getting by with two jobs. Now they might not even have one. So they wind up in a situation they never expected.’’

Quiles said she has been conscious of these unfortunate situations.

She feels fortunate to offer some help.

“This makes me happy,’’ Quiles said. “There’s a lot of help that’s needed. It gives me joy if I can help to make a difference.

“I see a smile from them, even though sometimes they might not have teeth.’’

And, that fact has sparked another idea: Quiles wants to explore the potential of finding dental volunteers, who can help by providing cleaning and hygiene.

The Wesley Chapel woman would like to keep her program going, and possibly expand it, by organizing additional donations and volunteers.

If you are interested in finding out more, Quiles can be reached at .

By Joey Johnston

Published March 10, 2021

New office space may be coming to Wesley Chapel

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a request that would allow a new professional office district on a 9.1-acre site on the west side of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, about ½ mile north of State Road 54/56.

Planning Commissioners voted unanimously on March 5 to recommend the change be approved by the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on zoning requests.

The applicant for the change is the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Cypress Ridge Professional Center.

The office development would include a 70,350-square-foot building and 327 parking spaces, according to a site plan included in the planning commission’s agenda backup materials.

The surrounding area is characterized by conservation lands, professional office, commercial, and residential uses.

The owner has volunteered a deed restriction to the property that states within 30 days of the county’s request, the owner shall dedicate at no cost to Pasco County, a drainage easement of approximately 15,426 square feet.

This rezoning request is a companion to a request to change the county’s long-range plan to allow office uses on the land.

Both the land use and zoning must be approved, in order for the office development to proceed. Both requests have received recommendations for approval from county planners and planning commissioners.

In other action, planning commissioners:

  • Recommended approval for a rezoning to permit a light industrial park on a 5-acre site, on the west side of Old Lakeland Highway, north of Townsend Road. The applicant for the request is BMI LLC. A change also has been requested to the long-range plan, to allow light industrial uses. If the subject rezoning is approved, it cannot take effect until the companion land use change is adopted and the appeal period for that change has ended.
  • Recommended approval of a request to rezone 10 acres from agricultural land into agricultural-residential, to permit a total of two homes on the two parcels located at 18400 Possom Trot and 18454 Possom Trot. The applicants listed for the request are Robert Wendell Pippin Jr., and Clay Turner Pippin. They have agreed to a deed restriction to allow just one dwelling on each lot, according to county planners.

Published March 10, 2021

This K9 is trained to help rescue people from disasters

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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has added another police dog to its ever-growing K9 Unit — and this one brings a unique set of skills to the job.

K9 Maddie — a two-year-old black Labrador Retriever — is the agency’s first-ever “live-find” K9. That means the dog has been specially trained to find people missing in a natural or other disasters, such as a building collapse or the aftermath of a hurricane.

K9 Maddie, a 2-year-old black Labrador Retriever, is the Pasco Sheriff’s Office’s first ‘live-find’ K9, meaning it’s specially trained to find people that are missing in natural or other disasters, such as a building collapse or the aftermath of a hurricane. The law enforcement agency now has 31 K9 units. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

So-called live-find K9s like Maddie must be confident working at a distance from their handlers and sure-footed, with a keen sense of smell, sheriff’s office officials say.

Maddie came to the sheriff’s office last May from Maine-based Maranatha Farm Kennels, and began three months of training to pass state certification for search and rescue efforts.

Her handler, Deputy Robert Lewis, also has received intense training in rescue operations to best assist the canine when deployed, acquiring fire rescue certifications in ropes, rescue, trench and confined spaces operations.

Together, they have continued training almost daily on two of the agency’s FEMA-certified “rubble pile” training facilities, which simulate a variety of scenarios, such as a parking garage or house collapse.

Once the duo secures federal certification, the unit will be able to deploy to disasters outside of Florida, if necessary.

Lewis, a sheriff’s office employee since 2015, has previous experience as a field training officer.

When asked by agency leadership about partnering with a live-find K9, he jumped at the opportunity.

“It was very interesting to me,” Lewis said in a video media presentation produced by the sheriff’s office. “It’s a completely different task that no one’s done for the agency yet. Also, the fact that more than likely you’ll get to travel to respond to natural disasters, whether it be a hurricane somewhere else, or out of state.”

Lewis also noted: “I always wanted to be a K9 (deputy). I grew up around a lot of dogs for pet purposes and also hunting purposes.”

Ed and Angie Moore contributed funds for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office to acquire its first ‘live-find’ K9. The Moore family made the donation to honor their daughter, Madison, who suddenly passed away in 2017 at the age of 17 from a blood clot. Madison is remembered as an animal lover, who had aspirations of working in forensics. From left: Cpl. Jimmy Hall, Ed Moore, Angie Moore, Deputy Robert Lewis and Forensics Supervisor Sue Miller.

The advanced canine is named in honor of Madison “Maddie” Moore, a River Ridge High School student who passed away unexpectedly in 2017 at the age of 17, before her graduation. She died after a blood clot in her brain caused a massive stroke.

Her parents, Ed and Angie Moore, donated funds to the sheriff’s office to make the K9 purchase.

Inspired by television shows like Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami, Madison dreamed that she would earn a degree in forensics and become a crime scene investigator.

She showed miniature horses, competitively, and was known for her love of animals.

“Madison was a very outgoing kid,” Madison’s father said in the video. “We feel very fortunate…we were able to continue her legacy and put forth something that she was looking forward to in her life.

“It means a lot to us. It means even more that the dog was named after her and it will continue to carry her legacy.”

Including K9 Maddie, the sheriff’s office now has 31 K9s, which are funded through community donations and contributions.

In addition to live-find capabilities, the sheriff’s office operates K9s certified in narcotics detection, explosives detection, tracking, patrol work, human remains detection and animal assisted therapy. The agency also has K9s assigned to its highway interdiction and SWAT teams.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco underscored the importance of the agency’s K9 Units, during the video series.

“It’s about saving people, protecting our citizens,” the sheriff said. “When somebody’s in need, a child goes missing, a person with Alzheimer’s is lost, we can go out there and search for them. You know, if we have to hunt down a bad person, we find that bad person, but at the same time…the vast majority of our calls for service is to find people, to save people, and that’s what our K9s are out there doing.”

On K9 Maddie joining the force, Nocco said: “We’re blessed to have K9 Maddie now. I’m happy to see who she’s going to find in the future.”

Published March 10, 2021