3 days ago
VIN'S PEOPLE: Marine Unit at Manatee County Sheriff's Office honored for rescue effort
A salute to Marine Unit Deputies William McBride and Richard Brissette, Manatee County Sheriff's Office Deputies of the Month for June.
They were the first to respond to a call last March involving a small fishing boat sinking near the Misener Bridge in Pinellas County. With the boat filling with water, the deputies quickly began assisting the passengers – one was pregnant – onto the MCSO vessel.
But realizing both vessels were drifting dangerously close to the bridge, Brissette threw a line to the boat captain who tied off his craft to theirs. With McBride steering, the deputies towed the sinking vessel to safety.
Shortly thereafter they transferred the passengers to Eckerd College Search-and-Rescue, which assists the U.S. Coast Guard.
· That's 37 years of wedded bliss for Barb and Paul Maechtle.
· Props to Manatee High Sugar 'Canes Olive Imerman, Sophie Potillo and Courtney Schultz, who earned All-America Dancer status at the recent Universal Dance Association Summer Camp in Tampa. Olive made the final three for Drill Down Queen and Sophie was named a College Combine Standout.
Among the honors accrued by the Sugar 'Canes were a Superior Trophy for a performance routine, Full Out 110 Percent Award, first place in Home Routine, and first-place blue ribbons in evaluations for all of director Kourtney Kalahar's dancers.
The Sugar 'Canes include Sydney Brewer, Sophia Ciampi, Audrey Cummmings, Kasha Drummond, Jordyn Falcone, Ava Macy, Delilah Parmalee, Addie Reed, Kendall Steffensen, Maci Steffensen, Faith Wright and Emma Wyar.
· Say it ain't so! Brittany Kitchie is one year shy of the Big 4-0!
· Big ups to Bradenton Marauders outfielder Edward Florentino, Florida State League Player of the Week (June 30-July 6). The first Marauder to be so honored this season, Florentino went 8-for-23 (.348), with three home runs, six RBI, three doubles and three stolen bases. The 18-year-old prospect was promoted to the Marauders June 21.
· Tracy Cappozella is 39. Again.
· A bow to Dr. Jose Erbella on 20 years as a Manatee Memorial Hospital surgeon.
· And Nyssa Gartley is 29. Again.
· The recent passing of my father-in-law Jim Manring at 87 has been heartbreaking for my wife, Sherri, her sisters Lynn and Chris, our immediate family and friends.
Yet the good memories they share are many.
Here's one of mine.
Years ago I was parking my pickup at night in front of the Whitfield home of my future in-laws, where Sherri was waiting with Jim and Sue, her mom. Well, my passenger side window got a little too close to the mailbox and …
BANG!
So a few minutes later, there I was, standing in their doorway, the mailbox and part of the post under one arm.
You can imagine the looks on their faces.
Then they burst out laughing.
I was still in their good graces.
Of course, I had to pay for the lumber so Pop could fix the mailbox.
May Godspeed, Jim.
Vin's People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@ Or call 941-962-5944.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Marine Unit at Manatee Sheriff's Office honored for rescue effort
