Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 2-11-20

Feature
Woman Named State Crossing Guard Of Year
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
In 2011, Ms. Ellen
Cipriani was hired as a
Crossing Guard for Hillsborough County.
Last week, Ms. Cipri-
ani, of Riverview Ele-
mentary School, was
chosen as the Florida
School Crossing Guard of the Year.
She was chosen from among more than 100 competitors from across the state. Ms. Cipriani was one of two women representing Hillsbor0ugh County who was rec- ognized.
The competitors for the Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year were judged on their professional- ism, positive attitude, reliability, and effective communication with children about crossing procedures and traffic safety.
Four other competitors from Hillsborough County were also honored. They are: Ms. Janet An- derson, of Grady Elementary School; Xavier
Davis, of Mintz El-
ementary School; Norman Jones, of Seffner Ele- mentary School; and Donald Spohr, of Northwest Elementary
School.
Hillsborough County was cho-
sen as the Florida School Crossing Guard Program of the Year.
The honors were bestowed last Thursday, in recognition of Cross- ing Guard Appreciation Day. The day recognizes the hard work and dedication of those individuals who keep school children through- out the year as the travel from home to school each day.
MS. ELLEN CIPRIANI
Teenager Shot In Eye With BB Gun Dies
A 17-year-old teenager accidentally shot in the eye with a BB gun has died. He has been identified on a go- fundme page as Ivan Johnson.
According to the Tampa Police Department, John- son was seated in the front seat of a vehicle around 9:25 p.m., on February 1st. An 8- year-old and a 10-year-old were in the backseat of the vehicle. The accident took place at the Bank Of Amer- ica, 100 N. Westshore Blvd.
One of the boys picked up the BB gun and it dis- charged, striking Johnson in the eye. He was trans- ported to Tampa General Hospital, where he was listedincriticalcondition.
IVAN JOHNSON
Police said Johnson, a friend of the family, was
waiting in the car with the boys until the boys’ father returned.
The message on the go- fundme page said, “Ivan left this world a super- hero. In his final mo- ments on earth, Ivan was able to change the lives of 9 children and their families. With this selfless act, Ivan's heart will beat on, his kid- neys will purify blood and his other organs will help ensure a bet- ter quality of life for the young recipients.”
Anyone wishing to make a contribution can visit https://www.gofundme.co m/f/lifting-burden-for- ivan039s-loved-ones?utm.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3