MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County Commissioners voted unanimously to rename U.S. 19 between Palm View and Terra Ceia Road in memory of Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto.
Spec. Panipinto was killed in a training incident in South Korea on Nov. 6, 2019. His mother, Kimberly Weaver, pushed for change in training exercises with stricter enforcement to help prevent future training accidents.
Panipinto was a resident of Bradenton and joined the Army in January 2018.
MORE: Bradenton soldier welcomed home after being killed in South Korea
The resolution to support the designation was approved at Tuesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting (March 4).
Family members thanked commissioners for the designation, while commissioners commended Panipinto's service to the United States.
“He’s a warrior,” said Manatee County District 4 Commissioner and Marine Corps Veteran Mike Rahn. “He’ll always be a warrior.”
Brides, families fighting for refunds after event venue closes suddenly
“We’ve struggled so hard to scrape the money to be able to do this for her,” Irizarry said. “She’s my only girl and I wanted this so much for her.”
Couples and families who had weddings and events planned at a well-known venue that abruptly closed claim they’re out thousands of dollars and aren’t being given refunds. Annette Irizarry was supposed to hold her 15-year-old daughter’s quinceañera in August at the Clearwater location and said she’s now out the $6,160 she paid. Without that money, Irizarry said she can’t afford to have her daughter’s celebration somewhere else.
