East County remembers 9/11

+ Always remember

While Manatee County was dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 11, The Inlets' Richy Evers and Eagle Trace's Garrett Lindgren were remembering the fallen at the Bradenton Riverwalk's 9/11 Memorial.

The two 9/11 first responders brought a bouquet of flowers to honor those who were lost 16 years ago. 

"With all that has happened in the last couple of days, we want to make sure that we don't forget it is the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center," Lindgren said. 

+ Windy welcome

As Lakewood Ranch Town Hall’s information technology specialist Mike Knauer prepared for Hurricane Irma Sept. 10, he had other

things on his mind. As the storm progressed, his daughter, Stacey Knauer went into labor and birthed Mike’s first grandchild, 5 pound, 7 ounce Noah Michael Allen, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

Mike and his wife, Bobbie, couldn’t wait until the roads were safe to drive so they could go visit.

“Noah was a happy distraction for us all during a very stressful time,” Mike Knauer says. “We couldn't be prouder to be first time grandparents.”

Noah was born at 5:50 p.m. Sept. 10 to Stacey Knauer and Matt Allen, of Bradenton.