Hometown hero

Lakewood Ranch resident Patti Katter earned accolades last week from Operation Homefront as she was named one of 12 Hearts of Valor members selected as 2015 Fellows by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

The foundation’s fellowship program is comprised of military and veteran caregivers who have stepped forward to serve as advocates and spokespeople for individuals caring for injured warriors.

Katter and her family — husband, Kenneth, and children, Hunter and Savanna, moved in October to Lakewood Ranch after receiving a mortgage-free home from Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that supports wounded military veterans by giving them new or modified homes. Kenneth Katter was injured in May 2007 when a bomb detonated and tore into his combat vehicle while he was serving in Iraq.