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By Dawn Lindsay & Amber McCalister

Simoore Grange is a local community youth organization that is under the umbrella of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons and Husbandry, which is a fraternal organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture. This organization is of interest to all who are growers, processors, and consumers of agricultural products. The Grange Youth Fair Program is a sanctioned body of The National Grange, made up of young people from the age of 5 through 19 years old. Since 1873, the mission of the California State Grange has been to serve, steward, and teach the virtues of the land to our children and community. They maintain their commitment to grassroots advocacy, supporting farmland preservation, farm development, community service, sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and the consumer’s role in the food production system.

The local Simoore Grange club is a non-profit organization that serves youth and families in Ventura County. The members of Simoore Grange are a unique brand of today’s youth. For several months (up to 11 months for cattle!), they feed, clean up after, train, and groom their market animals in preparation for the Ventura County Fair in August. They spend hours each week with their animals. The animals are their priority right along-side school, homework, chores, sports, church, and family. Their expenses while raising a project animal include the cost of the animal, feed, bedding, grooming materials, show fees, and sometimes medical expenses. They also prepare for the Ventura County Fair by participating in several practice shows throughout the spring and summer months.

This past Saturday, May 18th, the Simoore Grange organization hosted the first annual Citrus Classic Livestock Show at the home of Michael & Amber McCalister of Santa Paula. This show allowed local youth, who are planning to take their market goats, lambs, and cattle to the Ventura County Fair, an opportunity to practice their showmanship skills, as well as gain valuable feedback about the marketability of their animal from the knowledgeable and experienced judge, Clemente Ayon from Santa Maria. Belt buckles for 1st place in Senior, Junior, and Novice Showmanship were awarded, as well as a buckle for the Grand Market Champion. The award for the Reserve Champion goat and lamb were Pro Cool Blankets and the cattle was a leather show halter.

The Citrus Classic winners for Showmanship were: Brooke Allen, Sespe 4H (Senior Goat), Joseph Deniz, South West 4H (Junior Goat), Brett Bowman, Santa Rosa Valley 4H (Novice Goat), Kaitlyn Prado, Briggs 4H (Senior Lamb), Breonna Alvarez, Briggs 4H (Junior Lamb), Jayleen Arballo, Briggs 4H (Novice Lamb), Kodi Sieben, Fillmore FFA (Senior Steer), Amber Watkins, Simoore Grange (Junior Steer), and Jadyn Pinneo, Mira Monte 4H (Novice Steer).

The Citrus Classic winners for Market were: Joseph Deniz, South West 4H (Market Champion and Reserve Market Champion Goat), Kaitlyn Prado, Briggs 4H (Market Champion Lamb), Jayleen Arballo, Briggs 4H (Reserve Market Champion Lamb), Tyler Evans, Simoore Grange (Market Champion Steer), and Ashley Watkins, Simoore Grange (Reserve Market Champion Steer).

This show, and others like it, is not possible without the generous support of local sponsors. The members of Simoore Grange and organizers of the Citrus Classic Livestock Show would like to express their gratitude to the following sponsors: Iwasiuk Ranch, RaboBank, Sharpe Plumbing, Evans Excavating, Warwar Medical Group, Ojai Valley Feed, Stagecoach Market, Haley Ranch and American Hay. We would also like to thank our sponsors from the Topa Creek Ranch Show (held in April) who were: LBL Equipment Repair, MO Town Fitness, Wachter Hay & Grain and Bill & Dawn Lindsay.

There is one more Livestock show coming up on Saturday, June 22, 2019, the Amber Leon Memorial Show. It is free to the public to view, and is open to any youth in Grange, 4H, FFA, or Independent raising market goats, lamb, and/or cattle. It will take place at the Fillmore Equestrian Center, located at 308 Chamberlain Road in Fillmore, CA. Buckles will be awarded for 1st place in Senior, Junior, Novice Showmanship, and Market Champion, and the Reserve Champion will receive a leather show halter (cattle) and Pro Cool blankets (goats & lambs). Goats sign in/weigh in at 3:00pm for a 4:00pm show; lambs sign in/weigh in at 4:00pm (show starts after goats finish); and cattle sign in/weigh in at 5:00pm (show starts after lambs finish). There is a $25 entry fee for the first animal, and a $15 entry fee for any additional animals.

If you have any questions, would like to get involved with the Simoore Grange club, and/or if you are interested in providing a tax-deductible sponsorship for a future show, please contact Joe Long (805-317-1854) or Dawn Lindsay (805-625-1143).

1) Goat Market Champion - Joseph Deniz, South West 4H

2) Lamb Market Champion - Kaitlyn Prado, Briggs 4H

3) Steer Market Champion - Tyler Evans, Simoore Grange

4) Steer Senior Showmanship Winner – Kodi Sieben, Fillmore FFA

Dear Community of Fillmore,

In 1991 Mrs. Raelene Chaney co-founded what was once Grad Nite Live. The purpose of Grad Nite Live is to have the students in our community celebrate a safe and sane graduation. This non-profit organization ran for over 26 years, it was not until Mrs. Chaney’s health took a turn that she could no longer run the non-profit.

At this time the nonprofit folded, students in our community for two years did not have the opportunity to participate in Grad Nite Live. Within the last two years Fillmore Safe Graduation, a nonprofit organization was re-established for the students in our community to celebrate one last evening together as a class before they venture off.

The goal of this organization is to bring back what Mrs. Chaney started years ago; the boat cruise. The class of 2020 will be the first class to have this opportunity in years.

In order for us to make that happen we need the help of our community. A large deposit is required to make this happen and unfortunately we don’t have the funds at this time. We are asking for the support of our amazing community to help us offer this opportunity to our students.

Please help us make this happen for the graduating class of 2020. For more information you may contact Jennie Andrade @ (805) 340-3601 or Alicia Hicks @ (805) 824-9962.

Sincerely,
Fillmore Safe Graduation

The Bardsdale Cemetery will hold it Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27th at 11AM.

The Ceremony will start with a fly-over by the 805th Navion Squadron.

The featured speaker this year is Captain Douglas W. King, Civil Engineer Corps, Chief Staff Officer Naval Base Ventura County. Capt. King is a Seabee Combat Warfares Specialist, Warranted Contracting Officer and Acquisition Professional Community member. He has been awarded the Navy Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal and other awards. He is married and has 3 daughters.

The Reverend Bob Hammond of St. Stephens Anglican Church will give the Memorial Service and special music will be provided by the Bardsdale Methodist Church Choir and Cub Scout Troop 3400.

Also assisting in the ceremony will be VFW Post 9637, Boy Scout Troop 406, Cub Scout Troop 3400 and Bob Thompson. The Boy Scouts will put out the flags on Friday, May24th and they will be picked up by the Bardsdale 4H on Tuesday, May 28th.

A special thank you to Garcia Mortuary for furnishing the doves to conclude the service and to the P.E.O. for furnishing cookies.

The Board of Trustees of the Cemetery District: Gabe Asenas, President, Lynda Edmonds, Secretary, Rita Rudkin, and Kathryn Wren Gavlak would like to invite the community to this special event.

On Friday, May 17th, at around 1:30 a.m., a crash was reported on Telegraph Road at Claremont Way in Ventura. When police arrived on scene they found a vehicle had crashed into the traffic signal pole with five occupants inside. Fifteen year old Cecilio Ortiz Garcia, Jr., who was sitting in front right seat of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The 21-year-old male driver was taken to the VCMC in critical condition, and the three other 15-year–old male passengers were also taken to the hospital in serious condition. All five were from Fillmore. No other cars were involved in the crash. Police say alcohol and speed were contributing factors.

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Henry Mata (DOB 6/13/1951), of Fillmore, was sentenced by Judge Anthony Sabo to the California Department of Corrections to 310 years to life. On April 17, 2019, a jury convicted Mata of molesting four children. Specifically, Mata was convicted of one count of oral copulation on a minor under the age of 10, one count of digital penetration on a child under the age of 10, seven counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, five counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, and one count of annoying or molesting a child. Additionally, the jury found true special allegations that Mata committed lewd acts involving substantial sexual conduct upon multiple victims.

In April 2016, the first of four victims came forward to Ventura County Sheriff’s detectives stating Mata committed numerous lewd acts upon her in his Fillmore home when she was eight years old. After an investigation, Mata was arrested and charges were filed. Shortly thereafter, three additional victims came forward with information that Mata molested them numerous times between 2004 and 2014 while they were between the ages of 6 and 12. Two additional victims testified that Mata committed lewd acts upon them in the 1980s when they were between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. The crimes against the individuals who were victimized in the 1980s could not be charged as they were outside the statute of limitations. All victims were related to Mata.