At approximately 6:06 p.m., the City of Fillmore Gang Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Nissan pickup truck for a vehicle code violation while in the area of 924 Sespe Ave. The driver, later identified as Angel Lincon 39, Fillmore, failed to yield to the patrol car and continued traveling eastbound on Sespe Ave. Lincon failed to stop at the intersection of Sespe Ave at ‘B’ St continuing eastbound. While approaching the intersection of Sespe Ave at Old Telegraph Rd Lincon discarded narcotics from the vehicle (later recovered and determined to be methamphetamine). Lincon failed to stop at the intersection and turned east onto Old Telegraph Rd. Lincon stopped the vehicle in the Taco Llama parking lot. When detectives contacted Lincon they discovered he was in possession of a concealed fixed blade knife. Lincon was taken into custody without further incident.
Lincon was arrested for the following charges: Possession Of A Deadly Weapon, Destroying Or Concealing Evidence, Transportation Of a Controlled Substance, Possession Of A Controlled Substance, Under The Influence Of A Controlled Substance, Evading A Peace Officer, Reckless Driving.

On Tuesday December 7th the Fillmore Unified School Board of Trustees met for a regularly scheduled meeting that included the required ‘Organizational Meeting’ wherein newly elected members are sworn in, outgoing members are recognized and new Officers are elected. The meeting began with the Board recognizing the service of outgoing Board Clerk Liz Wilde. Wilde was elected in 2006 and served one term. Newly re-elected Board Member Tony Prado presented her with a “Students First” award and expressed his thanks to Wilde for her involvement in and support of several actions taken by the Board during her term, which he felt, benefited the District. Prado commented that he holds Wilde as the “Ideal Board Member” because of her dedication and preparation in making decisions. San Cayetano Elementary School Principal Jan Marholin expressed her thanks to Wilde and presented her with a plaque. Marholin commented that “[she could] always count on [Wilde] to be at [all open houses and school events]”. Wilde thanked all those who voted for her and expressed her hope that she met their expectations during her term. Outgoing Board Member Mike Saviers was unable to attend and will be recognized at a future meeting.

During public comment Janet Foy spoke to the Board about the efforts of the Sespe Players to win a $50,000 grant through the “Pepsi Refresh” program. The money will be used to renovate Sespe Auditorium. She emphasized the need for the entire community to vote to make this happen. There are three ways to vote, email, facebook and by text. The same person can vote every day, voting ends on December 31. For more info call Priscilla at 805-794-6228 or www.refresheverything.com/sespeauditorium

The Organizational portion of the meeting began with Prado, the outgoing Board President, appointing Superintendent Jeff Sweeney as Chairperson Pro Tem to oversee the swearing in of the new Board Members and the election of Board Officers. Sweeney administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected Board Members, Lucy Rangel, Dave Wilde and re-elected Tony Prado. Before taking their seats at the Board table the newly sworn in Board Members thanked their family members in attendance with Rangel taking the prize for most family members in attendance. Sweeney then conducted the election of new officers on the Board: President, Virginia De La Piedra, Vice President John Garnica, Clerk Dave Wilde. Sweeney then relinquished the gavel to De La Piedra for her to conduct the remainder of the meeting.

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The California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) recently completed remediation work at an oil facility to protect public safety and the environment – in particular, a surrounding orchard.

“The oil facility is located within a large avocado orchard, and the owner was thrilled we were stepping in to take care of the problem,” explained Bruce Hesson, chief of DOGGR’s Ventura office.

DOGGR is part of the California Department of Conservation.

During a routine inspection last January, a DOGGR field engineer noted several deficiencies at the Fillmore site. Owned by Crest Oil & Gas Management Corp., the operation had been shut-in since December 2007. A leaking pipe, a standing mixture of oil and water inside a retaining wall, and two leaking 500-barrel tanks were discovered.

After making numerous unsuccessful attempts to have Crest bring the site into full compliance, DOGGR issued a formal order to perform corrective work on July. 22. When the operator failed to appeal or do the necessary work in the time allowed, DOGGR contracted with M.G. Taylor Equipment Inc. to do the remediation.

Work began in early September. As a spill prevention measure, all the remaining fluid in the idle tanks was removed. Two of the four tanks at the site were disassembled and scrapped. One of them contained thick drilling mud. The contractor had to bring in a “super sucker” vacuum truck to get it all out.

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It’s time again for the 2010 Annual Fillmore Christmas Parade sponsored by the Fillmore Lions Club.

On Saturday, December 4th at 1:00 PM the parade will proceed south on Central Ave. from Second Street to Santa Clara Street.

The parade route will be posted with “No Parking Signs” from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM the day of the parade. The Lions Club requests the cooperation and patience of Fillmore residents for this event to ensure the safety of all involved.

The Parade is open to all groups or persons wanting to celebrate the season with a “themed” entry. Applications are available at the Chamber of Commerce Office, Lobby of City Hall or by contacting Bob Klittich, Parade Chairperson at 524-1224, or Klittich@gmail.com.

There is no cost to enter the parade. Parade check-in is at 11:30 AM on Second Street, in front of the Memorial building.

This is the 10th year the Lions Club has sponsored the Annual Fillmore Christmas Parade. The Fillmore Lions Club’s continues to sponsor the parade in honor of long time member, the late Henry “Hank” Carrillo. Hank urged the Club to assume the responsibility of the parade when it was in danger of losing sponsorship.

Santa Clause is expected to be in Fillmore to wish all a Merry Christmas in time for the Parade. Immediately after the parade Santa will be available for pictures, (if you bring your own camera), at the Fillmore Museum, near the train station.

See you all on December 4th! Bob Klittich, Annual Christmas Parade Chairperson, Fillmore Lions Club.

Good news arrived at Fillmore City Hall Tuesday. The long awaited decision of the 5 member California Board of Equalization regarding the issue of tax sharing has issued in favor of the City of Fillmore.

The City of Industry and the City of Livermore petitioned the Board in October of 2007 to invalidate a contract Fillmore entered into with MTS Consulting LC, Inspired development LLC, and Ryan and Co. concerning Owens and Minor, a Virginia based Fortune 500 company, to share sales tax revenue. Fillmore has won at every legal and procedural step. The plaintiffs filed suit in September of 2008 to have the contract set aside.

That lawsuit is still on appeal by the plaintiffs, but according to City Attorney Ted Schneider this should not prevent Fillmore from receiving the tax money which has been withheld for about two years. Continuance of the appeal remaining in Los Angeles Superior Court is now essentially baseless.

60 days remain for plaintiffs to appeal this final decision of the Board of Equalization, and the funds are expected to be released to Fillmore shortly thereafter. The duration of the existing contract is for 20 years and will produce approximately one million dollars per year during that time. It is expected that Fillmore will receive more than $2 million when the tax revenues now withheld are finally released. These funds may reestablish Fillmore’s reserve.

For years the city’s previous council and city manager, Roy Payne, have received harsh and unrelenting criticism from council members Gayle Washburn, Jamey Brooks, and recently elected Brian Sipes, for entering into this contract. This latest validation of the tax contract reveals the criticism was misplaced and that the contract was entered into by the city only after considerable and careful study by the city’s legal counsel. This outcome is a significant financial victory for the previous council and the city as a whole. More details of this decision will be made available as documentation is received.