United Water Conservation District officials are reporting the discovery of an invasive species of mussels at Lake Piru. District personnel discovered what appears to be suspicious aquatic bivalve mollusks attached to settling and monitoring devices placed at various monitoring locations on Lake Piru.

Samples of the suspicious findings were collected by California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff and sent to the Bodega Bay marine laboratory for analysis to determine if the samples might be one of two invasive species from the Dreissena family, including the quagga and or the zebra mussel.

Invasive species of mussels have long been a concern of water agencies throughout the Western United States, including agencies such as United Water, because of their impact on water system infrastructures, including piping and pumps. Invasive mussels such as the quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) colonize rapidly on hard surfaces and can damage boat motors and clog water intake structures, such as pipes and screens.

Since 2008 United Water has been proactively conducting vessel inspections at Lake Piru to prevent the introduction of invasive aquatic species, particularly that of Dreissenid mussels. Lake Piru staff has conducted tens of thousands of vessel inspections and implemented various monitoring practices, including that of below-surface settling devices as part of their effort to stop the introduction of such species.

Pending lab analysis CONTINUED »

The first Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting of the New Year was completed in 30 minutes. The short session consisted of a discussing an Education Services and Public Comments addressing the Board.

During Public Comments Sandy Butts, who teaches 5th grade at Mountain Vista, along with ten other teachers from around the District, address the Board on class size and teachers’ compensation. Many of those teachers wore black t-shirts with a quote from Abraham Lincoln stating, "Education, the most important subject which we as a people engage." Butts wanted to reminded the Board that the average FUSD class size today is 28-29 students (California average is 24 students which is much larger than classrooms throughout the country) and also that it has been almost eight years since the teachers in FUSD have received a pay raise. She gave examples of newspaper articles discussing the teacher pay raises throughout the state and that it is attributed to the passing of Prop. 30.

Butts presented the Board with a chart dated November 10, 2013 from a Ventura County Star article showing average teachers pay scales throughout the county with Hueneme Elementary being the highest at $79,535 followed by Oxnard Union High at $72,646. The lowest paying district was Fillmore Unified at $61,340 preceded by Rio District at $62,284. The chart also listed Ventura County's annual income average for teachers: Elementary $68,653, Middle School $63,325 and High School $66,337. According to the California Department of Education website California average teaching salary is $68,531 and ranks 5th compared to the other 49 states. Just ahead of California is the District of Columbia at an average teaching salary of $68,720 and the highest paid teachers are in New York at $73,398. The average teaching salary throughout the country is $55,418.

California spent $57,923,591,137 on education during the 2011-2012 school year with $17,908,913,160 (30%) going to teachers salary. In 2013, $50,584,391,000 went to k-12 and higher education, which is over 53% of the state's general fund.

The article presented CONTINUED »

Fillmore & Western Railway continues to fight the termination of its lease. Last week a judge refused to block the lease termination which allows the Railway to use the Santa Paula Branch Line.

However, an attorney for the Ventura County Transportation Commission stated that the County will not take any instantaneous action to halt operations of the historical trains.

Fillmore & Western sued the Commission in November 2013, alleging breach of contract. The Railway says the agency did not give a valid cause to break the lease, which was negotiated in 2001, to expire in 2021.

The Commission claimed good cause to end the agreement on Decembers 1, 2013, stating the railway failed to fulfill its maintenance agreement for the line.

Donna Standard, attorney for the Railway, said the Commission expects the Railway to perform maintenance beyond what the lease requires.

Skillin-Carroll Mortuary is Business of the Month.

Located at 600 Central Avenue, Fillmore, Skillin-Carroll Mortuary has supported the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce and been a Member for many years. If you should ever need their services or have any questions for them they can be reached at 805-524-0744.

City of Fillmore

12/31/2013
Search Warrant
400 Blk. Price St.
Theft
200 Blk. Sierra Vista Ave.
Search Warrant
400 Blk. Blaine St.
Search Warrant
800 Blk. 4th St.
Search Warrant
800 Blk. B St.
01/01/14
Shots Fired
600 Blk. Via Rodeo
Violation of Restraining Order
500 Kensington Dr.
Shots Fired
900 Blk. Wileman St. CONTINUED »

Mr. Palmerin was arrested on 12/28/13 at 7 PM at the Fillmore Station, when he turned himself in with his attorney. He was booked into the Ventura County Jail for PC 245(a)(1) - Assault with a deadly weapon.

Police are looking for a man suspected of trying to kill another man with his pickup truck near the Arco Station on Highway 126 in Piru on Thursday afternoon, December 26th.

Authorities said the men had been arguing at about 5:30pm at the gas station, Main Street and Highway 126, when one of the men allegedly ran over the other man with his truck before fleeing the scene. Authorities suspect the argument was over a woman.

The injured man, a 30-year old Fillmore resident, was taken to Ventura County Medical Center with broken legs.

Investigators are looking for a light gray 2004 or 2005 Ford F-150 pickup, license plate number 7F57886. It is believed he was heading eastbound.

Authorities said they suspect Rosario Palmerin, of Fillmore, in his early 30s, of being the driver of the truck.

Palmeria is wanted for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

A power outage knocked out traffic lights in Piru on Christmas Eve. Caltrans and Southern California Gas Co. were dispatched to fix the problem. Rep’s said few homes were affected. It is unknown how long the power was out.