On September 11th, 2015 The 13th Annual Firefighters & Heroes Gala to honor Ventura County’s outstanding firefighters and civilian heroes was held. Fillmore’s Firefighter of the Year 2014 Chad Panke was honored with a plaque and award presented by Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros. The event was hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Ventura. The evening included dinner, awards, and dancing with music provided by DJ Bruce Barrios.

Firefighter/Medic Panke was born and raised in Arlington Texas and graduated from Randolph High School in New Jersey. He graduated from the Middlesex fire academy in New Jersey in 1997. In 1999 he moved to California and began his carrier in EMS.

Chad is presently employed by AMR American Medical Response where he serves as a Clinical Education Manager. He has also held the positions of Field training officer and Field supervisor.

Chad joined the Fillmore Fire Department in 2007, right at the time Fillmore Fire was starting their Paramedic program. He has attended the Oxnard Truck Academy, MCI drills, and multiple burn events throughout Ventura County.

Chad has been instrumental in starting the county’s first Cardiac Arrest Management program and has trained every EMS and Fire agency in Ventura County on this program that is responsible for saving many lives. This program was designed to choreograph the way first responders provide aid to someone who is in cardiac arrest. To help put this into perspective, Seattle Washington has some of the highest recorded cardiac arrest survival rates in the United States, and since the Cardiac Arrest Management program was put into place, Ventura County survival rates are rapidly approaching those of Seattle, and in certain categories of cardiac arrest patients, Ventura County has a higher documented survival rate.

In addition to Cardiac Arrest Management, Firefighter/Medic Panke has been instrumental in the development and improvement of numerous other programs within the Ventura County EMS system, including multi-casualty incident training and response, prehospital sepsis recognition and care, and ongoing EMS education.

Firefighter/Medic Panke is well respected by his fellow firefighters and our EMS partners. His strong work ethic, can-do attitude, and willingness to learn have made him a valuable part of the Fillmore Fire Department team.

There were three items of new business on the Fillmore City Council Meeting and one old one, which was the establishment of a Pre-sale/Human Living Standards Inspection Program. Just as at the last council meeting on September 8th, many Ventura Country Realtors came to voice their opposition to the program.

Dennis Goldstein past president of Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR) addressed the Council stating, "Realtors are dedicated to peoples private property rights" and said he opposed the program "It places an unfair burden on property owners....reduces the privacy of the property."

Dale King with Santa Paula Troop Realty stated he was also opposed to the program for many of the same reasons that Goldstein spoke of. "It's not the newer homes that are the problem, it is the smaller older properties that will be burdened with the added expense King told the Council..... Some were built before there was a code enforcement and some of the conversions were done because there was no need to park a car in the garage. It is expensive to return some properties back to their original condition, and often these are the people who can least afford it..... A first time buyer can't afford it."

King encouraged a County Record check and a copy of the permit file, which cost about $40-$80. He said they are helpful disclosures between a buyer and seller.

Realtor Mark Chacon CONTINUED »

FUSD Board Member John Garnica

The September 15, 2015 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting began with recognizing the Future Farmers of America (FFA) students who participated in the 2015 Ventura County Fair and ended with Board Member John Garnica resigning as a board member.

Garnica, who has served on the board for 16 years, told the other members his wife is a candidate for a principal position and there would be a conflict of interest if he stayed on. Garnica spoke of the confidence he had with the present board along with the new superintendent and felt it was the right time to resign. All board members thanked him for his dedicated service to FUSD and his sharp mind would be missed. Board Member Lucy Rangel mentioned what a pleasure it was having Garnica as a student and them working with him on the board. Garnica responded, "It's been a pleasure for me."

Assistant Superintendent Martha Hernandez gave a presentation on the Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA) test results for 3rd through 8th grade and 11th grade students taken last April and May. This is the first test results being considered. There was a preliminary test run the year before to make sure the computer systems were working properly. SBA is the testing California uses in connection with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the student testing is done on a computer. A total of 12 million students in 29 states took part in the new CCSS testing. The results are not good for both the State and FUSD. A majority of students statewide failed to meet the standards including FUSD students

California has more than 3.1 million public school students that were tested in English with only 44% meeting or exceeded requirements and about equal that amount, 45%, that did not. In Math 33% of students met the standards and 67% did not. In Los Angeles which is the second largest school district in the country, only 33% of students met targets in English and only 25% met them in Math.

What the testing CONTINUED »

Relay For Life participants welcome each other. At Relay For Life events, communities across the globe come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. Because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times.
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On Saturday, September 12, 2015 the communities of Fillmore and Piru joined forces for the 10th annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life. The 24 hour walk started at 9AM on Saturday and concluded on Sunday at 9AM. It was a hot and muggy day but the 22 teams stuck together to support each other and all Cancer Survivors and to remember those that are no longer here with us. We would like to thank all our Team Captains, Participants and Sponsors, without you we would not be able to raise much needed funds to help find a cure and to support cancer patients. As of Sunday, September 13th we raised approximately $38,000 dollars. If you would like to donate please visit our website at www.relayforlife.org/fillmoreca

We would like to acknowledge our wonderful sponsors for their generosity and Community support: Kenton Stafford Memorial, Fillmore Rentals, California Resource Corporation, Seneca, B & R Farm Labor Contractor, Bennett’s Honey Farm, Chevron, City of Fillmore, Granite Construction, Union Bank Villa Park Orchards, William L Morris Chevrolet, Lion’s Club of Fillmore, EJ Harrison Rubbish, Fro-Yo Yogurt, Fillmore Dram Club, Fillmore Fire Department, Otto & Sons Nursery, Wings of Grace, Fillmore High School, El Pescador, FUSD, Gil Zamora, Vallarta Restaurant, McLain Construction, After Hours Production, State Ready Mix, Bank of the Sierra, Grimes Rock, Tony’s Body Shop, Annette Cardona, Barry Thompson, Burger King, Cactus Mart, California Watercress Inc., Christine Ortiz, David Smallwood, Diamond Reality, Elkins Ranch Golf Course, Fillmore Building Supply, Fillmore Citizens Patrol, Manuel Minjares, Francisco’s Fruit Stand, Gama Aguilar, George Thompson Diamond Company, Island View Enterprises Inc., La Michoacana Bakery, McDonalds-Fillmore, National Charity League, ParRey Construction, Sespe 4H, Piru 4H, Richard Carrillo, Rocket 68, Santa Clara Valley Explorers, Starbucks-Fillmore, Super A Foods, Juano & Friends, The Fillmore Gazette, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Vons, Yanni’s Best Restaurant, Diana Araiza, Sam Araiza, Madai Bernal, Noemi Bernal, Chad Schommer, Ventura County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and our wonderful ACS Reps Lorissa, Angi, Kristin, Alex and Eric. You all are one in a million!!!

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Jesse Cushman, 43 of Fillmore, was killed on Saturday, September 12th in Moorpark city limits while driving northbound on Moorpark Road on his Suzuki motorcycle when he was struck head-on by an automobile. The accident took place around 5:20pm.

A Saturn Ion was heading southbound on Moorpark Road at about 55 mph when the driver swerved into Maciek Malish, 53 of Simi Valley, while he rode is bicycle southbound on the shoulder of the road. Malish was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver then appeared to over-correct, crossing into the northbound lane where she struck Cushman. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

The driving actions of the driver are under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

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Fillmore High School presents the F.H.S. Homecoming Parade 2015 next Thursday evening at 6:30pm. The F.H.S. Alumni Association also invites all the communities of Fillmore Bardsdale, and Piru to come celebrate our Hometown, and Fillmore High School as we celebrate Homecoming 2015. The game is Friday evening September 25th, and our Flashes host the Santa Ynez Pirates. The Parade will be the night before on the 24th, starting at 6:30 pm from Central and 2nd street, right through downtown, where all the floats will be parked between Sespe and Main for viewing that evening. Our downtown is open for business, so bring out that folding chair and come look at the floats, and the beautiful Fillmore Classic cars. All will be parked on Central. it's Homecoming Parade 2015. Don't miss it! GO FLASHES!!

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Daniel Nuno (DOB 06/07/82), of Fillmore, was sentenced by Judge Ryan Wright to 50 years to life in prison after being convicted by a jury of first-degree murder for killing Ricardo Gonzalez, a chiropractor from Oxnard. The jury returned their verdict on August 7, 2015, after two hours of deliberation.

On August 9, 2012, Nuno armed himself with a loaded handgun and traveled to the home of Mr. Gonzalez’s mother in Fillmore. There, Nuno confronted Mr. Gonzalez as he stood in the driveway of the home beside his elderly mother and four-year-old son. After a brief conversation, Nuno quickly drew his firearm, pressed it to Mr. Gonzalez’s head and fired a single shot, killing Mr. Gonzalez. Nuno then fled the scene and disposed of evidence, including the murder weapon which was never found. Nuno was apprehended two hours after the murder by deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to eye-witness testimony identifying Nuno as the shooter, Mr. Gonzalez’s blood and DNA were located on Nuno’s clothing at the time of his arrest.

Nuno will not be eligible for parole until he is 80 years old.

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Classic Cars, great food, old time music, and lot's of fun in downtown Fillmore This Friday, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. It's our next to last Flashback Friday event, so make sure you make plans to come join in all the fun everyone's been having this summer with our Classic cars parked on Central. The Fillmore High Alumni will also be out in front of Central Station with all their Flashes gear available for this Fall Season. And speaking of Fall season, that means HOMECOMING. Next week is Homecoming week, and the Homecoming Parade is Thursday evening, September 24th at 6:30pm. On that night the Floats will be parked on Central along with the Classic old time cars from Fillmore. So it's two great events left for you to enjoy before our long wet raining season begins. (positive thinking) This Friday evening at Flashback Friday/Alumni Nights, and next Thursday for the Homecoming Parade along with the Classic Cars from Fillmore. Bring your folding Chairs, and we look forward to seeing you DOWNTOWN!!