Fillmore Unified School District

April 9, 2019

A classified instructional assistant assigned to Fillmore High School was taken into custody on April 8, 2019 following a timely Fillmore Unified School District report of possible inappropriate conduct with a student. The District continues to work with law enforcement to investigate, as student safety and wellbeing are the Board’s top priorities. Parents that have any information that may assist authorities are encouraged to contact: Ventura County Sherriff’s Office, Detective Bill Meixner, (805) 947-9391.

At last night’s city council meeting Adrian Bonilla was recognized for promoting sportsmanship and placing 8th in the 2019 Boys Southern California Masters Wrestling Tournament CIF Championship and advancing to the State Tournament.
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Picture is Mayor Diane McCall (center) presenting Joanne King (left) and Linda Nunez with a recognition of the Fillmore Flower Show, celebrating 100 years of showcasing flowers to the Fillmore community.
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At the regular Tuesday meeting of the Fillmore City Council a proclamation was presented to Fillmore High School wrestler Adrian Bonilla, honoring him for his historic first of advancing to the State Wrestling Tournament in Bakersfield. Fillmore High School Principal John Wilber reported this award in February: “Fillmore High School wrestler Adrian Bonilla, has advanced to the State Wrestling Tournament. Adrian is a Fillmore High School senior, 195 pound wrestler, who was also the Citrus Coastal League Champion in his weight class. He placed 5th in the Southern Section California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Finals two weeks ago which earned him a trip to the CIF Masters Wrestling Tournament last weekend. At the Masters Tournament Adrian was 3-2 after two days of wrestling which was good for an 8th place, qualifying him for the State Tournament. Adrian is the first Fillmore High wrestler to advance to the State Tournament since the wrestling program started at Fillmore High School in 1987.”

Fillmore is celebrating the 100-year of its Flower Show. Joanne King and Linda Nunez received a City Proclamation recognizing the achievement.

Patterson Hardware was also recognized for its 100th-year as an essential part of Fillmore business. Mayor Diane McCall commented that it’s very nice to be able to purchase such a variety of hardware items from a home-owned business such as Patterson Hardware.

The organization, Donate For Life, was recognized with a City Proclamation for its work in seeking donations to provide physical organ replacements to critically ill recipients.

Council also recognized Fair Housing Month.

A presentation was made reminding citizens of the importance of the coming 2020 census.

The City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance 19-907, Ordinance 19-908, and Resolution 19-3691 to adopt a City Council Policy to establish design standards applicable to small wireless facilities within the public right of way and directed staff to bring back an amendment to the master fee schedule to establish application and related fees.

The City Council approved the introduction and first reading of an ordinance amending Fillmore Municipal Code 14.40.100 to include banning heavy truck traffic on River Street between A Street and C Street, except for certain deliveries, and authorizing staff to order, install and maintain signs advising of this prohibition.

Council approved the continuance of the public hearing associated with changes to CFD No 5 Improvement Area B and continue it to April 23, 2019.

Council approved a motion to conduct a Public Hearing to consider adopting Resolution No 19-3690 to approve an update to the Development Impact Fees and Finding of Exemption from CEQA.

City Council discussed and considered contributing $25,000 to the Ventura County Library (VCL) for collections and Fillmore Library building expansion. Council followed Staff recommends that the Council not contribute to the collections of the VCL. The extremely tight fiscal budget weighed heavily on the decision.

City Council adopted Ordinance 889 on May 8, 2018, amending the Fillmore Municipal Code to allow murals. Murals are not identified as one of the City Council goals. Council followed staff recommendations that the following actions be taken:1.Interpret the proposed request of a mural to determine that this mural complies with Fillmore Municipal Code Section 6.04.3940.1 as the building is a mixed-use building and not an apartment, per the code.

A road rage incident that occurred in Fillmore on Monday, April 1st, led to the arrest of an Oxnard man and woman for possessing a stolen firearm and a dagger.

On April 1st at approximately 9:45 a.m., Fillmore patrol deputies were alerted to a road rage incident that occurred at Telegraph Road and SR 126 in Fillmore. According to the victim, a subject, later identified as Jesse Ramos, flashed a handgun at the victim while they were driving through Fillmore. The victim was able to capture Ramos’ license plate and a description of the suspect and provided that to the Fillmore deputies.

A short time later, an alert deputy spotted Ramos’ car near Piru and stopped and detained Ramos and his passenger, Erin Powell. Deputies searched Ramos’ car and found a loaded 45 caliber handgun, reported stolen to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2015. Deputies also found Powell in possession of a dagger and arrested her. During the investigation, detectives uncovered information that led them to request a search warrant for the couple’s home. Detectives served the search warrant and recovered an additional firearm from the residence.

Ramos was booked at the Main Jail for PC 29800(a)(1) / Own/Possess/Control Firearm by Felon or Addict, PC 25850(c)(6) / Carry a Loaded Firearm, PC 26500(a) / Sell, Lease, Transfer Firearms without License, and PC 417(a)(2) / Exhibit Deadly Weapon or Firearm with his bail set at $50,000. Powell was booked at the Main Jail for PC 21310 / Carry Dirk or Dagger Concealed with her bail set at $10,000.

Prepared by: Detective Shawn Pewsey #3867
Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this rime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

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A Kern County parolee and another male adult were arrested for possessing a loaded firearm with a high capacity magazine during a traffic enforcement stop in Fillmore.

On April 8, 2019, patrol deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle for a speeding violation while driving through Fillmore. During the stop, deputies learned that one of the occupants, Eloidoro Marquez, was on parole out of Kern County. Pursuant to his parole terms, deputies searched Marquez and his vehicle, and they found a loaded handgun with a high capacity magazine holding 28 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle.

During the investigation, both Marquez and another occupant of the vehicle, (S) Anthony Davila, claimed ownership of the firearm and the high capacity magazine. Neither subject was the lawful owner of the firearm and Marquez is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his parole status.

Marquez was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for violating California Penal Code Sections 29800(a)(1) – Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, 30305(a)(1) – Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition, 32310(c) – Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, 27545 – Illegal Sale / Transfer of a Firearm, and Vehicle Code Section 25400(a)(1) – Carry a Concealed Firearm inside a Motor Vehicle.

Davila was booked into the county jail for violating California Penal Code Section 32310(c) – Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, 27545 – Illegal Sale / Transfer of a Firearm, and VC 25400(a)(3) – Carry a Concealed Firearm inside a Motor Vehicle.

Prepared by: Deputy Dylan Foley
Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Bob Crum

What do you do with all the photos that you take and store on your cellphone? Most likely shoot and send off to Facebook or Instagram or attach to an email. After that, all but maybe a few vanish into the vapor of cyberspace while you're busy taking more snapshots destined for the same fate.

What if you could take a selfie or with a friend(s), and immediately print a memento sticker? You can! Imagine the fun!

As Tech Crunch stated, “People tired of taking dozens of shots on their phone and then never looking at them again are excited by the idea that you can leave your phone in your bag and get a fun photographic keepsake, no apps or wireless connections necessary.” Remember Polaroid?

Alas, with an instant-printing camera, you can now leave your cellphone in your pocket or bag and convert from 'phonetography' to 'photography', painlessly, sooner than later.

Fujifilm's popular model, the INSTAX Mini 90 Neo Classic, is a compact camera that supports the use of Fujifilm Instax mini-type film to produce instant credit card-sized prints. It features a 60mm lens, a built-in flash, and automatic exposure control to ensure accurate exposures in a variety of lighting conditions. An exposure counter visually displays the number of exposures remaining in the film pack.

Canon, a major manufacturer of photographic gear, jumped into the fray recently introducing two new instant cameras. The higher-end version, model Ivy Cliq+, is an instant camera with built-in mini photo printer that can fit in a pocket to take to a party.

Selfie-tographers, rejoice! The IVY CLIQ+ features a large 2" selfie mirror with an eight LED ring light for great looking selfies! If you must, connect your smartphone to the Canon Mini Print app via Bluetooth1 and take a photo with your smartphone's camera and print the photo. Even use fun AR filters and add effects, frames, text, and 'stickers' to your 2"x3" photos with a peel & stick back!

With the Canon IVY CLIQ+ now you have a camera and a printer about the size of a smartphone. Plus it's available in three dazzling colors: Pearl White, Sapphire Blue, and Ruby Red.

Mermaids are a subject that always instigates emails protesting their reality. However, for centuries eyewitnesses claimed to have seen real mermaids around the world. The sightings go back to the Roman Emperor Augustus (63 BCE-14 CE). Multiple artists produced images of mermaids drawn from life.

On his first voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus claimed to have encountered three mermaids. Columbus spotted the mermaids off the coast of Haiti in January of 1493. He wrote about the mermaids in his travel journal, where he said the mermaids “rose well out of the sea.” Who among us dares question Captain Columbus?

There is plenty of historical evidence that mermaids are real. Before anyone doubts the evidence, keep in mind that humans have not yet explored more than 95% of the oceans. Could mermaids be lurking in the deep sea? I know where one lives nearby!

March is mermazing mermaid month at the Ventura Harbor Village. Disney movie fans, know about Princess Ariel, the protagonist of Disney's classic 1989 animated feature film The Little Mermaid. Hence, children of all ages line up eager to meet, greet and chat with, ahem, a real mermaid! Photo of the week is Mermaid Kristen who resides in Section 9 of Kelp Village in Seaweed County. Remit $50 for her GPS coordinates.

Photo ops abound this weekend. Easter bunny and egg hunt at Two Rivers park 9 am to 1 pm and Community Center flower show Saturday and Sunday. Happy photoing!

Send questions, comments or suggestions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net

At last night’s School Board meeting concerned parents addressed the bullying atmosphere in Fillmore schools, particularly middle school.

Board meeting highlights for the Fillmore Unified School District:

Winter 2018 High School Athletics Update
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Fillmore High School Principal, John Wilber.

Winter 2018 Sports Medicine Report
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Director of Sports Medicine, Breanna McLain

Revision to the Single Plan for Student Achievement, Mountain Vista Elementary School
The Governing Board approved the revision to the Single Plan for Student Achievement, Mountain Vista Elementary School.

Personnel Recommendations
The Governing Board approved all personnel recommendations including new hires, promotions, resignations, retirements, and leaves.