By FHS Head Football Coach Charlie Weis, M. Ed.

Fillmore is a town built around a culture of hard work, family, and perseverance. These fundamental pillars of our community are deeply engrained in our student athletes. Holding strong to those core values, Flashes football was able to overcome tremendous adversity and accomplish greatness this season. After losing numerous athletes to injuries just prior to the season, they could have lost hope. After dropping three games in a row at home they had every reason to stop believing in themselves. Forced to travel hundreds of miles for 5 straight weeks without a home game, the team could have taken the easy path and coasted through the end of their season. Not a single member of the team did any of those things. Instead, they dug deep and found themselves working harder than ever. They rallied around their teammates, like a family, and supported and encouraged each other. They persevered together. Instead of taking the easy way out, Fillmore strived for greatness. The Flashes finished their season with 6 straight wins, a league title (for the second year in a row), and a playoff berth (for the third straight season). They embodied everything that is great about this community and this school, and they earned their place in FHS history. Now, they take on their next great challenge, the CIF Championship playoffs. This Friday, November 3rd, the Flashes host Cerritos high school at home at 7pm. Cerritos high might be more than twice the size of Fillmore high, but they do not have the heart or the community that we have. Flashes football is calling on their community to come out to support the football team and show Cerritos that we are One Town and One Team, and we will never stop believing in our ability to overcome any odds.

A Fillmore resident was identified and arrested for prowling and peeking into the window of a local residence. On October 11, 2023, at approximately 11:00 PM and on July 20, 2023, at approximately 12:16 AM, the Fillmore Police Department received reports of a prowler in the 900 block of Wileman Street in the city of Fillmore. Both incidents were captured on RING cameras and appeared to be the same suspect.

Fillmore detectives and Fillmore patrol deputies worked at collecting and identifying leads pertaining to these crimes. On October 17, 2023, a news release was sent out requesting the public’s assistance in identifying this suspect. Several photographs of the suspect committing these two crimes were caught on RING camera footage and included in the news release.
On October 24, 2023, at approximately 2:30 PM, the Fillmore Police Station received a telephone call from a local resident who saw a subject matching the description of the prowler after viewing the photographs in the news release.

Fillmore detectives immediately followed up on this tip and they contacted and identified 53-year-old J Ines Robles, a Fillmore resident, in the 200 block of A street in the city of Fillmore. Detectives interviewed Robles and collected additional incriminating evidence linking and positively identifying Robles as the suspect in both prowling crimes. Robles was arrested for two counts of prowling and two counts of peeking.

Nature of Incident: Prowling and Peeking Arrest
Report Number: RB #23-131109 / 2393381
Location: 900 block Wileman Street, Fillmore, CA
Date & Date: July 20, 2023 @ 12:16 AM October 11, 2023 @ 11:00 PM

(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent
J Ines Robles Fillmore 53

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

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On 10/22/2023, Fillmore patrol deputies responded to a call of a shooting in the area of McNab Court. When deputies arrived on scene, they located numerous shell casings in the street and other evidence indicative of a shooting. The male victim, 22, of Santa Paula, was found to have been transported to the Santa Paula Emergency Room with multiple gunshot wounds and is in critical but stable condition. Detectives from the Fillmore Police Department, Sheriff’s Major Crime’s Bureau, and West County Special Enforcement Bureau responded to the scene and assisted with the subsequent investigation.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public regarding this ongoing investigation. Anyone who witnessed or has knowledge of the circumstances that led to the shooting is encouraged to contact Detective Jaime Gomez at (805) 384-4732. If you prefer to remain anonymous you may contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Those who wish to share video or pictures of the incident can do so and can remain anonymous by using the following link: https://venturasheriffca.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/mcna... or by scanning the following QR code:
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Prepared by: Sergeant Gabriel Gonzales
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

Victor Westerberg
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Get ready to honor our Veterans on Friday, November 10th, with a Veterans Day Concert in the Park, Mac & D Duo @ 5pm-6:30pm, Los Amigos 805 @ 7pm-9pm, City Hall Plaza-see flyer online at www.FillmoreGazette.com, and in next week’s Gazette, page 10. On Saturday, November 11th, come enjoy the Veterans Day Parade at 10am, downtown Fillmore, followed by Veterans Ceremony at Fillmore Middle School (guest speaker Dick Diaz-see bio in Nov. 9th edition of Gazette) and BBQ-Veterans/Active Duty eat FREE, community $15/a plate. See Nov. 11th flyer for information online at www.FillmoreGazette.com, and in next week’s Gazette, page 10. Dual Grand Marshals Vic Westerberg (bio below), and Esmael Alonzo, (bio in next week’s Gazette) will lead the parade, sponsored by Fillmore-Piru Veteran’s Memorial District & Lions Club.

Veterans Day Grand

Marshal Victor Westerberg

Victor Westerberg U.S. Army Sergeant E-5 Vietnam 1967-1968 this year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal on Sat. Nov. 11th, 2023. Victor Westerberg is a lifelong resident of Fillmore and graduated from Fillmore High School in the class of 1965. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in July of 1966. He served his basic training at Fort Ord, CA. He then was ordered to Fort Riley Kansas to serve 9 months of advanced training with the 63rd Armor a part of the Big Red One First Division. Vic was promoted to Specialist 4th Class before leaving Fort Riley. He was then ordered to Vietnam and was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (The Blackhorse Regiment) he was assigned to an armored personnel carrier as a gunner on the right side of the track. About halfway through his tour he was promoted to Sergeant E-5 and took over command of an armored personnel carrier Lima-33 and spent the rest of his time as a track commander behind a .50 caliber machine gun. Vic served during the 1968 Tet Offensive. He was awarded six times including the Combat Infantryman Badge and The Bronze Star Medal.
Several years after Vic returned from Vietnam he joined the Fillmore Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. Vic held the position of Jr. Vice Commander for a few years and is currently a post trustee. He has participated in funeral services and Memorial Day Services at both Piru and Bardsdale cemeteries.

Mike Duckett a Memorial Board member at the time saw that the Honor Board in the hallway of the Memorial Building was in need of updating and organizing. Mike asked Vic to help with the project. They used Lance Montee a local contractor to build new panels for the wall.

Then Vic and Mike had the task of organizing the names on the panels. Vic has helped many families to get their loved ones name put on the Wall.

For years Vic has compiled a master list of over 700 names of Veterans from the Fillmore/ Piru and surrounding areas. He was instrumental in getting the names printed on a banner to be put in the Memorial Building.
Vic was born and raised in Fillmore. He and his wife Pat have been married for 45 years and they still live in Fillmore. They have a son, David, and daughter-in-law Cathee. Grandson Kyle and his wife Alicia, and two great grandchildren Amelia and Gunnar.