Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On March 6, 2011, at about 1010 hrs, the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center received an anonymous call reference a reported cockfighting event taking place at 1766 Grimes Canyon Rd. in the unincorporated area near Fillmore. When deputies responded to the area, suspects fled on foot leaving their gamecocks and several vehicles abandoned at the location.

Upon further inspection of the area, deputies found two (2) makeshift cockfighting arenas constructed of wood with blood stained panels and feathers strewn about the arena, indicative of recent cockfighting activity. Deputies also found approximately seventy (70) live gamecocks housed individually in cardboard transport boxes, and sixteen (16) dead gamecocks with obvious injuries consistent with being fought. The dead gamecocks found at the location were killed by suspects engaged in the illegal cockfighting event and in violation of Penal Code Section 597(a) – Animal Cruelty, a felony.

Major Crimes Detectives and Fillmore Area Station Detectives responded to the rural area to conduct further investigation, and found various items of cockfighting paraphernalia that were seized as evidence. Among the evidence found at the location were razor sharp fighting blades, a scale used to weigh the gamecocks, and paperwork indicative of illegal gambling activity.

Due to the aggressive nature of the gamecocks found at the location, Ventura County Animal Services was called to seize the gamecocks as evidence. Many of the live gamecocks had injuries consistent with being fought, and had to be humanely euthanized. An inspection of the gamecock carcasses revealed they suffered mortal wounds and still had fighting blades affixed to their legs.

No suspects were arrested at the scene. This is an on-going investigation and persons with information are asked to call Ventura County Crime Stoppers. 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).

Location: 1766 Grimes Canyon Rd., Fillmore
Date & Time: 3-06-2011 @ 1010 hours
Unit Responsible: Sheriff Major Crimes Unit
Report #: 11-5231
Officer Preparing Release: Detective Ray Dominguez
Follow-up Contact: Detective Ray Dominguez (805) 477-7029
Date of Release: 3-07-2011
Approved by: Sergeant B. Hester

(l-r) Board President Virginia De La Piedra, F.H.S. Band Leader Greg Godfrey, and Toni Doktor. Doktor was presented the Students First Award for her generous donation of a Baldwin Grand Piano valued at $10,000 to the District’s Music Program.
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At the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 1 the Fillmore Unified Board of Education in their nearly last order of business, followed Superintendent Jeff Sweeney’s recommendation to “create more flexibility [in the budget]” by learning more about the option of “embedding” health education at the high school and middle school into physical education classes. The Board requested to hear from secondary PE teachers at a future meeting, but made no inquiry into hearing from the high school Health teacher who was in attendance at the meeting. This item was listed on the meetings agenda as an “Information/Discussion” item called “Graduation Requirements”.

Currently Fillmore High School mandates that all students take one semester of Health in order to graduate. The State does not require this. In March 2008 the California State Board of Education developed Health Education Standards aligned with the mission to “encourage the highest achievement of every student by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.” While clearly describing the health standards that should be taught at each level the bill, Assembly Bill 689, does not require schools to follow the standards. According to the California State Education Core Standards (online at www.cde.ca.gove/be/st/ss/) “Students need health education.” The description of the standards emphasizes, “Health Education… addresses the physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of health [and] teaches students how to maintain and improve their health…[skills which] foster academic achievement, increase attendance rates and improve behavior at school.” The statement goes on to say “Quality health education programs help students achieve their highest academic potential.” Some of the standards outlined by the State include; “Analyzing influences, Accessing valid information, Interpersonal communication, Decision Making, Goal Setting, Practicing Health enhancing behaviors” and so on. Aspects of these standards include education on healthy eating, reproductive health, sex education and other information geared at preventing teen pregnancy and drug use. Sweeney indicated that he would ask the PE teachers to come before the Board to report how they can incorporate the Health education standards into their classes. If the Board chooses to eliminate the separate Health classes, this will mean that the elective section will be eliminated, and thus approximately 160 students who currently take that class every day will need to be placed in other classes, further increasing class size. The Board is faced with daunting cuts in state funding and has reportedly issued “pink slips” to site administrators and is preparing to issue more to staff throughout the district although the public has yet to see any Board discussion or evaluation of District administrative positions, salaries, compensation plans or attorney fees.

During public comment CONTINUED »

Ron Smith, Citizen of the Year

Ron is a longtime resident of Fillmore and Piru. He spent a good portion of his youth with his Grandparents, Lloyd & Evelyn Hill in Piru where Evelyn was raised atop Torrey Mountain. He attended Fillmore High School graduating in the Class of 1984. Ron has two children, Alyssa 26 and Sean 24. Ron resides in Fillmore with his Common-Law wife of 16 years, Laura. Ron is very committed to his community, but when he does get free time he enjoys long drives, RVing, motorcycle riding and yard sales.

BOY SCOUTS
Ron became active with Fillmore Boy Scout Troop 406 in 1998 when his son Sean joined the Troop. He is currently an Assistant Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Treasurer. In years past Ron has organized the Christmas Tree Train, Trash clean-up detail at the May Festival, parking for Thomas the Tank Engine and other fundraising events for Troop 406. Ron also spearheaded the necessary electrical upgrades and lighting needed to reopen Camp Willet after it had been closed for many years. Mr. Smith located, procured & detailed the current camping trailer now used by the Fillmore Troop and then helped rebuild the old trailer by adding a new roof to it. He has attended numerous weeklong Summer & Winter Camps allowing local boys to live the camp experience long after his own boy moved on from the Troop. He continues to participate in many Troop activities.

SCOUT HOUSE FOUNDATION
Ron also serves as a Board Member on the Fillmore Lion's Club Boy Scout Building Foundation to help maintain a meeting place for the Fillmore Boy Scouts.

LION'S CLUB
As a Lion’s Club Member since 2004, Ron serves on the Lion’s Club Board of Directors. He is in charge of the Highway 126 Cleanup making sure this is done on a regular basis and per Cal Trans specifications. Ron is also the Chairman of the Enchilada Dinner Fundraiser, ordering and procuring supplies & services to make it a success. He is involved heavily in other fundraising activities such as setting up the Bingo Booth and working shifts within the Booth once operational. He sets up and oversees the credit card machines necessary to make the Lion's Club Fireworks Booth a yearly success as well.

CITIZEN'S PATROL
Ron is currently the President of the Fillmore Citizen Patrol and Disaster Service Volunteers. This Patrol is overseen by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and is used to help the Dept. discover, report, and prevent crimes as well as identify and respond to emergencies as needed. As President, Ron leads the group and coordinates with the VCSD to arrange training and scheduled activities. The Patrol responds when needed to incidents, such as providing traffic control, search assistance, and securing crime scenes. Ron has done many Ride-Along's with deputies to further his knowledge of Law Enforcement policies & procedures. Ron has been trained in CPR, First Aid, CERT and has attended the Ventura County Sheriff's Dept. Citizen’s Academy.

Leo Vazquez, Officer of the Year

Deputy Leonardo Salcedo Vazquez was born in Los Angeles, California on August 18, 1967. Son of Leonardo and Carmen Vazquez, Leo has two sisters and two brothers. His brothers have been a major influence in his career due to the fact that both brothers work in Law Enforcement in the cities in Oxnard and Los Angeles. One of his sisters is currently a law student and is studying to take the bar. Leo graduated from La Salle High School and attended UC Irvine; he then joined the US Air force, where he became a Clinical Laboratory Specialist, as was his future wife, Barbara. Leo and Barbara have been married for 19 years. They have two children, Briana (18 years old) and Danny (16 years old) all living in the city of Fillmore.

After applying and completing the testing and background process Leo was hired by our department in June 1998 as a Deputy Sheriff Trainee and was assigned to the Ventura County Justice Training Center Basic Academy Class 98-2. He graduated the academy and was assigned to detention services (Main Jail) as a housing security deputy.
For the next two and one half years Leo learned and refined his fundamental skills of dealing with criminals and learning the faces, names, and con games of those he would someday be arresting on the street. On February 2001, Leo was transfer to West County patrol services and was assigned to work in the city of Ojai.

On June ‘04 Leo volunteered to be transferred to the Todd Road jail during Department downsizing, where he again performed housing duties. Deputy Vazquez requested to be transferred to West County patrol services and was assigned to work in Fillmore in Feb ‘06.

While in Fillmore he has been an active member in the community. He has been the liaison for the north Fillmore store front, and the Fillmore citizen patrol. Last year he reactivated Santa Clara Valley Explorer Post #2958. With the aid of his fellow advisors the post has grown to 21 active members and have recently returned from The Chandler Arizona SWAT Competition with a First place trophy.

The most memorable moment in his career was when he pinned the badge on his daughter when she completed the explorer academy.

He always said that he took this position because he wanted to be the keeper of the peace in the community where he decided to raise his family.

Bill Steossel, Coachcraft, Business of the Year

CoachCraft was started back in 1939 by Mr. Rudolf "Rudy"Steossel Set up shop in Hollywood , a Custom Carpenter of cabinets he began to custom build cars for some of the greats, like Bill Boyd,aka " Hop a long Cassidy", Bill Holden, Gary Cooper, and many more. CoachCraft was famous for designing and manufacturing the Continental Kits, Luggage racks, Reclining Seats, head rests, back in the late forties and fifties, things that are now, a standard item in cars we drive today.

In fact the Ford executives would often visit CoachCraft to see what they were building, and some Custom cars for the Rich and Famous were on Fords Chassis, Customize the current 1940's model cars. Henry Ford II was a Close friend of Coach Craft.

After the war the aircraft manufactures like "Lockheed" had engineers and design crews working for CoachCraft when they built a Concept car called the "1946 Hewson Rocket", this car has been to Europe car shows and now sits at the "Lane Motor Museum" in Nashville TN. Lockheed backed this concept car in place of building aircraft, and at the time the US did not need fighter planes so they needed to branch out to the private sector, this was one of the branches.

Bill, the son of "Rudy" grew up in the shop and after a convincing talk by a local store owner, picked up after his dad, as they built and restored beautiful cars, from the chassis up to a finished show car.

Bill's wife of 47 years was not given a loving talk by his Father "Rudy" when they were engaged, Rudy (dad) sat the little lady down and explained to her that she is not going to merry his son if she thinks he'll be home at a regular time, and that cars are his life, plus he will need a hot meal when he get's home. Bill told me, "she did just that and her only complaint was the "He's always playing with his toys". Since 2006 his wife had a bad stroke and after several years of private home nursing, she now enjoys the living at a medical rest home.

In 1997 Fillmore became the home of this Hollywood Custom car builder, and has been a local supporter of High School Sports and Grad Nite Live, which now Bill has retired at the end of 2010 and his son Anthony, has taken the rains of CoachCraft and will continue to build/restore classic cars for the motor enthusiasts and a Collision Center for Ventura County right here in little town Fillmore. (Story courtesy Eric Vigil)

Claire Faith, Student of the Year

It is with humility and honor that I, Claire Faith, accept the Student of the Year award. But if I may, I will point out, that I am by far not the most studious nor active senior at Fillmore High School. I say with full belief that it is my attitude and perspective, above skills and commitment, that lead me to success.

I cannot pinpoint one moment that lit a spark in me, but I can say that it was sometime in mid ninth grade. I had always been a “good student”, if you will, but simply because schoolwork wasn't too difficult for me.

Up until that point in ninth grade, I admit I was embarrassed by my background and reputation. That is, I didn't necessarily have pride in my family and I took to wearing black and listening to screaming music. In other words, I was a “wanna-be punk.” Over the course of a month or so during freshman year, my memory assumes, I was intrigued to wear a colored sweater as opposed to my everyday black. As a few weeks went by, I had started arranging odd outfits, following with homemade jewelry. Before I knew it, I was wearing mismatched socks, bottle cap accessories, and what most would call funny hats. More importantly than my outward transformation, my mind was renewed. I suddenly realized that my family was absolutely amazing, and that there were so many fun and active things I could be doing to replace my sourpuss attitude.

The Fillmore music program has been significantly important to me. I participated in winter drum line my freshman and sophomore years, which was demanding, but rewarding. For the past four year, I have committed to concert, marching, and jazz band. I have served as Drum Major all four years (and to clear up any confusion, a drum major leads the band in parades, sports games, and competitions). I have worked in Band Club for the last two years as Treasurer. I believe the music program here at the high school is the most versatile and rewarding program we have to offer. Here, I have not only made the greatest friends and had the most fun of my life, but obtained a strong sense of discipline and commitment. That is, I know that saying you're going to be somewhere means you will, and one must communicate otherwise. In band, there are no bench warmers, for everyone has a part to play, and the music program welcomes and helps along anyone even slightly interested in joining the band wagon. Not to mention, I have enjoyed the wonders of playing, reading, studying, and writing music. These are all skills I will cherish for the rest of my life. I encourage Fillmore as a community to fully embrace and support our local music program.

I was also involved in a number of other school and community activities. I participated in Freshman Orientation last year, a day devoted to welcome and help the new students at the school. I've attended Prayer club for the past three years, and act as student leader this year. Similarly, I've participated in Flashes Go Green for the past three years and serve as President this year. Flashes Go Green cleans up the school every month, cleans out the lockers at the end of the year, and much more. I was lucky enough to go to Rotary International's RYLA youth leadership camp, and received a certificate of completion. I now serve as InterAct Club President. The FHS Ambassador Club hosts several college fairs for the school, award nights for the seniors and more. I have been in the club for two years and serve as President this year. Incidentally, we are hosting a Higher Education Event at the high school on March 1 at 6:30 pm for all interested to learn more about southern, as well as northern Californian colleges and career opportunities. Family of students, as well as Santa Paula students and family are invited. I was a member of Poetry Club sophomore year, Secretary last year, and am now President. We share poetry weekly and we plan on a group performance at the high school art show. This year I am Secretary of Drama Club, and have also had the privilege of being in Drama Class, as well as now being involved in Totally Rad: a joint production of Fillmore High School Drama and Sespe Players. The show will be put on at the Sespe Auditorium in early April. Last year, I had the honor of researching the schools history for the centennial edition of the Copa de Oro. Finally, I have participated in the “S” club sophomore, junior and senior years. During my junior year, I was Chairman of the Peace Pole Project and helped the Soroptomists fund raise and create awareness for the Peace Pole now resting in front of City Hall. I've participate in the Soroptomist bike path clean up, as well as other “S” club and Soroptomists projects, such as the presentation of the Annual Soroptomist Fashion Show. Miraculously, I've upheld my GPA to 4.5!

I graciously thank the Chamber of Commerce for this award, but on a grander scale, I thank the wonderful people of Fillmore. I would like to say once more that it was my attitude that brought me thus far, and I encourage students as well as our community to cherish our schools and all the opportunities they bring. Go Flashes!

Esteban Almazan received a proclamation from Mayor Gayle Washburn for his Eagle Scout Rank.
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At the January 25, 2011 Fillmore City Council meeting Council Member Brian Sipes stated “There is a lot on the Councils agenda” but the February 22, 2011 open session meeting, which ended just after an hour, did not fit that description. The Council’s agenda was mostly finishing up and approving old business and reporting on committee meetings Council Members had attended.

This meeting’s agenda consisted of the appropriations limit for Fiscal Year 2010-2011, a Joint Use Agreement between the City of Fillmore and the Fillmore Unified School District, an interim Ordinance Citywide Moratorium on establishment and operation of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries for 1 year, and approval of Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP).

One item on the Redevelopment Agency agenda was a request to accept a short payoff on a First Time Homebuyers Loan (FTHL) of $43,000 taken out in July of 2008 and the home is now for sale due to divorce. The FTHL was used as the 15% down payment on the home’s $292,000 purchase price. The selling agents informed the City the property had decreased in value and the offering price today is $280,000 which is less than the payoff amounts of both the primary loan and secondary FTHL Agency loan. The seller’s settlement shows a shortfall and loss to the city of $18,936.71 with a pay back to the city of $24,863.29 or approximately 57% of the Agency’s original $43,800 loan. All of the loss is coming out of the FTHL which carried the second on the property, but there was little the City could do to prevent taking all of the loss. Both Cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme have also suffered such losses. All Council Members reluctantly agreed to accept the short payoff.

The Council approved an CONTINUED »