The Fillmore City Council approved the construction and operation of a helicopter maintenance and repair business at Tuesday's meeting.

The applicant, Rotorcraft Support, Inc., submitted an application to develop a private heliport for a maintenance and repair facility for helicopters t be located within the Business Park Master Plan area on property owned by an affiliate of the Applicant. Two companies are proposed to locate at the site: Rotorcraft and The Guardian.

Rotocraft is a maintenance and repair helicopter business with 58 full time employees that will relocate from Van Nuys to Fillmore. The Guardian is a fire helicopter company that is contracted to fight forest fires and has approximately 15 full time employees. The Guardian helicopters will be at fire sites 9 months out of the year. When not attending to fires, the Guardian employees will be in Fillmore training. Both of these businesses would move to the property in Phase 1.

The project is to be constructed in two (2) phases. Phase 1 involves the construction a 67,872 SF hangar, parking spaces, retaining walls, public improvements on River St. and constructing the full width of the D St. extension (from River Street to 460 feet south of River Street). Phase 2 consists of constructing a 45,066 SF hangar for the future undetermined tenant.
The businesses would like to be allowed to operate from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays with allowance to perform work on Sundays during times of emergencies.

The project site is 10.52 acres and can accommodate one landing pad with eight (8) helicopter parking areas.

The flight paths will occur along the Santa Clara River with the helicopters approaching the site from a southerly direction. The flight paths will not be over the residential areas of Fillmore. Prior to flying helicopters from the property the applicant is required to obtain approvals from the FAA, Caltrans (the Division of Aeronautics (DOA) and The Airport Land Commission.

The project site is located at the southwest corner of River St. and D St.

To avoid the appearance of large hangars, the applicant selected to locate the building along D St. rather than Rover St. In this way the project complies with the Business Park Master Plan SP-1 as it will not include long monotonous buildings.

The project is providing a 10' concrete bike path on the south side of River St. in compliance with the Business Park Master Plan's requirement for bike paths. This bike path section represents another important part of the future bike path as a link to Two Rivers Park, Santa Clara River Bike Path. This section of the path helps to bridge the connection of the Sespe Creek Bike Path to the Santa Clara River Bike Path.

A noise Study was conducted which determined that the sounds anticipated to be generated by the project are at an acceptable level per the City Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, the Planning Commission recommended that a noise monitor be placed close to the helipad.

Two Rivers Park will be protected by a buffer zone with employees and customer parking along D ST. Also, the flight path is not over the park. Additionally the project includes the construction of a portion of the bike path along River St. which will greatly enhance recreational activity in the community.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office has released the name of the man who was killed in a solo vehicle crash near Santa Paula early Friday morning.

They say that 27-year-old Ismael Barrios-Ramirez of Fillmore died from injuries in the 5 AM crash in the 19900 block of South Mountain Road west of Balcom Canyon Road.

The CHP says Barrios-Ramirez was driving a 2000 silver Infiniti 130 westbound on South Mountain Road when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of the vehicle.

They say the vehicle veered onto the north dirt shoulder and overturned.

The CHP says Barrios-Ramirez was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.

The vehicle then hit a tree.

Barrios-Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was the only person involved in the crash.

On Friday September 9th, long-time Fillmore residents Pat and Linda Brewster were seriously injured in a small plane crash in Wickenburg, Arizona.

The Cessna 310 airplane they were in was taking off from Wickenburg airport when it crashed due to some type of mechanical problem.

All 4 occupants of the plane were extracted and airlifted to area hospitals.

Pat & Linda’s children told The Gazette that both Pat and Linda spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Linda suffered multiple back fractures, chipped teeth, cuts, bruises and swelling to her face and body. Pat, who was sitting in the front seat of the plane, received a compound leg fracture, a broken left elbow, the end of his tongue was cut along with multiple cuts, bruises and swelling to his face and body.

Pat and Linda are both expected to be in recovery and physical therapy for many weeks.

Pictures of the plane crash and a video news story may be found at azfamily.com by searching for “plane crashes near Wickenburg airport.” The direct link to the story is http://www.azfamily.com/story/33057728/plane-crashes-near-wickenburg-air...

Hello Fillmore! This Thursday evening the Alumni Assn will host "Blue & White" night in beautiful downtown Fillmore from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Remember those classic cars that use to cruse up and down central ave back in the 60's and 70's? Well, they will be parked on central ave between Main Street and Sespe for your viewing. And you can't have these beautiful cars parked on central without the 50's, 60's, and 70's music playing. The Alumni Association will also have food vendors ready to serve our community and it's for a good cause. As you all know, the community of Fillmore loves our "Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation." This Thursday evening is the night to show our appreciation. The Alumni Assn has asked the food vendors to donate a portion of their sales to our very own Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Fund and they have all agreed to support our community's great organization.

The Alumni Association will be parked out front of Central Station Bar & Grill, and you know Central Station will be cranking out their tri-tip sandwiches, and their awesome Pizza, so come on out for a stroll in our beautiful downtown this Thursday evening. The Association will have all their Blue and White Flashes wear available for the big game the next night when our Fillmore Flashes football team plays the Santa Paula Cardinals in the 106th meeting on the grid iron. Summer is coming to an end. Let's support our hometown football team and our Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation. See you all Thursday evening at 6:00pm! LET'S GO FLASHES!, BEAT SANTA PAULA!!!

Tickets will be sold to the General Public in the front office of FHS Monday thru Thursday (September 12th thru September 15th) from 7:30AM to 1:00PM. Students are to purchase their tickets through the Students Store. Ticket Prices are Adults $7, Students & Children $4 and Senior Citizens (55 & Older) $3.

I am sad to write this one final article about Gertrude Ness who passed away peacefully in her Glendale home on Sunday, August 28th. Gertrude died of natural causes after a very long and productive life.

I have written a couple articles about Supercentenarian Gertrude Ness the 110 year old Grandmother of Fillmore resident Lynda Kagel. Born on April 22, 1906, Gertrude, prior to her passing was the 3rd oldest known resident in the state of California. A dedicated Lakers Fan Gertrude requested her Kobe Bryant Laker's jersey accompany her on her next journey to be reunited with her beloved husband Peder. Gertrude is survived by two daughters, Dianne De Geer of Texas, Jo Ness of Montrose, two granddaughters, Lynda Kagel of Fillmore and Amy De Geer of Texas, two great granddaughters, Stacy Fontana of Moorpark and Ayiana Turner of Texas and one great grandson Bryson Nolly of Texas and step-grandson Danny Glassburn of Thousand Oaks.

Alumni Association Scholarship Fundraiser
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Fillmore Fire Department BBQ Fundraiser
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A big hello to all of you in Fillmore. The Alumni Association has been quiet this summer with their downtown events; but not to worry, We're Back!

Thursday, September 15, 2016 between 6:00pm and 9:00pm, we want to invite you, the community of Fillmore, to come downtown for a Fillmore Fire Department BBQ and listen to some good old time music. Our very own Fillmore classic cars will be parked downtown for viewing. The Alumni Association will be in front of Central Station Bar & Grill with all our Blue & White merchandise available to everyone.

As most of you know, the next night, Friday, Sept 16th, our Fillmore High Flashes football team, cheer, and band will host the Santa Paula Cardinals in the 106th meeting between the two schools, the oldest Ventura County High School rivalry on the grid iron.

Blue & White night is also an opportunity to celebrate and fund our Fillmore Firemen Foundation by purchasing a hamburger or hot dog meal. Fillmore Fire Department will be parking their fire engine, BBQ grill, and Fillmore's old restored fire engine from way back in the day, right on Central Avenue between Sespe Avenue, and Main Street.

The Alumni Association is gearing up for our downtown events, so come be a part of the fun. Next month is the Homecoming Parade, an event not to be missed.

Let's continue the tradition of celebrating in our historic downtown. Go Flashes! Beat Santa Paula!