The American Red Cross encourages individuals and organizations to give something that means something this winter by making a lifesaving blood donation or hosting a blood drive.

Blood donations often decline from now to New Year’s Day when holiday festivities pull people away from their donation appointments. Seasonal illnesses, such as colds and the flu, can also have a serious impact on blood donations

In addition, there are fewer blood drives during the winter months when many hosting organizations postpone drives while people are traveling for the holidays. Severe winter weather may also cause scheduled blood drives to be canceled.

Despite the busy holiday season and threat of extreme freezing weather, the need for blood remains steady. Organizations can help by hosting a blood drive during the winter months, and eligible donors are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative, A negative and AB blood.

Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more about hosting a blood drive. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can now use the Blood Donor App to access their donor card and view vital signs from previous donations.

Red Cross Blood Donation Centers:

American Red Cross Woodland Hills Donation Center
6338 Variel Ave.
Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367

Monday and Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Simi Valley
12/11/2015: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave

Thousand Oaks
12/7/2015: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
12/9/2015: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd

Ventura
12/15/2015: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Each year during the holiday season law enforcement sees a substantial increase in burglaries. Over the last few years this trend has evolved into mail and package thefts. During the month of December the US Postal Service and entities such as UPS deliver millions of packages to mailboxes and porches. Now, with the convenience of online shopping more people expose themselves to opportunistic criminals driving through neighborhoods looking for unattended packages and full mailboxes. We have received information about solicitors knocking on doors, possibly casing residents, while at the same time grabbing Christmas cards, checks and gifts cards from mailboxes. We also receive calls for suspicious vehicles following delivery services and stealing packages after porch delivery.

Here are a few tips to protect your deliveries during the holiday season:

1. Assure someone is at the residence if a delivery is expected. If this is not possible have the delivery sent to a place of employment or request the package is held at the Post Office for pickup.

2. Tracking numbers, most agencies will send you a tracking number to allow you to see where your package is and when it will be delivered.

3. Promptly retrieve packages and mail from your residence.

4. Drop off outgoing mail at the Post Office or hand the mail to the Postal Service delivery person.

5. Encourage your Neighborhood Watch group to call the police for any unusual activity in your area. People in your neighborhood usually know who resides and visits your residence. Neighbors should be calling law enforcement if unknown people are seen going through your mailbox or loitering around your residence.

6. Most importantly be aware of your surroundings, protect yourself and your property by locking doors and windows and making it harder for criminals to steal your valuables.

Have a wonderful holiday and call the police department for crimes or suspicious activity in your neighborhoods.

Nature of Incident: Holiday Mail and Package Thefts
Location: City of Camarillo
Date & Time: November 30, 2015 1:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Community Resource Unit
Prepared by: Deputy Mario Molina
News Release Date: November 30, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Deputy Mario Molina (805) 388-5155
Approved by: Captain Cory Rubright

The Fillmore City Council is deciding on a couple of issues in the next few months. One is an upgrade to the water treatment plant, the other is selecting someone to operate the Fillmore Equestrian Center.

Water Treatment Plant:
Fillmore is inquiring on a new technology that proposes to lower the utility costs of the Fillmore Wastewater Treatment Facility (FWTF). Pasteurization Technology Group Inc. (PTG) gave a presentation at the November 10, 2016 Fillmore City Council Meeting outlining their M-1000 System and its capabilities. CEO & Co-Founder Greg Ryan stated the technology combines eco-friendly wastewater disinfection with the generation of renewable energy would save about $20,000 per month and grow to over $50,000 per month.

Ryan presented a chart with presumed savings per household based on a 1% increase in Fillmore's population. After seven years the savings is reported to be $19 per year. At eight years it climbs to $172 per year and continues: nine-$250, ten-$334, eleven-$423, 15yrs.-$837, 20 yrs.-$1,512.

Presently the FWTF meets California Title 22 which is the California Code Regulations of the California Department of Public Health related to recycled water. The M-1000 System also would comply with Title 22.

The process is claimed to generate approximately 192 kW of electricity and disinfect up to 1.0 million gallons of wastewater per day, with the intention of offsetting the operational cost of the FWTF. The saving is due to taking the Ultra Violet (UV) System now being used and putting it offline. The M-1000 system uses both the heat from the turbine and the heat from the exiting treated sanitized water. Two pre-heater units will pre-heat incoming wastewater by transferring thermal energy from outgoing heated and disinfected wastewater prior to discharge. The waste heat recovery unit increase temperatures of pre-heated wastewater by up to 3 degrees to the level required for disinfection.

How the pasteurization CONTINUED »

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten has announced that Brock Gustin William Baker and Mark Stephen Avila, pled guilty to failure to warn of a concealed danger, a felony violation of Penal Code section 387(a); interference with enforcement, a misdemeanor violation of Health and Safety Code section 25515.4, and two misdemeanors in violation of Labor Code section 6423(a)(2), related to storage of hazardous substances and repeated failures to communicate with employees about hazardous substances.

Baker and Avila’s guilty pleas were entered as to charges in the indictment returned by the Ventura County Grand Jury in connection with their involvement in an explosion that occurred at Santa Clara Waste Water Company located at 815 Mission Rock Road in Santa Paula, California on November 18, 2014.

Baker and Avila will face sentencing on June 1st, 9amm courtroom 12 of the Ventura Superior Court.

Cases against the others are pending.

UPDATE: District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that California Department of Justice will be formally joining the Ventura County District Attorney in the ongoing prosecution of multiple individual and corporate defendants charged with environmental and other crimes related to the November 18, 2014, explosion at the Santa Clara Waste Water Company facility located in Santa Paula, California. This joint prosecution effort will include all aspects of the case as well as the ongoing investigation into the storage of thousands of gallons of chemicals recently discovered through execution of a search warrant on November 5, 2015, at the company’s facility in Santa Paula.

Santa Paula Police Department

On Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at approximately 4:32pm, Santa Paula Police Dept. dispatch received a report of an injury vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision in the 700 block of E. Main St., Santa Paula. Responding officers arrived on scene and the investigation into the collision began. At this time it appears the 69 year old pedestrian was walking south across Main Street to her vehicle when she was struck by the westbound vehicle, driven by a 26 year old female. At this time of day, the setting sun can be blinding to westbound drivers. According to the female driver, the sun was bright and making it difficult for her to see while driving her vehicle when suddenly she "hit something".

The pedestrian sustained severe injuries and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center. She is currently listed in critical condition.

The investigation into the collision is on-going, however, it does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor. Anyone who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact the SPPD.

Prepared by Sgt. Jeremy Watson

Santa Paula Police Department

On 11-19-15 at approximately 0041 hours, a Santa Paula Police Officer on patrol observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The Officer turned his vehicle around to conducted a traffic enforcement stop of the vehicle. The vehicle pulled over to the side of the road prior to the officer initiating the stop and the officer observed a male subject, later identified as Martin Quezada, 29 years of Fillmore, who was driving exit the vehicle and switch positions with a female passenger. The female passenger then sat in the drivers seat and the vehicle began to drive away. The Officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and contacted the occupatns of the vehicle. It was determined the female, who was now driving, was driving with her drivers license suspended. The passenger (Quezada), who had previously been driving, was also found to have a suspended drivers license. The male driver was asked to step out of the vehicle and during the course of the contact, a hypodermic syringe was located as well as several baggies of cocaine in Quezada's possession. Quezada was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance.

Officers conducted a records check of the license plates located on the Chevrolet truck and the registration returned to another vehicle. Further investigation revealed the truck was stolen out of the City of Fillmore. Both Quezada, who was already in custody, and the female were charged with 10851 VC, Vehicle Theft and they were transported to the Santa Paula City Jail. Upon further investigation, it was determined the female was not involved in the theft of the vehicle and she was released without charges for this offense. She was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license.

Quezada was later lodged at the Ventura County Main Jail for the charges of 10851 VC, Vehicle Theft; 11350 H&S, possession of a controlled substance; 135 PC, destruction of evidence and 11364 H&S, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On Saturday, November 21, 2015, Sheriff’s detectives conducted compliance checks at the residences of sixty two (62) registered sex offenders throughout the county. The compliance checks were part of the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE / ELEAS) Grant.

Thirty six (36) of the offenders were found to be in compliance with their registration requirement. Twenty five (25) registrants were not contacted because they were not home or had moved. One (1) registrant, Paul Warnock (Age 63) of Fillmore was arrested for being out of compliance with registration requirements. He was booked at the Ventura County Jail. Sheriff’s detectives will follow-up to determine if the remaining registrants not contacted are out-of-compliance.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting similar sweeps on an ongoing basis, to verify registered sex offenders are living at their reported residences and in compliance with any probation or parole terms.

Residents of Ventura County can visit the Megan’s Law website (www.meganslaw.ca.gov) to familiarize themselves with the sex registrants in their community.

Nature of Incident: Sex Registrant Compliance Sweep
Report Number: N/A
Location: Areas of Thousand Oaks / Camarillo / Moorpark / Newbury Park / Oak Park / Ventura / Santa Paula / Oxnard / Ojai / Oak View
Date & Time: Saturday, November 21, 2015 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
Thousand Oaks Police Department Investigations Bureau
Prepared by: Sergeant Ryan Clark
Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau / Sexual Assault Unit
News Release Date: November 23, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Ryan Clark / 805-384-4721
ryan.clark@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith

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).