 Proud parents Richard and Carolyn Diaz had the honor of pinning Chief Diaz’s Navy Chief Anchors to his uniform. Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
 The Diaz family, Richard and Carolyn, with US Navy Chief Phillip Diaz, and his sisters Arron Diaz and Julia Fitzgibbons (Diaz). Enlarge Photo United States Navy Chief, Phillip Diaz, was promoted to Chief Petty Officer (ITC E-7) on September 16, 2015 during an official Navy Pinning Ceremony in San Diego, California. In attendance were his proud parents, Richard and Carolyn Diaz, Sisters Arron Diaz and Julia Fitzgibbons (Diaz), Uncle Michael Diaz and Aunt Karen Diaz. Richard and Carolyn had the honor of pinning on Chief Diaz's Navy Chief Anchors to his uniform shirt lapels. Chief Diaz, 29 years old, is a 2004 Fillmore High School Graduate. All of Chief Diaz's education was within the Fillmore Unified School District attending K-5 at Piru Elementary School, 6-8 at Fillmore Middle School having been part of the first 6th Grade Class to enter the Middle School. He went on to attend FHS where he played baseball and and football, graduating in 2004! Chief Diaz was also active in the Bardsdale United Methodist Church, and local 4H Clubs where he had the honor, at age 9, of having his pig "Tomasina" being selected as the Grand Champion at the Ventura County Fair. Chief Diaz began his career in the Navy on October 31, 2005 attending his basic training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois where he graduated in the top ten percent of his class receiving a meritorious promotion to Seaman Apprentice E-2. Chief Diaz's job specialty is Information Technology. In addition to his current instructor assignment at the Center For Information Dominance, Point Loma, San Diego, Chief Diaz was previously assigned to the U.S.S. McFaul (DDG 74), an Arleigh Burke class of guided missile Destroyer in Norfolk, Virginia. And, at the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit-2 (EODESU-2), in Little Creek, Virginia. Chief Diaz has been on three deployments; two to the Persian Gulf aboard the U.S.S. McFaul and in Afghanistan with the EODESU2, prior to his assignment in San Diego as an instructor. On August 24, 2008, while assigned on the U.S.S. McFaul, the McFaul was to first United States Vessel to arrived in Batumi, Georgia, as part of Operation Assured Delivery to "deliver humanitarian relief supplies, as part of the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance" in the wake of the 2008 South Ossetia war. The McFaul offloaded nearly 155,000 pounds of supplies—including hygiene items, baby food and care supplies, bottled water, and milk. Chief Diaz has received numerous awards during his Naval service. According to Chief Diaz, "I am ready to be a Navy Chief! I look forward to guiding the sailors under my command to some day being successful as future Navy Chiefs!" Chief Diaz will remain at his current assignment for the next 1 1/2 years, but after that he will serve "At the convenience of the Navy!" Chief Diaz hopes to spend more time in San Diego, but is excited to serve where the Navy needs him. The citizens of the Santa Clara Valley are proud of Chief Diaz's service, congratulate him on his promotion. We thank Chief Diaz for his service and sacrifice to maintain the freedoms all of us enjoy as American citizens. Chief Diaz is truly an American Hero! |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
Part 1 of 4
 The Fillmore High Homecoming Parade took place on Thursday night this year. Last year Alumni agreed that community members would like to see the parade but they do not get home until early evening. The parade started at 6:30pm in the high school parking lot and traveled down Central Avenue. This year’s floats and homecoming court highlighted the parade, as did the Flashes Football and Raiders teams. Photos courtesy KSSP Photographic Studios and Crystal Gurrola. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
Part 2 of 4
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
Part 3 of 4
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
Part 4 of 4
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
A 3-judge Ventura County Superior Court appeals panel struck down the eviction of the Fillmore and Western Railway by the Ventura County Transportation Commission who owns the tracks the railway operates on. The panel released the decision on Tuesday, September 22, 2015. It ruled that the VCTC used an incorrect legal procedure to evict the railway, and the judge who upheld the eviction error in backing the eviction based on the incorrect legal procedure. It remains to be seen if VCTC will appeal this ruling to a higher court, or return to the trial court to seek a legal eviction. The VCTC filed a lawsuit in March 2014 against the Railway when they ignored the agency’s demand to stop running the train operation. The Railway countersued, claiming the Commission terminated its 20-year lease wrongly. The popular tourist train remains in operation for now. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
 On Monday, September 28th, a vehicle slammed into two parked cars in the 900 block of Ventura Street (Highway 126), at 6:15pm. No injuries were reported. Photos courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
 A local agricultural worker was driving west on South Mountain at Balcom Canyon Road, and lost control of his truck on Monday, September 28th, at 1:08pm. He left the roadway and rolled at least once before coming to rest in the middle of a plowed field. Three units were called to the scene. He sustained moderate injures and was transported to a local hospital. Photo courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
New Senior Center Location: Yeah! We now have “Fresh Coffee” Regular Scheduled Programs & Activities BINGO, STARTING SOON “KEEP” WATCHING FOR START-UP DATE! AARP Drivers Safety Program Monday & Tuesday, October 19th & 20th. this is a 2 day course 4 hrs each day. From 8:30 -1:00 pm Cars have changed. So have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver's licenses, but even the most experienced drivers benefit from brushing up on their driving skills. You ask what will I learn by taking the Course? You can expect to learn current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment. You'll learn adjustments to accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. You will learn the following: How to minimize the effects of dangerous blind spots: How to maintain the proper following distance behind another car: The safest ways to change lanes and make turns at busy Intersections: Proper use of safety belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and new technologies used in cars: The effects of medications on driving: The importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use. After completing the course, you will have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and of how you can avoid potential collisions and injuries to yourself and others. This is a “GREAT Course” One every Senior should take. Please Call and let us know your coming. 524-4533 One Stop Shop for Medicare 2016 will be held at the Fillmore Senior Centers “New Location”, 330 Central Avenue, Suite C, across the street form the Post Office in Fillmore. Friday October 23. (Time to be determined) HICAP Counselors will run a Prescription Drug Plan comparison for you. Receive counseling on Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap, Employer Group, Retiree Plans & Medi-Cal. Enroll in a stand alone Prescription Drug Plan for 2016 Call HICAP for a Free, Unbiased Medicare & Health Insurance Counseling 800-434-0222 they will also send you a Part D worksheet, so your comparison will be ready for the ONE Stop Shop. Remember Open enrollment begins Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2015 Next Board Meeting: is scheduled for Monday, September 28. at 1:00 pm |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
On July 18, 1980, at approximately 12:30pm, Sheriff’s patrol deputies responded to a call of a dead body found in a parking lot of Westlake High School, 100 N Lakeview Canyon Road, in Westlake Village. The murdered woman was at the foot of a dirt hillside in the rear parking lot of the school, accessible from N. Via Merida. It was determined the unidentified woman was sexually assaulted, stabbed and strangled to death elsewhere before being dumped in the school’s parking lot. Her autopsy determined she was approximately five months pregnant with a son. Thirty-five years later, the murdered woman remains unidentified. As a result of major advances in DNA, in 2012, DNA that was collected from Jane Doe’s clothing and fingernails was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Wilson Chouest was identified as the person associated with this DNA. At that time, Chouest was serving a life sentence in state prison for the kidnap, robbery, and rape of one woman, and kidnap and robbery of another that occurred in Tulare County in August and September of 1980. Chouest is eligible for parole for these crimes in 2017. This new DNA information gave the investigation forward momentum, especially when investigators learned Chouest had been linked through DNA to another Jane Doe homicide in Kern County. The body of Kern County’s Jane Doe was found in an almond orchard near Delano on July 15, 1980, three days prior to the Ventura County Jane Doe being found. While detectives from both agencies worked to develop evidence in the case against Chouest, they continued in their efforts to identify the two Jane Doe’s. The women have been featured on bulletins shared on our social media platforms and on numerous Jane Doe websites. Despite not being able to identify the women, the investigation did develop evidence that showed Chouest was responsible for the deaths of the two women and the unborn child. The Ventura County Cold Case Unit detectives submitted evidence to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for review. On September 23, 2015, Chouest was brought back to Ventura County on a court order. He was arrested on September 30, 2015 for murder. Chouest is due to appear in court on October 1, 2015. These victims have been unidentified for 35 years. Both women had live births prior to their death. Somewhere, there are two families whose mothers disappeared in July of 1980, never to be heard from or seen again. We’d like nothing more than to bring the families answers and return their loved ones to them. Chouest traveled throughout several counties during his four months of freedom in 1980. Investigators believe these women’s kidnapping and murders could have occurred in Tulare, Kern, Ventura or Los Angeles Counties. If you have information about Wilson Chouest’s activity between June and September 1980 or you have information about the victims’ identities, please email your tips to the Cold Case Unit at coldcase.187@ventura.org. Nature of Incident: Arrest Made in 1980 Jane Doe Murders 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). |
