Ramon Izarraraz, 32, Fillmore

On 04/18/2018, Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s West County Street Narcotics Team along with the assistance of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit, concluded a two month narcotic investigation into the methamphetamine trafficking activities of Ramon Izarraraz of Fillmore. On 4/18/18 at approximately 11:30 a.m., Detectives conducted a traffic stop on Izarraraz’s vehicle as he was driving in the city of Fillmore. Izarraraz was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and arrested. A search warrant was then executed at his residence in Fillmore. A search of Izarraraz’s residence resulted in the seizure of more than three ounces of methamphetamine, one ounce of cocaine, and a significant amount of cash deemed to be narcotic proceeds.

Izarraraz was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail on narcotic violations. He posted bail of $50,000.00 and his next scheduled court appearance is scheduled for 5/1/18 at 8:15 am.

The West County Street Narcotics Team is comprised of narcotic detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxnard Police Department, and the Port Hueneme Police Department.

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Guy Moody.
Approved by: Captain Robert Thomas.

On Saturday, April 21st at 5:30am authorities received a call about a man driving a Dodge pickup, who allegedly pulled up to another vehicle and brandished a gun. The driver of the other vehicle was able to get away and called 911 after the incident.

A Fillmore deputy later spotted the vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop and found a loaded gun in the truck.

Authorities arrested 37 year-old Adam Hernandez of San Fernando on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle and brandishing a firearm.

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The Fillmore High Alumni Board Members are crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s for the big 105th Annual FHS Alumni Dinner/Dance set for Saturday June 9th at the Fillmore/Piru Veteran’s Memorial Building.

Happy Hour starts at 3:00pm with light music and hors d’oeuvres out on the patio. Dinner will be served by award winning DJ’s California Catering. Dinner starts at 6:00pm sharp. You can see the complete menu online at www.fillmorehighalumni.com. You can also find class reunion information on the website.

Last year’s dinner was sold, so please make your reservations soon. You can confirm your dinner reservations at Patterson’s Hardware (open 7 days a week), or online now at www.fillmorehighalumni.com. Click on Events.

Calling all Alumni to the 105th Alumni Dinner! It’s the event of the year in Fillmore. Don’t miss out!

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Gabriel Munoz-Hernandez (DOB 7/1/1998), of Ventura, was sentenced to 15 years to life in the California Department of Corrections after his conviction of rape of an unconscious person in violation of Penal Code section 261(a)(4) and kidnapping to commit rape or sexual penetration in violation of Penal Code section 209(b)(1).

On February 20, 2017, Munoz-Hernandez connected with the 17-year-old female victim on social media. The next day, Munoz-Hernandez met the victim in person and took her to a friend’s home where he encouraged her to drink a lot of alcohol. The victim eventually lost consciousness. After the victim lost consciousness, Munoz-Hernandez carried her to a dumpster enclosure nearby where he raped her. An independent witness, who attempted to intervene, was able to capture some of the assault on camera. Another independent witness called 911. Ventura Police officers quickly arrived on scene to find Munoz-Hernandez assaulting the unconscious victim behind the dumpster.

After hearing arguments by both the prosecutor and defense attorney, Judge Gilbert Romero of the Ventura Superior Court, County of Ventura, sentenced Munoz-Hernandez to the maximum possible sentence.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.

Bob Crum

Let's begin with the question I asked in my previous column: “What do you see as unusual in the photo data?” Is it the aperture? Nope. How about shutter speed? No again! ISO? Bingo! An ISO of 8,000 is not only high, it's as unseemly as a mermaid in a speedo.

Tech talk for just a moment. Remember the holy triad of exposure... shutter speed, aperture and ISO? ISO is an important value in properly exposed photos. ISO refers to the light sensitivity of a camera sensor. When you change the ISO you’re rendering it more or less sensitive to light.

However, we often don't get a benefit without some consequences. The by-product of high ISO is digital noise. ‘Noise' is often equated to 'grain' in film photography but it's more than that. Generally speaking, noise is defined as neurotic pixels that act abnormally. Those erotic... er... neurotic pixels don't render the color or exposure correctly.

Furthermore, a lower ISO won’t just make less noise. Most often it produces better color and dynamic range, which is the ability of the camera to capture detail in both highlights and shadows. Best to keep ISO as low as possible in order to get the highest quality photos from your camera. However, shooting under inadequate lighting, like indoor fluorescent lights, it's either go high with ISO or go home. Not only is the light inadequate, it's the wrong color light. We do what we need to do and deal with the noise in post processing (editing). Edit cautiously! I've learned that when I push the noise reduction slider too far I become like Vincent Van Gogh making the photo begin to look like a water color painting.

Speaking of artists, on April 19th the Fillmore High School presented a “Celebration of the Visual & Performing Arts” at the Memorial Bldg. The 20th Annual Arts Show was a fabulous fun evening. Not only were fabulous artworks of high school students showcased, students also ran the whole event. It was an evening of celebrating the student artists, musicians, actors, dancers, and faculty. The Los Rayos Mariachi Band got the festivities going with the Ballet Folklorico Dancers. Drama performances preceded the high school jazz band which was followed by the high school concert band. The cliché ‘fun was had by all’ is appropriate.

Some readers asked: Why did I select the photo I used as the photo of the week last week. Appropriate question considering the photo depicts more or less a nondescript plant in a black boot. Nothing special evoking any emotion. Au contraire mon ami. Often, photographers tend to see the world a little differently. We don't just see the overview. Not always but often we notice little things... details. The large room was full of beautiful flowers yet when I happened upon that one particular display, the plant in a black boot, it made me pause. The boot. The rock. The note! The details attest to the nature of the creator of the piece. Simple yet profound. A heartfelt note saying: “Thank you 1st responders”. I love the love that writer expressed. That's why I chose it.

Continuing the spirit of the flower show, the photo of the week is a gorgeous, delicate white rose. A must see online.

Heads up! Photo ops galore! The "Renaissance of Railroading" Railfest is this weekend. It's a celebration featuring train rides behind the majestic #14 steam engine, live music and a bit of Steampunk fun. Consider your weekend planned.

Send comments, suggestions or questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com

(l-r) Joanne King with this year’s Grand Prize Winner Bene Ambrosio for her potted plant “Crown of Thorns.”
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Many from the community of Fillmore brought their beautiful blooms and plants to the Active Adult and Community Center. It was a great show!

Becky Morales and Barry Cooper provided delightful music both days. Several local merchants donated door prizes. All the winners were pleased with their prizes. Thank you: Ari Larson, Diamond Realty and Investments, King and King Ranch, Rafa’s Carpet Cleaning, Sani Ward’s Train Stop, The Treasure Station, Estela Homegoods, El Pescador Restaurant. A BIG thank you to Otto and Sons’ Nursery for the roses and much support throughout the year. Check the Otto and Sons’ website for workshops throughout the year. They have lots of information to help gardeners of all skills. Regina Nunez was hostess at the flower show cafe with iced tea, baked treats and friendly conversation. Visitors to the show purchased, at very good prices, plants and dish gardens. Thanks to all the gardeners who brought clippings from their yard to contribute to the plant boutique. The committee, especially Joanne King and Linda Nunes, labored tirelessly to organize the event. Many volunteers worked hours and hours to make sure the the flower show happened. And of course, thank you Ryan Lee for the website.

The flower show displays were enjoyed by a large crowd. The age of the partici-pants ranged from 4 years old (the youngest entrant) to senior citizens (whose age we will not reveal!). The youth of Fillmore had art, including photography, and flower arrangements. Next year will be the 100th year since the first Fillmore Flower Show. It is never too early to plan for next year.

If you missed the flower show this year, we’ll be back next year. Thank you Fill-more.

Flower Show Winners

Grand Prize: Bene Ambrosio “Crown of Thorns” (potted plant)
Division I Cut Rose: Joanne King “Fourth of July”
Division II Cut Iris: Regina Stehly “Yellow Spuria”
Division III Other Cut Flower: Carmen Zemeno “Red Amaryllis
Division IV Bouquets: Bene Ambrosio “White Watson”
Division V Arrangements: Linda Nunes
Division VI Miniature Arrangements and Bouquets: Jane Lee
Division VII Potted Plants: Bene Ambrosio “Crown of Thorns”
Division VIII Dish Gardens: Susan Hopkins
Division IX Youth Arrangements: Hope Stehly
Division X Youth Composition: Mary Nunez
Division XI Youth Art: Kimberly Lizarraga “Watercolor Rose”

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Story Courtesy Joe Woods

The young man from Fillmore did it again! Jose “Froggy’ Estrada with a now 5-1 record defeated “Ruthless” Rudy Morales with a record of 5-6 via TKO. It was the fight-of-the-night by far. The night was filled with eight fights. Three main events were broadcast live on Univision TV. Froggy’s fight was the first one up. The event was named Combate Estrellas / Stars Will Rise. This was for Combate Americas M.M.A.

Let’s go back a week in time when I called Froggy on the phone. I asked if he was ready. “Yes sir, Coach,” he said. “I am pissed off at him (Morales). He called me on my phone to ask a question about weight. I told him not to call me, call my people, I am fighting you in two weeks. The last thing I need to do is be friends with this guy!”

Froggy is a full-time pro-fighter now. He trains in the gym every day that’s his job. The work has paid off for him. He just signed a new fight deal with Combate Americas under the leadership of CEO Campbell McLaren. Froggy is a crowd favorite.

Fast forward to the fight. I saw Froggy about an hour before the fight in his locker room. He was taped up and getting his gloves on. I have never seen him so ready for a fight. Focus was the word I would use--Focus! I asked if he was still pissed at the guy, “Yes sir!” said Froggy. The fire in his eyes told the story. I almost felt sorry for the ”Ruthless” one. Almost!

I watched as Froggy got warmed up. I told him I would let him be so he could get ready. I told him “The Story”, then I said a prayer for him, told him I loved him and we had our handshake. That is the hardest part for me, to say goodbye and then feel powerless. The nerves were high for sure for this writer.

After three entertaining fights, it was time. Morales was first to come into the cage. He had the nerve to do the “Froggy Leap” while he came in. I was hoping Froggy saw that. Then the chants came up, FROGGY! FROGGY! FROGGY! FROGGY! Load enough to wake the dead at the Shrine in L.A. Froggy came down the ramp ready for a fight. After the introductions it was time. Morales came out clowning around. That was another big mistake on his part. Froggy wasted no time and was on the attack. Froggy threw more punches and kicks then any of the three other fights combined! And Morales still clowned around in the ring. He would look at Froggy after he got hit and try to say it didn’t hurt. WRONG!

Right before the First round was over Froggy was giving Morales a true beat down. The Referee pulled Froggy off Morales. With about 10 seconds left Froggy flew across the cage for one more attack. The crowd was going crazy at this point. In the start of the second round Morales’ face was showing a whole new look--blood and swelling.

Froggy showed no mercy, I am sure he was still pissed off. With great punches and kicks to the head the Referee saw enough, and stopped the fight. Froggy then jumped on top of the cage and threw his arms in the air with victory. His friend and family were in the balcony cheering him on. Froggy threw his mouthpiece to them with a huge smile.

What happened here my friends of Fillmore was a clown showed up to fight a man. The man won. Then the clown needed to go home and fix his face.

Froggy is the real deal folks! He his someone you should get behind and support. Froggy is the nicest man I know, and would do anything for anybody. He is a true Star On The Rise in the M.M.A. world and he is from right here in Fillmore.