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On March 14, 2018, at approximately 10:00 p.m., deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to the 900 block of 4th Street in Fillmore for the report of a possible gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a male victim who had been shot multiple times. Deputies provided first aid measures until medical personnel arrived on scene. The victim was subsequently transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, Sheriff’s Gang Unit and Fillmore Police Station responded to the scene to investigate the crime. In a coordinated effort, numerous interviews were conducted and no arrests have been made at this time. This is an ongoing investigation and the Sheriff’s Office is requesting that anyone with information about this crime contact detectives at the numbers listed below.

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Carlos Macias
News Release Date:
March 16, 2018
Approved by: Captain Jeff Miller

Resolution 17-18-4 Commending 2017-2018 Girls’ Soccer Team
Trustees recognized the CIF SS Division 7 Champions and approved Resolution 17-18-4 to commemorate their achievement.

Indemnification Agreement between County of Ventura and Fillmore Unified School District
Board approved the indemnification agreement associated with the performance and certain services and function of School Resource Officer.

Memorandum of Agreement between City of Fillmore and Fillmore Unified School District for School Resource Officer
Board approved the Memorandum of Agreement to continue operation of the School Resource Officer Program in the Fillmore Unified School District.

Personnel Recommendations
The Board approved all personnel recommendations including new hires, promotions, resignations, retirements, and leaves.

American Red Cross of Ventura County

Though spring has officially arrived, the American Red Cross blood supply is still recovering from severe winter storms in March. Donors of all blood types are urged to roll up a sleeve and help save lives.

Winter weather in parts of the country forced more than 270 blood drives to cancel, resulting in over 9,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations in the first two weeks of March. No matter the weather, the need for blood to help cancer patients, those undergoing surgeries, trauma patients and others remains.

Volunteer blood donors from across the country are needed to help ensure lifesaving blood products are available for patients this spring. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities March 20 to April 15

Ventura

Camarillo
4/3/2018: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4345 Las Posas Road

Moorpark
4/2/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Moorpark Chamber of Commerce, 18 E. High St
4/5/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kahn Media, Inc., 11988 Challenger Ct.

Oxnard
3/22/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Oxnard High School, 3400 W Gonzales Rd

Simi Valley
3/23/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
3/28/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Simi Valley High School, 5400 Cochran Street
3/30/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
4/13/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave

Thousand Oaks
3/21/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
3/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
3/28/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/2/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/11/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/11/2018: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Thousand Oaks High School, 2323 N Moorpark Rd

Ventura
3/20/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 36 S. Figueroa St.
3/20/2018: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road

Westlake Village
3/21/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Guitar Center Corporate Center, 5795 Lindero Canyon Rd.
4/3/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Farmers Insurance, 31051 Agoura Rd

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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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 and platelet donors can 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Volunteers needed
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/driver.

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 CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Charles Ray Mundy (DOB 12/27/63), of Ventura, was sentenced to serve two years in the Ventura County jail for his role in causing a 2014 explosion at Santa Clara Waste Water Company (“SCWWC”). Last month, Mundy pled guilty to felony offenses of knowing failure to warn of a serious concealed danger, disposal of hazardous waste, filing a forged instrument, and reckless disregard for handling hazardous waste causing unreasonable risk. Mundy also pled no contest to the felony offense of causing great bodily injury by emitting an air contaminant, and to the misdemeanor offenses of repeated violation of labor safety standards, and failure to update a business plan. This case was jointly prosecuted by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office.

On November 18, 2014, an explosion occurred at 815 Mission Rock Road, Santa Paula, a wastewater treatment facility owned and operated by SCWWC. Mundy was the former vice president of Environmental Compliance and Facilities Operations at SCWWC. The explosion was caused by the reckless disposal of hazardous chemicals with incompatible materials in a vacuum truck. Numerous employees and first responders were injured either by the initial explosion or by inhaling toxic fumes.

While employed by SCWWC, Mundy was instrumental in obtaining 255 gallons of the chemical sodium chlorite, a regulated hazardous material. SCWWC was required to report the presence of sodium chlorite in their Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP). Mundy failed to report that sodium chlorite was present at the Santa Paula location. Further, Mundy failed to disclose the presence of sodium chlorite to first responders immediately after the explosion. In addition, Mundy provided false HMBP submissions by not reporting 5,500 gallons of Petromax, a hazardous chemical.

While executing search warrants in November 2014, police recovered forged analytical results in Mundy’s SCWWC office and later confirmed he prepared these forged results and submitted them to the City of Oxnard. Mundy also failed to provide adequate training and personal protective equipment to employees working on site.

In addition to the jail sentence, Mundy was ordered to pay victim restitution and will be placed on formal probation for three years. As a term of probation, Mundy is prohibited from employment in any capacity in the waste water treatment industry.

About The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
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

The Rotary Club of Moorpark presented a Civil War reenactment of the following historic battle.
Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Dates: July 1-3, 1863
Union General: George G. Meade | Confederate General: Robert E. Lee

The Union Army took a primary defensive position on Cemetery Ridge to the north & east around Cemetery Hill. The ridge only 40 feet above the surrounding terrain but two miles long, rising to the north roughly 80 feet above the surroundings to form Cemetery Hill descending on the south end into low, wooded, somewhat marshy ground.

The first day of battle saw considerable fighting. Many Union soldiers used newly issued Spencer repeating carbines causing heavy casualties. Using rifles of the day, the Confederates still caused heavy casualties. Gettysburg became the killing field.

The second day involved many desperate attacks and counterattacks in an attempt to gain control of Cemetery Hill. Again heavy losses on both sides.

General Lee attacked on the third day. Known as “Pickett’s Charge,” some 15,000 Confederate troops, led by Gen. George Edward Pickett, assaulted Cemetery Ridge, held by about 10,000 Federal infantrymen. The Southern spearhead broke through and penetrated the ridge.

Critically weakened by artillery and lacking reinforcement while under savage attack from three sides, the Southerners retreated, leaving hundreds of prisoners. On July 4 Lee waited to meet an attack that never came. That night, taking advantage of heavy rain he retreated toward Virginia. Meade stopped the Confederate invasion and won a critical three-day battle.

At battles end, president Abraham Lincoln gave his infamous Gettysburg Address. He extolled the sacrifices of those who died at Gettysburg – urging resolve "that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

The exciting event is touted as the largest Civil War battle reenactment west of the Mississippi. Hundreds of reenactors come from all over the country converge on the Hitch Ranch in Moorpark, CA. Advertised as the event that will make history come to life right before your eyes is an understatement.

However, photographing such events is extremely challenging. Naturally, it's important not to miss anything significant but too often too many significant events (action) occurred simultaneously. In a word: Consternation.

A Canon 7D Mark II is my main camera with a Tamron 16-300mm lens mounted. I also had my older Canon 7D onto which I mounted a Tamron 70-300mm lens with a 1.4X teleconverter for extended range. BTW, that's the same combo used for photoing mermaids on Anacapa Island. I should have left the 7D home. By the time I put down one camera and picked up the other I missed a shot. Ugh!

Kudos to the Moorpark Rotary for presenting an outstanding event. Besides the battlefield action, many Civil War era tents were pitched on the grounds. Uniformed Union and Confederate personnel at various camps. Old potbelly stoves heated coffee. Bacon cooked over fire pits. At one tent I stumbled upon a clandestine battle strategy meeting.

A canon firing is the photo of the week. Catching the exact moment of the brief flash was extremely vexing. Not knowing the exact moment the canon fires, I put the camera on burst mode. Even so, it took many attempts to get the ultimate image I wanted. Check fillmoregazette.com for the color version. Next exciting photo op: L. A. Air Show, 3/24, 3/25 at Wm. J. Fox Airfield, 4555 W. Ave G, Lancaster. See you there?

Happy photoing.

Email your suggestions, questions or comments to bob@fillmoregazette.com