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By Anonymous — Tuesday, January 12th, 2016
 American Red Cross of Ventura County The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to make a lifesaving commitment to donate blood to help ensure a sufficient blood supply in the new year, beginning in January with National Blood Donor Month. Britton Lund made her first blood donation as a high school student. Though it was easy and she knew her type O negative blood was in high demand, she only gave sporadically over the next 10 years. Then, her sister was diagnosed with brain cancer, motivating Lund to become a regular donor. “I will continue to give until they tell me I can’t anymore,” she said. “It is a quick, easy way to make a difference.” National Blood Donor Month highlights the importance of volunteer blood and platelet donors like Lund and their impact on patient healthcare. National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January since 1970 with the goal of increasing blood and platelet donations during winter – one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood products to meet patient needs. Severe winter weather may result in canceled blood drives, and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, can cause donors to be temporarily unable to give. Blood donors of all types are needed to maintain a sufficient supply. Eligible donors with types O, B negative and A negative blood are encouraged to donate double red cells where available. During a double red cell donation, two units of red cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor. 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). American Red Cross Woodland Hills Donation Center Monday and Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Additional blood donation opportunities: Camarillo Oak Park Simi Valley Thousand Oaks Ventura Westlake Village How to donate blood 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 and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site. About the American Red Cross |
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By Anonymous — Friday, January 8th, 2016
A Meal Train and GoFundMe established for the Landeros family
 The City of Fillmore today is mourning the passing of Fire Chief and Assistant City Manager Rigo Landeros who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening, January 7th, Chief Landeros was widely known and respected throughout Fillmore and the County of Ventura as an energetic and forward thinking public official who was always upbeat with a love of family, community and public service. He was instrumental in helping Fillmore work its way through the recent recessionary period and return the City’s financial picture to full solvency. Rigo was a friend to us all and his death is a shock to so many in our community” said Mayor Diane McCall. “Our Council all knew Rigo personally and professionally and Rigo’s City family is truly in mourning today”. Chief Landeros started with the Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in 1998 and was appointed Fire Chief in May 2009. He served as the Acting Public Works Director since January 2010. Chief Landeros was appointed Interim City Manager in August of 2012 and led the City until the hiring of City Manager David Rowlands. In November 2013 Chief Landeros was permanently promoted to Assistant City Manager and also continued his roles as Acting Public Works Director and Fire Chief. Prior to his tenure with the City, Chief Landeros had achieved a highly respected status in the private sector as an executive with Gelson’s Markets. “Rigo was a true partner in the administration of our City” noted City Manager David Rowlands. ‘He was a true leader of our Fire Department, and on a personal level a great husband, father and friend. He will be greatly missed by myself and all who knew him”. The Landeros family and the City will not be releasing any further information on the specific cause of death and the family has requested that their privacy be respected at this time. A Meal Train has been established for The Landeros family https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/g0krne Landeros Family Benefit Fund https://www.gofundme.com/krd8tras |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department Brandon Leon, 30 of Fillmore, has surrendered himself to the California Highway Patrol. Leon was arrested for felony hit and run and gross vehicular manslaughter in the Monday, December 27th crash that took the life a 57year-old Maria Rodriguez Medina of Santa Paula. Leon had fled the scene of the accident before authorities arrived. The collision took place around 8:25pm on Telegraph Road at 7th Street, west of Fillmore. Authorities say Leon stopped at the stop sign on southbound 7th Street, then apparently proceeded into the intersection and into the path of the 1990 Nissan Axxess, traveling westbound on Old Telegraph Road. The Nissan crashed into the left side of Leon’s 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, causing major damage to both vehicles. Leon fled the scene on foot but surrendeered to the CHP at 1:35pm Tuesday. Medina’s husband was also injured in the crash. |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
 On Thursday, December 30th, at about 12:10pm, the Fillmore Police Department, the Fillmore Fire Department, the Ventura County Fire Department, and American Medical Response personnel responded to a two-vehicle, injury traffic collision in the 200 block of East Telegraph Rd. (SR 126), Fillmore, in front of the El Dorado Mobile Estates. They found that Iris Martin, 87, a resident of the El Dorado Estates, had failed to yield to on-coming traffic as she attempted to turn left onto East Telegraph Rd. from the mobile home park. Her vehicle collided with a vehicle, driven by Michael Sparkuhl, 70 of Santa Paula, who was traveling eastbound on East Telegraph Rd. Martin’s vehicle came to rest in the eastbound traffic lanes, while Sparkuhl’s vehicle crossed westbound traffic lanes and came to rest against a guardrail along the north side of the highway. Martin, Sparkuhl, and Sparkuhl’s wife, Deborah, 65, were treated at the scene by EMS personnel and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden Enlarge Photo |
 (l-r) Fillmore City Attorney Tiffany Israel, Fire Chief Rigo Landeros, Mayor Diane McCall, City Planner Kevin McSweeney, and City Manager David Rowlands listen to information and suggestions at Tuesday night’s special workshop meeting. Enlarge Photo By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
Most people start the New Year with goals, and the Fillmore City Council is doing exactly that. The first Council meeting of 2016 was a special meeting to address the goals that have been completed and those it wants accomplished. Back in April 3, 2013 Bill Herrera conducted a Town Hall Meeting held at City Hall that was the beginning of a number of Goal Setting Workshop's with the objective of setting priorities and goals for Fillmore, both immediate and long-standing. At that time there were a number of changes to the council itself, as new members arrived and old members changed their direction or resigned. The issues of the tax monies being withheld by the Board of Equalization was a big issue along with the need for a new City Manager and a new Finance Director; all of which have now been resolved. The residual affect of the recession and staff hours cut to the bare-bones only added to the difficult issues City Hall was facing. Problems such as record retention and staff identifying what records they did have, the need for reports to be efficient and concise, and not enough staff to function full time were high hurdles. Many of those problems have been addressed and put in order. Council Member Douglas CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
 Rain was running down the alley west of Central Avenue Tuesday morning. The first of at least three storm fronts hit Fillmore in the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 4th Rain is expected to continue, on and off, through Friday, with a new storm coming next Wednesday, January 13th. Photo courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo  Right, rain water was flowing everywhere around Fillmore, Tuesday morning. Authorities have been advising Ventura County residents to prepare for the coming El Nino. Photo courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
A pedestrian was struck and killed on Highway 126 Sunday, December 27th. The accident happened at 5:20pm near the Sespe Creek Bridge, west of Fillmore. According to the CHP Maria Velasquez, 45, ran across the busy highway from the north side and was struck by a car traveling eastbound. Velasquez, a transient, was taken to VCMC where she was pronounced dead. |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
 Francis Casillas Traffic collisions, especially around the holidays, are traumatic events that can often be avoided. In the past four days, the California Highway Patrol has investigated two fatal traffic collisions just outside the city of Fillmore, and at about 12:25am, December 30th, the Fillmore Police Department responded to a single-vehicle collision in the area of Ventura St. and D St., Fillmore. They found that Francis Casillas, 21 of Oxnard, had been driving at a high rate of speed, westbound on Ventura St., when she lost control of her vehicle and collided with a power pole. They determined she had been driving under the influence of alcohol, arrested her for 23152(a) VC – DUI, and booked her into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. Southern California Edison responded to replace the power pole, which was sheared off in the collision, and the immediate area suffered a power outage for several hours. The Fillmore Police Department encourages all motorists to avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol this holiday season. Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden. |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
Ventura County Sheriff's Department Fires are universally feared for their destructive and unpredictable nature and can destroy entire neighborhoods if not controlled. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, just before midnight, deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to an alarm call at the Planned Parenthood office. Deputies discovered a fire had been set inside the building. Members of the Ventura County Fire Department responded and quickly extinguished the fire. Much of the first floor of the business sustained significant water damage from the building’s overhead fire sprinkler system; which played a significant part in putting out the fire. Investigators from Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Bureau, along with Arson Investigators from the Ventura County Fire Department began an investigation. Detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau obtained information which led them to Oxnard resident Alvaro Perez as a suspect in the arson. Through various investigative methods and techniques, detectives developed overwhelming evidence that Perez had carried out the arson at Planned Parenthood. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, Major Crimes Detectives arrested Perez for the Planned Parenthood arson. Perez is currently an inmate at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility / Main jail on other cases wherein he is suspected of committing the following criminal acts: battery, vandalism, violation of a domestic restraining order, domestic-spousal battery and possession of a firearm. His bail for the arson arrest is $50,000; however, Perez has several open cases, one of which he is currently awaiting sentencing on and there is no bail associated with it. Under California Penal Code Section 451 P.C., maliciously setting a fire is a serious felony that can result in a lengthy prison sentence. Arson is the crime of intentionally, deliberately and maliciously setting fire to buildings, wild land areas, dumpsters, vehicles or other property with the intent to cause damage. In California, a conviction for arson of property that is not your own is a felony punishable by up to three years in state prison. Aggravated arson, which carries the most severe punishment for arson, is punishable by 10 years to life in state prison. Throughout the investigation, detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau maintained constant communication and sustained collaborative efforts with the FBI, U.S. Marshalls Office, as well as Homeland Security. Investigators are confident that the criminal acts perpetrated against Planned Parenthood by Perez stemmed from an on-going domestic feud and at no point fell into the category of extremism. Nature of Incident: Arrest of Planned Parenthood Arson Suspect 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). |
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By Gina Potthoff — Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
Forest Service is partnering with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to offer $11 million in grants
[Gina Potthoff is a Staff Writer at Noozhawk] The Los Padres National Forest is partnering with a national conservation group to award $11 million in grants to those with plans to restore watersheds impacted years ago by the Zaca and Piru Fires. In a first-time partnership, Los Padres is coordinating with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to issue the funds over the next five years, with the first deadline for grantees coming up at 5 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2016. U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen said partnering with NFWF takes some work off the national forestry’s plate to figure out how to spend the money gained from settlements with parties responsible for those forest fires. The Zaca Fire that burned in the Santa Ynez Valley in 2007 and the Piru Fire that charred Ventura County acreage in 2003 significantly impacted Los Padres National Forest — burning a combined 280,000-plus acres of national forest land and devastating landscapes, watersheds and ecosystems of the region. Madsen said an investigation found the Zaca Fire was sparked by a work crew using a grinding machine to repair a water line on private land near Zaca Lake, north of Los Olivos. The Piru Fire was likewise sparked by construction crews from two Ventura-based contractors, who were using a cutting tool near Piru Lake, he said. “In the case of Zaca and Piru, that legal process plays out over years and years,” Madsen said of finally receiving settlements in both cases. “The purpose of the money is to rehabilitate.” NFWF, which has helped award restoration grants in other federal forests, hosted an open house for potential applicants this week at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren Hall. Through this program, NFWF will invest in projects that provide sustainable and lasting ecological benefits, promote ecological resilience to future wildfires and improve the forest’s capacity to identify and address resource management issues. Manzana Creek, a tributary to the Sisquoc River in the Zaca Fire boundary, has been identified as a primary focal area for the initial stages of the program, Madsen said. Possible projects would improve forest health through invasive species eradication, re-vegetation or by targeting the restoration and protection of species like the steelhead trout, California condor and bigcone Douglas-fir tree. “One of the things that NFWF does very well is leverage the funds we manage with matching funds in order to increase the impact and value of our conservation projects,” said Jim Bond, manager of NFWF’s Southern California Forest office. “Potential grantees are required to contribute a certain amount of matching value to their proposed projects but it need not necessarily be via donated funds. In-kind services can also count toward match. In that way, groups may fulfill their requirements using the value of time, equipment or labor. This is particularly useful for smaller non-profit groups and other organizations that may have limited operating budgets.” Bond said biologists, botanists, steelhead experts, trail crews, local nonprofits and more turned out for the open house. All grant applicants must submit material online through the NFWF website by clicking here. The first round of awards will be announced May 9, 2016, when approximately $1.5 million will be distributed. Grants will range in size from $25,000 to $500,000 per project, although more funding could be allocated for projects with large benefits or multi-year projects. According to NFWF, single project grants will typically be awarded to projects that can be completed within 18 months. [ Original story published by permission available at http://www.noozhawk.com/article/los_padres_national_forest_fire_watershe... ] |