District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Cheree Noel Sanker (DOB 03/07/77), of Fillmore, was sentenced on May 22, 2012, by the Honorable Colleen Toy White to nine years in state prison. Sanker pled guilty on March 15, 2012, to one count of corporal injury to a co-habitant with a deadly weapon, a felony.

The crime took place on October 29, 2011, after Sanker and the victim, who were domestic partners, had ended their relationship. The victim went to their former residence to retrieve some personal belongings. Sanker became enraged with the victim and hit her multiple times with a piece of wood, causing severe contusions. This case was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department in connection with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.

Sanker’s prison sentence was enhanced under California’s “Three Strikes Law” because of a prior conviction for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer in Ventura County. The maximum possible sentence Sanker faced was 15 years in state prison.

The Bardsdale Cemetery will hold it Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 28th at 11AM.

Featured speaker this year is Captain Tom Brovarone. He is the Commanding Officer of the Navy’s Engineering Duty Officer School on the base at Port Hueneme. He previous command tour was at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Florida. He began his career as a submariner; serving at sea on two attach submarines before he went into the business of building of fixing submarines. He has held engineering and maintenance positions on the staffs of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington DC, US pacific Fleet and Pacific Fleet Submarine Force in Pearl Harbor. Captain Brovarone also did a tour in Baghdad Iraq as the Director for Reconstruction for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Captain Brovarone is originally from New Jersey but is no stranger to California having attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey and Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo.

The Rev. Bob Hammond will give the Memorial Service, special music will be provided by the Bardsdale Methodist Church Choir. Also assisting in the ceremony will be Supervisor Kathy Long, VFW Post 9637, Boy Scout Troop 406, Cub Scout Troop 3400 and Bob Thompson. The Boy Scouts will put out the flags on Friday, May 25th and they will be picked up by the Bardsdale 4H on Tuesday, May 29th.

The Board of Trustees of the Cemetery District: Scott Lee, President, Lynda Edmonds, Secretary Rita Rudkin, Gabriel Asenas and Dick Diaz would like to invite the community to this special event.

Second Place, Amanda Vassaur, 17 of Fillmore.
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Third Place, Joel Mayorga, 13 of Ventura.
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May 13, 2012 - Ventura County children in Grades 5 through 12 competed in the third Ventura County Fair Poster Contest with entries that illustrated the Fair's 2012 Theme: "Rides, Ribbons & Rodeos". Of 45 entries, three were chosen by a panel of judges as the winners of the 2012 Ventura County Fair poster Contest.

First Prize went to Sam Coultas (18) of Ventura for his rendition of the Fair with an exciting Rodeo Rider in the foregrounds and a sweeping view of the Fair that includes the ocean and Channel Islands as well as an array of Fair Prize Ribbons. The work is rendered with amazing detail in watercolor paint with ink illustrations in a playful style that is colorful and fun.

Second place was won by Amanda Vassaur (17) of Fillmore for her vivid illustration of a Rodeo Rider in a style that is unique and skillfully colored. Visions of the Fair seem to leap off of the page as your eyes are drawn into the people, places and Fair things in this mesmerizing illustration.

Third place was awarded to Joel Mayorga (13) of Ventura for his electrifying depiction of a Fair Ribbon against an unmistakable Ventura County landscape peppered with creative images of carnival rides, Fair booths and people having a good time at the Fair. The artist's style illustrates the theme with whimsy and color.

"Congratulations to the talented winners of this year's contest," said Barbara Quaid, Fair CEO, adding "every artist who entered can be very proud of your uniquely crafted contributions to our community. You have told us many personal Fair stories, each in your own talented way. We thank every child who participated and encourage all children to continue creating and making art to share with us at the annual Ventura County Fair."

Cash Prizes are being awarded to the 3 winners and their artwork will be used to promote the 2012 Ventura County Fair. All contestants receive a prize and are invited to ride with the Junior Fair Board on a float in the
2012 Ventura County Fair Parade on Saturday, August 4. All contest entries will be displayed in the Youth Expo at the Ventura County Fair, August 1 - 12.

For more information about the Ventura County Fair, and to see the winning designs, please visit www.venturacountyfair.org.