|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 21st, 2022
 Congratulations to The Schieferles for being selected as the 2022 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshals! Mark your calendar now so you don’t miss the parade and all the fun activities happening in downtown Fillmore celebrating Blue & White night this Thursday, September 22nd, 2022. Blue & White night starts at 5pm. Parade starts at 6pm. See you there! Courtesy FUSD Blog. Enlarge Photo |
|
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, September 21st, 2022
A 20-year-old Fillmore man was arrested for stealing several hundred pounds of plants from a local nursery. In the early morning hours of September 15, 2022, a patrol deputy located an unoccupied and illegally parked vehicle in the alley of the 400 Block of Central Avenue in the city of Fillmore. The deputy noticed a large amount of Rosemary plants inside the vehicle, unbeknownst to the deputy, the plants had been stolen a few hours prior. Later the same morning, a local rancher called the Sheriff’s Office to report that his nursery had been the victim of a theft. A suspect had cut and stole several hundred pounds of Rosemary plants from their fields during the night. Fillmore detectives and patrol deputies quickly followed up and investigated. Detectives identified Jose Hernandez, a Fillmore resident, as the suspect. Hernandez has a history of committing similar crimes. In 2019 Hernandez was arrested for stealing Bay Laurel plants from a nursery located in the same area as this crime. On September 15, 2022, deputies located Hernandez along with his vehicle in the area of Saratoga Avenue in the city of Fillmore. Hernandez had attempted to conceal his vehicle by parking away from his residence. Upon contacting Hernandez, detectives located several hundred pounds of fresh cut Rosemary and evidence linking the plants to the nursery where they had been stolen. The stolen plants were returned to the nursey without being damaged. Hernandez was taken into custody and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for felony grand theft of agriculture crops and possession of stolen property. Hernandez remains in custody with his bail set at $10,000. His next court date is set for September 19, 2022 at 1:30 PM. This arrest was made possible due to the “Farm Watch,” a partnership between the farming community and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Farm Watch is a county wide electronic neighborhood watch program that is distributed to more than several hundred farms, ranches, nurseries, and supply houses. This program provides information to ranchers on agriculture crime trends and on how to react and treat the crime scene so that potential evidence is preserved for immediate processing by deputies of the Ventura Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information pertaining to crimes of this nature are urged to contact the Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233, Detective Valdez, or Detective Lemar at the below listed numbers. The reporting party may remain anonymous. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and vehicles, and to promptly report any crime they come across by calling 911. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Nature of Incident: Suspect arrested for Stealing Plants 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). |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 21st, 2022
 The fencing in the breezeway connecting Burlington Street to C Street has been vandalized again. With its out of view location it is a prime target for repeated graffiti and vandalism. One panel of the fencing sells for $120, plus the city labor—your tax dollars at work. Enlarge Photo |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 21st, 2022
On September 13, 2022, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division) received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that a bird collected during the fourth week of August from the City of Simi Valley area tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This is the first bird collected in 2022 to test positive for WNV in Ventura County. There are no confirmed human cases at this time. WNV is considered endemic, so we can expect the virus to stay in our environment. The Division monitors and controls mosquito breeding sources throughout Ventura County. All mosquito breeding sources in the area where the bird was collected will be inspected and treated if evidence of mosquito breeding is observed. The Division also advises the public to take the following precautions to minimize exposure to WNV: Eliminate standing water from your property; make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without holes; when outdoors wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and limit activity especially at dawn and dusk; when outdoors apply insect repellent. WNV can not only affect humans but can also affect horses. For information on WNV in horses, the owners should contact their veterinarian. To report any potential mosquito breeding sources in Ventura County the public can call the mosquito complaint HOTLINE at 805/658-4310. The Division also provides mosquito eating fish to the public to use in non-maintained swimming pools, ornamental ponds and similar water features. To request mosquito-eating fish call 805/662-6582. To report wild birds that have died recently call the California Department of Public Health at 877/WNV-Bird (877/968-2473). For more information about WNV symptoms and preventable measures, mosquito control, and surveillance efforts in Ventura County please visit the Division’s website: www.vcrma.org/west-nile-virus |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 14th, 2022
 On Sunday, September 11th at 7:00am, a group of proud Americans met to honor the fallen NYFD heroes of 9/11. The call went out on social media from Zach Schulte to “the real men of Fillmore” to meet at the 3rd Street stairs to simulate the 2,226 stairs (110 flights) 343 firefighters climbed after the attack at the World Trade Center, NY. Participants were encouraged to wear weighted vests or backpacks to experience the challenge, which took them up and down the Fillmore stairs 23 times. “NEVER FORGET” 09-11-2001. Enlarge Photo |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 14th, 2022
 On Sunday, September 11th, Fillmore City Fire Department held a memorial ceremony marking the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. The memorial began at 6:30am. The American flag was raised promptly at 6:55am. Let us remember the sacrifices made by so many that morning. From the everyday heroes who helped save perfect strangers, to the first responders who walked toward danger in hopes of helping anyone they could, they were all a shining example of how we can easily come together in times of national crisis. We will never forget those brave individuals, and we will never forget September 11th, 2001. Photo Gazette 2021. Enlarge Photo |
|
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, September 14th, 2022
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On the morning of September 3, 2022, deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to investigate a burglary to a business located in the 500 Block of Ventura Street in the city of Fillmore. Upon arrival, the investigating deputies determined that an unknown suspect(s) forced entry through the front door of the business while the business was closed and stole three acoustic guitars from inside the store. The deputies canvassed the area and located surveillance cameras that captured the commission of the crime, on the evening of September 2nd. From the surveillance video, deputies identified 34-year-old, Fillmore resident Guadalupe Lopez as the burglary suspect. A search for Lopez ensued and he was located and arrested in the 500 Block of Santa Clara Street in Fillmore on September 3rd. One of the stolen guitars was located nearby and returned to the business owner. Deputies collected additional evidence which linked Lopez to commission of the burglary. The other two stolen acoustic guitars are outstanding, which are pictured in the attached photograph. Lopez was arrested for PC 459-Burlary and was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura. On September 7th, Lopez was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court and he was held to answer on the burglary charge. Lopez is currently in custody with a bail set at $10,000. His next court hearing is scheduled for September 20, 2022. Anyone with information about this crime or having knowledge about the location of the outstanding stolen property are urged to contact the Fillmore Police Station @ (805) 524-2233 or the below-listed detective. The reporting party may remain anonymous. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has also established a secure database to log information about who has surveillance systems. If you would like to register your surveillance information and allow authorities to contact you, should a crime occur in/or near where your cameras are installed we kindly ask that you email the Fillmore Police Department @fillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org. Nature of Incident: Burglary Suspect Arrested 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). |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 14th, 2022
Tom Brown, 65, of Fillmore, was shot on Tuesday, September 6, while camping in Owens Valley, Mono County. A suspect, Deric Beach, 71, of Bishop, was detained and hospitalized, suffering from alcohol withdrawals, and injuries when captured by a police K9. Brown was shot in the shoulder/chest area and transported by Mono County medics to Bridgeport, then air-lifted to Renown Hospital, Reno. Condition was serious at the time of the incident, unknown at press time. Brown and Beach were acquainted prior to the shooting, which took place at 3am. Beach was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, September 12th. |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 14th, 2022
 Be aware that starting Thursday, September 15th at Rio Vista Park, City of Fillmore landscape contractors will be starting repairs on the irrigation system and the grass. There will be orange construction fencing installed for roughly two months to allow the grass to take root. Please be mindful and stay out of the areas until they are released by city staff. Courtesy https://www.facebook.com/cityoffillmore Enlarge Photo |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, September 14th, 2022
Post Date:09/09/2022 1:50 PM The City of Fillmore (City) is currently in the process of reviewing and updating its Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) for the 2020 cycle. The City is also preparing a Water Shortage Contingency Plan, a detailed proposal for the City’s actions in the event of a water shortage condition. The Department of Water Resources requires water suppliers to update their UWMP every five years. Among other things, the UWMP will evaluate current and projected water supplies and demands within the City’s service area over a 20-year planning horizon. The City encourages local agencies, the public, and other interested parties in its service area to participate in the update process. The City plans to make a copy of the draft 2020 UWMP available for public review by early October 2022. At that time, the plans will be available for review on the City’s website along with additional information, at https://www.fillmoreca.com/aboutus/news-list. Please send comments to: Robert Lepore, GISP, MKN & Associates, Inc. at (805) 904-6530 or email rlepore@mknassociates.us The City of Fillmore will review and take action on the 2020 UWMP at its City Council Meeting on January 10, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. Members of the public are welcome to attend. The City of Fillmore is set to review and update the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) as well as preparing a Water Shortage Contingency Plan to begin reviewing in October of 2022. |