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On 12-13-2011, at about 7:05 p.m., deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to 650 Ventura Street (Starbucks Coffee) to an injury traffic collision involving a vehicle driving into the building and injuring customers inside the business.

Approximately two minutes after dispatch, Fillmore Fire units arrived on scene at the location to find conditions as reported in addition to multiple injured victims. Upon further examination of the scene, it was determined a male subject in his thirties was trapped between the vehicle and interior wall of the structure.

When deputies and the Fillmore Fire Department arrived they found the vehicle, driven by Michael Cedarland, inside the business. The vehicle broke through the east wall of the business, traversed through the customer lobby area, and came to rest inside at the front door. The vehicle pinned one of the customers, Sergio Mendez 30, of Fillmore, against the front door frame, which required heavy rescue from the members of the Fire Department. Two other customers, Jose Iraheta 25, of Lancaster and Thomas Michaels 73, of Piru, were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Mendez, Iraheta and Michaels were all transported to Ventura County Medical Center. Mendez sustained multiple internal injuries and, during emergency surgery, succumbed to the injuries. He was pronounced deceased by the surgery physician. Iraheta and Michaels were treated and released from the hospital.

At this time, drugs or alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the collision. Investigators are looking into the possibility Cedarland lost consciousness while driving. The cause of the collision is still under investigation. Courtesy of Fillmore Police Department and Fillmore Fire Department.

City of Fillmore

The December 13, 2011 Fillmore City Council Meeting began with a salute to exiting Council Member Patti Walker and continued with a decision on how to replace the vacant seat along with a plea to reconsider opening to the public the Fillmore High School running track and adopt a resolution to annually review the Fillmore Business Park.

About 30 people came to honor Walker for her nine years of service to Fillmore; in attendance were Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, Mark Lawler and Sheriff’s Captains Randy Pentis, Tim Hagel, Bruce Macedo, Monica McGrath and Sgt. Dave Wareham among others.

Mayor Gayle Washburn presented Walker with a proclamation and spoke of Walker’s hard work on various committees and civic pride as a community leader. Lawler said he had known Walker for about five years and that she has done an incredible job of representing Fillmore, thanking her for her years of service adding, “There are very few people who can calm a room just by their presence.”
Long presented Walker with a proclamation signed by all five Ventura County Supervisors and stated “(Walker) always understood we have to work together….It’s been a pleasure to work with you.”

Walker told those CONTINUED »

Jan Marholin, new Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley CEO.

The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is pleased to announce that their new CEO is Jan Marholin. Jan is currently an elementary Principal in Fillmore. She will be retiring from education in December and taking over the CEO position in early January 2012.

Jan brings with her the educational, management and organizational skills needed for this position. She has had experience being on other non-profit boards and understands the need for both community and business relationships. She has written many grants and has relationships with many foundations. Jan is very excited and looks forward to being part of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley.

When Jan isn’t working she loves traveling and finding restaurants that have been showcased on the Food Network. Jan loves sports and loves to be outside with her cocker spaniels.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On December 10, 2011, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Camarillo patrol deputies responded to the 300 block of Paseo Camarillo, in the city of Camarillo, to a call of a physical altercation involving a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies located an adult male victim suffering from a serious head wound. The initial investigation revealed the victim was involved in a fist-fight with a family member and another subject identified as local gang member Juan Dominguez. During the fight, Dominguez, who is on parole, used a beer bottle to strike the victim on top of the head, causing a deep lasceration. Immediately following the altercation, Dominguez and a female suspect identified as Christine Saenz took the victim’s vehicle without permission and fled the area.

Later that morning, investigators assigned to the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail continued the investigation. A lengthy search of various locations throughout Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Ventura resulted in the eventual discovery of the victim’s stolen vehicle in the parking lot of Motel 6, located at 3075 Johnson Drive in the city of Ventura. Investigators conducted surveillance in the area and soon determined which motel room the suspects were staying in.

Christine Saenz eventually walked out of the room and attempted to leave in the stolen vehicle, however she was immediately detained and arrested for the unlawful taking of a vehicle. Investigators turned their attention to the room and located Juan Dominguez and a subject identified as Randy Martinez. Dominguez was arrested for committing an assualt with a deadly weapon - causing great bodily injury, unlawful taking of a vehicle, street terrorism, and violation of parole. Martinez was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and being in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, investigators also encountered gang member Frank Gomez in the immediate area. During a subsequent search of Gomez, he was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun and methamphetamine. Gomez proceeded to physically resist during the arrest process until he was subdued and taken into custody with the assistance of a Ventura County Sheriff’s K9. Gomez was arrested for resisting arrest, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a loaded firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, and street terrorism.

Juan Dominguez, Christine Saenz, Frank Gomez, and Randy Martinez were all booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for the listed charges.

Report Number: 11-28060 and 11-28081
Location: Motel 6 - 3075 Johnson Drive, Ventura, Ca.
Date & Time: December 10, 2011/ 12:15 P.M.
Unit Responsible: Camarillo Police Department - Special Enforcement Detail
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
S-1 Juan Amaro Dominguez, Fillmore, Ca., 26
S-2 Christine Marie Saenz, Ventura, Ca., 36
S-3 Frank Valdes Gomez, Oxnard, Ca., 34
S-4 Randy Andrew Martinez, Fillmore, Ca., 22
V-1 Charles Santizo, Carpenteria, Ca.
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Sergeant John J. Gleason
Media Release Date: December 12, 2011
Follow-Up Contact: Senior Deputy Matt Young (805) 388-5117
Approved by: Captain Ron Nelson

Noah Aguirre

Most of the time hard work will always pay off in the game of life. And in the case of Noah Aguirre that is what has happened. Noah, a Fillmore High School Grad Class of 2009, is still working hard at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is in his third year there and plays basketball for the Pipers of Hamlin University.

When I called Noah he was doing just what he always did in his days at Fillmore, he was shooting baskets in the gym. I asked him how it was going this year for him. "Great the team is off to a slow start at one win and two losses, but we have high hopes this year. We have a lot of talent."

One of the best nicknames a basketball player can have is a "Gym Rat”, a player who spends most of his or her free time in the gym, working on their skills. Noah is just that. Since he was a little kid he always seems to have a basketball in his hands. This hard work has given Noah a chance to see a huge part of not only America, but also the world.

After high school Noah played basketball in Greece for a summer. Last year he was asked to play for the U.S.A. team for the U.S.S.A.I. organization. They play basketball in Europe for smaller schools, and teams made up of European pros and College players. "I played against some guys who make $80,000 a year playing ball," said Noah. "A lot of them have been playing pro ball for ten years. It was a great time."

Noah had a chance to play in Italy, Slovenia, and Austria. "It was a great experience to see all the awesome sights. Who knows if I will get that chance again in my life."

Noah said that he has a chance to go to the Bahamas this summer to play more basketball. He is also planning a trip to Africa with the college. "We are going there for some work in Somalia. They need some help there and we are sending a group of men and women from the school. We hope we can do some good there."

Not bad for a kid from little ol' Fillmore, huh? Noah the son of Kathleen and Andy Aguirre from Fillmore played football, basketball, baseball, track & field, baseball, and volleyball for the Fillmore Flashes. He is one of the greatest athletes this great town has had. In football he was All-League, All-County, and was a big part of the team that went to the C.I.F. semi-finals in 2008. In basketball he was the League M.V.P. his Jr. and Sr. year. All-League his freshman and sophomore years, All-County, and All-C.I.F. his junior and senior years. He holds almost all of Fillmore High School’s records in basketball. He was also on the Championship team in 2009. In volleyball he was on the first team Fillmore ever had in 2008. And in 2009 he was a huge part of the League Championship team. He also was the Player of the Year in the league for volleyball in 2009. He did everything in sports but sell popcorn at halftime.

When I asked what he misses most at Fillmore he said, "The weather! It can get cold here. -50 with a wind chill. Now that's cold. I miss my family and friends. And oh yeah the good Mexican food. You cannot find that out here at all. And orange trees!"

This year Noah is again on the starting team for the Pipers of Hamline University. In his first year there he made the starting team about a quarter of the way through the season. His big highlight that year was to come to Cal. Lutheran in Thousand Oaks and take home first place in their basketball tournament in front of family and friends. He scored an average of 7.5 points per game in 2010. Last year the team went 16-11 on the season, then came in third place in their conference. And in the M.I.A.C. tournament they missed a chance to win it all by one game. That would have put them in the N.C.A.A. tournament. Noah did his part with a 10 point per game average.

"This is our year. N.C.A.A. tournament or it will be a big let down around here. We thank we have the team that can make it to the big dance this year," said Noah. "Our goals are high but we think we can do them."

Now tell me Fillmore, don't you think it would be awesome to see one of our very own playing in the March Madness! I for one will be glued to the TV. that night!

Noah said that he is getting along well in St. Paul. "The Twin Cities is a great place to be. The people are so nice here. They make you feel right at home. I have my own place to stay this year, and have made some great friends out here."

Noah is working on his degree in Social Justice, he will graduate in June of 2013."I will come back to California for graduate school after that. I hope I can do some good in this world." Knowing this young man the way I do, I know he will.

When I asked if he had anything he wanted to say, Noah said, "Yes I do. I want to say thank you to my family. They have always been a big support all my life to me. And I also want everybody to know what a big influence Chris Cone has been in my life. I still tell stories of him to my friends and teammates. I still hear him saying 'Be quick but don't hurry!' on the court. I love Coach Cone very much, and think of him all the time."
Noah I know he loves you too! He loved all of his players.

So with a lot of hard work in the classroom, and then in the gym this young Globe Trotter will live out all of his dreams. Good Luck Noah. You have a town standing behind you!