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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, September 7th, 2023
By Epi Torres On Friday, several former Fillmore High School athletes competed in their first collegiate meet this season. Three of Alianna’s former high school teammates also competed on Friday at the Big West Preview held on the Blacklake Golf Course in Nipomo. Running in the Women’s’ 5 kilometer race for Cal State Northridge, a Division 1 school, was Vanessa Avila. This was Vanessa’s first race this season as a Matador. Vanessa captured 80th place in a time of 20:24.4, and helped her team finish in 8th place. In the Men 6 kilometer race Camilo Torres traversed the course in a time of 19:09.7 and finished in 51st place. As a team, the Matadors finished in 7th place. Also competing at this meet for Westmont was Rey Laureano. Rey finished in 87 place in a time of 20:19.9. In the team competition, Westmont finished in 9th place. It always makes us proud to see our former athletes continue their athletic endeavors at the post secondary level. Alianna will next compete at the So. Cal. Preview meet at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on 9/15. Camilo and Vanessa will travel to Riverside, on 9/16 and run in the UC Riverside Invitational, held at the UCR Ag Ops Course. Rey and the Westmont team will compete on September 8th at the Biola Invitational in Fullerton. We wish them continued success. Go get them Flashes Alumni. |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, August 31st, 2023
 On Thursday, August 24, at 2:00 p.m., Fillmore Fire Department, AMR Paramedics, and California Highway Patrol were dispatched to a reported rollover in the 3500 block of Grimes Canyon Road, Bardsdale. Arriving firefighters found a solo vehicle off the roadway with moderate damage. One occupant involved was transported to VCMC, condition unknown. The crash is under investigation. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, August 31st, 2023
 After a long break, the Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation will be hosting it’s annual Rigo Landeros Memorial Golf Tournament on September 15 at Sterling Hills Golf Club in Camarillo. A shotgun start of 8:00 AM will take place. In 2014, Fire Chief Rigo Landeros and a group of other volunteers organized the first annual Fillmore Firefighters Foundation Golf Tournament to raise money for the Foundation, which provides important funding for equipment and training that might not otherwise be available to the firefighters of the Department. In 2016, the tournament was renamed to honor our former Chief, Reguberto “Rigo” Landeros, who passed away that year. Rigo was tireless in his support of the Foundation, the Volunteers of the Fillmore Fire Department and most importantly the citizens of Fillmore. The past tournaments have graciously been supported by the entire community of Fillmore. There are still a few slots available for golfers whether you want to sign up as a single or have a complete foursome. Besides breakfast and lunch, all golfers will receive awesome SWAG items. A “hole-in-one” contest, “closet to the pin”, putting and longest drive awards will be given out with free rounds of golf as prizes. The day will end with a large raffle and awards ceremony. The monies raised from the annual tournament will help to purchase equipment and training for the men and women of the Fillmore Fire Department as well to support Community Education Fire/Safety Training for youth and adults of Fillmore. To register for the tournament, visit fillmorefirefoundation.org Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, August 31st, 2023
 Meet our Fillmore Cadets: Denise Marquez (right) is a recent graduate of California State University, Northridge. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in sociology and is looking to continue a law enforcement career with the finest agency in the county, VCSO! Aalyiah Alfaro (left) is finishing up her last year at California State University Channel Islands where she is working on her sociology degree. Aalyiah is also doing an internship with Ventura County Behavioral Health and is looking to pursue a career in clinical social work. In addition to knocking their Cadet responsibilities out of the park, these two superstars are both Explorer Advisors who spend countless hours training, mentoring, and developing our young Explorers. They are smart and both have a bright future ahead of them. Denise and Aalyiah, thank you for all that you do. VCSO is lucky to have you both! Courtesy https://www.instagram.com/fillmorepd/. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, August 31st, 2023
 AT&T is setting up shop in the Fillmore Business Park shopping center, 1146 Ventura Street. Devices and accessories will be offered, and phone bill payments accepted in the store. They plan to open for business September 29, 2023. Enlarge Photo |
 On August 18, 2023, VCAT investigators developed information which indicated a large shipment of methamphetamine from Mexico was destined for the city of Fillmore. During the operation, investigators observed Downey resident, Erick Montoya in the McDonald’s parking lot in the 900 block of Ventura Street, Fillmore. A Fillmore Police K-9 was used to conduct a sniff search of Montoya’s vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the presence of 56 pounds of narcotics inside the vehicle, estimated to be worth over $1.2 million. Enlarge Photo By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Thursday, August 24th, 2023
Detectives assigned to the Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCAT) concluded their investigation into a Mexico based drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation of bulk quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. Investigators learned this organization smuggled the methamphetamine into the United States in liquid form. Once inside the United States, the methamphetamine was converted from a liquid form to a solid “crystal” form. Once crystalized, the methamphetamine was then transported in bulk by drug couriers to wholesale customers located in the greater Los Angeles area, including Ventura County. On August 18, 2023, VCAT investigators developed information which indicated a large shipment of methamphetamine was destined for the city of Fillmore. During this operation, investigators observed Downey resident, Erick Montoya in the McDonald’s parking lot in the 900 Block of Ventura Street, Fillmore. Montoya was associated with a blue color Honda Sport Utility Vehicle. Investigators developed probable cause to believe Montoya was in possession of methamphetamine. Montoya was contacted and detained at the scene. A Fillmore Police K-9 was used to conduct a sniff search of Montoya’s vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, investigators located approximately 56 pounds of methamphetamine inside a cardboard box in the rear cargo area of the vehicle. In addition, investigators also located several thousand dollars of suspected drug proceeds, multiple cellular telephones and several grams of cocaine. Erick Montoya was transported and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. The street value of the seized narcotics is estimated at an excess of $1.2 million dollars. This case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for filing. Report Number: 23-106761 (S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ececent City of Residence: (S) Erick Montoya Downey, California 32 Prepared by: Sergeant Odilon Malagon |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, August 24th, 2023
 A 5.1 earthquake near Ojai shook the Fillmore area and beyond on Sunday, August 20, at 2:41pm. Fillmore residents felt a powerful jolt, lasting a few seconds, with more than 30 aftershocks registered. Above is damage to Fillmore’s Vons Market, right Vons’ loosened ceiling panels. The quake was located 4.3 miles southeast of Ojai. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Ventura County Fire Department look at all of Ventura County for damage from the quakes. The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services reported no injuries or major structural damage; Thomas Aquinas College near Ojai suffered minor damage to four buildings, with damage also to the bell tower; SoCal Gas and SoCal Edison reported no issues; the county’s aviation unit completed an aerial inspection of the Ojai area, including Lake Casitas and Matilija dams, and reported no issues. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, August 24th, 2023
 Hurricane Hilary left her mark on Fillmore on Saturday and Sunday, August 19/20th. A large Peppertree in front of Fillmore City Hall was damaged, and (inset) another tree located at 3rd Street and A Street lost a large branch. Over 2" of rain were dropped on Fillmore (4" in the mountains), causing a swift-water rescue in the Santa Clara River. Hilary brought gusty winds, heavy rains, and dangerous sea conditions to Ventura County. It weakened to a tropical storm, Category 3, by the time it reached the county, the first in SoCal since 1939. The storm picked up steam Saturday Afternoon, with bulk of heavy rain on Sunday. Flashflood/Flood Watch alerts lite up Smartphones all over Fillmore and the county, sending out a no-travel advisory. Enlarge Photo |
