By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 4th, 2023
“On Sunday, April 30, at about 1:2am, a Fillmore patrol sergeant was patrolling the Balden Plaza area and observed a vehicle parked near Moonlight Donuts. The sergeant noticed the male sitting in the driver’s seat was leaning back and appeared to be unresponsive. Additional deputies and paramedics arrived on scene and entered the vehicle to check on the male subject. The male, a 42-year-old Fillmore resident, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Deputies located narcotics paraphernalia which indicated the death was likely a Fentanyl overdose. The Medical Examiner responded to the investigation.” Information courtesy Fillmore Police Chief Eduardo Malagon. This is the second Fentanyl death at the Vons Center; on March 26, 2023, a male subject was discovered deceased in the Vons restroom. |
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 4th, 2023
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 4th, 2023
First Bardsdale School, c 1900, which was on Ventura Street between Bardsdale Avenue and Pasadena Street. The school eventually needed more space and a new school was built on the same site. Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum. Enlarge Photo Pictured above is the Bardsdale Oil Derrick back in 1890. Today most of the crops grown are avocados, lemons, oranges and vegetables. Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum. Enlarge Photo This fertile valley had been home to indigenous peoples since long before Portola traversed the valley in 1768 and named it for St. Clare. Spanish control brought the construction of the missions and the subjugation of the indigenous people. The Mexicans living under Spanish rule rebelled in 1821 and took control of California until 1848. This was the time of the great Ranchos such as Rancho Sespe. During this period and into the period when California became independent and then a state, there was continuous westward movement of Americans many of whom settled in the Santa Clara River Valley. In 1853 after Carrillo’s death the ranch was sold to Thomas More and his brothers. While the More family controlled the ranch, they were unable to control the increasing arrival of settlers from the eastern regions of the United States who were looking for land to homestead. The arrival of these settlers caused great tension which culminated in the murder of Thomas More in 1877. (See “Sespe Gunsmoke” written by Charles Outland.) In 1887, Royce Surdam purchased 1500 acres of the land from his partner, Thomas Bard. To honor his partner, Surdam named the soon to be developed city, Bardsdale. In 1887 the town was platted and approved by Ventura County. As part of the plan, lots were designated to be homes, schools, and churches. Streets will sound familiar to those of you who travel south on Hwy 23 over Grimes Canyon. They are Pasadena Ave., Riverside St, Bardsdale Ave, Ojai St, Simi St, Santa Paula St., Chambersburg, Las Posas, Gerberding, Surdam, Blanche, Berle. What? What are those last five names? They are names for streets that were never built. Unfortunately for the developer, the railroad laid its tracks on the north side of the river and the town of Bardsdale died on the vine along with all those undeveloped streets and lots that were never sold for housing. Yes, there are houses there now but many of them were built by the farmers who bought larger tracts of land to produce at first, beans, alfalfa, potatoes, cattle and sheep. Surdam sold the land in 5, 10, 20, 40 and larger acres to farmers who moved here for the fertile soil and mild weather. Some of the earliest families to move to Bardsdale immigrated from Germany. Their names included Haase, Baldeswieler and Bartels. There were no stores built, but a school was built to educate the farmers’ children. The first school was on Ventura St between Bardsdale Ave and Pasadena St. Soon the school needed more space and a new school was built on the same site. This school operated until the mid-1960s when it was determined to be unsafe in an earthquake and the children were bussed to Fillmore schools. The school still stands but today is a private home. Religion was a priority for these families so in 1882 they built the first church on the south side of the river on land donated by Thomas Bard. On Sundays they walked to the simple building on what would become Owen St. This was the German Evangelical Church. In a short time more farmers purchased land and built homes. They also used the little simple church. Services were in German in the morning and in English in the afternoon. By 1898 the membership had grown enough that a larger church needed to be built. This church, still stands today, also on land donated by Bard, on the corner of Bardsdale Ave and Ventura St. Originally it was known as the Bardsdale Methodist Episcopal Church. Today it is the Bardsdale Methodist Church. Services are held every Sunday at 10 a.m. in English and Spanish. The church is “carpenter gothic” in design and is registered Ventura County landmark #50. Today Bardsdale is still agricultural. Over the decades the dryland crops transitioned to walnuts and apricots. These gave way to citrus, both oranges and lemons. Today the crops are primarily avocados, lemons, oranges and vegetable crops. In the early days before TV and all the activities which fill our time, families would pile into the family car and drive through Bardsdale to enjoy its serenity, its scenic views and the smell of orange blossoms in the spring. It is currently spring. Give it a try. |
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 4th, 2023
On Monday, May 1, at 11:04am, Ventura County Fire Department, Fillmore Fire City Fire, AMR Paramedics and California Highway Patrol were dispatched to a reported traffic collision on westbound SR-126 and Fine Road, Fillmore. Arriving firefighters reported a large box truck versus a guardrail. The driver was able to exit the box truck and suffered minor injuries, Caltrans was also dispatched to the scene for 150 feet of guardrail damage (inset). Cause of the crash is being investigated by the CHP-Moorpark office. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo |
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 4th, 2023
On Wednesday, April 26, at 11:15am, Fillmore Police were searching for a male subject who ran from deputies while they were serving a search warrant in the 500 block of Mountain View Street. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, along with a drone, searched the area of Saratoga and Bard Street for the subject. After 30-minutes Fillmore deputies were able to take the subject into custody without incident. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo |
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 4th, 2023
Pictured is one of several streets closed to through traffic due to sewer line repair. This repair is taking place at the intersection of River and C Street. When asked when the work might be completed and costs, City Municipal Services Director Troy Spayd said, “We are reviewing the proposals now. They came in higher than expected. They range in amount from $2M to $4M. Once the work starts it will be completed in 60-75 days or so, for the first phase. The first phase includes the sewer replacement in C Street from SR-126 to River Street. Phase two includes the sewer on D Street from SR-126 to River Street.” On Thursday, March 16, at approximately at 6:45 pm, a sewage main failure in west Fillmore took place near El Paseo St. / Village Square at C Street. Road lanes in the surrounding areas have been closed since then for exhaustive repairs causing major traffic inconvenience. Enlarge Photo |
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 4th, 2023
Established in 1991 by Raelene Chaney to keep FHS graduates safe in celebration, Grad Nite Live continues today for Fillmore youth. A cruise ship complete with “gambling”, dancing, food and fun times is offered to all graduating seniors. Transportation provided. All donations welcomed to support our seniors! A tri-tip dinner fundraiser is being held on Friday, May 19, by the FHS Athletic Boosters Club, from 3:30pm-6:30pm, $50. More information can be found on the page 4 flyer. For more information on how you can help, you may contact Jenny Andrade at 805-340-3601 Enlarge Photo In May 2019, a plea to the Fillmore Community was released by the Fillmore District Safe Graduation Grad Nite Live Non-Profit, asking for donations to help offer the FHS Class of 2020 Grad Nite Live Cruise. The following is an updated version of that plea for the Class of 2023: Dear Community of Fillmore, This nonprofit organization ran for over 26 years (as of night 2019). It was not until Mrs. Cheney’s health took a turn that she could no longer run the non-profit. To make this happen in 2023 they need the community’s help. A large deposit is required to make this happen and unfortunately, they do not have the funds as of yet. They are asking for support from our amazing community to help offer this opportunity to the graduating students. Please help them make this happen for the graduating Class of 2023. For more information on how you can help, you may contact Jenny Andrade at 805-340-3601. |
By Gazette Staff Writers — Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, April 27th, 2023
On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 11:15am, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a suspicious vehicle at the 1100 block of Mockingbird Lane and Sierra Vista Avenue, with a male and female subject inside, the male exhibiting indecent exposure. A Fillmore deputy arrived on the scene and contacted the subjects, with the male, Juan Torres, 28 of Oxnard, providing a false name, then fleeing the area. According to a passerby the subject was observed running northbound on C Street before taking an unknown direction. Fillmore deputies were advised on where the subject was last seen but units were unable to locate him. The female, Victoria Nunez, 19 of Camarillo, was arrested, and the vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded. At 4:10pm, deputies arrested Torres in the Rite Aid parking lot, after a short foot pursuit. Torres was booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for evading arrest, trespassing, providing a false name, and residential burglary. He remains in jail awaiting his court appearance with bail set at $40,000. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo Fillmore Patrol Deputies arrested a wanted felon who was on probation and fled from deputies, committing several other crimes in the city of Fillmore. On the morning of April 19th, 2023, a resident called our dispatch center to report two suspicious subjects loitering in a parked vehicle at Mockingbird Lane / Sierra Vista Avenue in the city of Fillmore. When patrol deputies arrived to investigate, a male party provided a false name and immediately fled on foot. The male suspect was identified as Juan Torres, a wanted felon who was on probation for vehicle theft. The female in the vehicle was identified as Victoria Nunez. Nunez was subsequently arrested for possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Nunez was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for narcotics violations. Deputies coordinated a search and were unable to locate Torres. Several hours later, another resident called and reported seeing Torres on their property via a surveillance camera in the 400 Block of B Street. Deputies returned to search for Torres who fled again on foot and ran into the yards of several residences. Deputies coordinated a search and watched as Torres ran into the Balden Towne Plaza shopping center. Deputies contacted Torres and were able to take him into custody. Torres was booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for evading arrest, trespassing, providing a false name, and residential burglary. Torres remains in jail awaiting his court appearance with his bail set at $40,000. 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. 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 at FillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org. Prepared by: Sergeant Will Hollowell |