Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is sending a contingent of search and rescue (SAR) volunteers to assist the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department in the search for Arvin Nelson.

Nelson, a seasoned outdoorsman, was reported overdue on August 16. Nelson was expected to return to the Big Sur area on August 14. Nelson began a nine day trek that started from the China Camp trailhead in the Los Padres National Forrest and was expected to end at the Big Sur Station trailhead in the area of Big Sur.

A total of fifteen volunteers comprised from the Fillmore, Upper Ojai, and East Valley Search and Rescue Mountain teams departed Ventura County in the early hours of August 22. The SAR team members are expected to be inserted by helicopter on Friday August 22 into the search area. They are expected to be picked up by helicopter on Saturday August 23 in the afternoon hours.

A majority of search and rescue teams in the State of California are comprised of volunteers. Their skills and knowledge of the back county make them valuable assists to the counties they serve.

Nature of Incident: Search and Rescue Mutual Aid
Location: Monterey County / Big Sur
Date & Time: August 22, 2014
Units Responsible: Fillmore, Upper Ojai, and East Valley Search and Rescue
Victim: City of Residence Age
Arvin Nelson Big Sur Unknown
Prepared by: Deputy Chris Dyer
Media Release Date: August 22, 2014
Follow-Up Contact: Deputy Chris Dyer (805) 535-0270
Email: Christopher.Dyer@Ventura.org
Approved by:
Captain Luis Obregon

Motivated by their adventurous spirit, their dedication to physical fitness, and their commitment to those in the community who need them the most, the Cops Running For Charity team is at it again, this time running a marathon in Ireland.

The team ran a course through the Irish countryside on actual paved roads, which is a departure from their typical adventures, which have taken them to the sands of North Africa, the volcanoes of Iceland, China's Great Wall, and Patagonia's rugged mountains.

The men have collectively run more than 4,000 miles in their quest to raise money and awareness for children's medical charities. The group has raised more than $250,000 for organizations such as Children's Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, ALS Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Camarillo Hospice, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Longford Marathon will be in preparation for a much tougher run, which will take place in Antarctica in March. That event will mark the completion of a longstanding goal to run marathons on all seven continents.
The team leaves for Ireland on Thursday, and the marathon will take place this Sunday. Information about the event can be found at www.longfordmarathon.com.

The team will be led by recently retired Commander Randy Pentis, Commander Tim Hagel, Captain Dave Kenney, Captain Paul Higgason, Sergeant Joe Devorick, and retired Sergeant Frank Underlin.

For information about Cops Running For Charity and how you can help, visit www.copsrunningforcharity.com, or contact Randy Pentis directly at (818)661-8540.

Prepared by: Sgt. Eric Buschow

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Fillmore Police Department/ Ventura County Sheriff’s Office completed a prescription drug collection today at the El Dorado Mobile Home Park. Residents were notified with brochures earlier in the month of the collection date and time. Officers spent four hours collecting 18.6 lbs of old, expired, and no longer needed prescription drugs at the park’s club house.

This was the first time the Sheriff’s Office completed an outreach program to collect prescription drugs in the City of Fillmore. The officers willcontinue to reach out to the other elder/senior care apartments and will return to El Dorado in a few months for further collections.

Fillmore residents are encouraged to turn in their old or expired prescription drugs Monday through Friday at the Fillmore police station front counter. Drugs that are either flushed down the toilet or sent to our landfills may return to the water supply. Prescription drugs continue to be one of the most abused substances in the United States. Please destroy them responsibly at your local police or sheriff’s station prescription drug drop receptacle.

Nature of Incident: Prescription Drug Destruction Outreach Nets 18.6 Pounds
Location: El Dorado Mobile Home Park, Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: 08/21/14 @ 1000 AM -2 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department
Prepared by: Captain Dave Wareham
Media Release Date: 8/21/2014
Follow-Up Contact: Captain Dave Wareham
Approved by: Captain Mark Franke

Alumni President congratulates award recipients
Enlarge Photo

The F.H.S. Alumni Association has awarded out $14,000.00 to the following Fillmore High Alumni, continuing their Higher Education, through the Alumni's Continuation Grant program. The 2014 Alumni recipients are as follows.

Maricela Galaviz, F.H.S. '05. University of Southern California (USC) (Bachelor of Arts, Psychology). California State University, Fullerton (Pre-Health Professions Studies Certificate). Currently enrolled at Marshall B. Ketchum University. (Master of Medical Science, Physician Assistant Studies).

Chloe Keller, F.H.S. '11. Currently enrolled at California State University Channel Islands. Major is Communications with an emphasis in Business.

Corey Cole, F.H.S. '11. Currently enrolled at Concordia University - St. Paul Minnesota. Major course of study- Health, Physical Education, Kinesiology and health Science.

Kathy (Munoz) Meza, F.H.S. '70. Currently enrolled at Ventura College. Focusing on General Studies, and working towards an AA Degree.

Jose Luis Perez, F.H.S. '13. Cal Poly Pomona. Major course of study - Mechanical Engineering / Materials Engineering.

Maria Villalobos, F.H.S. '13. Currently enrolled at Ventura College. (2nd year), and looking forward to receiving her A.S. in June, and then attending Humboldt State University.

Jenna Wilber, F.H.S. '12. Currently enrolled at Westmont College. Major Course of study is Sociology.

John Wilber, F.H.S. '12. Currently enrolled at U.C. Santa Cruz. Major course of Study: Environmental Studies.

Troy Spencer, F.H.S. '11. Currently enrolled at California Lutheran University. Major course of Study: Accounting.

Esmeralda Galaviz, F.H.S. '03. Ventura College, (Liberal Arts). University of California, Los Angeles (Ucla) (Bachelors of Arts). Currently enrolled at California State University, Northridge. Masters of Science Nutrition and Dietetics/DPD.

Riley Wright, F.H.S. '11. Currently enrolled at CSU Channel Islands. Major is Liberal Studies.

Anachristina Morino, F.H.S. '12. Currently enrolled at San Diego State University. Major course of Study: Aerospace Engineering.

Kennedy, Smith, F.H.S. '13. Currently enrolled at Colorado State University - Pueblo. Major course of Study: Psychology.

Yanelle Lucia Diaz, F.H.S. '13. Currently enrolled at San Diego State University. Major course of Study: Business - Finance.

Collin Farrar, F.H.S. '13. Currently enrolled at Arizona State University. Major Course of Study: Mechanical Engineering.

Jaynessa Lopez, F.H.S. '12. Currently enrolled at California Lutheran University. Major course of Study: Environmental Science.

Corina Silva, F.H.S. '11. Currently enrolled at U.C. San Diego. Major course of study: Psychology.

Vincent Chavez, F.H.S. '13. Currently enrolled at Ventura College. Major Course of Study: English. Moving onto Humboldt State University in 2016.

Anthony Chavez, F.H.S. '13. Under Graduate work completed at U.C. San Diego. Currently enrolled at California Lutheran University's Graduate School of Education.

Anthony Mendez, F.H.S. '12. Loyola Marymount University. Major Course of Study: Accounting.

Donna Lee Arreguin, F.H.S. '13. U.C. Irvine. Major Course of Study: Psychology and Social Behavior.

Westley Fairall, F.H.S. '12. U.C. San Diego. Major Course of Study: Chemical Education B.S.

Maria Perez, F.H.S. '11. Calif State University Bakersfield. Major Course of Study: Criminal Justice.

Alexander Frias, F.H.S. '13. College of the Canyons. Major Course of Study: Film.

Mary-Louise Ortiz, F.H.S. '13. Thomas College (Maine) Major Course of Study: Communications.

Grace Simon, F.H.S. '11. Calif State University Northridge. Major Course of Study: Communication Disorders.

Jacob Zellmer, F.H.S. '09. Currently enrolled at San Franscisco State University. Major Course of Study: Philosophy - MA.

The Fillmore High Alumni Association wishes all these Fillmore Unified/Fillmore High Alum's all the best in their continued effort toward their Higher Education Goals.

Bill Herrera

On Monday 06/16 we were called out to search for a lost hiker, Mike Heardman an Arcadia Firefighter and his dog; who’s friend had reported him missing for 1.5 days. The search last 18 days until he was unfortunately found deceased from what appears to be blunt force trauma from a significant fall.

The morning of 6/16 our team was flown into an area called Shady Camp; in Alder Creek in the very rugged territory of the Sespe Wilderness and our objective that day was to retrace the first 8 miles of what was a planned 4 day hike for Mike, his friend and dog. We flew in, hiked out the 8 miles and found no sign of him or his dog.

On Thursday 06/19 I returned to the search. I was assigned Division Sup with an 8 person search team to cover 2.5 miles of the Sespe Creek area where Mike was last seen. Our objective was to search this 2.5 miles of Sespe Creek and try to accomplish an 80% probability of detection. This was very rugged terrain and the temperatures were in the high 80’s low 90’s. We were coptered into our search area, about a 10 minute ride from the command post. The copter landed on a small sand bar where two teams of 4 off loaded. I gave a safety briefing and believe it or not the last thing I told my group before we started our line search was to watch out for rattle snakes. Famous last words

At 9:50 AM is was lowering myself down a three ledge formation on the side of the creek. I had sat down on my bottom with my hands at my side getting ready to push off to the lower ledge just above the creek bottom. At that moment I was struke by the snake. I never saw him or heard him before the strike, but I knew instantly I was struck by a snake. I barley caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye. He struck my left little finger and ring finger. As I proceeded to jump off the ledge I was able to look back and I saw what looked to be a large snake body coiled and nestled on a shelf just to the left of and behind my seated location. It was very dark in color almost black. The snake never made a noise, not before and not after. I was certainly where no person would normally go hiking or camping. But again we were searching with the intent of 80% probability of detection. Every member of the team were in places they could have encountered a rattlesnake. I just happen to be the lucky one. It was reported that crews were encountering many snakes during this search.

At 9:55 I was attended to by one of my team members. Pulse was 118, I was working very hard to stay calm, to the point they could not count my respirations. I asked my communication guy to get hold of our radio relay plane which was Air Patrol 415 for an emergency evacuation. Air Squad 8 (Ventura County Helicopter) was also working in the area, flying teams in and out with search assignments. It took about 10 minutes to communicate our issue and location for pickup. During the 10 minutes this is what I felt: Ringer finger swelled and tingled immediately, hand started to tingle and swelled slightly over the 10 minute period, mouth and jaw area tingled and felt numb, top of my head felt like I was wearing a tight hat and it also tingled, I was salivating and got the dry heave’s. At 10:02 my hand was marked at my wrist to track swelling. Copter pilot did an amazing job and landed about 40 feet from my location, as I walked over to copter I felt some general weakness in my legs. We flew about 10 minutes to the command post to pick up a paramedic and his ALS (advanced life support) gear. We sat on the ground for about 5 minutes while a line was started in my right hand. Copter flight to hospital was about 10 to 15 minutes. It was estimated that from the time I got bit, it took them 38 minutes to get me to the ER. All things considered this was a tremendous response time. I was unable to walk from copter into the ER due to weakness. I got my first anti-venom (Crofab) treatment around 10:20. All of the signs and symptoms that started in the first ten minutes remained the same in the ER. In the ER my wife said that my body was twitching all over, in what appeared to be small muscle spasms. She also said the area around my mouth was twitching.

Over the course of the next 24 to 36 hours, my hand, arm, shoulder, front left torso, back left torso, and left side swelled to pretty stiff proportions. I also had some swelling in the left side of my neck and face. This is a rough time table of how the swelling moved up my arm. At 10:02 I swelled to my wrist, 10:30 swelling was below my elbow, 11:15 above elbow and below bicep; 11:30 above bicep, 12 something at shoulder joint. I received over 100 vials of Crofab. My signs and symptoms and swelling all improved over the following 14 days. Main concerns that were verbalized to me were the swelling in my hand and arm, low blood platelets and kidney functions. All seemed to have improved over time.

I spent 5 days in ICU and another 9 days in a regular hospital room. Last 5 days in hospital I felt 95% good, left hand and arm would intermittently swell. Always had good pulses, cap refill and feeling in hand and finger tips. Platelets just did not seem to be cooperating. I was released from hospital on July 3rd at around 12PM with a platelet count of about 22000. On July 11th my platelet count was 159000. Now I am still felling 95% good, energy is a little low but improving every day.

The first day of Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) 2014/2015 school year was Thursday, August 14th and according to the new Superintendent all FUSD schools are in tip-top shape with special attention paid to the landscaping and other safety issues.

The following Tuesday was the first open FUSD Board Meeting for Superintendent Adrian E. Palazuelos Ph.D., who replaced former FUSD Supervisor Dr. Alan Nishino. Palazuelos assured the Board that he was tackling the job right out of the gate and would make Fillmore schools something to be proud of.

Also attending the meeting was Assistant Superintendent Education Services Martha Hernandez, who replaces Asst. Superintendent Michael Johnson. Hernandez previous worked with the Ventura County Office of Education for nine years, Oxnard Elementary for eleven years and Santa Paula Elementary for four years.

The meeting began with Public Comments as six FHS students addressed the Board announcing their sports plans for the coming semester. They included: Francisco Erazo-Cross Country, Alexis Tafoya-Cross Country, Chad Petuoglu-Football, Santana Carrera-Cheer, Sarah Scott-Cheer, and Hayden Wright-Football.

Also attending her first Board Meeting was Fillmore High School Junior Erma Torres, the new 2014/2015 Student Representative also known as "Speaker of the House." Torres introduced her father Michael Torres who also attended FUSD and announced the Welcome Back Rally which will take place this Friday, August 22nd.

Fillmore High Schools (FHS) first away game facing Grace Brethren will take place on August 29th, and FHS Cross Country Team will have their first race at the Fastback Shootout Invitational September 6th at Mt. San Antonio College.

The only agenda item that required much discussion by the Board was the creation of a new committee promoted by the Fillmore City Council. The Council asked the Board if they would be interested in forming a joint committee together. The proposal requires two Board Members volunteer as part of the committee along with two Council Members. All five Board Members agreed to the proposal, but there was question about what time the meetings would take place, either evenings or days. This led to two alternates, Virginia De La Piedra who could only attend during the day and John Garnica who could attend evenings. Lucy Rangel agreed to cover if both De La Piedra and Garnica could not attend. The first meeting is expected to by sometime in December or January.

SACRAMENTO – The first two deaths this summer due to West Nile virus infection have been confirmed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) it was announced today by Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH Director and state public health officer. The first was a senior citizen from Sacramento County. The second was an adult from Shasta County.

“These unfortunate deaths remind us that we must protect ourselves from mosquito bites to prevent West Nile virus and other mosquito born infections,” said Chapman. “West Nile virus activity is greatest during the summertime.”

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. The risk of serious illness to most people is low. However, some individuals – less than one percent – can develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. People 50 years of age and older have a higher chance of getting sick and are more likely to develop complications. Recent data also indicate that those with diabetes and/or hypertension are at greatest risk for serious illness.

To date in 2014, West Nile virus has been detected in 36 California counties.

CDPH recommends that individuals prevent exposure to mosquito bites and West Nile virus by practicing the “Three Ds:”

1. DEET – Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaradin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 according to label instructions. Repellents keep the mosquitoes from biting you. DEET can be used safely on infants and children 2 months of age and older.
2. DAWN AND DUSK – Mosquitoes bite in the early morning and evening so it is important to wear proper clothing and repellent if outside during these times. Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Repair or replace screens with tears or holes.
3. DRAIN – Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including flower pots, old car tires, rain gutters and pet bowls. If you know of a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained, please contact your local mosquito and vector control agency.

California’s West Nile virus website includes the latest information on West Nile virus activity in the state. Californians are encouraged to report all dead birds and dead tree squirrels on the website or by calling toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473).

On August 1, at the Ventura County Criminal Justive Training Center, eight Santa Clara Valley Post Explorers graduated from the Ventura County Law Enforcement Explorer Academy. The Academy graduated 47 young adults and teenagers representing the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Simi Valley Police Department, and the Santa Paula Police Department. The Santa Clara Valley Post was represented by Explorers Demily Amezcua, Nicholas Bartels, Isis Garibay, Isaiah Galvez, Matthew Hammond, Jovanny Herrera, and Lauro Medrano

The Santa Clara Valley Post was honored in winning multiple awards by it’s explorer graduates. Explorer Isis Garibay was appointed Class Sergeant, Explorer Matthew Bartels received the Class Spirit Award, and Explorer Demily Amuezcua received the Female Physical Fitness Award.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office provides a Law Enforcement Explorer program to educate and involve the youth of the community in police operations and interest them in law enforcement functions whether they aspire to enter police work or not. The Explorer program establishes an awareness of the complexities of police services and broadens an Explorer's firsthand knowledge of the challenges and job skills that make up our communities' police services.

Law Enforcement Exploring is an exciting way for young men and women, ages 14 (8th Grade completed) to 21, to explore the dynamic field of law enforcement. As an Explorer, they will have the opportunity to participate in, patrol ride-alongs, Law Enforcement Explorer Competitions, station operations, and assist with community events
Explorers attend a three-week, 120-hour academy designed exclusively for Explorers. The course is usually scheduled during the summer. The Academy stresses the value of ethics, community service, and self-confidence, pillars in Law Enforcement.

Prepared by: Deputy E. Hernandez #4533