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86th National FFA Convention

Day 1:

First, I would like to acknowledge my FFA Advisor and Past Ag. Teacher, Joe Ricards. Without him, receiving my American Farmer Degree wouldn’t even be possible. Thank you for your continued support through out the years Ricards!

Alright so back to my trip. Well we left California at 6 AM and arrived in Louisville at 3 PM. Got to the hotel and was dressed in my full uniform by 5 to attend the reception that was put together for all of the American Farmer Degree Recipients at the Kentucky Fair and Expo. I was able to hear the inspiring words of some of the representatives of the companies that continue to support in sponsoring the National FFA Convention. They spoke of us very highly in stating that we we’re very lucky to not only achieve our degree, but to receive our degree in person at the convention.

After the reception we went into downtown about 2 blocks from our hotel, and ate a t a very nice restaurant and called it a night.

Day 2:

The next morning we woke up at 4 AM and got dressed for the big day! Today was the day that I had been waiting for; I was receiving my American Farmer Degree this morning in front of 68,000 people, plus not to mention I’ll be on television! We arrived at the Kentucky Fair and Expo. And in no time, I was seated with many other FFA members around the country receiving their American Farmer Degree. Walking across the stage, receiving my degree was probably one of the best feelings I have ever had. To shake the National Presidents hand and to receive a National Honor was amazing. After, the recognition I was reunited back with my Ag Advisor and parents. We then went to the Shopping Mall that was full of FFA attire and much more.

Since we had CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

Fillmore, California—Fillmore Unified School District is one of 477 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 4th Annual AP® District Honor Roll for increasing access to AP® course work while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams. Reaching these goals indicates that the district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit from rigorous AP course work. Since 2011, Fillmore Unified School District has increased the number of students participating in AP while also improving the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.

In 2013, more than 3,300 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement and/or consideration in the admission process, with many colleges and universities in the United States offering credit in one or more subjects for qualifying AP scores.

“It is indeed both an honor and a privilege to be named one of 477 school districts in the United States and Canada selected for this most prestigious award. We congratulate our students, teachers, and administrators for their hard work and dedication as the District continues the arduous journey toward higher expectations and academic rigor. This award is just one more indicator that our students can and will succeed in the future as we continue to implement one of our mottos: ‘Student Success, Whatever It Takes’,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Alan K. Nishino.

Data from 2013 CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

12/03/2013
Vandalism
C St. / Meadowlark
Stolen Vehicle
800 Blk. Valley Vista
Keep the Peace
300 Blk. Market
Burglary Vehicle
600 Blk. River
Drunk in Public
900 Blk. Central
12/04/2013
Vandalism
A St. / Santa Clara
Search Warrant CONTINUED »

Dustin Anderson

Fillmore native Dustin Anderson took the $1,000 prize, competing on the holiday baking edition of “Food Rush”. He received a $1,000 gift card from Cost Plus World Market. “It’s marked down as one of the milestones of my life,” stated Anderson.

Executive chef at Rabalais Bistro and Bakery of Santa Paula, he competed on the holiday baking edition. The show aired on November 26th on the Disney-ABC Television Group’s Live Well Network hosted by “Top Chef” alumni, Ryan Scott.

Anderson was invited to compete on the show after an interview.

He flew to San Francisco for a week of filming. While in San Francisco, Anderson had the chance to meet with some renowned chefs including celebrity chef Tyler Florence, owner of the Wayfair Tavern.

New to being in front of the cameras, Anderson said he eased his nerves with his sense of humor. "I was able to joke around on camera and with the people so it loosened me up quite a bit but the hardest part was not looking at the camera. It’s hard to ignore when it’s right in your face."

Anderson felt the CONTINUED »

Tuesday's Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting focused on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and school funding. There was also a presentation of FUSD's 2012 and 2013 audit by Jenny Dominguez, Senior Manager of Forensic Services at Vicenti, Lloyd, Stutzman Business Consultants and CPAs.

Raina Arellano, Educational Staff Services, presented the CCSS Update: Fillmore High School Curriculum Map Implementation Plan. This is a continuance of the "shift" in teaching that was presented to the Board at the last meeting. Arellano's presentation follows the work of Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Executive Director of the Curriculum Mapping Institute, whose work school districts throughout the country are following. Jacobs considers present teaching skills and paper textbook to be dated. Her website states that teaching for the 21st Century requires overhauling and updating the K-12 curriculum replacing it with contemporary content and skills in a deliberate process of upgrading to technology and how these changes are transforming teaching. The site goes on to say that with these newer technology tools students will be motivated and more engaged, with the goal to encourage wanting to learn. What Jacobs is striving for are students becoming informed users of multiple forms of media and gaining a global perspective. Students writing essays or teachers standing at the front of the class giving a lecture is a thing of the past.

Arellano told the CONTINUED »

It’s nearly time for the 2013 Fillmore Christmas Parade sponsored by Fillmore’s Lions Club. This year’s parade will be held on Saturday, December 7th at 1:00 p.m. and will start at the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street and then proceed down Central to Santa Clara Street.

Santa Claus is expected to be in Fillmore in time for the parade and to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. He will also be available for pictures at the Fillmore Historical Museum, near the train station, immediately following the parade. So be sure to bring your camera so that you can capture all those parade memories along with that special picture with Santa.

The Fillmore Lions Club continues to sponsor the parade in honor of their long time member, the late Henry “Hank” Carrillo. Hank urged our Lions to assume the responsibility of the parade when it was in danger of losing sponsorship. This is the 12th year the Lions Club have sponsored the Annual Fillmore Christmas Parade.

The Parade is open to all groups or persons wanting to celebrate the season with a holiday themed entry. Parade check-in is at 11:30 AM on Second Street in front of the Memorial Building. Applications to participate in the parade are available at Fillmore’s City Hall and at the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce Office located at 211 Central Avenue.

See you all on December 7th!

Merry Christmas!

City of Fillmore

Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee will be selecting the best holiday decorated home & yard for their “Yard of the Month” award in December, 2013. The winning selection will be made on December 14th, and the community is invited to help in the selection process by sending your suggestion with address to Theresa Robledo at Theresa@DiamondRealtyTeam.com or by phone to 805-625-4450 or stop by her office at 460 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore. The award winner will receive a gift certificate for $30 that has been generously donated by Otto & Sons Nursery

City of Fillmore

11/26/2013
Vandalism
500 Blk. Central
Vandalism
1st St. / Meadowlark
11/27/2013
Burglary
800 Blk. Santa Clara
Search Warrant
100 Blk. Surrey
Threats
600 Blk. Santa Clara
Vandalism
400 Blk. Sespe
Vandalism
900 Blk. Meadowlark
Search Warrant CONTINUED »

Moten, 19 of Santa Paula, a documented gang member known as “Napps” and “Clumsy,” is wanted for allegedly gunning down Joseph Arellano, 24, on June 28 outside a home in the 200 block of North 6th Street.

Moten, 19 of Santa Paula, a documented gang member known as “Napps” and “Clumsy,” is wanted for allegedly gunning down Joseph Arellano, 24, on June 28 outside a home in the 200 block of North 6th Street.

Arellano was shot multiple times at about 1:50 p.m. in front of the home of his grandmother in what police believe was a gang-related attack. Arellano was just inside the picket fence of the neat vintage home just south of a famed stretch of historic East Santa Paula Street when he was shot.

Witnesses told police the vehicle carrying the shooter parked away from the 6th Street house and the gunman exited. When Arellano walked up to the residence, the shooter came out from a concealed position and fired multiple times before fleeing. Arellano, struck in the back, was pronounced dead at Ventura County Medical Center.

Arellano was the second homicide of 2013 and his murder was followed by three other fatal incidents.
“There’s no backing off, no forgetting, just 100 percent effort in getting him,” said McLean.
Moten, a native of Santa Paula born December 29, 1993, is Hispanic, 5’ 8” tall, 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

He has tattoos of dots above and next to his eyes, red lips tattooed on his neck, an Aztec circle with a skull on one side of his chest and Felicia on his left forearm.

Moten was last reported to have a shaved head that is also tattooed, although police said he might be letting his hair grow in to alter his appearance. A documented gang member, Moten is on parole.

Moten, said McLean, should give up: “There’s no place for him far enough to go and that includes Mexico.... we proved that with Andres Rene Rodriquez,” handed over to Santa Paula Police at the border by Mexican authorities in mid-September.

Noted McLean, “All our efforts and energy, and the efforts and energy of the community should be on Moten, this is the person we want now, and that $5,000 reward still stands,” for his capture and conviction in the murder of Arellano.

Anyone with information about Moten’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Santa Paula Police Department, 805-525-4474X221.

If the caller would prefer to remain anonymous, they can call the SPPD recorded Tip Hotline, 805-933-5691.
In addition, tips can be emailed to the SPPD at tipline@spcity.org

Those with information can also call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477). The caller may remain anonymous and the call is not recorded.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers can also be contacted by texting “Busted” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stopper Tips can also be sent via the website, www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org

Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for a tip that leads to a felony arrest as confirmed by the arresting agency.