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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
 Adrian Beserra, 18, Piru, Ca. [At press time, according to Sergeant Hollowell of the Ventura County Sheriff ’s Department, “Charges remain subject to reinvestigation.”] An 18-year-old Piru resident was arrested for attempting to rob an elderly victim. On March 12, 2022, at approximately 9:30 pm, deputies responded to a 911 call of an attempted carjacking in the Piru area. An elderly resident reported to have been battered by a known suspect who entered his home and attempted to steal his vehicle. The suspect was unsuccessful at stealing the vehicle and fled the area on foot prior to police arriving. Members of the Fillmore Detective Bureau, Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, and Sheriff’s Gang Unit responded and took over the investigation. The suspect was positively identified as a Piru resident named Adrian Beserra. On March 13, 2022, at about 1:30 pm detectives located and arrested Beserra in the Piru area. Beserra was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail for violations of Attempted Robbery, Burglary, Elder Abuse, and Conspiracy to commit a crime. Beserra remains in custody with his bail set at $105,000. His court date is set for 03/15/2022. Anyone with information pertaining to this crime or any other crimes are urged to contact the Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233 or the below-listed detective. The reporting party may remain anonymous. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has established a secure database to log information about who has security systems. If you would like to register your system and allow authorities to contact you, should a crime occur in/or near where your cameras are installed we ask that you email the Fillmore Police Department at fillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. Community: News Story - Suspect Arrested for Attempted Robbery, Burglary, and Elder Abuse Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
 On Tuesday, March 15th, 2022, at approximately noon, Ventura County Fire, Fillmore City Fire, and California Highway Patrol (CHP) were dispatched to several spot fires along Highway 126 between Fillmore and Piru. According to CHP, the first fire was reported at noon by the shoulder of Highway 126 and Pacific Avenue, Piru. The second fire was reported eastbound 126 Highway and Fish Hatchery Road, Fillmore. The third fire was reported westbound 126 Highway just west of Sycamore Road. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fires quickly. The incidents are being investigated as arson with a possible suspect vehicle described as a white four-door Toyota, according to CHP. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Paula Police were also notified. No additional formation was provided at the scene. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department Ventura County Sheriff’s Office leads the effort to collect supplies to provide humanitarian aid to the citizens of Ukraine. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Ventura County Fire Department is assembling a surplus of ballistic vest, helmets, and medical supplies that have reached their recommended life span. Although the collected items can no longer be used by the agencies, they will provide a layer of protection to those providing medical care to the citizens of Ukraine. “Our hope for this equipment, which has helped to keep first responders safe right here in our own community, is that it will help to save lives in the struggle for Ukraine’s future,” said Sheriff Bill Ayub. The items will be collected countywide and shipped to Ukraine where they will be distributed. Prepared by: Sergeant Timothy Lohman |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
Ventura County Sheriff's Department A 36-year-old Fillmore resident was arrested for stealing several security cameras that belong to the city of Fillmore causing thousands of dollars in damage. On February 23, 2022, a deputy noticed several city-owned security cameras were missing from an area near the high school. Detectives began an investigation which revealed the cameras had been stolen in the middle of the night. Detectives were able to positively identify the suspect responsible for this crime as a Fillmore resident named Isaac Halcon. On March 10, 2022, detectives located and arrested Halcon for this crime. Fillmore Detectives along with members assigned to the Sheriff’s Gang Unit served a residential search warrant at Halcon’s residence in an attempt to recover the cameras. The cameras were not found however, a stolen Harley Davidson motorcycle was recovered in the garage of Halcon’s residence. Halcon was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail for the crimes of vandalism, grand theft, and being in possession of a stolen vehicle. His bail was set at $30,000. Halcon has since posted bail with a court date of March 28, 2022. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has established a secure database to log information about who has security cameras. If you would like to register your information and allow authorities to contact you, should a crime occur in/or near where your cameras are installed we ask that you email the Fillmore Police Department at fillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. Nature of Incident: Suspect Arrested for Vandalism and Grand Theft Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
 On Tuesday, March 14th at 1:15pm, on Central Avenue at Highway 126, the driver of a black four-door Honda crashed into the “Welcome to Fillmore” and “Drive Safely-Come Again” sign. The car sustained moderate front end damages; no injuries were reported at the time of the incident. Cause of the crash is under investigation. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
 On Friday, March 10th, it was an exciting day for the Condors! They received a visit from County Superintendent Dr. Cesar Morales, and Superintendent Christine Schieferle. Pictured above are Dr. Cesar Morales and Mrs. Christine Schieferle as they work on a project with students at Piru Elementary. Photo credit Piru Elementary Blog https://www.blog.fillmoreusd.org Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
By Jan Lee This week let’s talk about bouquets and arrangements. First bouquets are cut stems of the same flower variety. The flowers can be mixed colors or type, but of the same variety. Bouquets have no filler material just the flowers. The exhibitor chooses the vase that looks best with his or her bouquet. Remember the theme. Another division is arrangements. Maximum size for arrangements is 20 inches by 20 inches. The exhibitor provides the container. These flower displays may include items appropriate to the scene. Choose whatever flowers and material you feel best express your interpretation of the theme. There are three classes of arrangements that are judged: Traditional, Oriental Manner and Modern Abstract. A very popular division for both exhibitors and viewers is Miniature Arrangements and Bouquets. Especially when you are expressing the theme of farie tales and flowers, a miniature display could be awesome. The height and width of the arrangement or bouquet are important. The smallest cannot exceed 4 inches by 4 inches. The class for bigger miniatures is 10 inches by 10 inches. Some entries have been very small! Maybe the wild flowers growing on the hills will inspire you to look around your own garden and find some blossoms to arrange in a bouquet or arrangement. Come on Fillmore, dazzle everybody with your cleverness! Enter something in the Fillmore Flower Show or at least come by and see what your neighbors have designed. For complete information go to: www.fillmoreflowershow.org |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
Mask Mandate
 Christine Schieferle, Superintendent, Fillmore Unified School District Released March 11, 2022 Dear FUSD Families, In alignment with Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) and the Executive Order issued by Governor Newsom, beginning March 14th, FUSD students and staff will no longer be required to wear masks indoors and on school busses regardless of their vaccination status. We will continue to strongly recommend indoor masking; however, students and staff will have the personal choice to wear a mask or not wear a mask. I understand that the anticipation of these changes will be a relief to some and a source of anxiety for others. We will continue to support both students and staff in making the individual decisions on whether to wear masks. Responsibility for COVID Safety/Continuing Mitigation FUSD will remain prepared to adjust with conditions of the virus and to all updated public health mandates Respecting Personal Choice We look forward to this next phase and are very excited to see smiling faces and to take another step towards returning to normal operations and bringing back the activities we have all missed. Sincerely, |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, March 16th, 2022
 Hulbert "Hub" Cloyd, Fillmore’s Mayor in 1985. Photos courtesy Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum. Enlarge Photo  Ernie Morales, former Fillmore mayor, addressing a demonstration against the English as the Official Language Initiative. Ernie served as mayor in 1984. Enlarge Photo Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum “Miles From the Border” was created by Ellen Frankenstein as part of her master’s program at the University of Southern California. At the time she was doing research for a film company which was interested in doing documentaries. A headline, “English Language Rule Splits California City” in the August 18th, 1985, New York Times caught her eye. The Fillmore City Council has passed a resolution making English the official language for City business (the ordinance was repealed in 1999). A group of people called the ABC Committee objected to the schools requiring a period of bi-lingual education for all students. Mayor Hulbert “Hub” Cloyd was on record as saying a second language should be taught only at home on a voluntary basis. City Councilman Gary Creagle presented a one sentence resolution to the City Council stating that “The English Language is the official language of the City of Fillmore.” The passage of the resolution widened an existing division between Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents. People on both sides of the issue misunderstood the actual impact (official City business would only be conducted in English) and felt this was an “English Only” statute. According to Ernie Morales who had served as Mayor of Fillmore in 1984 prior to the resolution’s enactment and led the opposition, “The resolution message was vague and cause for confusion as to what it meant outside of city hall business. Town folks became strangers, hostile comments were doled out by both sides of the issue, businesses were boycotted, some services were denied to minority residents, long-time social relationship were split, etc.” Ellen was sent to Fillmore for one day to see if this was something that could be turned into a documentary. The company she was working for did not end up making the documentary on the resolution, but Ellen saw a possible topic for her Master’s thesis. “I really started thinking about the immigrant process, what it means to come to a new country.” Ellen explained that, “I'd met Manuela (Aparicio) and asked her and her brother Ben, if I could focus the film on them.” “Miles From the Border” focused on the experience of the children of the Aparicio Family who had come to Fillmore in 1961 from a small village, Huejote, in Zacatecas arriving in Fillmore in 1965. Their father, Manuel Aparicio, picked oranges as did the children when they weren’t in school. It was Manuel’s dream for his children to become educated and prosper in the United States. The children were encouraged by their parents to excel academically and go on to college. This put the family at odds with some others in the Hispanic community. Manuela recalled being referred to as a ‘traitor” because she aspired do more than work in agriculture or the bra factory. The children of Manuel and Ines Aparicio lived in two worlds and that is reflected in the documentary. After the screening, Manuela Aparicio and Ellen Frankenstein, joined by Thomas Luehrsen who had been the camera man for the documentary, reminisced about the making of the documentary and took questions from the viewers. |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, March 9th, 2022
 On Thursday, March 3, 2022, at 8:16am, Ventura County Fire Department, Fillmore City Fire, Ventura County Sheriff’s, California Highway Patrol and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a reported solo vehicle in a ditch in the area of Riverside Avenue and Santa Paula St., Bardsdale. Arriving fire crews reported a vehicle in ditch, one occupant out of the vehicle-no injuries-with a fully engulfed Tesla, according to CHP. According to CHP the Tesla battery caught fire—vehicle was fully engulfed. VCFD PIO Twitter reported: “It took about 4 hours, 2,500 gallons of water, 5 engines, 1 water tender 2 BC’s and a Hazmat Officer to control the scene.” According to the onscene CHP Officer the Tesla was traveling eastbound on Riverside Avenue, lost control and caught fire. Sheriff ’s Deputies shut down eastbound and westbound lanes of Riverside Avenue for over six hours. No injuries were reported at the time of the incident. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo |
