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On September 13, 2022, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division) received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that a bird collected during the fourth week of August from the City of Simi Valley area tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This is the first bird collected in 2022 to test positive for WNV in Ventura County. There are no confirmed human cases at this time.

WNV is considered endemic, so we can expect the virus to stay in our environment.

The Division monitors and controls mosquito breeding sources throughout Ventura County. All mosquito breeding sources in the area where the bird was collected will be inspected and treated if evidence of mosquito breeding is observed.

The Division also advises the public to take the following precautions to minimize exposure to WNV: Eliminate standing water from your property; make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without holes; when outdoors wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and limit activity especially at dawn and dusk; when outdoors apply insect repellent.

WNV can not only affect humans but can also affect horses. For information on WNV in horses, the owners should contact their veterinarian.

To report any potential mosquito breeding sources in Ventura County the public can call the mosquito complaint HOTLINE at 805/658-4310. The Division also provides mosquito eating fish to the public to use in non-maintained swimming pools, ornamental ponds and similar water features. To request mosquito-eating fish call 805/662-6582. To report wild birds that have died recently call the California Department of Public Health at 877/WNV-Bird (877/968-2473).

For more information about WNV symptoms and preventable measures, mosquito control, and surveillance efforts in Ventura County please visit the Division’s website: www.vcrma.org/west-nile-virus

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On the morning of September 3, 2022, deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to investigate a burglary to a business located in the 500 Block of Ventura Street in the city of Fillmore.

Upon arrival, the investigating deputies determined that an unknown suspect(s) forced entry through the front door of the business while the business was closed and stole three acoustic guitars from inside the store. The deputies canvassed the area and located surveillance cameras that captured the commission of the crime, on the evening of September 2nd. From the surveillance video, deputies identified 34-year-old, Fillmore resident Guadalupe Lopez as the burglary suspect.

A search for Lopez ensued and he was located and arrested in the 500 Block of Santa Clara Street in Fillmore on September 3rd. One of the stolen guitars was located nearby and returned to the business owner. Deputies collected additional evidence which linked Lopez to commission of the burglary. The other two stolen acoustic guitars are outstanding, which are pictured in the attached photograph.

Lopez was arrested for PC 459-Burlary and was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura. On September 7th, Lopez was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court and he was held to answer on the burglary charge. Lopez is currently in custody with a bail set at $10,000. His next court hearing is scheduled for September 20, 2022.

Anyone with information about this crime or having knowledge about the location of the outstanding stolen property are urged to contact the Fillmore Police Station @ (805) 524-2233 or the below-listed detective. The reporting party may remain anonymous.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department is committed to maintaining the safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

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 @fillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org.

Nature of Incident: Burglary Suspect Arrested
Report Number: 22-118058
Location: 500 Block of Santa Clara Street, Fillmore
Date & Time: 09-03-22 @ 3:10 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
A. Lopez, Guadalupe De Jesus, Fillmore, Ca., 34
Prepared by: Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

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).

Tom Brown, 65, of Fillmore, was shot on Tuesday, September 6, while camping in Owens Valley, Mono County. A suspect, Deric Beach, 71, of Bishop, was detained and hospitalized, suffering from alcohol withdrawals, and injuries when captured by a police K9. Brown was shot in the shoulder/chest area and transported by Mono County medics to Bridgeport, then air-lifted to Renown Hospital, Reno. Condition was serious at the time of the incident, unknown at press time. Brown and Beach were acquainted prior to the shooting, which took place at 3am. Beach was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, September 12th.

Post Date:09/09/2022 1:50 PM

The City of Fillmore (City) is currently in the process of reviewing and updating its Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) for the 2020 cycle. The City is also preparing a Water Shortage Contingency Plan, a detailed proposal for the City’s actions in the event of a water shortage condition. The Department of Water Resources requires water suppliers to update their UWMP every five years. Among other things, the UWMP will evaluate current and projected water supplies and demands within the City’s service area over a 20-year planning horizon.

The City encourages local agencies, the public, and other interested parties in its service area to participate in the update process. The City plans to make a copy of the draft 2020 UWMP available for public review by early October 2022. At that time, the plans will be available for review on the City’s website along with additional information, at https://www.fillmoreca.com/aboutus/news-list.

Please send comments to: Robert Lepore, GISP, MKN & Associates, Inc. at (805) 904-6530 or email rlepore@mknassociates.us

The City of Fillmore will review and take action on the 2020 UWMP at its City Council Meeting on January 10, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The City of Fillmore is set to review and update the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) as well as preparing a Water Shortage Contingency Plan to begin reviewing in October of 2022.

Votes from 6-14-2022 Council Meeting: 8-A, B, C, D, E, H, and I, approved 5-0.

8-A RESOLUTION NO. 22-3892 – APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 PROJECT LIST TO BE FUNDED BY THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 (SENATE BILL 1)

8-B 1. Approve an allocation of funds in an amount not to exceed $19,450 in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget for a contract with Planet Bids within account 101-4207-0021-245- Contract Services; 2. and approve a contract and authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the contract, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Planet Bids Innovative Procurement Solutions for the components described above. Unanimously approved.

8-C City Council approved an agreement with Planet Bids Innovative eProcurement Solutions to provide citywide web-based eProcurement, contracts, and insurance management software.

8-D Adopted Resolution declaring the City-owned real property located at 308 Chambersburg Road/SH23 in the City of Fillmore (“Property”), known as the Fillmore Equestrian Center, to be surplus, authorizing offers of the Property for purchase pursuant to the Surplus Property Land Act, and finding these activities to be exempt from CEQA. Unanimously approved.

8-E Designated a primary voting delegate; and 2) Appointed up to two alternate delegates. Unanimously approved.

8-H City Council reviewed and approved the Agreement for Services (Valve Turning) with Veolia Water Contract Services USA, LLC. Unanimously approved.

8-I Staff recommended entering into a contract with Retail Strategies for one year with options for a second and third year, in a form approved by the City Attorney’s office authorizing the Mayor to execute the contract, and approve an appropriation in the amount of $45,000 to fund the cost to be incurred during fiscal year 2022-23. Unanimously approved.

8-F Authorized the Mayor to sign contracts with Willdan Financial Services for $17,500 in a form approved by the City Attorney’s office. Approved 4-0, Mayor had conflict.

8-G That the City Council discuss and provide direction to the City Manager whether to have the CPA Conduct a feasibility study for the City. Vote not to approve, 3-2.

Horse riders just east of the corral in the mouth of Pole Canyon. Pictured are Dick Sackett, Harry McConnell, Jack Casner, Frank Arundell, Norman Arundell, Mark Richardson, Bill Akers, Steve Manriquez, standing is Joe Real and Joaquin Real.
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Casner’s Fillmore Stable
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Jack Casner was not the most colorful constable Fillmore has had, that title would clearly go to Owen Miller (but that’s another story). He was, however, one of the longest serving and most respected law enforcement officers Fillmore has had.

Casner was born in Santa Paula in 1876 and except for three years in Texas working on an uncle’s cattle ranch, he spent his entire life in Ventura County. He was married twice, first to Kathleen Ransom who died in 1917 leaving him with a daughter, Winifred. In 1920 he married Kate Brown Reams who had two daughters, Grace and Louise, by an earlier marriage. Together they had two more children, John and Emma.

He came to Fillmore at the age of 26 and in 1910 became a deputy constable under John P. Trotter. In 1914 when Fillmore was incorporated, Jack Casner was appointed its first city marshal. He would serve for 27 years. According to him, he had no close calls as marshal but he was a strong influence on the young people. In dealing with a young man who had fallen in with bad company and was subsequently incarcerated in the town jail, Jack lectured him on his bad behavior and what it would lead to. Later the youth’s cronies came to the jail to break their friend loose. Jack arrived just in time to hear the prisoner objecting to the idea, “Jack said this would be good for me, and what Jack says goes, so you guys just try to take me out of here!” There is no later word on how the young man turned out.

Jack Casner owned one of several livery stables in Fillmore. At one time he had seven men on his payroll. He owned 25 horses, 17 one-horse buggies, four surreys, four buckboards and two larger four-seaters, all of which were for hire. He also had four and six-horse teams which hauled material and supplies to the oil fields as well as hauling plaster to the cement factory which was “just west of the grammar school grounds.” When there was an event elsewhere in the county, he could expect that all of the rigs would be rented. He would also house the horses and rigs of visitors coming to Fillmore for events like the 4th of July Celebration.

When interviewed by Charles Jarrett in 1934, he admitted that he helped bring the end of the livery stable about. Once automobiles began coming to town, he would keep a drum of gasoline and sell to the automobile drivers. He missed the era of the horse and buggies, “Maybe they get there faster [in a car] but anybody whoever wrapped the lines around the whip on a moonlight night and let the horse find it’s way home, simply doesn’t know what he missed.”

Although he was busy with law enforcement and the livery stable, Jack Casner was also well known as a cattleman. He ran cattle in the Pole Creek area for many years. He was considered the “dean” of stockbreeders in the county. He was so well thought of that when he lost his herd in the early 1930s, other breeders in the county chipped in to buy a rail carload of new stock for him.

He retired in 1938 and in 1939 he suffered a stroke. He passed away on November 18, 1942.