At 11:22 am, on March 4, 2009, Moorpark Traffic Units were called to an accident on Park Lane just south of Los Angeles Avenue. A flat bed truck driven by Juan Vasquez, 37, of Fillmore backed out of the Tuscany Square parking lot onto Park Lane hitting Helen Shannon, 86, of Moorpark who was walking by at that moment. The truck flatbed hit Shannon causing her to fall to the ground. Vasquez was unaware of hitting Shannon and continued to back over Shannon’s legs until a passerby waved him down at which time he stopped the truck.

Shannon suffered major injuries to both legs. She was taken by ambulance to Simi Valley Hospital for treatment where she was described as being in critical condition. Shannon died Saturday, March 7th.

There was no evidence of alcohol or medication being a factor in this incident.

The investigation is still in progress.

Los Camperos
Enlarge Photo

Mariachi Los Camperos celebrated its 2009 Grammy Award with a concert at El Pescador Restaurant.
Enlarge Photo

Fillmore’s own Natividad “Nati” Cano and his band, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano celebrate their 2008 Grammy win at El Pescador on Wednesday, February 25th. Los Camperos de Nati Cano won a Grammy Award February 8th, 2009 in the Best Regional Mexican Album category for Amor, Dolor y Lágrimas: Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. This is the first Grammy Award for Los Camperos de Nati Cano (though Nati Cano performed on Linda Ronstadt’s grammy-winning recordings Canciones de Mi Padre and Mas Canciones).

The music world’s highest honor was presented for the first time to a Mariachi group and not to just one, but two very different kinds of Mariachi groups, Los Camperos and the Mariachi Divas, who tied in the same category for Best Mexican Regional Music.

This category has typically gone to a solo musician, but this year it went to Los Camperos and the all female Mariachi ensemble, the Mariachi Divas, who blend the use of many instruments into Mariachi music. This is considered historic and a tremendous break-through as Mariachi musicians in the past have not received the recognition they deserve, nor understanding of the complexity and discipline of the music.

Los Camperos has also performed at the White House for President Clinton, and at the Latino Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C., as part of President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration celebration.

Tom Ristau

In a brief telephone interview with City Manager Tom Ristau, who has recently resigned to take a position with the City of San Fernando, he had these thoughts to relate. Mr. Ristau has been employed by the City of Fillmore for about 19 years, nearly 5 of those years as City Manager. He took over from his mentor, former City Manager Roy Payne. Ristau looks back with considerable satisfaction for his part in the completion of our new, long awaited, state-of-the-art swimming pool-tennis complex. He was responsible for organizing all planning and for overall supervision of the project. Perhaps his greatest achievement is to be seen in successfully maintaining a 40 percent reserve in the city’s general fund. The fund is expected to exceed a 40 percent surplus this year, an
enviable achievement in such difficult times, when other cities are running deficits. One reason motivating his resignation was a substantial disagreement with new positions taken by the newly elected council. Upon leaving, Tom wishes “...the best of luck to the city and its employees. I have enjoyed my tenure with the City of Fillmore
and the years I have served as its manager.”

Tom's Resignation Letter:

March 3,2009
TO:City Council
I hereby submit my resignation for the position of City Manager for the City of Fillmore. I respectfully request that the City Council waive the three (3) month notice period required under section 11 of the City Manager Employment Agreement entered into August 18,2005. CONTINUED »

At the March 3, 2009 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board meeting, the Board extensively discussed the budget. The Board heard a budget update, approved layoffs, and cited the budget while considering Raiders Youth Football's request to use alternative payment for use of the high school stadium. The Board also heard a report on the Gifted Program.

Assistant Superintendent Evalene Townend reported on school districts' budget-cutting trends across the county. Districts are laying off employees in all categories: administrative, certificated, and classified. According to Townend, an estimated 400 to 500 Ventura County teachers will lose their jobs. Nine districts will be increasing class size. Many districts are reducing the number of work days, not filling administrative vacancies, offering retirement incentives, postponing facilities maintenance, and concerned about meeting transportation costs.

Superintendent Jeff Sweeney said that FUSD's budget had already been reduced by $1.2 million last year, so further reductions are difficult to accommodate. Sweeney noted, "It is going to hurt one way or another." Board members expressed sorrow over cutting essentials.

Sweeney explained that the budget process involves district staff researching and recommending cuts, which must be considered and voted on by the school board. According to law, certificated employees who will be laid off must be notified by March 15th. CONTINUED »

Gregorio Aguilar

Gregorio Aguilar, 19 of Fillmore, was arrested on February 27 on suspicion of killing a Ventura Circle K clerk in the commission of an apparent botched robbery on December 26, 2008. He is being held at Ventura County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

A 17-year old male was also detained in the case after authorities served a search warrant at his home in the 300 block of Rhodes Court, Fillmore. The juvenile was questioned and released pending further investigation.
The store clerk, Sean Odle, 30, was shot in the chest with a rifle about 4:25 a.m. He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he died.

A store surveillance camera shows two hooded individuals in the store, with one crouching by the front door while the other one approaches Odle with a rifle. Odle is seen holding a cordless phone, possibly calling 911, according to investigators. After the shooting, both suspects are seen running out of the store. Nothing was taken.

In 2008, Aguilar pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of second-degree residential burglary. This year, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petty theft with a prior conviction. He served a 30-day jail sentence in both cases. CONTINUED »

Anthony Robledo

On March 1, 2009, at approximately, 9:20 p.m. Officer from the Santa Paula Police Department responded to the 700 block of West Main Street to of a report of a gun shot victim. Upon arrival officers found Jesus Ramos, 25 years old from Santa Paula, suffering from a gun shot wound. Ramos was transported to VCMC where he remains in critical condition.

During the investigation witnesses who were at the scene identified Anthony Robledo, 24 years old from Piru, as the suspect. Robledo who was still at the scene was arrested without incident and charged with attempt homicide.
The investigation is continuing at this time. Anyone with any information is asked to call Sergeant Cordero or Detective Clark at the Santa Paula Police Department at (805) 525-4474.

Shown is an example of a small skate park design. No actual design concept has been made available.
Enlarge Photo

The sleepy little town of Piru may get a piece of the federal pie for a skateboard park if the Ventura County Board of Supervisors votes to appropriate part of available Community Development Block Grants totaling $1.9 million their way. Federal anti-poverty funds, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are aimed at aiding poor communities and residents.

Over $1 million of the monies is tagged towards affordable housing programs, including a farmworker complex in Piru.

The second largest allocation of $200,000 would go to build the skate park in Piru. Total cost of the park is estimated at $450,000, with a collaboration of federal and local funding, and private fundraising.

The county controls the distribution of HUD funds for unincorporated areas, like Piru, and for the cities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, Moorpark, Port Hueneme, and Ojai.

A complete list of recommended HUD grants can be accessed at http://bosagenda.countyofventura.org/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&....