SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today announced the first confirmed death in California due to West Nile virus (WNV). The deceased person was a senior citizen in Nevada County.

“This death is a tragic reminder of how severe West Nile virus disease can be,” said Dr. Smith. “West Nile virus activity is more widespread in 2015 than in years past. Californians need to be vigilant in protecting themselves.”

WNV is influenced by many factors such as climate, the number and types of birds and mosquitoes in an area, and the level of immunity in birds to WNV. It is possible that the drought has contributed to WNV amplification by reducing sources of water for birds and mosquitoes. As birds and mosquitoes seek water, they are coming into closer contact and amplifying the transmission of the virus.

Thirty-three California counties have reported WNV activity so far this year, four more than this time last year and above the five-year average of 22. To date, 497 mosquito samples have tested positive for WNV, which exceeds the five-year average of 330.

WNV 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. Studies also indicate that those with diabetes and/or hypertension are at greatest risk for serious illness.

CDPH recommends that individuals prevent exposure to mosquito bites and WNV 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 two 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, by emptying flower pots, old car tires, buckets, and other containers. 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 WNV activity in the state. Californians are encouraged to report dead birds on the website or by calling toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473).

www.cdph.ca.gov

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Sheriff’s deputies from the Fillmore station received an anonymous tip of a possible Cockfighting event in the fields near the 3000 block of East Telegraph Road in Fillmore. Deputies located the operation on the property bordering the Santa Clara River bottom south of East Telegraph Road (SR126). When deputies arrived, multiple subjects fled the scene, running into the dense brush of the river bottom. The four subjects above were detained and ultimately arrested for being involved in the event. Approximately 39 roosters were located in small cages and confiscated. The event was stopped in the early stages and as a result, no birds were injured. Evidence was found relating to the event, including small sharp knives typically attached to the birds’ legs for use during the fighting. Once attached to the legs, the knives cause severe damage to the opponent, including death. Over $1,000, which was being used for illegal wagering, was also seized as evidence. Ventura Animal Services responded and took possession of the birds.

The Ventura Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for being aware of the operation and notifying deputies. The tip led to a quick response and the birds were ultimately confiscated before any fighting occurred.

Nature of Incident: Animal Cruelty
Report Number: RB# 152003600
Location: 3000 Block East Telegraph Road Fillmore Ca.
Date & Time: 7-18-2015 @ 0700 hours.
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Office, Ventura Animal Services.
Prepared by: Sergeant Dave Sparks
News Release Date: 7-18-2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Det. Greg Cadman, Sheriff’s Agriculture/ Major Crimes Unit. greg.cadman@ventura.org
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Navarro, Fermin Sylmar Ca. 32
(S) Vasquez-Sanchez, Lucio Ojai Ca.34
(S) Suarez-Guzman, Rodrigo Ojai Ca. 28
(S) Figueroa, Abraham Piru Ca. 54
Approved by:
Capt. Dave Wareham

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).

On July 8, 2015, at approximately 1623 hours, Santa Paula Police Officers were dispatched to Martini's Auto Sales at 801 block E. Main St regarding a carjacking that just occurred. The reporting party stated a female, identified as Jaylene Mata,went into the business and requested to test drive a vehicle. While test driving the vehicle, Mata pulled over in the area of 11th and Main St and picked up three males. The salesman from Martini Auto Sales heard what he believed to be someone chambering a round into a handgun from the back seat. One of the males in the back seat told the salesman to get out of the vehicle and threatened to kill him if he told anyone. The four subjects fled in the vehicle east on Main St.

At approximately 1641 hours, Officers located the vehicle traveling north on 8th Street. A high risk traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle. Jaylene Mata who claims to be a gang member, was found to be driving the vehicle and was arrested for 215(a) PC, Carjacking, 136.1(a) PC, Intimidating a Witness and 182(a) PC, Conspiracy. Guy Olvera, a documented gang member, was a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle and was arrested for 215(a) PC, carjacking, 136.1(a) PC Intimidating a Witness and 182(a) PC, Conspiracy. A second female identified as Raylene Juarez, 28-years-old from Santa Paula, was found in the passenger seat. Juarez was arrested for 11550(a) H&S, Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance. No other persons were found in the vehicle. Both Olvera and Mata were transported to the Ventura County Jail.
Officer Preparing Press Release: Sgt. Ken Clark #1070

Fillmore was shaking, rattling and almost rolling last week but no one seemed to notice.

More than 90 earthquakes swarmed through the area, ranging from 2.0 to 2.8.

The quakes started at 4pm Wednesday, July 8th, with a magniture-2.0 quake, striking 4 miles west of Fillmore. Only two of the quakes measured above a 2.5-magnitude, according to the US Geological Survey. A 2.8-magniture struck at 6:33am Thursday, July 9th, 3 miles west of Fillmore, and amagnitude-2.6 quake hit at 11:04am, Thursday, 4 miles west of Fillmore.

Seismologist Lucy Jones by tweeting “EQ swarms like today’s have occurred in the past in Ventura basin. They start gradually and usually last for several days and then terminate.”

The quakes seem to have dissipated after a couple of days, which Jones said is common.

Fillmore has several faults surrounding it including: the Timber Canyon Fault, the San Cayetano Fault, and the infamous Oak Ridge Fault, which cause considerable damage during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

This year’s Ventura County Fair Poster was presented to Council by Ashley Ruiz and Luke Sylvester from Santa Paula, and Chloe Richardson and Hannah Wishart-Saviers from Fillmore.

The drought continues to plague California as water becomes a scarcer natural resource and Fillmore is no different. Although Fillmore has a sufficient water supply to meet its present demands more water resources are needed for future residential and commercial growth. The July 14, 2015 Fillmore City Council addressed that issue while discussing the North Fillmore Specific Plan (NFSP).

Owners of property located east pf Goodenough Road and south of a future 7th St. in North Fillmore are requesting to move forward with the application process of the NFSP. This same developer submitted an application back in 2008 for review without architectural plans which is contrary to Fillmore Zoning Code. The Council at that time agreed to let the application proceed. In November of that same year Measure I was approved by Fillmore voters which reduced the number of residential units in the North Fillmore Plan to 350, half of the original 700, resulting in a density of 5 units per acre. The next month the applicant responded with a Tentative Track Map, but stopped moving forward with the project in February 2009.

The property is currently a citrus grove of 100 year old trees, which according to the developer are not producing fruit and stated the water lines are aged and will soon need repair He stated his doubts that the City will approve the repairs due to the tearing up of the roadway that it will require. Another problem is the orchards butts up to neighborhoods with bees from the orchard hives. Also there is noise from the pesticide spraying required to kill the Asian Citrus Psyllid.

The developer is prepared to move forward once again with the project which consists of subdividing 2, 10 acre parcels for 85 to 88 single family residential homes with 15% of those being affordable housing.

Ten of the acres CONTINUED »

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40 to 50 years old, about 6’ 00” tall, between 180 to 200 pounds, with short “salt and pepper” hair. He was wearing a black and white plaid shirt, black jeans and black dress shoes.

East County Sex Crimes Investigators are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect who appears to have used his cell phone to take an up-skirt video of a juvenile female.

On June 30, 2015, around 1:00 P.M., a witness saw a male suspect enter Claire’s Fashion Jewelry and Accessories at the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks. The witness saw the suspect turn on the video recorder on his cellular telephone. The suspect then squatted down behind the female juvenile victim and placed the cellular phone just below her jean skirt. The female victim was unaware the suspect was recording her. The suspect realized he was being watched by the witness and quickly left the store. The suspect was last seen entering JC Penney before leaving the mall.

The attached photograph shows the suspect shortly after leaving Claire’s.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40 to 50 years old, about 6’ 00” tall, between 180 to 200 pounds, with short “salt and pepper” hair. He was wearing a black and white plaid shirt, black jeans and black dress shoes.

Anyone with information as to the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Tim Lanquist of the East County Sexual Assault Unit, Office: 805-494-8229 or E-mail: Timothy.Lanquist@ventura.org.

Nature of Incident: Public's Help Needed to Identify Oaks Mall Child Annoying Suspect
Report Number: 15-14643
Location: The Oaks Mall, 266 West, Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91360
Date & Time: June 30, 2015 @ 1:00 PM
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office East County Sexual Assault Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedentCity of Residence Age
(V) Juvenile Female Thousand Oaks 10
Prepared by: Detective Tim Lanquist 805-494-8229
timothy.lanquist@ventura.org
Media Release Date: July 13, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Tim Lanquist 805-494-8229
timothy.lanquist@ventura.org
Approved by: Stephen Wade, Captain

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).

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today announced that the level of West Nile virus (WNV) activity is on the rise throughout the state.

“While there have been no human cases of West Nile virus reported so far this year, it is only a matter of time before we see the first case,” Dr. Smith said. “As people go outdoors to enjoy the warm weather we’ve been experiencing, we’d like them to be safe and know how to protect themselves against West Nile virus.”

Thirty-one California counties have reported WNV activity so far this year, 10 more than this time last year and above the five-year average of 18. To date, 240 mosquito samples have tested positive for WNV, six more than last year at this time.

WNV is influenced by many factors such as climate, the number and types of birds and mosquitoes in an area, and the level of immunity in birds to WNV. It is possible that the drought has contributed to West Nile virus amplification by reducing sources of water for birds and mosquitoes. As birds and mosquitoes seek water, they are coming into closer contact and amplifying the transmission of the virus.
CDPH recommends that individuals prevent exposure to mosquito bites and WNV 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 two 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, by emptying flower pots, old car tires, and buckets. If you know of a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained, please contact your local mosquito and vector control agency.
WNV 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. Studies also indicate that those with diabetes and/or hypertension are at greatest risk for serious illness.

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

Fillmore firefighters knocked down a tree fire on the 4th of July in about 15 minutes. The Cyprus trees were in a backyard on the 600 block of Manzanita Drive. The fire occurred around 10:30pm. Video of the fire courtesy of Audrey Hernandez. On another note, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department issued 18 citations for illegal firework’s within the Fillmore City limits. The City of Fillmore sends each person who received a citation a bill in the mail. They have the option to pay it in full or arrange payments. If no payment in full or payment arrangements are met they are sent to collections.