At its regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, October 14, the United Water Conservation District will consider banning alcohol at Lake Piru. Over the past several years, a large number of boating and camping incidents have occurred in which alcohol was involved. In an effort to ensure that the public has a safe and enjoyable time at the lake, District’s Board asked its staff to prepare a policy banning alcohol throughout the park, including the campgrounds, day use areas, and on the lake. The Board also requested that an exemption to the alcohol ban be developed that would allow special events, such as wedding receptions, festivals, and fishing tournaments to apply for and receive an alcohol permit provided they agree to follow certain procedures.

Lake Piru Reservoir was created in 1955 when the Santa Felicia Dam was CONTINUED »

Alex Estrada and David Joseph Garcia.

David Joseph Garcia, 34, a Fillmore native, and Alex Estrada, 33, of Ventura were killed early Sunday morning by an alleged drunk driver on Highway 118, after leaving the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event in Fillmore. Garcia’s wife, Sonia Garcia, 26, was critically injured in the crash.

The suspected drunk driver, Jorge Hernandez, 24, of Oxnard was also seriously injured.

Garcia and Estrada were well-known DJ’s in Ventura County, and had DJ’ed the Relay into Sunday morning. The cause was close to Garcia’s heart, his mother survived cancer and his father died of the disease.

David was a Fillmore High 1994 graduate, a big man known for his gentle ways.

David was also known as DJ Gorilla, a nickname he picked up when he played junior varsity football at Fillmore High School. He was also known as DJ Bibi. Estrada was known professionally as DJ Alex E.

David was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. Estrada was pronounced dead several hours later at Ventura County Medical Center.

Hernandez was driving a pickup truck westbound in the eastbound lane of the roadway when he crashed into the car, apparently without headlights.

A dinner fundraiser will be held Thursday, October 1st, from 6pm-10pm at Ruby's Cafe in Oxnard for the families of DJ Alex E and DJ Gorilla.

MEstrada's family is accepting donations at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, account # 122220593, Alex Estrada Memorial Account. The Garcia Family is also accepting donations at Bank of America acct. # 0912130005.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Christian Giusti
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Location: 800 Block Edison Lane Fillmore, Ca. 93015
Date & Time/ RB#: September 26, 2009 @ 3:20 P.M. / 09-23791
Unit Responsible: Fillmore Police Gang Unit / Sheriff’s Gang Unit

Suspects Address Age

Christian Giusti Fillmore 23
Minor (Male) Fillmore 17

On the afternoon of September 26, 2009, members of the Fillmore Police and Sheriff’s Gang Units went to a residence located in the 800 Block of Edison Lane in the City of Fillmore in search of a known Fillmore gang member wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.

The officers located and arrested a seventeen year-old Fillmore gang member wanted on a juvenile arrest warrant without incident. The minor was not the intended focus of the search. The officers entered the home in search of the wanted subject and found Christian Giusti, another Fillmore gang member who is on probation. Officers searched Giusti and found him in possession of bullets and a handgun.

The minor was lodged in Juvenile Hall pending his appearance in court. Giusti was booked in county jail facing charges of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and a firearm; both are felony charges.

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Joanathon “Jon” Gerlach, 20 years, a 2008 graduate of Fillmore High School is stationed in Germany and was recently promoted to Private First Class (PFC) in the United States Army. Jon's entire education was within the Fillmore Unified School District where he also attended San Cayetano Elementary School and Fillmore Middle School.

Jon enlisted in the United States Army in June 2008 right after graduation from FHS. When Jon enlisted in the Army he knew he wanted to make the Army a career and he enlisted for 4 years. PFC Joanathan Gerlach is married to wife, Carmen (Barocio), and they have a daughter Addison 8 months. His mother is Barbara Gerlach of Piru and his siblings are brother Niles Gerlach 31, of Piru and sister, Andrea Rodriguez 28, of Fillmore. Maternal Grandparents are Jack Sivils of Lake Isabella, California and the late Bonnie Sivils. Grandfather Sivils worked most of his life on the Vanonni Ranch in Saticoy. Jon’s Paternal Grandparents are the late Rudolph and Doris Gerlach of Ventura.

United States Army PFC Joanathan Gerlach attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South. Carolina. While he was in Basic Training he was CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

Nine teachers from Piru Elementary School, working with their former principal Richard Durborow, mailed a charter school petition last week to Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Superintendent Jeff Sweeney and Board Members beginning the process to obtain charter status for Piru Elementary School. Piru Charter School (PCS) plans to open their doors beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. The charter petition is a result of collaboration which began last spring during a District reorganization planning process, and which continued despite the efforts of the FUSD administration to halt it.

District Superintendent Jeff Sweeney released this statement to the Gazette: “The District first became aware last year that a small group of Piru staff and parents was interested in pursuing a charter due to concerns being raised by staff who were not in favor of the potential charter. By the end of the school year, these growing concerns divided the staff and was becoming a disruption to the school. Consequently, I directed interested staff not to work on the charter during school hours, but rather on their own time. The Fillmore Unified School District received a petition for a charter conversion on September 16, 2009, without the consensus or knowledge of the whole staff. That was the first official notice that a charter was being considered. No decision on the charter has been reached. A public hearing will be held on October 21 at 6:00 p.m. to review the application. The District will consider the application according to Board policy.”
Following are questions submitted be the Gazette and facts regarding the proposed Charter School supplied by Piru teachers Richard Durborow, Susan Jolley, and Chris Pavic.

Did you apply for Charter status last spring? CONTINUED »

Mary Ford addressed the School Board and City Council.
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John Scoles spoke about use of the track.
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The Fillmore City Council and Unified School District board have decided to set up a pilot program for use of the new high school track by the general public.

The mechanics of how the use will be managed has yet to be determined. A local adult running club presented arguments to the meeting on why they should be allowed access to the track. Both the city and the school district are concerned about liability issues. School Board member Liz Wilde said the city should be taking the lead in this issue but the students should have priority in using the track. School trustee Tony Prado stated that adults need to use the track in the evening. District Superintendent Jeff Sweeney said, “The safety of our students is a priority. Students use the track until 8 or 9 p.m. We are concerned about students mixing with the adult community.”

Both groups discussed charging a $25 signup fee for people wanting to use the track. Deputy City Manager Bill Bartels said CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

09/02/09-09/08/09
SEARCH WARRANT
09/02/09
500 Block Main Street
700 Block Third Street
200 Block Sespe Avenue
100 Block Bridlewood Lane
500 Block Saratoga Avenue
09/03/09
500 Block A Street
09/04/09
200 Block Third Street
09/07/09
900 Block Wileman St.
09/08/09
800 Block Edison Way
SHOTS FIRED
09/06/09
Central Ave. / Foothill Dr.
THEFT-IDENTITY CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Date & Time: September 29, 2009 4:00 PM
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services

At 10:48 AM on September 29th, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.0 occurred in the Samoa Islands region.

A Tsunami Advisory is in effect which includes the coastal areas of California and Oregon from the California-Mexico border to the Oregon-Washington border.

A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

According to the National Weather Service, Ventura County can expect a minor wave up to one foot. The arrival time in Santa Barbara is expected at 9:03 p.m. this evening. The arrival time in Santa Monica is expected at 9:11 p.m.

For updated information, please visit the County of Ventura website and click on the Disaster Information page (www.countyofventura.org/disasterinformation).

Final Fire Information:
Acres Burned: 17,500 acres
Containment 17,500 acres - 100% contained
Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding destroyed
Injuries: 10
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: Ventura County Fire Department, CAL FIRE, USFS, Ventura County Sheriff, CHP, Ventura County Animal Control, CalEMA, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CCC, BLM, City of Moorpark, Southern California Gas, Southern California Edison and Red Cross.
Total Fire Personnel: 1,168 (977 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 70 (60 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 28 (25 CAL FIRE)
Dozers: 6 (4 CAL FIRE)
Water tenders: 15
Costs to date: $9.8 million
Major Incident Command Team: CAL FIRE Team 10 is in unified command with Ventura County Fire
Conditions: Firefighers continue to construct containment line, mop-up and monitor for any fire activity.
Phone Number: (805) 388-4276 (Guiberson Fire Information)

Fire video from this week