Written by Carina Monica Montoya

On June 1, the Fillmore high school gymnasium was standing room only. Several graduating seniors received scholarships for their stellar academic, sports, and community service achievements. Family, friends, and teachers beamed with pride over these young accomplished seniors. Scholarships ranged from $100 to $7,000 from several organizations, including the Fillmore Women’s Service Club. The Fillmore Women’s Service Club was established in 1964 for the purpose of raising funds to help the community of Fillmore. The Club assists families in need, graduating seniors, women returning to education, school activities, local museums, libraries, and many other community groups. Learn more about the Fillmore Women’s Service Club and see photos of the Senior Awards Night event on Facebook (The Fillmore Women’s Service Club), and at www.fillmorewomensserviceclub.com

Bob Hammond

On Monday, May 30, at 11am, a Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Bardsdale Cemetery, honoring those who sacrificed their lives in war. The Reverend Bob Hammond of Fillmore's St. Stephens Anglican Church gave the inspirational message and prayers. Featured speaker this year was Jannette Jauregui, who shared moving sentiments about her experiences interviewing past Veterans in Ventura County over the years. Also attending was VFW Post 9637, Boy Scout Troop 406 and Cub Scout Troop 3400. Music was provided by Alissa Allred Thompson, and Bill Morris assisted in this year’s ceremony. Photo credit Ernie Villegas.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

A Ventura man, identified by authorities as Julius Luna, was arrested for murder Tuesday morning after the shooting death of Gabriel Cueva.

On Sunday, May 29, 2022, at about 5:32 PM, deputies responded to a disturbance call in the area of Azahar Street at Alelia Avenue. This location is in the Ventura County unincorporated area known as Saticoy. Deputies discovered Cueva lying face down in the street, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Lifesaving measures were attempted on Cueva who was ultimately transported to the hospital and later passed away at Ventura County Medical Center.

Detectives procured search warrants and obtained additional evidence linking Luna to the homicide. Luna was located in Fresno County and taken into custody, with the extensive assistance of the Fresno Police Department.

Luna was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he is currently being held in lieu of a $1,500,000.00 bail. He has a scheduled arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court on 06/02/2022, at 1:30PM, in Courtroom #13.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Jamal Clark at 805-384-4740.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance and requesting anyone with videos or photographs from the incident to upload files to investigators at https://venturasheriffca.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/saticoyhomicid....

The files are logged as digital evidence but contact information is not stored. Those submitting media can remain anonymous.

Nature of Incident: Ventura man arrested for fatal shooting of Piru resident
Report Number: RB# 22-70769
Location: 400 block of W. Sierra Avenue, Fresno, California
Date & Time: 05/31/22 @ 8:42 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, Sheriff’s Gang Unit, West County Patrol, Sheriff’s Property/Evidence Unit, Fresno Police Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Julius Luna, 18
(V) Gabriel Cueva, Ventura, Piru, 26
Prepared by: Sergeant William Hutton
Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau / Homicide
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

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).

Blazers 8U Boys and 9-10 Boys Relay Teams.
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Blazers 11-12 year old Division Distance Runners, Abel Arana, Destina Guzman and Lucy Zuniga.
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Blazers 9-10 Bantam Girls 4x400m Champions & 9-10 Bantam Boys 4x100m Relay Team.
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By Erika Arana

The Heritage Valley Blazers track and field club kicked off their largest season yet, with 236 athletes, and the third largest club in the Ventura County Track Conference. This season, the conference welcomed the Rio Mesa Spartan Track Club, total athletes competing was nine clubs of 1,636 athletes.

The Blazer’s season opener was Saturday, March 14, at the Fillmore High School Track. They competed a total of six regular season track meets, JV finals at Buena High School on April 23, where most of the athletes finished their season. The Ventura County Track Championships (Varsity) was on April 30 at Moorpark High School and Blazer’s had 76 athletes qualify.

The Southern California Track & Field Co-Conference Championships were held on Saturday, May 14th at Rio Mesa High School. A total of 13 teams participated with only the conference top athletes who qualified. Heritage Valley Blazers represented well, with 56 athletes.

In Distance and Mid-Distance, Jacob Ramirez was the only (8U boy) to qualify for both the 800m and 1600m. He ran away with two medals, 11th in the 800m 3:27.39, and 8th in the 1600m 6:50.54 PR. Abel Arana (11-12yr/boys) was also the only who qualified and placed 7th in the 800m 2:38.41 and dominated in the 1600m, placing 2nd with a PR of 5:29.17. The Blazers had two (9-10yr/girls) qualify for the 800m; Jaylene Ponce out kicked her teammate for a 4th place 3:01.12 PR finish; In 5th plc was Itzel Arana, 3:03.72. Itzel also placed 4th, in the 1600m, 6:26.97. In the same race, close behind was Anika Uribe, 7th, 6:41.20 PR. Destina Guzman (11-12yr/girls) division took 10th, 2:53.43 and 6th in the 1600m, 6:05.23. Luzy Zuniga finished the season with an 8th place 6:08.78 PR. In the (13-14yr/boys) 800m, Noah Halcon started off fast and eased it through the finish line with a strained muscle. Diego Felix (15-16yr/boys) placed 6th in the 1600m, 5:29.75.

In the 100m, hurdles, Noah Halcon (13-14yr/boys), took 5th. The (15-16yr/girls) 100m hurdles, Maria Faulk took 2nd and Arianna Halcon was 3rd. Isaac Mohun (15-16yr/boys) finished in 1st place, 15.48.

In the relays, Blazers (8U/divisions) 4x100m, Aixa Lomeli, Avery Arias, Delilah Vargas and Nadia Rangel placed 2nd, 1:10.17. The boys, Isaak Romero, Koen Richie, Jacob Ramirez, and Jacob Santa Rosa were 3rd, 1:09.54. In the (9-10/divisions) we saw some impressive racing. For the 4x100m boys, Vincent Halcon, Michael Hipskind, Marcus Castro, and Jesse Navarro took 2nd by 7 hair biting milliseconds. The girls, Alexis Amaro, Itzel Arana, Itzel Abrego, and Jaylene Ponce took 8th, but redeemed themselves in the 4x400m taking 1st with a 5:23.36 PR. The (13-14/divisions) 4x100m, girls, C’enna Uribe, Sarah Cedillos, Jasmine Gonzalez, and Kimberly Magaña placed 4th, 54.08. Boys, Blasie Mohun, Abel Villela, Jacob Montes, and Jasiah Patterson, dropped the baton in the second leg exchanged and finished 7th. Amelia Cervantes, Daniela Hurtado, Kaylee Riedmiller and Sophia Aviles, (15-16yr/girls) placed 3rd, 55.80. Benedict Collins, Isaac Mohun, Joseph Weinkopf and John Paul Mohun (17-18yr/young men), took 1st in the 4x100m, 49.67. Diego Felix and Preston Good joined the Mohun brothers in the 4x400m, to run a 4:14.55.

In the Sprints, first time track star, Nadia Rangel (8U girl) took 6th in both her races; 100m, 16.90 and 200m, 36.68. Vincent Halcon (9-10yr/boys), took podium 3rd place finishes in the 100m, 14.35 and 31.12, in the 200m. A blazing fast 12.86, 100m 1st place finish for Kimbery Magaña (13-14yr/girls), she also finished 3rd in the 200m, 27.54. Teammate, Leah Barragan was behind her in the 200m, 27.88 for 5th and took 4th, 1:04.19 PR. Andrew Estrada (13/14yr/boys) took 8th, 25.80 in the 200m and 4th in the 400m, 57.65. Sophia Aviles (15-16yr/girls) took 2nd, 13.68 in the 100m. Kaylee Riedmiller was 3rd in the 200m, 29.99. Aralynne Gonzalez took 4th in the 400m, 1:21.11. Isaac Mohun (15-16yr/boys) finished with a 58.09 PR, to take 1st place in the 400m. In the (17-18yr/young men) John Paul Mohun, took 2nd in both the 100m, 12.32 and 200m, 25.87. He placed 1st in the 400m, 57.66. Benedict Collins took 3rd in both the 100m; 13.35 and 27.63 in the 200m. He also took 2nd in the 400m, 1:03.38.

In Jumps, Nadia Rangel (8U girls) placed 2nd 9’-06” in the Long Jump. Vincent Halcon, 3rd place jump, 12-11.5. Isaac Mohun had a PR leap of 17’-07.25” for 3rd. His brother, John Paul, took 1st in 18’-05.75” and Benedict Collins, 16’-00.50” PR jump. Joseph Weinkopf (15-16yr/boys) was the only HVB high jumper to qualify and he did not disappoint. He had an impressive PR jump for a 1st place tie that ended in a 2nd, based off attempts, 5’-03.00”

In Throws, shot putters Isabella Zavala (9-10yr/girls) in 5th, 16’-10.25”. Hermelinda Ocegueda 3rd, 25’-02.75” and Jaylin Faulkner, 4th, 24’-04.25” for (11-12yr/girls). Ralph Avila managed to throw his best season PR of 33-10.50 for a 1st place finish. Andrew Estrada (13/14yr/boys) threw 31’-11.75”, for 2nd. In the (15-16yr/girls), Maria Faulk, 1st, 25’-00.50” PR and Kaylee Riedmiller, 2nd 23-04.75 PR. Sebastian Faulk (15-16yr/boys), took 2nd 28’-09.50” and Diego Felix, with a 7th, 24’-06.25” throw.

Heritage Valley Blazers is a nonprofit organization, providing each athlete the opportunity to reach their full potential by developing endurance, strength, self-esteem, discipline, personal accountability, and goal achievement while encouraging positive attitudes, good sportsmanship, and respect. With the help of our coaching staff, these young athletes have grown to love the sport. Until next Track & Field Season... GO BLAZERS!

Fillmore High School will live-stream their 2022 Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, June 9th. FHS seniors will take their walk
across the stage to say their final goodbyes to Fillmore High. You can view the entire graduation using this YouTube link: https://youtu.be/AqFKyBYktfQ

Thank you, Laura Purcell, CFO of Fillmore’s Super Seal & Stripe, for organizing this great project for the Santa Paula Boys & Girls Club site. It has been a dream of the Club’s to have a new blacktop with lines for games. “The kids used to have to
imagine where the lines would be when playing games,” stated B&G Club CEO Jan Marholin. Super Seal & Stripe donated all materials and labor and Laura coordinated with Guy Tittlemier, Division Manager of Pavement Coatings Co. in Santa Paula, and Chris Aurella of traffic technologies LLC in Oxnard, to donate the rest of the materials. This project is huge for the Boys & Girls Club which ranges from 80-200 youth a day depending on the season. Thank you to all these companies for making such a positive impact for the Club!

The Rotary Club of Fillmore announced the FHS scholarship recipients. Scott Beylik introduced the Scholarship Committee; Andy Klittich, Christine Scheiferle, Barbara Filkins, Garo Kuredjian and Dick Richardson, who in turn presented the recipients and scholarships. Angelica Herrera $1,000, Emma Myers $1,000+$800 for the Don & Ruthie Gunderson Scholarship, Gabriela Herrera $1,000, Alianna Tapia $1,000, Anahi Hernandez $1,000 Davian Gonzalez $1,000, Emilia Magdaleno $1,000, Chloie Martinez $1,000+$800 for the Ari Larson Scholarship, Nathalie Magana $1,000+$800 for the Rigo Landeros Service Above Self Scholarship, Brianna Camacho $1,000, and Michael Torres $1,000.

Bill Manning, County Sheriff Howard Durley, Ralph (Curly) Burson at extreme right.
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Fillmore’s Festival Queen of 1946 Queen Ruth Johnson and Ruth Johnson her court Jackie Hampson, Billie Barden, Inez Phillips and Glendolyn Stull as the ride in the Parade.
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George Espinoza.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

It was May 1946. World War II had been over not yet a year. Fillmore was slowly returning to some sort of normalcy. Most servicemen were returning home, though even those that came back were changed forever by their experiences. But Fillmore was ready to shake off all that. The last festival had been in May 1941. Not enough time to get something ready for May, but maybe June?

The Fillmore Junior Chamber of Commerce, more well-known as the Jaycees, had just reorganized and were ready to take on a new challenge. The Fillmore-Piru area needed a new emergency vehicle, but that cost money, money that was still in short supply, so a fundraiser was needed. How about a festival? The first mention of a Fillmore Festival was in the May 10, 1946, Herald in a report on the Jaycee’s meeting of that week. By the next week, the City Council had approved the idea and June 22, 1946, was chosen as the date of Fillmore Frontier Festival, and with John Oxford named as overall chair.

It would only last one day, but it would be a full day of events, starting off with a parade at 10:00 A.M.

The Festival Queen would be chosen based on votes. Tickets were obtained from local merchants, one ticket for each dollar’s worth of merchandise purchased or the tickets could be bought outright for ten cents each, three for twenty-five cents. The contestant with the most votes would become festival queen with the four runners-up as her court. The race for Queen was intense with the standings posted at City Hall and reported in the newspaper. Two weeks before the festival Glendolyn Stull led with 1,974 votes, followed by Ruth Johnson with 1,633 and Billie Barden with 1,596. On the Wednesday before the Festival, Jackie Hampson was leading with 4,904 votes; Ruth Johnson was still in second with 4,260 votes followed by Billie Jean McKim with 3,830 votes. In the end, Ruth Johnson swept the field with 13,008 votes. Her court was made up of Jackie Hampson, Billie Barden, Inez Phillips and Glendolyn Stull, all of them gracing the Queen’s Float in the parade. Grand Marshall of the parade was Ventura County Sheriff Howard Durley.

The barbecue, headed up by Glen Fansler and Walter Hall was held on Sespe Avenue “under the peppertrees” with the newly formed VFW Auxiliary serving. It was estimated that over one thousand people were fed.

One of the more unusual events was the “Dive Bombing” by the US Army. This consisted of two US Army Air Corp planes. One did aerial acrobatics while the other flew low in an AT6 and dropped pamphlets many of which contained gift certificates redeemable at local businesses. Unfortunately many of the pamphlets landed on the roofs of business along Central Avenue and were never redeemed.

During the afternoon, a Horse Show was held on the High School football field. John Galvin, in disguise with a fake beard, stove pipe hat and frock coat, emceed the event. In the windows of City Hall, people could view Al Lamberg’s extensive collection of clocks through the ages. A hobby show was simultaneously being held at the “IOOF Hall, next to the Theatre.” Over a thousand people were estimated to go through the show. The highpoint of the hobby show was Frank Erskine’s display of woodcraft, including a tiny desk, complete with telephone, labeled “For the man with a small business.”

The men of Fillmore had been encouraged to grow beards for the festival, with prizes awarded based on audience applause. George Nadin and Ken Fine were deemed to be the winners. Gentlemen who failed to grow a beard were subject to arrest and fines. City Marshal Earl Hume was kept busy enforcing this one-day ordinance, even arresting City Attorney John Galvin who was spotted through his disguise.

Concession stands lined Central Avenue run by local groups including a shooting gallery run by Oliver Corl, Jr.; a slingshot gallery in charge of Dr. Art Fuschetti; orange juice stands run by the American Legion Auxiliary; an ice cream truck with the Methodist ladies in charge; and several games of skill run by the Jaycees, Lions and other groups.

The evening started out with an amateur show. Entries included the ever-popular George Espinoza from Santa Paula as well as three dance groups under the direction of the high school athletic teacher, Mrs. Aldona Glover. Lee Chriswell won first place with “Indian Love Call.” Mrs. Glover’s groups took second and third places. Judges were Frank Erskine, John Galvin (who must have been let out on bail) and Mrs. John Keefe.

The hectic day ended with a street dance on Central Avenue. A six-piece dance band from Ventura, the Melody Men, played for over 800 couples. The dance was interrupted at 10 pm when the Ford Deluxe Tudor Sedan was given away. Although Vic Casner bought the first ticket with a silver dollar, it was won by George Matosian of Los Angeles.

So, all in all, how did the festival stack up? According to Earl Hume the day was “gratifyingly free from disturbances.” Financially, the event not only paid for the needed emergency vehicle but showed a $200 profit!