The Guiberson fire, which burned 17,500 acres in September 2009 was caused by a spontaneous combustion much pile. Santa Ana winds contributed to the fast-spreading fire which threatened 1,000 structures, with 600 homes being evacuated.

A total of 2,750 personnel were called out to battle the fire, including 200 fire engines, 32 bulldozers, 21 helicopters and 8 air tankers. A converted DC-10 jumbo jet, converted into an air tanker, was used to drop fire retardant on the flames.

The fire cost more than $9 million, and 10 firefighters were injured in the blaze, including smoke inhalation and heat-related injuries.

Mulch piles need to be turned regularly to prevent heat buildup and will combust if not properly maintained. The mulch pile owner has not been cited.

Gerardo Sillas

Fillmore gang member goes on crime spree on balcom at bradley above bardsdale shoots farm dog, robs driver. On Sunday, March 28, 2010, Ventura County Sheriff's deputies were made aware of a carjacking that occurred at approximately 0555 hours in the 7400 block of Bradley Road, Somis. A 56 year old male victim was driving his 2006 BMW on Bradley Rd. when he observed an obstruction blocking both traffic lanes in the 7400 block. The victim stopped, exited his vehicle, and began moving the obstruction from the roadway. The suspect, Gerardo Sillas, emerged from the shrubbery and pointed a handgun at the victim. The suspect demanded the victim's wallet and vehicle. After the victim complied with the suspect's demands, the suspect fled with the victim's wallet and vehicle. The victim called authorities using his cellular telephone. The suspect lost control of the vehicle and crashed in the 8000 block of Balcom Canyon. The suspect then fled the area on foot. Deputies searching the area found the victim's vehicle a short time later with major damage in a field. As the search continued, a 911 call was received from a resident in the 8000 block of Balcom Canyon. The caller reported his dog sustained a gunshot wound. It was later determined that Sillas shot the dog shortly after crashing the victim's vehicle. The dog was stabilized and the wound did not appear to be life threatening. Shortly thereafter, a 17 year old male who was working in a field on Posita Road saw the suspect who brandished a firearm at him. As a result of the brandishing, an additional 911 call was received reference a "man with a gun" at the end of Posita Road.

Deputies and CHP units quickly converged on the location and confronted Sillas who was disarmed and arrested. Sillas was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail for carjacking, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, brandishing, cruelty to an animal, and resisting arrest. Additionally, Sillas is a known gang member from the city of Fillmore. Therefore he was also booked for street terrorism. The investigation is being handled by the Sheriff's Gang Unit.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On Friday March 26, 2010, a Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy was arrested as he arrived at work. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit concluded its investigation of Deputy Anthony LaGrasta. LaGrasta, a seven-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department was arrested for Child Annoying and sending harmful matter to a minor by telephone messages, electronic mail, Internet, or commercial online services.

Anthony LaGrasta was booked into the Ventura County Sheriff’s Detention Facility without incident. He has been released after posting bail in the amount of $10,000. Deputy La Grasta has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of criminal and departmental investigations.

Location: Sespe Avenue at Central Avenue, City of Fillmore
Date & Time: March 26,2010 @ 1815 hours
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of Residence Age
(S) Anthony LaGrasta Ventura 35 yrs
(V) Female 16 yrs

Preparing officer Release: Sergeant Joe Evans

Follow-Up Contact: Captain Ross Bonfiglio 805-654-2417

Date of Media Release: March 26, 2010

Approval: Captain Rick Barrios

Pete Egedi, former Fillmore Fire Chief

Information from Mike Harris, Ventura Star

Pete Egedi (39) former Fillmore Fire Chief, will stand trial for one count of embezzlement and three counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing money from a city fire department stipend fund.

Egedi is accused of stealing more than $25,000, money spent on his wife, gambling debts, paying for a city employee’s abortion, and for a wide screen TV for his home. All four counts are felonies, and if convicted, Egedi could spend up to four years, eight months in state prison. He has pleaded not guilty and has been released on $10,000 bail.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Drescher is quoted “It’s the people’s position that the defendant had his own personal slush fund.” Detective Sgt. Cary Peterson, of the sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, testified (according to the Star report) that former Fillmore Fire Chief, Pat Askren, revealed that Egedi “spent a lot on cars and boats and had a heavy gambling problem.” Defense attorney, Mark Pachowicz of Camarillo, has characterized Egedi as “a great guy who didn’t do anything wrong. ... He didn’t commit any of the offenses that he is charged with.”

Detective Sgt Peterson stated that Egedi stole the money from a Fire Department account he controlled at Santa Clara Valley Bank. This account also held federal emergency services money and proceeds from benefits.

It is reported that in April of 2008, former Fillmore Finance Director Barbara Smith, following a tip from Fillmore Disaster Coordinator Patrick Maynard, discovered 20 checks in the amount of $27,950 endorsed by Egedi or his wife. Egedi was entitled to $1,200 a year from this account. According to Smith’s testimony, Egedi overbilled the city $13,000 for work not done by his volunteer firemen. Peterson testified that Maynard told him that Egedi kept an emergency services reimbursement check for about $51,000 instead of turning it over to Barbara Smith. Maynard told Peterson that the fire department, under Egedi, was run “like a paramilitary operation where the chief wasn’t questioned.”

Peterson also testified, according to Maynard, that Egedi had issued a check from the stipend account for $800 to pay for a city employee’s abortion at Planned Parenthood in Sherman Oaks, and that he had been coerced by Egedi to drive the employee to the clinic.

Egedi had been on administrative leave since April 2008, and he was fired in October 2008. Egedi was Fillmore Fire Chief from 2005 to April 2008. He is scheduled for arraignment April 9.

Louie Cid Garcia

Louie Cid Garcia entered into heaven to be with our Lord on Friday, March 19th surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 28th, 1922, to Epitacio and Refugia Garcia and was one of eight children.

As a young boy, he enjoyed running through the hillsides of Simi Valley. He grew up a rancher's son and learned the trade of farming. He could grow ANYTHING with his green thumb and a nail. Whatever you wanted to know about how to heal a plant or the seasons for growing or planting, he knew it all. His knowledge far exceeded any book you could ever purchase. He was lovingly known by his mother as “mi négro” or “négro” as his siblings would call him.

At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in WWII. With the 5th armored infantry, under General George S. Patton, his platoon stormed the beaches of Normandy and helped to liberate prisoners of war in Germany. He was also part of a secret force called the “Ghost Division” which infiltrated European boundaries. He will always he our hero.

After returning from war, he met his wife Viola and together they raised seven children. For 25 years, he had been employed as a foreman for Livingston and Graham and was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 12.

He was very proactive with the St. Vincent CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

Human Resources Consultant Bev Jones disclosed that 66 Fillmore Unified School District teachers and two administrators received layoff notices for the 2010-2011 school year.

Accusation packets were sent Monday by the District to those employees who want a hearing with a hearing officer and the District, which is set for April 19. Employees who received the reduction in force notices were chosen, based on seniority and job availability in the District next year. For example, 13 of 25 teachers at Mountain View School have received notices. Those laid off can “bump” someone with lesser seniority in positions that they are qualified to fill. The District is trying to eliminate the expected $887,000 deficit in next year's budget. They are currently in negotiations with the teacher's union to try to eliminate the deficit.

Theresa Marvel, the FUSD Teacher's Association President, said they have presented the District with some other ways to cut the deficit then at the classroom level. “We have a great proposal on the table for the District,” she said. The teachers agree to take off five days without pay next year. Marvel said this would still meet the State requirement for 175 student days. Another proposal is to pilot a change in the health insurance program from Net Access to the Net Value program. The union has also put out a retirement proposal for senior teachers. The cost savings would depend on the number of people retiring. Marvel said they are proposing for next year that class size in grades K-3 would increase from 23 to 25 students. That would eliminate the need for one teacher. “I am thoroughly concerned,” Marvel said. “I cannot see how teachers would believe that eliminating class size reduction is helpful. We want our kids to be educated and prepared, she continued. We're here to work at educating students in the best way. We want our community to wear yellow ribbons to show support for our teachers. We also want the community to call school board members and attend school board meetings.”

Marvel feels the District wants to CONTINUED »

Artists Guild
Judy Dressler appeared before the Council Tuesday night, March 23, to represent the newly formed, eight-charter-members-strong Artists Guild, which is looking to grow and find venues to showcase their work. The Guild is holding a Show and Sale at the Giessinger Winery at 365 Santa Clara Street on March 27-28 in conjunction with the City’s RailFest Celebration.

Boy Scouts and Boys & Girls Club
Mayor Patti Walker presented a Proclamation to the Fillmore Boy Scout Troop #406 for Outstanding Service to the Community. The troop filled 1,200 sandbags to protect against potential flood damage at the Fillmore Fire House during the January storms. Eleven of the 16 members were in attendance to receive the Proclamation. Mayor Walker then presented a Proclamation to Sheila Tate to acknowledge March 21-27, 2010 as National Boys & Girls Club Week and commended the new permanent director of Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley for the organization’s work in providing comprehensive effective services to over 300 youths annually.

Keeping Revenues Local
David Mullinax of the California League of Cities, which represents 480 cities in the state, spoke on the group’s initiative to gather 1.1 million signatures by the end of April to protect local revenues from Sacramento. They have collected 800,000 signatures to date and are campaigning to mobilize grassroots efforts to meet their goal in order to keep the state government from “balancing their budgets on our backs.” Mullinax said that the beginning of the process starts with the adoption of the resolution he submitted before the City.

Classification and Compensation Study CONTINUED »

VENTURA COUNTY, CA - Commander Geoff Dean, candidate for Sheriff, announced today that Sheriff Larry "Carp" Carpenter (ret.) has given his endorsement to Commander Dean in the upcoming Sheriff's election. Sheriff Carpenter retired after nearly 33 years of county law-enforcement experience. He began at the Fillmore Police Department, and then moved to the Sheriff's Department. There, he rose through the ranks, becoming Assistant Sheriff to Al Jalaty, Undersheriff to John Gillespie, and finally served as the elected Sheriff of Ventura County.

"I am endorsing Geoff Dean because he has the integrity, education, training and experience to lead the Sheriff's Department into the future. Although he is certainly an able administrator, the job of Sheriff requires leadership ability and I believe that Geoff is a leader among leaders. I proudly endorse Geoff Dean." -- Sheriff Larry Carpenter

Sheriff Carpenter joins the long list of distinguished Ventura County law enforcement leaders, including District Attorney Mike Bradbury (ret.) and Sheriff John Gillespie (ret.), Chiefs of Police Mike Lewis (Simi Valley), John Crombach (Oxnard), Ken Corney (Ventura), Fernie Estrella (Port Hueneme) and Steve McKinnon (Santa Paula), in the endorsement of Geoff Dean as the next Sheriff of Ventura County.

"I am extremely proud to receive Sheriff Carpenter's endorsement. He was the consummate Sheriff and peace officer who served as a mentor for myself and many others. I am honored by his faith in me to lead the Ventura County Sheriff's Department." -- Geoff Dean

For a complete list of law enforcement leaders, public safety groups, elected officials and community leaders endorsing Commander Dean for Sheriff of Ventura County, please visit our website: www.GeoffDeanForSheriff.com

Dean's Resume:
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department 32 years 1978- 2010
 Extensive experience working at CONTINUED »

Richard Lee Schuck "Dick" born October 19, 1926 in Hazard, Kentucky, passed away at age 83 on March 8, 2010 quietly in his sleep at home in Fillmore, California. Dick struggled with emphysema for 15 years. He masked his pain with a smile and a joke.

Dick was a member of VFW of Santa Paula, he was a lifelong Mason and member of the 82nd Airborne in World War 2. He was stationed in Munich, Germany in 1945 and was part of the US liberation of Dachau concentration camp. He took pictures and those are on display at the Los Angeles Holocaust Museum. Dick was one of several veterans who were honored at the Fillmore Middle School ‘Pride in America’ assembly each year.

Dick was an adventurer and a traveler. His work took him to Iran for many years where he lived and worked for Aramco Oil. He also lived in the Philippines and Thailand.

For the last 14 years of his life he lived in the El Dorado senior community with his wife of 16 years Marion. On any given day you would see him walking his dog "Hey you" or working on his backyard making a waterfall. He loved to visit with his friends and neighbors. He really loved to brag about his children. Every holiday he would take them around to show them off.

It is difficult to capture Dick's personality in words. Every memory his loved ones have of him is with a big smile on his face and cracking a joke.

His optimistic attitude, his love of life, his great stories and his ability to befriend all those around him made him someone we will never forget.

He is survived by his wife Marion and his five children Henry, Sheva, Debra, Kimberly, Pamela and his grandchildren Shelby, Amanda and Mitchel.

All Dick’s friends are welcome to attend his memorial which will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 11am at the Fillmore Senior Center. See obituary section.

The Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is very happy to announce the appointment of Sheila Tate as the Club’s new Chief Executive Officer. Sheila’s appointment was announced Wednesday, March 10th and she will take on the permanent position effective April 7, 2010. Readers may recall that Sheila stepped into the Interim CEO position in December, 2009 when the Club was experiencing serious financial difficulties. Sheila took hold of the reigns with a firm and unswerving hand, bringing the Club back to its current condition of solvency. Services to the communities’ youth continue and the trust of the community has been restored.

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is a 501(c)3 non-profit operating with a $986,000 budget, 30 employees, serving 700 children daily from six school sites and two Club locations in Fillmore and Santa Paula. Sheila has been tireless in her efforts to raise grant, corporate, and individual donations by speaking before local service groups and City Council meetings. The Club is moving forward with grant applications, collaborations with other local non-profits and anticipates a financially solid and responsible fiscal report when it ends its fiscal year in June, 2010.

Sheila has long been a contributing member in the Santa Clara Valley, participating as Rotarian with Santa Paula Rotary, and having recently closed her therapy practice on Main Street in Santa Paula. All in all, the Board feels it has made a wise decision in retaining Sheila. Donations are always encouraged at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley and can be made by contacting the Club at 805-525-7910, or mailing a check payable to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley at PO Box 152, Santa Paula, CA 93061-0152.

Ventura, CA – The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) announces that it has been awarded $650,000 through the Federal Home Loan Bank’s (FHLB) Affordable Housing Program for a new affordable rental community CEDC is planning to build in Piru called Valle Naranjal. The FHLB award is made to a member bank which sponsors the project. In this case, Bank of America, N.A., was the member bank which received the funds and will distribute the funds to CEDC when construction on the project begins.

The $650,000 will be used toward construction costs of 65 of the 66 total rental homes in the development. One rental home in the development will be set aside for an on-site property manager and was not eligible for the FHLB funding. The project was awarded the maximum competitive subsidy of $10,000 per unit, for a total of $650,000 for the 65 rental homes.

A website noting the award is located at:
http://www.fhlbsf.com/ci/grant/ahp/grantrecipients.asp

“We feel fortunate as an organization CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

I wanted to let you know that I have made some personnel changes that will affect Fillmore Middle School. I have promoted Mr. Todd Schieferle to work in the District Office. Mr. Schieferle will be in charge of Human Resources. Mr. Schieferle has been a counselor, a dean, and the principal at FMS and will be missed by all.

To replace Mr. Schieferle, I have asked Mrs. Tricia Godfrey to move from her position as assistant principal to become principal. Mrs. Godfrey and Mr. Schieferle have worked in partnership for two years as leaders at the school. Having Mrs. Godfrey as principal will ensure that the great progress the school has made will not be derailed with this change.

To replace Mrs. Godfrey, I have asked Mr. Scott Carroll to become the school’s assistant principal. Mr. Carroll is an excellent FMS sixth grade teacher who I know will become an outstanding assistant principal. He has been the school’s AVID and advisory coordinator this year. And, he has been the administrative designee for the past two years.

The school has made great strides under the leadership of Mr. Schieferle and Mrs. Godfrey. I know the school will continue to improve under the direction of Mrs. Godfrey and Mr. Carroll. All three will begin their transition to their new positions after our spring break. I look forward to seeing each assume their new job responsibilities and witnessing great things in the future.

Sincerely,

Jeff Sweeney, Superintendent

SPANISH:
Estimados Padres de Estudiantes de la Escuela Intermedia:

Quiero darles a saber CONTINUED »

Councilmember Brooks’ statement: "I have a different view of our sewer plant venture. I believe the decision to add a twenty six million dollar water recycling system was a poor choice with a costly result. It was an unneccessary component which has hiked up our sewer rates. Many citizens think that our sewer system project should have been vigorously streamlined in order to keep sewer rates down. As I listen to the reactions of the public I find that the majority of Fillmore citizens feel that our new sewer system has been overplanned and overbuilt at the expense of our wallets for decades to come. The cost to consumers is just too high."

Project of the Year
A presentation was made by Chris Hook of APWA, for the Fillmore Water Recycling Program, which was selected as the Ventura County American Public Works Association (APWA) project of the year in the Wastewater and Water category. In addition APWA selected the Fillmore project to represent all Ventura County Public Agency projects as the Project of the Year at the National Engineers Week Banquet at the Reagan Library on Thursday, February 18th. Public Works Director Bert Rapp was present to accept the honor.

Hook stated that the Fillmore project was selected because of an innovative management approach and due to its many unique characteristics. For example the "Design-Build-Operate" procurement process helped assure that the plant was as efficient and economical as possible. It also included an exacting quality assurance program so that the plant would have low maintenance costs for 20 years.

Another unique aspect was that the project included about 20 acres of CONTINUED »

In 2009, the Fillmore Police Department applied for and just received a one time payment of $21,600 in JAG money to help offset operating costs in the City Police Gang Unit. The money has been provided at a critical time when police services are needed most.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is a partnership among federal, state and local governments to create safer communities. The JAG was created in 2004 by Congress to streamline justice funding and grant administration. JAG allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions.

The Byrne Justice Assistance (JAG) Program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and court, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, and technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.

BJA supports law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, victim services, technology, and prevention initiatives that strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system. BJA provides leadership, services, and funding to America’s communities by: Emphasizing local control; Building relationships in the field; Provide training and technical assistance in support of efforts to prevent crime, drug abuse, and violence at the national, state, and local levels; Developing collaborations and partnerships; Promoting capacity building through planning; Streamlining the administration of grants; Increasing training and technical assistance; Creating accountability of projects; Encouraging innovation; and Communicating the value of justice efforts to decision makers at every level.

Fillmore Unified School District

Trustees of the Fillmore Unified School District questioned two candidates who want to fill the vacant seat left by former Board Member David Dollar on the board Tuesday night.

The two applicants, Mike Saviers and Scott Lee, answered six questions from a list supplied by board members before a large crowd at the FUSD Headquarters. The process Tuesday started with an overview of District policy for making a provisional appointment. They then discussed the interview process and the questions.

The candidates were asked: Why do you think you are qualified to be a board member? Lee said he's a registered voter and has lived in Fillmore for quite a few years. His children attended Fillmore schools and he was involved in the Middle School Site Council. Saviers said he's lived here for nine years and has mid-management experience from his years in law enforcement. He retired from law enforcement and has worked as a substitute teacher in the elementary schools and was a school bus driver for two years.

Why do you want to be on the board? Saviers responded by saying that he's been a volunteer for the last seven years in youth sports and he likes to make a difference in children's lives. Lee said, “I'd like to help the board fill the gap until December. I haven't been away from the school board that long. I wouldn't have to be trained to be a board member.”

In light of challenges facing public CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Update:
On March 7, 2010, at approximately 8:14 p.m., deputies from the Fillmore Station and personnel from the Fillmore Fire Department responded to a call of a pedestrian down from a traffic accident. A 33 year-old male from the City of Fillmore was crossing “A” St. on foot south of River St, just before the bridge at the Santa Clara River, when he was struck by a 1992 Buick sedan traveling south. The pedestrian was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he died as a result of his injuries.

The driver of the involved vehicle, 22 year-old Harim Gonzalez of Oxnard, and his passenger stated they did not see the pedestrian until after the collision. An independent witness in another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction on A St. verified their account of the collision.

Original:
Location: A St. south of River St., Fillmore, CA.
Date & Time: 3/7/2010, 8:14 p.m.

On March 7, 2010, at approximately 8:14 p.m., deputies from the Fillmore Station and personnel from the Fillmore Fire Department responded to a call of a pedestrian down from a traffic accident. A 33 year-old male from the City of Fillmore was crossing “A” St. on foot south of River St, just before the bridge at the Santa Clara River, when he was struck by a 1992 Buick sedan traveling south. The pedestrian was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he died as a result of his injuries.

The driver of the involved vehicle, 22 year-old Harim Gonzalez of Oxnard, and his passenger stated they did not see the pedestrian until after the collision. An independent witness in another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction on A St. verified their account of the collision.

Officer Preparing Release: Sergeant Dave Wareham

Follow-up Contact: Deputy Jerry Petersen 805-524-2233

Approved By: Capt. R. Hindman

Date of Release: 3/7/2010