City of Fillmore

The Fillmore City Council has approved a rate hike on water-sewer rates which, on average, will cost consumers more than $100 per month in 2017.

Homeowners have 45 days to object to the rate hike before they go into effect next year and stay in effect for the next 5 years. Notifications of the increase will be sent to homeowners by mail and will include instructions on how to formally object to the action. Prior to a final vote by the Council, hearings will be held in December and January. It is reported that "The rate for standard residential sewer service will rise 12 percent in 2017 and 5 percent per year from 2018 through 2021. The current rate is $92.29 per month. Water rates for residential customers are scheduled to increase 2 percent in 2017, and 5 percent per year from 2018 through 2021".

The rate hike is due to the city's having to pay-off its new, mandated, sewer plant bonds. Reports state the city council explained that the steep rate hike is due to the fact that the city has put off increases until recently. The rate must increase to handle the bond load. If the bonds are not paid according to contract bond rates will rise as well.

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Hello Fillmore Unified School District community and Flashes Alumni! Who loves a Parade? Especially the Fillmore High Homecoming Parade. This is the best, small town, 20 minute parade this side of the Mississippi. Downtown Fillmore will be closed to traffic on Central from Sespe Avenue to Main Street starting at 5:00pm so food vendors can set up. Vendors include Oh My Gosh Hot Dogs, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Amici Pizza, and El Pescador Resturant. Tables and chairs will be placed in front of vendors so all can sit and eat. This all starts at 6:00pm. The parade starts at 6:45 at 2nd Street and Central and ends at Main Street. The Floats will stop on Central near the Town Theater and stay there for everyone to view. Event ends at 9:00pm. Our High School Alma Mater is over 100 years old. Let's Celebrate! Go Flashes!!

Sergio Torres, Sebastian Pujols and Bobby Santarosa. Not pictured John Stines.
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According to the “Fillmore Herald” Newspaper, published December 28, 1923, a new garden club was organized that would function as a County wide garden club. The mission would be, “to promote interest in the subject of gardening and to foster community beautification through district projects.”

This Ventura County Garden Club has continued to function and serve out its purpose by providing labor, funds or items each year to the communities represented by its membership. These communities include Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ventura, Oak View, Ojai, Camarillo, Oxnard and Somis in rotation. This time Fillmore is the recipient of $200 + dollars and Teresa Reese, vice president for the club’s 2015-2016 term chose to purchase plants for a butterfly garden at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley-Fillmore site on First Street and a smaller project at the One Step A La Vez location.

Three different types of lavender, celosia, rosemary, alyssum and native milkweed have been planted with the boys providing the labor.

Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee contributed $25 to purchase rails for completing a bench that was donated by Teresa Reese, so the young people could have a place to sit and enjoy their garden. “We are fortunate to have the support of so many groups and citizens in the community. Thank you to the Ventura County Garden Club for the wonderful donation. The children were excited to help with the planting.” stated Ari Larson, board president of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley (serving the cities of Fillmore, Piru and Santa Paula). For more information on the Ventura County Garden Club and/or the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley please call Linda Nunes at 805.302.7527 and 805.525.7910 respectively.

LOS ANGELES — The Coast Guard is searching for three possible missing boaters near Santa Cruz Island, Wednesday.
At 8 p.m., Tuesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor received a call from a woman, reporting that her husband had left out of Ventura Harbor with two other boaters, the owner/operator and his wife, Saturday, October 8, 2016. She reported that they were heading to Santa Cruz Island in the 35-foot sailing vessel, Tenacious and were scheduled to return Tuesday.

The Coast Guard Command Center in Los Angeles – Long Beach immediately launched a HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Forward Operating Base Point Mugu, along with the Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip, homeported in Channel Islands Harbor to search for the missing boaters.

The passenger was last in contact with his wife on Sunday around 4:30 p.m.

If anyone has any information, please contact the Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles Command Center at (310) 521-3805.

The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today published its newest Top 500 Delinquent Taxpayers list, which includes individuals and businesses that collectively owe the state more than $394 million in income tax.

In August, FTB sent letters to taxpayers scheduled to appear on the list. Of these taxpayers, 96 made arrangements to pay their tax debt. Another 296 individuals and 108 businesses did not pay, resulting in their inclusion on the list.

The Top 500 list is published in April and in October. Since the list’s inception in 2007, FTB has collected more than $582 million through the program. Delinquent taxpayers on the list face an array of consequences:

• A professional or occupational license may be suspended until the tax bill is resolved (licenses are noted on the FTB list).
• The driver's license of the taxpayer may be suspended until the tax bill is resolved.
• The taxpayer is prohibited from entering into contracts with state agencies for the acquisition of goods or services.
• The names and titles of principal corporate officers are published on the FTB list.

FTB removes a name from the list once the debt is paid, or once the taxpayer agrees to make payments under an approved agreement or compromise. Tax liabilities for which the persons liable have filed for bankruptcy protection are not included on the FTB list.

Individual taxpayers on the list can call 888.426.8555 to resolve their accounts. Business taxpayers can call 888.426.8751.

The Board of Equalization has a similar list of the state’s top sales and use tax debtors, which is updated quarterly.

FTB administers two of California's major tax programs: Personal Income Tax and the Corporation Tax. FTB also administers other non tax programs and delinquent debt collection functions, including delinquent vehicle registration debt collections on behalf of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and court–ordered debt. Annually, FTB’s tax programs collect more than 70 percent of the state’s general fund. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit taxes.ca.gov.

For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit: taxes.ca.gov

On September 28th, 2016, investigators concluded a month long investigation into a gang-related conspiracy to sell methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin throughout Ventura County. As a result of the investigation, nine subjects were arrested for various charges, including narcotics and weapons related offenses.

In September of 2016, investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oxnard Police Department learned that Gerardo Vargas, a Fillmore gang member with Mexican Mafia ties, and Alfred Estrada, a Ventura gang member, were involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin for the benefit of the Mexican Mafia. Investigators discovered Vargas sold the drugs to lower-level drug dealers, who sold the drugs to drug users in Ventura County.

As a result of the information discovered during the investigation, detectives authored several search warrants for locations in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. During the execution of those search warrants, investigators seized nearly four pounds of methamphetamine, over one pound of cocaine, over four ounces of heroin, four firearms, including two assault weapons, and two ballistic vests.

The following arrests were made during the investigation:

• Gerardo Vargas – Conspiracy, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, sale of a controlled substance, possession for sale of a controlled substance and participation in a street gang.

• Enrique Navarette – Conspiracy, possession for sale of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

• Osvaldo Medina – Conspiracy and transportation/sale of a controlled substance.

• Gilberto Vargas – Possession for sale of a controlled substance.

• Maria Vargas – Possession for sale of a controlled substance.

• Raul Hernandez – Conspiracy • Gilberto Gomez – Conspiracy and transportation/sale of a controlled substance

• Alfred Estrada – Conspiracy, possession for sale of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and participation in a street gang.

• Jessie Rodriguez – Conspiracy and transportation/sale of a controlled substance.

All of the subjects were booked at the Main Jail and are awaiting further criminal proceedings in the Ventura County Superior Court.

Nature of Incident: Gang Members Arrested for Narcotics Trafficking / Weapons Possession
Report Number: Various
Location: Various Locations Throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties
Date & Time: September 28, 2016
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Oxnard Police Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Redidence   Age 
Gerardo Vargas, Fillmore, 34
Enrique Navarette, Fillmore, 48 
Osvaldo Medina, Fillmore, 29
Gilberto Vargas, Fillmore, 50 
Maria Vargas, Fillmore, 56
Raul Hernandez, Fillmore, 49 
Gilberto Gomez, Fillmore, 56
Alfred Estrada, Ventura, 44
Jessie Rodriguez, Los Angeles, 36
Prepared by: Sergeant Eric Tennessen
News Release Date: October 3, 2016
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Jeremy Bramlette 805-384-4771
Approved by: Captain Robert Thomas

Chad Hansen

Chad Hansen, was pretty much ignored as he began the football season in Idaho State. After catching 45 passes as a freshman at Idaho State in Pocatello things have greatly changed. Chad is now recognized as the nation’s leader in receptions.

Chad grew up on his parents’ Bardsdale ranch and spent his high school years in Moorpark. Little interest in his football talents was shown until his parents diligently started to contact as many colleges as possible. He finally got his start at Idaho State and quickly made his mark.

He then transferred to the University of California, Berkeley where he is now recognized as the nation’s leader in receptions. “A player who didn’t field a single FBS offer coming out of high school - and whose only offer from Idaho State only came because one of the Bengals’ recruits signed elsewhere at the last minute - now has his name popping up on some early NFL Draft watch lists.”

With 50 catches in the first 4 games Chad has a very bright future to look forward to.

Steve McClary

“I was inspired to begin my career in City government thanks to the my start at the Fillmore Gazette. I started covering city council meetings at age 21 and I got hooked, watching the staff and council interact with the Council to work out issues. I never imagined at that point that at one day I would become a city manager. Moving from the paper to city government felt like a natural transition for me. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity in Ojai and to be able to stay close to my family and friends. Ojai certainly is keeping me busy, but I miss all my old friends in Fillmore. Fortunately Fillmore has a great city manager in Mr. Rowlands.” - Steve McClary

American Red Cross of Ventura County

The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood to support cancer patients and other patients during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

More than 1.6 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year and 246,600 of them will be invasive breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancer patients may need blood products during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications.

Mary Kay Huppert was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. “I was a nurse for 40 years. I saw blood transfusions save a lot of lives.” She received two transfusions herself while being treated for breast cancer.

The Red Cross must collect about 14,000 blood donations every day to help patients, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those needing transfusions. Donors of all blood types are needed.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Ventura County

Oak Park
10/19/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Oak Park High School, 899 North Kanan Road

Oxnard
10/25/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Oxnard College, 4000 S Rose Ave

Simi Valley
10/28/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Simi Valley Rancho Santa Suzanna Community, 5005 E Los Angeles Ave

Thousand Oaks
10/19/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
10/24/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
10/28/2016: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Thousand Oaks High School, 2323 N Moorpark Rd

Ventura
10/18/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., EP Foster Library, 651 E Main Street

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

The League of Women Voters and the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce are hosting a forum this Wednesday evening October 5th. Although two parts are related to Santa Paula, the first forum at 6:30 PM is with the two candidates for Ventura County Supervisor district #3.

A letter sent to Fillmore High School Athletic Director:

Good Morning A.D. Tafoya,
My name is Margaret Lopez I am the Specialized Health Care Tech./LVN at Santa Paula High and the grandmother to Angel Segovia #44. First, I want to commend your athletes on a well-played game on Friday and let you know what an amazing gesture of good sportsmanship occurred immediately following the game.

Fridays game was extremely competitive for both teams (as it is every year) and during the game all athletes were focused on doing their jobs to the best of their ability and while doing so there is an amazing respect they have for one another as in this case. I have worked at the high school for 22 years and have been present during many of the Fillmore vs SP games in which my two sons played when they attend SPHS and there have been many times when players have been so, competitive they lose sight of just how talented they all are. Mr. Leighton should be commended for appreciating the talent of the opposing teams players and for showing that appreciation. Mr. Leighton sought out my grandson Angel after the game and came over to shake his hand and commend Angel on playing a great game, Angel returned that complement right back to Mr. Leighton. Both boys decided to exchange jerseys for a picture and congratulate each other on playing a tough game. Angel commented that Mr. Leighton played hard and even though they had their game faces on during the game Angel was very impressed with Mr. Leighton’s talent. Angel stated that “guys like #50 will have a great future with his attitude alone”.

Mr. Leighton and Angel showed great sportsmanship that night and I hope that other athletes can take away from this game what these two young men saw in one another. Although, both schools are rivals there is respect for each player who gives all they can during the game and as long as they do their job to the best of their ability, they should all be respected and commended for their performance.

Great Job Mr. Leighton and Angel!

Margaret Lopez
Specialized Health Care Tech/LVN
Santa Paula High School

A Camarillo woman was sentenced Tuesday to 300 days in Ventura County jail in connection with a double fatality vehicle last year just outside Moorpark. Rachael Hill, 27, will report to the jail November 4 to start her sentence. Hill pleaded no contest last month to two counts of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The conviction stems from a September 12, 2015, crash on Moorpark Road south of Tierra Rejada Road. The California Highway Patrol said Hill was driving south on Moorpark Road at 5:19 p.m. when her vehicle swerved to the right and hit Maciek Malish, 53, as he was riding a bicycle on the shoulder. Hill then overcorrected and turned the vehicle into the northbound lanes, where it hit Jesse Cushman, 43, who was riding a motorcycle. Malish, of Simi Valley, and Cushman, of Fillmore, were both wearing helmets but died at the scene. Patrol officials said Hill was "distracted by a portable electronic device" in her vehicle at the time of the incident. (information provided by Ventura
County Star.)

A man with a gunshot wound drove to the Fillmore fire station after an apparent shooting nearby according to the
Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The victim showed up at the fire station around 3:30 p.m. after driving himself and was later transported to Ventura County Medical Center by paramedics.

Although the man appeared in Fillmore, the shooting is believed to have taken place in Bardsdale.

(information provided by Ventura County Star)