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By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, May 7th, 2014
 Joanne Dabbs and Jennifer Weir announced that the FUSD will again be offering a summer school session at Fillmore High School, Mountain Vista Elementary (7) and Piru Elementary (1), 8-11:30 A.M. Monday-Friday starting June 19th through July 24th. Last year over 400 students attended. It will cost more to build a home or commercial building in Fillmore in a few months due to an increase in Development Impact Fees that Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) is seeking. That, along with reports on the 2014 Summer School session and Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium Process were the items discussed at the May 6, 2014 meeting. Ken Reynolds, President of School Works, presented his study which will be presented to the State to ask for an increase in FUSD's school Development Impact Fees (DIF) for residential and commercial property development in Fillmore. Impact fees are payments in advance of completing a development which enables school districts to pay for new construction and improvements and are reviewed every five years. Schools can impose the fees due to Education Code section 17620, pursuant 1996 SB 1562. The new school DIF's will increase from $3.30 to $3.36 per square foot within the perimeter of the residential structure. Each home when built is considered a .7 child occupant, and thus requires more classrooms. Over the past five years 156 homes were built in town and FUSD collected $729,000 in fees. Those new homes represent about 110 new students. FUSD will again be offering a summer school session at Fillmore High School, Mountain Vista Elementary (7) and Piru Elementary (1), 8-11:30 A.M. Monday-Friday starting June 19th through July 24th. Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson stated, "Last year over 400 students attended....let's hope we'll have the same this summer." Elementary classes offered CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 7th, 2014
On April 10th, 2014, Sheriff Geoff Dean presented Patrick Maynard, Ventura County Emergency Services Program Administrator, with the 2013 Sheriff’s Department Meritorious Award for demonstrating, through persistent efforts, exemplary service and perseverance. This service was performed in areas such as grant management and as the project manager for a three-day Ready Ventura County (RVC) preparedness exercise. This event brought together public safety agencies from throughout Ventura County, for six months, to plan for and exercise our county’s response to a catastrophic earthquake. A video of the RVC event may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplmd_UwmTk |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 7th, 2014
 A paving project on Highway 23 at Bardsdale Bridge has begun, and continues south for four miles. Work will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The project is expected to take about 45 days to complete. Vehicles are allowed through the area, but there are long delays. A flagger controls the flow of traffic. Granite Construction of Ventura was awarded the $1.3 million contract for the work. Enlarge Photo |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, May 5th, 2014
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department It has been approximately 1 year since these two unsolved sexual assaults occurred in the Santa On the mornings of February 26, 2013 and May 20, 2013, sexual assaults were reported in the area of Santa Paula Street and Peck Road. Both assaults occurred in the unincorporated area, west of the City of Santa Paula. Nature of Incident: Santa Paula Area Sexual Assaults - Public Assistance Needed 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). |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 30th, 2014
 Our City Council can take satisfaction in the street paving program which has now begun. (l-r) City Council members Steve Conaway, Rick Neal, Manuel Minjares, Diane McCall, and Doug Tucker. Fillmore is quickly recovering from a lengthy fiscal slump, during which our streets have, of necessity, been neglected. The new council can take credit for the remarkable recovery the city has experienced during the past year. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 30th, 2014
 On Saturday, April 26th, at the Burlington Linear Park 10 oak trees were planted by 20 citizen volunteers. This project was coordinated with Fillmore’s Planning and Public Works Departments. Trees were donated by Valley Crest Tree Company. Thank you to the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Fillmore, FHS Leo’s Club, and all other Fillmore Citizens. Enlarge Photo  Pictured are 20 citizen volunteers, who planted trees at Burlington Linear Park Saturday. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 30th, 2014
 A collision occurred last Friday at the intersection of Highway 126 and C Street. The incident happened shortly before 9:30 p.m. when a late model Volkswagen sedan struck an 18-wheeler on the truck’s right fuel tank. No fuel leakage was caused but the car suffered significant right front end damage. The truck-trailer appeared to be making a left turn onto C Street, No injuries were reported and the cause of the accident was undetermined at press time. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 30th, 2014
 Michael came into the world on March 22, 2014 – and he arrived in a hurry. His parents Vanessa and Brenden were in route to the hospital, but Michael wouldn’t wait. VCFD dispatchers directed the couple to the closest fire station, Station 28 in Piru. Michael was born at 11:06 a.m. in the office at Station 28. Today, the entire family met the firefighters who delivered Michael and watched as they were awarded with “stork” pins signifying they had delivered a baby. Everyone at the Ventura County Fire Department wishes Michael a long, happy, healthy life. Photos courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, April 28th, 2014
Police asking anyone with information to contact them
 The Fillmore Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in the theft of a purse. At approximately 3:10 p.m., on March 26, 2014, the victim was working in the alley in the 300 block of Central Avenue and had momentarily left her purse unattended. A video captured the suspect pictured walking through the alley, approach the purse, pick it up, and run away with it. The purse was recovered a short time later nearby, but was missing a large amount of cash. There is full video of the incident available for review. If you can identify this person, please contact Detective John Fox from the Fillmore station (805) 524-2233 or Detective Taurino Almazan. Nature of Incident: Public’s Assistance Sought To Identify Purse Thief 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). |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, April 28th, 2014
Police asking anyone with information to contact them
The Camarillo Police Department is seeking information regarding the identification of a sexual battery suspect. On March 31, 2014, at approximately 4:00 PM, the female victim was shopping in the Vons grocery store in the Mission Oaks shopping center when she was sexually battered by the suspect. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 55-65 years of age, medium build, gray hair, and a bushy grey mustache. He was wearing a blue denim jacket, white t-shirt, blue jeans, and a white baseball style cap. Please contact Detective TJ DeSalvo, at (805) 388-5157, if you have any information regarding this suspect. Nature of Incident: Information Identifying Sexual Battery Suspect 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). |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, April 28th, 2014
Police asking anyone with information to contact them
 Suspect #2 is described as a white male, 5’ 10” to 6’ 00”, between the ages of 25 and 35, wearing all black clothing. On April 16, 2014, at about 11:15 a.m., the female victim returned home and interrupted a residential burglary in progress. The suspects entered through an unlocked door and were in the process of removing items from inside the residence. During the course of the investigation, the victim reported that she was sexually assaulted after being confronted by the two suspects. The suspects ran from the residence and were last seen running north towards Courtney Lane in the City of Moorpark. The victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Suspect #1 is described as a white male, 6’ 02” to 6’ 04”, between the ages of 25 and 35, wearing all black clothing, with a dark colored beanie. Suspect #2 is described as a white male, 5’ 10” to 6’ 00”, between the ages of 25 and 35, wearing all black clothing. The victim was able to provide a detailed description of Suspect #2. Refer to the attached suspect sketch. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office does not have any other reports of interrupted residential burglaries resulting in a sexual assault. Anyone who may have been in the area at the time of this reported crime, witnessed anything suspicious, or has information that may help in identifying the suspects is urged to contact Detective Tim Lanquist or Crime Stoppers. The Ventura County Sherriff’s Office reminds residents to lock their doors and windows at night and when no one is home. Residents are also reminded to immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 911. Nature of Incident: Residential Burglary (Update) 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). |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
 The California Highway Patrol, VC Sheriff’s units, ambulance service and the Sheriff’s helicopter responded to a hit and run accident Saturday. An unidentified female driving the impacted car was unresponsive and taken by helicopter to a local hospital. No information was available on a third vehicle involved after the car struck the back of a tractor-trailer. Enlarge Photo |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
Police asking anyone with information to contact them
On April 19, 2014, at about 12:34 PM, Fillmore Patrol units responded to a call of a vehicle collision into the Dollar Tree store in the City of Fillmore. When they arrived, they discovered that the driver had driven his vehicle through the front plate glass window of the business and into the store. Fortunately, no one inside the store was injured as a result of this collision and the driver did not sustain any serious injuries. Drugs and/or alcohol were not a contributing factor in this collision. There were several witnesses to this collision. Witnesses that were not contacted by deputies at the scene are encouraged to call the Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233. Nature of Incident: Vehicle Collision into Building 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). |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
 Dr. Adrian E. Palazuelos On April 15, 2014, the Fillmore Unified School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve Dr. Dr. Palazuelos is currently the Associate Superintendent of School Leadership and Support in the Natomas Unified School District located in Sacramento. Board of Education President, Lucy Rangel stated, "The Board, and the community of Fillmore, are fortunate to be able to turn to such a high caliber individual to lead the District. Through our interview and selection process the Board learned about the superior quality and character of Dr. Dr. Palazuelos' educational experience includes working in Ventura, Fresno, and Sacramento counties. While working as an integral member of the administrative team in the Natomas Unified School District, Dr. "I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Fillmore Unified School District and look forward to working for a Board of Education whose collective commitment is aligned to creating a high performing school district," stated Dr. Palazuelos. "I am excited to lead a team of certificated, classified, and management staff that can continue to build upon the strong community support for Fillmore schools," he added. Dr. Palazuelos is a Ventura County native and is bilingual in Spanish. He is married and has three school age daughters. A "Meet the Superintendent" event will be scheduled in the near future, giving all of the stakeholders of Fillmore Unified the opportunity to meet Dr. Palazuelos and to discuss Fillmore schools. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
On Saturday, April 19th, at approximately 4:05p.m., a solo vehicle collision occurred in the 5000 block of Piru Canyon Road southbound, 2 miles north of Lime Canyon in an unincorporated area of Ventura County. A vehicle reportedly entered the northbound lane while traveling southbound at a high rate of speed in what appeared to be an attempt to pass a slower moving vehicle. This action caused the driver of the 1998 Mercury SUV to lose control as his vehicle left the roadway. The car over-turned down the steep 250 foot descending dirt embankment, east facing. The driver was subsequently ejected from his vehicle and sustained major injuries. He was pronounced deceased by Venture count Fire Department personnel at the scene. The driver has been identified as Russell Schwartz, age 50, of Fillmore. Schwartz was an employee of a company that is contracted for services to the lake and campground. Piru Canyon Road was closed form the Piru Lake main gate to just south of the collision scene for approximately two hours during the on-scene collision investigation. Traffic on Piru Canyon Road was affected. The collision remains under investigation by Officer S. Allen of the Moorpark Area California Highway Patrol Command Station. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
Middle School Art Department, Art Books and Art Supplies, $1,350 Doris Nichols; Middle School Pride in America Club Pride in America Programs, $1,500 Laurie Merrill; High School Art Show, Annual Show Expenses, $1,000 Rosalind Mitzenmacher; High School Drama Club, Drama Equipment, Lights, Cameras etc, $5,000 Josh Overton & Kelyn Waterman; High School Band (Band Boosters), $2,000 (plus $9,000 was given in October 2013 for new brass tubas), Greg Godfrey; Sespe Players, Future productions for Fillmore, $5,000 Janet Foy & Chris Villegas; City of Fillmore, Park benches for 2 Rivers Park Tot land, $2,580 Kevin McSweeny; Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters, New recliners for training roon, $7,338 Rigo Landeros (Fire Chief); Boys & Girls Club, Art projects and outgoing expenses, $5,000 Buddy Escoto; Veterans Memorial Building, New Drapes for the Memorial Building, $20,000 Wm. Morris & Annette Cardona; Friends of the Library, Equipment for the new library, $20,000 Patti Walker & Cathy Krushell; Senior Center, Art projects & outgoing expense $20,000 Donna Voelker; Fillmore Historical Society, preservation of 100 years of Ebell memorabilia & Fillmore history on going, $20,000 Martha Gentry & Nancy Bowlin. Presentation made by President Mary Ford & Treasurer Fay Swanson. After 100 years the Fillmore Ebell Club is closing its doors. The last meeting is May 27. |
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By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
[CORRECTION: A correction has been made to this article after its initial publication. The article was corrected on April 23, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. The original article incorrectly stated "Robles coached the girls’ recreational basketball team and founded a youth girl basketball team in town." We apologize for this error.] There were just a few items on the April 22, 2014 Fillmore City Council Meeting agenda, but one will impact many of the towns’ residents; that being the change in local public transportation. Besides the Council and staff there were about 10 in attendance for the hour long meeting. Other agenda items were approval of the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission appointments along with Weed Abatement and forming an Ad Hoc Committee for the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society (SCRVRHS). The proposed Heritage Valley Transit Cooperative Agreement presented by City Manager David W. Rowlands was approved unanimously by the Council. The proposal replaces services provided by FATCO and VISTA and is a result of discussions involving the County of Ventura, Santa Paula and Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) creating a Cooperative Agreement for transit service in the Heritage Valley. The change will provide an integrated fixed route and dial-a-ride services in both Santa Paula and Fillmore with an intercity service along Highway 126. The new Transit Committee CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
Successful local businessman and community leader, Mario de la Piedra announced his candidacy for State Assembly District 44 this week at a meeting of the Ventura County Republican Party. Mario promises to end the "business as usual" attitude in Sacramento and focus on job creation, protecting our farmers, cutting government spending, and restoring local control. "I know about job creation, because I sign both sides of the check," said Mario. "California is still pushing job creators out of the state with failed policies. My priority, if elected is to cultivate a renewed sense of entrepreneurship in California. Helping businesses start and grow in California is the only way we are going to bring our state back." "Make no mistake, those in Sacramento are failing our job creators and the people who depend on those jobs," continued Mario. "They are failing taxpayers, failing farmers, failing small businesses, failing veterans, failing the jobless, and failing future generations." With agricultural roots going back many generations, Mario's grandfather, Aurelio Larios Guzman, was a farm labor contractor and owner of SAG Farm Labor, a Fillmore-based company with 100employeesthat specializes in contracting farm laborers and refueling and repairing farm equipment. He was tragically killed in a job-related equipment accident in 2001. Mario's parents are Mario & Virginia de la Piedra. Mario's mother, Virginia, is a current member of the Fillmore Unified Board of Education. "Mario and his family's agricultural history goes back for generations in Ventura County," said Steve Barnard, President, Mission Produce. "He has been an active member of Young Farmer's and Ranchers and knows first-hand the challenges our farming and rancher communities face including water and regulatory concerns. He will make a great Assemblyman." Mario received his insurance license at the age of nineteen and is a co-founder and owner of Western Yosemite Insurance Services, a full service insurance agency specializing in agribusiness with clients from Morro Bayto Pauma Valley. He is involved in many community organizations, including the Rotary Club of Ventura and the Ventura County Young Farmers and Ranchers. He directed the AG Day Golf Tournament to raise money for local scholarships. A graduate of San Diego State University, Mario resides in Camarillo. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
 Fillmore Fire Department responded with Ventura County Fire, Santa Paula Fire and AMR Ambulance to a traffic collision on Hwy 126 & Pyle Rd. Three passages in a mini have were taken to local Hospitals with minor to severe injuries. No other detail about the accident were available. Photo courtesy Fillmore Fire Department. Enlarge Photo |
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By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, April 16th, 2014
 The Migrant Education Speech/Spelling & Debate Winners of 2014 were presented by Diana Vides and Coach Marisela Gomez. The winners of Combined Prepared and Extemporaneous English Speech were; Jimena Cortez 1st Place 5th Grade, Anahi Pascual 1st Place 6th Grade, Giselle Perez 2nd Place 6th Grade, Aimee Ramos 3rd Place 6th Grade, Diana Perez 3rd Place 7th Grade, Yulissa Fregoso 1st Place 10th Grade, Jessica Cortez 1st Place 12th Grade. Montserrat Infante won 1st Place 9th Grade for Combined Prepared and Extemporaneous Spanish Speech. Four first place winners from Fillmore will be going to the Speech & Debate State Tournament in Santa Maria representing Ventura County on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of May. Enlarge Photo [editor's note: Board Member Prado's most recent Letter to the Editor entitled "Mary Ford, you have no integrity" may be found in the April 17th "Letters" section of of this website.] A new superintendent was announced at the April 15, 2014 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting which was held in the auditorium. With close to 100 in attendance, it was a gamut of high and low emotions as seven Public Comment speakers scolded the Board; the Board later responded to statements and accusations. The meeting began with recognition of the Migrant Speech & Debate Students and their coaches. Also on the agenda was the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Test Preparation and a profile of the potential non-graduating senior. Items that were not on the agenda, but part of disclosure were the resignation of six FUSD employees: Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino 6-30-2014, Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson 6-30-2014, Fillmore High School (FHS) Principal Russom Mesfun 6-30-2014, Director of Special Projects Gary Mayeda 6-30-2014, Athletic Director Matthew Suttle 6-12-2014 and IA Special Ed. Michelle Alvarez 4-14-2014.
The Board introduced Dr. Adrian E. Palazuelos as the new Superintendent for the 2014-2015 school year, who then gave a short speech in both English and Spanish. Palazuelos, who grew up in Oxnard, has worked in Ventura, Fresno and Sacramento counties, having worked most recently as the Associate Superintendent of School Leadership and Support in the Notomas Unified School District located in Sacramento. His employment is a three year contract at $165,000 per year with a $7,500 paid moving expense. The contract also includes the following stipends: an annual $1,500 technology, monthly $500 automobile and $150 phone. The Migrant Education Speech/Spelling & Debate Winners of 2014 were presented by Diana Vides and Coach Marisela Gomez. The winners of Combined Prepared and Extemporaneous English Speech were; Jimena Cortez 1st Place 5th Grade, Anahi Pascual 1st Place 6th Grade, Giselle Perez 2nd Place 6th Grade, Aimee Ramos 3rd Place 6th Grade, Diana Perez 3rd Place 7th Grade, Yulissa Fregoso 1st Place 10th Grade, Jessica Cortez 1st Place 12th Grade. Montserrat Infante won 1st Place 9th Grade for Combined Prepared and Extemporaneous Spanish Speech. Four first place winners from Fillmore will be going to the Speech & Debate State Tournament in Santa Maria representing Ventura County on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of May. During Public Comments Sherri Wright was CONTINUED » |
