Two men were killed Thursday afternoon when their small plane crashed in an orchard in an unincorporated portion of Ventura County east of Piru.

The Sheriff’s Communications Center received several 9-1-1 calls from motorists driving by on Highway 126 who saw the plane go down. The wreckage was within 100 yards of the highway and near a ranch house. However, there were no injuries to anyone on the ground and no damage to any property.

The small two-seat private plane was destroyed on impact. Members of the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad were sent to the scene to deactivate a small rocket device used to deploy a parachute in the event the aircraft experienced an emergency.

Investigators were trying to determine why the safety device was not activated before the crash.

The two men’s names were not released pending notification of their families.

Santa Paula Police Department

On Monday, July 09, 2012, at approximately 4:22 p.m. Santa Paula Police Officers responded to a reported shooting in the 700 blk. of W. Harvard Blvd. Upon arrival, officers located evidence that a residence in the area had been struck by gunfire. No injuries were reported to officers. There is no suspect information. Santa Paula Police Detectives responded to the scene and are actively investigating the incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Paul Spencer at (805) 525-4474 Ext. 221.
Ryan Smith # 1021
Police Sergeant

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Fillmore Police and Fire Departments want to ensure the citizens of Fillmore enjoy a safe Fourth of July week. Citizens are reminded that “Safe & Sane” fireworks sold in Fillmore are legal between June 28th, 12:00pm – July 5th , 12:00pm. The use of any non-approved “Safe and Sane” fireworks that explode or launch into the air are Illegal and will result in criminal charges and/or a $1,100 fine. If you witness any illegal activity please report it. An anonymous tip line has been setup to report violators. Please call 805-524-1500 ext. 350 to report illegal activity.

Below are several safety tips to insure you and your family enjoy a safe Independence Day Celebration.

• If you witness a crime or fire in progress involving illegal fireworks, call your local authorities by dialing 9-1-1.

• Only Safe and Sane fireworks bearing the seal of the State Fire Marshal are legal in the city of Fillmore. All other fireworks, including altered Safe and Sane fireworks and those that explode or leave the ground are illegal.

• Kids should not play with fireworks. Fireworks are intended for use by adults in open spaces with plenty of active supervision for every child present.

• Always have a bucket of water on hand to dispose of fireworks and a hose connected to water ready in case of fire.

• Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns as well as blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing. Teach your children what to do if their clothing catches on fire — “stop, drop and roll” — and how to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Nature of Incident: 4th of July Illegal Fireworks Enforcement and Safety
Report Number: N/A
Location: City of Fillmore
Date & Time: June 28, 2012 – July 5, 2012
Unit Responsible: Fillmore Police and Fire Departments
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Sgt. Anthony Aguirre
Media Release Date: June 27, 2012
Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Anthony Aguirre (805) 524-2235
Anthony.Aguirre@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Monica McGrath

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).

Santa Paula Police Department

On June 29th 2012, at approximately 2345 hours, Santa Paula Police Officers while on patrol in a marked black and white police vehicle in the area of Harvard Blvd and Olive St. attempted to contact a subject who was crossing the intersection S/B against a red light and impeding traffic. The Officers had pulled over into the entrance of the shopping center to contact the suspect when suddenly for no apparent reason and disregard for public safety, the suspect turned to face the officers holding a handgun in his hand. The suspect then proceeded to fire an unknown amount of rounds at the officers. The passenger officer immediately took cover while the driver officer returned fire striking the suspect once in his left hand. The injury was not life threatening. Additionally, one of the rounds fired by the suspect struck the rear quarter panel of the Police unit.

After the shooting, the suspect fled the area and a perimeter was set up to search for the suspect. With the assistance of Ventura Police Department, Ventura Sheriff’s Department, California Fish & Game, California Highway Patrol and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Helicopter, the suspect was located hiding in an apartment unit entrance alcove.

Once the suspect was identified, it was found out that the suspect is currently on probation with active outstanding warrants for weapon violations. He is classified and documented as a gang member out of Santa Paula.

The officers involved were not injured. The investigation is continuing at this time. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident are urged to call Santa Paula Police. 525-4474

Fillmore’s City Manager is determined by the council majority to be a hard worker.

[The Gazette’s city reporter is absent]

MEETING SUMMARY
Last night’s city council should be remembered more for its public comment than for approval the city budget items.

Fillmore resident Joan Archer addressed the council, saying that her questions from the previous week’s special meeting were not answered. She reiterated her questions regarding the need for specific information to determine whether the releasing of city employees and hiring of temporary and contract replacements was economically feasible. The council majority had quickly come to the defense of City Manager Yvonne Quiring, stating that she was a very hard-working person. Archer reminded council that she certainly believed Ms. Quiring worked very hard at her job, but that was not the question she had asked.

Former resident and mayor Patti Walker read a prepared statement which condemned the Fillmore Gazette, Councilman Steve Conaway, former mayor Evaristo Barajas, former city manager Roy Payne, former city engineer Bert Rapp, and all former council members who had anything to do with city projects and budgets for the past 10 years or so. Mismanagement was the theme of her remarks. Mismanagement, according to Walker, is what has brought Fillmore to the brink of bankruptcy.

Central to Ms. Walker’s comments was the question “Where did all the city money go?” According to Walker it went largely into a water treatment plant that was too expensive, and other public projects which the city could not afford. Coupled with a housing market collapse, the loss of Redevelopment money, and dwindling tax receipts (particularly the Owens & Minor tax lawsuit expense) she claimed previous councils had overspent. She also accused the Gazette of inaccurate reporting.

Councilman Conaway, who was away on vacation, could not respond. The other four council members side with Walker.

Highlights Video

On Sunday June 24th, 2012, at approximately 5:03am officers responded to the Texaco Gas Station located at 206 E. Harvard Blvd. for the report of an armed robbery. The suspect entered the business brandishing a knife and demanded money. An unknown amount of money was taken and the suspect fled east through the parking lot. The suspect was described as a male subject, thin build, approximate 5-11, wearing unknown clothing. The area was checked by officers from the Santa Paula Police Department as well as K-9 deputies from the Ventura County Sheriffs Department. However they did not located the suspect. At this time the investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Detective Paul Spencer at 805-525-4474 Ext 221.
Cody Madison
Sergeant

Meeting Highlights Video

Complete meeting video

What began as a normal city council meeting, Tuesday, quickly exploded into verbal fireworks from Steve Conaway, a seven-plus year councilman, as he condemned Mayor Washburn for her unprecedented conduct.

Last Monday Washburn called the city attorney’s office, informing a member of that firm that Fillmore’s City Attorney, Ted Schneider, was no longer to attend any city meetings. It is alleged that her justification for banning Schneider was based on accusations that he has had a relationship with a former city employee.

Conaway expressed outrage with this action, stating that neither the Mayor nor the City Manager, Yvonne Quiring, had any business taking such action, implying a lack of authority to do so. Conaway said it was nothing less than “a personal vendetta being executed” against Schneider, and that “an individual’s personal life is none of your business.”

Quiring was silent. Washburn CONTINUED »

On Thursday, June 7th, the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency partnered with the American Heart Association to coordinate a county-wide CPR program. This service was free to the public and was held in various locations across Southern California, Including Fillmore, with the goal of increasing the number of lifesavers in the community. Emergency healthcare providers, such as fire departments, ambulance companies, hospitals - Ventura County Medical Center, Santa Paula Hospital, Los Robles Hospital, Community Memorial Hospital and St. John's Hospital — and education programs went out into the community to teach residents how to save a life with "Hands-Only" CPR.

CPR instructors were on hand to demonstrate the basics and proper techniques of "Hands-Only" CPR, and participants had the opportunity to practice on mannequins. The training did not result in CPR certification.
Cardiac arrests are more common than you think, and can happen to anyone at any time. Nearly 300,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually and only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a lay person. Failure to act in a cardiac emergency can lead to unnecessary deaths. In fact, less than eight percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive. On the other hand, effective bystander CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim's chance of survival. In 2011, Ventura County responded to 440 cardiac arrests; only 30% had bystander CPR in progress. Of those, only 14% went home neurologically intact.

Sadly, 70 percent CONTINUED »

Story Courtesy goventura.org

VISTA bus riders may soon encounter some service disruption arising from recent bankruptcy proceedings associated with service contractor CUSA. “Within the past two days, representatives from CUSA which operates our popular VISTA inter-community bus service informed the Commission that it intends to halt operations on or about June 30, 2012 due to bankruptcy sale of assets. We clearly understand the negative impact which this action may have on our valued VISTA customers, and VCTC staff is working actively to identify a safe and quality solution”, noted Darren Kettle, VCTC Executive Director.

Any possible disruption in CUSA operations would not have an impact on VISTA dial-a-ride services in the Heritage Valley (Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru); nor on any of Ventura County’s other public transit providers: Ojai Trolley, Moorpark City Transit, Gold Coast Transit, Thousand Oaks Transit, Camarillo Area Transit, and Simi Valley Transit. About 1,500 passengers are served daily through VISTA.

VCTC will continue to honor all Go Ventura bus pass cards on the VISTA inter-community bus service through June 30, 2012. Go Ventura bus pass products will continue to be honored on other participating public transit providers throughout Ventura County, including VISTA dial-a-ride services in the Heritage Valley (Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru).

New sale and CONTINUED »