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 »

[The Gazette’s city reporter was absent this week]
A budget crisis is arising at city hall. City Manager Yvonne Quiring was unable to answer budget questions at Tuesday’s meeting, for the second week. After eliminating “fifty percent” of the city’s work force, in and out of city hall, and replacing many with temporary and contract workers, Quiring does not know what, if any, savings resulted.

For the second week chambers was filled with concerned citizens responding to expressed intentions by the council to close Fillmore’s parks and restrooms. City Manager Quiring suggested last week that, because Fillmore is such a small town, those participating in sporting events at the parks could run home to use bathroom facilities.

Councilman Steve Conaway expressed frustration in the Manager’s inability to provide specific answers to budget questions and time is very short for the mandated budget approval.

Throughout Ventura County the number of people needing help feeding their families continues to grow. Food Share of Ventura County, which was established in 1983, helps address this need with its 150 partnered outreach agencies and over 300 volunteers. In 2010 Food Share distributed over nine million pounds of food to more than 74,500 people each month countywide. This number represents more than 6.8 million meals.

Volunteers are a huge part of all the programs along with faith based organizations that provide 67% of the distribution outreach and non-profits which provide about 25%. The primary source of food products made available are through donations from local grocery stores, supermarket chains, food manufacturers, distributors, the government, foundations, local farmers, harvesting efforts, food drives and private individuals.

One of the biggest food drives, The Postal Carriers’ Food Drive, was recently held. This drive allows the citizens of the county to donate food on a designated Saturday, which was May 12th this year, by putting the items out for their mail carrier to collect and bring back to the local post office. Those items are then distributed to outreach programs.

Bonnie Weigel, CEO and CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On June 4, 2012, the Fillmore Police Department was dispatched to the area of Meadowlark Drive and First Street for 3 male suspects attacking a male victim who was on the ground and in a fetal position. The juvenile victim was kicked in the head during the attack. The person reporting the crime was an off duty police officer. The suspects fled in a vehicle away from the scene. The off duty police officer obtained enough information regarding the suspect vehicle before he lost sight of the vehicle.

The Fillmore Police Gang Unit investigated the crime and learned the suspects are members of a graffiti “tagging crew” and the victim was from a rival “tagging crew.” Witnesses to the crimes identified the suspects involved in the attack. The Juvenile victim received a concussion, laceration to his head, and abrasions to his arms and face during the attack.

On June 12, 2012, The Fillmore Police Department’s Gang Unit and Investigations Unit served multiple search and arrest warrants at the suspects’ residences. The three suspects were arrested without incident and additional evidence was located at the residences.

All three suspects CONTINUED »

On the morning of June 6, 2012, at 8:27 A.M., the Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore Fire Department / Medic Unit, and American Medical Response (AMR) responded to the intersection of Ventura Street and C Street for an injury traffic accident. Initial reports were that a tractor-trailer had collided with a bicyclist in the intersection.

The bicyclist, Mr. Guadalupe Cruz was treated at the scene and immediately rushed to Ventura County Medical Center via AMR. Later that same day, at approximately 4:41 P.M., Mr. Cruz succumbed to his injuries sustained in this collision. The investigation is ongoing and anyone who might have witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Fillmore Police Department/Sergeant Aguirre (805) 524-2235.

Nature of Incident: Serious Injury Traffic Collision – Update - Fatal
Report Number: 12-12816
Location: Ventura Street and C Street, Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: 06/06/2012 @ 8:37 AM
Unit Responsible: Fillmore Police Department and Camarillo Traffic Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Party-Victor Leija, Bakersfield, 40
Party-Guadalupe Cruz, Fillmore, 81
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Captain Monica McGrath
Media Release Date: 06/07/2012
Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Anthony Aguirre (805) 524-2235
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith

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).

At Tuesday’s Council meeting City Manager Yvonne Quiring presented the 2012-2013 Budget. Councilman Steve Conaway asked Quiring for specifics about laying off employees, only to replace their positions with temps and consultants, including cost savings if any. That data was not reflected in the budget. Quiring said, “It’s not as straight forward as you think…we’ll get you what we can.” The Gazette will print that information for public knowledge when it is made available.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012 Fillmore’s City Manager presented the City Council an overview of the 2012-2013 Budget. The special meeting was the first of four workshop hearings to discuss major changes that Fillmore will have to adjust to in one way or another. The budget meetings will continue every Tuesday in June and possibly be adopted on June 26, 2012.

As had been disclosed at previously council meetings and repeated by City Manager Yvonne Quiring on Tuesday, Fillmore’s expenditures have been greater than its revenue for four years running, and with little reserves left, the City is running out of options. Quiring gave a grim view of where the City stands; more layoffs, employee concessions, park closures and possibly another ballot tax measure being considered. Finance Director Glenda Jay described best, “This is like the perfect storm” referring to so many negative things happening at once; the abolishment of the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) by the State, tax money being held back by the Board of Equalization due to litigation/appeals over sales tax agreements that are in dispute, increase in operating costs and the economy/recession resulting in less property tax revenue.

The City can no longer provide the service level even after the layoffs just recently. This second round of layoffs will mean that the City will have cut its staff by 50% in two years. The positions being proposed for layoffs are: administration (1); Community Development (1.5); Community Services (1); Finance (1.25) Public Safety/North Fillmore Storefront (.25); Public Works (3). These proposed layoffs are based on seniority. Thus employees with the least amount of service in some positions will be those laid-off. Also, employees who are bumped back to lower positions will be paid at the lower positions’ rate. The City Council authorized lump sum payment of $3,507 for seven months of medical insurance to unrepresented employees who may be laid off.

Another part of CONTINUED »

When I received the email from Susan Golson to write an article for the Fillmore Gazette on the upcoming California Honey Harvest Festival to be held on June 9th and 10th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm I didn't think it would be a very interesting article to research and write! I have to admit did I ever find that to be a false assumption on my part! I started my research on their very informative and professionally presented website and then made a visit to their farm to meet with Susie Alvary, Bennett's Honey Farm's Office Manager and a very knowledgeable person about the honey production business. I found my visit to Bennett's Honey Farm to be fascinating and I think the visitors to the California Honey Harvest Festival will be equally fascinated to learn about honey production in the Santa Clara Valley!

Susie told me the idea of the California Honey Harvest Festival is meant to be an educational opportunity for the public on the production of honey. To accomplish this there will be at least fifteen honey related vendors located at the Fillmore's Central Park, as well as bee keepers along the route the train will take to Bennett's Honey Farm. Once at the Honey Farm there will be an approximate 45 minute tour of the honey production plant at the production site providing valuable and educational information to visitors. Susie also told me the Festival and the tours are free, but the costs associated with the Festival are only for the train ride out to Bennett's Honey Farm and back to the Festival site in Fillmore's Central Park. Those visitors not wanting to ride the train are still encouraged to visit Bennett's Honey Farm by driving out and following the signs to Bennett's Honey Farm. Because some people are allergic to bee stings Susie asked me to make the public aware that bees are present throughout the Honey Farm and that there is a potential of a bee sting occurring. If you, or a family member has an allergy to bee stings please use caution in your decision to take this tour, or to be present where bees are active in pollination of crops throughout this Valley.

In a joint venture CONTINUED »