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At approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, June 5, the California Highway Patrol responded to calls of a bear struck by a vehicle on Highway 126 at Trestle Way, Fillmore.
A Dodge Charger received major damages; the passengers of the vehicle had minor injuries and were not transported.
The black bear was deceased from the crash when the Fillmore Fire Department arrived, according to Chief Keith Gurrola. The bear had a tag and a collar on him, and Gurrola recognized him instantly from his broken jaw.
The older black bear, a male, was “really heavy” and weighed “over 400 pounds” and his body was lying in the middle of eastbound Highway 126, Gurrola said. The bear needed to be moved to let traffic through and was dragged off the road by four firefighters.
The California Department of Transportation arrived and took the bear’s remains to the nearby Fillmore Fish Hatchery belonging to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The bear had visited Fillmore at least four times in the last couple of months, usually leaving on its own, though it had to be tranquilized back on April 1st when it was spotted in the 800 block of 4th Street. He was examined and he was deemed healthy aside from a few missing teeth. The bear was tagged, collared, and released into the hills north of Fillmore, before returning to the Two Rivers Park area a week ago, and finally Highway 126 on Friday night.

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Fillmore High School’s graduating Class of 2026 entered the football field to Pomp and Circumstance (courtesy FHS Band led by Greg Godfrey) on Thursday night, June 4th, to the roar of a packed crowd of family and friends cheering them on. Arch Bearers were in place as they filed into the stadium and took their seats, marking the end of their 4-year journey, joining the ranks of Fillmore High School Alumni since June 1909. Alejandro Rangel thrilled the crowd with his Jimi Hendrix-style National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by ASB President Sabrina Galvez. FHS Principal Cinda Francis welcomed the crowd before three personal messages were delivered by Senior Class President Mia Garcia (“Who Will I Become?”), Valedictorian Christine Nguyen (“How to Grow”), and FHS teacher Salvador Lopez (“Today is the Day”). Seated on the dais were Board of Education members Scott Beylik, Tricia Gradias, Sean Morris, Lucy Rangel, and Olivia Palacio. Mariachi Los Rayos played a senior melody of fantastic, crowd stirring music before the Presentation of Awards by FHS Superintendent Christine Schieferle. Then the big moment came when Presentation of Diplomas was led by counselors Amalia Granados and Dena Wyand. The FHS Band played the school’s Alma Mater, ending with Salutatorian Cassandra Mendoza leading the Tassel Ceremony. The audience then exited the bleachers and spilled onto the field to congratulate and celebrate Fillmore High School’s Class of 2026!!
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Stay tuned next week we will share photos from Fillmore Unified’s Elementary, Middle School and Sierra High/Heritage Valley Independent Studies Promotion Ceremonies.

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Martin Cruz, Fillmore High School College and Career Counselor said, “Fillmore High School celebrated its 38th annual Senior Awards Night on Wednesday, May 27, where students saw the fruits of their labor. Seniors begin applying to scholarships in the Fall semester all the way through the Spring semester, and eagerly wait for Senior Awards Night to find out whether they are recipients of awards and scholarships. This evening, the ceremony was attended by more than 32 community members who were awarded recognitions or scholarships to students. The awards and scholarships included: the VIP Scholarship, George Thompson “Diamond In The Rough”, Marine Corps High School Award, Association of Old Crows (AOC) Commander William J. Coffey Memorial Scholarship, Fillmore Athletic Booster Club, Southern California Wrestling Officials Association, Baldin/Scanlin Scholarship, Fillmore Rotary, Fillmore Unified Teachers’ Association Scholarship, Gaitan - Piru Scholarship, Henry Mayo Newhall Scholarship, P.E.O Women’s Education Award, Soroptimist International Club, Sespe Players Scholarship, Heritage Valley Blazers Scholarship, Fillmore High Alumni Association Scholarship, Fillmore Women’s Service Club Scholarship, Never Change Scholarship, Fillmore Lions Club, Rosie Torres for Future Teachers, Piru Petroleum Club Scholarship, James Jimenez Scholarship, Ventura County Community Foundation, Santa Clara Valley Wellness Foundation, 20th Century Onyx Club Scholarship, Elks National Foundation Scholarship, AMG Associates Inc. (Future Builders Scholarships), Hensel Phelps Construction Co., and the Edison Scholar. The four main educational awards included: the California Scholarship Federation, Seal of Biliteracy, Golden State Seal, and the Class of 2026 Valedictorians. At the end of the night, more than $363,200 in scholarships was awarded. A special thank you to The Candy Bar (balloons), La Flor Bonita (flowers), for adding their special touch to the evening, and to the photographer, Veronica Gonzalez (E.A.O.P. Coordinator at Fillmore High School).”

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Ventura County Fire Department announced today that Truck 29 has officially been placed into service, enhancing fire protection and technical rescue capabilities for the Santa Clara River Valley and the entire county.
Truck 29 is a new 100-foot tractor-drawn aerial apparatus manufactured by Rosenbauer and equipped with specialized tools and equipment designed to support highly technical rescue operations and structure fire response throughout the region.
Until the completion of the new Fire Station 29 in Santa Paula, Truck 29 will temporarily operate out of Fire Station 27 in Fillmore.
The addition of Truck 29 was recommended in the recent Standards of Cover study conducted by Citygate Associates, which evaluated fire protection and emergency response needs throughout Ventura County.
“Truck 29 represents our continued commitment to providing the highest level of emergency response and rescue capabilities to the communities of Ventura County,” said Fire Chief Dustin Gardner. “By strategically placing this specialized apparatus in the Santa Clara River Valley, we are strengthening our ability to protect lives, support our firefighters, and serve all of Ventura County.”
For more information, please contact the VCFD Public Information Office at (805) 389-9769.

Each year the Fillmore Rotary Club presents Graduation Sashes to the seniors who will be going into the military. Rotary member Kelli Couse started this when she realized these students were not recognized at graduation. The students who received sashes this year are Michelle Setty who will be going into the Navy, and Sofia Ibarra who will be going into the Coast Guard. Not pictured is Alexander Ramirez who will be going into the Marines. Pictured right is FHS Principal Cinda Francesa with Michelle Setty and Sofia Ibarra. Photo credit Martha Richardson.