Kailey Andrews, United States Air Force.
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Life-long Fillmore resident, Kailey Andrews, 19 years, a graduate of Fillmore High School (FHS) Class 2007, was home for the Thanksgiving Holiday with her family after she completed eight weeks of Technical School at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB) in Wichita Falls, Texas and six weeks at Keesler AFB near Biloxi, Mississippi. At Keesler AFB she trained in the operating room of the base hospital as a surgical apprentice. Kailey attended Los Nogales Elementary and Camarillo Heights Elementary Schools, and Los Altos Middle School in Camarillo before attending FHS. After graduation from FHS Kailey attended Ventura College before enlisting into the United States Air Force. Kailey was an avid softball player since she was 4 yrs. old and played year-round softball through high school at both second base and center field. Kailey enlisted in the United States Air Force in December of 2007.

Airman Kailey Andrews left on November 29th for Eglin AFB located about sixty miles from Pensacola, Florida. Eglin will be her new duty station with the Air Forces 96th Medical Group as a Surgical Technician. As a Surgical Technician she assists professional staff in providing patient care for surgical patients before, during, and after surgery. Airman Kailey Andrews will perform scrub and circulating duties in the operating room (OR). Additionally she will assist with post-anesthesia recovery of patients. The 96th Medical Group manages and provides comprehensive, cost-effective health care for 83,000 eligible beneficiaries who include active duty men and women, their dependents and military retirees. It operates a community-based teaching hospital with graduate level programs in family practice, general dentistry and other medical disciplines. It deploys and expands to provide responsive health services in any contingency. CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

At approximately 11:01 PM, Ventura County Sheriff’s patrol deputies responded to a report of robbery at the Shell Gas Station. A Hispanic Male, 5’9” to 6’, 150-170lbs, Slender build, Brown eyes, 20-29 year old suspect wearing a hooded sweatshirt, knit cap with his face covered by a bandana brandished a rifle at the 38-year-old female store attendant and demanded money. The clerk gave him the money in the cash register and watched the suspect flee toward the west and north. A second witness saw the suspect leave the store carrying a rifle and also called authorities.

Anyone with additional information about this crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (805) 494-TALK (Thousand Oaks / Moorpark), (805) 385-TALK (Camarillo / Oxnard / Port Hueneme), Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233 or the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Unit at (805) 477-7000.

Pictured (l-r) Mountain View Principal Chrissy Schieferle, school board member David Dollar and Heidi Popp. Popp was given the “Be the Change” award.
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Pictured (l-r) Cynthia Frutos, David Dollar and Isela Larin. Larin was given the "Be The Change" award for her outstanding career counseling at SHS (Sierra High School).
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The open session of the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board meeting was December 16, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Office. The Board presented awards to Isela Larin and Heidi Popp, swore in newly elected Board Members, elected a president, received recommendations from the Reconfiguration Committee, discussed fundraising principles, discussed contracts, and heard a facilities update on recent leaks.

Cynthia Frutos introduced Isela Larin on behalf of Sierra High School (SHS). Larin was awarded a "Be the Change" certificate for her outstanding work. She provides career counseling to SHS students, as well as Fillmore High School (FHS) students. Larin received praise for arranging remarkable guest speakers, and helping each SHS student with a plan for life after high school.

Mountain Vista Elementary School Principal Chrissy Schieferle introduced Heidi Popp. Popp was awarded a "Be the Change" certificate. Popp had sought donations for a "coat closet" from Mountain Vista staff, Fillmore Middle School staff, and the community. Schieferle said that Popp had hoped to gather enough coats and clothes to help the needy during the holidays, but collected so much clothes that the "coat closet" will be open year-round.

Board Members John Garnica and Virginia De La Piedra were re-elected in November, and were sworn in for another four-year term at this meeting. The Board elected Garnica to be School Board President, elected Board Member Tony Prado to be Vice President, and elected Board Member Liz Wilde to continue as Clerk. The Board decided to continue holding meetings on first and third Tuesdays. The Board appointed Prado as the School Board Representative on the County Committee on School District Organization. It appointed Superintendent Jeff Sweeney as the Ex-Officio Clerk and/or Secretary, with Assistant Superintendent Mike Bush as alternate. It appointed De La Piedra and Garnica to the Vision 2020 Steering Committee, with Wilde as alternate. It appointed David Dollar to the Agricultural Advisory Committee. CONTINUED »

Patti Walker

The newly elected City Council Members, City Clerk, and City Treasurer were sworn in at the City Council Meeting on December 9, 2008. The Council honored outgoing City officials for their public service, elected the Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem, made appointments to City Council Committees and Outside Agencies, and conducted City business. After intense discussion, the Council decided not to provide a track at the Fillmore Middle School.

City Clerk Shirley Spitler administered the oath of office to Council Members Gayle Washburn, Jamey Brooks, and Steve Conaway. She then administered the oath of office to incoming City Clerk Clay Westling and incoming City Treasurer Norma Gutierrez. Westling then presided over the mayoral election.

The Council elected Patti Walker as Mayor, and Gayle Washburn as Mayor Pro-tem. Laurie Hernandez was also nominated for Mayor Pro-tem, but was not elected.

County Supervisor Kathy Long presented honors to Cecilia Cuevas and Scott Lee. Long noted Cuevas's work on the Library Commission, noted her work with the Red Cross (especially with disaster preparation), and praised her "willingness to take on tough issues and do her homework". Long said that Lee had served for a total of thirteen years, and thanked him for stepping up to fill the vacancy left when a Council Member resigned in March 2007. She noted that his passion for serving the community extended beyond City Council to the Boy Scouts and other organizations.

Walker presented honors on behalf of the Fillmore Friends of the Library. Walker thanked Lee for donating 100% of his Council salary to the Friends, praised Cuevas for her service on the Library Commission, and thanked her for the expanded library hours.

Walker presented proclamations on behalf of former Mayor Conaway and the Council to Lee, Cuevas, outgoing City Clerk Shirley Spitler, outgoing City Treasurer Grace Donahue, and former City Treasurer Angela Mumme, commending and thanking them for their service. The Council recessed for a congratulatory reception with coffee, cookies, and cake.

Jim Higgins from the Higgy Foundation appeared with young people, Alissa Reyes and Joe Salazar, to: thank Scott Lee and Cecilia Cuevas for their service; remind Council Members to be models of honesty and integrity for community youth; and announce that they had provided refreshments for the reception. They requested that the Council meetings start with a prayer, like Congressional and Senate meetings, and that the City have an annual Youth Summit to set community goals. CONTINUED »