Sergio Torres, Sebastian Pujols and Bobby Santarosa. Not pictured John Stines.
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According to the “Fillmore Herald” Newspaper, published December 28, 1923, a new garden club was organized that would function as a County wide garden club. The mission would be, “to promote interest in the subject of gardening and to foster community beautification through district projects.”

This Ventura County Garden Club has continued to function and serve out its purpose by providing labor, funds or items each year to the communities represented by its membership. These communities include Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ventura, Oak View, Ojai, Camarillo, Oxnard and Somis in rotation. This time Fillmore is the recipient of $200 + dollars and Teresa Reese, vice president for the club’s 2015-2016 term chose to purchase plants for a butterfly garden at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley-Fillmore site on First Street and a smaller project at the One Step A La Vez location.

Three different types of lavender, celosia, rosemary, alyssum and native milkweed have been planted with the boys providing the labor.

Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee contributed $25 to purchase rails for completing a bench that was donated by Teresa Reese, so the young people could have a place to sit and enjoy their garden. “We are fortunate to have the support of so many groups and citizens in the community. Thank you to the Ventura County Garden Club for the wonderful donation. The children were excited to help with the planting.” stated Ari Larson, board president of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley (serving the cities of Fillmore, Piru and Santa Paula). For more information on the Ventura County Garden Club and/or the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley please call Linda Nunes at 805.302.7527 and 805.525.7910 respectively.

LOS ANGELES — The Coast Guard is searching for three possible missing boaters near Santa Cruz Island, Wednesday.
At 8 p.m., Tuesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor received a call from a woman, reporting that her husband had left out of Ventura Harbor with two other boaters, the owner/operator and his wife, Saturday, October 8, 2016. She reported that they were heading to Santa Cruz Island in the 35-foot sailing vessel, Tenacious and were scheduled to return Tuesday.

The Coast Guard Command Center in Los Angeles – Long Beach immediately launched a HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Forward Operating Base Point Mugu, along with the Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip, homeported in Channel Islands Harbor to search for the missing boaters.

The passenger was last in contact with his wife on Sunday around 4:30 p.m.

If anyone has any information, please contact the Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles Command Center at (310) 521-3805.

The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today published its newest Top 500 Delinquent Taxpayers list, which includes individuals and businesses that collectively owe the state more than $394 million in income tax.

In August, FTB sent letters to taxpayers scheduled to appear on the list. Of these taxpayers, 96 made arrangements to pay their tax debt. Another 296 individuals and 108 businesses did not pay, resulting in their inclusion on the list.

The Top 500 list is published in April and in October. Since the list’s inception in 2007, FTB has collected more than $582 million through the program. Delinquent taxpayers on the list face an array of consequences:

• A professional or occupational license may be suspended until the tax bill is resolved (licenses are noted on the FTB list).
• The driver's license of the taxpayer may be suspended until the tax bill is resolved.
• The taxpayer is prohibited from entering into contracts with state agencies for the acquisition of goods or services.
• The names and titles of principal corporate officers are published on the FTB list.

FTB removes a name from the list once the debt is paid, or once the taxpayer agrees to make payments under an approved agreement or compromise. Tax liabilities for which the persons liable have filed for bankruptcy protection are not included on the FTB list.

Individual taxpayers on the list can call 888.426.8555 to resolve their accounts. Business taxpayers can call 888.426.8751.

The Board of Equalization has a similar list of the state’s top sales and use tax debtors, which is updated quarterly.

FTB administers two of California's major tax programs: Personal Income Tax and the Corporation Tax. FTB also administers other non tax programs and delinquent debt collection functions, including delinquent vehicle registration debt collections on behalf of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and court–ordered debt. Annually, FTB’s tax programs collect more than 70 percent of the state’s general fund. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit taxes.ca.gov.

For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit: taxes.ca.gov

On September 28th, 2016, investigators concluded a month long investigation into a gang-related conspiracy to sell methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin throughout Ventura County. As a result of the investigation, nine subjects were arrested for various charges, including narcotics and weapons related offenses.

In September of 2016, investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oxnard Police Department learned that Gerardo Vargas, a Fillmore gang member with Mexican Mafia ties, and Alfred Estrada, a Ventura gang member, were involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin for the benefit of the Mexican Mafia. Investigators discovered Vargas sold the drugs to lower-level drug dealers, who sold the drugs to drug users in Ventura County.

As a result of the information discovered during the investigation, detectives authored several search warrants for locations in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. During the execution of those search warrants, investigators seized nearly four pounds of methamphetamine, over one pound of cocaine, over four ounces of heroin, four firearms, including two assault weapons, and two ballistic vests.

The following arrests were made during the investigation:

• Gerardo Vargas – Conspiracy, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, sale of a controlled substance, possession for sale of a controlled substance and participation in a street gang.

• Enrique Navarette – Conspiracy, possession for sale of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

• Osvaldo Medina – Conspiracy and transportation/sale of a controlled substance.

• Gilberto Vargas – Possession for sale of a controlled substance.

• Maria Vargas – Possession for sale of a controlled substance.

• Raul Hernandez – Conspiracy • Gilberto Gomez – Conspiracy and transportation/sale of a controlled substance

• Alfred Estrada – Conspiracy, possession for sale of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and participation in a street gang.

• Jessie Rodriguez – Conspiracy and transportation/sale of a controlled substance.

All of the subjects were booked at the Main Jail and are awaiting further criminal proceedings in the Ventura County Superior Court.

Nature of Incident: Gang Members Arrested for Narcotics Trafficking / Weapons Possession
Report Number: Various
Location: Various Locations Throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties
Date & Time: September 28, 2016
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Oxnard Police Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Redidence   Age 
Gerardo Vargas, Fillmore, 34
Enrique Navarette, Fillmore, 48 
Osvaldo Medina, Fillmore, 29
Gilberto Vargas, Fillmore, 50 
Maria Vargas, Fillmore, 56
Raul Hernandez, Fillmore, 49 
Gilberto Gomez, Fillmore, 56
Alfred Estrada, Ventura, 44
Jessie Rodriguez, Los Angeles, 36
Prepared by: Sergeant Eric Tennessen
News Release Date: October 3, 2016
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Jeremy Bramlette 805-384-4771
Approved by: Captain Robert Thomas

Chad Hansen

Chad Hansen, was pretty much ignored as he began the football season in Idaho State. After catching 45 passes as a freshman at Idaho State in Pocatello things have greatly changed. Chad is now recognized as the nation’s leader in receptions.

Chad grew up on his parents’ Bardsdale ranch and spent his high school years in Moorpark. Little interest in his football talents was shown until his parents diligently started to contact as many colleges as possible. He finally got his start at Idaho State and quickly made his mark.

He then transferred to the University of California, Berkeley where he is now recognized as the nation’s leader in receptions. “A player who didn’t field a single FBS offer coming out of high school - and whose only offer from Idaho State only came because one of the Bengals’ recruits signed elsewhere at the last minute - now has his name popping up on some early NFL Draft watch lists.”

With 50 catches in the first 4 games Chad has a very bright future to look forward to.

Steve McClary

“I was inspired to begin my career in City government thanks to the my start at the Fillmore Gazette. I started covering city council meetings at age 21 and I got hooked, watching the staff and council interact with the Council to work out issues. I never imagined at that point that at one day I would become a city manager. Moving from the paper to city government felt like a natural transition for me. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity in Ojai and to be able to stay close to my family and friends. Ojai certainly is keeping me busy, but I miss all my old friends in Fillmore. Fortunately Fillmore has a great city manager in Mr. Rowlands.” - Steve McClary