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A 3-judge Ventura County Superior Court appeals panel struck down the eviction of the Fillmore and Western Railway by the Ventura County Transportation Commission who owns the tracks the railway operates on.

The panel released the decision on Tuesday, September 22, 2015. It ruled that the VCTC used an incorrect legal procedure to evict the railway, and the judge who upheld the eviction error in backing the eviction based on the incorrect legal procedure.

It remains to be seen if VCTC will appeal this ruling to a higher court, or return to the trial court to seek a legal eviction.

The VCTC filed a lawsuit in March 2014 against the Railway when they ignored the agency’s demand to stop running the train operation. The Railway countersued, claiming the Commission terminated its 20-year lease wrongly. The popular tourist train remains in operation for now.

 
On Monday, September 28th, a vehicle slammed into two parked cars in the 900 block of Ventura Street (Highway 126), at 6:15pm. No injuries were reported. Photos courtesy Sebastian Ramirez.
On Monday, September 28th, a vehicle slammed into two parked cars in the 900 block of Ventura Street (Highway 126), at 6:15pm. No injuries were reported. Photos courtesy Sebastian Ramirez.
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A local agricultural worker was driving west on South Mountain at Balcom Canyon Road, and lost control of his
truck on Monday, September 28th, at 1:08pm. He left the roadway and rolled at least once before coming to rest in the middle of a plowed field. Three units were called to the scene. He sustained moderate injures and was transported to a local hospital. Photo courtesy Sebastian Ramirez.
A local agricultural worker was driving west on South Mountain at Balcom Canyon Road, and lost control of his truck on Monday, September 28th, at 1:08pm. He left the roadway and rolled at least once before coming to rest in the middle of a plowed field. Three units were called to the scene. He sustained moderate injures and was transported to a local hospital. Photo courtesy Sebastian Ramirez.
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New Senior Center Location:
330 Central Avenue, Suite C (Across from the Post Office)
Fillmore, CA 93015
Same Phone #: 524-4533
Parking in the back of the building / Open Monday – Friday: 8:30 to 1:00 PM.

Yeah! We now have “Fresh Coffee”

Regular Scheduled Programs & Activities
Monday 8:00 – 9;00 Senior Walk / 9:00-10:00 Tai Chi Class / 10:30 Senior Chair Exercise
Tuesday 8:30 - 1:00 Computer Room Open / 9:00-12:00 Gourd (1st & 3rd Tuesdays of Month.)
Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 Book Club (2nd Tuesday of the Month.)
Wednesday 9:00 - 10:30 Busy Hands / 10:30 Line Dancing
Thursday 9:00 - 1:00 Computer Room Open / 10:15-11:30 Sketching Class (day changed)
Friday 10:30 - 11:30 Senior Chair Exercise

BINGO, STARTING SOON “KEEP” WATCHING FOR START-UP DATE!

AARP Drivers Safety Program Monday & Tuesday, October 19th & 20th. this is a 2 day course 4 hrs each day. From 8:30 -1:00 pm Cars have changed. So have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver's licenses, but even the most experienced drivers benefit from brushing up on their driving skills. You ask what will I learn by taking the Course? You can expect to learn current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment. You'll learn adjustments to accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. You will learn the following: How to minimize the effects of dangerous blind spots: How to maintain the proper following distance behind another car: The safest ways to change lanes and make turns at busy Intersections: Proper use of safety belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and new technologies used in cars: The effects of medications on driving: The importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use. After completing the course, you will have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and of how you can avoid potential collisions and injuries to yourself and others. This is a “GREAT Course” One every Senior should take. Please Call and let us know your coming. 524-4533

One Stop Shop for Medicare 2016 will be held at the Fillmore Senior Centers “New Location”, 330 Central Avenue, Suite C, across the street form the Post Office in Fillmore. Friday October 23. (Time to be determined) HICAP Counselors will run a Prescription Drug Plan comparison for you. Receive counseling on Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap, Employer Group, Retiree Plans & Medi-Cal. Enroll in a stand alone Prescription Drug Plan for 2016 Call HICAP for a Free, Unbiased Medicare & Health Insurance Counseling 800-434-0222 they will also send you a Part D worksheet, so your comparison will be ready for the ONE Stop Shop. Remember Open enrollment begins Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2015

Next Board Meeting: is scheduled for Monday, September 28. at 1:00 pm

 
Chouest in 1980
Chouest in 1980
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Chouest in 1978
Chouest in 1978
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Chouest
Chouest
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On July 18, 1980, at approximately 12:30pm, Sheriff’s patrol deputies responded to a call of a dead body found in a parking lot of Westlake High School, 100 N Lakeview Canyon Road, in Westlake Village. The murdered woman was at the foot of a dirt hillside in the rear parking lot of the school, accessible from N. Via Merida. It was determined the unidentified woman was sexually assaulted, stabbed and strangled to death elsewhere before being dumped in the school’s parking lot. Her autopsy determined she was approximately five months pregnant with a son. Thirty-five years later, the murdered woman remains unidentified.

As a result of major advances in DNA, in 2012, DNA that was collected from Jane Doe’s clothing and fingernails was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Wilson Chouest was identified as the person associated with this DNA. At that time, Chouest was serving a life sentence in state prison for the kidnap, robbery, and rape of one woman, and kidnap and robbery of another that occurred in Tulare County in August and September of 1980. Chouest is eligible for parole for these crimes in 2017.

This new DNA information gave the investigation forward momentum, especially when investigators learned Chouest had been linked through DNA to another Jane Doe homicide in Kern County. The body of Kern County’s Jane Doe was found in an almond orchard near Delano on July 15, 1980, three days prior to the Ventura County Jane Doe being found. While detectives from both agencies worked to develop evidence in the case against Chouest, they continued in their efforts to identify the two Jane Doe’s. The women have been featured on bulletins shared on our social media platforms and on numerous Jane Doe websites. Despite not being able to identify the women, the investigation did develop evidence that showed Chouest was responsible for the deaths of the two women and the unborn child.

The Ventura County Cold Case Unit detectives submitted evidence to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for review. On September 23, 2015, Chouest was brought back to Ventura County on a court order. He was arrested on September 30, 2015 for murder. Chouest is due to appear in court on October 1, 2015.

These victims have been unidentified for 35 years. Both women had live births prior to their death. Somewhere, there are two families whose mothers disappeared in July of 1980, never to be heard from or seen again. We’d like nothing more than to bring the families answers and return their loved ones to them.

Chouest traveled throughout several counties during his four months of freedom in 1980. Investigators believe these women’s kidnapping and murders could have occurred in Tulare, Kern, Ventura or Los Angeles Counties.

If you have information about Wilson Chouest’s activity between June and September 1980 or you have information about the victims’ identities, please email your tips to the Cold Case Unit at coldcase.187@ventura.org.

Nature of Incident: Arrest Made in 1980 Jane Doe Murders
Report Number: 80-12246
Location: Westlake Village, CA and Bakersfield, CA
Date & Time: July 15, 1980 to July 18, 1980
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes, Ventura County District Attorney Investigators, Kern County Sheriff’s Office
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Wilson Chouest Lemoore, CA 63
(V) Kern County Jane Doe Unknown 25-35
(V) Ventura County Jane Doe Unknown 20-30
Prepared by: Sergeant Denise Sliva
News Release Date: September 30, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Denise Sliva (805) 947-9258
denise.sliva@ventura.org
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).

 
Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros presents Fillmore’s 2014 Firefighter of the Year Chad Panke with awards at the 13th Annual Firefighters & Heros Gala in Ventura, on September 11th.
Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros presents Fillmore’s 2014 Firefighter of the Year Chad Panke with awards at the 13th Annual Firefighters & Heros Gala in Ventura, on September 11th.
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On September 11th, 2015 The 13th Annual Firefighters & Heroes Gala to honor Ventura County’s outstanding firefighters and civilian heroes was held. Fillmore’s Firefighter of the Year 2014 Chad Panke was honored with a plaque and award presented by Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros. The event was hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Ventura. The evening included dinner, awards, and dancing with music provided by DJ Bruce Barrios.

Firefighter/Medic Panke was born and raised in Arlington Texas and graduated from Randolph High School in New Jersey. He graduated from the Middlesex fire academy in New Jersey in 1997. In 1999 he moved to California and began his carrier in EMS.

Chad is presently employed by AMR American Medical Response where he serves as a Clinical Education Manager. He has also held the positions of Field training officer and Field supervisor.

Chad joined the Fillmore Fire Department in 2007, right at the time Fillmore Fire was starting their Paramedic program. He has attended the Oxnard Truck Academy, MCI drills, and multiple burn events throughout Ventura County.

Chad has been instrumental in starting the county’s first Cardiac Arrest Management program and has trained every EMS and Fire agency in Ventura County on this program that is responsible for saving many lives. This program was designed to choreograph the way first responders provide aid to someone who is in cardiac arrest. To help put this into perspective, Seattle Washington has some of the highest recorded cardiac arrest survival rates in the United States, and since the Cardiac Arrest Management program was put into place, Ventura County survival rates are rapidly approaching those of Seattle, and in certain categories of cardiac arrest patients, Ventura County has a higher documented survival rate.

In addition to Cardiac Arrest Management, Firefighter/Medic Panke has been instrumental in the development and improvement of numerous other programs within the Ventura County EMS system, including multi-casualty incident training and response, prehospital sepsis recognition and care, and ongoing EMS education.

Firefighter/Medic Panke is well respected by his fellow firefighters and our EMS partners. His strong work ethic, can-do attitude, and willingness to learn have made him a valuable part of the Fillmore Fire Department team.

 

There were three items of new business on the Fillmore City Council Meeting and one old one, which was the establishment of a Pre-sale/Human Living Standards Inspection Program. Just as at the last council meeting on September 8th, many Ventura Country Realtors came to voice their opposition to the program.

Dennis Goldstein past president of Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR) addressed the Council stating, "Realtors are dedicated to peoples private property rights" and said he opposed the program "It places an unfair burden on property owners....reduces the privacy of the property."

Dale King with Santa Paula Troop Realty stated he was also opposed to the program for many of the same reasons that Goldstein spoke of. "It's not the newer homes that are the problem, it is the smaller older properties that will be burdened with the added expense King told the Council..... Some were built before there was a code enforcement and some of the conversions were done because there was no need to park a car in the garage. It is expensive to return some properties back to their original condition, and often these are the people who can least afford it..... A first time buyer can't afford it."

King encouraged a County Record check and a copy of the permit file, which cost about $40-$80. He said they are helpful disclosures between a buyer and seller.

Realtor Mark Chacon CONTINUED »