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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 8th, 2015
 Above, a big rig was involved in an accident with a Chevy Cruze, pictured below. The collision took place on Thursday, April 2nd, at 6:45pm, Highway 126 and Olive Street. No injures were reported. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 8th, 2015
 A car fire destroyed this 2-door fastback on Thursday, April 2nd at 9:15pm. The fire seemed to start in the engine area; no injuries reported. Engine 91 responded and put out the flames quickly. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 8th, 2015
 Two cars sustained significant damage during a collision on Sunday, April 5th at 3:15pm in front of the El Dorado Mobilehome Estates, on Highway 126. No injuries were reported. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, April 7th, 2015
This is the final reminder and invitation to the Fillmore Flower Show, April 18th and 19th at the Senior Center in Fillmore, 533 Santa Clara Street. The theme this year is “Bursting with Beauty.” Anyone, young or old, who lives within the boundaries of the Fillmore Unified School District may enter into the competitive categories. However, others may enter just to display their beautiful blooms and plants. There is also a written composition category for youth. Brochures are available at several merchant locations as well as the library. Or, all information can be found on the website: fillmoreflowershow.com The show is open to the public from 1:00 to 4:00 both Saturday and Sunday. Along with the colorful flowers and lovely plants, the ambiance will be enhanced by piano and guitar music throughout the afternoon. Put the Fillmore Flower Show on the list of things to do as participant or a spectator. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 1st, 2015
Dear San Cayetano Elementary School Community: We are working to make sure that we have healthy classrooms and schools for students. Fillmore Unified is focused on keeping our classrooms and schools free of termites. Our staff conducted a full inspection of San Cayetano Elementary School with the help of experts and we are now working to implement a treatment plan during Spring Recess (March 30th-April 3rd) We are committed to making sure that our work to address the termites does not disrupt student learning and that it takes place outside of instructional time. As a result, our experts will be working during the week of March 30 to complete a full treatment at San Cayetano Elementary School. We are using the Spring Recess to complete the treatment and are following all procedures required by state law and Board Policy. The campus will be closed to all staff and visitors during the week of March 30th to make sure that students and staff are not exposed to anything that could be harmful. Staff will work with our experts to prepare our campus for students and staff when they return to school on Tuesday, April 7th. All areas that are treated for termites will be thoroughly cleaned and ventilated as part of this work. We will continue our work to ensure healthy classrooms and schools for students and staff. Thank you for your continued support and enjoy a well deserved Spring Recess. |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, April 1st, 2015
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On 3/29/2015, the Fillmore Police Department’s Investigations Unit conducted an alcohol enforcement operation. Underage minor decoys were used, under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, to solicit adults outside California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licensed stores to purchase alcohol for the minors. The goal of this operation was to limit minors’ access to alcohol. Two underage decoys were used in an attempt to solicit others to purchase alcohol for them in different locations throughout the City of Fillmore and the unincorporated area of Piru. Approximately 20 subjects at four locations were solicited during the operation. 1 adult male purchased alcohol for the minor decoys. The one male subject was arrested for BP 25658(a) / furnishing alcohol to a minor. The Fillmore Police Department’s Investigations Unit will continue to conduct periodic operations in the area in an effort to prevent minors’ access to alcohol. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Fillmore Police Department would like to remind the public that selling alcohol to, or purchasing alcohol for, minors is illegal and that alcohol is a factor in many homicides, suicides, and other unintentional injuries which along with car crashes are the four leading causes of death in 15-20 year olds. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the public to report incidents of underage drinking and illegal purchasing of alcohol. Location: Various Locations - City of Fillmore & Unincorporated Piru 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). |
 Senior Justin Coert, a second year track and field participant, broke a twenty eight year old school record held by Robert Zermeno from 1987. Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 1st, 2015
 Lupita Perez takes second place in both the 1500m and 3000m at the Santa Barbara Easter Relays. Enlarge Photo  4x100m relay: Pictured (l-r): Junior Aaron Cornejo, Senior Michael Luna, Senior Hayden Wright and Senior Demitriouz Lozano. Enlarge Photo This past Saturday, the Fillmore Flashes Track and Field Team attended the Santa Barbara Easter Relays. This year the team took 23 athletes to participate. At the conclusion of the meet Fillmore High School brought home sixteen medals with nine athletes earning personal records. Senior Justin Coert, a second year track and field participant broke a twenty eight year old school record held by Robert Zermeno from 1987. The old record stood at 147 feet 9 inches, Justin clips that mark with a throw of 149 feet 9 inches. In addition he set a personal record in the shot put throwing 48 feet 7.5 inches. He has qualified for the Arcadia Invitational which is a prestigious invitational that many strive to qualify for and participate in. Currently he ranked number one in CIF Southern Section Division 4 for in the Discus and 2nd in the shot put. Our Varsity Girl runner of the day was Lupita Perez. Lupita is a junior and third year track and field runner for the lady flashes. She was the only lady flash that qualified to run in both the individual 1500 meters and 3000 meters. She earned second place in both races where she ran a 4:58.28 in the 1500m and 10:36.38 in the 3000 meter. Lupita set a personal record that day in the 3000 meter. We are very excited and pleased by her performance and look forward see what she can accomplish this season. In the frosh-soph girls division, our distance quartet earned medals in both the 4 x 800 meter relay placing 5th as well as in the Distance Medley Relay where they earned 4th place. The lady flashes that participated in these relays were sophomores Alyssa Ramirez and Lauren Magdaleno with freshmen teammates Janaey Cadena and Jackie Chavez. Bringing home hardware in the throws competition were both Mariah Gonzalez and Karissa Ibarra. Mariah placed first place in discus and second place in the shot put, while teammate Karissa Ibarra placed fourth in both the discus and shot put. The Fillmore Track and Field Team hosted the first Tri Valley League meet against Nordhoff this past Thursday. The meet was a huge success clinching all four divisions including Girls JV, Boys Frosh Soph, Girls Varsity and Boys Varsity. The closest score was in the Boys Varsity division with only a five point gap. The entire meet came down to the team effort put forth by all runners, jumpers and throwers that day. Way to go Flashes! We would like to invite the Fillmore community to our next home meet on Thursday April 16th.This will be our third Tri-Valley League meet where we will compete against Saint Bonaventure and La Reina. Hope to see you there! |
 Rusty Cochran, owner of Grimes Rock Inc., who donated $9,832 worth of soil for the Pump Track Park, receives a Proclamation from Mayor Douglas Tucker. Enlarge Photo By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
The March 24, 2015 Fillmore City Council began with two Proclamations and three presentations. The majority of those in attendance came to comment on the first agenda item regarding the renewal contract with EJ Harrison for trash removal. Two other agenda items were a request to name a future park and a service contract to investigate the City's Fee Schedule. The first Proclamation went to the many volunteers who donated their time and effort to build the Bike Pump Track. Present to receive their plaque was Greg and Grant Taylor, owners of MG Taylor Equipment, who donate approximately $25,000 of heavy equipment including backhoes, forklifts, bulldozers, loaders and also provided the volunteers to operate the equipment. During Public Comments it was mentioned that MG Taylor Equipment Company also volunteered in the building of Shields Park. Also in attendance to receive a plaque was Rusty Cochran, owner of Grimes Rock Inc., who donated $9,832 worth of soil. Trucks worked daily nonstop for a week delivering the 99 loads and placing the 1,500 tons of sand and clay, which was over 2,000 yards of export soil. Mayor Douglas Tucker commented, "It means a lot to have good neighbors like Grimes." Cochran replied, "Anything I can give back, I will." Others receiving CONTINUED » |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
Ventura County Sheriff's Department Detectives from the Ventura County Narcotic Task Force concluded an investigation which began in September 2014 into the sales of “Spice” in Ventura County. Spice is a mix of herbs (shredded plant material) with manmade chemicals applied to it which is mind-altering. It is often called “synthetic marijuana” because some of the chemicals in it are similar to ones in marijuana; but its effects are sometimes very different from marijuana, and frequently much stronger. It is most often labeled “Not for Human Consumption” and disguised as incense and potpourri. However, the sellers of Spice know it is being consumed and package labeling to attract young consumers. Some of the packaging labels include, “Diablo, Scooby Snax, Atomic Bomb, Mr. Nice Guy, Dead Man, Frankin Stoned, Bob Marley, Mr. Happy, Mind Trip, and iBlown.” Because the chemicals used in Spice have a high potential for abuse and no medical benefit, the Drug Enforcement Administration has made many of the active chemicals most frequently found in Spice illegal. However, the people making these products continuously try to avoid these laws by altering the chemicals in their mixtures to circumvent emergency legislation. Sellers of Spice products try to lead people to believe the ingredients are “natural” and therefore harmless, but they are neither. Spice is the second-most popular illegal drug used by high school seniors (marijuana is the first). Easy access and the misperception that Spice is “natural” and safe have likely contributed to these higher rates of use. Its side effects, like the ingredients, often vary, but emergency rooms report seeing people with rapid heart rates, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. Using Spice can lead to abuse and even addiction as the body builds up tolerance to the drug’s effects over time and craves a higher dose to achieve the same effect. (Data from National Institute on Drug Usage NIDA) Detectives began receiving complaints from patrol officers and officers assigned to local schools of incidents where Spice was involved. They found several incidents where students had become violent and aggressive while at school and the officers had to request medical aid for the students that were under the influence of Spice. The detectives found several other incidents where patrol officers had physical altercations with subjects throughout Ventura County under the influence of Spice and they described the individuals as having super human strength. Detectives conducted undercover operations at over 32 smoke shops throughout Ventura County and were able to purchase Spice at 9 locations. Warrants were authored for the above locations. During the search warrants, the detectives located over 43 pounds of “Spice,” a stolen handgun, evidence of sales of prescription drugs and 10 gambling style slot machines. Arrests for the sales of “Spice” are still pending since the substances that were seized are still being analyzed to determine if they contain one of the illegal chemicals per the Drug Enforcement Administration. Four additional arrests were made during the service of the search warrants for the stolen gun, sales of prescription drugs and the slot machines. If you’re a parent, talk to your teens about Spice. It’s not safe. It’s not natural. In fact, no one really knows what’s in a package of Spice. Manufacturers are using a variety of unknown chemical combinations to evade D.E.A. regulations. If you have information about Spice and locations where these products are being sold, call your local law enforcement agency. The Ventura County Narcotics Task Force will continue to investigate the sellers and manufacturers of Spice products. The Ventura County Narcotics Task Force is made up of narcotics detectives from the Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, California Franchise Tax Board, Oxnard Police Department, Santa Paula Police Department, Simi Valley Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office working cooperatively in the investigation of narcotics offenses occurring in Ventura County. Nature of Incident: Narcotics Search Warrants / Arrests 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). |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
Written By Laura Bartels and Anna Morielli Fillmore High’s legal team made major strides during the Ventura County Mock Trial competition on February 23rd and 24th. In its third year, the team consisted of four seniors, six juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen. At the awards ceremony held at the Oxnard Civic Center, senior Hai Tran won Ventura County Third Place as art expert prosecution witness Bernie Worchester. This year’s case, People v. Shem, involved the felony charge of grand larceny from the alleged theft of a railroad baron’s painting. The students portrayed each principal of the cast in a courtroom, including attorneys, witnesses, defendant, court clerk, and bailiff. The trial played out in real courtrooms at the Ventura Superior Court before actual judges and scored by Ventura County practicing attorneys. The evening began with a pre-trial motion designed to exclude evidence gained by an illegal search. This year’s pre-trial motion focused on the Fourth Amendment protection against warrantless search and seizure -- “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects.” The prosecution team, --Catherine Alonso, Paulina Guerrero, and Misael Ponce, shined in round one against Westlake High School and again in round four against Oxnard High School. Prosecution attorney for pre-trial motion, junior Tatem Forsberg, strongly presented the prosecution’s argument of why the defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy for items he had consented to be searched. Tatem argued that once the defendant told the officer to “look around the apartment” it was reasonable that the consent extended to the storage unit assigned to the apartment. The officer only needed a “reasonable” belief that consent to “the apartment” would include ancillary uses of “the apartment” and that it would be unreasonable for the officer to ask the defendant every time for every area the officer wanted to search. In a strong opening CONTINUED » |
