Deputy Gabriel Gonzales
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Pre-Departure
For the most part my wardrobe is decided by comfort, but the ride-along form expressly categorizes jeans and T-shirts as What Not to Wear, which means I now need to give it some thought. We’re supposed to look … authoritative. I’ve killer three-inch heeled boots that might do it, but what if, say, there’s a foot chase or else I have to deliver a roundhouse kick to a bad guy? I settle for black sneakers. And charcoal trousers. And a hot pink (1) polo shirt. There’s no sun to justify a pair of aviators, oh well. I’m ready.

The Deputy
At the Police station I’m escorted through the building into the back parking lot where I’m introduced to Deputy Gabriel Gonzales. He opens the side door for me and I sit while he gets the car ready, checking lights and checking equipment. Loading the car with the engine running somehow feels a bit like saddling a horse. I check out the computer screen, which features an Open Patrol Log and a curious list of “Equipment/Qualifications” including: cell phone, evidence bags, rip hobble, crime scene tape, care bear … care bear?

Gonzales gets into the drivers seat and promptly offers an explanation for his haircut (2). “Sorry about my hair—it’s still growing back from when I got it shaved for the Explorers. It’s usually neat and everything.” There isn’t enough for it not to be neat, but judging by the way he gestured at “neat,” I imagine he misses his former coif. He calls his current ‘do “Chia Pet hair,” but until recently, his shaved head was part of the look for directing (and yelling at) the Explorers in their Academy. “The kids really like getting into it,” he says.
Gonzales is from Ventura, worked in the jail for four and a half years, and has been in Fillmore for a year now. And he likes it out here. “I think it’s the best job ever. Every since I can remember I’ve wanted to be a cop,” he enthuses. I ask him about the care bear, and he explains that it’s an actual stuffed animal for young victims or traumatized children. Can I see it? He hops out to fish for it in the trunk. Check the body bag, I suggest. It’s not without considerable difficulty that he pulls out a small, extremely worn plastic package from under a load of equipment. “You can open it,” he says. I extricate a small, new teddy bear wearing an indecently short T-shirt featuring an insurance advertisement. Although his outfit is a uniform infraction in my book, I invite him into the patrol car. Gonzales is also a bit mystified by this fellow. “They’re usually neon blue. And different material—nylon—so it’s easy to clean.” Maybe the bear faded for lack of love and attention in the depths of the trunk.

As we leave the lot, CONTINUED »

City Council candidate Adrian Grimaldo addresses the city's high water and sewer rates.

The City Council meeting on August 24th mainly focused on the increases in fees for the residents of Fillmore of which there were many. The proposed increase in water and sewer fees took front and center, along with an added fee for street cleaning. But also discussed were the increased fees for general service, Police and Fire Department services, filming fees, sports programs, Building and Safety, Public Works along with a proposed increase in Vista transportation.

The meeting was the first reading of the Water Ordinance 10-821, a proposed water rate increase and in preparation for a public hearing for a Proposition 218 protest hearing. Proposition 218 is the proposed increase in fees to the sewer and water rates for properties here in Fillmore.

Starting off the council meeting there was much discussion about the ballots that were sent out recently to the property owners in regards to the water and sewer fee increases. Some found the ballots confusing and others did not know that only property owners had been sent the ballots, and that only property owners could protest the proposed increased rates. It was suggested that the ballots should have read ‘Ballot’ on the front, to avoid some of the confusion, to which the council agreed that having done that would have been an improvement.

Lupe Grimaldo along with Tom Dawson voiced their concern with the escalating water and sewer rates. Grimaldo questioned the council on what exactly the rate increases will be and cautioned that the citizens need a better explanation and that the council should do a better job at distributing the ballots. Mayor Patti Walker stated she’d received many comments similar to Grimaldo’s and that, “The mailer was misleading, we need to get out more information.”

When asked what the CONTINUED »

Tina Wheeler
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Anthony Perez
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Autumn Inglis
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Autumn Inglis
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Robert Armstrong
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Grand Champion Turkey
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David Landeros
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Chickens
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Aaron Largen
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FFA members showng their pigs in showmanship.
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Brittany Gurrola with her steer Oreo.
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Story and Photos by Bob Crum

Oh yes... what a great time to be young. Genie... oh genie... where art thou? Aaah... if only I could turn back the clock... here I am a teenager in the 4-H or the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program... and I'm raising chickens and turkeys. Because... at the 2010 Junior Livestock Auction at the Ventura County Fair... one turkey sold for $1,250 and another for $2,000. Imagine that? Wait... there's more. Three purdy-white chickens fetched a whopping $3,500! Gasp! On the other hand... if I were the winning bidder... I'd fully expect those chickens to lay golden eggs... or they'd be chicken soup before sundown.

Fillmore and Piru youth snare a share of Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion honors in pig, goat and lamb categories.

Being only her first ever animal raised... Fillmore's Tina Wheeler – Sespe 4-H - won Grand Champion pig. This kind of achievement is not easy to come by and for a newbie... it's quite uncommon. Why raise a pig? “I picked a pig to raise because I think it'd be the easiest animal and the most fun,” Wheeler said. Was that true? “Yes it was” Wheeler promptly replied. Really? “Well... it wasn't very easy... it was hard sometimes... but because he has a really good personality, it was fun” Wheeler confessed. What was difficult about raising Cookie... her pig? “Sometimes while walking her she'd get upset so I'd have to take her back to her pen. Or when I'd feed her she wouldn't eat so I'd have to feed her something else,” said Wheeler., adding that Cookie had a stubborn streak. Um... why the name Cookie? Because she looks like an Oreo cookie” said Wheeler. What about next year? “Another pig”, said Wheeler. Why? “Because they have really good personalities. Cookie weighed in at 276 pounds and brought an amazing $35 a pound at auction. And what will Wheeler do with the money? “Save some of it... and spend some on clothes”, she said with a smile.

This great act was followed by Anthony Perez... Fillmore FFA... who's pig won FFA Reserve Champion. This is his 3rd year raising a pig... always raised pigs... 2 years with 4-H and this year, upon entering High School, switched to Future Farmers of America (FFA). Why raise a pig? “I saw a pig one day and wanted one so... I got one.” Uh huh... makes perfect sense. Why not raise a steer... one wonders. “I thought about raising a steer”, said Perez... “but with the money... it's kind of more a financial matter”, adding, “starting out with a steer project is a lot harder then than it is with pigs.” Translated... steers cost more. Perez's pig's name is Tank... well... because of the size of him.” Tank's show weight was a porky 278 pounds from a diet of Morman 273. Close to Fair time... Tank's weight was a major concern for Perez... worried about Tank making weight... the high end limit being 280 pounds. Would Tank tolerate a diet? We'll never know.

Tank's life was good... roaming around an orchard vs. confined to a pen. As such... how would Tank behave in an arena atmosphere? Like a well-behaved pig to the great relief of Perez. Will Perez raise a pig next year? “Possibly... haven't decided yet... kind of like to end on a good note” said Perez. The auction brought Perez $8.50 per pound - $2,363.00 which will go into a savings account. It should be noted that Perez was extremely appreciative of his great support staff raising Tank. His long range plans? Perez intends a military career as a U.S. Marine.

Ariel Legan of Fillmore - Santa Clara Valley Grange group - won Grange Grand Champion for her 148 pound lamb. Relating her experiences raising Moose the lamb, Legan said, “he was a brat at first but it got better as it went along... as he got used to me and I got used to him.” At auction, Legan's lamb fetched $10 per pound. And her reaction? “It feels good... I made a lot of money.” And the plans for the proceeds? “Save it”, Legan quickly replied. And next year. “Another lamb”, says Legan. Not a steer? “Umm... maybe” she added. I thought about raising a heifer this year Legan said. “My sister's steer is awesome”, said Legan.

Autumn Inglis of Piru – Santa Clara Valley Grange – in her third year of the program raised a goat that won Grange Grand Champion. Raising the goat presented many challenges for young Inglis... one of which was the goat always insisting on chewing her hair every time she tried to give it a hug. Oh... the trials and tribulations of goat raising. What did Autumn like most about raising the goat? “They're like really fun... and once you get used to like having a goat you like get like you get attached to them. And like you want to keep them forever. Like a pet one wonders? “No”, Autumn quickly said... “he's not going to be a pet... he's going to go in someone's stomach. The most difficult part of all? “About when you go to auction... and that you're just about to loose your best friend,” said Inglis. “It's my second year and it's difficult getting used to that he's going to go. Next year? Inglis intends to raise another goat... and a turkey.

Autumn Inglis is an example of the conflicts and triumphs of raising a market animal. However, they know the objective, recognizing that the end result of raising a market animal is for auction. Yet there is no mistaking that perhaps the majority bond with the animal they were raising. Seems rather inevitable. So parting with the animal after the auction is not without a reasonable degree of sorrow and sadness. Most naturally feel a significant loss. However, the level of maturity these young people display in handling their emotions and feelings is astonishing. Perhaps one of the significant reasons is that these youngsters appear to be well grounded. While most clearly understand the goals and objectives the emotional component is always prevalent. And of course there are parents and teachers who graciously accept the tremendous teaching opportunity in raising well-rounded, level-headed youngsters. And let's not forget... there isn't much that teaches responsibility more than raising an animal.

The championship wins in the steer category were a bit slim... but the steer sure weren't... looking mighty well fed and averaging 1,300 pounds.

Robert Armstrong – Fillmore FFA – won First Award for his steer. This being Armstrong's first time ever raising an animal he was obviously very pleased. Most FFA participants obtained their animals from well known breeders. Armstrong did not follow the norm. Doing his own research, he found a Pismo Beach rancher - Geixeira – with a website listing cattle for sale. Armstrong bought one. Turned out to be a very good purchase. Next year? Maybe the same breeder or another rancher closer that has some pretty good steers”, said Armstrong.

Another great job by auctioneers John Dolleslager and David Macedo. These guys are the best... incredibly effective in getting the most money for the youngsters' animals.

To all those 4-H and FFA participants who won honors at this year's County FAIR... congratulations from the entire staff of the Fillmore Gazette. And in all land... there's no one that isn't proud of your hard-earned honors. And congratulations to all the parents who endured equal hardships in supporting their children in their magnificent endeavors raising a market animal. And of course... thanks to all the dedicated teachers who worked diligently with the youngsters all season.

Receptioning
The reception area at the Fillmore Police Station on Sespe is a sage green box with brown square tiles. If you put the image into a giant blender, the result might resemble unappetizing—and in any case inedible—mint-chocolate chip ice cream. A lone red candy dispenser keeps me company, its personality split three ways: it simultaneously invites quarter-laden folk to “Enjoy delicious M&Ms candies—a helping hand is given to local civic activities,” and “Enjoy delicious Skittles Sour Candy,” and also touts, “Bubble King.”(1) By the glass entrance door, a gray file cabinet marked, “Turn in Prescription Medication Program” stands guard, cautioning, “Pharmaceutical drugs only!” (Emphasis not mine.) Behind me on a blind-covered window, a Ventura County Sheriff’s Department recruitment poster pitches “$61,400-$84,600 Plus Benefits.”

I have time to notice all this because a concerned, smartly-dressed middle-aged couple stands at the reception window, reporting in great detail a suspicious figure who has been lurking about on his bike in their neighborhood. “We’ve been watching him for over a month now,” they say. A woman with her young son comes in to pick up, fill out, and turn in a ride-along form, and then—and then—I’m ushered past Candy Dispenser, past the security camera that was surely watching every breath I took and every move I made, (2) into the mysterious recesses of the building.

Through the Door
The affable Sergeant CONTINUED »

“Allah willing, with the force of Allah behind it, we shall soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism (Israel). Get ready for a world minus the United States.”
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinijad, June 4th, 2008

“It is the mission of the Islamic republic of Iran to erase Israel from the map of the region.”
Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, January 2001

No other country in the world lives under the day to day threat of terrorist attack like Israel.

What we in the United States take for granted, the safety to conduct our daily lives in freedom and lack of fear of being attacked at anytime on any given day, Israel must contend with and prepare for every day.

The dream of the average Israeli citizen is to sit in a public coffee house or restaurant without fear of being attacked by a Suicide Bomber. In June of this year, I sat having dinner at a 5 star restaurant in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is a wonderful metropolitan city, filled with cultural events and entertainment. It was a beautiful evening with the streets and the restaurants filled with Israeli citizens enjoying a night out after a full work week.
As I entered the restaurant I noted an armed guard stationed at the front of the restaurant. I asked one of the Israelis I was dining with why there was an armed guard at the entrance. I was advised the guard was trained to spot the telltale signs of a Suicide Bomber and to attempt to stop any potential attack.

Young grade school students on field trips to visit some of the many historic sites in Jerusalem have to be escorted by former members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These grade school children must have armed guards with them while visiting their own capital city due to the fact they are targets of shootings and Suicide Bombings. Many of these young children have been killed by Radical Islamists who each day attempt to instill fear in the Israeli citizens. This is the reality of day to day in Israel.

Yet, the Israeli’s have embraced this disarray of their daily lives, and through adversity, there has come cohesion for the people of Israel.

Despite this, and what the mainstream media never reports, Israel has proven its willingness to accept Arabs by the fact they have successfully integrated Arabs into Israeli culture. The population of Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, is 750,000; 250,000 of these citizens are Arabs.

There is no such thing as a “must be solution” to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Radical Muslims are mandated by their interpretation of Islam to dominate the world. Iranian President Ahmadinijad has stated, “We don’t shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world. We must believe in the fact that Islam is not confined to geographical borders, ethnic groups, and nations. It’s a universal ideology that leads the world to justice ... We must prepare ourselves to rule the world.” On February 11th, 2011 Ahmadinejad declared Iran is now a “Nuclear State.”

Iran’s senior leaders have taught in recent years that the revolution is now reaching its climax. They have stated publicly that the end of the world is “imminent.” They have taught that the way to hasten the arrival on earth of the Islamic messiah known as the “Twelfth Imam” or the “Mahdi” is to destroy Israel, which they call the “Little Satan,” and the United States, which they call the “Great Satan.” The key leaders in Iran are determined to accomplish their apocalyptic, genocidal mission. They are feverishly attempting to build, buy, or steal nuclear warheads.

United States leadership has become so politically correct it’s suicidal. Despite Radical Islam’s stated agenda put forth by Ahmadinijad’s declaration of war on the United States and Israel, Eric Holder, the United States Attorney General, who is the top law enforcement officer in the nation, cannot and will not use the terms “Radical Islam,” or “The War On Terror.”

Walid Shobat, a reformed Palestinian terrorist stated, “They (Iranian leaders) want a grand finale; they want one operation, the kind that cripples America once and for all, be it dirty bombs, or a real nuke.”

Mark Trimble is a retired Law Enforcement Operations/Special Operations Commander. He has spent 10 years researching and studying Radical Islam and Terrorism. He has worked as an Independent Security Contractor during which time he has trained with and interviewed members of the United States Army Special Operations Forces who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Trimble also spent time in the following locations: The West Bank; Gaza; Ofer Military Base- For the observation of the murder trial of two Hamas terrorists; Kalkilia- The Arab town which is one of the main terrorists infiltration routes into Israel; Israeli Forward Military Base at the Lebanese Border (area of the terrorist group Hezbollah’s headquarters); IDF tank unit on the Syrian border; Sderot, Israel. A city on the edge of Gaza, which is under constant mortar attacks by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.

Fillmore resident Zachary Freeman, 24, was killed in an off-road race accident in the Mojave Desert, August 14th.

Freeman was standing in the crowd of spectators with his friend Dustin Malson, 24 of Ventura, and girlfriend Nicky Carmikle, 19. Carmikle had just walked away to use the restroom when a Ford Ranger pickup driven by Brett Sloppy, 28 San Marcos, struck a rock, lost control and rolled into the crowd, killing eight and injuring a dozen. Malson was also killed.

Tens of thousands of people were spread out along the 50-mile track, within 4-feet of the speeding vehicles.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a statement saying state vehicle codes don't apply because the race was a sanctioned event held with the approval of the federal Bureau of Land Management, which owns the land used for the race. They said safety was the responsibility of the race organizer, South El Monte-based Mojave Desert Racing.

MDR's permit required racers to travel 15 mph or less when they were within 50 feet of fans, and allowed no more than 300 spectators for the event. BLM spokesman David Briery said the agency would cooperate with the CHP's investigation.

New allegations have been lobbied by former Fillmore Fire Chief Pete Egedi in his wrongful termination lawsuit against the city of Fillmore. Egedi claims the city has been a defendant in at least two state courts in which it was alleged to violate due process constitutional rights, according to the VC Star.

Egedi was fired in 2008 over allegations of grand theft and embezzlement by a public officer. He faced a criminal trial October 13th in Superior Court, three counts of grand theft and one count of embezzlement. He has pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. Egedi faces five years in state prison if convicted.

Fillmore City Council candidates in alphabetical order:
Adrian Grimaldo
Marcoz Hernandez
David Lugo
Brian Sipes
Patti Walker

FUSD Board candidates in alphabetical order:
Mark Austin
Tony Prado
Lucy Rangel
Kimberly Rivers
David Wilde

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 8-15-2010, the Sheriff’s Department received a call regarding four men trying to break into a home in the 500 block of E. Telegraph Road in the City of Fillmore. The resident also telephoned family members in Fillmore, notifying them of the incident. Deputies arrived on scene and checked the area, but were unable to locate the suspects. A short time later, Francisco Sanchez, Ricardo Sanchez, and Juan Sanchez arrived at the location in the same vehicle. Francisco, Ricardo, and Juan are family members of the resident at the location. A deputy contacted Francisco, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and observed a loaded handgun on the front passenger seat of his vehicle. Francisco was detained and found to have an additional handgun concealed in his waistband. Ricardo claimed ownership of the handgun on the passenger seat. A third loaded handgun was located on the rear passenger floorboard of the vehicle, where Juan had been seated in the vehicle. Francisco, Ricardo, and Juan were all arrested for violations of PC 12031(a) – Carrying a loaded firearm, PC 12025(a)(1) – Having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, and PC 12025(a)(2) – Having a concealed firearm on the person. All three were transported and booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura.

Location: 500 Block of E. Telegraph Road, Fillmore
Date & Time/ RB#: 05-15-2010 @ 0150 / 10-19768 Unit Responsible: Fillmore Station

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(S) Francisco Sanchez Fillmore 58
(S) Ricardo Sanchez Fillmore 25
(S) Juan Sanchez Fillmore 23

Officer Preparing Release: Sr. Deputy D. Hendren #3693
Follow-up Contact: Sr. Deputy D. Hendren 805-524-2233
Date of Release: 08-17-2010
Approved By: Sgt. Yoos