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

An impostor Fillmore Gazette Facebook page has been identified. A thief took the newspaper’s logo and other copyrighted materials and created a fake Facebook page. A notice regarding this impostor has been sent to Facebook and a formal Digital Millennium Copyright Act violation has been filed. The matter is currently under investigation.

To become friends with the real Fillmore Gazette. Please follow this link to our real Facebook page:

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Luis Alberto Rodriguez Pillardo, 29 of Oceanside California.

During the investigation of a marijuana cultivation north of the city of Fillmore on July 29, 2010, sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop a vehicle associated with the illegal activity. The driver eventually yielded after driving about 2 miles, then fled on foot over a ledge on the side of the road and disappeared. In the vehicle was 78 pounds of processed marijuana.

Through investigation, sheriff’s narcotic detectives learned the identity of the driver. On August 5, detectives arrested Luis Alberto Rodriguez Pillardo at his residence in Oceanside for possession of marijuana for sale, conspiracy to cultivate marijuana and resisting arrest. He was transported back to Ventura County and booked for the listed charges.

Location: Oceanside, Ca
Date: August 5, 2010
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Narcotics Bureau, West County Street Team
Suspect City of Residence Age
Luis Alberto Rodriguez Pillardo Oceanside 29
Officer Preparing Release: Sgt Mike Horne
Follow-up Contact: Sgt Mike Horne 805-383-8700
Approved by: Captain Eric Dowd

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On August 7, 2010, at approximately 6:15 PM, a helicopter was requested for a male who fell in the punch bowls in Santa Paula Canyon. Initial information stated Marice Lamburt fell approximately twenty-five feet off a rock and sustained traumatic injuries. This is a remote area in the Los Padres National Forest and is only accessible by foot or helicopter.

The Sheriff’s Department helicopter, piloted by Kim Bergeson, responded with a rescue crew consisting of Crew Chiefs Jeff Golden, Don White and Paramedic Jacyen Justus. After an aerial search of the canyon was initiated, Lamburt was located laying on a rock adjacent to the river in a narrow part of the canyon known as the “slide.”

Due to the unknown medical condition of Lamburt, the rescue helicopter hovered over the area to begin a rescue operation. Justus and crew chief White were hoisted approximately 150’ down into the narrow canyon. Due to the injuries sustained by Lamburt, the decision was made to remove Lamburt from the location by helicopter.

Lamburt was placed on a backboard and secured inside a stokes basket for hoisting. Lamburt was subsequently hoisted out of the canyon and placed inside the helicopter. Justus and White were hoisted into the helicopter and Lamburt was flown to the Ventura County Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.

Location: Punch Bowls, Santa Paula Canyon, Santa Paula, CA

Date & Time: August 7, 2010, 6:15 PM

Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Aviation Unit

(V)ictim: City of Residence: Age:

V1 – Marice Lamburt Long Beach 39 years

Officer Preparing Release: Sr. Deputy White

Follow-up Contact: Ventura County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit (805) 388-4212
Date of Release: August 8, 2010
Approved by: Captain Dowd

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On August 1, 2010 at approximately 2102 hours, Fillmore Deputies were dispatched to 353 Fourth Street, reference a dispute involving a boat. While investigating the incident, the Deputies learned that (S) Michael Elliot May 60, Fillmore, had battered one of the other involved parties. May was arrested for a violation of PC 242 – Battery. May’s vehicle was towed and during an inventory search of the vehicle, a concealed firearm was located in the glove box. May was also arrested for a violation of PC 12025(a)(1) – Possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle. May was transported and booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura.

Dr. James Howatt

Ventura County resident James Howatt M.D., Molina Healthcare’s chief medical officer, has been appointed as Adjunct Professor by Claremont Graduate University’s School of Community and Global Health (SCGH).

"We at the Claremont School of Community and Global Health are delighted to have Dr. Howatt join our faculty, said C. Anderson Johnson, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Community and Global Health. “His expertise in health maintenance and management of health systems for underserved populations brings an important element to our school. Molina HealthCare is one of our most valued partners and we are honored to have it represented by Dr. Mario Molina on our Board and Dr. James Howatt as a member of our faculty."

As chief medical director for Molina Healthcare Inc., Dr. Howatt is responsible for oversight of the medical management functions of all the Company’s health plan subsidiaries, including utilization management and risk management activities. Dr. Howatt received his Bachelor of Science degree and Medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and also holds a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Health Management from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Howatt is a board-certified family physician and a member of the American College of Managed Care Medicine.

About Molina Healthcare
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) is a multi-state managed care organization that arranges for the delivery of health care services to persons eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, and other government-sponsored programs for low-income families and individuals. Molina Healthcare’s licensed health plan subsidiaries in California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Washington currently serve 1.5 members. More information about Molina Healthcare, Inc. and Molina Healthcare of California can be obtained at www.molinahealthcare.com.