By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Pictured above (center) are Miss Fillmore Kyla Hernandez, (left) 1st Princess Janelle Burningham, and (right) 2nd Princess Torey Perez. Enlarge Photo |
By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Pictured above are (center) 2009 Miss Teen Fillmore Roxy Neal, (right) 1st Princess Chloe Kelloer, and (left) 2nd Princess Julia Valenzuela. Enlarge Photo |
By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
“It is with mixed emotion that I announce to the Community of Fillmore, that on April 13th; I submitted a letter to Bill Bartels to step down as the Fire Chief for the City of Fillmore. I want to make it clear that my decision to step down has nothing to do with the city, the council or any one member of the council. I am stepping down for professional, personal and family reasons. I love the Fillmore Fire Department of which I will continue to be a member of and I love being part of this community. The City has treated me with great respect, they have been very flexible with my time and they have allowed me to lead the department in the best way I saw fit. I took leadership of the department at a very difficult time in its history. With the help of some of the most unselfish people I have ever met; our department members, I am proud of the accomplishments over the last year. The department is strong and providing first class service to the citizens of Fillmore. Mr. Pennell and I are working together to create a seamless transition plan for the next Fire Chief; this plan will also include my last official day. It has been an honor to lead the City of Fillmore Fire Department over the last 11 months. I want to thank all the members of the department and the community for all that they give to the citizens of The Last Best Small Town in Southern California. I want to also thank my wife Kathy and my two kids Megan and Joey who over the last year probably gave the most. I love you guys!” |
Sheila Duckett, supported by the presence of four other Fillmore school employees, asked the City to fund the School Resource Officer (SRO) position. At recent School Board meetings, various Board members have said that they do not want to spend educational dollars on the SRO, but that having a police officer dedicated for school use is valuable. The District spends approximately $100,000 per year on the position. Duckett noted that the School District had reduced the positions of over 50 classified staff, and explained that most classified staff live in Fillmore, vote in Fillmore, shop in Fillmore, and many are raising families in Fillmore. Money saved on the SRO position could help school staff. Enlarge Photo By Mariandrea Mueller — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Skatepark Progress, Stimulus Funds Reviewed
Pictured (l-r) Jonathon Richmond and Mayor Patti Walker. Richmond named the new city park, Two Rivers Park and won $50. Enlarge Photo Fillmore City Council met Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall to cover a brief agenda. The Council congratulated Jonathan Richmond in person for winning the Park Naming Contest. The Council made several appointments. It appointed Aude Barragan to fill the vacant seat on the Parks & Recreation Commission, and Elizabeth Wareham to serve as Student Advisor on that Commission. It appointed Todd Gernheuser to serve on the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Board. It appointed Nancy Bowlin and Catherine Frias to fill vacant seats on the Film Commission. Norma Amaro spoke out against people-bashing in a short impassioned plea to the entire community of Fillmore. She asked that people support one another, disagree like polite adults when necessary, and refrain from nasty comments, negative asides, and casting blame, but give praise where it is due. CONTINUED » |
On April 23, 2009, at 11:15 p.m. deputies were dispatched to a vehicle collision involving several parked vehicles in the 100 block of “B” Street. Witnesses reported that the driver, Jose Gonzales 26, of Santa Paula, appeared to be intoxicated and was trying to leave the scene, but a local resident detained him. The investigation concluded that Gonzales was driving his 2007 black Ford F250 pickup truck southbound on “B” Street from Ventura Street at a high rate of speed. His vehicle drifted to the right side of the street and collided with five unoccupied parked vehicles before coming to rest in the middle of the street. Gonzales’ vehicle sustained major right front damage, which prohibited him from driving away from the scene. The parked vehicles had major damage, as well. Deputies determined that Gonzales’ blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit of .08 BAC and booked him at the Ventura County Main Jail for driving under the influence of alcohol. No significant injuries resulted from the collision. Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Both Fire and Police responded to a single vehicle traffic accident on Central Ave. at approximately 6:30 p.m., Tuesday night. To a concerned City Council and audience, Police Captain Tim Hagel explained that Lupita Acero, 42 of Fillmore, lost control of her 2005 Ford Explorer, driving up a large boulder on the traffic island containing the City’s new $30,000 clock. Hagel reported that there were no injuries, and only minor damage to the SUV and City property. It was happily noted that placing a large boulder in front of the clock protected it. The boulder was City Planner Kevin McSweeney’s idea. Enlarge Photo |
By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Your American Red Cross of Ventura County wants to make sure you have the latest information and planning to ensure you stay safe and informed
Our web site is updated frequently per day with national and local news and advisories. We are fully supporting the leadership of Ventura County Public Health and have links to their information as well. Here’s a great link to a brochure on Pandemic Flu Preparedness: http://www.arcventura.org/pdf/pandemic_flu_home_care_brochure(1).pdf also in Spanish: http://www.arcventura.org/pdf/pandemic_flu_home_care_brochure_sp(1).pdf and some answers to frequently asked questions http://www.arcventura.org/pdf/SwinePandemicFluFAQ.pdf An Update Tuesday, April 28, 2009 — The recent documented cases of swine flu in several states across the U.S. and in a growing number of other countries may cause many people to wonder what they can do to better protect themselves right now. As health experts around the world seek to better understand the scope and severity of the swine flu outbreak, this is a good time for individuals, families, businesses and organizations to review and update their emergency preparedness plans. Stay Healthy Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective when soap and water aren’t available. Fever Prepare for Potential Flu Outbreak Store a two-week supply of food, water and household necessities (such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc.). Select foods that are easy to prepare and store. As always please don’t hesitate to call us. Thanks as always for your support. |
The Fillmore Unified School District approved the administration’s budget cut proposal Tuesday night. Above photo is from last week’s meeting. Enlarge Photo By Mariandrea Mueller — Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Board Proclaims May 11-15 Staff Appreciation Week
The Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2009. The Board had already approved budget cuts to Certified personnel (Teachers), Classified personnel (Instructional Assistants, Library Clerks, etc.), and would conclude the third major round of cuts by approving program cuts and cuts to the District office staff. Many District employees were present. FUTA President and Teacher Theresa Marvel, CSEA Executive Board Member Sheila Duckett, and CSEA Member Luanne Brock made carefully planned presentations on the budget reductions. Board President John Garnica consistently stretched protocol to allow for comments when requested by the audience. At one point, Marvel started to ask detailed questions regarding FUSD’s monthly list of purchases and accounts payable, and was told that she was out of order, but the Board explained that Board Clerk Liz Wilde goes over that list with Assistant Superintendent Mike Bush each month. Brock thanked Board Member Tony Prado for asking questions and requesting budget-cutting options from the District Office staff. He had been overruled by other Board Members and never received any options. Brock mentioned the Board’s refusal to take questions from the audience at last week’s Budget Study Session, and thanked Garnica for taking questions after he arrived. She said, “Denying the audience an opportunity to ask questions or provide input during a study session is not in the best interests of the public that you serve.” She quoted a School Services article on the current financial crisis, saying, “People will remember how they were treated during this difficult time.” CONTINUED » |
By Joe D. Blaylock — Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Last year we wrote about the new Copper only bullet laws implemented to purportedly protect wild condors. The following is some important follow up information on the ammunition and it’s locally reported performance. |
By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
On April 17, 2009, at approximately 8:20 PM, three suspects entered the Rite Aid Pharmacy at 600 Ventura Street, Fillmore, and stole electronics merchandise with a value of approximately $260.00 (Suspect 1 Hispanic male, 5-6, 130 pounds, bald, tattoos on chest, blue Dodger blazer, black pants, Suspect 2 Hispanic male, 5-8, 170 pounds, short dark hair, black long sleeve shirt, blue pants, suspect 3 Hispanic female, 5-3, 140 pounds, long blond/brown hair, green shirt, dark pants). Rite Aid Loss Prevention Officers confronted the two male suspects, as they left the store with the stolen merchandise. S-1 pulled out a knife and told the Loss Prevention Officers to leave his wife (S-3) alone. S-1 then threw some of the stolen merchandise back into the store and ran to a parked, older model, gray, Dodge, van with a brown or burgundy horizontal stripe, bearing handicap license plates. One of the Loss Prevention Officers followed the suspect to the vehicle and saw the suspect retrieve a handgun from the vehicle. The Loss Prevention Officer obtained the license plate of the vehicle and returned to the store to report the crime. S-2 was driving the vehicle when it left the parking lot. A search of the Fillmore and Piru area to the Los Angeles County line resulted in negative results for the suspects or vehicle. 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 494-TALK (Thousand Oaks / Moorpark) or 385-TALK (Camarillo / Oxnard / Port Hueneme). Courtesy VCSD. |