American Red Cross of Ventura County

The American Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors to donate blood this spring to ensure a sufficient supply for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country.

Donated blood is perishable and must constantly be replenished to keep up with hospital patient need. Red blood cells are the blood component most frequently transfused by hospitals and must be used within 42 days of donation.

Eligible donors can give red blood cells through either a regular whole blood donation or a double red cell donation, where available. During a double red cell donation, two units of red blood cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor. Double red cell donors must meet additional eligibility criteria, which will be determined at the donation appointment.

Debbie Cody-Nabors is a blood donor who gives double red cells. Her mother received transfusions twice a week during treatment for aplastic anemia. “I donate blood as often as I can in memory of my mom,” she said. “Please donate blood if you can to help save lives as you never know when you’ll be on the receiving end.”

Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O, A negative and B negative. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, up to six times a year, and double red cells may be donated every 112 days, up to three times per year.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Camarillo
4/27/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Santa Cruz Village, 1 University Drive
4/28/2016: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Santa Cruz Village, 1 University Drive

Simi Valley
4/16/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
4/29/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave

Thousand Oaks
4/20/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/25/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd

Ventura
4/19/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.orgor cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Board President Virginia de la Piedra with Barbara Lemons. Photos courtesy Bob Crum.
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Board President Virginia de la Piedra with Otmara “Maggie” Lofton.
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Tuesday's Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting was beyond standing-room only. Close to 70 people attended the meeting, with half standing and overflowing out the door. Some had come to honor those receiving awards and others to address their employee grievances with the Board.

The meeting began with honoring the FUSD Persons of the Year. First recipient was Classified Staff Employee of the Year Barbara Lemons. Lemons commented that she and other family members were Fillmore High School graduates and how much she appreciated the recognition.

The second recipient was Otmara "Maggie" Lofton, who spoke of her devotion to teaching, humbly stating, "I accept this on behalf of all the other educators." Lofton also received five other recognitions from throughout California including State Senate, Ventura County Supervisors and others.

Mary Williams was honored Administrator of the Year and Misael Ponce, Student of the Year; both were not in attendance.

Next was Public Comments with six FUSD teachers addressing the Board and Administrators. All six addressees read prepared comments that they attributed to writers other than themselves. One of the many grievances was that they had seen an increase in administrative staff, yet not an increase in teaching faculty. It was stated that the teachers had negotiated for two years of training to improve teaching techniques and they were responsible for building the curriculum. They were told teachers would be compensated by the degree of their effectiveness, but now feel they are being asked for more than was being compensated. They also stated that they want the student per teacher ratio lower and an equal number of students per grade in all classrooms.

Teacher Susan Butts read CONTINUED »

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Beef Bourguignon, Chicken Provencal, and Three Cheese Macaroni are just three of the delicious menu items included in this year’s Alumni Dinner menu.

Many of you have been to the annual Alumni Dinner over the years, and we thank the many volunteers who have prepared our menu in the past. Some of you remember the Alumni Dinners being mainly pit barbecue that were put on by Albert Bartels and his crews, Ed Burson and his group, and by K.B. Rogers and Ron Godfrey with the help of the Fillmore Club members. Presently we are happy to be served by Doug Biggs, Owner of DJ’s California Catering out of Ventura. They have put smiles on many Alumni faces with their outstanding food preparation and presentation at our Alumni Dinners.

Happy Hour is from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. DJ’s Catering has the best bar set up this side of the Mississippi. The bar setup will be open until 12:00 Midnight. Be sure to order our signature drink this year, the Blue Lightning Hypnotic Cocktail. Surely a crowd pleaser on a warm summer’s evening.

There are many classes preparing to get together to celebrate their Class Reunions at the dinner. Why don’t you get on the horn and call your friends to meet up for a time of laughter, celebration, and an awesome meal on June 11th. Make your reservations today by visiting the Alumni website at www.fillmorehighalumni.com

Juan Lemus, 29

On March 26, 2016 at approximately 7:52am, Santa Paula police officers were dispatched to the area of the 200 block of March St. for a call of a male subject swinging a rabbit in the air by its ears, and then lighting it on fire. The male subject then fled the area on a bicycle. Officers located a subject matching the suspect's description in the 300 blk S. Steckel Dr. The subject was identified as Juan Lemus, age 29 of Santa Paula. Lemus told officers that he found a rabbit in the street and was already deceased. Lemus told officers that he lit a piece of paper on fire, and not the rabbit. The rabbit was subsequently found in a dirt lot, lying next to a pile of smouldering paper. The rabbit was transported to SPARC for evaluation. The veterinary technicians examined and x-rayed the rabbit. It was determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. Lemus was taken into custody for 597(a)PC- Animal Cruelty, 451PC- Arson, and 459PC- Burglary. Upon being taken into custody, Lemus was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe, and was also charged with 11364(a)HS- Possession of Drug Paraphernelia. An evaluation of Lemus was also conducted to determine if he was under the influence of a controlled substance. The evaluation showed that he was under the influence and was arrested for 11550(a)HS- Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance. Lemus was later transported to Ventura County Main Jail.

The Santa Paula Police Department would like to thank the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center for their assistance in this case.
If anyone has information regarding a missing rabbit, please contact Det. Sgt. Madison at (805) 525-4474 x220.

Nature of Incident:
Animal Cruelty/ Arson
Report Number(s):
SG1600459
Location(s):
200 blk March St.
Dates & Times:
March 26, 2016/ 7:52am
Unit Responsible:
(S)uspects, (V)ictims
City of Residence
Age
(S) Juan Lemus
Santa Paula
29
Press Release Date:
March 26, 2016
Follow-Up Contact:
Sgt. Cody Madison, (805) 525-4474 x220, cmadison@spcity.org

Richard Kutbach, Fillmore, 55

On March 15, 2016, patrol deputies conducted a burglary investigation that involved the theft of the victim’s undergarments. At the deputy’s request, the victim installed trail cameras in her backyard. The following day, the victim discovered some undergarments missing from her residence. Upon checking the trail camera, the victim discovered Richard Kutbach, a longtime acquaintance, entering the residence. A search warrant was served on Kutbach’s residence. Investigators discovered over two dozen garments belonging to the victim. During the interview, Kutbach confessed to entering the victim’s home numerous times and taking the victim’s undergarments due to a longtime attraction to the victim.

Kutbach was arrested for residential burglary and booked at the Ventura County Main Jail. His bail was set at $100,000.00.

Nature of Incident: Residential Burglary Suspect Arrested
Report Number: RB# 16-319190
Location: 300 Block of Second Street
Date & Time: 03/16/16 @ 2:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol / Investigations
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(A) Kutbach, Richard Fillmore 55
Prepared by: Deputy Gene Torres
News Release Date: 3/22/16
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Javier Chavez
(805) 524-2233
Approved by: Captain Dave Wareham

Chris and Amy Obringer and family
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The Fillmore Equestrian Center (FEC) now has a new operator, the Obringer family. The contract with the Obringers and the City was approved at Tuesday's Fillmore City Council Meeting. The Obringers come with a strong equestrian background and plans for improving the offerings available at the FEC along with an extensive beautification and reorganization plan.

The Obringers, who live in Simi Valley, have four young children. Amy Obringer is a certified Western and English instructor who founded the Blue Water Youth Ranch in Spokane, Washington which offers youth ranch boarded horses, free riding instructions for foster/adopted children and professional riding lessons. Amy's husband, Chris Obringer, is a Ventura County Sheriff's Department Officer with an Advanced Mounted Officer Certificate. Amy's father, Donnie Waters, has 45 years of equine care and training experience and will be living on site at the FEC.

The Obringers future plans include making over $100,000 in improvements to the Center over the next five years, and partnering with many of our community based organizations: Boys and Girls Club Youth Programs, Veteran's Programs, Fillmore High School Equestrian Club. They also have plans to include summer day camps, horse riding lessons, wild mustang training and vaccination clinics.

The City of Fillmore will receive 7% of the boarding fees the first year with a steady increase to 25% over the ten year contract. The first five years of revenue to the City is expected to total $54,600 with an anticipated $150,000 the remaining 6-10 years.

The response from CONTINUED »

A group of volunteers submitted signatures on Thursday to Fillmore Deputy City Clerk Diana Impeartrice, center, in a bid to place Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources (SOA) on the November ballot. SOAR is a set of existing laws passed in the late 1990s that affect eight Ventura County cities and unincorporated areas. Voter approval is required before agricultural land and open space can be rezoned for development. Fillmore had approximately 20 volunteers, headed by retired firefighter Bob Stroh, left, who were stationed outside of Vons and went door-to-door. Fillmore’s SOAR initiative needed 649 signatures, a percentage of registered voters; they collected 998.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

A stranded hiker was rescued Tuesday night near Fillmore by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit.

A man who had planned to hike form Fillmore to Ojai on the Sespe Trail reached a point where he felt it was dangerous to continue or go back. He sent a message to his wife via GPS that he needed help. She called the VC Sheriff’s Department and Air Squad 9 was sent out about 8pm to locate and transport the man and his dog back to Fillmore.

They were located in the Sespe Hot Springs area and airlifted out.

No injuries were reported.

2016 Fillmore Boys Soccer CIF Champs.
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2016 CIF trophy.
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Remember the “good ol' days” when the entire town would gather downtown and celebrate our Fillmore High championship teams and homecomings? Good ol’ Fillmore High, over 100 years old, is still producing champions that all of Ventura County can be proud of. This Thursday evening March 24th, 2016, Fillmore High School will be hosting a parade and celebration in downtown Fillmore for their new 2016 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Boys Soccer Champions. Fillmore High does not have that many CIF Championship banners. There is an elite group of Fillmore High teams that have accomplished this honor. In fact, in the 105 year existence, they have produced 9 CIF Champions. FHS Baseball-4, FHS Boys Cross Country-1, FHS Girls Cross Country-1, FHS Basketball-1, and FHS Boys Soccer-2. Let’s all meet downtown this Thursday evening at 6:30pm for the parade and celebration. After the parade the team will gather near the Town Theater movie marquee for speeches from both coaches and players. Fillmore classic cars will be parked on Central Avenue between Sespe Avenue and Main Street along with food truck vendors. Our local restaurants, La Fondita and Central Station will be open. Let’s celebrate with Fillmore High, our community, and our Champions!

Fillmore High Seniors Jacqueline Tovar, Catherine Alonso, and Misael Ponce have participated in Mock Trial for the last four years.
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Sophomore Paulina Guerrero won a Most Valuable Player award garnering admiration from her team and coaches.
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Written by By Laura Bartels and Anna Morielli

Fillmore High’s legal team made major strides during the Ventura County Mock Trial competition on February 22nd and 23rd. The highlight of the competition was Fillmore’s prosecution received a GUILTY verdict against powerhouse top team La Reina High School of Thousand Oaks. The Fillmore team, now in its fourth year, consisted of 7 seniors, 1 junior, 4 sophomores and 4 freshmen. At the awards ceremony held at the Oxnard Civic Center, senior Matthew Hammond won Ventura County Second Place as campus security guard prosecution witness Lou Williams and sophomore Paulina Guerrero won a Most Valuable Player award garnering admiration from her team and coaches for her leadership. Also honored at the raucous ceremony were seniors Misael Ponce, Jacqueline Tovar, and Catherine Alonso who have participated in mock trial all four years of high school.

This year’s case, People v. Hayes was the trial of Jamie Hayes, a student at Central Coast University (CCU) on a track and field scholarship. Hayes faced a felony charge of murder for the homicide on May 15, 2014, of Lee Valdez, a campus security guard. Hayes raised the affirmative defense of “defense of another” in order to claim the homicide was justifiable. 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 first 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 Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination-- “no witness in a criminal case shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.”

The prosecution attorneys, senior Catherine Alonso, senior Naythan Martinez, and sophomore Paulina Guerrero excelled in round two against Rio Mesa High School and again in round three against La Reina High School. Prosecution attorney for pre-trial motion, freshman Fatima Bazurto, strongly presented the prosecution’s argument of why the defendant’s confession was obtained voluntarily after being properly Mirandized and after a lengthy interrogation, confessed. Attorney Bazurto argued that once the defendant was given the Miranda warnings, the interrogation by the police and the police officer’s threats of embarrassment to the defendant’s mother, did not rise to such coercive behavior which would render the confession involuntary. The officer acted reasonably and the interrogation was the result of good police work. The judge was so compelled by Attorney Bazurto’s persuasive nature that he denied the defense’s motion giving Fillmore’s prosecution a huge advantage resulting in a guilty verdict and a WIN in points.

In a strong opening statement, CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

The March 15, 2016 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Meeting was not a long one but two items reflected the interest the District and a past resident holds with our community. One item discussed during Dr. Adrian E. Palazuelos' Superintendent Report, and the other during a presentation by Assistant Superintendent Andrea McNeill.

Dr. Palazuelos informed the Board of a program that honors our veterans and citizens whose education had been impacted or interrupted by war. The program first came to Palazuelos' attention while working in Sacramento which he then brought it to FUSD announcing it in a newsletter that states; The Fillmore Unified School District Board of Education wants to honor the many contributions of those whose education was interrupted due to wartime circumstances. Former Fillmore High School Students who left high school to serve in the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War, and received an honorable discharge may contact Fillmore Unified School District to receive there high school diplomas. Fillmore Unified School District also presents diplomas to Japanese American Citizens forced to leave high school due to WW II internment. Individuals may request diplomas on behalf of themselves or qualifying family members, including persons now deceased. Those who earned a G.E.D. or graduated from high school while in an internment camp are still eligible for diplomas. To be considered for the spring 2016 awards ceremony, submit applications by April 24, 2016. Applications are available beginning Friday, March 18, 2016 from the Fillmore Unified School District (805) 524-6038 or visit www.fillmoreusd.org.

The second item brought forward by Asst. Superintendent McNeill was the reinstatement of the James Jimenez Foundation Scholarships. The foundation was established on February 13, 2007 to provide financial support for equipment, services and programs at FUSD. The programs include scholarships and internships along with assisting and supporting educational, cultural and scientific goal in fulfilling FUSD's role in service to the community.

From May 2009 to January 2013 a total of $21,850 were awarded to 23 scholars with amounts ranging from $250 to $2,400. The Foundation was dormant from February 2013 through April 2015, but revised on May 4, 2015 with a new Foundation Board consisting of Dr. Palazuelos, Fillmore High School Principal Tom Ito, Asst. Superintendents McNeill and Martha Hernandez. In 2015 ten $1,000 scholarships awarded and $8,000 in requests to be paid in the 2015-16 school year.

James Jimenez, who owned a large ranch here in Fillmore, was an inventor and major donor and supporter of student scholarships. Born August 9, 1913 in San Bernardino Jimenez was the second child to a family with 12 children. In 1911 his parents first moved to El Paso, Texas from Mexico. The family then moved to San Bernardino and later to Los Angeles. Jimenez and his family often vacationed in Mexico at their cousins large hacienda; that is where Jimenez became familiar with crops and the influence corn had on Mexican food. As a boy he worked summers in the fields of Cucamonga picking grapes and off season shinning shoes.

After graduating from Lincoln Heights High School in 1928, Jimenez was offered a full scholarship to Stanford University but turned it down to work and help the family with the goal of keeping his 11 siblings in school. Education was his top priority and to keep himself continuing in school he worked mornings delivering milk and newspapers and afternoons at a machine shop, washing dishes, sanding floors, doing cost accounting and selling insurance.

In 1945 Jimenez started B&L Moulding Supply Company with his partner Paul Bloomquest. Five years later Jimenez began working for a tortilla machine manufacturing company and traveled to areas with a large Mexican community to sell the machines.

In 1963 Electra Food Machinery was formed by Jimenez and Harold Olmstead that developed a series of equipment patents for the Mexican food industry including the production of both corn and flour tortillas, taco baskets, ovens and rails. Jimenez designed an double layer oven that could produce 3,000 dozen tortillas an hour. Today both Burger King and Jack in the Box use Jimenez' patented double-infrared system to cook hamburgers as well as the two belt system to grill patties and heat buns in one operation.

In 2000 Jimenez donated his $1.4 million 546 acre citrus and avocado Fillmore ranch to to create an endowed scholarship fund that provides scholarships for Occidental College, FUSD and Lincoln High students. Jimenez died October 2, 2008 in Temple City at the age of 95.

During Public Comments FUSD teacher Sandra Butts addressed the Board by reading a letter written by a fellow teacher. In the letter the writer questions the course of the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the ability, or lack of it, to keep and attract quality teachers with claims that FUSD teachers receive the lowest pay in Ventura County while the administration receives the highest in the County.

During closing comments Trustee Sean Morris wanted to recognize Larry Emerich, a FUSD English teacher who passed away a month ago. Morris informed the Board that Morris had been his English teacher and stated, "Larry was an incredible spirit, always happy....he had a big influence on my life."

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Mauricio Chavez, 21 of Fillmore, was sentenced Thursday in connection with what the authorities say were gang related shootings in west Ventura last July that left a man in his mid-30’s injured, and a nine year old girl with a gunshot would to her leg.

Chavez was sentenced to 18-years in state prison after pleading guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm, one count of street terrorism, two special allegations of committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang, two special allegations of use of a firearm and two special allegations of causing gross bodily injury.

The shootings happened on the late afternoon of June 23, 2015 in the 400 block of W. Ramona Avenue.

The man and nine-year-old girl were left with non-life threatening injuries.

Ventura police investigated the incident and arrested Chavez on unrelated charges a week later.

He was charged a month later with the shootings while still in jail in the unrelated case.