Bob Stroh objects to “In God We Trust” display

The Tuesday April 8, 2014 Fillmore City Council Meeting lasted 40 minutes and contained three agenda items. One item was a Successor Agency contract, another was establishing a volunteer program and a third was consideration to display our national motto in the council chambers.

A volunteer program that is expected to benefit Fillmore was unanimously approved by the Council. The program was one of the goals set during a council/community workshop held a few months back. City Manager David W. Rowlands explained that most people volunteer out of a sense of community pride, but other examples of why individuals step forward are; gain job experience, learn new skills, explore new careers, socialize, feel useful, keep active and learn about the city government. Councilmember Diane McCall responded saying she welcomes the program and what a value this will be the community adding, "Kids are looking for jobs." Mayor Manuel Minjares also liked the idea and stated, "I'm really happy this is coming forward" adding that many people from the community have told him they wanted to volunteer but did not know how to go about doing it. City volunteer opportunities are: filing, collate documents, receptionist, graffiti removal, fold documents, gardener, work with seniors, public relations, fire dept., photographer, phone calls, building dept. and police dept. and fingerprinting; criminal and sex offenders background check will be required. Once a year there will be a Volunteer Appreciation Day to recognize and thank those who stepped forward.

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Providing Accessible Clothing for Teens (PACT) youth closet project will officially open its doors to the Ventura County community on Saturday, April 12th at noon at Fillmore High School, Room 17 (the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Mentoring Room) located at 1St Street in Fillmore which will be a PACT closet grand opening event and ribbon cutting ceremony. Manuel Minjares, the mayor of Fillmore, will be one of our special guest speakers at the event along with our partners from Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Before the grand opening event, PACT volunteers and local radio personality Nancy Rodriguez will host a first event called the “Prom Dress Project” on Wednesday, April 9th from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. to provide Ventura County girls with more 150 donated prom dresses from which to choose.

The PACT project is part of a community and resident-led leadership program started though the Cabrillo Economic Development’s (CEDC) Community Building division in partnership with the youth leadership group living at CEDC ‘s Fillmore Central Station Apartments.

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Theresa Robledo, assisting with the presentation of Fillmore Vision 2020 Civic Pride’s Yard of the Month for April awarded to Sue & Dino (photo with their adorable doggie) Congratulations! Please drive by their yard located at 957 Fifth Street, you will find colorful Snap Dragons, Calla Lilies, Deer Horns, Pansies, Ranunculas and a Ficus Tree in the front yard; In the backyard, are so many to name, Freesia, Roses, Lavender Madrid Purple, Chrysanthemum, Palm Sego, Star Jasmine, Purple Queen Bougainvillea, Thompson Seedless Grapes, Carolina Jessamine, Roma and Beef Steak Tomato Plants, Hawaiian Tree, Queen Palms, Strawberries, Spring of Glory Forsythia and Lavender Flower. Sue & Dino maintain and plant their own flowers, as Sue owns her own hardware store in the Valley and are new to Fillmore! We enjoyed their hospitality of showing us around with nice hot cup of coffee! A Big Thank you to Otto & Sons Nursery for providing a gift certificate to the winners, where they will find more of their gardening and plant needs!

Fillmore Unified School District

Ventura County District Attorney's Office addresses possible Brown Act complaint against FUSD
Board Member Prado. Below is the letter to Mr. Prado from the DA's office along with a Letter to the Editor submitted this week by Mr. Prado.

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COUNTY OF VENTURA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Gregory D. Totten
District Attorney
March 25, 2014
Tony Prado
Board of Education
Fillmore Unified School District
627 Sespe Avenue
Fillmore, CA 93015

Re: Brown Act Complaint

Dear Mr. Prado:

We have received a complaint regarding the Fillmore Unified School District Regular Meeting of March 18, 2014. You presided over at least a portion of the meeting. I reviewed the agenda for the meeting and an audio recording of the relevant portion of the meeting. I also discussed the matter with Superintendent Alan Nishino and Assistant Superintendent Deo Persaud.

Following the presentation regarding agenda item 1-2, “Fillmore High School Update on the WASC Process by FHS Staff,” a member of the public sought to address the Board. She informed me that she had completed a public comment card but had not been called upon to give her comment. On the tape, she asked, “Can I ask a question?” You responded, “1 want to caution you. Questions, yes. Comments or speeches, no.” She then spoke for several minutes, but it appears that your “caution” may have limited her presentation. At one you point, while she was attempting to answer a question you posed to her (why teachers would be afraid to come speak for themselves), she responded that she would not make a comment because you did not want any comments. An individual who attended the meeting (not the individual who sought to give public comment) brought the matter to the attention of the District Attorney’s Office.

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The April 1, 2014 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting discussed bullying and the after-school program funding; but it began with a scathing address to the Board by a retired FUSD employee.

During Public Comments Karen Ashim, retired Fillmore High School (FHS) Counselor, addressed the Board with observations over her many years at FHS stating, "Fillmore High School is disintegrating. For 25 years I saw improvement in student achievement and college acceptance rates. During my 26th and 27th years, I saw established practices be thrown away. This year FHS is crumbling and you the Members of the School Board have done nothing to stop it; not even to go visit the school to investigate problems brought to your attention. Leadership is an active process."

She then confronted the Board on an issue that occurred at the March 18, 2014 meeting where she was told she could only ask questions on an agenda item and nothing else (a Brown Act violation, see VC District Attorney letter, page 2). The agenda item she referred to was Fillmore's accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

The accreditation process CONTINUED »

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1996 Fillmore High School Graduate David M. Warnock-Ortiz was recently promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 3 (WO3) in the United States Army. WO3 David M. Warnock-Ortiz, 36 years, is a career soldier serving as a Senior Digital Forensic Examiner, Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Fort Hood, TX. The Army’s Fort Hood located in Killeen, Texas. He also attended San Cayetano Elementary School and Fillmore Junior High School. While in the Army David has taken college level courses pursuing a degree in computer science.

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is married to Sonja (originally from Mississippi), who he met while stationed in the military in Korea. Together they have three sons; Isaiah 12 years, Israel 11 years and Zion 7 year. (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is the son of Julia Ortiz-Winters and James Warnock of Fillmore and the stepson of Donald Winters. His Maternal Grandparents are the late Fred and Virginia Ortiz of Fillmore and his Paternal Grandparents are the late Ronald and Lillian Warnock of Fillmore. He has one sister, Darlene Leighton, 38 years, living in Texas.

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz comes from a long line of family members who have served in the United States Army; Grandfather Fred Ortiz served during Korea, Grandfather Ronald Warnock also served in the Army as did Uncles Ray Ortiz Sr. and Pete Cervantez and Cousin Ray Ortiz Jr. all of Fillmore.

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz enlisted in the Army in September 1996 after graduation from Fillmore High School where David played football for two-years. He initially enlisted as a Military Policeman and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). While there he completed Air Assault School, and then deployed to Egypt as part of a multinational training exercise. (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz has also been assigned in Korea, where he worked at a Military Intelligence compound protecting classified materials. He then returned to the United States and moved to Fort Carson, Colorado where he was assigned to patrol and direct combat support of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR).

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is a career soldier and he is proud to serve his Country protecting all of us here at home. We wish (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz safe travel and thank him and his family for their sacrifices. His service is greatly appreciated. Congratulations on your promotion to United States Army Warrant Officer 3! (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is truly an American Hero!

City of Fillmore

03/18/14
Vandalism
1st St./King St
Search Warrant
200 Blk. Cherrywood St.
03/19/14
Theft Residential
500 Blk. Morris Dr.
Search Warrant
400 Blk. Market St.
900 Blk. 1st St.
Keep the Peace
700 Blk. Sespe Plc.
700 Blk. Mountain View St.
Disturbance Noise
400 Blk. Santa Clara St.
Disturbance Music/Noise
700 Blk. Burlington St.
03/20/14
Keep the Peace
500 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Accident – Non – Injury
A St./Ventura St.
Theft
700 Blk. Island View St.
Accident Injury
B St./Ventura St.
Vandalism CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Deputies discovered two handguns and narcotics while serving an arrest warrant in Piru Tuesday morning.

Deputies from the Fillmore / Santa Clara Valley Station went to a residence in the 900-block of Main Street in the unincorporated community of Piru to serve an arrest warrant for Pedro Tello.

As they arrived at the house, the deputies noticed a structure at the back of the residence, where they found several known Fillmore gang members who were on probation. Three people fled from the building as deputies approached, but were eventually caught.

Pedro Tello was hiding inside the house and refused to come out. He eventually surrendered to deputies, who arrested him for the outstanding warrant.

Deputies searched the home and found a loaded handgun hidden in some clothing and a second loaded handgun in the area where Tello had been hiding.

Deputies also found drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana. Tello had 19 grams of methamphetamine in his possession, and Frank Villa also had a small quantity of methamphetamine in his possession.

Deputies ultimately arrested six men for a variety of charges including weapons and narcotics violations.

All six were booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura.

Nature of Incident: Gang Related Firearm and Narcotics Arrests
600-block of Main Street, Piru, CA.
March 18, 2014 @ 7:20 a.m.
(S-1) Pedro Tello Fillmore, CA 23
(S-2) Jose Martin Herrera Fillmore, CA 25
(S-3) Steven Cheveste Fillmore, CA 33
(S-4) Frank Villa Fillmore, CA 33
(S-5) Martin Gaspar Fillmore, CA 24
(S-6) Natane Chapman Fillmore, CA 22
Prepared by: Sgt. Eric Buschow

City of Fillmore

About five people, besides the council and city staff, attended Tuesday's Fillmore City Council meeting, which was completed by 7:00 p.m. There were a number of items approved; a reward for information leading to the conviction of a crime, and another to ensure continued train service and filming in Fillmore. Also discussed was the problem intersection at Santa Clara and B Street, and a settlement agreement on the tax sharing contract.

Ventura Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the shooting death of Adrian Moreno on January 11, 2014. To date no one has been arrested in connection with the shooting. The Fillmore City Council discussed also offering a one thousand dollar reward for the convictions of those involved to which Council Member Rick Neal responded, "I think one thousand is low, I'd like to see it bumped to ten thousand." Council Member Diane McCall added, "I think whatever we need to do to get people talking." City Manager David W. Rowlands informed the Council that if the person convicted is a minor, the parent or guardian shall be liable and levied for the amount of the reward. The reward will be paid within 30 days of a conviction. Councilman Steve Conaway then offered the $2,000 he has in Council Travel Expense Money be moved to the reward fund. All members agreed and the measure for a Fillmore City $10,000 Reward was passed.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Fillmore and Western Railroad are currently in a legal dispute which may lead to Fillmore and Western Railroad no longer providing tourist and filming operations. Rowlands reminded the Council how important the trains are to the economy of the City, drawing people to the area from all over the state. "The tourist train draws film and production companies .....television, commercials, movies are filmed using the tourist train," Rowlands told the Council. Neal responded, "I'm in support of this....the people of Fillmore like having the train." Conaway added, "It's incumbent on us to lobby for this." McCall agreed, "This is very important for filming." A resolution was agreed upon and sent to VTCT.
Planning and Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney addressed the Council about the Intersection Study for Santa Clara and "B" Street. He asked the Council to approve a traffic engineer study to determine if a stop sign is advisable. The cost of the study is $2,500 with an additional $1,500 if a 24 hour traffic count and 4-way warrant study is needed. The funding for the study would come from the Street & Drains Fund (Street and Maintenance) which has $30,000 remaining. The pedestrian study would count how many students are passing through to cross the street and what time is needed to safely cross.

City Manager Rowlands CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On March 25, 2014, an 8-year veteran deputy of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to the Fillmore patrol station, was involved in a use of force incident. The male deputy fired his weapon at two large attacking dogs while on foot patrol on the bike path under the A Street bridge at the Santa Clara River in Fillmore, injuring both dogs.

The deputy was checking for graffiti in the area, when he was aggressively approached by two large unleashed dogs. The deputy, in defense of his own safety, fired his handgun at the dogs, hitting both. The dogs retreated from the deputy and ran into the river bottom brush. One dog was located and taken to a veterinarian for medical treatment, where it was later pronounced deceased. The second dog has not been located as of yet. The owner was contacted at the scene. The deputy sustained no injuries.

This incident was initially treated as an officer involved shooting, but later was determined to be a use of force incident. The case was turned over to the Fillmore Police Detectives Bureau for follow-up investigation.

The Fillmore Police Department reminds citizens to keep their dogs leashed in public areas for their pets’ safety and the safety of others.

Nature of Incident: Deputy Shoots at Dogs During Attack
Report Number: 14-6700
Location: Under the A Street Bridge (SR 23) at Santa Clara River, Fillmore
Date & Time: March 25, 2014 @ 1100 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department
Prepared by: Sergeant Mario Aguilar
Media Release Date: March 25, 2014
Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Mario Aguilar (805) 524-2233
mario.aguilar@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Don Aguilar

City of Fillmore

03/11/14
Theft Vehicle
400 Blk. Cook Dr.
400 Blk. River St.
Search Warrant
800 Blk. Union Pacific
800 Blk. Burlington St.
300 Blk. Blaine Ave.
Theft Residential
600 Blk. Shiells Dr.
Vandalism
1st St. / Price St.
Lost Property
500 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Keep the Peace
200 Blk. Blaine Ave.
Violation Restraining Order
1000 Blk. B St.
03/12/14
Theft Vehicle
400 Blk. River St.
Accident Non – Injury
Santa Clara St. / Ventura St.
Search warrant
700 Blk. A St.
Shots Fired
800 Blk. Hume Dr.
3rd St. / B St.
03/13/14
Abandoned Vehicle CONTINUED »

Fireman 3rd Class Petty Officer Ryan Calderon

Eighteen year old, 2013 Fillmore High School Graduate, Ryan Calderon, recently completed Naval Basic Training at Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. Ryan enlisted in the United States Navy on November 19, 2013 for a six year enlistment. Ryan graduated as a Fireman 3rd Class Petty Officer and he is currently assigned at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, in Goose Creek, South Carolina. In addition to Fillmore High School, Ryan attended Sespe Elementary and Fillmore Middle School. Ryan was active with football, basketball, 4-H and Future Farmers of America where he held a position of leadership as an FFA Officer with the position of Sentinel. Ryan was also active in his church.

Ryan is the son of Baltazar and Martha Calderon of Fillmore. His siblings are Arlene Morales, 29 years of Santa Paula and Michael Calderon, 25 years of Fillmore. His Paternal Grandparents are Baltazar Sr. and Lucila Calderon of Santa Paula and Maternal Grandparents, Rafael and Ramona Sandoval of Santa Paula. In addition to Ryan's serving with the Navy, his uncles, Anthony Pineda II, served with the United States Army and Joe Edward Garcia with the United States Marine Corps.

Navy Fireman Third Class Ryan Calderon has earned the National Defense Ribbon and the Pistol Marksman Medal. A new recruit qualifying for the Fireman Rate at time of enlistment will find that he/she has achieved selection into a very historic group of Naval personnel. This enlistment program option enables men and women to qualify for one of several Navy engineering or mechanical skill specialties (ratings) through on-the-job apprentice training. The training received as a Fireman or in the related engineering skill specialties is equivalent to that received as an electrician, electrical or power plant/co-generation plant operator or supervisor, diesel mechanic, or electronics repair technician. Equipment associated with Fireman training includes propulsion and electrical generation gas turbines, and diesel engines; electronic machinery plant control systems and networks; and intricate electrical wiring and distribution systems.

The rate of Fireman enjoys a proud and storied history. The name originated in the days when the Fireman was responsible for keeping the fires burning in the ship’s boilers which were used to make steam. The steam powered large turbines then produced the ship’s electricity and turned the ship’s propellers.

After completion of recruit training, enlistees in the Fireman Apprenticeship Training program attend a three-week course on naval engineering fundamental skills in shipboard operations and evolutions. After successful completion of this training, Firemen are usually assigned to shipboard duties where the Navy needs them the most.

Although Fireman Third Class Petty Officer Calderon has just begun his Naval Career all of us living in the Santa Clara Valley thank him for his service and wish wish him smooth seas as he proceeds through his Naval experience. We thank him and his family for their sacrifices already made and for the future sacrifices that they will make throughout his military service. Fireman Third Class Petty Officer Ryan Calderon is truly an American Hero!

The second year team consisting of seven seniors, five juniors, and five sophomores, all but one returning from a successful run in 2013, made major strides during the Ventura County Mock Trial competition on February 24th and 25th . At the awards ceremony held at the Oxnard Civic Center, junior Wesley Brecheen won Ventura County Second Place for portraying Defendant Rae Concha, sophomore Hai Tran won Ventura County Second Place as expert witness Dr. Ricki Sanchez, and sophomore Nicholas Bartels won Ventura County third place as a defense attorney presenting the pre-trial motion.

The Mock Trial program, sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, is designed to introduce students to our legal system. Students prepare both the prosecution and defense sides of a fictional case. This year’s case, People v. Rae Concha, involves the felony charges of second degree murder and drug possession for sale of the prescriptive medication Adderall. From research to role-playing, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the pertinent legal and factual issues.

The students portrayed each principal of the cast in a courtroom, including attorneys, witnesses, defendant, court clerk, bailiff, courtroom journalist, and artist. The trial played out in real courtrooms at the Ventura Superior Court before actual judges and is scored by Ventura County practicing attorneys.

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Student of the Year Nick Johnson with Joann Dobbs

At the March 18, 2014 Fillmore Unified School Board Meeting (FUSD) Attorney Aaron V. O'Donnell gave a presentation on a new California Law which requires all public school consider alternative methods when expelling a student for the first time and Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino again spoke of the difficulties preparing for the upcoming Common Core State Standards Testing. Also, Student of the Year Nick Johnson was recognized for his accomplishments.

The California legislature, in an attempt to provide equal access to education and stop what they consider the overuse of suspensions and expulsions, have written into law an alternatives to "immediate" suspensions and expulsions. O'Donnell explained the new California law (Cal Ed Code 48900.5(a) which states expulsion or suspension can only be used when other means of correction have been utilized and failed. The legislature introduced the law due to what they say are gross disparities in the manner in which suspensions and expulsion are being applied to students of color and those with disabilities. Schools must have a clear and consistently applied system for providing interventions prior to suspension or expulsion and ensure that students are not receiving different punishment for the same conduct.

According to the California Department of Education (CDE) the total number of expulsions decreased by 12.3% along with a drop in suspensions by 14.1% from school years 2011-12 to 2012-13. "Gender can play a role in whether a student is suspended. Nationwide, more suspensions are given out to males than females. Male and female students each represent about half of the student population, however , males make up 66% of the students receiving a single out-of-school suspension and 74% of students expelled."

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