Pictured left #22 Hermelinda Ocegueda who was chosen for the Citrus Coast League (CCL) 1st Team All-League, 1st Team All County for small schools, made The Stars All-County Girls Basketball 2nd team and was named Player of the Week by VCsports/Ventura Ortho earlier this year. Pictured right is Fillmore’s #10 Lucy Murillo made CCL 1st Team All-League, 2nd Team All County for small schools and was by VCsports as one of the top 40 girls basketball players to watch.
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Pictured left is Fillmore’s #12 Yaneli Landin who was chosen for Citrus Coast League 2nd Team All-League and 2nd Team All County for small schools. Picture right is Flashes #24 Andrea Ramirez was chosen for Citrus Coast League 2nd Team All-League.
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Above Flashes #2 Karissa Espitia was chosen for Honorable Mention All Citrus Coast league.
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Pictured is Flashes #33 Angelica Ruiz was chosen for Honorable Mention All Citrus Coast league.
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Pictured is Flashes #15 Myah Virto was chosen for Honorable Mention All Citrus Coast league.
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Flashes Girls Basketball had a great 2026 season. The team finished the season 15-11 overall and went 7-3 in the Citrus Coast League. The team took 2nd place in the Citrus Coast League this season with multiple players earning 1st and 2nd Team All-League titles and honorable mentions as well. Names are as follows:
#22 Hermelinda Ocegueda was chosen for the Citrus Coast League 1st Team All-League, 1st Team All County for small schools, and was put on The Stars All-County Girls Basketball 2nd team. During the season she was selected as Female Player of the Week by VCsports/Ventura Ortho in January of this year. Final league stats: 10.8 points per game, 16.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 3.3 steals, 2.2 blocks.
#10 Lucy Murillo was chosen for the Citrus Coast League 1st Team All-League and 2nd Team All County for small schools. At the beginning of the season, she was chosen by VCsports as one of the top 40 girls basketball players to watch. Final league stats: 11.1 points per game, 12.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.6 blocks.
#12 Yaneli Landin was chosen for the Citrus Coast League 2nd Team All-League and 2nd Team All County for small schools. Final league stats: 10.2 points per game, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 3.2 steals, 0.9 blocks.
#24 Andrea Ramirez was chosen for the Citrus Coast League 2nd Team All-League. Final league stats: 4.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1. 5 blocks.
#2 Karissa Espitia was chosen for Honorable Mention All Citrus Coast league.
#33 Angelica Ruiz was chosen for Honorable Mention All Citrus Coast league.
#15 Myah Virto was chosen for Honorable Mention All Citrus Coast league.

On 03/13/2026, three (3) juvenile males were arrested for their involvement with multiple gang graffiti vandalisms which occurred in the Heritage Grove neighborhood on 02/19/2026.
Graffiti vandalism is an eyesore that directly affects the quality of life in our communities. If left unchecked, graffiti can decrease property values and lead to the deterioration of entire neighborhoods. Graffiti may also be the catalyst for additional, more serious crimes affecting our communities. The removal of graffiti costs homeowners, business owners and taxpayers thousands of dollars each year. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to responding to public concerns in a manner that builds confidence in our agency and strengthens relationships to empower businesses and residents to be the eyes and ears of the community.
On 02/19/2026, at about 6:07 PM, diligent members of the community reported several juveniles using spray paint to vandalize property in the Heritage Grove neighborhood in Fillmore. Fillmore patrol personnel responded to the area and confirmed vandalisms had occurred, and the vandalisms were likely gang related. Over the next coming weeks, the Fillmore Detective Unit collaborated with Fillmore School Resource Deputies on the investigation and identified three juvenile males as the suspects.
In March 2026, the Fillmore Detective Unit obtained a search warrant for the three suspects’ residences who all reside in Fillmore.
On 03/13/2026, personnel from Fillmore Patrol, Fillmore School Resource Deputies, Fillmore Detective Unit, West County Special Enforcement Unit, and Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit executed search warrants at the three residences in Fillmore and seized additional evidence linking them to the crimes and participation in a criminal street gang.
At the time of the search warrants, all three juveniles were contacted, arrested, cited, and released to their parent(s)/guardian(s) for violations of Penal Code § 594(b)(1) – [Graffiti Vandalism], Penal Code § 186.22(d) – [Street Terrorism], and Penal Code § 182.5 – [Criminal Gang Conspiracy].
The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and vehicles, and to promptly report any graffiti they come across by calling our dispatch center at (805) 654-9511. Following a police investigation, all graffiti should be immediately removed. Anyone with information pertaining to any crimes is urged to contact The Fillmore Police Station at (805) 524-2233 or the listed detectives below. The reporting party may remain anonymous.
Graffiti Removal:
The City of Fillmore removes all graffiti in public areas by either painting over it or by using a power washer, depending upon the location of the graffiti. Residents are encouraged to call the city graffiti hotline at (805) 524-1500, prompt number 4, then 3. Additionally, private property owners are encouraged to help combat vandalism by removing any graffiti visible on their properties.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on “X” @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF and @FILLMOREPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
News Release Date: 03/13/2026
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
Booking Photo Release: NO

Released Thursday, March 5, 2026
The Ventura County Library Foundation has received a major donation of over $2.6 million from the Susan A. Knight Trust to benefit the Fillmore Library.
According to her Estate Attorney, Laura V. Bartels, Esq., with the firm Taylor, Scoles & Bartels, Ms. Knight believed that libraries saved her life, and she wanted a safe place for children to go and learn. She specifically wanted to give back to the Fillmore Library because it was a place where she found refuge and respite as a child.
Mary Rees, Chair, Ventura County Library Foundation says, “A transformative gift from a private individual is more than a donation—it’s an investment in shared knowledge, equal access, and the lifelong curiosity of our community. This generous support empowers the public library to expand opportunities, strengthen programs, and ensure that learning remains free and accessible to all.”
The Library Foundation will be working with the Ventura County Library System and the Fillmore community to honor the donor’s wishes.
***
Ventura County Library Foundation: Growing Minds Countywide
www.vclibraryfoundation.org.

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The Fillmore Unified School District is proud to announce Sierra High School has been named a 2026 Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recognized 59 schools across California for their outstanding work in providing at-risk youth with exemplary instruction, flexible scheduling, and strong guidance and counseling services that support students on the path to earning their diplomas.
This prestigious recognition highlights Sierra High School’s commitment to creating a student-centered environment where every learner feels supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. Model Continuation High Schools are celebrated for meeting students’ diverse academic, social, and emotional needs while helping prepare them for college, career, and life beyond high school.
In announcing the honor to staff, Superintendent Christine Schieferle praised Sierra High School’s dedication, writing, “Your work and dedication to creating a safe and supportive school culture where students feel valued, seen, and appreciated is truly commendable.” She added that the recognition reflects the staff’s daily commitment to “meeting students where they are and supporting their growth and success.”
The designation is awarded through a collaborative partnership between the California Department of Education and the California Continuation Education Association Plus. Schools selected as Model Continuation High Schools retain the honor for three years and serve as examples of best practices for continuation education programs statewide.

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On Saturday, March 14, at 3:09 p.m., the Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore City Fire, and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of Ventura Street and C Street. Minor damage and injuries were reported. Cause of the crash is still under investigation. Photo credit Angel Esquivel.

On Saturday morning, March 14th, the Flashes Track Teams travelled to Rio Mesa and competed at the Spartan Relays.
The Fillmore Frosh/Spho girls 4 X 800 started the day with a winning effort in 12:02.54. Team members were Camila Soto, Mariana Elvira, Gabriela Lopez, and Christina Setty. In the Jr./Sr. girls 4 X 800 relay, Fillmore placed 3rd in 11:33.48. Team members were Melanie Flores, Andrea Gamez, Michelle Setty, and Valeria Munoz Mendez. The Jr./Sr. boys team finished 10th in 9:54.66. Team member was Jordan Hernandez, Gabriel Lagunas, Ricardo Quilo, and Orlando Vigil Tello.
In Girls Frosh/Spho 4 X 100, Fillmore was 7th in 57.53. Team members included Alejandra Robles, Barbara Soltero, Giselle Villareal, and Emma Ortiz. In the Boys Frosh/Spho 4 X 100, the Fillmore team of Orlando Vigil Tello, Draco Centurion, Nathan Lepe, and Joseph Magana Jr. placed 5th in 47.36. In the Girls Jr./Sr. 4 X 100, the girls finished 4th in 51.32. Team members were Janessa Corona, Kimberly Magana, Jaiden Peacock, and Mia Munoz. In the Boys Jr./Sr. 4 X 100-meter race the Fillmore team captured 2nd place in 43.93 and established a new Fillmore High School Track and Field record. This broke the record they set earlier this season. Team members included Jasiah Patterson, Saul Fraga-Sandoval, Joshua Felix, and Nathan Hernandez. In the Girls Jr./Sr. 100-meter hurdles, Yaneli Landin was 14th in 19.21.
In the Girls Frosh/Spho 400-meter run, Alejandra Robles was 24th in 1:19.59. In the Boys Frosh/Spho 400-meter run, Elijah Sandoval finished 23rd in 62.81, and Harley Halcon was 25th in 63.88. In the Girls Jr./Sr. 400-meters Delilah Lupercio placed 13th in 1:06.89, Sarah Cedillos 24th in 1:12.41, and Jessica Aparicio 30th in 1:16.19. In the Boys Varsity 400-meter run, Nathan Hernandez was 12th in 51.95. Alejandra, Elijah, Harley, and Delilah ran personal best times.
In the Boys Frosh/Spho 100, Draco Centurion was 19th in 11.99, Nathan Lepe 43rd in 12.48, Domenic Corona 54th in 12.91, and Francisco Ruiz Jr. 70th in 13.87. In Boys Jr./Sr. 100m, Saul Fraga-Sandoval won the event in 11.03, Jasiah Patterson was 21st in 11.66, and Joshua Felix 35th on 11.87. Saul set a new Fillmore High School record in the 100 meters, erasing a long-standing record of 11.05, formerly held by Ken Stout, Joe Cook, and Mike Burt. The former records were set in 1959, 1961, and in 1980. In the Girls Frosh/Spho 100 meters, Barbara Soltero was 27th in 14.21, Emma Ortiz 41st in 14.76, and Giselle Villareal 47th in 15.15.

In the Girls Jr./Sr. 100, Kimberly Magana was 2nd in 12.50, Janessa Corona 8th in 13.25, and Mia Munoz 12th in 13.38. Draco, Nathan, Domenic, Barbara, Giselle, Saul, and Jasiah ran personal best times.
In the Girls Jr./Sr. 300-meter hurdles, Yaneli Landin was 9th in 53.59.
In Boys Frosh/Spho 4 X 200, Fillmore placed 5th in 1:41.95. Team members were Dominic Corona, Draco Centurion, Nathan Lepe, and Orlando Vigil Tello. Team #2 finished 12th in 1:50.14. Team members were Jack Ignacio, Harley Halcon, Elijah Sandoval, and Francisco Ruiz Jr.
In the Girls Jr./Sr. long jump, Janessa Corona placed 4th with a personal best leap of 16’ 04”. In the Boys Jr./Sr. Long jump, Saul Fraga-Sandoval placed 3rd with a jump of 20’ 10”, Jasiah Patterson was 14th in 18’ 08”, and Joshua Felix 29th in 17’ 04”.
In the Girls Jr./Sr. Triple jump, Sarah Cedillos was 8th in 30’ 08.25”, and Delilah Lupercio was 13th in 29’ 04”. This was a personal best jump for Delilah. In the Jr./Sr. Triple Jump, Jasiah Patterson lept 43’ 00”, and set a new Fillmore High School Record. The former record of 42’ 4.5” was set in 1987 by Chris Wright.
In the Boys Frosh/Spho high jump, Nathan Lepe placed 15th in a leap of 5’ 00’ and teammate Jack Ignacio lept 4’ 10”. Both Nathan and Jack had personal best jumps. In the Girls Jr./Sr. high jump, Yaneli Landin was 7th, jumping 4’ 08”. In the Boys Jr./Sr. High jump, Isaiah Meza was 13th in 5’ 04”.
In the Girls Frosh/Spho shot put, Lucy Murrillo was 3rd in 27’ 4.75”, Desiree Marrufo 11th in 24’ 01”, Teresa Rangel 14th in 22’ 02.5”, Sophia Rivera 15th in 22’ 02”, and Karla Bueno 28th in 18’ 9.5”. This was a personal best throw for Teresa. In the Boys Frosh/Spho shot put, Elijah Prado was 22nd in 33’ 00”, Nathaniel Tafoya 24th in 32’ 10.5”, Joshua Morales 25th in 32’ 10”, and Joseph Aguilar 26th in 32’ 5.25”. In the Girls Jr./Sr. shot put, Hermelinda Ocegueda won the event heaving the shot 33’ 00”. She was followed by Adrianna Deleon 3rd in 31’ 09.5”, Emily Soltero 14th in 26’ 07”, Valerie Rodriguez 25th in 23’ 6.5”, and Nancy Anguiano 27th in 22’ 11.25”. This was a personal best toss for Nancy. In the Boys Jr./Sr. shot put, Marcus Lechuga was 12th in 39’ 3.75”, Isaac Rivera 17th in 38’ 7.5”, Isaiah Meza 19th in 38’ 6.25”, Emanuel Velazquez 22nd in 36’ 5.5”, and Valentin Garcia 33rd in 33’ 10.25”.
Lucy Murrillo won the Girls F/S discus with a toss of 80’ 06”. She was followed by Desiree Marrufo 3rd in 66’ 05”, Teresa Rangel 5th in 62’ 08”, Sophia Rivera 15th in 57’ 11”, and Karla Bueno 21st in 53’ 00”. This was a personal best throw for Sophia. In the Boys Frosh/Spho discus, Nathaniel Tafoya was 15th in 85’ 10”. He was followed by Joseph Aguilar 27th in 72’ 08”, Elijah Prado 31st in 71’ 06”, and Joshua Morales 40th in 61’ 04”. Elijah had a personal best throw. In the Girls Jr./Sr. discus Adrianna Deleon placed 5th in 96’ 08”. She was followed by Hermelinda Ocegueda 12th in 82’ 10”, Emily Soltero 18th in 73’ 08”, Valerie Rodriguez 30th in 63’ 05”, and Nancy Anguiano 40th in 49’ 01”. In the Boys Jr./Sr, discus, Isaiah Meza was Fillmore’s top finisher in 3rd place, tossing the discus 120’ 07”. He was followed by Isaac Rivera 4th in 120’ 01”, Marcus Lechuga 5th in 119’ 00”, Valentin Garcia 26th in 95’ 07”, and Emanuel Velazquez 30th in 92’ 07”. Marcus Lechuga had a personal best throw.

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On 03/08/2026, just before noon, deputies from the Fillmore Station responded to the 400 block of Fillmore Street reference a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies located a vehicle matching the description leaving the area and attempted to initiate a traffic enforcement stop. The vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued resulting in the suspect driving through Central Park and onto the pedestrian walkway near Fillmore City Hall, damaging permanent stanchions.
Based on several safety factors, patrol deputies cancelled the pursuit.
Within a few minutes of cancelling the pursuit, at about 12:46 PM, Sheriff’s Dispatch received numerous 911 calls of a hit and run traffic collision at La Plaza Market located at 1055 Ventura Street in Fillmore. Reporting parties described three occupants as fleeing the vehicle which matched the description of the vehicle involved in the pursuit.
Patrol units swarmed to the scene and requested emergency medical services respond for an adult male who was injured from the traffic collision. Additional units responded to the area where diligent members of the community had reported the suspects fled. With the community’s assistance, deputies were able to locate two suspects, including the driver, a 22-year-old Fillmore resident – (S) Brian Valencia. Valencia is currently on felony probation for robbery. A passenger, (S) Gavin Aguilar, was also arrested.
Valencia was arrested for violations of Vehicle Code § 23153(b) – [Driving While Under the Influence Causing Injury], Vehicle Code § 2800.2(a) – [Evading], Vehicle Code § 14601.(a) – [Driving on Suspended License], Vehicle Code § 20001(a) – [Leaving Scene of Accident], Penal Code 381(b) – [Possession of Nitrous Oxide], and Penal Code § 594(b)(1) – [Vandalism]. Aguilar was arrested for Vehicle Code § 20001(a) – [Leaving Scene of Accident]. Both suspects were transported to the Main Jail where they were booked for the offenses pending court proceedings.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on “X” @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF and @FILLMOREPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
News Release Date: 03/10/2026
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
Booking Photo Release: NO
***
Community: Fillmore Pursuit Result in Arrests
Nature of Incident: Fillmore Pursuit Result in Arrests
Report Number: 26-30428
Location: La Plaza Market (1055 Ventura Street), Fillmore
Date & Time: 03/08/2026, 11:40 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent; City of Residence; Age
(V) Adult Male, Fillmore, N/A
(S) Brian Valencia, Fillmore, 22
(S) Gavin Aguilar, Camarillo, 22
***
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 800-222-TIPS (8477).

On Saturday, March 7, at approximately 4:10 p.m., a Fillmore Police Deputy was involved in a collision with an E-Bike on Max Pina Way, behind the Fillmore Police Department. The Fillmore Fire Department and AMR Paramedics responded to evaluate the juvenile driver. No ambulance transport was made. Photo credit Angel Esquivel.

At Tuesday night’s council meeting a Proclamation was given in honor of Women’s History Month, pictured above is Mayor Albert Mendez presenting the Proclamation.

City Of Fillmore City Council and Successor Agency Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 6:30 Pm at City Hall Agenda
Final Vote:
Item 4 - Approval of Agenda - Villasenor motion, Broggie second, 5-0 pass
Items 8A through 8 E - Consent Calendar - Villasenor motion, Garnica second, 5-0 pass
Item 9A - Approval of Off-site improvement agreement and license agreement with People’s Self Help Housing project at Santa Clara St and Palm Ave - Villasenor motion, Rodriguez second, 5-0 pass
Item 9B - Mid-year financial report for FY 25-26 and approval of mid-year budget adjustment recommendations - Rodriguez motion, Garnica second, 5-0 pass
Item 9C - First reading of Ordinance 26-992, Zoning Ordinance Amendment 25-03 removing one-third retail requirement from Central Business District Core - Villasenor motion, Rodriguez second, 5-0 pass
***
1. Call To Order
2. Pledge Of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Approval Of Agenda
5. Presentations
5.A Proclamation - Women’s History Month
Proclamation - Women’s History Month.pdf
6. Public Comments
7. City Council Reports, Recommendations, Committee, Commission, And Board Reports
8. Consent Calendar
Recommendation For Item 8.A Through 8.E. Is to Approve by Voice Vote.
8.A February 10, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf
8.B February 24, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf
8.C City of Fillmore Warrant Register-March 10, 2026, City of Fillmore Warrant Register-March 10, 2026.Pdf
8.D Second Reading to Adopt Ordinance No. 26-993 to Amend Article II of Chapter 1.09 of The Fillmore Municipal Code (Administrative Remedies: Continuing Violations).
Sr - Second Reading of Adu Ordinance Update.pdf
8.E Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Financial Services for Audit Services for Community Facilities District No. 5 Improvement Area A And B Cost Reimbursement Requests
Sr - Contract for Willdan Financial Services Audit Services.pdf
9. New Business
9.A Consideration of Offsite Improvement Agreement and License Agreement for Public Improvements Related to the Peoples Self Help Housing Project Located at Santa Clara Street and Palm Avenue
Sr - PSHH Offsite Improvement Agreement.pdf
9.B Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mid-Year Financial Report for Fiscal Year
2025-26 And Approval of the Mid-Year Budget Adjustment Recommendations
Sr - 25-26 Mid-Year Budget Final.pdf
9.C Consideration of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 25-03, Ordinance
26-992 Removing the One-Third Retail Requirement from the Central Business District Core and Adoption of Exemption from CEQA
Sr-One Third Retail
10. City Manager
City Manager Verbal Report
- Erf Grant Update
- Well 10 Schedule and Update
- C Street Closure and Sewer Project
- Street Maintenance Report Update
11. Adjournment
Mayor Albert Mendez Adjourns to the Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting At 6:30 P.m. On Tuesday March 24, 2026, City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, Ca 93015.

Fillmore High School competed at the 2026 Mock Trial competition which is coordinated annually by the Ventura County Office of Education. The event brings courtroom drama to life as students take on the roles of participants in a criminal case, including attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, and journalists. The students present their cases in real courtrooms before actual judges. Local attorneys volunteer to serve as scorers. This year’s fictitious case is People v. Fromholz, which is about the death of a celebrity judge on a TV cooking show.
The following are Awards given to FHS participants:
MVP Award: Isabel Arredondo; Commitment to Excellence Award: Faith Marcelino; Prosecution Attorney: Isabel Arrendondo; Defense Attorney: Christine Nguyen (5th of 8) who represented Fillmore in the competition. A special thank you to Advisor Steven Geddes.

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Fillmore Middle School student Samuel Eligado (pictured right) took 3rd place at the 2026 Sage Ventura County Spelling Bee. Fillmore Middle School Principal Jenny Plugge said, “We are so proud of Samuel. Look at that trophy! We also want to thank Mr. Alamillo for his commitment to providing our students with this opportunity.” Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, congratulated the winners and said they will represent Ventura County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee held May 26–28 of this year in Washington, D.C.

By Linda Nunes
Fillmore Civic Pride Volunteers has selected the yard at 239 Sierra Vista, belonging to Patrick Beekman, for the March “Yard of the Month” Award. Patrick is the grandson of Marie Wren, former homeowner and the first Little Library showing the Historical Museum Depot, built by Jack Stethem, still stands proudly out front with a Red Yucca & Aeoniums at the base.
Patrick said his brother, Andrew Beekman, designed the drought tolerant, easy to manage yard while his grandmother was still living.
Patrick has lived there for 5 years & appreciates that the yard is environmentally friendly & welcoming to many Monarch Butterflies, that feed on the Milkweed plants along the side yard. Vines of Oregon Grape that have not leafed out yet, cover the wall between houses. In the Fall it will be beautiful with red & orange colors.
His neighbor, Robert Quezada, is his gardener & maintains the yard.
The large Foxtail Agaves anchor the yard with smaller Thread Agaves at their base & Mexican Bird of Paradise shrubs with yellow blooms show up behind. A large Manzanita, Arcto Staphylos, holds the right corner of the yard. The plants are planted in a gravel ground cover with stone pathways. Along the path are French Lavender, Aeonium haworthii- Pinwheel on the ground & almost black Aeonium Swarzkopf in large pots toward the entry.

On Sunday, March 1, at approximately 5:32 a.m., the Ventura County Fire Department, AMR Paramedics, and the California Highway Patrol were dispatched to a reported traffic collision on SR‑23 near Guiberson Road in Bardsdale. Arriving firefighters found a solo vehicle on its side with all occupants already out. Minor injuries were reported, and no ambulance transports were made. Cause of the crash is under investigation. Photo credit Angel Esquivel.

On Sunday, March 1, at approximately 7:25 p.m., Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore City Fire, and AMR Paramedics responded to a report of a vehicle vs. pedestrian incident at C Street near El Paseo Street. Deputies arrived and located the involved vehicle and its driver. The pedestrian had left the scene prior to their arrival. Photo credit Angel Esquivel.

Pictured above are Flashes Josh Felix and Saul Santa Rosa competing against Nordhoff High School. Photo credit Coach Anthony Chavez.
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On Thursday, February 26th, the Fillmore Track teams hosted the Nordhoff Rangers in their first League meet of the season. The first event of the day, the discus, commenced at 1:30 p.m. on the track infield.
The JV Girls were led by Teresa Rangel, who posted a throw of 60’ 9”. Teammate Desiree Marruffo was second, also tossing the discus 60’ 9”. They were followed by Karla Bueno (51’ 10”), Liliana Patterson (49’ 5”), Sophia Rivera (46’ 1”), and Nancy Anguiano (37’ 9”). In the F/S Boys discus, Nathaniel Tafoya led all competitors with a throw of 75’ 6”. He was followed by Joseph Aguilar (70’ 4”), Joshua Morales (66’ 1”), and Elijah Prado (57’ 2”). In the Varsity Girls competition, Hermelinda Ocegueda won the event with a throw of 95’ 4”. She was followed by Adrianna Deleon (89’ 1”), Emily Soltero (77’ 7”), Lucy Murrillo (72’ 9”), Hailey Guzman (69’ 8”), and Valerie Rodriguez (64’ 7”).
The Fresh/Soph Boys 4x100 meter relay was the first running event of the afternoon. The four athletes—Domenic Corona, Draco Centurion, Nathan Lepe, and James Magana Jr.—posted a winning time of 47.93. The Varsity Girls 4x100 meter team also placed 1st in 52.0. Team members were Janessa Corona, Kimberley Magana, Jaiden Peacock, and Mia Munoz. The Varsity Boys followed suit and won their race in 44.05. Team members were Jasiah Patterson, Saul Fraga-Sandoval, Joshua Felix, and Nathan Hernandez. This time established a new School Record in the 4 X 100 meter relay. The old record of 44.1 was set in 2005 by the team of Josue Garcia, Art Rubio, Andrew Gerardy, and Nathan Largen.
In the JV Girls 1600-meter run, Camila Soto led all finishers, winning the race in 6:54.92. She was followed by Melanie Martinez (2nd in 6:55.81), Christina Setty (3rd in 7:13.61), Juliana Patterson (4th in 7:18.17), Gabriela Lopez (5th in 7:21.35), and Mariana Elvira (6th in 7:22.75). Nikolias Cerda captured 1st place in the Fresh/Sopho Boys 1600 meters in 5:37.36. He was followed by Prince Kamradt (2nd in 5:54.71). Camila Rodriguez won the Varsity Girls 1600 meter run in a new personal best time of 5:25.98. She was followed by Melanie Flores (2nd in 6:30.21), Michelle Setty (3rd in 6:39.7), Andrea Gamez (4th in 6:47.81), Valeria Munoz Mendez (5th in 7:03.94), and Megan Robles (8th in 7:50.77). In the Varsity Boys 1600-meter run, Jordan Hernandez was Fillmore’s top finisher, 4th in 5:28.43. He was followed by Ricardo Quilo (8th in 6:22.93) and Gabriel Lagunas (9th in 6:25.64).
In the Varsity Boys 110-meter hurdles, Xavier Lara placed 3rd in 21.66, and Hector Hernandez finished 4th in 22.31. Emelie Magana won the Varsity Girls 100-meter hurdles in 20.94.
Jessica Aparicio won the JV Girls 400 meter run in 77.15. Jack Ignacio won the Fresh/Sopho Boys 400 meter run in 67.52. Newcomer Delilah Lupercio won the Varsity Girls 400-meters in 70.53. She was followed by Jaiden Peacock (2nd in 70.62). In the Varsity Boys 400-meters, Nathan Hernandez placed 2nd in 52.88. He was followed by Orlando Vigil Tello (4th in 57.86).
In the JV Girls 100-meter dash, Barbara Soltero took 1st in 14.50. She was followed by Emma Ortiz (2nd in 14.75), Alejandra Robles (3rd in 15.02), Giselle Villareal (4th in 15.28), and D’andra Amezcua (8th in 16.46). Draco Centurion was the Fresh/Sopho Boys 100-meter winner in 12.35. He was followed by James Magana Jr. (2nd in 12.57), Nathan Lepe (3rd in 12.66), Domenic Corona (5th in 13.35), and Francisco Ruiz Jr. (6th in 13.72). Kimberly Magana won the Varsity Girls 100 meters in 13.03. She was followed by Mia Munoz (2nd in 13.71) and Sarah Cedillos (6th in 14.42). Saul Fraga-Sandoval won the Varsity Boys 100 meters in 11.15. He was followed by Joshua Felix (3rd in 11.98) and Jasiah Patterson (4th in 12.0).
In the JV Girls 800-meter run, Mariana Elvira captured 1st place in 3:09.02. She was followed by Juliana Patterson (2nd in 3:09.57), Christina Setty (3rd in 3:11.90), and Gabriela Lopez (4th in 3:12.87). Nikolias Cerda finished 1st in the Fresh/Sopho Boys 800 meters in 2:38.27. Prince Kamradt was 2nd in 2:44.20. Melanie Flores was the top Varsity Girl finisher overall in the 800 meters, finishing in 2:54.89. She was followed by Andrea Gamez (2nd in 2:57.27) and Michelle Setty (3rd in 2:59.46). In the Varsity Boys 800-meter, Gabriel Lagunas was Fillmore’s top finisher in 2:39.52. Ricardo Quilo was 6th in 2:39.98.
Yaneli Landin won the Varsity Girls 300-meter hurdles in a time of 56.38.
Barbara Soltero won the JV Girls 200 meters in 29.59. She was followed by Emma A. Ortiz (2nd in 31.0), Giselle Villareal (4th in 32.01), and Alejandra Robles (5th in 32.90). Draco Centurion won the Fresh/Sopho Boys 200-meter dash in a new personal best of 24.72. He was followed by Nathan Lepe (2nd in 25.88), Domenic Corona (4th in 26.98), Francisco Ruiz Jr. (5th in 27.67), and Jack Ignacio (6th in 28.26). Janessa Corona won the Varsity Girls 200-meter dash in 27.97. Mia Munoz was 3rd in 29.17, and Jaiden Peacock finished 4th in 29.44. In the Varsity Boys race, Joshua Felix was 2nd in 23.92. Orlando Vigil Tello was 4th in 25.0.
Jordan Hernandez was Fillmore’s top finisher in the 3200-meter race; Jordan finished 3rd in 12:03.82. Camila Rodriguez posted an excellent time of 11:52.02, placing 1st in the 3200-meter race. She was followed by Valeria Munoz Mendez (2nd in 15:14.44).
In the JV Girls 4x400 meter relay, the team of Emma A. Ortiz, Jessica Aparicio, Giselle Villareal, and Barbara Soltero placed 1st in 4:57.52. The Fresh/Sopho Boys team of Domenic Corona, Nathan Lepe, Francisco Ruiz Jr., and Draco Centurion placed 1st in 3:59.60. In the Varsity Girls 4x400 meter relay, Sarah Cedillos, Jaiden Peacock, Delilah Lupercio, and Yaneli Landin placed 1st in 4:44.44. The Varsity Boys team of Orlando Vigil Tello, Xavier Lara, Hector Hernandez, and Nathan Hernandez placed second in 3:46.22.
In the JV Girls shot put, Desiree Marruffo and the other two placed 1st in 27’ 3.5”. She was followed by Sophia Rivera (2nd in 21’ 9”), Nancy Anguiano (21’ 8.5”), Lily Patterson (4th in 20’ 9”), Karla Bueno (4th place in 20’ 0”), and Teresa Rangel (6th in 19’ 10”). Nathaniel Tafoya won the Fresh/Sopho Boys shot put with a heave of 35’ 0”. He was followed by Joseph Aguilar (2nd in 34’ 0.5”), Elijah Prado (3rd in 33’ 0.5”), and Joshua Morales (4th in 33’ 3.5”). Adrianna Deleon won the Varsity Girls shot put in 33’ 3”. She was followed by Hermelinda Ocegueda (2nd in 32’ 9”), Emily Soltero (3rd in 28’ 2”), Lucy Murrillo (4th in 27’ 9.5”), and Valerie Rodriguez (5th in 22’ 6”). Isaac Rivera placed 1st in the Varsity Boys shot put with a heave of 40’ 0”. He was followed by Marcus Lechuga (2nd in 39’ 7”), Isaiah Meza (3rd in 39’ 1”), Emanuel Velazquez (5th in 35’ 0”), and Valentin Garcia (33’ 8”).
Yaneli Landin was 2nd in the Varsity Girls high jump with a leap of 4’ 8”. Isaiah Meza was also the second-place finisher in the Varsity Boys high jump, posting a mark of 5’ 8”.
D’andra Amezcua won the JV Girls long jump in 11’ 8”. James Magana Jr. won the Fresh/Sopho Boys long jump in 16’ 6”. Janessa Corona won the Varsity Girls long jump, leaping 14’ 0”. Saul Fraga-Sandoval won the Varsity Boys long jump, posting a mark of 19’ 11”. He was followed by Jasiah Patterson (4th in 17’ 7”) and Joshua Felix (5th in 17’ 4”).
D’andra Amezcua won the JV Girls triple jump, leaping 23’ 0”. James Magana Jr. was first in the Fresh/Sopho Boys triple jump in 32’ 11”. Sarah Cedillos placed 1st in the Varsity Girls triple jump in 29’ 8”. Delilah Lupercio was second with a jump of 26’ 4”. In the Varsity Boys triple jump, Jasiah Patterson was 3rd with a leap of 37’ 6”.
In the team competition, Fillmore won the JV Girls, Fresh/Sopho Boys, Varsity Girls. Nordhoff won the Varsity Boys competition. On Thursday, March 5th, Fillmore will host the Santa Paula Cardinals. This meet is set to start at 3:30 p.m.
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BERNARDINO RUNS TEJON RANCH ULTRA
On Saturday morning, February 28th, Fillmore runner, Francisco Bernardino toed the starting line of the SoCalUltraTrail Run 11K (6.96 miles) at Tejon Ranch. This course is very hilly with elevation, ruts, and generally rough terrain.
In the 11 kilometer race, Bernardino finished 2nd overall in a time of 1:03.10. He was also the 40-49 age group winner.

Above is the Fillmore’s California United FC 2013 Girls Team celebrating their championship victory after claiming the Cal South National Cup Title. Photo credit Erika Arana.
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By Erika Arana
San Bernardino, CA — The 2013 Girls of California United FC delivered a historic championship performance over the weekends of February 14–15 and February 21, 2026, battling through top competition in San Bernardino to claim the prestigious Cal South National Cup title.
California United opened tournament play with a strong 3–1 victory over Central Coast Surf. Miley Morales led the charge with a goal and an assist, while Siani Lomeli and Alessandra Padilla each added a goal to secure the win and a 1–0–0 start.
The team faced adversity in game two, falling 1–0 to Oceanside Breakers to move to 1–1–0 in group play. But the setback only fueled their determination heading into the championship match.
In a highly anticipated rematch against Oceanside Breakers, California United rose to the occasion. Goals from Siani Lomeli and Miley Morales powered a 2–1 victory, clinching the championship and closing the tournament with a 2–1–0 record.
With the win, California United FC has earned a berth to compete at the 2026 US Youth Soccer National Championships from July 16–23, an accomplishment no other CUFC team has ever achieved. In fact, no other team in the club’s history has captured a Cal South National Cup title, making this run truly historic.
Head Coach Jose Luis Lomeli and Coach Tony Mendez expressed immense pride in the group’s achievement. Having played together for years, the team’s growth, resilience, and chemistry have been on full display. Their development both on and off the field has shaped them into champions.
While this victory marks a pinnacle moment, it is also bittersweet, as some players prepare to pursue new opportunities beyond their small-town roots. No matter where the game takes them next, they will always share the bond of being the first team in club history to bring home a National Cup - and now, to represent California United FC on the national stage.

Above is graph 2 for Fillmore’s 2025 Crime Statistics released on February 25, 2026, by Sheriff Jim Fryhoff of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Photo credit VCSO. View full county list at https://s47592.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2025-Q4-NIBRS-FINAL-Portrait-as-of-02122026-1.pdf.
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Sheriff Jim Fryhoff has released the 2025 crime statistics for all areas served by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO).
Starting with the reporting of the 2024 crime statistics, VCSO transitioned to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). This transition aligned with a federal mandate and reflects our commitment to providing timely and comprehensive statistical data to the community we serve as well as the California and Federal Department of Justice.
NIBRS requires data to be reported on over 50 offenses and an additional 10 offenses where only arrests are reported. Historically, crime rates have traditionally only measured crimes against persons and crimes against property. NIBRS added the category of crimes against society. The category is largely driven by proactive self-initiated activity by deputies. Although it is a useful metric, it can skew the overall traditional crime statistics for a jurisdiction depending on how proactive deputies are in making arrests. For this year, VCSO jurisdiction reported 12,844 offenses, compared to 12,336 in 2024, resulting in an overall crime increase of 4% for the areas patrolled by the Sheriff’s Office. This was due to a 23% increase in the crimes against society category. When looking at traditional measures of just crimes against persons and crimes against property, crime was down by -4% (8631 to 8285).
In addition to the proactive activity of deputies, it is also important to understand that any proactive activity outside of our jurisdiction that is initiated by Sheriff’s Office deputies is reported for the Sheriff’s unincorporated area. Examples of this activity can be self-initiated narcotic arrests within the cities of Oxnard or Los Angeles.
Crimes Against Persons:
The 2025 NIBRS data for VCSO reported 2,489 crimes against persons, in comparison to 2,428 in 2024 (2.5% increase). The majority of the victims fell within the assault categories (94% in 2025, 91% in 2024). With a majority of those offenses in the simple assault category (1,695 victims in 2025, 1,681 victims in 2024). The aggravated assault category had the largest increase in the crimes against persons category with a 26% increase over 2024 (451 victims in 2025, 357 victims in 2024). This can be attributed to an increase in domestic violence incidents as well as assaults on officers.
VCSO experienced ten victims of homicide during 2025 (11 in 2024), and one justifiable homicide which was the result of an officer involved shooting. This statistic is reported to the Department of Justice (DOJ) but is not listed as a criminal homicide. There were two murder suicides, four vehicular related homicides (with two victims related to a driving under the influence offense). There were four domestic related homicides and out of those one involved mental health and three included drugs and/or alcohol. All but the vehicular related homicides involved known offenders to the victims. There were no gang related homicides for 2025.
The NIBRS categories for sex offenses includes: rape, sodomy, sexual assault with object, and fondling. For 2025, most of the victims fell within the fondling (47 or 47%) or rape category (33 or 33%). The sexual offenses category saw a 25% decrease overall, 99 in 2025, compared to 132 in 2024. The all-other reported crimes for the crimes against persons category includes: kidnapping/abduction, statutory rape, and human trafficking.
Crimes Against Property:
The crimes against property category includes robbery, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, destruction of property, forgery, embezzlement, extortion, fraud, bribery, and stolen property. Of all the crimes reported to the DOJ under NIBRS, this is the largest category for VCSO jurisdiction totaling 5,796 crimes in 2025 and 6,203 in 2024 (-6.5% decrease). In 2025, this category accounted for 45% of VCSO’s reported crime. Larceny accounted for 2,424 (42%) of the reported crimes against property. Most of the thefts were shoplifting incidents (37% or 889 crimes), followed by all other larcenies (34% or 829 crimes), and theft from motor vehicles (17% or 423 crimes). All categories in the larceny area saw a decrease from 2024 numbers, except in the area of all other larceny (829 in 2025, 702 in 2024) and theft of motor vehicle parts or accessories (114 in 2025, 84 in 2024). In previous years, thefts of catalytic converter thefts have been significant, however in 2025 theft from motor vehicles that involved parts or accessories only accounted for 114 crimes (5%) and only 31 of those were catalytic converters.
Burglary reports totaled 339 in 2025 (421 in 2024) with 158 (47%) being residential (compared to 171 and 41% in 2024) and 181 (53%) commercial (compared to 250 and 59%). Motor vehicle theft accounted for 210 crimes (4%) and the largest increase for this category was in arson (124%). There were 38 arsons in 2025 and 17 in 2024. Most of the arsons have an arrest (four have suspect descriptions and no arrest), and 40% of them are homeless or transient related with warming fires, reckless fires, or encampment fires. Two other categories that had a large number of reported crimes was destruction of property (1,057 in 2025, 1,191 in 2024) and fraud (1,209 in 2025, 1,314 in 2024). Both of these categories decreased from 2024 totals but accounted for the second and third largest categories in 2025.
Crimes Against Society:
The crimes against society category includes drug/narcotic violations, drug equipment violations, gambling, pornography offenses, prostitution, weapons violations, and animal cruelty. This category reported 4,559 (35%) of the total crimes that VCSO reported to the DOJ. This was 23% higher than 2024 when there were 3,705 reported incidents in this category. There are four crime categories within this group that saw significant increases: drug/narcotic violations (2,843 in 2025, 2,313 in 2024), drug equipment violations (1,194 in 2025, 977 in 2024), prostitution (61 in 2025, 6 in 2024), and weapons law violations (429 in 2025, and 373 in 2024). The areas with largest increases in this category can be considered proactive enforcement violations (drug/narcotic violations, drug equipment violations) and the increase is seen in the unincorporated areas for the Sheriff’s office. The category of prostitution saw the largest increase (917% or 56 crimes) and includes proactive enforcement from various specialized Sheriff units and taskforces related to violations of solicitation, pimping, and pandering.
The 2025 NIBRS dashboard further breaks down crime reporting per jurisdiction. For questions regarding each city’s reported crime, the following people can be contacted:
Commander Eric Tennessen - Camarillo Chief of Police (805) 797-7102
Commander Jeremy Paris - Thousand Oaks Chief of Police (805) 797-7105
Captain Nick Odenath - Moorpark Chief of Police (805) 826-4997
Captain Eduardo Malagon - Fillmore Chief of Police (805) 477-7018
Captain Tyler Abbott - Ojai Chief of Police (805) 477-7039
Prepared by: Senerey De Los Santos
News Release Date:February 25, 2026
Approved by: Senerey.delossantos@venturacounty.gov
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Nature of Incident: Sheriff Fryhoff Releases 2025 Crime Statistics
Date: February 25, 2026