News from around the Ojai Valley
Supervisors ban 3-axle trucks on all of Creek Road
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 10:05
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Starting Jan. 9, trucks with more than two axles will be banned from the entire length of Creek Road.
On Dec. 10, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt an ordinance prohibiting commercial vehicles with three or more axles from using Creek Road between State Route 33 near Oak View and the Ojai city limits.
State auditor on disaster plans: More can be done for vulnerable residents
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 10:04
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Ventura County is one of three California counties not adequately prepared to protect vulnerable residents from natural disasters, according to a new state auditor’s report.
Baba's seedlings to complete the circle
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:58
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
With Baba’s Tree in the background, arborist Michael Inaba (in yellow hat) demonstrates planting a seedling from the iconic tree. Joining Inaba Dec. 7 were (from left) Meher Mount president Sam Ervin, board member Robert Turnage and volunteer Naresh Sharma.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
A story of survival and regrowth continued Dec. 7 at Meher Mount in Upper Ojai, with the planting and dedication of Baba's Tree Grove.
Hemp buffer zones are a possibility
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:51
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors wants buffer zones in the county unincorporated area where industrial hemp cannot be grown.
Lost-and-found cat thriving in Ohio
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:44
Photo by Robert Wilson
Chebon at home in Ohio.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
“It’s a miracle to see Chebon,” said Robert Wilson, after being reunited with a cat that went missing from his home in Ventura more than seven years ago.
Longtime pillar of the community Chris Hilgers passes on Dec. 8
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:40
Ojai Valley News archive photo
Wendy and Chris Hilgers in 2016.
Ojai lost one of its most valued stakeholders early Sunday morning, as longtime resident and pillar of the community Chris Hilgers passed away quietly among family at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Hilgers was 86.
OUSD to discuss ‘dashboard’ ratings and test scores at Dec. 13 meeting
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:38
To see the Ojai Unified School District Performance Overview as seen in this illustration from last year's Dashboard, visit https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/56725206060339/2019.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The California Department of Education released the 2019 California School Dashboard on Dec. 12. The dashboard gauges schools’ achievement levels in suspension rates, college/career preparation, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, English Language Arts and math. The dashboard results and OUSD students’ state test scores will be discussed at the Friday, Dec. 13, school board meeting to be held at 5:30 p.m. at a new location — Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai.
OUSD Board to pick new officers for 2020 term
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:36
The Ojai Unified School District Board of Education will meet on Friday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at a different location than usual. The meeting will be held at Matilija Auditorium at 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai.
At the meeting, the board will request for a denial of the Summit Charter School charter petition.
Climate mobilization committee takes temperature on public participation
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:35
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee has been mobilized.
At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Ojai City Council approved Councilman Ryan Blatz’s motion “that we create the committee consistent with the recommendations with the following caveats that they understand that they will be subject to the City Council at any point requesting that there is a public meeting, that there will be a requirement that there are public meetings as discussed, at least quarterly, and that they will be included on the (City Council) agenda, as is needed, to be determined through our city manager, James Vega.”
Cooper's hawks congregate in Ojai
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:17
Photo by Lindy Goetz
More and more reports are coming in of observations of Cooper’s hawks in Ojai. Interestingly, this species went through substantial population declines in the 1950s and 1960s across its range in North America and some states in the east listed it as potentially threatened or endangered.
Terry Roper's career a long walk in the National Park Service
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- Published: Friday, 13 December 2019 09:15
Photo provided
Terry Roper is retiring from the National Park Service in Wyoming and spending time with her dad in Ojai.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
After a more than 30-year career with the National Park Service in far-flung places like northwest Wyoming, Terry Roper is coming home.
Police blotter as of Dec. 11, 2019
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- Published: Thursday, 12 December 2019 16:48
Crimes
• Shoplifting was reported in the 100 block of West Ojai Avenue Dec. 5.
• Vandalism was reported in the 200 block of Bald Street Dec. 6.
• Petty theft was reported in the 8900 block of Nye Road Dec. 6.
• Petty theft was reported in the 300 block of East Matilija Street Dec. 9.
UPDATE: 2019 'California School Dashboard' results for Ojai Unified released Dec. 12
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- Published: Thursday, 12 December 2019 01:24
To see the Ojai Unified School District Performance Overview as seen in this illustration from last year's Dashboard, visit: https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/56725206060339/2019
Ojai Unified School District students' scores, reflected on the California Dashboard and on the students' California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests, will be discussed at the Friday, Dec. 13, school board meeting to be held at a new location — Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai.
The California Department of Education released the latest 2019 California School Dashboard at 11 a.m. Dec. 12.
Scott Roark, California Department of Education public information officer, said the newest features of the 2019 California School Dashboard include a mobile app for it and the fact the dashboard is released in five languages. The app download links can be found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/mo/cadashboard.asp.
The California School Dashboard showing the latest data available on student test scores, graduation rates, attendance, college/career readiness, suspension and English learner progress is available online at: https://www.caschooldashboard.org/#/Home.
The OUSD agenda item discussion of the California School Dashboard and state test scores is item No. 7 on the agenda and can be viewed at https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/537591/1_Agenda_December_13__2019.pdf.
The Ojai Valley News will be live-streaming the meeting on its Facebook page, so people who are unable to attend the meeting can watch the meeting in real time from their computer or cell phone. Those who want to attend the meeting and and speak are requested to fill out a speaker card on the table at the auditorium.
Man convicted of multiple rapes in Ojai released in Oxnard
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- Published: Wednesday, 11 December 2019 15:58
Photo courtesy Oxnard PD
Anthony Francis Dacayana
The Oxnard Police Department announced earlier this week that a sexually violent predator was released from Atascadero State Hospital to the city of Oxnard on Dec. 3.
Sixty-two-year-old Anthony Francis Dacayana has been convicted of rape by force or fear and rape with force and threat, with both incidents occurring in Ojai in 1979 and 1988.
Ojai Unified School District Board lists reasons for denying Summit Charter School prior to board meeting Friday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at new location: Matilija Auditorium
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- Published: Tuesday, 10 December 2019 16:37
The Ojai Unified School District Board of Education will meet on Friday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at a different location than usual. The meeting will be held at Matilija Auditorium at 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai.
At the meeting, the board will request for denial of the Summit Charter School charter petition.
The Ojai Valley News will live-stream the Ojai Unified School District board meeting on Facebook Live so people will be able to view the meeting as it is occurring.
City of Ojai to officially become a 'Green Zone' city Dec. 12
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- Published: Tuesday, 10 December 2019 09:08
The city of Ojai is hosting an event marking the final step in the City’s certification as the first American Green Zone Alliance “Green Zone” city in Ventura County on Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.
Hazard tree temporarily closes Highway 150 in Ojai
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- Published: Monday, 09 December 2019 15:25
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
A eucalyptus tree leaning and in danger of falling on the roadway caused the temporary closure Monday afternoon of Highway 150 between Hermosa Road and the Y. The hazard tree, reported by an employee of the Ojai Valley Inn, was brought down by Caltrans crews using heavy equipment. They cut the tree into smaller sections so the pieces could be removed. The incident that began shortly after 1:30 p.m. forced the closure of that section of highway for more than an hour.
Ojai City Council to meet for last time in 2019 tomorrow
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- Published: Monday, 09 December 2019 14:58
The Ojai City Council will be holding its regular meeting Tuesday Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at Ojai City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St. Near the beginning of the meeting, two presentations will be made of Historic Preservation awards and by Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council.
Read more: Ojai City Council to meet for last time in 2019 tomorrow
UPDATE: Dec. 8: Link to federal grand jury indictment of 8, including Thayne Whipple of Ojai, on charges stemming from campaign donations during 2016 presidential election
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- Published: Sunday, 08 December 2019 22:46
Thayne Whipple
Thayne Whipple of Ojai, president of the Ojai Unified School District Board of Education, and seven other people were charged Dec. 3, with conspiring to make and conceal conduit and excessive campaign contributions during the U.S. presidential election in 2016 and thereafter, according to a U.S. Justice Department press release on Dec. 3.
The indictment was unsealed on Dec. 3. Whipple’s name is mentioned on nine pages of the 64-page indictment and includes three counts against him — counts 20 and 30 are for Whipple allegedly making conduit contributions and aiding and abetting; count 52 is for alleged obstruction.
Whipple is described in the indictment as an outside contractor for “Company A,” which is Allied Wallet, an online payment company. The indictment can be read at:
Whipple is described in the indictment as an outside contractor for “Company A,” which is Allied Wallet, an online payment company. The indictment can be read at:
Ojai Unified School District board to vote on Summit Charter School on Friday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai
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- Published: Saturday, 07 December 2019 12:40
Ojai Unified School District Board of Education, from left, board members Michael Shanahan, Kevin Ruf, Board President Thayne Whipple, Superintendent Tiffany Morse, Board Vice President Shelly Griffen, Board Clerk Jane Weil.
A decision on the Summit Charter School petition will be made by the Ojai Unified School District Board of Education on Friday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at a different location than usual. The meeting will be held at Matilija Auditorium at 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai.
The Ojai Valley News will live-stream the Ojai Unified School District board meeting on Facebook Live so people will be able to view the meeting as it is occurring.
Ojai police chief moves on to T.O.
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- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:46
Photo courtesy VCSO
Ojai Chief James Fryhoff
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Ojai Police Chief James Fryhoff will be promoting to commander and Thousand Oaks police chief on Jan. 5.
He will remain in his current position in Ojai until Jan. 4. Fryhoff served as Ojai’s chief of police since February 2017. Before that, he worked as assistant chief in Thousand Oaks from 2012 to 2017.
Highway 33: A tough road
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- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:44
Photos courtesy Caltrans
A snowplow works to clear ice and snow from Highway 33 near Pine Mountain Summit.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Several inches of snow in the mountains above Ojai last week caused road crews to first post chain controls and then temporarily close Highway 33.
OUSD board president to fight federal charges
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- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:40
Thayne Whipple
Thayne Whipple of Ojai, president of the Ojai Unified School District Board of Education, and seven other people were charged Dec. 3, with conspiring to make and conceal conduit and excessive campaign contributions during the U.S. presidential election in 2016 and thereafter, according to a U.S. Justice Department press release on Dec. 3.
The indictment was unsealed on Dec. 3. Whipple’s name is mentioned on nine pages of the 64-page indictment and includes three counts against him — counts 20 and 30 are for Whipple allegedly making conduit contributions and aiding and abetting; count 52 is for alleged obstruction.
Whipple is described in the indictment as an outside contractor for “Company A,” which is Allied Wallet, an online payment company. The indictment can be read at:
Whipple is described in the indictment as an outside contractor for “Company A,” which is Allied Wallet, an online payment company. The indictment can be read at:
Cat burglar strikes Ojai animal shelter Dec. 1
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- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:37
Photos courtesy HSVC
Police say a burglar gained access to HSVC’s kitten room by breaking this plate glass window.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Detectives are investigating a break-in at the animal shelter in Ojai, in which the only thing reported missing was a kitten.
Fire restrictions in forest reduced
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- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:25
Rain and snow across Los Padres National Forest have provided sufficient moisture to ease fire restrictions in the forest, officials said this week.
Under the reduced restrictions announced Dec. 2, campfires and charcoal barbecues will be allowed in all areas of the forest.