News from around the Ojai Valley
Highway 33 crash victims identified as two Santa Paula teens
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- Published: Saturday, 25 May 2019 21:22
Two teenagers who were found dead where their car went off Highway 33 down a 200-foot cliff north of Ojai, just past the first tunnel, have been identified as driver Absolam Rivas, 19, and passenger Ruth Cortez Zuniga, 18, both of Santa Paula, according to Officer J. McKay of the California Highway Patrol.
The 1991 Toyota Corolla landed on its roof in the creek.
The single-vehicle crash was reported by a passing motorist who called 911 at about 4 p.m. Friday, May 24. There were no witnesses to the crash, McKay stated in a press release. The CHP, Ventura County Fire Department and Lifeline ambulance personnel responded to the crash site and both teenagers were pronounced deceased at the scene, McKay stated.
According to family members who posted information on Facebook, Zuniga and Rivas had been missing since May 22 after Rivas picked up Zuniga around 5 p.m., indicating she was going to Oxnard or Ojai.
Zuniga attended Santa Paula High School.
This article will be updated. The photo above is of Ruth Cortez Zuniga from her Instagram.
Two dead in Highway 33 crash
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 18:01
Two people were killed in a crash on Highway 33 north of Matilija Canyon Road Friday afternoon, authorities said.
Frustrations mount as Creek Road crashes continue
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:20
Photo by Teena Broumand
Emergency vehicles respond to a solo vehicle crash on Creek Road at Kiowa Court May 16. The vehicle was overturned and barely recognizable.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
There was standing room only at the May 20 Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting, as various presentations were given regarding the hot-button topic of multiple Creek Road crashes.
Few leads in search for victim of murder
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:17
Ojai Valley News photo by Ally Mills
Sheriff’s investigators and Upper Ojai Search and Rescue respond to a call from a Rice Road resident May 18 about possible evidence near the house where Houston Auer is presumed to have been murdered May 12 in Meiners Oaks. However, it was determined the bloody paper towels at the site were from harvested pig remains, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
Detectives are hoping that information from the public may lead them to the body of a Meiners Oaks man believed murdered by his roommate nearly two weeks ago.
Ojai man accused of stabbing family dog
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:13
Photo courtesy VCSO
Daniel Vincent Vigil
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
An Ojai man has been charged with felony animal cruelty for killing the family dog, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Ojai Valley Sanitary District looks to raise rates
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:10
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
You may be paying more for sewer service come July.
On May 20, directors of the Ojai Valley Sanitary District took up a proposed ordinance that would raise the basic sewer service charge over each of the next two fiscal years.
Deputies search for suspects in the Ojai Greens burglary
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:09
Photo courtesy VCSO
Footage from the Ojai Greens security cameras shows the two suspects wanted in connection with the April 25 burglary.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the public’s help in identifying the two suspects who burglarized the Ojai Greens cannabis dispensary April 25.
OUSD works to collect lunch money
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:06
This year the Ojai Unified School District Nutrition Services is struggling with an unprecedented amount of debt due to unpaid meal accounts.
The amount owed to Nutrition Services from OUSD families totals more than $13,000. As the California Department of Education doesn’t allow its schools’ Nutrition Services Departments to write off unpaid debt, the district becomes responsible for paying the negative balances at the close of the school year.
Playhouse may make history books
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:04
Photo courtesy Ojai Valley Museum
Ojai’s downtown movie theater, “The Ojai,” in a 1954 postcard.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
A just-completed historic survey on the Ojai Playhouse determined what a lot of locals probably already thought — Ojai's downtown movie theater is historic.
Creek Road: Confusion reigns over whether signs existed
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:02
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Creek Road’s southern entrance used to have two signs stating, “No trucks with more than two axles” and “Local deliveries only.” Or did it?
It depends on who at the Ventura County government you ask.
New stop signs up at Signal and Summer
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 09:01
Ojai Valley News photo by Austin Widger
The four-way stop at the intersection of Summer and Signal Streets has now been installed.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The two additional signs on Signal Street went in the week of May 6 to 10, but the process took much longer than this. The signs were recommended to the Ojai City Council by the Complete Streets Committee about five years ago.
Huge library book sale this weekend
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 08:58
Photo by Jon Lambert
Book lovers shop the Ojai Library book sale, set again this year for Memorial Day weekend.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
"It's just a book lover's haven," said Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation's Kerry Slattery, about the huge Ojai Library book sale set for Memorial Day weekend.
Broesamles honored for protecting Ojai Valley
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 08:54
Photo by Anne Gard
John and Kathy Broesamle of Ojai, recipients of Los Padres ForestWatch’s Wilderness Legacy Award.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
Longtime Ojai residents John and Kathy Broesamle will be honored for their work to preserve and protect the Ojai Valley, at the 12th annual Ojai Wild! benefit.
Memorial Day: Remembering, honoring sacrifice
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- Published: Friday, 24 May 2019 02:27
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Valley will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 27, with events in both downtown Ojai and on Old Ventura Avenue in Oak View.
The 14th annual Oak View Memorial Day event starts with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Ojai Valley Lions Club from 7 to 11 a.m. at Lighthouse Church, 590 Old Ventura Ave.
Police blotter as of May 23, 2019
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- Published: Thursday, 23 May 2019 10:55
Crimes
• Vandalism was reported in the 900 block of Country Club Drive May 13.
• Grand theft was reported in the 1000 block of Sunset Place May 13.
• Petty theft was reported in the 800 block of Sunset Place May 14.
• Battery was reported on the bike path between Fox Street and Montgomery Street May 17.
