News from around the Ojai Valley
Man convicted of multiple rapes in Ojai released in Oxnard
- Details
- 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 to meet Friday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Matilija Auditorium
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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.
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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.
Stephen Adams captures the life and times of Ojai through his camera lens
- Details
- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:25
Photo courtesy Soiree Photobooth
2019 Ojai Living Treasure Stephen Adams.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
If you've attended any event in the Ojai Valley — from the Independence Day parade to Ojai Day — you've seen Stephen Adams, camera in hand.
Top officials meet to discuss pesticide issues in Ojai
- Details
- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:11
Photo by Stephen Adams
Signatures are gathered in support of pesticide restrictions at the Sept. 28 Ojai Town Hall meeting on pesticides.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
A who’s who of people interested in addressing community concerns about pesticide use in the Ojai Valley gathered in Ojai on Nov. 26. Transition to Organics members and its executive director, Patty Pagaling, held the meeting with several public-sector officials, including Val Dolcini, director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Dolcini invited people to meet to share their concerns after the Sept. 28 Ojai Town Hall meeting on pesticides and ensuing petition, which now has more than 1,000 signatures.
Ojai City Hall has new all-star lineup of city employees
- Details
- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:07
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Over the past few months, the city of Ojai has brought some new faces onto its full-time team of about 28 city employees.
The departments with new managers include Community Development, Recreation and the City Manager’s Office. The three other departments are City Clerk, Finance and Public Works.
More rain headed our way
- Details
- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:02
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Another round of wet weather is in store for Southern California this weekend.
A new storm expected the night of Dec. 6 through 7 will tap into subtropical moisture and should bring between a quarter and a half inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
- Details
- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 09:01
Photo courtesy John Kuney
A cold storm that brought several inches of snow to the mountains north of Ojai Thanksgiving week frosted Chief Peak in white, as viewed from John Kuney’s Fordyce Road home on Nov. 29. Deputies at the Ventura County Sheriff’s substation in Lockwood Valley had to do some shoveling before they went on patrol, while helicopter crews used the snowy weather to train near the Last Chance Trail in Los Padres National Forest.
OUSD forms Guiding Coalition to strengthen four community values in schools
- Details
- Published: Friday, 06 December 2019 08:57
Photo submitted
Members of the newly formed OUSD Guiding Coalition meet in groups at Chaparral Auditorium on Nov. 21.
Members of the newly formed OUSD Guiding Coalition meet in groups at Chaparral Auditorium on Nov. 21.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Ojai Unified School District has taken the topics discussed at its three public forums, dubbed “Engage to Impact,” over the summer and formed four separate groups to work on each.
The first OUSD Guiding Coalition meeting was held Nov. 21 at Chaparral Auditorium.
Insurers not allowed to drop policies in wildfire disaster areas for 1 year, including in Ojai Valley
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 05 December 2019 19:33
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Dec. 5 issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies not renewing policyholders — helping Ojai Valley residents and at least 800,000 homes in wildfire disaster areas in Southern and Northern California. The commissioner's action is the result of Senate Bill 824 — authored in 2018 by Lara while serving as state senator — in order to give temporary relief from non-renewals to residents living near a declared wildfire disaster.
Police blotter as of Dec. 4, 2019
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 05 December 2019 11:12
Crimes
• Graffiti vandalism was reported in the 600 block of North Ventura Avenue Nov. 27.
• Petty theft was reported in the 400 block of Bryant Circle Nov. 27.
• Petty theft was reported in the 1100 block of Maricopa Highway Nov. 27.
Flash Flood Watch for some Santa Barbara areas till noon Wednesday; warning of widespread "ponding" of water on Highways 101 and 154
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 04 December 2019 09:15
The National Weather Services has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the Santa Barbara south coast, interior mountains and Cave Fire burn area until noon today, Wednesday. Additionally, the National Weather Service issued an Areal Flood Advisory for western and southern Santa Barbara County this morning. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. The advisory sent before 9 a.m. today states:
UPDATE Dec. 4, 12:25 p.m.: Thayne Whipple of Ojai indicted with seven other people on charges stemming from campaign contributions to 2016 presidential campaign; Whipple comments on charges; OUSD superintendent states Whipple will remain on school board
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 04 December 2019 08:40
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:
Thayne Whipple of Ojai and seven others indicted on charges stemming from U.S. presidential campaign contributions
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 04 December 2019 00:35
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 Police Chief Fryhoff to head Thousand Oaks Police Department starting Jan. 5
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 03 December 2019 23:11
Ojai Police Chief James Fryhoff
Ojai Police Chief James Fryhoff will be Thousand Oaks police chief come Jan. 5.
Wet, warmer storm due this week
- Details
- Published: Monday, 02 December 2019 13:49
Photo by Beverly Davidson
Last week’s storm provided a wintery backdrop in this Nov. 29 view of the Ojai Valley Inn.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
A storm on track to arrive Dec. 4 will be a different animal than the one that brought more than 2 inches of rain to most areas of the Ojai Valley over the Thanksgiving holiday.
While this week's storm should be just as wet, it won't be nearly as cold, according to forecasters.