Officers, staff, friends and family honored officer Dowell.
On Monday, August 7, 1978, Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell became the only Ventura Police Officer killed in the line of duty.
On August 6, four men tried to rob a businessman making a night deposit at the Bank of America on Victoria Avenue. The robbery was interrupted, and the four suspects fled; two were apprehended immediately but two men, 20 and 22-years-old, escaped.
The next day a team of seven Ventura police officers served arrest and search warrants on the two outstanding suspects. Sergeant Dowell, Detective Don Bales, Detective Carl Handy, and Officer Gary McCaskill approached the front door of the suspects’ house on Olive while Sergeant Art “A. J.” Farrar, Detective John Leach, and Officer Don Arth set up a perimeter around the residence. Officers entered the home and were detaining a suspect in the living room when a 22-year-old man fired a shotgun from a darkened hallway, fatally wounding Sergeant Dowell. The shooter then ran through the house, crashed through a rear window, and was shot and killed by pursuing officers.
At the time of his death, Sergeant Dowell, 32, was a nine-year veteran of the Ventura Police Department. He is remembered as a dedicated police officer, devoted husband, and loving father to his two young children.
The City of San Buenaventura named Dowell Drive, the location of police headquarters, in Sergeant Dowell’s honor in 1979.
On August 7, 2018 Sergeant Dowell’s Family, retired Ventura Police Personnel, Ventura Police Officers and Civilian Staff held a ceremony at Ivy Lawn in honor of Sergeant Dowell’s life.
A scholarship set up in honor of Sergeant Dowell by the Ventura Police Officers Association has awarded over $100,000 to local students.
Former Ventura Chief of Police and current Councilmember Mike Tracy told the large gathering “today we take time to remember Ventura police sergeant Darlon Dowell. Dee was my first sergeant afterI graduated from the academy. He was a new sergeant, loved being a cop and was truly dedicated to the Ventura Police Department. He was good to work with and for—respected for his work ethic and sense of fairness. “
“When I walk into city hall I always glance at the photo of Dee that hangs on the wall near the human resources department—a tribute to his service and sacrifice. And every time I’m reminded how young he was—32. He had his whole life and career in front of him.”
“For his wife Miki and their family the tragedy of august 7, 1978, changed their lives forever. That day also significantly impacted those who were with Sergeant Dowell, and all who worked to investigate the crime and deal with the aftermath.”
“I believe Dee would want us to take this moment to honor and respect the men and women of the VPD who today serve this community just as he did—out of a sincere desire to make a difference in the lives of other people.”
“So today we remember Dee Dowell—a husband, father, friend and fellow police officer—and remind all who serve and protect to be vigilant, safe, and prepared. “
Quote from a Ventura Police Officer’s Association t-shirt:
It’s the line between order and anarchy, normalcy and horror, life and death, that street cops cruise every day. Each time you enter a strange house or approach a suspicious vehicle or walk up to a potential suspect, you risk crossing over into a place where no one is paid enough to be.
To learn more about scholarship opportunities visit www.venturapd.org.
Fillmore & Western’s mission is to preserve and offer a unique part of American heritage. Photo by Nicholas Martinez
Fillmore & Western Railway has announced two new train excursions this summer. Enjoy the “Hot August Nights – Beer, Wine & Blues Train” departing from Fillmore’s Train Depot. Then on Labor Day weekend enjoy Fillmore & Western’s “Return to Santa Paula” with 1-hour antique steam engine train rides, for the first time, out of Santa Paula’s historic train depot.
Hot August Nights is an exciting new train that offers beer tasting from Santa Clarita’s Wolf Creek Brewery and wine + hard cider tasting from Reyes Winery. Appetizers are available for pairing and can be purchased while onboard. Passengers also have the opportunity to dance & mingle on beautifully lit outdoor flatcars while a live band performs into the night. The last chance to try this popular new excursion is on Aug 24th & 25th.
Return to Santa Paula is a celebration of Fillmore & Western’s arrival back at Santa Paula’s historic 1887 Southern Pacific Railroad Depot after over a year. Thanks to the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce the railroad will be open for business at the Santa Paula Depot and are running one hour train rides with their 1913 2-8-0 Consolidation steam engine built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. 1-hour rides will be offered 3 times a day on Sept 1st & 2nd from the Santa Paula Depot. On Sept 3rd a special vintage diesel train ride will depart from Fillmore at 8:30 am and head to Santa Paula for passengers to see their traditional Labor Day Parade or visit the Ventura County Agricultural Museum Tractor Festival.
Marketing Director & Webmaster, Josh Carsman shared that “Fillmore & Western’s mission is to preserve and offer a unique part of American heritage for all generations to enjoy. So many train adventures to choose from all year long. Its step back in time riding on vintage passenger and dining cars through the scenic Santa Clara River Valley (aka Heritage Valley). Not more then 30 – 40 minutes from Ventura on Hwy 126.”
Visit fwry.com for information or call 805-524-2546
A nice memorial has been set-up outside the site of the restaurant.
Chingchai “Chang” Liampetchakul, former owner of Tipps Thai Cuisine has passed on at age 60.
Chang’s life has taken a turn for the worse the last several years.
In Feb., 2017 Chang Liampetchakul suffered a stroke while at the restaurant. He was cooking up some ribs for Super Bowl, when some friends came to pick him up. When they arrived he crawled to the front door to unlock it. Tipps was one of Ventura County’s first Thai restaurants when it opened at 512 E. Main St.
After his stroke Tipps restaurant closed its doors after serving Thai food to Ventura locals and visitors since 1983. The lovable Chang was a kind and generous person, often providing trays of food to families in need and always ready with a great yarn.
In April, 2017 a fire erupted in the two story portion of the building on Main St. which housed Tipps on the ground floor and the Odd Fellows on the top floor.
Ventura Fire and Ventura Police investigated and found evidence that pointed to Liampetchakul as having started the fire. On May 10, 2017, Liampetchakul was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the fire. A motive was never determined. His case was still pending.
Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Aug. 18 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Vietnam vet Bruce Lockhart points out names of 3 of his friends.
by Richard Lieberman
A half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. was setup next to the Ventura County Government Center at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Telephone Road in Ventura. The replica wall was illuminated at night and the wall was available to all visitors around the clock.
The replica wall has visited Ventura County seven times in the past 33 years. This past July marked the third time it has been hosted at the Ventura County Government Center.
Joseph Richardson, a founding member of the Vietnam Vets of Ventura County invited the public to “Come, Honor, Remember and Respect” he said. Richardson started his work with the replica monument in 1985 during its first visit to Ventura. “One of the things we really tried this year we took the Department of Defense listing of 111 casualties from Ventura, we created a brochure with their names on it, by city, alphabetical and by town, so there are 72 panels that have Ventura County casualties and their name and line number right there on the wall” added Richardson. Drafted into the Marine Corps in 1966 Richardson served 18 months in Vietnam.
Over the past 10 years, Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) has given over one million dollars to provide small grants to Ventura Unified School District teachers that make a big impact on learning. VEPGrants have touched every child in VUSD, and have a long-lasting impact on learning by incentivizing innovation in the classroom and incubating new programs district-wide.
Madhu Bajaj, President of the all-volunteer Ventura Education Partnership believes “VEPGrants is a powerful way for the community to support teachers and students because of the impact on increased student engagement and learning. Our teachers are amazingly resourceful. They bring innovation to their classroom on very limited budgets.”
“It is an honor and privilege for Ventura Education Partnership to serve the Ventura Unified School District community by offering VEPGrants. And, it’s exciting to share that this fall we will give over $100,000 in grants for the 2018/19 school year thanks to generous community members and businesses who support our youth, teachers and schools,” Bajaj said. Mountains 2 Beach Marathon, Aera Energy, Community Memorial Healthy System, MJP Technologies, Rotary Club of Ventura and many others make VEPGrants possible.
Recent Grant Recipient and VUSD Farm to School Operations Specialist, Chris Massa said of his grant, “The grant I received was literally the ‘seed’ money that allowed me to grow my program. It allowed me to buy tools, fruit trees, and seeds for my school farm.”
Cabrillo Middle School Principal, Lorelle Dawes shared that “my VEPGrant allowed me to work with our students and renowned artist M.B. Hanrahan to create a mural that will enhance our entire school. It’s been a beautiful process, and I am incredibly grateful to VEP for their support!”
Monica Lukins, Teacher at De Anza Middle School said “VEPGrants equipped me with necessary supplies that allow me to make history come alive in my classroom—from reenacting the Renaissance, traveling the trans-Saharan trade routes, and replicating Chinese inventions. ”
David Creswell, Superintendent, Ventura Unified School District said “Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) does so much to support education, encourage innovation and enrich the lives of literally all of our students. They are a catalyst for pulling us all together. VEP continues to make a huge impact on our schools and community, and I believe that this impact cannot be underestimated.”
For application information or to support VEPGrants with a donation visit www.venturaeducationpartnership.org or contact Madhu Bajaj (805) 754-9861.
Kat Merrick with the Quilters Guild at the Local Love Project
CAPS Media’s Thomas Fire Stories project continues to record captivating first-person personal accounts with the public and first responders. This month Kat Merrick, Captain John McNeil and Trevor Quirk add their experiences to the series. On Friday, August 17 Kat Merrick shares a remarkably moving story of her fight to save her Wicked Wire Ranch, which is her personal home and the center of her Totally Local VC grassroots agriculture, art and music support organization. Equally engaging is Kat’s story of virtually overnight launching a massive community outreach program connecting hundreds of Thomas Fire victims with agencies and individuals who wanted to help. The following Friday, August 24, Ventura County Fire Chief John McNeil add his unique perspective to the archive. And on August 31, Trevor Quirk tells his fascinating story of fighting the fire on his ranch, rescuing neighbors all night long and then helping create the Upper Ojai Relief Organization to bring resources and help to victims throughout the isolated community.
A new Thomas Fire Story premieres every Friday evening at 6pm on CAPS Media Channel 6 and streams online at capsmedia.org and on CAPS Radio 104.1PM. Following the premiere every Thomas Fire Story repeats throughout the week and is posted online at capsmedia.org/videos.
The Museum of Ventura County is archiving all of the Thomas Fire Stories interviews along with additional historical artifacts. Selected material will be included in a special exhibit at the end of the year. Portions of the Thomas Fire Story interviews will be included in a comprehensive documentary film also slated to premiere in December.
The start of the new school year is a great time to take a tour of the CAPS Media Center and consider joining the CAPS Media creative community. No prior experience is required and everyone is invited to join. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura is eligible to become a member as are members of non-profit organizations throughout the county. To learn more about CAPS Media’s extensive television and radio resources and training attend an orientation tour held on the first Thursday of every month. HD videography/camera classes are held on the 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing class is on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) two-part classes are on the 4th week. Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. All classes begin at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road.
November elections are only a few months away and CAPS Media will help provide information and resources for voters. This year, for the first time, ballots will include district elections for members of the Ventura City Council and Ventura Unified School Board. For details on the City district elections go to the City of Ventura website for comprehensive information at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1222/District-Based-Elections
CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. For more information, go to capsmedia.org or call 805.658.0500.
Educational workshop on homelessness in Ventura on Thursday, September 6, 5:30-8:30 PM at the Poinsettia Pavilion- 3451 Foothill Rd. Hear an overview of homelessness in Ventura from those on the front line of this issue.Law Enforcement…Mental and Physical Health.., Housing and Shelter Substance Abuse/Addiction…Employment/Income…Current and Former Homeless Residents
RSVP to [email protected]. Include your main concern about homelessness in the city. Sponsored by the Faith Subcommittee of the Ventura Social Services Task Force. All are welcome.
Breezy Gledhill, Kiley White and Ashley Pope enjoying the Fair.
Breezy Gledhill
One of my favorite things at the fair this year was the Autism Society Ventura County booth. Besides the amazing people that I met at the booth this year – I’m talking about you Ashley Pope!, this nonprofit organization is mostly made up of individuals with Autism and their families. One in fifty-nine children have Autism, and early intervention can make a huge difference. It’s important to have patience with people that you meet because you do not know their reasons for staying quiet or not making eye contact, for example. Autism Society Ventura County aims to educate our community, so we can then educate others. Just remember to always be kind and exude love first.
I also found out that the Autism Society of VC puts on an annual fundraising event every April called the Aut2Run – a fun 5K and resource fair!
What a super fun way to bring the community together, get in shape and support a wonderful group of people.
I’m already looking forward to next year.
Evin Brown-13
Every kid knows, the summer holidays aren’t complete without a visit to the Ventura County Fair. And the fair didn’t disappoint this year! There were so many awesome rides and attractions – there was something for everyone. From farm animals, agricultural exhibits and fine art, to awesome rides, carnival games, and a huge selection of foods and drinks, there was plenty to do for the whole family.
Uncle Leo’s Barn had so many wonderful animals! There were chickens, pigs, cows, goats, and more. Some of my favorites were the pig and its babies, the chickens, and the cows. The art pieces made by the children and seniors were so cool to look at! I really enjoyed how one of the kids drew a picture that looked just like Sponge Bob and Mr. Krabs. I loved looking at the paintings that professional artists had made, too.
Out of all the roller coasters there, I would recommend the Olympic Bobsled as a great ride to start with. It was a lot of fun to speed up and down and jolt around the corners at a breathtaking speed and immediately feel energized and exhilarated. When you get off you just want to get back on again and again. I also really enjoyed going on the Ferris wheel – you could see the whole city from up there! At the end of the fair, I went on the Fast Trax ride and then visited the Gems and Minerals exhibit, which was very interesting to look at. I was also very happy and surprised to see an old diving suit helmet at the Agriculture Hall! Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at the fair this year and I’m already looking forward to the next. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did!
Jill Forman
The county of Ventura wants to do the best for the environment. So says the knowledgeable and enthusiastic young woman at the Public Works booth, in the Ag building.
Earth levees, important for channeling water, are easily undermined by rodents. Traditionally, they have been controlled by rodenticides, also known as poisons. The problem is, the dead animals can be eaten by other critters who then ingest the poison; this includes hawks, coyotes, owls, foxes, pretty much any carnivore you can think of.
The county is doing a pilot program on one creek using raptors (hawks and owls) instead to control the rodents. They are installing perches and putting up owl boxes, to encourage these birds to live and hunt in the area of the levees. This has been effective, equal to or better than using rodenticides. They will be expanding to other areas.
Bernie Goldstein
What I love about the Ventura County Fair is watching interaction of people, big or small in a variety of sizes ,shapes and dress, hungry people waiting patiently by the food vendors, Kids having their faces painted while proud parents are watching close by; the bubble blowing machines filling bubbles into the crowds, the circus barkers , the pig race contests, the colorful rides and the hobby contests. I enjoy the wonderful display of photos and spend time and love the hobby contests. I have a special fascination with the 4 H animal auction and marvel at the talents of the auctioneers. I enjoy watching the facial expressions & excitement of the kids & others enjoying the attention grabbing rides & games, the people with huge oversized stuffed animal prizes won at the dart throwing or bean bag concession. I’m thrilled and enjoy too, the golden hour when the sun hides behind the edge of the sea , and the sky produces awesome colors. This is when the glittering & vivid colorful lights at the fairgrounds really come to life.
I enjoy photographing what I see at the fair
Michael Gordon
My favorite things at the Fair are the children and their parent interacting.
Watching the children cheer for their favorite piglet race around the sawdust track, the elation with parent in hand as their pig wins the race; and the comfort the parent provides when the piglet comes in last.
The children, with parent in tow, tossing the ping pong ball over milk bottles, holding their breath as the ball bounces from rim to rim, hands over mouth as if the slightest squeal would cause the ball to bounce onto the ground. Taking a deep breath trying the suck the ball down into the bottle. The joy and wonderment as the child cuddles with the newly won Teddy Bear, with parent in tow.
Shirley Lorraine
Attending the Ventura County Fair has been a tradition for me for over 50 years. My favorite things are seeing the hand-made entries in the Home Arts Building, the collections in the Gem and Mineral Building and the creativity in the Youth Building. The personal entries are what bring me back year after year.
Jill Forman
The county of Ventura wants to do the best for the environment. So says the knowledgeable and enthusiastic young woman at the Public Works booth, in the Ag building.
Earth levees, important for channeling water, are easily undermined by rodents. Traditionally, they have been controlled by rodenticides, also known as poisons. The problem is, the dead animals can be eaten by other critters who then ingest the poison; this includes hawks, coyotes, owls, foxes, pretty much any carnivore you can think of.
The county is doing a pilot program on one creek using raptors (hawks and owls) instead to control the rodents. They are installing perches and putting up owl boxes, to encourage these birds to live and hunt in the area of the levees. This has been effective, equal to or better than using rodenticides. They will be expanding to other areas.
Michael Gordon
My favorite things at the Fair are the children and their parent interacting.
Watching the children cheer for their favorite piglet race around the sawdust track, the elation with parent in hand as their pig wins the race; and the comfort the parent provides when the piglet comes in last.
The children, with parent in tow, tossing the ping pong ball over milk bottles, holding their breath as the ball bounces from rim to rim, hands over mouth as if the slightest squeal would cause the ball to bounce onto the ground. Taking a deep breath trying the suck the ball down into the bottle. The joy and wonderment as the child cuddles with the newly won Teddy Bear, with parent in tow.
These are just a few of my favorite things at the fair.
Bernie Goldstein
What I love about the Ventura County Fair is watching interaction of people, big or small in a variety of sizes ,shapes and dress, hungry people waiting patiently by the food vendors, Kids having their faces painted while proud parents are watching close by; the bubble blowing machines filling bubbles into the crowds, the circus barkers , the pig race contests, the colorful rides and the hobby contests. I enjoy the wonderful display of photos and spend time and love the hobby contests. I have a special fascination with the 4 H animal auction and marvel at the talents of the auctioneers. I enjoy watching the facial expressions & excitement of the kids & others enjoying the attention grabbing rides & games, the people with huge oversized stuffed animal prizes won at the dart throwing or bean bag concession. I’m thrilled and enjoy too, the golden hour when the sun hides behind the edge of the sea , and the sky produces awesome colors. This is when the glittering & vivid colorful lights at the fairgrounds really come to life.
The city paid church officials $2,300,000 to buy this property.
by Venturans for Efficient & Responsible Government (VREG)
When it comes to real estate, Ventura’s City Council is, at best, inconsistent. At worst, they are reckless with our money. Their latest decision costs taxpayers over $1,000,000.
On June 16th, the Council accepted the city staff’s recommendations for the Harbor Church. Like some other real estate recommendations, it loses money.
Nothing About This Deal Adds Up
The city paid church officials $2,300,000 to buy the Harbor Church property in 2016. City Hall and Harbor Church agreed the value of both the land and the church building was $1.6 million. The actual sales price included an additional $700,000 to pay the Church to move. By any measure, Ventura overpaid for the property.
City staff proposes to demolish the church, subdivide the property and sell the lots. Total cost to the taxpayers to clear the lot will be $2,670,000.
Purchase Harbor Church Building $1,600,000
Moving Expense $700,000
Demolish Church Building $350,000
Remove Hazardous Material $20,000
Total $2,670,000
The city staff enthusiastically reported the value of the property on which the Harbor Church sits increased by 66% since 2016. They believe we can get four lots on the existing site. They estimate each lot will sell for between $250,000 and $375,000.
The arithmetic didn’t add up from the beginning. A staff report lists the property and building appraisal at $1,350,000 in July 2017. A year earlier, the city paid $1,600,000 for the church and the lot—$250,000 more than the appraised value. This transaction lost money from the very start and doesn’t begin to realize the gains from the purported 66% increase in land value.
Something Else Doesn’t Add Up Either
The city staff used an optimistically over-valued selling price for the lots.
We pulled data from a local title company for homes sold in zip code 93003 for the past two years. What we discovered was shocking.
Average
Median
Avg SF
$/SF
# Sales
2016
$ 628,321
$ 595,000
1619
388
184
2017
$ 633,269
$ 599,000
1700
372
322
2018
$ 593,415
$ 594,000
1747
340
179
According to the data, lots on Harbor Church’s corner should sell for between $215,000 and $233,000. The market values the lots are well below the $250,000 to $375,000 the city staff believes they’re worth.
A More Realistic Calculation Of The Transaction
Using this realistic data from the title company and giving the city the higher anticipated value, the sale of the property would actually look something like this:
Sell Four Lots ($233,000 each) $932,000
Lease Payments From Harbor
Church For 12 months $36,000
Realtor’s Fee (6%) ($55,920)
Total Revenue $912,080
Total Costs (from above) ($2,670,000)
Total Loss on Transaction ($1,757,920)
Is The City Looking Out For Your Money In These Real Estate Transactions?
The City Council’s inconsistent real estate decisions should concern citizens. It causes taxpayers to doubt their financial acumen. The Council trusted the city staff again, with the same disastrous, money-losing results. One wonders whether they are good custodians of our tax money.
VREG’s Conclusions
We believe the city should get out of the real estate business. The litany of poor decisions grows—the WAV Building, Brooks Institute lease, 505 Poli and the Harbor Church property.
At the very least, the city should seek advice from licensed realtors and experts whenever making a real estate decision.
Large financial decisions deserve scrutiny. It’s best to proceed with caution and with thought. It’s too easy for city staff to recommend spending taxpayer money on losing projects. We urge the City Council to approach each real estate transaction with skepticism. Treat the money as if it was coming out of their own pockets.
On August 6, four men tried to rob a businessman making a night deposit at the Bank of America on Victoria Avenue. The robbery was interrupted, and the four suspects fled; two were apprehended immediately but two men, 20 and 22-years-old, escaped.
On August 7, 2018 Sergeant Dowell’s Family, retired Ventura Police Personnel, Ventura Police Officers and Civilian Staff held a ceremony at Ivy Lawn in honor of Sergeant Dowell’s life.
