By Redacción
redaccion@latinocc.com
The Oxnard Police Department has raised more than $4,100 this year for the Autism Society Ventura County through its ongoing Autism Acceptance Month campaign, now in its seventh consecutive year.
In partnership with the Oxnard Police Community Foundation and supported by local businesses and sponsors including Raising Cane’s, ABS Kids, and Stacy Miller Public Affairs, the department sold custom “Autism Acceptance” patches and T-shirts throughout April and into the summer. Sales took place at the police station, local businesses, and community events like the Downtown Farmers Market and Aut2Run.
The department also wrapped one of its patrol units in a custom autism-themed design, aimed at increasing visibility and awareness. The wrap was funded by the police foundation and produced by Vogue Signs.
Police Chief Jason Benites said the initiative underscores the department’s commitment to serving all members of the community, including those with autism. “By raising funds and awareness, we extend that protection to those whose voices often go unheard,” he said.
Ashley Pope, president of the Autism Society Ventura County, said the funds will help support free programs. “The funds raised each April help sustain and grow our free programs, including art classes, family events, and adult social groups, providing vital opportunities for connection and inclusion. We’re fortunate to have a police department so committed to understanding, protecting, and serving every member of our community,” said Pope.
Founded in 1994, the Autism Society Ventura County supports individuals and families affected by autism through education, community programs, and advocacy.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN VTA
C. Shi Young Kim, a veteran visual arts teacher at Rio Mesa High School, has been named the 2025 Ventura County Teacher of the Year, the Ventura County Office of Education announced Thursday.
Kim, who has taught for 25 years in the Oxnard Union High School District, was surprised with the news during a classroom visit by district and county education officials. Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, praised Kim’s ability to empower students through art, calling her “a shining example of what great teaching looks like.”
“Her commitment to student growth, artistic exploration and school leadership makes her an exceptional educator,” Morales said.
Kim currently chairs the Visual & Performing Arts Department at Rio Mesa, where she teaches a wide range of courses including International Baccalaureate Visual Arts, Calligraphy, Studio Art, Life Drawing and Digital Photography.
Her teaching philosophy prioritizes process over product and encourages students to discover their own creative voices. Her efforts were instrumental in launching Rio Mesa’s International Baccalaureate art program, which challenges students to explore cultural and global perspectives through visual media such as painting and sculpture.
Principal Gary Peterson said Kim’s students “consistently push creative boundaries and engage in meaningful self-reflection.” Students describe Kim as a nurturing and inspiring mentor. One student, Madison, said Kim’s encouragement was a lifeline during difficult times. “She regularly checked in when I felt there was no path ahead,” Madison said. “Her belief in my potential, especially when I doubted myself, kept me going.”
In her own words, Kim said she strives to foster an inclusive and creative classroom. “I have intentionally nurtured an environment of creativity, active engagement and thoughtful inquiry,” she said. “Success in my program isn’t just measured by grades, but by student growth and connection.”
Her classes include a diverse group of students, and she works to ensure that each one feels valued and capable of meaningful academic and artistic development. Her impact, colleagues say, extends well beyond the art room and into the broader school community.
As Ventura County Teacher of the Year, Kim is now eligible to compete for the 2025 California Teacher of the Year honor. The Ventura County Teacher of the Year program is administered by the Ventura County Office of Education. Educators are nominated by their district, school or a professional organization, and a panel of educators selects the honoree based on experience, a personal essay and a recommendation letter. The program began in 1973, and more information, including a list of past recipients, is available through the county’s education office.
OXNARD MAN ARRESTED IN MAJOR VENTURA COUNTY DRUG BUST
A monthslong investigation by the Ventura County Combined Agency Team has led to the arrest of an Oxnard man and the seizure of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, authorities said.
Juan Lopez was taken into custody May 22 after detectives executed search warrants at two locations connected to him: a residence on the 200 block of South E Street and a public storage unit on the 200 block of Montgomery Avenue, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
During the searches, investigators found about three pounds of methamphetamine, 850 grams of fentanyl, two firearms, ammunition and cash believed to be proceeds from narcotics sales. Authorities also recovered additional evidence consistent with drug distribution operations.
Lopez, a previously convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on multiple felony charges, including possession of controlled substances for sale, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His bail was set at $250,000.
The Ventura County Combined Agency Team, known as VCAT, is a multi-agency task force made up of local and federal investigators. The team targets major and mid-level drug traffickers operating in the county in an effort to reduce the supply and distribution of illicit drugs.
CAL/OSHA CITES TWO EMPLOYERS IN VENTURA COUNTY DEATHS
California workplace safety officials have cited two employers for heat-related violations following the deaths of two workers in Ventura County last year, though investigators did not directly link the fatalities to the alleged violations.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, issued citations to the state Department of Conservation and Oxnard-based farm labor contractor Del Sol Harvesting after separate deaths in Simi Valley and Oxnard in August and September 2023. Both deaths were ruled accidental by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, which cited cardiovascular disease as the primary cause but noted heat exposure as a contributing factor.
Charles Lee, 71, a state inspector, was found dead four days after visiting a Simi Valley oil site during a heat wave in early August, with temperatures reaching up to 106 degrees. Weeks later, Oscar Pimentel, 43, collapsed while planting celery in a field near Oxnard on a day when temperatures reached the low 90s.
Cal/OSHA cited both employers for heat safety violations, including failure to provide adequate drinking water and heat-related training. The Department of Conservation faces up to $15,000 in fines, while Del Sol Harvesting could be penalized tens of thousands of dollars.
Both employers have appealed the citations. Del Sol’s attorney, Rob Roy, said in an interview with the Ventura County Star that the violations are routine and being contested, arguing that excessive heat was not present at the time of Pimentel’s collapse and noting preexisting health issues.
The Del Sol case remains under investigation by the Cal/OSHA Bureau of Investigations, while a hearing in the Department of Conservation case is scheduled for December.
