Rio Mesa High School

A former Rio Mesa High School student accused of stabbing two students during a noon-hour clash pleaded not guilty to assault charges in Ventura County Superior Court on Wednesday. Eric Padilla, 18, is accused of knifing a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old in a bloody melee at Rio Mesa High School on March 9. Moments after the attack a school security officer tackled Padilla as he fled, authorities said. Deputies found a knife nearby believed to have been used in the attack.

A collision Friday morning between a loaded cement truck and a van in El Rio caused a utility pressure valve to snap, spewing natural gas into the air and forcing the lockdown of the nearby Rio Mesa High School campus. The crash occurred about 9:30 a.m. at Rose and Central avenues in an unincorporated area near Oxnard. As a precaution, all roadways within an eight-square-mile radius were blocked to traffic. The valve was replaced within an hour and no serious injuries were reported.

I had the privilege of working with Jim Nielsen for five years when he served as assistant principal of Rio Mesa High School. I found him to be a man of great integrity who always showed fairness to all of our students no matter what their race. In particular, I admired the way in which he interacted with our Latino students; He was instrumental in setting up our noon-hour handball tournaments and in keeping the weight room open during the noon hour. He also led support groups for gang-involved students after school.

Phillip Reid of Oxnard Rio Mesa began competing in track and field at age 6, has been a distance runner since he was 10 and placed second in the boys' 1,600 meters in the state championships last June. But he's continually learning how to improve his performances. Take the Southern Section Division II cross-country final last November at the 2.91-mile course at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

After serving as acting principal for five months, Barry Barowitz has been named principal of Rio Mesa High School. Barowitz replaces Eric Ortega, who left Rio Mesa in February to become the Oxnard Union High School District's assistant superintendent of business services. Before taking over as principal, Barowitz served as assistant principal at Rio Mesa, Adolfo Camarillo and Fillmore high schools.

Six Ventura County students were honored in the third annual California Strawberry Commission Scholarship Program. A total of 23 students statewide received scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500. The awards can be applied toward full-time enrollment at a four-year college or university, a community college or accredited trade school. Scholarship eligibility is limited to high school seniors who are the children of strawberry industry farm workers.

A 21-year-old El Rio man has pleaded not guilty in the December 1999 slaying of a Rio Mesa High School football player, authorities said Thursday. Marcus Moralez, who is serving a jail term for attempted robbery, was arraigned Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court on charges of murder, perjury and gang and weapons violations. Described by authorities as a gang member, Moralez is accused of killing 17-year-old Frank Miramontez, also of El Rio.

* The Oxnard Art Assn. announced the winners of its juried art exhibit, "Vacation Views," which is on display through Sept. 8 at American Commercial Bank in Oxnard. The winners and painting titles: Best of Show--Margy Gates, "Pelican Canyon." First--Mel Rhoads, "The Cabin." Second--Chris Weber, "Ventura Vacation." Third--David Richardson, "Ever Increasing Glory."

The melee at Rio Mesa High School certainly got a lot of media coverage, as well it should. But how about a balance in the news? Those who were in attendance at the excellent U.S. Navy Band concert March 10 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center must have been impressed with the six young musicians from Rio Mesa who were invited to participate in the program. One by one they took the places of six regular band members who left the stage during one of the pieces, leaving the students to play along with this illustrious band.

I hope the public is getting a balanced view of the accusations against Jim Nielsen, principal of Channel Islands High School, rather than the one-sides view of people who may have an ax to grind. I have worked under Mr. Nielsen as a science teacher and department chairman at Rio Mesa High School, also as director of student activities and dean of students. Based on my close work with him I must strongly disagree with allegations of racial insensitivity. At Rio Mesa, Mr. Nielsen put forth a tremendous amount of effort in support of our minority students.

A 21-year-old El Rio man has pleaded not guilty in the December 1999 slaying of a Rio Mesa High School football player, authorities said Thursday. Marcus Moralez, who is serving a jail term for attempted robbery, was arraigned Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court on charges of murder, perjury and gang and weapons violations. Described by authorities as a gang member, Moralez is accused of killing 17-year-old Frank Miramontez, also of El Rio.

When Chanel Tripp was 8 and learning how to pitch in her backyard, she would throw down her glove and storm into the house when she didn't like her father's instructions. "There would be times when I was pitching [to my father] and we would argue and I'd end up crying," Tripp said. "It was horrible." Tripp and her relationship with her father, Robert, have come a long way in eight years. "He still gets on my case now and then, but not about softball," said the Rio Mesa High junior.

Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa High hasn't run as fast this season as she did last year. Nor has she jumped as far. But assistant Brian FitzGerald of Rio Mesa says she's on pace to turn in her top performances of the season in the state track and field championships June 1-2. Carroll, runner-up in the 100 meters in the state championships last year, will compete in the 100, long jump and 400 and 1,600 relays in the Ventura County championships at Moorpark High today.

Re "School Sites a Community Choice, Ventura County editorial, March 4. This Times editorial about the proposed Emerson Street school site should be read by everyone. It is brief and to the point: A school should not be built there. As a member of the siting committee, I have to say the staff of both the city of Oxnard and the Oxnard Elementary School District were not forthcoming with facts and pertinent information. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and at least two legislators got it right and have demonstrated leadership and courage.

Hundreds of Rio Mesa High School students skipped classes Tuesday after rumors spread that an attack was planned. School officials had received no threats, but they said nearly 300 students went home. At least an equal number may have stayed home from school after rumors of the terrorist attack started Monday, Principal Barry Barowitz said. He expected to receive attendance figures today.

Jonathon Johnen has no one to tell him to do his homework, no parent to bring him medicine when he gets sick. He works at the factory outlets in Camarillo to help support himself. He handles his finances, which include buying food and making payments on a new truck. His parents pay for his gas and shelter. The Rio Mesa High goalkeeper has been living like a college student since he was a freshman. The lifestyle may sound glamorous, but Johnen knows better.

Re "School Sites a Community Choice, Ventura County editorial, March 4. This Times editorial about the proposed Emerson Street school site should be read by everyone. It is brief and to the point: A school should not be built there. As a member of the siting committee, I have to say the staff of both the city of Oxnard and the Oxnard Elementary School District were not forthcoming with facts and pertinent information. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and at least two legislators got it right and have demonstrated leadership and courage.

Hundreds of Rio Mesa High School students skipped classes Tuesday after rumors spread that an attack was planned. School officials had received no threats, but they said nearly 300 students went home. At least an equal number may have stayed home from school after rumors of the terrorist attack started Monday, Principal Barry Barowitz said. He expected to receive attendance figures today.

Camarillo High put itself back in the race for the Pacific View League wrestling title on Tuesday night, winning five of the last seven matches for a 33-30 victory over Rio Mesa. The defending league champion Scorpions (14-1, 3-1 in league meets) forced a three-way tie for first with Rio Mesa (12-11, 3-1) and Hueneme. The winner of the league finals at Hueneme on Saturday will capture the title.

There is more to playing basketball than what you see on Sports Center. Coach Chris Nordquist of Rio Mesa High has tried to instill that in his players' minds since taking over the Spartan boys' program last season. Tunde Alonge received the message. Alonge, a 6-foot-3 1/2, 175-pound senior swingman, was the most improved player on the Rio Mesa team this season before sustaining a hairline fracture to a bone in his left hand Wednesday that will sideline him for the next two to four weeks.