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Winters Express: Wednesday, April 3, 2024

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Trustees approve interim budget, developer fee increase News, Page 3

including tax

Educational opportunities from Putah Creek Council Features, Page 1

Volume 141, Number 9 — Locally-owned since 1884

The hometown paper of Courtney Caruso

Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Berryessa Brewing wins big at Brewers Cup By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer Local brewery Berryessa Brewing Co. was awarded Brewery of the Year at the annual Brewers Cup of California on Wednesday, March 14. “It’s a huge honor.” says Lori Miller, who is the co-owner and co-founder of Berryessa Brewing Co. with her husband and Brewmaster Chris Miller. “It’s a great accomplishment for anybody who wins that there’s only 1 brewery that takes the cake every year and so we’re really proud of that.” At the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, nearly 200 brewers gathered for the Brewers Cup. A panel of 65 expert judges evaluated beers submitted by each brewery. This year’s competition received a total of 1,300 beer submissions across 83 different categories. The Brewery of the

Year award is presented to the brewery that earns the most medals for its submitted beers. Berryessa Brewing Co. were awarded six medals at the competition: gold medals for its Separation Anxiety IPA, La Fuerza Aztec Lager, Powder Pillows Pilsner and Buddhas Hand IPA; a silver medal for Trendy Triple IPA, and a bronze medal for the Whippersnapper English Mild Brown. “We’re proud of our brew staff, our brew team and my husband, who’s the other founder, Chris Miller, and he’s a great brewer. It really is great for the town of Winters, it’s great for Northern California.” says Miller. “The Brewers Cup of California recognizes the best beers in the state,” said Brewers Cup of California Lead Judge, David

See BREW, Page 5

Courtesy photo

Berryessa Brewing Co. brew team accepts the Brewery of the Year award on March 4 at the annual Brewers Cup of California event. Pictured (from left) are Chris Miller, founder, co-owner and brewmaster; Tyler Tufts, assistant brewer; Ari Schwartz, production manager; Andrew Lemus, brewer and Nix Nixon, brewer.

Rodriguez awarded teacher grant By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

EXPRESS

Winters High School teacher librarian Olivia Rodriguez was selected to received a grant from Division 83 of the California Retired Teachers Association. CalRTA provides 35 $100 Teacher Grants three times each year. Although Rodriguez did not receive a state grant, Robert Gonzales, Div. 83 of the CalRTA, said she was chosen from a pool of Yolo County teachers to receive one of the five $100 teacher grants from Div. 83. Gonzales said the 35 Teacher Grants are randomly selected by the State. Yolo Div. 83

Courtesy photo

Winters High School Librarian Olivia Rodriguez receives her award from Robert Gonzales of the California Retired Teachers Association – Division 83. selects five additional local grants to provide more opportunities and these five are only for Yolo County teachers. Rodriguez said when Winters High School staff were invited to a meeting for the award, she did not think it was for her. “I was honored to receive this award

and I was definitely floored to hear it was me,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez has worked at WHS since 2007. She has taught English and AVID and is now the teacher librarian. In her current role, she teaches research skills to students, runs a library internship program and is the head

Index Features ........................ B-1

We at he r Rain

High

Low

Mar. 27

.00

69˚

45˚

Mar. 28

.17”

61˚

47˚

Mar. 29

.01”

65˚

43˚

Mar. 30

.37”

57˚

46˚

Eventos hispanos ....... A-2

Mar. 31

.12”

62˚

45˚

Apr. 01

.08”

69˚

47˚

Opinion ......................... B-3

Apr. 02 TRACE

75˚

44˚

Real Estate ................... B-2

Rain for week: 0.75 in. Season’s total: 22.08 in. Last sn. to date: 39.90 in.

Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2

Sports ........................... B-5

Date

Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.

advisor for the Class of 2027. She has also served as a club advisor for multiple clubs at WHS including Friday Night Live and Interact — which she helped to start alongside former principal George Griffin and retired educators Woody and Rebecca Fridae. She still assists with the WHS AVID program to plan college field trips, guest speakers and the annual college and career fair. “I’m passionate with helping students with their post secondary plans. I was raised by a single mother who became ill when I was in high school and then passed away while I was in college so one of my life goals is to help people access higher education — college, trade schools, apprenticeships etc.,” Rodriguez

See GRANT, Page 5

Winters Police losing more officers to other departments By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer The Winters Police Department will be losing three police officers. These officers are in various stages of application processes for other police departments. Additionally, one officer on staff cannot work patrol shifts due to an injury and according to Chief John P. Miller, there is currently no timetable for return. Combined with the countrywide difficulty of hiring police officers Miller raises concerns. In December of 2023, Miller announced to the public and city staff that he was losing an officer. While he has hired for that position, the officer will not complete his training until the end

of August. Applicants hired have to go through training, how long that takes depends on the level of previous training. If someone has graduated from the police academy, it usually takes four months of training, however, if they need to complete the police academy training, that can take 14 to 16 months. Getting a qualified candidate who passes the background check and the other police requirements into a police academy is not some college class sign-up. “The problem with that is I have to have a candidate through the hiring process,” Miller said. “I mean, it’s going to have to take

See POLICE, Page 5

Trustees hear update on WHS graduates’ college journeys By Crystal Apilado and Amelia Biscardi Express staff The Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees heard a presentation on an update of efforts made to provide more college and career readiness programs for students, as well as to review data on post-

high school students college outcomes on March 21. There were absences from trustee Sterling Davis and student representative Mikenzie Hapworth-Eldridge. Assistant superintendent Phoebe Girimonte presented the agenda item to share an update on the high

schools’ switch to an eight-block schedule and college and career readiness. “Winters High School implemented an eight-period day for the 2023-24 school year in order to increase equitable access to courses and pathways and increase opportunities

See COLLEGE, Page 5

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