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Winters Express: Wednesday, July 10, 2024

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$1

including tax

Mischief and magic come to city park stage News, Page 2

Cemetery board celebrates retiree Features, Page 1

Volume 141, Number 23 — Locally-owned since 1884

The hometown paper of Christopher Hansen

Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, July 10, 2024

City shares update on fireworks show, Council approves outdoor cannabis Independence Day happenings

ordinance amendment

By Crystal Apilado

Editor-in-Chief

Although there were fewer people in attendance at this year’s July 3 fireworks event, the heatwave didn’t stop folks from gathering to view the fireworks or from engaging in setting them off. With music curated by local DJ Barnett Entertainment and a variety of food trucks and vendors, residents and visitors gathered at Dr. Sellers Field, and around the city, to watch the annual City of Winters July 3 Fireworks Show. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III said that although Winters fire crews did have one fire to attend to on Thursday evening, there were no fires caused by fireworks. “We did not have one single call related to fireworks all weekend long,” Snyder said. However, Winters Police Department officers were kept busy attending to complaints of individuals setting off illegal fireworks. Police Chief John P. Miller said as of Monday, five administrative citations for illegal fireworks had been given and two criminal citations had been issued for possession of illegal fireworks and setting

By Raymond Purscell Express staff writer An air conditioned city hall provided the ideal escape from the sweltering heat of the day, allowing city councilmembers to focus on agenda issues including the approval of the outdoor growing cannabis oridinance and pop-up food vendors.

Outdoor cannabis approved Courtesy photo

Troy Barnett, DJ Barnett Entertainment, kept event goers entertained with a patriot musical lineup before and during the July 3 fireworks show. them off in a park. “We had less residents reporting and collecting video/ photo evidence so most were on-viewed by officers or (community service officers),” Miller said. City Manager Jeremy Craig said that city staff will debrief on the Independence Day weekend events later this week. In response to community questions regarding a drone show, Craig said the city has done the research and

“they are currently cost-prohibitive.” “Napa did one this year at a cost exceeding $100,000, and Sunnyvale also did one at a cost of $65,000,” Craig said. “In contrast, we spend around $20,000 on the current fireworks show, and although we expect that to rise next year, it is still well short of the drone cost.” A full report will be given at an upcoming Winters City Council meeting.

In a 4–1 vote Tuesday night, Winters City Council approved the outdoor personal cannabis ordinance. This ordinance will allow Winters residents to grow their own cannabis plants. The ordinance had

been previously approved by the Winters Planning Commission and then sent to the city council. After discussions that lasted multiple meetings, the council did not have much left to say regarding the ordinance and moved to approve the ordinance with one dissenting, “No” vote from Mayor Bill Biasi. “The language, I don’t think, is right. I don’t like the idea of it being close to schools or sensitive sites,” Biasi said. Biasi asked that the ordinance vote be moved from the Consent Agenda to allow any further

See CITY, Page 3

Prop 218 town hall, special school board meeting scheduled Express staff The community is encouraged to engage at upcoming meetings.

Prop 218 town hall

EXPRESS

Winters Fire Department has scheduled a town hall and invites City of Winters property owners and residents to attend to ask questions and learn more about the Proposition 218 ballot sent out. The Prop 218 Town Hall event is on Thursday, July 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at

the Winters Fire Department, 700 Main St. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III said he will lead a discussion on the Prop 218 benefit assessment and will answer community questions. Attendees will also have a chance to meet fire department staff, get a tour of the fire station and see the equipment and trucks on site. Snyder said he hopes property owners will come to ask questions. Those unable to attend the event can contact Snyder directly with questions or concerns. Snyder is available at the fire station, by phone at 530-795-4131 or email

jack.snyder@wintersfire.org.

School board special meeting Winters Joint Unified School District scheduled a special school board meeting on Friday, July 12, at 8:30 a.m. in the Winters JUSD board room, 909 W. Grant Ave. While the meeting is being held in person, members of the public have the option to view the meeting on Zoom at https://wintersjusd-org.zoom. us/j/91863741118. The agenda lists that trustees are expected to take action on the approval of the Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools annual report.

Index Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2 Eventos hispanos ....... A-5 Opinion ......................... B-3 Real Estate ................... B-2 Sports ........................... B-5

We at he r

The meeting focus is primarily the Governance Team Workshop, which is facilitated by Terilyn Finders, F3 Law. The workshop will lead trustees through a governance team evaluation and governance team operational agreements, identify priority areas of focus and determine the 2024-25 board goals. It concludes with a closed-session conference regarding an anticipated litigation. The meeting agenda packet is available on www.wintersjusd. org or on the community portal at wintersjusd.diligent.community.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Last Wednesday, Yolo Food Bank adjusted the time of the Winters Wednesday food distribution due to the heat.

High temps prompts food distribution time change By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Last Wednesday, Yolo Food Bank volunteers passed out fliers notifying Winters residents about the time adjustment for the Wednesday food distribution. During July, the regular Wednesday food distribution held in the Winters High School student parking lot near the gym will start at 11 a.m. Whitney Grunwald, Yolo Food Bank Programs Manager, said the earlier start time

is scheduled for the month of July and will change to the normal 3:30 p.m. start time when students return to school in August. “This is to address the heat that we have been seeing. Our main concern is keeping our recipients and volunteers safe during these hot days, so the decision was made to change this distribution to mornings through July,” Grunwald said. According to Grunwald, if the

See FOOD, Page 3

Teen arrested on sexual assault charges

Date

Rain

High

Low

July 03

.00

105˚

74˚

July 04

.00

106˚

67˚

July 05

.00

108˚

65˚

July 06

.00

109˚

67˚

July 07

.00

110˚

69˚

July 08

.00

108˚

64˚

July 09

.00

106˚

59˚

Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 0.00 in. Last sn. to date: 0.00 in. Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Winters police arrested a 19-year-old man on sexual assault charges following a four-month-long investigation. In a social media post, the Winters Police Department stated the alleged victim, a Winters High School student, reported the assault happened at a WHS facility in the fall of 2023.

The suspect, Estaban Arias Garcia, 19, of Winters, was arrested Monday on charges including rape, rape of a minor, assault with intent to rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon and assault on school property, according to the post. “The incident was not reported to school

staff until many months later. School staff reported the incident to the Winters Police Department and an investigation was immediately initiated. Due to the time between the incident and the report, the severity of the allegations, and the sensitive nature of the incident, Winters PD worked closely with the

See ARREST, Page 3

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