$1
including tax
City Council discusses Daylighting Law News, Page 2
Rominger celebrates new ball wall Features, Page 1
Volume 141, Number 36 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Dave & Karen May
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, October 9, 2024
for a sustainable - strong - Winters
Vote YES on MEASURE S www.sustainable-strong-winters.net
Paid for by the YES on S Committee FPPC#1471679
• Measure S, will increase our local sales tax by 1% and we will generate $1.2million dollars per year for our city.
• This will help offset the city’s rising costs created by inflation. • Much of the sales tax is paid by PEOPLE VISITING WINTERS. • This will support our public safety staff, public works staff and city hall staff who all work hard to make Winters the special place that it is.
Farmstead development review process underway By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The proposed Farmstead development’s draft environmental impact report (EIR) is currently in the public review phase. This is one of the first steps in preparing the project to go before the city council for a decision, and in line with this milestone, the contract planner for the project David Storer gave a presentation at the Oct. 1 city council meeting outlining the process and what the development, if approved, would entail. The 61.9-acre project, which would be built on an undeveloped parcel of land at the southeast cor-
EXPRESS
The Yolo County Elections Office announced the successful completion of the logic and accuracy testing of its voting equipment on Thursday, Sept. 26, to be utilized in the upcoming General Election on Nov. 5. Starting Monday, Oct 7, all active registered voters in Yolo County will receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot. These ballots are ex-
ner of E. Main Street and Grant Avenue, has been in the works for years. After various iterations, developers are currently proposing to build 188 units of subdivided single-family residences, 57 townhomes, and an 84-unit multi-family residential complex, as well as dedicating 6.9 acres to park space, 3.3 acres to commercial lots, adding a new drainage channel on the eastern side of the parcel, and promising utility, landscaping and roadway improvements including sidewalks and bikeways. The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, requires state and
By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Winters Police Chief John P. Miller officially announced his resignation, bringing to a close an eight-year tenure marked by significant changes and improvements to the police department. He told the Express he is departing for a role at the Antioch Police Department. His last day at Winters PD concludes on Sunday. Miller said choosing to leave was difficult, and the swaying factor was that Antioch offered a compensation package that was too good to pass up – especially as he is facing financial setbacks and needs to consider his family’s needs. With Measure S on the ballot, too many things to consider are left up in the
See FARMSTEAD, Page 6
pected to arrive in mailboxes by Monday, Oct. 14. Voters who do not receive their ballots by Tuesday, Oct. 15, should contact the Yolo County Elections Office for assistance. Voters can track the status of their vote-bymail ballots through the “Where’s My Ballot?” service at WheresMyBallot. sos.ca.gov. This service offers real-time updates through automated notifications via email, text, or voice calls. Voters can also verify their voter registration status online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov or by reaching out to the Elections Office directly.
Index Features ........................ B-1
• Winters Chamber of Commerce • Winters Downtown Business Association • Winters Fire Fighter Volunteer Association • Winters Police Association
Police Chief Miller resigns after 8 years of service
Elections office mails out ballots for Nov. 5 general election Express staff
ENDORSED by …
air and with low pay as his tipping point, Miller decided to take the path that would guarantee financial support for his family. “This is an exceptionally hard decision. This is home, it feels like home. Eight years later, I still look forward to coming to work. It feels good,” Miller said. Calling his time at Winters PD the “highlight” of his career, Miller had nothing but gratitude for residents and colleagues. “Thank you for the support of my council members, my city managers who trusted me to run the organization, and the community members for their support,” Miller said. “This is the highlight of my 30-plusyear career. I’m leaving it better than I found it.
Justin Young (Winters High School Principal), Jessica Williams (AVID), Mike or Michael Williams (teacher), Raena Lavelle (Director of Technology Services), Kimberly Ramirez (school psychologist), Kimberly Spalding, Diane Halsey (Robotics Club) and Rody Boonchouy (Superintendent) at the awards ceremony.
We at he r Rain
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Oct. 03
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By Logan Chrisp
Oct. 04
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Express staff writer
Oct. 05
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Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
Oct. 06
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Oct. 07
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Opinion ......................... B-3
Oct. 08
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Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: TRACE Last sn. to date: 0.08 in.
The annual Yolo County Excellence in Education Awards was held on Tuesday, Oct. 1, where six Winters Joint Unified School District staff members were recognized for demonstrating exceptional dedication to students and achievement of school district goals.
Sports ........................... B-6
Low
Six Winters JUSD staff honored with Excellence in Education Awards
Oct. 02
Community .................. A-2
Winters Police Chief John P. Miller is leaving the city of Winters for a role with the Antioch Police Department.
Courtesy photo
Date
Classifieds ................... B-4
See MILLER, Page 3
Courtesy photo
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Trustee Everado Zaragoza presented the awards for Winters JUSD recipients at the awards ceremony, while Lisa Dennis, Director of Human Resources, recognized the honorees at the Oct. 3 Board of Trustees so the community could celebrate their teachers closer to home. Raena Lavella, Director of Technolo-
gy, was the first to be recognized, receiving the Individual Excellence Award. “She has an impressive work ethic, always maintains a positive attitude, and brings out the best in the people she works with. We’re fortunate to have a leader like Raena in our district,” said Zaragoza.
See AWARDS, Page 5
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Contact David DeLeon at David@WintersExpress.com