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Volume 138, Number 5 — Locally owned since 1884
COVID testing on decline By Anne Ternus-Bellamy McNaughton Media Concerns nationally that the number of new COVID-19 cases, which have declined dramatically since January, have now leveled off or even inched up were echoed by the governor on Monday. “We are seeing a bit of a plateau,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said, “and one needs to be mindful of that.” Those concerns are heightened given the reopening that’s occurring at the same time. Counties like Yolo in the red tier have been able to resume indoor services in restaurants, gyms and more (at limited capacity), while schools appear to be on the verge of resuming more in-person instruction. The case plateau has also been accompanied by a decline in the amount of COVID-19 testing being done, both nationally as well as here in Yolo County. Experts have offered a number of explanations for the decline in testing, including the decrease in positive cases, which results in fewer people exposed and in need of testing. Other explanations include reduced holiday travel, public health staff prioritizing vaccinations over testing and pandemic fatigue. Yolo County’s online COVID-19 dashboard does show a decline in tests administered. After averaging around 440 COVID-19 tests per day in December and 600 per day in January, the county averaged fewer than 230 tests per day in February — less than any other month since June except for the month of September. Testing does not appear to have decreased on the UC Davis campus, however. The university’s online dashboard shows
See TESTING, Page 5
Express investigates Fire safety for new three-story buildings By Rick von Geldern Express staff writer Winters is not only expanding outward with hundreds of new homes, but also upward with new three-story buildings. In the event of a fire, an aerial ladder truck is necessary to reach third floor windows and rooftops, and the Winters Fire Department (WFD) does not have one.Costs for a platform (bucket) aerial truck are in the $1 million range. In addition to the cost of a truck, training and personnel resources are required. Winters Fire Chief, Brad L. Lopez said, “recent construction of structures within
With Yolo County moving back into the red tier last Wednesday, Winters schools are looking to welcome all students back onto campus beginning the second week of March. Superintendent Diana Jiménez sent out a notification to families that students in the A Group cohort would begin school on Monday, March 8, and students in the B Group cohort would begin on Thursday, March 11. Waggoner Elementary School, Shirley Rominger Intermediate School, Winters Middle School and Winters High School have already welcomed back small cohorts of students who were identified as needing the intervention of in-person learning opportunities. Now, all students whose families
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Eventos hispanos ....... A-4
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Opinion ......................... B-3
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Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 6.61 in. Last sn. to date: 11.35 in. Winters rainfall season began 7/1/20. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily.
Rick von Geldern/Winters Express
Workers examine the park pathway and sidewalk concrete pour at the Three Oak Park location
Courtesy photo
Waggoner Elementary School has social distancing guides placed around on campus and in classrooms. indicated they plan to return to in-person learning will be back in the classroom. A number of families opted to stay in a long-distance learning model for the remainder of the current school year. A “Student Daily Health Screening Questionnaire” was sent home to families in both Spanish and English. While the paper does not physically need to be turned in daily, families are asked to go over it before bringing their child to school. Questions range from from COVID exposure questions, to signs and symptoms, including if a student currently has a fever. Students who have any of the symptoms of illness (even mild) are being asked to stay at home. Schools are also asking families to keep children at home if anyone in the the home has symptoms and has not yet received
a negative COVID test result. In either event, a parent or guardian must call the absence in to the specific school’s attendance line. Bus protocols are also being put in place. All students riding the school bus will have their temperature checked before getting on the bus. They will also need to wear a mask. Parents and guardians are asked to help younger students to put their masks on securely before hand. Each school has different drop off and pick up locations and procedures in place. Parents and guardians must remain in the car and a staff member will open the door to help younger students out. All students will have their temperature checked before they enter the school. Staff will also help to guide students to enter and exit the
See SCHOOL, Page 5
City looking to open Three Oaks Park to public in April By Rick von Geldern Express staff writer Parks serve as the heart of communities, encouraging public activity and providing open space to connect for an improved quality of life. The City of Winters is looking to open it’s newest park to the public this spring. Three Oaks Park is a new 10-acre multi-purpose project under construction in the northwestern subdivision of town on Taylor Street, bordered by Moody Slough Road to the north and Vasey Street to the south. The park, under construction since its September 2020 groundbreaking, is being built-out in three phases. Phases one and two are each twoacre parcels and are on schedule to open to the public in late April. They will showcase a variety of amenities, such as two half-acre dog
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Express staff writer The Yolo County Office of Emergency Services gave an update Feb. 23 to the county board of supervisors on LNU Lightning Fire Complex response and recovery efforts. Additionally, the Yolo County Fire Safe Council, formed as a result of community feedback after the LNU complex fire, held an introductory meeting on Feb. 23. The purpose of the council is to identify and support projects that address wildfire prevention, response and post-fire recovery efforts throughout the county, according to Tanya Meyer, program manager for the Yolo Conservation District.
Editor-in-Chief
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be required, Lopez said, “the closest resource would be requested.”The WFD’s Mutual Aid System participates with Dixon Fire, Vacaville City Fire, UC Davis Fire, Woodland Fire and West Sacramento Fire; all have aerial ladder fire trucks. Winters City Manager, Kathleen Trepa, confirmed in an email that these buildings are built according to current fire codes and added, “It’s not uncommon particularly in smaller towns to not have all types of apparatus, which is why mutual aid agreements are in place to access those resources if necessary.”
By Crystal Apilado
Features ........................ B-1
Real Estate ................... B-2
and smoking will be permitted in individual units. Hotel Winters, a downtown three-story hotel with 79 rooms and suites and a rooftop lounge opened to the public in early 2020 and is a non-smoking property. The Marriott Fairfield Inn, a three-story, 72 room hotel located next to the I-505 corridor has a projected opening date in late July and is a non-smoking property.The WFD participates in the Calif. Master Mutual Aid System that recognizes and shares resources from neighboring fire departments. In the event of a fire in which an aerial ladder truck would
By Edward Booth
Schools welcoming students back on campus next week
Weather
Community .................. A-7
our community of extended heights is a cause for concern,” but surmised that with current fire codes, sprinklers and alarm systems, the risk is low. Blue Mountain Terrace is a three-story independent senior living apartment complex under construction for occupants 62 and older living on fixed budgets. Twenty units have been reserved for disabled residents and occupancy is slated for spring 2021.According to Missy Krinke, executive assistant for Dumas Management Company, apartments are being furnished with electric cooking appliances
Fire recovery, protection efforts launch
See FIRE, Page 5
Index Classifieds ................... B-6
The hometown paper of Neva Kelley
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, March 3, 2021
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parks, one for large and another for small dogs, a combination futsal-basketball court, walking paths, a picnic and barbeque area with shade structures and innovative play structures for children. Sidewalks and walking path throughout the park have been poured, irrigation is now being installed and the playground, soil amending, trees and electrical will be completed over the next eight weeks. No start date has been set for the largest and final phase of the park. This section consists of fouracres and includes space for soccer and baseball fields. For safety purposes, the contractor is requesting that the public stay out of the park area until construction is completed, or they may need to erect a temporary construction fence.
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