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Chamber offering trip to New Orleans News, Page 7
Anytime Fitness opening doors—again Features, Page 1
Volume 138, Number 8 — Locally owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Diane Balberde
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, March 24, 2021
March 27th & 28th Dixon Fairgrounds Saturday 9-5 • Sunday 9-4
General Admission: $10 • Free Parking
www.dixongunshow.com
Dixon Gun Show brings exhibitors selling anything gun related to the Dixon Fairgrounds. We encourage responsible gun ownership.
Yolo County moving to orange tier Wednesday By Anne Ternus-Bellamy McNaughton Media Restaurants, gyms and movie theaters can increase indoor capacity beginning Wednesday now that Yolo County has moved to the orange tier. The county made the move based on COVID-19 numbers for the week ending March 13, numbers which included an adjusted case rate of 2.7 per 100,000 residents; a countywide test positivity rate of 0.5 percent and a test positivity rate in the county’s lowest health quartile of 3 percent,
according to Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. The county’s actual case rate of 5.5 per 100,000 residents would not have met the threshold for the orange tier, but the county benefits from its large volume of COVID-19 testing, for which the state provides a bonus. The bottom line for Yolo County is good news for local businesses. Effective Wednesday, the following will occur: • Retail businesses can return to 100 percent indoor capacity • Places of worship
See ORANGE, Page 5
Financial aid available for Yolo renters, landlords By Rick von Geldern Express staff writer Yolo County received $13.6 million in federal funding to assist tenants and landlords with past due and future rent obligations. Lower income residents in Yolo County who have been most impacted by COVID-19 may apply for rent and utility assistance under the Rent Relief Program. For renters, their annual income must be at least 20 percent below the Area Median Income (AMI). For example, a family of four must have earned $74,000 or less in household income to qualify for financial
assistance under this program. Accordingly, a single person must not have earned more than $51,800 and a family of two not more than $59,200. Given that there is a limit of $13.6 million available, assistance funding will be prioritized for applicants deemed to be most in need. Applicants will not be asked about their citizenship nor will they be required to show proof of citizenship. Both renters and landlords can inquire and apply through the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program by calling the CA COVID-19 Rent Re-
See RELIEF, Page 5
Index
Weather
Features ........................ B-1
Date Rain High Low
Classifieds ................... B-4
March 17 .00
64˚ 39˚
March 18 .04”
61˚ 42˚
March 19 .38”
56˚ 44˚
Community .................. A-3
March 20 .00
67˚ 49˚
March 21 .00
66˚ 40˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
March 22 .00
70˚ 39˚
March 23 .00
67˚ 45˚
Real Estate ................... B-2 Athlete of the Week..... B-6
Rain for week: 0.42 in. Season’s total: 7.84 in. Last sn. to date: 12.09 in. Winters rainfall season began 7/1/20. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily.
Courtesy photo
Miguel Zaragoza (left) was recognized as the 2020 Firefighter of the Year by Fire Chief Brad L. Lopez (center) at the March 16 City Council meeting. Kitsia Pelayo (right) was recognized for efforts in raising funds for LNU fire victims.
Council honors public safety officers By Edward Booth Express staff writer The Winters City Council on March 16 honored local firefighters and police officers, as well as two recently retired city employees. The first half of the meeting mostly involved the chiefs of the fire and police departments honoring members of their departments for work they did last year. Fire Chief Brad L. Lopez first honored Kitsia Pelayo, who voluntarily organized and led a fundraising car wash effort in response to the LNU Lightning Complex Fires last year. Pelayo raised over $6,900, Lopez said, to provide aid and resources to fire
victims in the Greater Winters Area. Next, Lopez honored Miguel Zaragoza as the 2020 firefighter of the year. Zaragoza started at the department as a fire cadet in 2015 and transitioned to the role of volunteer firefighter in 2017 after graduating from the cadet program, Lopez said. He dedicated over 1,000 hours, according to Lopez, to staffing shifts, training, responding to emergencies and going on strike team assignments last year. “Miguel has been described by others as hardworking, dependable, exceeding all expectations and conducts himself professionally,” Lopez said. He has also been described as quiet,
Courtesy photo
Police Chief John P. Miller (right) recognizes Thomas Letterman as the 2020 Officer of the Year. not one to stand out in the crowd, but where he is most notable is his genuine passion to be a part of a team, driven to perfection and mastering his craft as a professional firefighter.” Winters Police Department Chief John P. Miller welcomed
By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief The Board of Trustees were presented with, yet another price rise in the cost estimate of the three-classroom modular building project at Shirley Rominger Intermediate School at their board meeting on March 18. Mary Fitzpatrick, Senior Project Manager with Van Pelt Construction Services,
said the latest rise in price came when the plumbing mechanical engineer reported upon inspection that the existing gas line was not sufficient. Landmark Construction put together an estimate at $200K over budget. In February, Trustees unanimously approved moving forward on construction of the three classroom modular building project at the revised
budget estimation of $2.6M. Trustees had originally approved the $2.2M project budget at the Feb. 20, 2020 meeting with a stipulation that if the actual budget went over it would come back to the board for approval. Fitzgerald said the school district still has enough funds to cover the overage by using the remaining Measure R funds, leaving a little extra for addi-
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See COUNCIL, Page 5
Rominger Intermediate school three-modular building project over budget, again
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Brandon Kenny and Kyle Shadman to the department. Then he honored Officer Darion Cueto (now working at the Vacaville Police Department) and Kelley McCoy with chief’s commendations for their brav-
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tional projects. Trustees questioned whether there has been a change in code. Fitzpatrick said the original site was designed 20 years ago and to their knowledge was designed with the intention of eventually including the new building. However, the plumbing engineer said it isn’t sufficient and it’s his license on the line.
See OVERAGE, Page 5
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