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including tax
Nonpartisan forum on Yolo District Attorney race News, Page 2
Ciarlo collaboration brings work experience Features, Page 1
Volume 139, Number 11 — Locally-owned since 1884
! S K C U D Y BU Council approves new swim program agreement By Brandon McCapes Express Correspondent The Solano Aquatic Sea Otters will continue to run the Winters Swim Team and conduct swim lessons at the city pool for an additional three years, after council members, staff and members of the public agreed the training organization’s handling of services was “highly successful.” The City Council considered the item alongside a 7 percent across-the-board fee increase tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) at their regular meeting on Zoom April 5. The city’s relationship with SASO began last year, when they took over train-
ing of the summer Winters Swim Team while offering swim lessons to community youth in various age groups. Last year’s program began under the understanding that city staff and SASO would review finances to determine costs payable by SASO for renting the pool at the Bobbie Greenwood Community Swim Center to run its program. Ultimately, SASO paid $3,000 to the city, rather than the $4,000 originally estimated, allowing them to reinvest about $500 in their reserves. City Manager Kathleen Salguero Trepa said, “Because it was the first year, we
See SWIM, Page 3
Express staff writer
EXPRESS
For at least the last four decades Winters High School has held their downtown rallies at the Main and First Street intersection. The popular high school and community event typically coincides with homecoming and Youth Day but had been suspended due to COVID-19 gather-
ing guidelines. Now, it appears it has been cancelled because the special event permit wasn’t submitted with enough lead time for the city to process it for the April 29 date. Winters Joint Unified School District Superintendent Diana Jiménez and Winters High School Principal John Barsotti did not return multiple Express requests for comment, clarification and rescheduling plans. Review of the high school’s special event application submitted to the city and
By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer Much like the prospectors of 1849, the Winters FFA Ag Sales Team went to Sacramento and returned with gold — or rather, a first-place silver bowl. With 7,000 students present at the State Leadership Conference, one can bet this victory puts a bookmark in the Winters FFA chapter. Taking place from March 26–29, the California FFA State Leadership Conference was an opportunity for students from 342 different FFA chapters to develop personal and team skills, discover agricultural career paths and network with new friends. For the Winters FFA Ag Sales Team of Bianca Dyer Gonzalez, Ava Skin-
dated March 25 proclaimed, “This is one of the most popular events the Student Government class puts on and our Seniors are very much looking forward to it.” A special event permit requires city approval and depending on the nature of the event is issued with specific conditions and requirements — some which may not have been required under the past city manager’s administration. “Our policies,
See RALLY, Page 6
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Rain
High
Low
.00
74˚
52˚
Apr. 07
.00
86˚
47˚
Apr. 08
.00
89˚
50˚
Community .................. A-2
Apr. 09
.00
90˚
57˚
Apr. 10
.00
77˚
56˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Apr. 11
.00
75˚
49˚
64˚
38˚
Apr. 12 TRACE
Sports ........................... A-5
Ava Skinner, Joe Aguiar, Allison Aguiar and Bianca Dyer Gonzalez, Winters FFA Ag Sales team members, are advancing to the National FFA Convention in Indiana this October. ner, Allison Aguiar and Joe Aguiar, it was a chance to cash in on months of hard work and preparation for the public speaking competition. Dyer Gonzalez said the team practiced frequently and had
Rain for week: TRACE Season’s total: 17.73 in. Last sn. to date: 7.84 in. Winters rainfall season began 7/1/21. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m.
two coaches who explained how the competition worked and gave the team insight on judging. “It was helpful knowing the ins and outs of the competition and what judges were looking for,”
By Rick von Geldern Express staff writer On March 21, the State Water Resources Control Board announced a proposed maximum contaminant level (MCL) for hexavalent chromium, also known as Chromium 6, from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb. What does this mean to the town of Winters as it delivers drinking water from five wells with a new one on the way? Possibly tens of millions of dollars to
upgrade the City’s water system resulting in increased water bills to approximately 2,000 residential customers. In 2020, the average total chromium level detected in Winters drinking water, as published in the Winters Water Quality Report, was 18 ppb. Although yet to be published, the city has reported the total chromium average for 2021 was 10 ppb. Chromium-6 was the subject of the
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Effective immediately, Yolo County residents who have been in close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 and have no symptoms are no longer required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status, unless they live or work in a high-risk setting. Such settings include homeless and emergency shelters, healthcare settings,
correctional facilities and longterm care facilities. Previously, unvaccinated individuals were expected to quarantine following a close contact. Exposed individuals should still get tested for COVID-19 three to five days after an exposure and wear a mask around others for 10 days, but can continue to work, go to school, and participate in normal activities as long as they have no symptoms,
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See STATE, Page 3
2000 academy award winning film “Erin Brockovich,” where dangerous levels of the toxin were present for decades in the drinking water of Hinkley, CA. A class action lawsuit against PG&E settled in 1996 with PG&E paying out $333 million. Hexavalent chromium is an odorless and tasteless heavy metal that occurs naturally throughout the environment and through industrial
See WATER, Page 3
County rescinds mass quarantine order
WINTERS AGGREGATE
2 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.4503
said Dyer Gonzalez. “We just made sure we were able to have a comfortable and professional conversation with another person especially for the individual portion.”
City faces potential water system upgrade, state proposes lower chromium threshold
McNaughton Media Apr. 06
Real Estate ................... B-2
Courtesy photo
By Anne Ternus-Bellamy
Date
Classifieds ................... B-4
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Winters FFA Ag Sales team wins big at State
WHS annual downtown rally fizzles By Rick von Geldern
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according to a statement from the county announcing the mass quarantine order was being rescinded. The mass isolation order remains in effect, requiring isolation for individuals who have tested positive. “I am rescinding the local quarantine order in order to reduce confusion created by having different guidance at the local and state levels,” said
See RESCIND, Page 6
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