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Battle of the Badge at community blood drive News, Page 2
Local woman celebrates 105th birthday Features, Page 1
Volume 141, Number 20 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Shahla Farahnak
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Fire department, council address local fire hazards By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer
Kelli Villanueva/Courtesy photo
Community members watch as rubber ducks float toward kayakers at the finish line in the 10th annual Duck Derby on Saturday, June 15. Funds raised by the Duck Derby benefit the annual Youth Day event and youth scholarships.
Ducks race down Putah Creek
Express staff
EXPRESS
Yellow rubber ducks raced down Putah Creek in a slow-moving current in the 10th annual Duck Derby last Saturday. The Winters Youth Day committee rescheduled the annual fundraising event due to the high amount of water flowing down the creek in April. Members of the Winters K-Kids Club helped to host family-friendly activities in Rotary Park before the race, while Youth Day committee volunteers helped community members sponsor duck racers. This year the rubber duck racers were dumped into Putah Creek by a kayak volunteer due to a blockage in the creek close to the train bridge where ducks are traditionally launched. Community members cheered on ducks as they ap-
proached the finish line, about 25 to 30 minutes after its start. In an exciting finish, the first duck to approach the finish line got stuck in a current swirl and the second approaching duck flowed past it across the finish line to snag first place. The 2024 Duck Derby winners include Caitlin Caldeira in first place. Van Pelt Construction Services snagged second place off an event sponsor-level duck and one of Jose Bermudez’s ducks came across the finish line in third. This year’s Lucky Duck — the last-place duck racer — was sponsored by Rody Boonchouy. Boonchouy will receive a free flock of ducks in the 2025 Duck Derby race. The Youth Day Committee announced this year’s Youth Day Scholarship recipients are Emily Dodic and Kenneth Matheson. The Youth Day committee is considering holding the Duck Derby on a separate date to help raise funds for the Youth Day event
As the weather continues to warm up, Winters and surrounding areas are officially in fire season. With dry landscaping, debris, garbage and weeds growing the city sent out notices to properties in April and the remaining parcels who are not in compliance had a turn to speak their piece at the June 18 Winters City Council meeting. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III, explains that with the recent
high winds, red flag fire warnings and fires, the city and Winters Fire Department are on alert. The council will hear and consider cases of those who have received an abatement notice. After the meeting, the properties with high weeds, garbage and dirt refuse that have already been received will be declared a nuisance. Parcel owners will have until June 19, unless otherwise determined by the
See CITY, Page 3
Police announce robbery incident was a fraud By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
Courtesy photo
Caitlin Caldeira (left) and her family celebrate their duck’s first-place win in the Duck Derby at Rotary Park. beforehand and to help separate the high number of events during Youth Day weekend. The community is encouraged to leave feedback about the 2024 Youth Day events, including the Duck Derby, to help plan for next year. The Community Feedback Survey is available online at https://linktr.ee/wintersyouthday. Community members who are inter-
Index
We at he r
ested in helping to plan the next Youth Day event, scheduled for April 26, 2025, are encouraged to contact the the Youth Day committee at wintersyouthday@gmail. com. Residents who may have discovered any wandering rubber duck racers are encouraged to contact the Youth Day committee at the same email or https://linktr. ee/wintersyouthday.
Winters police announced that a report of an armed robbery near Round Table Pizza in Winters turned out to be unfounded, and was allegedly made to conceal the reporting victim’s gambling loss. Winters Police Chief John P. Miller reported a man said he was robbed at gunpoint around 5:30 p.m. on June 5 while parked on the 100 block of E. Baker Street. According to Miller, the reporting party said he was sitting in his car with the passenger window rolled down, counting out $1,708 in cash for his rent payment when two Hispanic males approached his vehicle – one with a revolver – and demanded he hand over the mon-
ey before fleeing the scene. Miller told the Express that based on the description of the two men, the “subjects are not familiar to the police department.” Winters PD officers collected security camera footage from near the alleged crime scene which showed the reporting party’s vehicle. However, not only did the footage not show anyone matching the suspects’ descriptions during the time frame, but did not show any pedestrians in the area. “This incident occurred during the heat wave with temperatures over 100 degrees, so it was found odd that the reporting party would stop where he did, roll down the windows of an air-conditioned
See FRAUD, Page 2
High
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Yolo supervisors announce new phase of road rehabilitation projects
June 14
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Express staff
June 15
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Eventos hispanos ....... A-3
June 16
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June 17
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Opinion ......................... B-3
June 18
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Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 23.29 in. Last sn. to date: 37.64 in.
Last week, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors announced it would strategically fund pavement preservation and rehabilitation, including projects outside of Winters, in the Esparto area and other county roads. County supervisors and the Department of Com-
Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... A-6
Date
Rain
June 12 June 13
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
munity Services’ Public Works Division say they are working to ensure that upcoming contracted improvements are effective and minimally disruptive to residents. “The robust infrastructure improvements underway across the community represent our commitment to investing in the future of Yolo
County,” said Lucas Frerichs, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Improving the road between Winters and Davis has been a top priority for residents of both communities, and also a top priority of mine. I have been working to ensure this project is completed and the county makes
See ROADS, Page 3
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