Cops will no longer be required to be “citizens” A3
Solano men sink Alameda for first BVC win of season B1
FRIDAY | December 30, 2022 | $1.00
DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.
SOLANO
Flood watch warning issued for Friday to early Sunday Daily Republic Staff
DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
Susan Hiland/Daily Republic photos
About 21 people came out for the Polar Bear Plunge at the Walter V. Graham Aquatic Center in Vacaville, Thursday.
Divers welcome new year with
Polar Bear Plunge Susan Hiland
SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
VACAVILLE — It was a cool 49 degrees outside Thursday night for the inaugural Polar Bear Plunge. The plunge is a chilly dip into a body of water during the winter, this one being the swimming pool at the Walter V. Graham Aquatic Center. Heide Clark, 14, of Vacaville, did a polar bear plunge with her dad, Matt Clark, on Christmas Day. "We have a pool at our house," she said. Heide also has done one at summer camp. Granted the temperatures were a bit warmer then.
Matt Clark and daughter Heide Clark of Vacaville splash around after the Polar Bear Plunge at the Walter V. Graham Aquatic Center in Vacaville, Thursday. "There is really no way to mentally prepare for it," she said. "Just don't hesitate to jump in and don't think about it." Her father's advice
was the same, just do it and don't think. "It is going to be cold no matter what," Matt Clark said. Dalia Reed, 20, of
Vacaville, came dressed in a bright pink cowgirl outfit with a tiny hat. "I have never done this before," she said. "Physically I am dressed to the nines but mentally I know it is cold." Reed had a cowboy friend who was going to join her but he got sick and stayed home. Her grandmother was at home making potato soup to help her warm up when she returned. The temperature of the pool was 72 degrees, usually it is 82 degrees. A total of 21 people signed up this year for the event. See Plunge, Page A8
County, SMUD reach wind turbine settlement Todd R. Hansen
THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
FAIRFIELD — Solano County and SMUD recently reached a settlement on the county’s suit against the utility company over placing larger wind turbines in the vicinity of Travis Air Force Base, the County Counsel’s Office confirmed. The settlement was reached on Dec. 14. On the surface, it appears that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District gets to do what it wanted to in the first place, which is to replace existing
Solano 4 Wind Project turbines with larger towers in the Montezuma Hills area near Travis AFB. The project calls for 19 turbines ranging from 492 and 591 feet tall, with rotor diameters ranging from 446 to 492 feet, SMUD documents state. The turbines would generate 91 megawatts of electricity, enough power to serve 40,000 homes in the district, the utility stated. However, SMUD has five years to show the new turbines will not further impact the radar system at Travis. If those assessments
Two flu deaths reported in county; Covid cases rising THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
show a greater impact than the current turbines, the utility will be required to work with Travis to come up with a solution to the troubles. Until that solution is found, no additional turbines will be allowed. The impact of larger turbines on the radar system at the air base was only one of the issues challenged by Solano in its lawsuit. Regulatory authority Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily over the project also was Republic file (2020) a key issue. Wind turbines produce The county Airport e l e c t r i c i t y in the Land Use Commission Montezuma Hills near See SMUD, Page A8 Rio Vista, June 1, 2020.
FAIRFIELD — Two flu-related deaths in Solano County were reported as part of a state surveillance program in which Kaiser Permanente is a participant. Both individuals were over 75 years old, and would not have been reported to the county Public Health Division under normal regulations, Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said in a phone interview on Thursday. It is not known whether either person was a Solano County resident, Matyas said. Matyas said the state
WEATHER 59 | 54 Rain. Five-day forecast on B10.
3VJHS .PYS 2UV^Z 9LHS ,Z[H[L
See Flood, Page A8
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Todd R. Hansen
INDEX Arts B5 | Business B6 | Classifieds B7 | Comics A7, B4 | Crossword B3, B5 Obituaries A4 | Opinion A6 | Sports B1 | TV Daily A7, B4
reporting program shows that there have been 91 influenza cases in Solano from Oct. 1 through Dec. 28, none of which fall into the usual reporting requirements. The county has not had any flu-related deaths for anyone 65 or younger since 2019, Matyas said. What the state report indicates is that influenza, along with Covid-19, are the only two winter diseases that are on the upswing, while the other seasonal ailments are declining. Moreover, Matyas believes the Covid winter surge is nearing its peak. “We are continuing See Cases, Page A8
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? Call 427-6989.
— N A PA VA L L E Y —
Dr. David P. Simon, MD, FACS.
Sandra Ritchey-Butler Expires 1/1/2023
FAIRFIELD — The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch warning for Friday and Saturday – and the whole of Solano County is within the warning zone. “A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible,” the Weather Service states. The forecast, according to the National Weather Service, is for 2 to 4 inches of rain in the valley areas from 4 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Sunday, and 3 to 7 inches in the foothills. Here are some “Before a Flood” preparedness safety tips: n Create a communications plan: It is impor-
tant to be able to communicate with your family and friends in the event of a disaster. Whether it is having a specific person identified to contact for status updates or a safe location to meet up with family members, having a plan in place will give you peace of mind if disaster does strike. n Assemble an emergency kit: It is good practice to have enough food, water and medicine on hand at all times to last you at least three days in the case of an emergency. Water service may be interrupted or unsafe to drink and food requiring little cooking and no refrigeration may be needed if electric power is interrupted. You should also have batteries,
REALTOR® DRE# 01135124
707.592.6267 • sabutler14@gmail.com '2+%
Eye y Physician y & Surgeon, g , Col. ((Ret.), USAF Services include: • Routine Eye Exams • Comprehensive Ophthalmology • Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration Care • Diabetic Eye Exams • Dry Eye Treatment • Cataract Surgery • LASIK Surgery Now Accepting New Patients!
3260 Beard Rd #5 Napa • 707-681-2020 simoneyesmd.com