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Senior commission changes meeting start time News, Page 3
including tax
Students advocate for a better environment Features, Page 1
Volume 139, Number 47 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, December 21, 2022
The hometown paper of Chris Walton
We would like to extend our appreciation to our staff, parents and community partners for your hard work and dedication to our students. We wish everyone a prosperous 2023 filled with health, joy and peace. WJUSD Board of Trustees Carrie Green, Joedy Michael, Kristin Trott, Everardo Zaragoza and Sterling Davis
Planning Commission approves short-term vacation rental, leaves room for discussion By Jacob Hoffman Express staff writer On Dec. 15, the Winters Planning Commission discussed a proposal to allow an unhosted short-term vacation rental use within an existing one-story two-bedroom single-family dwelling unit located at 205 Main St. that is requesting a maximum overnight occupancy of six guests. Before the discussion could begin, Assistant City Attorney Martin de los Angeles reminded commission members of conflict of interest laws, noting that at least one commis-
sioner lives within 500 feet of the property in question. As a result, Commissioner Chris Rose recused himself from this portion of the meeting. Senior City Planner Kirk Skierski summarized the proposal for the commission. Located west of Downtown, the property is developed with a single-story two-bedroom, one-bathroom residence that is approximately 1,514 square feet. The residence was originally owned and operated by the neighboring church located at 201 Main St., but
has since been sold and separated from the church property. The property includes an approximately 20-foot by 40-foot parking pad in the back of the property, and Skierski noted that the applicant recently informed staff guests will be able to park entirely on-site, meaning they won’t need to park on the street. Skierski also explained the city’s vacation home requirements that all vacation rental properties must abide by. These standards rules include
See RENTAL, Page 5
Police standoff with armed man By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media
EXPRESS
Residents of a Winters neighborhood sheltered in place on Tuesday, Dec. 13 while police and Yolo County sheriff’s deputies negotiated with an armed man barricaded inside his own house. The incident began shortly after 2 p.m. when deputies were summoned to a Putah
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Creek fishing access point along Highway 128 west of Winters. “Several callers reported that a male, armed with an assault rifle and possibly wearing a bulletproof vest, was approaching vehicles, acting erratically, and yelling that someone was trying to kill him,” the Winters Police Department reported in a Facebook post. “The subject also jumped on the hood of at least one caller’s vehicle before that caller drove away.” That person was no longer on the scene
when deputies arrived. Further investigation identified him as Fernando Ponce Jimenez, a 32-year-old Winters resident, who was on felony probation supervision for a prior offense. “Further information was also developed via an independent witness that Jimenez had been observed with an assault rifle earlier in the day and he was currently at his residence on the 700 block of Lupine Way in Winters,”
See ARREST, Page 5
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
Dec. 14
.00
57˚
31˚
Dec. 15
.00
55˚
30˚
Dec. 16
.00
59˚
28˚
Community .................. A-3
Dec. 17
.00
57˚
29˚
Dec. 18
.00
56˚
27˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Dec. 19
.00
53˚
38˚
Dec. 20
.00
43˚
39˚
Classifieds ................... B-4
Real Estate ................... B-2 Sports ........................... A-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 6.50 in. Last sn. to date: 13.72 in. Winters rainfall season began 7/1/22. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m.
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New councilmembers sworn in By Jacob Hoffman Express staff writer The top three candidates who received the most votes in the November General Election took their oath of office at a Winters City Council special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13. After honoring the long-time service of outgoing councilmembers Mayor Wade Cowan, Pierre Neu and Harold Anderson, the City staff began the process of affirming their replacements on the council. As Cowan ended his thanks to the community, he
said “and now we get to swear in some new ones, and you guys get to see what it’s all about.” So began the formal swearing-in process for Richard Casavecchia, Carol Scianna and Albert Vallecillo, Winters’ new City Council members. The three stood before the council facing the audience, and raising their right hands, repeated their oath presented by City Manager Kathleen Salguero Trepa who officially inaugurated them onto the council. The three took their seats on the council
dais and immediately began their duties by continuing to complete the meeting’s agenda. Following Cowan’s departure, Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi took over running the meeting. The first action of the new council was the delegation of the new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore. Trepa explained to the audience and the new councilmembers that, “the councilmember who served as Mayor Pro Tem prior to the election shall be
See COUNCIL Page 5
New Superintendent shares thoughts, trustees re-elect Green as President By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief At its organizational meeting on Dec. 15, the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees took action to approve new officers and swore in its newest Trustee. Assistant to the Superintendent Anietta Kelley administered the Oath of Office to Sterling Davis, who was appointed as the newest Area Four Trustee and Trustees Carrie Green and Joedy Michael. Green was the frontrunner in the Nov. 8 General Election and Michael ran unopposed. Trustees gave recognition to outgoing Area Four Trustee Candi Ochoa. Ochoa
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Superintendent Rody Boonchouyh and Trustees Everardo Zaragoza, Carrie Green, Joedy Michael, Kristin Trott and Sterling Davis at the Dec. 15 school board meeting. was appointed to the seat in January 2021 and was part of the efforts to bring students back to school following the pandemic, and brought her experience as both a parent and an educator to the Board.
Superintendent Rody Boonchouy commented that although they did not work together in Winters long, they had experience in the Davis school district, and thanked her for
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Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
New councilmembers Albert Valecillo, Carol Scianna and Richard Casavecchina take their oath of office at the Winters City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
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