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Volume 140, Number 16 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Robert Rennie
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Ample Electric is Small Business of the Year By Aaron Geerts
Local News Briefs
Express staff writer
Express staff
Ample Electric earned the designation of the SBA’s (Small Business Association) 2023 Small Business of the Year Award for the Sacramento region. Regardless of an organization’s size, Ample Electric proves that small businesses can accomplish big things. This award-winning business, however, was just a seedling back in 2005 when founder Jose Diaz began his electrical career as an apprentice with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). From there, Diaz partnered with Spears Electric in 2009 and eventually purchased the company in 2011. It was rebranded as Ample Electric, and the rest is history. “Jose was the president and CEO straight from the get-go when Ample Electric was founded. It’s minority-owned and registered as a small business as well,” said Lead Project Manager
Memorial Day
Courtesy photo
Ample Electric team members Phil Hamilton, Katie Reineck, Jose Diaz, Rosa Diaz and Melissa Atkin show off their Small Business of the Year award and certificates. Katie Reineck. “Jose’s portfolio for the company is — let’s say — pretty extensive. He is doing a lot of public works and federal government work along with a lot of agriculture work. We also do commercial and some residential. So, a little bit of everything.” Essentially, Ample Electric itself is an electrical contractor that facilitates a lita-
ny of services. As broken down by Reineck, the small business can provide design/ build services from cradle to grave. It also specializes in electrical power distribution, electrical vehicle charging stations, good old-fashioned electrical maintenance, troubleshooting and much more. Ample Electric just finished off a job up at
Winters police investigate downtown altercation, battery on student By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
EXPRESS
Winters Police Department fielded reports regarding a stabbing incident in downtown Winters and from Winters Joint Unified School District last week. On Friday, May 5 at 10 p.m., Winters PD responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the downtown area from a local hospital. Police Chief John P. Miller said officers arrived at the hospital to interview a victim who had received a non-life-threatening stab wound.
2 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.4503 buckhornsteakhouse.com
Officers were able to confirm the victim was involved in an altercation with a known associate and was transported to the hospital by another associate. However, Winters PD was unable to obtain any further information regarding the incident or about who the other party was. “He refused to identify who did it and any further details. He refused to cooperate with authorities,” Miller said. Upon arrival and treatment at the emergency room, the hospital staff reported filed a mandatory report with Winters PD. Miller said the victim did say the suspect was someone he knew. Miller said
the incident was considered an isolated incident as the victim knows his assailant and there was no threat to the public. “This was not a random act. They got into an altercation,” Miller said.
Rominger incident On Tuesday, May 9 received a report from Winters JUSD that a Shirley Rominger Intermediate School student had been the victim of battery at the hands of a substitute teacher. According to a post on Facebook, Principal Monica Moreno sent a message to students’ families who are in the class in which the substitute was working that day to
See CRIME, Page 6
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r
By Jacob Hoffman Express staff writer During their May 4 meeting, the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees heard a presentation with information about the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program regarding its successes this school year and its goals for the 2023– 24 school year. Educator Jessica Williams, the AVID High School Coordinator, and Courtney Mognis, an AVID elective teacher collaborated to inform trustees about the program sharing the ethos behind “AVID’s Mission
Yolo County Low
Special to the Express
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Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 37.62 in. Last sn. to date: 18.29 in.
Yolo County’s Chief Administrative Officer Gerardo Pinedo announced the appointment of Leslie Lindbo as director of the Department of Community Services. Lindbo has served as interim director since the retirement of former Director Taro Echiburu in December 2022. “My colleagues and I are delighted
Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-5
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/22. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
The city of Winters is asking community members to take a survey to share input on potential elements to be included in Paseo Park. The survey will remain open through May 29. Take the survey at https://tinyurl. com/4jfr5rz4.
Seeking commissioners City Manager Kathleen Trepa said the city of Winters is looking for residents who are passionate about land use, senior programming, and Hispanic community affairs to serve in a number of commissioner roles. For information, visit https://tinyurl. com/2p8wn7sx.
is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.” Williams added the program seeks to ensure students “have more opportunities ready for them at the end of high school.” AVID recruits students in eighth and ninth grade and its teaching strategies focus on fives areas of Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR), and measures the success of its program in its ability to improve the instruction, systems, leadership, and culture of the entire school. One of AVID’s pro-
gram goals is to continue to get 70 percent of WHS teachers to use their WICOR system, including the use of focused notes and collaboration strategies, as well as recruiting tutors from college. Regarding enrollment, in the 2022–23 school year Williams reported 32 freshmen, 19 sophomores, 16 juniors, and 21 seniors in the program, and for the 2023–24 school year, 30 freshmen, 21 sophomores, 22 juniors, and 17 seniors. During this school year, 79 percent of seniors are A-G eligible, 84 percent have taken at least one AP
See AVID, Page 3
County appoints Lindbo as Director of Community Services
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Paseo Park survey
Residents will be able to participate in the 2023 Yolo Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update. The Winters public engagement meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7 from 2–3 p.m. in the Winters City Hall’s large conference room, Abbey Street entrance. Community members can view the meeting via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/ bdd6xe5n.
High school students thriving, seeing success in AVID program
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to congratulate Leslie Lindbo on this appointment,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Oscar E. Villegas. “She has earned a positive reputation throughout Yolo County by providing excellent customer service with a strong track record of community engagement and successful collaborations with both industry and stakeholders. Her experience and knowledge will undoubted-
ly continue to have a positive impact in Yolo County for years to come.” Following an extensive nationwide search, Lindbo was selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. “Leslie has demonstrated a commitment toward upholding Yolo County values,” said Chief Administrative Officer Gerardo Pinedo. “I am confident that she
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See AWARD, Page 3
Date
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Lake Berryessa where it rehabbed the electrical infrastructure damaged by the LNU fire. One can see it as another job, or another reason, why Ample Electric is the 2023 Small Business of the Year. “It all happened really fast. We found out we’d won the award in late April, and the awards banquet
The Winters Cemetary District is inviting the community to attend a Memorial Day event on Monday, May 29 at 1:30 p.m. at the Winters Cemetary. The event will honor 26 local veterans who were killed in action as well as the over 400 veterans who were laid to rest in the cemetery. It features a local veteran speaker and singing performances. Winters Girl Scouts will lead the pledge.
Plan update
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See COUNTY, Page 3
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