$1
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Plan ahead for Berryessa boating News, Page 6
A wildflower that changed everything Features, Page 1
Volume 143, Number 11 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, April 15, 2026
The hometown paper of Richard & Margaret Stuart
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City council reviews animal services model By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
EXPRESS
A presentation by the Yolo County Animal Services Joint Powers Authority kicked off the April 7 Winters City Council meeting, outlining various governance structures for animal services to the council and the public. The discussion follows public dissatisfaction with the current system of animal services in the county, as well as a 2024-25 Yolo County civil grand jury review of the Yolo County Animal Services volunteer program, which raised concerns about volunteer safety and program quality. The city of Winters currently has an agreement with Yolo County Animal Services that is renewed annually. The shelter and services are located in Woodland, making it a considerable trip for Winters’ pet owners. Alternatives to continuing the city’s contract with the county include creating a self-sufficient network of animal services, contracting with one or multiple nonprofits to provide
services, or adopting a hybrid model. The presentation noted operational costs for regional peers that operate under different models and found that none of the alternatives would necessarily be cheaper, though they may be more effective or provide higher-quality services at a similar cost. “You can either get handed a bill from the county and they will tell you what services you receive, or you can form an operational JPA and decide what services are relevant to you,” said Lisa Gaynes, a member of the public. “The numbers may be the same, but the services are not.” Some nonprofits expressed willingness to provide services — UC Davis, for example, was willing to offer a limited number of spay and neuter procedures — but operating fully through nonprofit services appeared to be a tenuous solution at this time. Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi said he wants to know which services the people of Winters want, and which they would like to have local control over, including foster programs, sheltering, spay and neuter services, and
See ANIMALS, Page 5
Students vote Ward as 2026 Educator of the Year By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer For 2026, Winters High School Athletic Director and physical education teacher Daniel Ward has been named Educator of the Year. The longtime coach is no stranger to awards; his varsity football program is fresh off its first state championship in school history. While Ward is proud of the trophies he and his teams have earned over the years, he cherishes something more than any accolade. “Awards and trophies are great, but they just collect dust over time,” Ward said. “What really matters is the impact you have on others and the relationships and memories that you make along the way.” The Winters Youth Day Educator of the Year award is a recognition of a different sort. This award is not decided by points at the end of four quarters, but by the votes of students across Winters Joint Unified School District sites. “We have so many amazing teachers within Winters JUSD. It’s an honor just to be nominated, but to win is pretty darn cool,” Ward said. “It’s always been about relationships for me, so to
Index Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
Apr. 08
.00
81˚
49˚
Apr. 09
.00
87˚
53˚
Apr. 10
0.02”
83˚
56˚
Apr. 11
0.40”
64˚
52˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-7
Aug. 12 0.80”
64˚
47˚
Apr. 13
0.05”
64˚
44˚
Opinion ......................... B-5
Apr. 14
.00
71˚
44˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 1.27 in. Season’s total: 17.79 in. Last sn. to date: 19.04 in.
Sports ........................... B-6
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Courtesy photo
Daniel Ward’s family joined him to celebrate the state championship victory. know that I am making a connection with our students and that I am having a positive impact on their lives is what means the most to me.” It’s hard to believe that someone like Ward, who has woven himself into the fabric of the community in so many ways, didn’t always see himself staying in Winters permanently. After graduating from Winters High School in 1999, Ward followed his baseball dreams. He played for Butte College, then the University of North Carolina, where he earned a degree in exercise and sports
science. A physical education teaching position happened to open up around the time he graduated, and Ward took the opportunity. “I didn’t realize it as a kid growing up here, or even as a young adult, but now that I am older and have a family of my own, I am lucky to call Winters my home,” Ward said. “I truly believe that Winters is the greatest place to live in the world.” When he returned to Winters, Ward got to work alongside his former high school teachers, who he considered the best mentors he could have
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See WARD, Page 5
Esparto blast defendants make first court appearances By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media In a courtroom largely filled with the families of their alleged victims, five of the eight people indicted in connection with last summer’s deadly Esparto fireworks explosion appeared before a Yolo County judge Monday, answering to felony charges stemming from a nine-month grand jury criminal investigation.
They included Sam Machado, 45, whose jail-issued scrubs now replace the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office uniform he wore for more than two decades. The former lieutenant faces a litany of charges, including seven counts of second-degree murder — one for each of the employees who perished in the July 1, 2025, blast
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asked for at the start of his career. He even got to teach and coach his younger brother, a dream come true. Family has never been far from Ward throughout his time as a Winters teacher and athletic director. While being a football coach is a major time commitment, Ward credits his wife and children for allowing him to pursue his passion. “I have an amazing wife who not only allows me to do what I am passionate about, but is also my biggest supporter,” Ward said. “There is a quote that has always resonated with me: ‘If you truly love your job, then you never have to work a day in your life.’ That is me in a nutshell. I consider myself the luckiest man in the world. I have a great family and a job that I absolutely love.” Ward has found ways to make football a family affair as his children have gotten older, involving them with the team either on the field or on the sidelines. “Declan (9) and Kellen (7) are the water boys and absolutely idolize the football players and are lucky to have 40 of the best big brothers there are,” Ward said.
See COURT, Page 5
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