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Local blood drive dates announced News, Page 2
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Volume 143, Number 01 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Michelle Rippee
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Planning Commission approves concrete casting facility proposal Project heads to city council for final approval By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The first Winters Planning Commission meeting of the new year focused on early plans for a new concrete pre-stress casting facility and batch plant in the Winters industrial district on County Road 90, northeast of town. The item before the planning commission was the consideration of a recommendation to approve a Planned Development permit to the Winters City Council. The proposed project would span 29.29 acres and employ about 100 workers, approximately half of whom are expected to be hired locally. According to city planner Kelly
Mumper, the project is consistent with the city’s goals as outlined in the Winters General Plan, particularly in its potential to create employment opportunities. Potential concerns associated with the project include significantly increased traffic in the area, noise pollution and dust. However, Mumper said all concerns raised during the meeting have been considered and addressed in some manner. “All the concerns that have been raised are addressed either by the environmental study, the traffic study or the conditions of approval,” Mumper said. Some road improvements are included within the conditions of approval to help offset the increased traffic load, but contract city engineer Alan Mitchell said the burden of maintaining the road will still fall on the city. Plans also
Courtesy graphic
A map outlines the proposed location of a concrete pre-stress casting facility and batch plant in the Winters industrial district on County Road 90. include planting a row of trees to help mitigate noise from heavy equipment operations, particularly for the nearby planned Farmstead housing development. Winters resident Kate Laddish requested that
some non-deciduous trees be included to ensure the barrier remains effective during winter months. Regarding concerns about silica dust, Mumper said the trees should also help filter dust in the air, but noted that specifics
about the type of dust produced will not be known until later in the development process, when those issues can be more fully addressed. “I’m very happy with this
See PROJECT, Page 5
Homelessness in focus as council explores regional solutions come and legal encampments Councilmembers dividuals go. Exact numbers, with a timeline to are diffi- move. Miller noted call for regional however, cult to determine. that many individuThe annual Point-in- als are resistant to collaboration Time count, which available resources.
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
EXPRESS
The first City Council meeting of 2026 included the beginning of an open discussion about the current state of homelessness in Winters, featuring presentations by the police chief, fire chief and public works staff before opening to a conversation about potential solutions and next steps. Police Chief John P. Miller said there are usually around six to eight unsheltered individuals in Winters, and that the number tends to remain fairly static, although in-
is intended to estimate homeless populations in each municipality, includes Winters within “Rural Yolo County” and does not account for individuals living on the Solano County side of Putah Creek near downtown Winters. The count also takes place in January each year, resulting in different metrics than if it were conducted during warmer months. The Winters Police Department’s response to homelessness is called Homeless Outreach and Police Engagement, or HOPE. The program involves identifying and making contact with unsheltered individuals, providing them with a resource packet or connecting them directly with services, and then serving notice of il-
Mayor Albert Vallecillo said he is interested in connecting with Yolo County to discuss its team of trained Navigators, who work to build relationships of trust with homeless individuals and help connect them with resources. He said such an approach could allow the police department to focus its resources on other tasks around the city. Council member Jesse Loren also supported exploring county assistance for homeless outreach, noting that it can be difficult to connect people with resources locally in a small city. “We’re not in a position to provide services here, but nearby cities have robust
See HOMELESS, Page 4
Index
We at he r
Courtesy photo
From left, Yolo LAFCo Executive director Christine Crawford, Board clerk Desirae Leverett, Public member Erik Vink, County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, Winters city member and Board chair Bill Biasi, Davis city member Gloria Partida, County Supervisor Oscar Villegas and Deputy Director JD Trebec pose with a recognition plaque honoring Biasi at the Yolo LAFCo special meeting on Jan. 29.
Biasi honored for service on LAFCo By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Winters Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi was recognized Jan. 29 at a Yolo LAFCo (Yolo Local Agency Formation Commission) special meeting for his years of service to the agency. Biasi, who has served as a city member commissioner for Winters on Yolo LAFCo for the past three years, most recently held the position of LAFCo chair for two years. “I have really appreciated his calm, respectful approach while
leading the board. He is also thoughtful and it is clear that he has always studied each issue thoroughly,” said Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, who serves on LAFCo as a county member commissioner alongside Supervisor Oscar Villegas. Biasi previously told the Express that LAFCo commissioners “represent interests countywide as a whole, not the interests of any appointing agency. Members
See BIASI, Page 5
Date
Rain
High
Low
Jan. 28
0.12”
62˚
38˚
Jan. 29
.00
63˚
38˚
Cal Fire finds illegal activity in Esparto fireworks explosion
Jan. 30
.00
66˚
36˚
By Lauren Keene
Jan. 31
.00
65˚
38˚
McNaughton Media
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
Feb. 01
.00
64˚
38˚
Feb. 02
.00
67˚
38˚
Opinion ......................... B-1
Feb. 03
.00
73˚
37˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.12 in. Season’s total: 13.63 in. Last sn. to date: 11.09 in.
Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-5
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Investigators with Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal found “evidence of illegal activities” at the scene of a deadly fireworks explosion and fire in Esparto, agency officials said Monday in announcing the completion of their probe. Their findings, which were not further specified, have been
handed over to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office as part of its ongoing criminal investigation into the July 1 incident — dubbed the Oakdale Fire — that killed seven employees and caused significant damage to surrounding properties. “After months of investigation, our Arson and Bomb investigators have compiled a report
See ESPARTO, Page 4
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