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Test your trivia knowledge at Quiz Show News, Page 2
A toast to Winters honorees Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 52 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Jim Oltjen
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Council discusses hexavalent chromium, homelessness Staff air workplace concerns By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The first city council meeting of the new year had a full agenda of presentations and discussion items, opening with a celebration of the Winters High School football team’s victory at the CIF State Bowl Championship late last year and closing with a discussion of the current state of homelessness in Winters. The football team’s win marks the first CIF State Bowl Championship in Winters history. In honor of the accomplishment, the council presented a proclamation recognizing the team’s efforts. “I still wear my sweater from the year I played football at Winters High School,” Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi told the team. “It takes a lot to be a student-athlete, and you’ve gone the furthest any team in Winters has gone. The community is very proud of you.” The council honored Albert Ramos for his service to the Winters Police Department, following his retirement as a sergeant after 28 years. “When I graduated from the academy in 1997, they told us not to get our heart
set on one place,” Ramos said. “But I always hoped it would be Winters, and serving here was a dream come true. It was a blessing to work in my hometown and be able to do good here.” He thanked his family, current colleagues, and former team members for everything they had taught him. Council members and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who attended the meeting in person, thanked him for his work. “It’s a tough job, but you take care of our constituents, and you’ve always been here for the community,” Aguiar-Curry said before presenting Ramos with an assembly proclamation recognizing his three decades of service. Biasi noted it was special to see someone born and raised in Winters serve the community in this way and told Ramos to enjoy retirement. A third proclamation recognized Ramon Altamirano for his eight years of service on the planning commission as he steps down. Council member Jesse Loren thanked him for his thoughtfulness in planning the city, and Kate Laddish praised his preparation and deep thinking while on the dais.
Last year, Charlotte Halley, a local “Heart Warrior,” purchased $3,000 worth of toys and supplies to help make hospital stays more comfortable for children with congenital heart defects. Courtesy photo
Heart Warrior back on the mission By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Nine-year-old Charlotte Halley, a local “Heart Warrior,” is turning her personal experience with congenital heart defects (CHD) into a mission to help other children in her community and beyond. This February, in honor of American Heart Month, Charlotte and her mother, Nicole Jordan, are hosting a series of fundraising events to raise awareness, collect toys, and support research for kids with CHD. This is Charlotte’s second year leading efforts to bring attention to the challenges faced by children with heart defects and to brighten their hospital experiences. The first event, a Sip & Paint for a Cause, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7 at
See CITY, Page 5
First student advisory board debuts at school board By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer
EXPRESS
At the Jan. 15 Winters Joint Unified School Board of Trustees meeting, a line of high schoolers waited at the podium to introduce themselves as the new Junior Board. Olivia Rodriguez,
serving as one of several advisors, introduced the group. “This is the first student-run advisory board at the district,” Rodriguez said, “and each student will join committees that will promote change at Winters JUSD. They have thought of problems that perhaps our school has and how they can provide solutions. This board provides opportunities for our students to use their voice and brainstorm solu-
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Express staff
See BOARD, Page 6
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tal, continuing her effort to uplift and encourage children facing heart surgery. Last year, Charlotte and her mother were able to purchase $3,000 worth of toys for children in the hospital. The donations included art supplies, toys that can be played with on laps or tray tops without using chest strength, books, stuffed animals, fun socks, and other items to make children’s hospital stays more comforting. Last year’s paint-and-sip event at Hooby’s Brewing raised $1,100, more than double their initial $500 goal. Any extra funds support CHD research. “Charlotte’s main goal is to raise awareness of CHD,” said Jordan. “This affects a lot of kids and adults.
See HEART, Page 5
Senior leads Find a Cure Night
tions.” The board is made up of 10 students, all juniors and seniors, except for a single sophomore. The inaugural Junior Advisory Board includes: Mia Borges (junior), Alejandro Ramos (junior), August Driscoll (sophomore), Maci Dodic (junior), Maliya Murphy (junior), Jackson Bronson (senior), Mia Mariani (junior), Hawk Selleck
Index
3 p.m. at Hooby’s Brewing. Participants will create a flower heart wreath painting—a design Charlotte chose for its personal significance and connection to CHD awareness. Tickets are $45 per person, covering all materials, and can be reserved by messaging the artist on Instagram at @ Artistic_Escape_JanetWilliams or calling 916-2072071. Portions of the proceeds will go directly to the Heart Warriors of Winters, funding hospital resources and helping deliver toys to children currently undergoing treatment. “People should come because this is more fun than just donating through a flyer. It’ll be fun,” Charlotte said. Her goal this year is to collect more toys than last year for the CICU at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospi-
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Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Winters High School senior Reece Barbosa is putting her senior capstone project into action by leading this year’s annual Find a Cure Night, an event that combines basketball, community, and support for local families facing serious illness. The event takes place Friday, Jan. 30, beginning with the boys junior varsity basketball games at 5 p.m., followed by the girls varsity game at 6:30 p.m., a brief oncourt ceremony, and the boys varsity game immediately afterward. Barbosa, a four-year basketball player at WHS, said she chose the project because of the event’s long-standing impact. “This night goes beyond basketball,” she said. “It’s about showing up for someone in our community and reminding them they are not alone. My hope is this night serves as a reminder of what we can do for each other, both in big moments and small ones.”
event. “Reece has taken a cherished school tradition and made it her own while keeping its core purpose — supporting someone in need — at the forefront,” she said. Find a Cure Night was established in 2007 in memoCourtesy photo ry of Jared Davis, Winters High senior Reece a Winters High Barbosa hosts Find a Cure graduate who died Night as part of her senior from Aplastic AneCapstone project on Friday, mia in 2006. Since Jan. 30. its inception, the student-organized This year’s honoree event has awarded is Leah Mayes, who over $35,000 in scholis undergoing breast arships to graduating cancer treatment. seniors in Davis’ honAll proceeds from or. Sterling Davis and the event, including her husband, Zach food truck sales, will go directly to Mayes Davis — Jared’s brothand her family. Com- er — continue to promunity members are vide opportunities for encouraged to attend, youth to experience through participate in activ- basketball the Winters Youth ities, and contribute Basketball Program. donations. ContribuThis year is espetions can also be made cially meaningful as to the Jared Davis Meboth boys’ and girls’ morial Scholarship via Venmo @FindA- varsity teams are scheduled to play on Cure2026. Sterling Davis, Bar- the same night, bringbosa’s mentor for her ing the entire basketcapstone project, ball community topraised her leader- gether in one gym for ship in organizing the a common purpose.
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