$1
including tax
Traffic plans for July 3 fireworks show News, Page 2
Students speak out on education Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 22 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, July 2, 2025
The hometown paper of Christopher Hansen
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Council OKs vendor cap, keeps street sales ban New resolution limits permits, maintains 2018 food truck restrictions By Sonora Slater Express staff writer At its July 1 meeting, the Winters City Council passed a controversial resolution surrounding food vendor rules and regulations, ultimately placing a cap on the number of stationary and mobile food vendors, revising definitions and details of the code for clarity, and sticking with a pre-existing ban on food trucks operating in the public right-of-way. The resolution has been in talks among the Winters Plan-
ning Commission and city council since October 2024, with the original purpose being to debate the pros and cons of adding a cap on mobile food vending. When safety for pedestrians, accessibility on sidewalks for wheelchair or stroller users, and noise and obstruction complaints were all taken into consideration, the council did eventually land on a cap of six use permits for stationary food vendors like food trucks, and 10 for sidewalk vending stands or carts. However, the conversation raised a number of other concerns from the council and community, extending the discussion for months. Despite
See VENDORS, Page 5
Courtesy photo
Johnny Lopez shared a video in the Winters Community Info and Tips Facebook group showing fire damage outside of Esparto. Many county roads remained closed.
Investigation continues into fireworks warehouse explosion near Esparto Evacuation orders remain in place
Police urge public to report illegal fireworks
By Lauren Keene and Crystal Apilado
works are identified by the Fire Marshal’s “Safe and Sane” logo and do not explode or launch into the air. Possession of illegal fireworks is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Possession of fireworks classified as explosive devices is considered a felony, punishable by imprisonment in state prison. Additionally, through Winters Municipal Code 8.24.130, known as the Social Host Ordinance, homeowners and hosts of gatherings may be held personally liable for any illegal fireworks
McNaughton Media
By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
EXPRESS
With fireworks season here, Winters Police Chief John P. Miller told the Express that the Winters Police Department is relying on residents to help report illegal firework activity this season. Only “Safe and Sane” fireworks — such as those sold at nonprofit-sponsored booths in town — are permitted within city limits. These fire-
activity associated with their residence or event. Violations carry a $1,000 fine. Illegal fireworks can be reported to the Winters Police Department’s 24hour non-emergency dispatch line at 530795-4561. Photos and videos can also be emailed to tips.winters@winterspolice. org. When reporting, Miller said it’s important to provide accurate identification of people, an address and a date timestamp on photos that show evidence of illegal firework usage. In May 2022, the Winters City Council
See REPORT, Page 5
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
June 25
.00
92˚
51˚
June 26
.00
93˚
55˚
June 27
.00
93˚
60˚
June 28
.00
98˚
64˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-3
June 29
.00
102˚
64˚
June 30
.00
100˚
61˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
July 01
.00
99˚
60˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 19.27 in. Last sn. to date: 23.29 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-5
Low
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Investigators from multiple agencies remained at the scene Wednesday following a massive fire and explosion that leveled a rural fireworks warehouse in Yolo County Tuesday evening. The fire, now known as the Oakdale Fire, erupted around 5:50 p.m. near the intersection of
County Roads 23 and 86A, just south of Esparto. The explosion shook buildings and rattled windows in communities as far as Davis, Dixon, Woodland and Winters. Towering plumes of smoke were visible across the region as flames engulfed the main warehouse, several storage containers, and at least one residence. “Units arrived on scene to find a few commercial buildings well-involved, as well as numerous explosions and spot fires throughout the area,” said Curtis Lawrence,
Chief of the Esparto Fire Protection District, during a media briefing Tuesday night. Due to the extreme hazards, fire crews established a perimeter and focused on containment overnight. On Wednesday afternoon, the Esparto Fire Protection District, Yolo County, and CAL FIRE’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit issued a joint statement confirming that the incident remains active, with an ongoing threat in
See FIRE, Page 4
Trustees hear annual LCAP local indicator update By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer At the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees June 26 meeting, assistant superintendent Phoebe Girimonte presented the school district’s annual update on local accountability indicators. “These local indicators are a part of the state accountability system and reflect the emphasis on local control, allowing districts to measure the progress using local data and provide valuable information from our engagement partners, including families and students,” Girimonte said.
Local indicators are State Board of Education-approved information collected by the school district that will be finalized on the California School Dashboard. The dashboard is an online tool designed to help communities glean important information about their district and schools. Winters JUSD uses five local indicators including basic services and conditions, implementation of academic standards, parent and family engagement, school climate, and access to a broad course of study. These indicators are required to be presented to the com-
munity at the school board meeting before finalization. Indicators are either met, not met, or not met for two or more years. All priorities received a “standard met.”
Priority 1: Basic services, conditions
The first indicator used metrics to determine whether students have access to properly credentialed teachers, access to curriculum-aligned instructional materials and safe, clean and functional school facilities. In the 2022-23 school year, 84.7 percent of educators were
See LCAP, Page 5
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