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Free senior health talks coming locally News, Page 2
Pest control and summer prep Features, Page 1
Volume 143, Number 20 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Corbett Parker
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Winters pool fees corrected after implementation error By Sonora Slater Express staff writer As part of their budget discussions this year — which will continue at the July 7 Winters City Council meeting — the council heard a presentation on recommended increases for fees and service charges provided by the city of Winters. Based on the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, a measure of inflation, most fees for city services, including plumbing, public works services, planning and building fees, and fire department service fees, would increase by 2.7 percent. However, discussion of pool fees revealed a discrepancy in the current fee structure. The draft fee schedule presented at the meeting included proposed increases to $6 for a daily pass, $54 for a 10-visit punch card and $72 for a monthly pass, intended to keep pace with rising costs for pool operations, equipment maintenance and wages. During the review, staff and council discovered that a previously approved fee increase from last year had not been implemented. As a result, patrons had been paying older rates that were lower than intended under the approved schedule. With receipt in hand,
community member Kate Laddish also noted inconsistencies between the presented fees and those listed on the pool’s website, stating that a monthly pass she recently purchased cost $54, while the 10-visit punch card was listed at $43. The council determined that rather than moving directly to the newly proposed increases, the city would first implement the previously approved fee schedule that had not yet taken effect. Traditionally, a new fee schedule takes effect July 1 at the start of the new fiscal year. However, council members and Laddish noted that a midseason increase could make it difficult for pool patrons to plan their summer. To avoid disrupting the swim season while correcting pricing, the previously approved fees will take effect Aug. 1. At that time, a monthly pass will cost $58 and a 10-visit punch card will cost $46. Daily pass pricing was not immediately clarified in the discussion. Until then, current fees will remain in place. Council also directed staff to implement future pool fee adjustments on Jan. 1 going forward, rather than mid-budget cycle or mid-season. The other fee increases were approved without separate discussion.
Judge issues gag order in fireworks case By Anne Ternus-Bellamy McNaughton Media correspondent
EXPRESS
A Yolo County judge has imposed a pretrial gag order in the case of the Esparto fireworks explosion that killed seven workers last year, meaning defendants facing murder and conspiracy charges, as well as their attorneys, will be prohibited from speaking about the case publicly. But Judge Daniel Maguire declined to order the more extensive gag order sought
by prosecutors which would have included non-parties in the case — such as victims’ family members and state agencies — citing a lack of evidence “of a sufficient threat to order the sweeping protective order requested by the prosecution.” The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, had requested the pretrial publicity protective order in May, arguing that, “given the small size of the Esparto community, the anticipated duration of pretrial proceedings and the level of public interest in this case, it is highly possible that potential witnesses, involved government agencies and/or attorneys
... may communicate information related to the case to one another or to potential jurors from the community.” That motion was opposed by defense attorneys as well as attorneys for CAL FIRE and Cal/OSHA, two state agencies that participated in the blast investigation. In his order issued last week, Maguire said the gag order does not apply to any non-party or their counsel, including the family members of victims of the explosion, the public, the media and any non-party agency, such as CAL FIRE and Cal/OSHA.
See CASE, Page 4
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
June 10
.00
88˚
63˚
June 11
.00
96˚
70˚
June 12
.00
101˚
66˚
June 13
.00
103˚
63˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-4
June 14
.00
102˚
64˚
June 15
.00
100˚
61˚
Opinion ......................... B-4
June 16
.00
101˚
61˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 20.24 in. Last sn. to date: 19.27 in.
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.
Courtesy photo
An older photo shows a Winters Museum welcome sign near Paseo Park along Main Street in downtown Winters. The museum previously used A-frame signs in the downtown area to help direct visitors to its location.
Winters Museum asks city to revise sign code By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The Winters Historical Society, which operates the Winters History Museum, is asking the city to modify its sign code after enforcement changes led to the removal of downtown A-frame signs used to direct visitors to the museum. The free, volunteer-run museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and focuses on preserving local history. It previously used A-frame signs in downtown Winters to help direct visitors to its location. However, according to the Winters Municipal Code, signs are not permitted on public property, including utility poles, light standards and within the public right-of-way. Signs also may not be placed on private property without the property owner’s permission. In April, the city issued a public reminder noting an increase in yard signs, A-frame signs and placards placed on public property and private property without authorization. City officials asked businesses and individuals to remove noncompliant signs by May 1, warning that code enforcement could remove remaining signage and issue citations after that date. After that enforcement period began, the museum complied with a request to remove its downtown
A-frame signs. At the June 2 and June 16 City Council meetings, volunteers with the Winters Historical Society spoke during public comment, requesting an amendment to the city’s sign code within the Winters Municipal Code. They proposed allowing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to place up to four A-frame signs in the downtown area during museum open hours, particularly near major intersections such as Main Street and Railroad Avenue. According to museum volunteers, visitation has declined by more than 50 percent since the signs were removed. The museum does track attendance data to support that figure. The council expressed general support for exploring a change, but any amendment to the code will take time. The item is expected to go before the Planning Commission at its July 28 meeting and, if approved, return to the council for consideration at its Aug. 4 meeting. In the meantime, City Manager Jeremy Craig is working with the city attorney to explore a temporary solution while the formal process moves forward. “It may not seem like a crisis,” volunteer Paul Myer said, “but for those of us who put our time and energy into these museum exhibits, it is.”
California new laws take effect July 1 Winters JUSD reviews cellphone policy ahead of state mandate Express staff A series of new California laws taking effect July 1 will impact schools, restaurants, housing development and emergency response procedures, according to the Governor’s Office. California schools will be required to have at least one gender-neutral restroom on campus. Signage must be appropriate, clearly marked and maintained to ensure accessibility for all students. Autonomous vehicle manufacturers must also provide a dedicated telephone line for emergency responders. The requirement is
intended to allow first responders to contact a remote operator to move a vehicle or clear a specified area during an emergency. New standardized food labeling rules will require consistent formatting across products for date labeling. “Best if used by” will be used to indicate peak freshness, while “Use by” will be required for safety-related expiration guidance. Housing development rules will also expand construction potential near transit areas, including bus stops, train stations and other transit hubs. The changes are intended to streamline approvals for higher-density housing in urban corridors. Public schools that issue student identification cards for grades 7-12, as well as colleges, must include
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Contact David DeLeon at david@wintersexpress.com 105 E Dorset Drive, Dixon 9253 Johnson Road, Winters, CA 530.212.5161 • monticelloveterinary.com