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Volume 143, Number 21 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Cliff Kent
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Council reviews budget, Prop. 218, ordinance issues By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
Courtesy graphic
A map shows gate locations, designated entry points and restricted zones for the City of Winters’ July 3 fireworks event at Dr. Sellers Field at Winters High School.
Winters July 3 fireworks show returns, Police detail traffic control plan Express staff
EXPRESS
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the city of Winters will host its annual Fireworks Show on Friday, July 3, at Dr. Sellers Football Field at Winters High School. Gates will open at 5 p.m., and fireworks are scheduled to begin between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m., depending on lighting conditions. Three entrance gates will be available to the public. Gate One is on Grant Avenue. Gate Two (near the stadium bleachers) and Gate Three (closer to the baseball field) are along Hemenway Street. Gate Two is the designated ADA drop-off location. Access to the field will not be available through the Winters High School campus. Portable toilets will be located near Gate Three. Music, food trucks
and vendor tents will be available at the event. Food trucks will be located on Hemenway Street, and vendor booths will be set up behind the stadium bleachers. The public may set up and picnic on the football field. Guests will not be permitted to sit on the track or in the “Safe Zone,” which is designated on the baseball field. The WHS varsity baseball field will be closed to the public during the event. To help reduce traffic congestion following the show, the Winters Police Department will implement traffic control measures at key intersections along Grant Avenue as the fireworks conclude.
Traffic control details Grant Avenue and Railroad Avenue intersection: The signal lights will flash red, and public safety officers will direct traffic. All left turns will be prohibited, except westbound Grant Avenue to northbound Railroad Avenue, to prevent cross traffic congestion. Grant Avenue and Walnut Avenue
roundabout: Traffic will be restricted to east-west flow only. Vehicles will be permitted to enter Walnut Avenue from westbound Grant Avenue and exit back onto Grant Avenue westbound only. No cross traffic will be allowed, though emergency vehicles will retain full access to Walnut Avenue. All other intersections: Standard traffic laws will apply, including stop signs and right-of-way rules under normal “rules of the road” conditions.
Suggested alternate route Drivers north of Grant Avenue or west of Railroad Avenue are strongly encouraged to use Railroad Avenue (County Road 89) northbound to County Road 29A, which provides access to Interstate 505. Residents in those areas are especially encouraged to consider this route to avoid post-event congestion. The city encourages residents and visitors to plan ahead, follow posted signage and remain patient as officers work to move
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Rain
High
Low
June 17
.00
96˚
61˚
June 18
.00
95˚
60˚
June 19
.00
93˚
58˚
June 20
.00
84˚
58˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
June 21
.00
90˚
54˚
June 22
.00
93˚
58˚
Opinion ......................... B-5
June 23
.00
96˚
54˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 20.24 in. Last sn. to date: 19.27 in.
Community .................. A-3
Sports ........................... B-6
Reporting illegal fireworks Winters Police Chief John P. Miller said the department is relying on residents to help report illegal fireworks activity. In May 2022, the Winters City Council approved an ordinance establishing a municipal code that allows law enforcement to issue administrative citations for the use of illegal fireworks. Under the ordinance, citations may be issued to property owners after the fact and officers are not required to witness the violation in person. In Winters, “Safe and Sane” fireworks are permitted. Officials continue to focus enforcement on illegal fireworks, particularly aerial devices often seen over neighborhoods. “Safe and Sane” fireworks are not explosive, are not aerially launched and are tested and approved by the Office of
See EVENT, Page 5
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
By Rebecca Wasik McNaughton Media Melinda Aiello was unanimously chosen by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors to finish out former DA Jeff Reisig’s term, becoming the first female District Attorney of Yolo County. Reisig announced his retirement in May. Aiello, the then chief deputy DA, took over as the interim DA on May 16. Aiello’s term as DA will end on Jan. 8, 2029. At the end of May, the board
opted to take an abbreviated public approach to finding the county’s next DA, deciding to take applications from those interested in the position. The county received three candidate applications, all of which went before the board on Tuesday for interviews. All applicants must be registered voters of Yolo County at the time of appointment and hold an active license with the California State Bar.
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Yolo Supervisors appoint Aiello as new DA
Date
Classifieds ................... B-4
traffic safely and efficiently after the event.
The second Winters City Council meeting on June 16 marked the beginning of the annual end-of-fiscalyear conversations in Winters, although a full presentation and discussion of the 2026-27 budget was pushed to the July meeting. Still, council members heard presentations on changes to the city’s fee schedule, which we covered in more detail in the previous edition of the Express, as well as two citywide assessments — one used to maintain the city’s parks, landscaped areas and electricity for street lighting, and the other helping fund fire protection and emergency response services for the city. The first assessment passed without discussion. The assessment was established in 1997 by voter approval as a fixed amount — $82.50 per residential unit and $26.24 per nonresidential unit — and has not changed since it was first approved. The second assessment, levied at a rate of $184.45 per single-family equivalent unit and originally authorized by the council in August 2024 following a weighted ballot majority of 51.46 percent, passed despite an expression of dissent from one member of the public. Community member Alex Mercer, a former volunteer firefighter with Winters Fire, commented that he does not feel the assessment funds are being spent correctly, noting that despite the department hiring three new people in the last year, many shifts still must be covered with minimum staffing. He also referenced a recent incident in which a
neighboring agency’s firefighters temporarily covered the city so that Winters firefighters could attend a wedding, and expressed frustration with the city using fire resources from another agency while operating its own assessment district. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III told the Express the wedding was for a Winters Fire volunteer and that firefighters present were still available to respond if needed, but that he requested the neighboring agency cover the city out of an abundance of caution. Their presence at the event was also cleared through the city manager. The Winters Fire Department often works collaboratively with other agencies, providing support as needed. Winters Fire is also part of a Joint Operating Agreement with the Willow Oak Fire Protection District and West Plainfield Fire District to ensure coverage across the local region. There was also a brief discussion of a professional services agreement with Tripepi Smith for community education and outreach services related to the city’s Chromium-6 water treatment compliance requirements. This will include a strategic planning session with city leadership, an informational mailer with Spanish translation, a short-form animated explainer video, webpage development with key information and resident resources, a social media campaign, a press release and more. Council member Richard Casavecchia suggested forming a working group with other nearby cities
Contact David DeLeon at david@wintersexpress.com 105 E Dorset Drive, Dixon 9253 Johnson Road, Winters, CA 530.212.5161 • monticelloveterinary.com