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Spring home improvement projects Special, Page 6-7
Yocha Dehe Fire Department shines again Features, Page 1
Volume 143, Number 08 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Joyce Neeley
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Council weighs Senior Center options, Entertainment Zone By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The March 17 Winters City Council meeting featured — in addition to many community members enthusiastically dressed in green — continued conversations about the city’s grant application for the Senior Center project, a new weed abatement ordinance standardizing regulations, and the possibility of establishing an “Entertainment Zone” in downtown Winters. At their previous meeting, the council, after hearing feedback from the
public, established that there was a need for a Senior Center in Winters, allowing the city to move forward with its application for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of approximately $3.3 million. At the March 17 meeting — the last one before the grant application was due — the council discussed whether to put forward the original separate Senior Center construction project on E. Baker Street, or the more recently conceptualized combined community center renovation and expansion, for the
application. Council favored the second choice for practical, financial reasons, as well as recognizing other benefits of the combined construction plan. The original build plan had an estimated cost of more than $6 million, and if the CDBG funds are earned, the city would be responsible for coming up with the remainder of the funds to complete the project. Estimated costs for the renovation and expansion project
Winters Police Chief John P. Miller (left) presented Officer Trinidad Batad with the Officer of the Year award during the March 17 Winters City Council meeting. Sonora Slater/ Winters Express
See CITY, Page 2
Youth Ahoy! New parade categories make waves
match after last year’s nail-biter, joined by new contenders Winters High School Principal Justin Young, Winters AYSO referee administrator Eric Jepsen and Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs. Details for the Rotary Club of Winters Pancake and Sausage Breakfast will be releasedsoon.
Express staff
Lauren Keene/McNaughton Media
Burned-out vehicles and storage containers are about all that remain on the Esparto property where seven people died in a July 1 fireworks facility explosion, known as the Oakdale Fire.
Oakdale Fire claims rejected, criminal probe continues By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media
EXPRESS
As the criminal investigation continues into the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven workers last year, Yolo County has delivered rejection letters to 18 parties
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that filed multimillion-dollar claims for damages in connection with the July 1, 2025, incident. The claimants, including families of the deceased victims and owners of properties neighboring the explosion and 78acre fire site at County Roads 23 and 86A, received letters saying their claims were rejected between Feb. 5 and 11. “Subject to certain exceptions, you have
Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
Mar. 18
.00
87˚
52˚
Mar. 19
.00
89˚
56˚
Mar. 20
.00
87˚
57˚
Mar. 21
.00
89˚
53˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
Mar. 22
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88˚
56˚
Mar. 23
.00
89˚
53˚
Opinion ......................... B-5
Mar. 24
.00
89˚
50˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 16.44 in. Last sn. to date: 18.64 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-6
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Opening Ceremonies The celebration kicks off Friday, April 24, with Opening Ceremonies honoring the Educator of the Year, Youth of the Year, Youth Day Grand Marshals, and the new Youth Grand Marshal. That evening, Winters Youth Day and the Kiwanis Club of Winters will host the Youth Day Cornhole
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See CLAIMS, Page 3
Index
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only six (6) months from the date this notice was personally delivered or deposited in the mail to file a State court action on this claim. Your time for filing an action in Federal court may be less than six months,” the letters say. “Please also be advised that, pursuant to Sections 128.5 and 1038 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, the
The 88th Annual Youth Day Parade is set to march down Main Street on Saturday, April 25, with new parade categories, including decorated Golf Carts among the highlights. The Youth Day Committee is now accepting parade entries, applications for the children’s activities area, volunteers, and event sponsors. Cash prizes, trophies, and ribbons will be awarded to winners in multiple parade categories, which have been revamped this year to make registration easier and more inclusive. There is no entry fee to participate, and forms are available online at wintersyouthday.com on the Main Parade page. Kiddie Parade entrants will register at 8:45 a.m. on Youth Day at Fourth and Main streets. Pre-judging begins at 9:15 a.m., with the Kiddie Parade rolling down Main Street at 9:45 a.m. The 2026 Youth Day theme, “Youth Ahoy,” will be celebrated across all parade entries and festivities.
Courtesy graphic
The 2026 Winters Youth Day theme is “Youth Ahoy!” and encourages nautical, pirate and ocean-themed parade entries. Tournament at Hooby’s Brewing to raise funds for high school scholarships. The competitive tournament will offer cash prizes, while the social tournament will feature local gift prizes. Bags fly at 6:15 p.m., just down the street from the Opening Ceremonies.
Youth Day Saturday’s festivities continue with family-friendly entertainment and activities at Rotary Park. Alongside the traditional Kiddie Faire, a new Play Patch for children ages 1–5 will offer age-appropriate activities free of charge. Food trucks and vendors will add to the festive atmosphere — but the real splash comes from the return of the Dunk Tank! The roster is heating up as Winters Middle School Principal Jose Bermudez defends his Dunk Tank crown. Winters Express Editor Crystal Apilado is ready for a re-
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Register for Memorial Fun Run
The 3rd Annual Michael Bazan Jimenez & Noah Lichwa Memorial Fun Run also returns Saturday morning. The 5K fun run/walk begins at 7 a.m. Participants who register by April 2 are guaranteed a commemorative t-shirt; later registrations will receive shirts as supplies last. The event raises funds for the Noah Lichwa & Michael Bazan Jimenez Memorial Scholarships, honoring two young teens who died June 9, 2022.
Duck Derby
The 12th annual Duck Derby will follow on Saturday, June 30, with ducks available for sale in April and on Youth Day itself. A Duck adoption booth and Memorial Fun Run registration and t-shirt pick-up table will be available at the Youth Day Cornhole Tournament on Friday, April 24. For more information or to register for the parade, Fun Run, volunteer opportunities, or sponsorships, visit https://linktr.ee/ wintersyouthday.
YOUR AD HERE! Contact David DeLeon at david@wintersexpress.com