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‘All In’ for Esparto football News, Page 2
Brave voices take the stage Features, Page 1
Volume 143, Number 05 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, March 4, 2026
The hometown paper of Grant & Nancy Davids
Food distribution returns to high school parking lot Express staff After temporarily relocating to accommodate Winters Youth Basketball, Yolo Food Bank’s Saturday food distributions in Winters will return to the student parking lot at Winters High School, off of Railroad Avenue, starting Saturday, March 7. The distribution will continue to begin at 11 a.m. until supplies run out. Cars should enter through the driveway closest to Anderson Avenue and follow the directions of parking lot
volunteers to safely maneuver through the line. Walk-up guests should bring a large bag, cart, or wagon to carry their items. An additional food distribution occurs in Winters on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 10 a.m. at RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St. Participants are responsible for transporting their items. A full list of Yolo County distributions and the March 2026 calendar, in English and Spanish, is available at yolofoodbank.org/ find-food.
Community Blood Drive set for March 16 Express staff
EXPRESS
The Winters Fortnightly Club, in partnership with Vitalant, is hosting the March 2026 Winters Community Blood Drive and encourages residents to mark their calendars and consider donating. The blood drive will be held Monday, March 16, from 2:30 to 5:15 p.m. at the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave. This month, the goal is to collect 25 pints of blood to ensure patients in need have access to lifesaving resources. All donors will also be entered for a chance to win a $10,000 gift card from Vitalant. Eligible donors of all blood types are welcome, with particular demand for
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type O blood, which can be used in a wide range of emergency situations. Appointments are encouraged for a faster donation experience. Donors can schedule online at donors.vitalant. org using blood drive code “SMFM164,” call 877-258-4825 and mention the code, or scan the QR code on flyers around town and on social media. Walk-ins are also welcome. Eligible donors must be at least 16 years old (with parental consent for those under 18), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. A photo ID is required. To streamline the donation process, donors are encouraged to arrive well-nourished and hydrated. Donations take about an hour, depending on the type, and donors can complete the Fast Track health questionnaire online.
Features ........................ B-1
Council greenlights Kiewit Concrete Plant permit, hears police department updates By Sonora Slater Express staff writer At its Feb. 17 meeting, the Winters City Council approved a planned development permit application filed by Kiewit Infrastructure for the establishment of a concrete prestress casting facility. The project previously came before the planning commission for a public hearing on Jan. 27, after which the commission unanimously recommended approval of the project to the council, with the addition of condition of approval No. 80 pertaining to outdoor lighting regulations, condition No. 82 to
Youth Day, Fun Run registration open Express staff With Youth Day planning underway, Winters students are stepping into the
We at he r Rain
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Feb. 26
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Feb. 27
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Feb. 28
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Eventos hispanos ....... A-4
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Opinion ......................... B-4
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Rain for week: 0.04 in. Season’s total: 16.44 in. Last sn. to date: 17.29 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-5
add bicycle parking for employees at the facility, and condition No. 83 to further define the tree species required in the landscaping plan. The plant, which is planned to be located on County Road 90, will be within the limits of the Winters Industrial District that was set out and prezoned in 1999. It will span a 29.29-acre lot and employ approximately 100 people, including a little more than half aimed to be hired locally. The project bypassed a modern environmental review process, given the previously certified Environmental Impact
Report and Negative Declaration for the area from the 1990s. Policy allows this EIR to stand so long as the lead agency reviews any changed circumstances to determine whether those circumstances require additional environmental review. According to staff planning documents, in this instance, city staff determined that the previously approved EIR fully analyzes — and mitigates where possible — any potential significant environmental impacts, so they chose to uphold the previous environmental document. “Something we’ve
been trying to do in Winters for a long time is to create a better jobs and housing balance,” Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi said. “We’ve been working on the housing aspect. Now with this, we welcome good, high-paying local jobs.” Resident David Springer also expressed excitement about the addition of more local jobs for the Winters community, but expressed concerns about relying on a negative declaration and EIR from several decades ago. He’s also concerned about traffic delays created by workers on their way
See CITY, Page 4
Students take the lead in local government
Date
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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.
world of local government this month through the Winters Youth Day civic engagement programs. The programs include the upcoming Youth City Council and Youth Board of Trustees meetings, part of the Youth Civic Engagement Day — an immersive educational experience designed by the Winters Youth Day board to introduce students to the functions of local government and encourage civic participation. The program was recently revamped, building on the original shadowing model and the initial goal of engaging students in civic life. This year marks the third Youth City Council and the second Youth Board of Trustees civic engagement days under the new program.
This year’s Youth City Council is led by high school senior Hawk Selleck as part of his Senior Capstone Project. Selleck has worked to increase student engagement at the high school, help fund the elections for Educator and Youth of the Year, lead the WHS Youth Day Club while incorporating more civic engagement into the club’s mission, and involve more students in park activities and volunteer roles for the Youth Day event, while also extending discussions beyond Youth Civic Engagement Day. Selleck first participated in the Youth City Council as a councilmember in last year’s civic engagement event. Through these programs, students take on the responsibil-
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The proposed site diagram from Inland Architects was included in the Feb. 17 city council agenda packet. The project is for a new concrete prestress casting yard and office/warehouse remodel on two adjacent parcels, including demolition of an existing residence.
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ities of city and district leadership while learning firsthand how decisions are made. During their meetings, they will explore key projects and propose initiatives aimed at improving the community and school district. Youth City Council agenda topics include discussions on: • Bike-Friendly Roads: Identify local roads that could be safer for biking, review traffic data, safety concerns, funding, and update the Bike Master Plan for routes to school and neighborhood crossings. • Digital Marquee in Downtown: Explore installing a digital sign to communicate events and city news while considering cost, zoning, safety,
See YOUTH, Page 4
YOUR AD HERE! Contact David DeLeon at david@wintersexpress.com