$1
including tax
Report infested grape plants to county News, Page 6
Hall of Fame honors local leaders Features, Page 1
Volume 143, Number 17 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, May 27, 2026
The hometown paper of Debbie Damon
Local Veterans honor those who gave all
U.S. Air Force Col. Nelson J. Prouty, deputy commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, speaks during the Winters Cemetery District’s Memorial Day ceremony Monday.
Courtesy photo
Local veterans placed American flags in downtown Winters in honor of Memorial Day. After the morning effort, the group gathered for breakfast at Putah Creek Café before returning later in the day to retire the flags. From left: Tom Sedlack, U.S. Air Force; Rick Von Gelden, U.S. Army; Brian Bellamy, U.S. Air Force; Roy Jones, U.S. Army (Vietnam War); Joe Bristow, civilian friend; Oscar Barraza, U.S. Army (Vietnam War); CMS Don Davis, U.S. Air Force (active duty); Ray Boone, U.S. Air Force (Vietnam War); George Elrod, U.S. Army (Vietnam War).
Council briefed on CalFresh qualification changes By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
EXPRESS
The Winters City Council heard several informational presentations at its May 19 meeting, including one that detailed some of the impacts of federal H.R. 1, otherwise known as “the big beautiful bill,” on food assistance programs, as well as a housing element progress update from city planners and a presentation on the Youth Empowerment Summit ahead of this year’s event on Sept. 24. Council member Richard Casavecchia was absent from the meeting. Tico Zendejas, the branch director of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, led the presentation on the impact of H.R. 1 on food assistance programs, focusing on CalFresh, otherwise known as SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program. He noted that around 900 Winters residents currently receive CalFresh benefits. “This is going to make it harder for people to qualify for CalFresh in the first place, and harder for people currently in the program to stay in it,” Zendejas explained. “Which is a major challenge for families who rely on these critical resources to meet their daily needs.” Under the new rules, certain groups of lawfully present immigrants will no longer be eligible for benefits, including refugees, asylees, conditional entrants, certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees and others. These rules went into effect on April 1 and will be enforced on a rolling basis as people renew their benefits. Other new regulations, which will go into effect on June 1, require ABAWDs, or Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents, which now includes people between the ages of 18 to 64 who do not have young children in the home, to meet work or volun-
teer requirements in order to keep their CalFresh benefits unless they qualify for an exemption. People who have to meet the work or community engagement requirement must participate in a qualifying activity for up to 20 hours per week, or 80 hours averaged monthly. Qualifying activity includes paid employment, community service, attending job training programs, education, workfare or a combination of these. H.R. 1 increased the top end of the age category for ABAWDs from 54 to 64 and decreased the top end of the eligible age for dependent children from 18 to 14. Exemptions are allowed for those who are unable to work 20 hours a week because of a physical or mental health issue, a duty to care for a sick, injured or disabled person, those who are unable to work due to a drug or alcohol addiction tied to a physical or mental health issue, those who are at any stage of pregnancy and
See COUNCIL, Page 4
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
May 20
.00
90˚
55˚
May 21
.00
95˚
57˚
May 22
.00
97˚
54˚
May 23
.00
95˚
55˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-4
May 24
.00
88˚
53˚
May 25
.00
85˚
53˚
Opinion ......................... B-4
May 26
.00
78˚
53˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 19.86 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.
Crystal Apilado/ Winters Express
Memorial Day ceremony reflects on service, sacrifice By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief American flags fluttered in the wind, marking the graves of the fallen at Winters Cemetery on Monday as the community gathered to honor the 26 area veterans killed in action, as well as the 472 veterans buried there. The Winters Cemetery District hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony. Lucrecia Sandoval, WCD chairperson, opened the ceremony by sharing the traditional Memorial Day flag etiquette of raising the flag to full-staff at sunrise and immediately lowering it to half-staff before raising it again to full-staff at noon. In his invocation, local veteran Rev.
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
On Friday, volunteers placed American flags on veterans gravestones at the Winters Cemetary. George Elrod shared a passage from the Gospel of John that was later repeated by guest speaker U.S. Air Force Col. Nelson J. Prouty, deputy commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base. “Jesus said these words, ‘No greater
1 Main Street Winters, CA 530.795.2682
27990 County Road 90 Winters, CA 95694 www.pearcehvac.com State Contractor Lic# 864483
See MEMORIAL, Page 3
Yolo Supervisors select process to pick new DA By Rebecca Wasik McNaughton Media On Tuesday, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors determined the process for selecting a replacement for District Attorney Jeff Resig, who retired earlier this month. The board ultimately decided to take an abbreviated public approach to finding the county’s next DA, opting to take applications from those interested in the position. Another option was to appoint chief deputy DA Melinda Aiello, who took over as acting DA on May 16. Resig’s current term was to end on Jan. 8, 2029, under Assembly Bill 759, which extended terms of some DAs and sheriffs to align their terms with presidential elections. This was a one-time extension.
Photo courtesy Yolo County DA
Melinda Aiello is the Acting District Attorney of Yolo County. Aiello took on the role on May 16. Staff has been directed to recruit and screen candidates, with board interviews and an appointment set for the board’s June 23 meeting. A series of questions will also accompany the applications, which will be available to the public. Aiello has ex-
116 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-798-5500
www.smith-funerals.com FD-992
pressed interest in taking the position. Board members received several letters of support for Aiello from staff at the DA’s office. With the Esparto fireworks incident looming, the board expressed their belief in Aiello, but also the public process of recruitment. “The resignation of Jeff Resig was a shock to the system,” said Supervisor Mary Vixie Sandy. “I think for the members of the team at the DA’s office, for all of us, for the community.” Vixie Sandy also expressed her belief that it may not be good for the DA’s office to change leadership with someone brand new. Both Vixie Sandy and Supervisor Oscar
See COUNTY, Page 4
YOUR AD HERE!
Service all makes & models Accept all major credit cards Family owned & operated
2 Main Street Winters, CA 530.795.4503
love has any man than he would lay down his life for his friends,’ and then he went to the cross to demonstrate that,” Elrod said. In his speech, Prouty followed with the same sentiment,
Contact David DeLeon at david@wintersexpress.com 105 E Dorset Drive, Dixon 9253 Johnson Road, Winters, CA 530.212.5161 • monticelloveterinary.com