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Wines to grace your table Wine & Food, Page 8
Community helps monarchs thrive Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 41 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of David Denebeim
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Morgan hired as new officer Grants boost safety for Winters firefighters
By Sonora Slater
Express staff writer
EXPRESS
Last month, Officer Nicholas Morgan joined the Winters Police Department, after previously serving with the Concord and Novato Police Departments. He was sworn in during the Sept. 2 city council meeting and has been at work in the community ever since, apart from a brief break due to injury. Morgan has earned multiple public safety awards throughout his time as a police officer, including a Lifesaving Award and a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award. In Winters, the responsibilities of his job change to some degree dayto-day, based on the needs of the community. “Responding to calls for service, patrolling neighborhoods and local businesses, and getting to know the people who live and work here,” Morgan said, explaining what a typical day on the clock looks like. “I really enjoy being out in the community, whether it’s lending a hand when someone needs help, addressing concerns, or just stopping to
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
Courtesy photo
Officer Nicholas Morgan was sworn in at the Sept. 2 Winters City Council meeting. He is the newest officer at the Winters Police Department. say hello. My goal is to be approachable and someone our residents can count on and trust.” He said that his first several weeks of getting to know the department and the community have gone well, and that he’s looking forward to meeting more residents over time. “Everyone here at the Winters Police Department has been incredibly welcoming, and it’s clear how much this department values teamwork and community connection,” Morgan said. “I’m still learning my way around, but I’ve already seen how much pride people take in Winters and how strong the sense of community is here.” At the Sept. 2 city
council meeting, Police Chief John P. Miller introduced Morgan, noting that he’d already begun integrating with the team, learning about their department and offering suggestions for how to improve line-level processes. “Officer Morgan is passionate about law enforcement and motivated by a genuine desire to make a positive impact,” Miller said. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys motorcycle riding, traveling, and spending time with his family. Miller noted that Morgan is also bicycle patrol and motorcycle trained, which means that he may be able to help the department get more use out of their electric motorcycles.
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Rain
High
Low
Nov. 05 0.50”
75˚
56˚
Nov. 06 0.25”
66˚
48˚
Nov. 07
0.01”
74˚
53˚
Nov. 08
.00
71˚
45˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
Nov. 09
.00
75˚
46˚
Nov. 10
.00
79˚
48˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Nov. 11
.00
80˚
48˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.76 in. Season’s total: 2.86 in. Last sn. to date: 0.26 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-3
Sports ........................... B-6
Date
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
The Winters Fire Department recently added to a string of successful grant applications this year with the acceptance of funds from both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Cal Fire for two projects meant to enhance the department’s health and safety capabilities. The first project, funded by FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program, aims to reduce occupational cancer risks within the department by installing a new diesel exhaust capture and removal system for the station’s appara-
tus bays, where the fire trucks are stored. According to Winters Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III, cancer has emerged as one of the most significant threats to firefighters’ long-term health. In fact, cancer is currently the leading cause of death for firefighters in the U.S. While some of this is due to smoke and soot exposure, this risk is also exacerbated by diesel exhaust produced by fire engines starting or idling. For context, diesel exhaust is a carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer in humans) in the same
See GRANTS, Page 5
Roundtable connects Yolo farmers, Supervisors on water well concerns By Jacob Hoffman Express correspondent On Monday, Oct. 27, two of the Yolo County Supervisors met with local farmers in the third annual Western Yolo Ag Roundtable. Supervisor Lucas Frerichs of District 2 and Angel Barajas of District 5 held similar meetings in 2023 and 2024, and this roundtable was called with the same goal of encouraging open communication between the Supervisors and members of the agricultural community, and to address certain concerns brought forth by the community. In a joint statement released by the Supervisors, the pair described the event as having “provided a space for open dialogue, updates from county leaders, and continued efforts to strengthen relationships with local farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural industry.” This year, the roundtable focused on a specific issue, specifi-
cally the county’s temporary well moratorium. As part of ongoing statewide efforts to combat drought, in August of this year, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 1576 enacting a 45-day moratorium on approving new agricultural water well permits in certain so-called “Focus Areas” of Yolo County. According to the ordinance, “the approval of additional well permits for agricultural uses without any additional review of conversions to perennial crops on agriculturally-zoned properties within the Focus Areas defined herein would result in a threat to public health, safety, or welfare” in Yolo County. Then on Oct. 10, the Board of Supervisors voted to extend the moratorium, “for a period not to exceed an additional 10 months and 15 days,” according to the Yolo
See ROUNDTABLE, Page 7
Local News Briefs Express staff
after the first of the year.
Replace unreliable electric car chargers
Library announces holiday hours
City Manager Jeremy Craig reported Friday that the city’s electric car chargers across from City Hall and at Rotary Park have been unreliable. Public works staff have been repairing the chargers for several months, only to see them break again. The city plans to replace them with a new, more reliable company. Installation of the new chargers is expected shortly
The Winters Community Library will follow adjusted hours during Thanksgiving week. The library will be open: • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24; Wednesday, Nov. 26; and Monday, Dec. • 12 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 • 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 The library will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28.
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