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Appeal filed over Delta project News, Page 3
Standing up against domestic violence Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 39 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, October 29, 2025
The hometown paper of Linda Johnson
Trustees hear facilties, FLEX schedule updates By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer The Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees convened on Oct. 16 to hear updates on several construction projects across the school district and an update on the Winters Middle School FLEX update.
Facilities Ashley Del Rio, program manager with Van Pelt Construction Services, gave trustees an update on building construction at the Waggoner Elementary School transitional kindergarten site. Rio’s presentation featured images of four buildings being constructed on the Waggoner campus, with complete roofs and nearly finished walls. “I know construction is hard for everybody, especially on our neighbors and our school site,” Del Rio said. “But, when we get to see progress like this, it really just reminds us that the headache will be worth it at the end.” During her presentation, Rio praised the speed at which the buildings have been raised. “I’ve seen a lot of buildings go up, I’ve not seen a building erected that quickly,” Rio said. The last time Del Rio updated the board on the progress of the middle school drop-off zone, the asphalt had just been finished. Now, fencing and slurry coating
are in the works, in preparation for painting. Del Rio states that she and Van Pelt still project completion by the first week of November despite the rains that caused a momentary interruption. However, one piece that won’t be open in that first week will be the parking spots, due to some underground work that is still to be done. No exact dates were given, but will be painted sometime after the first week of November. In addition to the updates on the Waggoner buildings and parking lot, Del Rio, along with CTE manager Carla Wroten, gave updates on state funding applications. Career Technical Education Facilities Program (CTEFP) is part of the State School Facility Program (SFP) and provides funding to construct or modernize facilities that support approved CTE pathways. CTEFP is a competitive grant program, which means it’s not an automatic allocation. Districts must submit a full application through the Office of Public School Construction with the Support from the California Department of Education. Approval depends on how competitive the proposal is, not just meeting requirements. Once approved, districts can align the
See SCHOOLS, Page 5
Betsy Marchand, first female Yolo County Supervisor, dies By Rebecca Wasik McNaughton Media
EXPRESS
Betsy Marchand, the first woman elected to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, has died at age 89. She grew up in Covina, before moving to Yolo County in 1964. She was a high school teacher prior to running for office. Marchand served six terms on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, beginning in 1972. She served
as chair of the board five times. She ultimately retired in 1996. She served as president of the State Board of Reclamation from 2001 to 2005, after being appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. Marchand is also a founding member of the Yolo Basin Foundation and served for 11 years on the Tribal Gaming Commission at Cache Creek Casino Resort for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. Marchand also worked closely on the expansion of Davis’ Unitrans bus services and with the Davis Chamber
of Commerce. She served on countless committees and boards throughout her years. According to the California Agricultural Issues Lab at UC Davis, Marchand received a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College (Phi Beta Kappa) and a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University, where she was a Ford Foundation Fellow. “Betsy Marchand was a dedicated public servant and an inspiration to me and so many other leaders in Yolo County
See FIRST, Page 5
Index Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Oct. 22
.00
82˚
53˚
Oct. 23 TRACE
71˚
49˚
Oct. 24
78˚
48˚
.00
Low
Oct. 25 TRACE
76˚
58˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-6
Oct. 26
0.02”
68˚
53˚
Oct. 27
0.06”
70˚
49˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Oct. 28
.00
69˚
49˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.08 in. Season’s total: 2.10 in. Last sn. to date: 0.03 in.
Sports ........................... B-6
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Express file photo
Yolo Food Bank staff and volunteers pass out food to residents at the Winters High School food distribution on Saturdays
Local agencies step up as federal shutdown affects CalFresh funds Express staff Yolo and Solano counties are taking proactive steps to support residents who may be affected by delays in CalFresh benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. In Yolo County, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) officials are coordinating with city leaders and community partners, including the Yolo Food Bank, to ensure residents continue to have access to essential food resources. “Yolo County is committed to standing with our residents during times of uncertainty,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Mary Vixie Sandy. “Through strong partnerships with the Yolo Food Bank and community organizations, we are ensuring that families continue to have access to the food and resources
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Food distribution signs mark the entrance to the Saturday food distribution in the Winters High School student parking lot off of Railroad Avenue. they need.” In September, Yolo County issued more than $5.6 million in CalFresh benefits to 18,759 households representing 27,622 individuals. While CalWORKs and Medi-Cal programs remain funded, CalFresh benefits—fully federally funded—are expected to be temporarily delayed. HHSA and the Yolo
Food Bank are expanding efforts to maintain food access during this period. The Food Bank will deliver supplies to the UC Davis Basic Needs Center on Nov. 8 and Nov. 15 for distribution to students and staff. Emergency distributions for CalFresh recipients will also be held at the Yolo
See FOOD, Page 5
Yolo releases annual crop report Express staff The Yolo County Agriculture Commissioner, Humberto Izquierdo, presented the 2024 Yolo County Crop Report to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Released by the Yolo County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures, the report highlights the county’s agricultural production and trends over the past year. The total gross value of Yolo County’s agricultural production in 2024 was $824,597,000, representing a decrease of $77,507,000, or approximately 8.6 percent, compared to the previous year. Almonds reclaimed the top spot as Yolo County’s leading crop, with a total value of $178,925,000, driven by
a 32 percent increase in price. The rise in almond value, combined with a decrease in both acreage and price for processing tomatoes, resulted in tomatoes moving to second place. The report also reflects notable changes in crop trends. Field corn acreage nearly tripled, increasing from 6,393 acres in 2023 to 17,274 acres in 2024. Meanwhile, sunflower seed acreage declined by roughly 50 percent. The wine grape sector experienced an almost 20 percent drop in value as growers faced contract shortages, lower prices, and unharvested vineyards — factors that led to the removal of some grape acreage. Despite ongoing market challenges,
walnut prices doubled in 2024. This price rebound, along with stable acreage, returned walnuts to Yolo County’s top ten commodities. The report notes that the figures represent average gross values provided by local growers and ranchers. They do not reflect profit or loss, nor the broader economic impact agriculture has within the community. The Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures extends its gratitude to the many farmers, ranchers, and partner agencies who contributed data and expertise to this year’s report. To view the full 2024 Yolo County Crop Report, or access repo rts from previous years, visit www.YoloCounty.gov/ag.
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