$1
including tax
Free tax services for residents News, Page 2
New city manager shares insight on role Features, Page 1
Volume 140, Number 52 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Claude Rohwer
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, January 24, 2024
School district hosts academic calendar forum By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
In November, Sandy Vickrey volunteered at the Mad City Money financial workshop at Winters High School to help give students an experience in learning how to make a budget and plan out how to best spend their money.
Vickrey is Citizen of the Year By Angela Underwood Express correspondent
EXPRESS
One thing Sandy Vickrey knows is people. Being in the business of community, this year’s Citizen of the Year portrays what it looks like to serve above and beyond. But for Vickrey, it’s more about becoming friends than spending hours, months, and years contributing to any service organization. “I think it’s really important for people to give back to their community and to get involved, and the added bonus is that it’s a good way to meet new people,” Vickrey said. Her love of people has helped shape Winters, according to those who nominated her for the honor. “Sandy has been a fixture in our community for decades,” one nomination letter reads. Knowing people is precisely why she chose her second career. “I went into real es-
tate because I wanted to meet the new people who were moving into Winters,” Vickrey said. “We were starting to get new subdivisions built in town and I wanted to meet the new folks who were moving in.” According to Vickrey, volunteering is also a way to mix longtime and new Winters residents. “When you serve, it becomes a social thing,” Vickrey said. You can connect with people, and you become friends with them.” Born and raised in Winters, Vickrey left home after graduating to attend San Diego State. Returning in 1976 and married to her husband John, she decided to do what her family did best — teach. Coming from a line of educators, Vickrey taught from 1982 to 1989, developing relationships with her students and colleagues that remain today. “My former students are in their 50s, and we still talk and communicate,” Vickrey said. “It’s fun to watch them and their kids grow up.” Vickrey decided to bow out of teaching when her son Chad
By Amelia Biscardi Express staff write Winters City Council took on the approval of a new ordinance, new risk reduction program, street rehabilitation and more at its first meeting of 2024 on Jan. 16. Courtesy photo
Sandy Vickrey will officially be honored as the Citizen of the Year at the Toast of Winters awards event on Feb. 3. reached high school, saying “he was going to be a freshman in high school, and I knew that it wasn’t big enough for both of us.” “I could leave and he couldn’t,” Vickrey said, adding she once again found herself following in her family’s footsteps. “My mother had been interested in real estate, and her father had done some developing, so it was always an interest of mine,” she said. “I have a long line of
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
sales people in my family, including my dad and me. I like sales — I think I could sell anything I believe in.” But it goes far beyond the sale, according to Vickrey, who said it has been an honor to help homebuyers make purchases that only happen a few times in a lifetime. “You’re really teaching them about the real estate process and explaining
See VICKREY, Page 5
.46”
52˚
44˚
Express staff
Jan. 18
TRACE
64˚
39˚
Jan. 19
.00
58˚
45˚
Jan. 20
.23”
55˚
47˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-2
Jan. 21
.40”
58˚
50˚
Jan. 22
1.08”
60˚
52˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Jan. 23
.26”
62˚
45˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 2.43 in. Season’s total: 9.94 in. Last sn. to date: 22.64 in.
County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs announced in his Friday update that his office is recruiting members for two County Advisory Boards. The Childcare Planning Council is an advisory body that serves as a forum to plan, promote and support the child care needs of families and providers in Yolo
Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-7
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
New city ordinance Police Chief John P. Miller proposed a new ordinance prohibiting the parking of vehicles leaking hazardous materials on public streets or parking areas. Specifically the ordinance notes that this is aimed to prevent the leakage of materials that would damage the streets. In the past, there have been complaints to the police department of large leakage, but there has not been any ordinance to prevent it. Each citation is $100, after five fines
the vehicle will be impounded. However, according to Miller, it is likely going to be a complaint based ordinance. “It’s not like we’re going to be looking under cars looking for drips,” Miller said. “Most of the cases, actually all the cases that have been brought to our attention once they become a nuisance.”
Fire prevention program rebrand
With the start of the new year, Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III and the Winters Fire Department are rebranding the fire prevention division. The plan is to take on inspections of businesses, specifically focusing first on 27 high hazard and or high life safety locations first. With a total of 221 businesses needing
See CITY, Page 5
County seeks Advisory Board members
Jan. 17
Classifieds ................... B-4
See FORUM, Page 3
Council approves new ordinance, public safety items
Index Features ........................ B-1
On Tuesday, Winters Joint Unified School District announced it is inviting families to provide input on the academic school calendar at a forum on Tuesday. The School Calendar Family Form is scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Margaret Parson’s Room at the Winters Community Library (708 Railroad Ave.). Superintendent Rody Boonchouy told the Express that every two years
the school district pulls together a calendar committee to determine what the academic calendar will look like and it is crucial to hear from families about how the calendar impacts their lives. “It is important that we get input from families with any input, concerns, or suggestions about the academic calendar,” Boonchouy said. “We need their input. Some things on our calendar are inconvenient for families.”
County. Meetings take place in person at the Yolo County Office of Education, on the second Tuesday of the month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more at yolocountylpc.org. The Yolo County Library Advisory Board advises the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian and reviews library services and facilities. It studies and reviews plans and programs
for the long-term development of county libraries. The Library Advisory Board meets from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every other month at a predetermined location. For more information about the Yolo County Library Advisory Board, visit https://bit.ly/3vNeQT5. To apply for either of the advisory board positions, visit https:// bit.ly/3UaGQKq.
YOUR
2 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.4503 buckhornsteakhouse.com
Service all makes & models Accept all major credit cards Family owned & operated
1920 North First Street, Dixon
27990 County Road 90 Winters, CA 95694 www.pearcehvac.com
Brakes • Alignment • Farm & Truck Tires Short Drive to Dixon for Big Savings!
State Contractor Lic# 864483
1 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.2682 putahcreekcafe.com
TIRE in Dixon 707.678.8271
116 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-798-5500
www.smith-funerals.com FD-992
(530) 795-5870
101 Abbey Street, Winters, CA
abbeyhouseinn.com
Family or friends coming to town? Need some extra rooms? Call us!