For the first time on public display, visitors to the California State Railroad Museum will have the opportunity to see a 251,000-pound rotary snowplow from the Museum’s impressive collection along with an exhibit titled “Clearing the Way” that highlights various snow removal methods used by the railroad. The SP MW205 (formerly known as SP 715) snowplow was built in 1920, converted to electric in 1958, retired by Union Pacific in 2004 and was donated to the Railroad Museum in 2008. Since then, the historic snowplow has been housed in the Shops in the Sacramento Railyards.
 

The California Department of Housing & Community Development has awarded $150,000 to Yolo County to provide relocation assistance to Yolo County residents without access to potable water as a result of the drought.

This award, from the Community Development Block Program, is part of the Drought Housing Relocation Assistance Program which was established under the governor’s drought state of emergency to assist eligible households, renters and homeowners in relocating and receiving rental assistance for 12 months in the event they lack reasonable access to potable water as a result of the drought.  The program also provides assistance with security deposits, last month’s rent and a one-time moving cost allowance.

The Yolo County Office of Emergency Services and the National Weather Service want to train you to become a weather spotter on Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Marsh Hall at Esparto High School, located at 17121 Yolo Avenue in Esparto.

Storm spotters play a valuable role in the severe weather warning process.  The National Weather Service relies on visual observations from spotters to provide critical information that would otherwise not be available to forecasters.  Spotter reports are combined with data from doppler radar and satellite pictures to provide a complete understanding of severe storms and their impact on the public. 

During the free training, sponsored by the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services, future weather spotters will learn: