Author: KYMA

Dillon Fuhrman

PHOENIX (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) says KAWC and Border Radio General Manager Dave Riek has earned the Lifetime Service Award from the Arizona Media Association.

According to a press release, the award is to recognize Riek’s more than “40 years of dedication to public radio and service to communities across Arizona.”

AWC says Riek began his public radio career in 1985 as a student volunteer at KNAU-FM in Flagstaff, where he worked as a reporter, news director, producer, recording engineer, and operations manager.

AWC also says this year marks Riek’s 20th year as General Manager of KAWC and Border Radio.

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

“Working with Dave for more than 20 years, I’ve watched him embody what public service leadership truly means: quiet, consistent, and always focused on the work rather than the credit,” shared KAWC Development Director Alice Ferris. “When a station serving tribal communities went dark, Dave showed up with solutions. When the pandemic hit, and we worked remotely, Dave kept KAWC on the air. He has always put community service first in his work. He’s an unsung hero who will never get radio out of his blood, and this recognition is richly deserved.”

During his 40-year career, AWC says Reik helped develop Native American radio stations, worked alongside up-and-coming journalists, and got to interview a variety of Arizona govenors, from Evan Mecham to Katie Hobbs.

“One of my favorite things about working in radio is that every day is something new,” he shared. “While news (like history) sometimes repeats, it is always a little different every day.”

Riek will receive the Lifetime Service Award at the Arizona Media Icon Lunch on April 2 in Phoenix. To learn more about Riek, read the press release below.

KAWC’s Dave Riek earns Lifetime Service AwardDownload

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – An Elvis tribute show is set to rock Yuma this month, and this is all for a good cause.

The “Shake, Rattle and Roll” event will take place Friday, March 13, 2026 at the Yuma Civic Center, bringing high-energy rock and roll to the stage while raising money for the CASA program, which supports children in need across Yuma County.

Brooke Adams, President of CASA of Yuma County, says the night will be more than just a concert.

“We will be having a costume contest, a classic car contest, a dance contest, and seeing Scot and his band. It’s very, very fun. But most importantly, it is a benefit concert. It is for the CASA program. That’s what it’s really all about,” Adams shared.

CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, helps children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

Volunteers and supporters work to provide essentials like clothing, pajamas, school uniforms, and art supplies to children navigating the foster care system.

Performer Scot Bruce, who will be taking the stage as Elvis, says the show is designed to capture the spirit and sound of the King of Rock and Roll.

“High-octane good American rock and roll music is what it’s all about,” Scot said. “It’s celebrating Elvis’s music, of course, and I play with a group of guys who care about rocking just as much as I do…the quality and authenticity of Elvis’ music. It’s just a great night of celebrating great music, but also helping young lives who need our help,” Bruce expressed.

Guests can expect classic hits, energetic performances, and plenty of audience participation. In addition to the concert, the event will feature raffles in the lobby, with prize drawings held during intermission.

Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Civic Center or online through e-tickets. Tickets will be $25 at the door.

Organizers encourage attendees to buy early and bring extra cash for raffle entries, all to help make a difference for children in Yuma County.

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Skylar Heisey

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) visited Yuma County Friday, stopping at Yepez Automotive Repair in Somerton to hear directly from a local business owner about the impact tariffs are having on small businesses in the region.

Inside the family-owned auto shop, owner Jose Yepez said rising costs on imported automotive parts are forcing difficult decisions.

“Price increases on automotive parts have gone up, I want to say maybe about 15% or so, plus or minus,” Yepez said. “And that cost gets directly passed on to our customers.”

Yepez explained that when repair bills increase, some customers choose to delay fixing their vehicles,sometimes for days or weeks. That slowdown can hurt small businesses that already operate on narrow profit margins.

Sen. Kelly said that’s the challenge many business owners across Arizona are facing.

“They have to make a decision. Do they pass this on to their customers or not?” Kelly said. “So it either eats into their margin or it makes American families have to pay more.”

During the visit, Kelly also addressed his ongoing legal dispute with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the Pentagon appealed a federal court ruling in his case.

“Well, he lost in court. A federal judge said he was violating my constitutional rights of freedom of speech,” Kelly said. “Service members have rights. I’m not backing down. I’m fighting for the rights of retired service members.”

Kelly, a former Navy pilot, said the case centers on protecting constitutional rights while continuing to focus on economic issues affecting Arizona families and small businesses.

The investigation into tariffs and their broader economic impact continues as lawmakers debate trade policy in Washington.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) has issued a warning about scam calls Sunday.

According to a press release, they have received reports of a telephone scam where the phone number appears to be coming from YPD’s non-emergency line.

YPD says scammers are impersonating members of the department, as well as possibly impersonating other law enforcement agencies, to call residents and business to demand “immediate payment to avoid arrest.”

YPD says the calls are often “spoof phone numbers to make them appear legitimate,” and says they will never request money, credit card information, or tell anyone to pay “to resolve a warrant over the phone, text, or email.”

In order to avoid falling victim to these scam calls, YPD is offering the following tips:

Do not provide personal or financial information.

Hang up immediately if a caller demands money.

Report the call to the Yuma Police Department immediately.

Scam using PD numberDownload

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attended the City of Yuma’s 2026 Yuma BBQ and Brew Festival Saturday.

The festival, which took place from noon to 9 p.m. in Downtown Yuma, had over 35 BBQ vendors and 25 PBS-sanctioned BBQ pitmasters who came to Yuma from all over the U.S. to compete for who has the best barbecue.

The event had many community dances, a DJ, plenty of goodies for attendees to buy, and a band performing on the Main Stage.

“It’s very important for the community to come and support our local vendors, and come in and enjoy everything that’s free because what family doesn’t enjoy things for free,” said Brissa Garcia, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Yuma.

Local vendors also competed for the Best Local Barbecues, where the winner would receive $1,000.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attended the Eighth Annual Fisher’s Landing Rib Cook-Off this weekend.

The annual event took place at Fisher’s Landing Resort Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., and it was to benefit Amberly’s Place.

During the event, attendees had the opportunity to taste and judge the ribs of more than ten teams.

Scott Anderson, Associate Manager of Fisher’s Landing, said they had a record-breaking number of sponsors for this year’s cook-off.

“This year, we have 12 and two really big sponsors. And then a bunch other came in about $1,000 a pop…We certainly appreciate it. I know Amberly’s appreciates it and it’s just, it’s the sponsorships that help put on these big events like this,” Anderson expressed.

The first place winner received a $2,000 prize while the second and third place winners received other cash prizes.

For the list of winners, see attached file.

HISTORY of the RCO WinnersDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is investigating a crash which left one person dead.

According to a press release, the crash happened in the area of Levee Easement Road and S. Avenue 2 1/2 E at around 7:15 a.m. Sunday.

YCSO says a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta was driving eastbound on the north side of Levee Road when it crashed into the front of a parked trailer loaded with irrigation poles.

Rural Metro responded to the area, but YCSO says the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

While speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash, YCSO says the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has information regarding the case, call YCSO at (928) 783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

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Jailene Aguilera

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has issued a notification regarding a Level 3 sex offender in the Yuma community.

YCSO says 64-year-old Grover Broadhead told them he was residing in the area of S. Carlota Avenue, off Highway 95, in Yuma County.

He is described by YCSO as five-feet, eight-inches tall, weighing 185 pounds, has blonde hair and blue eyes and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

In October of 1992, YCSO says Broadhead pled guilty to one count of first-degree child molestation in the Benson County Superior Court in Kennewick, Washington.

He was sentenced to five years at the Washington Department of Corrections, with a credit for 132 days served, according to YCSO.

In July of 2006, Broadhead pleaded guilty to one count of attempted failure to give notice of change of address or change of name in the Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Arizona, YCSO says.

Broadhead was sentenced to serve three years of probation, YCSO says.

In November of 2024, YCSO says Broadhead pled guilty to one count of failure to register as a sex offender in the Yuma County Superior Court, and he was sentenced to 1.5 years at the Arizona Department of Corrections, with a credit for 103 days served.

Broadhead is considered by YCSO as a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The sudden loss of a loved one to murder is a trauma few can fully comprehend without experiencing it firsthand.

For families of murder victims, grief is compounded by an often lengthy and emotionally taxing legal process, one that can reopen wounds repeatedly before any sense of closure is reached.

For survivors of murder victims, the pursuit of justice involves far more than mourning a devastating loss. Court appearances, hearings, and procedural delays can stretch on for months or even years.

“You have to keep going back to the court, and it’s just all re-opened up, and you can’t heal,” said Genia Sims, whose 23-year-old grandson, Jacob Sims, was murdered in November 2024.

Under constitutional law, defendants are guaranteed the right to a speedy trial.

In California, felony cases generally move to trial within 60 days of arraignment, though the timeline can vary based on circumstances. In Arizona, the timeline differs.

“The state has 270 days on a first-degree murder charge to get the defendant to trial, so that’s nine months,” explained Karolyn Kaczorowski, Yuma County Attorney. “As you know, many murder prosecutions take more than that.”

Delays may occur for a variety of reasons, often to protect the rights of the defendant. As a result, trials can take years to reach resolution, an especially long journey for grieving families.

When asked how enduring the court process has affected her, Sims responded candidly: “We don’t get any peace. It’s like Sim’s death happens every day. It’s just repeating. You can’t move forward.”

While the legal system can feel overwhelming, victims’ rights advocates work to support families throughout the process.

Esther Juarez-Martinez, a crime victim advocate supervisor, described her office’s role as guiding survivors from the earliest court appearances through sentencing.

“Our role is to bring clarity to the process and make sure they feel supported every step of the way,” Juarez-Martinez said. “We are involved from the initial appearance, the 24-hour hearing, all the way through sentencing. We also connect them with resources outside the courtroom.”

For the Sims family, that advocacy has proven crucial. During court proceedings in California, they were at one point asked to turn their “Justice for Jacob” shirts inside out before entering the courtroom.

“They want us to remove our shirt and turn it inside out before we can go into the courtroom,” Sims said. “There’s no laws or rules there for that courthouse saying that we cannot wear our ‘Justice for Jacob’ shirts.”

A victims’ advocate reviewed courthouse policies and confirmed the family was permitted to wear the shirts.

“Us wearing our T-shirt…Our ‘Justice for Jacob’ shirt…we’re Jacob’s voice,” Sims said. “Jacob doesn’t have his voice anymore.”

Although the Sims’ court case is unfolding in California, the family remains part of the Yuma community. Local efforts to remember victims of violent crime include the city’s annual murder vigil, led last year by keynote speaker Councilmember Mark Martinez.

“That event did make you feel like people care,” Sims said. “They care about you, your family, and, of course, Jacob.”

Martinez emphasized the importance of shared experiences during the healing process.

“When families see other people going through the process or see other families feeling the same pain, it doesn’t necessarily make it better,” Martinez said. “But it makes it normal. It makes it okay to feel what they’re feeling.”

Even with community support, healing often hinges on the progression of the legal case. Yet what justice looks like can vary significantly among survivors.

“Justice looks different for everybody,” Kaczorowski said. “My idea of justice may not be theirs. There are people who would trade a long time in prison just to hear the defendant admit that he did what she said he did.”

For Sims, the focus remains on taking the next step.

“I think once this preliminary hearing is over, we can at least take a little bit of a breath,” she said. “Have a little bit of peace in knowing the trial is coming, and then justice is going to be served for Jacob.”

The legal process is rarely easy nor quick. But for surviving families, the goal remains constant: To see justice carried out in a court of law.

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Paul Vozzella

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Four defendants returned to court Thursday afternoon in El Centro for the second day of a preliminary hearing in the murder case of 23-year-old Jacob Sims, a Yuma man whose remains were discovered in a firepit in Winterhaven.

Proceedings were held at the El Centro Courthouse, where prosecutors continued presenting evidence as the court determines whether there is sufficient cause to move the case to trial.

Gabriel Mills Sr., Gabriel Mills Jr., Sadie Hiatt, and Daniel Gavino Martinez appeared alongside their respective defense attorneys. Each defendant is represented by separate counsel, underscoring that legal arguments and strategies are being handled individually rather than collectively.

Mario Vela, defense counsel for Sadie Hiatt, emphasized that his focus remains solely on his client.

“This is an extremely serious and sensitive case, and we are carefully examining all the evidence that the prosecution is putting forward as of now,” Vela said. “I am exclusively focusing on my client and making sure that her constitutional rights are protected in this very, very serious case.”

Thursday’s hearing began with the continued cross-examination of a witness identified as the ex-girlfriend of Gabriel Mills Sr.

She testified that on the day of the crime, she observed smoke coming from a location different from the firepit where Sims’ body was ultimately found while she was at the property.

The second witness called to the stand was an investigator with the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigator testified that during questioning, Gabriel Mills Jr. initially denied being at the property in Winterhaven but later recanted and admitted that he had been there.

According to the investigator, Mills Jr. also first denied knowing Sims before later referring to him as a “homie.”

The investigator further testified that Mills Jr. nodded his head “yes” when asked whether Sadie Hiatt was involved. This was during the questioning being audio-recorded.

In a statement that claims otherwise, the testifying investigator also stated that while questioning another witness at the scene of the crime, the witness said there was no other woman present.

With the evidence, Vela declined to comment beyond what was presented in court.

As for the Sims family, emotions ran high during the proceedings when a photograph of Sims was displayed as part of the testimony. Several members of the family left the courtroom to compose themselves.

“It makes it real, and I don’t want it to be real,” said Genia Sims, Sims’ grandmother. “I thought I couldn’t breathe. I just couldn’t breathe.”

With multiple witnesses still scheduled to testify, additional evidence is expected to be presented in the coming days.

“We are eager to see all evidence that the prosecution has against my client,” Vela said, “…and we remain committed to ensure that her constitutional rights are protected and that she deserves a fair defense.”

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to resume Friday morning and is expected to continue through at least Monday as the court weighs whether the case will proceed to trial.

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