Author: KYMA

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A second family is left without a place to live, as their home suffered several thousand dollars of damage from the fire Monday evening.

The residents, Hector Alayl-Vasquez, Iris Sambrano and their daughter, have jumped to a couple different spots to temporarily stay while they figure out how to fix their home.

“It’s been hard,” Sambrano said. “It’s been difficult, just cause we’ve been trying to figure out where to stay.”

The young couple says they were around the corner of their home on West 19th Street and South Third Avenue when they noticed smoke near their home.

All they could do was watch as firefighters tried to save their home. 

“It’s my daughter’s first home, so I was worried about losing the place where my daughter was born and raised,” Alayl-Vazquez said. “She had all her first memories growing up [in the trailer].”

While the trailer did suffer extensive damage, the residents are thankful for first responders swift reaction to the fire. Had it spread more, the outcome could have been a lot worse.

“It could have hit the water heater where [the fire] was, and if that did happen, lets say the ambulance, or fire department took a little bit longer, our trailer probably would have been gone,” Sambrano stated.

Although much of the trailer was salvaged and the integrity of the structure is upheld, much of the family’s personal items were too far damaged to recover.

“The smoke got into our clothes [and] our sleeping stuff, so we have to replace some of the stuff,” Alayl-Vasquez said.

The family is looking to raise a minimum of $3,000 to aid in repairing the trailer and items lost inside of their home.

If you would like to help the family, click the link HERE.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – If you plan on dropping off trash or debris at a Yuma County transfer station, pay close attention as a new ordinance is now officially setting the rules for what you can bring and how often you can visit. 

From old mattresses to broken appliances, County transfer stations handle a ton of waste everyday, but now, Yuma County has implemented a formal set of rules. 

“It ensures everybody on both ends, residents and staff are responsibly disposing of trash safely and responsibly,” says Kelly Fricke, Yuma County public works director.

The ordinance bans things like hazardous waste, size restrictions on how much trash you can bring at once, large car parts, and more. It also limits drop offs to one load per day.

“We just want to bring attention and enlighten the public on what we’re doing out here. We’re just trying to make all operations better. We’re also trying to keep illegal dumping and people throwing trash out into our deserts and find ways for our community to keep it a lot safer and cleaner,” says Michael Herrera, Waste management superintendent.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office is taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal dumping, calling on residents to report it, and urging anyone with trash to use proper disposal site.

Yuma County says those who decide to violate the new ordinance set in place could face consequences. 

“They could be turned away. We’ve had a few people here and there who come to the site overloaded…more than what’s allowed and will be turned away,” says Fricke.

Yuma County says these guidelines are set in place to protect both staff and the public, so knowing the rules before you load up your vehicle could save you time.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – According to the National Weather Service, near normal temperatures will steadily warm slightly above normal by the beginning of next week, resulting in minor heatrisk increasing to a moderate level.

Very dry conditions will greatly inhibit any rain chances through the weekend.

Monsoonal activity increases again across the region with a return of better moisture by early next week.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Two-year-old Maverick Buoniconti has been listed and accepted for a kidney transplant after multiple procedures.

Maverick was born with Vader syndrome and one small cystic kidney.

Throughout his young life, Maverick has been through 22 surgeries, and been on dialysis since he was one year old. 

Since being accepted for a new kidney, his mother, Deanna Buoniconti, is waiting to see if she is a match. However, the process takes six months.

“I just hope and pray that I am a match for him and be able to give that to him would just be like amazing, amazing to me,” Deanna says.

The family is looking for donations and a living donor if possible.

She describes how Maverick has handled the constant procedures in the past years.

“Maverick’s a really strong little boy like he’s had surgery since the day that he was born basically. He doesn’t know any different,” Deanna said.

So far, the family has raised over $9,000.

His mother shares how much it means to her family to receive support from the Yuma community.

“It means so much to us knowing that people are praying for Maverick and just the support and love of helping us take care of our other kids while we can’t be here means everything to us,” she says.

If you would like to donate to the family, you can click on the link HERE.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – According to the National Weather Service, there will be below normal temperatures that will steadily warm closer to the seasonal average by the end of the week and then slightly above. We will have normal temperatures by the end of the weekend, resulting in minor heatrisk increasing to a moderate level. There will be very dry conditions that will greatly inhibit any rain chance the remainder of this week.

Monsoonal activity increases again across the region with a return of better moisture by early next week.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – As summer temperatures soar across Arizona, the state’s largest nonprofit blood provider is sounding the alarm on a seasonal blood shortage, and calling on Yuma residents to help.

Cameron Klug, a representative from Vitalant, joined me to discuss the organization’s upcoming efforts to meet local hospital needs through community blood donations.

“Vitalant supplies the majority of Arizona’s hospitals with the blood they need to save lives,” Klug said. “Here in Yuma, we’re the sole nonprofit blood provider to Onvida Health, which is why we host regular blood drives in the area.”

Why Summer is a Struggle

Blood donations typically drop during the summer, and Arizona is hit especially hard.

“Our extreme heat plays a role, but the bigger issue is that many of our donors are either teenagers or winter visitors,” Klug explained. “Teen donors, who make up one in every six donations statewide, are out of school, and our generous winter visitors are out of state.”

With fewer donors available, Vitalant is urging locals, especially those who have never donated or haven’t in a while, to step up.

Upcoming Summer Blood Drive

Vitalant is hosting a large three-day “Summer Life Savers” Blood Drive in partnership with local media at the Yuma Main Library:

July 31

August 1

August 2

Residents can sign up to donate at vitalant.org/yuma. Every donation could save up to three lives, and first-time donors will also learn their blood type.

What to Bring

Donors are reminded to:

Bring a photo ID

Drink plenty of water

Eat a full meal before donating

Cameron emphasized that all blood types are needed, but O-negative, known as the universal red cell donor type, is always in especially high demand.

“You’re always going to be someone’s type,” he said. “Whether you’re B positive or A negative, your blood could be the one that saves a life here in Yuma.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit vitalant.org/yuma.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The jury found an Imperial County man guilty of assault with injury earlier this week.

26-year-old Gabriel Mark Tellez was convicted of assaulting and injuring a family member back in September of 2023 due to an “incorrect belief that the victim previously called the police on him,” according to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.

This prompted Tellez to stop his vehicle after he saw the victim, a woman, walking down the side of the road in Winterhaven and attacked her with his fists until she fell down as well as kicked her multiple times, “cracking a rib and causing additional serious injuries” to her.

Tellez then left her unconscious on the side of the road, but she soon regained conscious to flag down an Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) deputy and reported the assault. However, Tellez was not located.

In a separate incident, according to the D.A.’s Office, Tellez was accused of “threatening conduct and a warrant was issued for his arrest.”

While attempting to find Tellez, as well as collect evidence, ICSO teamed up with the U.S. Marshals Service and executed a search warrant, leading to Tellez’s arrest.

Following this, Tellez accepted a plea to be convicted for attempted criminal threats, with the sentencing hearing for that case scheduled for next week.

Both the threatening-conduct case and the assault case, Tellez will now have two strikes on his criminal record.

Tellez also previously served time in jail where he was convicted of “being an accessory after the fact by aiding Anthony Raven Shepard after Mr. Shepard had committed a felony,” the D.A.’s Office said who added that Shepard was later convicted related to the incident of “felony negligent discharge of a firearm.”

Judge Christopher Plourd presided over the case and has ordered Tellez to remain in custody with no bail pending his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for next month.

Gabriel Tellez – Press ReleaseDownload

Gabriel Tellez – Press Release – EspanolDownload

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Whether its a ladder truck or ambulance chances are Floyd Friar has had his hand in maintaining it.

Since 1985, he’s been Yuma Fire Department’s (YFD) fleet expert making sure everything and everyone gets where they need to go safely.

Inside Yuma Fire Station, Floyd Friar is right at home. Floyd joined the YFD in 1985. Since then, he’s helped design, modify, and maintain every vehicle in the fleet. 

“I feel like I contribute to trying to supply them with the equipment they need to do their life saving jobs and stuff like that,” says Friar.

Through changes in technology and equipment Floyd has stayed ahead. Helping spec out new engines, custom building tools, and making real time repairs that can help save lives. 

David Padilla, Public Information Officer for YFD, says, “There is not a truck, or ambulance, or engine at the Yuma Fire Department that doesn’t have Floyds fingerprints on it.”

Chief Dustin Fields says Floyd worked with his dad in 1985. Then, when he joined the department, he was able to witness Floyd’s dedication himself. 

“I’ve always heard good stories about Floyd and when I joined the department, I was just blown away at his creativity and his ability to solve problems,” says Chief Fields.

Floyd says he’s not quite ready to hang the wrench yet, but he’s proud of the work he’s done thus far.

“I’m doing what I wanna do. It doesn’t feel like I’ve been here 40 years. I’m not that person that’s looking to retire,” says Friar.

Friar says what he’s most proud of isn’t just trucks, but the trust his team has in him and after 40 years the trust runs deep.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – With back to school right around the corner, a local law firm is helping boys and girls hit the books in the Yuma community. 

Lerner & Rowe law firm is giving away 1,000 backpacks at the Yuma fairgrounds Wednesday afternoon.

The goal is to help local students reach their academic success.

“To help alleviate at least one of those obstacles or burden that are in their way and that’s providing backpacks and school supplies the tools they need to succeed,” said Kevin Rowe, Lerner & Rowe co-founder.

The Lerner & Rowe backpack giveaway will be at the Yuma fairgrounds on July 23 at 4p.m.

It’s on a first-come first-serve basis.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Low-income families in Somerton are receiving some useful assistance this week as the Housing America Corporation (HAC) hosted the First Back To School Giveaway.

At the Del Pueblo Apartments in Somerton, children from low income families were able to receive some fresh new gear ahead of the new school year.

Wendy Ramirez, a local, shares, “This helps us because you know the economic is really high now and families with a lot of kids they don’t have a lot of money, it’s not enough. So, this helps a little.”

As part of the giveaway, the HAC is providing free school supplies to children living in its low-income housing units.

Over 60 young students received learning tools like back packs, notebooks, and reusable water bottles on their first stop.

Five of those students were the lucky winners of a golden ticket, a $60 gift card to the local store Journeys.

“We’re just happy that he was one of the lucky winners. So, now he has his shoes for school,” says Ramirez.

The organizer says aid for low-income families extends far beyond just housing.

Yolanda Galindo, Executive Director for HAC, explains, “So, we have 60 kids within these 56 units that we have and the needs always there, so why not alleviate the burden on these families by providing a simple backpack with the utilities, with all the utensils needed to start your school year? I mean, it always brightens the kid’s face.”

The giveaway includes two more stops at low-income housing complexes, providing supplies to over 70 units.

They’ll also be stopping at Wellton Elementary School.

Galindo says this wouldn’t be possible without her sponsors adding, “Just a simple idea that I had, I reached out to the local contractor that we work with and it was overwhelming the response that they had.”

As to the future of the event, Galindo says, “It’ll get bigger and better. Maybe next time we could partner up with the City of Somerton. Just being the response, we were able to gather 180 backpacks full of all supplies.”

The giveaway will continue Wednesday at the Amistad Apartments in Somerton then the Colorado Street Apartments in Yuma on Thursday.

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