Author: KYMA

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local small business is honoring our military heroes this holiday season with special multi-item gift baskets.

The Christmas baskets have 10-15 items supporting body, mind, and soul of military members and their families.

Small business “Lemonade Delsa” says they are passionate about creating them to show gratitude to Veterans, so they don’t feel forgotten during the holidays.

“It also comes from the concept of care baskets in a way because not only does it have the merchandise that they can wear, the hat that celebrates them, the shirt, the mug, but a customized dog tag which has inspirational statements, but it also has wellness products, so I’m taking care of the body, mind, and soul,” said Lemonade Delsa owner Delsa D. Dixon.

The baskets are sold at the “Cutest Store Collective” in Yuma near Inca lanes. The profits go toward four military based organizations including Yuma Young Marines, American Legion Auxiliary Post 19, Financial Coach For You, and House of Panama

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma native who followed his dreams in Los Angeles has returned home to inspire others.

“I went to Ronald Reagan Fundamental School for elementary, and then I went to Centennial for junior high, and then I went Cibiola for high school and I grew up here,” says Daniel Berilla, Film Producer and Casting Director for The Good Dark.

Originally from Yuma, Daniel Berilla graduated from Cibola High School in 2007 and later moved to Los Angeles.

He started out working as a busboy until finally making it as a film producer and casting director for an upcoming feature called “The Good Dark.”

“The Good Dark” stars Taryn Manning of “Orange Is the New Black” and Sherilyn Fenn and Ray Wise of “Twin Peaks.”

Berilla explained how surreal it feels to have his dreams come true and what it means to him after coming from a small town.

“When you leave a place like this, that is quite smaller…and you go somewhere bigger, and you experience the world and you explore the world, it’s amazing,” Berilla expressed. “You can also go back to this place where it just a little more smaller…and be like, ‘Oh my god! This is where I grew up, and this is where I was inspired by this.'”

Berilla has a message for local kids wanting to make their dreams come true.

“Just because you’re in a small town, doesn’t mean you don’t belong in a big city, don’t give up. I’ve been through a lot medically and what not, and I persevered, I pushed through, and I just never gave up,” says Berilla.

He shares how he succeeds and the moto he lives by each day.

“What am I going to do with today, you know I’m lucky enough, I am alive, and so, I have 24 more hours, lets see if I’m going to make it to tomorrow, and so that’s kind of how I live life,” Berilla remarked.

He hopes his journey inspires others to pursue their dreams no matter where you came from.

To learn more about “The Good Dark,” click here.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) was in Yuma over the weekend for a special holiday visit.

Gov. Hobbs made a special appearance at the Arizona Department of Veteran Services’ Veterans Home in Yuma Saturday.

The governor received a brief tour of the home and greeted residents, thanking them for their service and wishing them a happy holidays.

This was the governor’s first time visiting the Veterans Home in Yuma.

“First of all, as governor, I am just really proud to be a governor of a state that is home to so many veterans, we have more than half a million here and just its a priority to make sure we are taking care of them in the way that they deserve,” Hobbs expressed.

Hobbs adds that she is glad to work to meet the needs of veterans in the communities they call home.

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Paul Vozzella

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – A longstanding tradition and Somerton’s biggest event of the year took place over the weekend.

The City of Somerton hosted its annual Tamale Festival Saturday, and it took place along Main Street at 11:00 a.m.

The event featured 20 tamale vendors amongst other food and shopping vendors, and drew a tremendous crowd, with an estimated 30,000 people in attendance.

With plenty of vendors to visit, the event also displayed the traditions and culture of the city and surrounding areas.

“Just seeing the community come together on a Saturday is great. Being outside, we’re here in Arizona. It’s 80 degrees today, so…you can’t shovel sunshine,” said Brett Newby, a visitor.

Also attending the Tamale Festival was Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.), who made a stop at the Veterans Home in Yuma earlier in the day, and she is the first-ever governor to attend the event that benefits local Arizona State University (ASU) students.

Proceeds from the event go towards the El Diablito Alumni Chapter scholarship funds.

On top of supporting college students, Gov. Hobbs was also quick to mention the camaraderie the festival showcases

“I just really love the opportunity, as governor, to uplift things like this, and just celebrate communities around the state,” Hobbs expressed. “What Arizona does is show up for our communities, and so the fact that [this event] brings so many people together and then supports helping students attain college [scholarships] is amazing.”

Since its inception, the festival has raised nearly $500,000 dollars in scholarships for ASU students from Yuma County.

The event lasted until midnight.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – It is the season of giving, and one local organization is making the holidays brighter for children in the community.

After hosting a toy drive earlier this month, the Housing Corporation of America distributed toys to children at their homes on Thursday morning.

The effort brought smiles and excitement to dozens of young residents as staff members personally delivered the gifts.

“We did get some wonderful sponsorships and we got some toys,” said Dennise Lopez, an occupancy specialist with the organization. “Also, some of our staff helped out with donating toys, and we decided to go ahead and provide this for our residents,” she said.

The initiative aimed to spread joy to children who might otherwise go without a toy this Christmas. For staff members, the experience was especially meaningful.

“It feels like you’re able to give those kids something for Christmas that maybe their parents might not be able to,” said Julia Navarro, also an occupancy specialist.

In total, the Housing Corporation of America handed out toys to approximately 50 children, ensuring they could enjoy a part of the holiday season.

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Paul Vozzella

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – Harvest Preparatory School is bringing holiday cheer to the community by challenging its students to combine creativity, cultural learning, and service through a festive initiative known as the “Tunnel of Lights.”

The event is being held at both of the school’s campuses in San Luis and Yuma, where families and community members can drive through illuminated holiday displays in exchange for a charitable donation.

Admission requires either a five-dollar donation or three cans of food per vehicle, all of which will be donated to support the homeless and those in need.

More than 600 students from Harvest Preparatory participated in creating the displays, which feature Christmas themes inspired by countries from around the world.

Students were divided into groups and worked alongside their teachers to bring these international concepts to life, after lessons studied in their social studies classes.

Harvest Preparatory CEO Debra Ybarra emphasized that the event is rooted in giving back to the community.

She explained that while the collection of food donations is an important component, the broader goal is to create a meaningful and uplifting experience for families and children during the holiday season.

The Tunnel of Lights event in Yuma runs from December 19 through December 23. In San Luis, the event takes place on December 22 and 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., offering residents an opportunity to celebrate the season while supporting those in need.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma residents came together to rescue a kitten stranded high above the ground.

The rescue unfolded after a call alerted Homeward Bound Animal Rescue to a kitten trapped with no clear way down, prompting a rapid response from both rescuers and bystanders.

Upon arriving at the scene, Homeward Bound Animal Rescue Director Megan Springer found that others had also stopped to help.

What began as a single response quickly turned into a coordinated effort among strangers united by concern for the animal’s safety.

“I was looking around and then some people came out of their truck and were like, ‘Hey, we’re here trying to help the cat too,’ and I was like ‘Cool,’ so it was like a team effort,” Springer shared.

One of the residents at the scene returned after purchasing a ladder and climbed up to reach the kitten. With careful movements, he was able to retrieve the animal and bring it safely back to the ground.

For Springer, the rescue was about more than saving a single animal. She said the experience reflected the close-knit nature of Yuma and the willingness of residents to step in and help one another without hesitation.

“One thing that I do love about this, is that the humanity of it is turning into ‘Yumanity,’ because we’re Yuma, and Yuma really brought it together. It wasn’t really me, I was just kind of the catalyst of being there and helping,” she expressed.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) has announced the appointment of Dr. Reetika Dhawan as its next president, marking a historic moment for the institution.

Dhawan will become the 10th president in the college’s history and the first woman to hold the position. She is set to officially assume the role following the retirement of current President Dr. Daniel Corr next July.

Dhawan has been part of the AWC community since 2008 and currently serves as the chief executive officer of the college’s Entrepreneurial College, as well as vice president of workforce development.

Her experience spans faculty and administrative roles, which she says has shaped her leadership approach.

“Every single role I learned so much,” she said. “Being faculty, you work very close with the students, you understand better coaching, you understand faculty needs, so you understand how to support faculty. Being an administrator, you understand how to support students, and faculty, and staff, everybody, and community.”

Looking ahead, Dhawan envisions continued expansion and development for Arizona Western College.

Her goals include strengthening partnerships with Arizona’s three state universities. Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, exploring the creation of a bachelor’s degree program, and expanding workforce training opportunities to meet the needs of a growing region.

She also has a desire to draw students from outside the Yuma area and beyond state lines.

“It’s gonna become bigger and bigger…We wanna have more students even outside the state and even outside the Yuma region come to Yuma and stay in Yuma. We wanna grow our own,” she said.

With her appointment, AWC signals a continued commitment to innovation, workforce development, and regional growth as it prepares for a new era under Dhawan’s leadership.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With Christmas just around the corner, a local church in Yuma is offering residents the opportunity to experience the origins of the holiday through a live theatrical production.

Champion Church will present its annual performance, “Jesus Is Born,” this weekend, bringing the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ to the stage.

The production depicts the journey of Joseph and Mary and how they became the parents of Jesus. Preparations for the performance have been underway for nearly two months, with extensive rehearsals involving a large group of participants.

Approximately 200 people make up the cast and crew, ranging from young children to adults.

Champion Church Pastor LaCinda Bloomfield said the production is both a celebration of faith and a reflection of the crew’s growth.

She said sharing the love of Jesus with the city and watching participants develop their talents, especially children who have grown into adult roles over the years, has been especially meaningful.

“Jesus Is Born” will be performed at Champion Church from December 19 through December 21, with each show beginning at 7 p.m.

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – An 11th grade student became the youngest graduate of Imperial Valley College’s Dual Enrollment program.

Noah Munguia earned four associate degrees before completing high school.

His degrees are in psychology, behavioral science, social science and university studies: social and behavioral science.

Munguia is planning to earn his fifth associate degree by May 2026.

“It’s important to not give up, keep working no matter how hard it is and have people there to support you, that’s what really matters, having people to talk to and be there for you when you really need it,” said Munguia. “It’s just amazing being able to do all of this and being a student-athlete, accomplishing a lot of my goals.”

Munguia wants to continue his education at California State University San Marcos and work towards both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

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