Author: KYMA

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Pet lovers across Yuma County attended the Humane Society of Yuma’s (HSOY) 19th Annual Fur Ball event over the weekend.

The event took place Saturday at the Pivot Point Conference Center from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and the theme was Whiskers in Wonderland.

Annette Lagunas, Executive Director for HSOY, shares how this event provided animal safety.

“This event really is all about saving lives. It’s about spaying and neutering, it’s about providing medical care that they need, and it’s about finding homes and putting animals in their forever loving home. That’s what it’s all about,” Lagunas explained.

The Yuma Orchestra Association served as the live entertainment during the event, and attendees participated in a live and silent auction for a variety of items, including an indoor smoker and a getaway to the Great Wolf Lodge.

According to Lagunas, this event raised $2 million for the past 19 years.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Family and friends of Javier Milo Figueroa gathered Saturday night to hold a vigil to remember him.

The vigil was held on the corner of Fourth Avenue and 16th Street, which is the same corner he died at last week.

According to YPD, Figueroa and his older brother, Juan Figueroa, were involved in a road rage fight with a 36-year-old man.

Carrie Matus, a friend of the family, shares what the vigil means to the family saying, “Friends, family, to have a place to, a safe spot for them to mourn and share stories, and share memories of Milo…we also really hope that this event would help bring awareness to this case, as well as hopefully any witnesses who would have seen would come forward and speak to Joseph the father, and help us out.”

If anyone would like to donate to the family, click here.

Juan Figueroa will be seen in court on Wednesday, September 24

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attend a second vigil for the late Charlie Kirk in the Foothills Friday.

After the first one was held at the Yuma County Superior Court last week, Yumans came together to host the vigil at the Yuma Foothills Community Park at 7:00 p.m.

It has been more than 10 days since the conservative activist passed away and dozens of locals honored his life in the Foothills with the vigil.

A memorial service for Kirk took place Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif (KYMA) – The Calexico Police Department (CPD) is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who attempted to rob a local clothing store.

KYMA obtained surveillance video from CPD, who say this is the man who attempted to rob “Melrose Family Fashions,” a clothing store located in the downtown area on Sunday.

CPD say the man entered through the back of the store and threatened a clerk with a broken glass bottle, demanding they open the cash register.

That’s when the clerk screamed and spooked the suspect away.

“When officers got on scene and learned that the suspect fled really quickly on foot, he ran most likely southbound towards the Port of Entry where nobody else saw him last,” said Sgt. Shaun Sundahl with CPD.

Officers say the suspect will be charged with attempted robbery once he is found.

If you have information about the suspect, contact CPD.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro Ice Cream and Pie Social is coming to the valley in less than one weeks.

This time, the city is adding a Julian pie-eating contest and pie raffles.

Mayor Pro-Tem Marty Ellett says about 3,000 people attended the last Ice Cream Social event and hopes more people can come and enjoy this year.

“We want to bring attention to downtown and we will have some fun and just bring people out like I said a lot of people came to our first ice cream social this is going to be bigger than that so invite everyone come out Saturday night,” said Ellett.

Ellett says the event take place at the El Centro Square next Saturday, September 27 from 6 to 9 p.m.

There will have food, vendors and music, and best of all, it’s free to attend.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Dove hunting season is over, but the remains were still scattered across Yuma.

The Dove Hunting Cleanup, which took place from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Saturday and was sponsored by the Yuma Foothills Rotary, put together a group of close to 40 people to help clean hunting areas.

Volunteers were on the lookout for cans, shells and any other litter that infringed on farmland surrounding hunting spots.

The cleanup is a win-win scenario for both farmers and hunters.

“It’s very important…the farmers really appreciate it ’cause there’s always that conflict between the hunters and the farmers, and keeping them out of the fields, so if we can get the fields cleaned up, then the farmers are more happy with it, and they’ll let us continue to do our hunting that we love,” said Louis Scott, one of the organizers.

Volunteers were given burritos and water for their time and were entered into a drawing for prizes.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The trial dates for a Yuma man accused of murder have been moved to next year.

40-year-old Nicholas Harder is accused of murdering 57-year-old Anthony Jordinelli back in May of 2023.

Harder is being charged with one count of first-degree murder with pre-mediation and four counts of aggravated assault.

The murder allegedly took place at a home east of Somerton, located on Avenue 3E and County 18th Street.

Harder rejected a plea deal in court last April, and his trial was supposed to begin next month, but will now be moved to April of next year.

Harder will be back in court December 4 for a status hearing.

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Skylar Heisey

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 38-year-old Emerio Francisco Gutierrez Jr. told them he is living in the area near E. Saddle Drive, just south of Interstate 8, by the Yuma Foothills.

Gutierrez is described by YCSO as five-feet, three-inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

In September of 2005, Gutierrez pled guilty to one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor in the Yuma County Superior Court, YCSO says.

He was sentenced to 3.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, with credit for 107 days served, and placed on lifetime supervised probation, according to YCSO.

In September of 2010, YCSO says Gutierrez was then convicted of failure to register as a sex offender in the Yuma County Superior Court.

“His probation was revoked and he was ordered to serve 7.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, with credit for 267 days served prior to sentencing,” YCSO says.

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

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals gathered at a memorial to honor the life of a former high school music director Saturday.

Taylor Dean McBride passed away in October of last year at the age of 83. The memorial took place at 11:00 a.m. at the Yuma County Fairgrounds’ Legacy Building.

McBride taught music at Yuma High School and led the Choralairs for about 40 years before retiring in 2007.

One of his former students and friend, Wendy McKay, shared the influence McBride left on all of his students.

“Such a loving and respectful educator, every single one of us was important to him, he gave us everything of him, he let us shine, he put us out there,” McKay expressed. “Musically he taught all of us so much, so many of us that are out there in the community, wherever we live across the globe really that took what he taught us with us.”

Last year, the Yuma High School renamed their auditorium after McBride to honor his impact at the school.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A vigil was held in Yuma to honor the life and legacy of political activist Charlie Kirk, drawing a significant turnout from across Yuma County.

The event took place outside the Yuma County Superior Court Thursday, where community members gathered in remembrance.

Locals brought candles and stood together in a solemn display of respect for Kirk, whose influence through his organization, Turning Point USA, had left a noticeable mark on the community’s political engagement. The vigil emphasized personal reflections on his character.

Lorna Brooks, a local ballot chaser for Turning Point and the event’s organizer, highlighted that the gathering was not about politics but rather about honoring Kirk’s personal values.

“Not so much about politics and getting people out to vote, but Charlie as a person, and his core Christian values, and how important his family was to him,” Brooks said.

Kirk’s efforts through Turning Point inspired many in Yuma to become more involved in civic life. That spirit was evident among those at the vigil, where importance of community unity and personal responsibility was emphasized.

“That’s what makes this community so special, is that they’re all willing to get together for a cause, and I think we saw that again last night,” said Veronica Frandsen, another local Turning Point ballot chaser.

Frandsen also noted that the vigil echoed one of Kirk’s central messages: Encouraging individuals to actively participate in shaping their communities.

“I think that that was part of the message that we received yesterday while being at the vigil, is that we need to be the change we want to see, get involved and start using your voice for the greater good,” she said.

For those who were unable to attend, a second vigil is scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m. outside of the Yuma County Foothills Library.

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