Author: KYMA

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local high school senior is devoting her time to making a difference in healthcare.

In honor of National Volunteer Month, Mylinda Garcia, a junior volunteer at Onvida Health, has logged over 195 hours over the past two years.

Mylinda started in labor & delivery and now is helping in the fast-paced emergency department.

“I’ve loved it ever since. I get more, like, hands on experience here, and just like being able to talk to the nurses and see how it is here, just get more insight on what it would be like in my future,” said Mylinda Garcia.

She’s also part of Onvida Health’s Mentor Me program, where she shadows doctors and gets hands-on guidance on resumes and college prep.

Mylinda says she’s thankful for the program and knows her calling is a trauma and delivery nurse. After she graduates, she will be attending Arizona Western College to pursue nursing.

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Michelle Leal

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A severely emaciated and malnourished dog found two weeks ago is getting a second chance thanks to the Humane Society of Yuma (HSOY).

Animal control found Billie wandering the streets of Somerton. They took her to the HSOY, where she was medically evaluated and discovered she weighed only 25 pounds, less than half of what a dog her size should weigh.

“We’re just working really hard to figure out what it is that she needs from us. Is it dry food? Is it canned food? Get more frequent meals…what is it that she needs,” said Anette Lagunas, HSOY Director.

Lagunas assures they will keep Billie for a few more days until she gains enough weight to eat like a normal dog, and a family can take her home to keep her safe.

“When we put dogs in the new homes, we want to set those pet parents up for success, and the best way to do that is do the best we can to make sure they’re healthy,” Lagunas shared.

The dog is showing improvement, although she still has a way to go, she is already gaining weight and looks happier.

Billie’s journey is just one of many. To help more animals like her, you can donate to Roobee’s cruelty and Denver’s medical fund.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a hit and run which left one man injured.

YPD says it happened at around 11:40 p.m. Monday in the area of W. Eighth Street and S. 14th Avenue when a 48-year-old man was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a vehicle, which then fled the area.

After officers arrived, YPD says they found debris on the roadway from the vehicle, believed to be from the front end of a 2015-2020 silver or gray Chrysler 300C.

YPD says the bicyclist was taken to Onvida Health, but was later flown to a Phoenix area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing, and if anyone has any information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 783-4421, or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Injury collision 1400 blk of W 8th Street 25-26406Download

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Abraham Retana

IMPERIAL VALLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) is sharing more on the informational open house with plans for better service in the future.

During the open house, the IID will provide all the information needed to take advantage of the payment assistance and energy savings programs.

“You can qualify for rebates on any stuff like that, if it is time to replace your air conditioner, your windows, your refrigerator. We have programs to help you save money,” said Roberto Schettler, IID Public Information Officer.

The IID is also talking about the upgrades on the energy system that are going to take place in the future to provide better service.

“There are 270 projects planned over the next 15 years so we get the infrastructure needed to be there 15 years from now,” explained Schettler.

If you have any questions about the power service, this is your opportunity to speak to an IID staff member expert.

The next open house will be Tuesday, April 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Teresa Estrada Community Center on Heber Avenue, near Sixth Street in Heber.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Recorder’s Office says property fraud isn’t just a big city problem anymore. It’s now hitting smaller communities like ours, and a new alert system aims to help homeowners stay one step ahead.

It’s called a Fraud Alert Notification System. It’s used to warn property owners if new documents are recorded under their name.

County Recorder David Lara says it’s an important new weapon in defense against fraud with cases  starting to pop up locally.

“It just notifies the person that there’s some activity in the title, in their deed. That way they can come in and start looking into it before it gets too far gone,” Lara said.

Lara says catching suspicious activity early can save property owners from costly legal battles down the line. Some locals say fraudulent activity is deeply concerning, especially for the older community 

Alex Molina, a Yuma local says, “Fraud is going to happen regardless and I guess the people that are more vulnerable is going to be our older community.”

Lara encourages all homeowners to take advantage of this free, new system to help protect themselves. 

“The day there is some movement is when they get notified via email. It’s just a way to help them prevent a bigger problem if it is a bigger problem,” Lara explained.

To sign up, click here. An email is required to sign up for the “Fraud Notify” alert.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A couple claims to be the target of bullying by some neighbors at Shady Acres Manufactured Home and RV Community. However, the neighbors say otherwise.

Katherine and Bruce Farr said everything was going good during their stay at Shady Acres, until Katherine became sick and they began to get behind on rent.

They say that is when things became more hostile, and during one confrontation, Katherine was punched in the face.

However, the accused neighbor, David Waleen, firmly denies hitting Katherine.

“I got gout. I can’t use my right arm I couldn’t straighten out my left arm, I got it in hips and everything I was just in pain,” said Waleen.

While Waleen was arrested for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, there no was complaint filed for the latter.

Katherine says she is still shaken by the incident.

“I’m a nervous wreck. I don’t sleep I don’t go outside the trailer very often. I don’t talk to anybody…I feel like I’m getting watched and stared down everywhere I go even driving down the street,” said Katherine.

Her husband Bruce said he’d like to see a better solution.

“We want it stopped. We want them fired. Whatever needs to happen, this Western Management Company needs to get rid of these people, get them out of the park, and they need to bring in another management company. The owners of this park need to step up,” said Bruce.

However, multiple neighbors do not agree with the Farrs.

Just over a week later, Bruce was arrested for trespassing on neighbor Cindy Cheslak’s property.

“I didn’t know if he was back there trying to steal things. I didn’t know if he was the electric company, I didn’t know what he was doing back there,” continued Cheslak. “He was not apologetic, he screamed and hollered at me, telling me I don’t know anything. I was the previous manager, and that’s why I’m not the manager because I don’t know anything.”

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Students at Dorothy Hall Elementary got a taste of real-world science during a special STEM day filled with rollercoasters, marshmallow houses, and egg case experiments.

The hands-on activities encouraged students to think creatively and explore new ideas across different subjects.

“It’s fun when we get to do science experiments in every class,” said student Sophia Medina.

Science teacher Jonathan Bailey hopes the experience inspires future careers.

“These might be small activities now, but they’re real-world jobs,” he said.

Other teachers added the day was meant to inspire the students to take risks.

For many students, the future looks bright and filled with possibilities.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of El Centro is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Buena Vista Park next month.

The ceremony is taking place, Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at 1010 Fieldview Avenue.

The park, according to the City, “is the latest addition to El Centro’s growing park system and was made possible through Measure P funding and a grant from the California Climate Investments Urban Greening Program.”

“For us, this was really important. This neighborhood has about 250 households and there wasn’t a park within a one mile radius, and so as a community, it is really important to have parks nearby any neighborhood in El Centro,” said Adriana Lima, Community Services Director for the City of El Centro.

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Dillon Fuhrman

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – An arson suspect was arrested over the weekend following a violent disturbance at a Walmart in Calexico.

The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Jesse Romero, entered the store Saturday and attempted to set store merchandise on fire.

“What we had been reported is that there was a subject causing a disturbance it was later found out that the subject that it was the subject we had previously contacted prior to this call,” said Armando Orozco, chief of police.

According to the Calexico Police Department (CPD), Romero, who is a registered arsonist, was previously removed from another business prior to the incident at Walmart.

Romero, according to CPD, initially confronted and stopped by a Walmart employee before officers arrived, but Romero assaulted the employee and tried to stop him from calling 911.

“The customer saw him trying to stop him and he proceeded to punch that customer… an associate got involved… he got the associate in a headlock,” said Orozco.

When officers arrived, CPD says Romero displayed “continued aggressive behavior and violently resisted arrest,” with additional units being requested as Romero fought with officers and “attempted to disarm one of them” by reaching for both their taser and firearm.

When they were cuffing him he actually broke loose and was swinging that handcuff freely … during the struggle he attempted to disarm one of the officers with his taser and firearm,” said Orozco.

Following this, CPD says officers successfully restrained Romero and placed him under arrest.

A medical team from the Calexico Fire Department, according to CPD, responded to treat Romero, who was then subsequently taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center for medical clearance before being booked into the Imperial County Jail.

Romero is facing multiple felony charges, which includes attempted arson, burglary, felony assault and felony resisting arrest, according to CPD.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash which left one man injured.

The crash happened at around 5:10 p.m. Saturday, in the area of South Araby Road, after YPD says they received reports to a pick-up truck crashing into a canal with the driver still inside.

YPD says a 73-year-old man was driving a 2005 Dodge Ram southbound on Araby Road when he “possibly suffered a medical issue and left the roadway,” crashing into the canal as a result.

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) was also there to deploy a technical rescue response, with YFD saying the rescuers safely removed the man from the vehicle.

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

YPD says the man was taken to Onvida Health with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

While neither speed nor alcohol appeared to have factored in the crash, the investigation is ongoing.

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

If anyone has any information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 782-7463 or 78-CRIME at (928) 783-4421 to remain anonymous.

Injury collision 3100 Blk S Araby Road canal 25-25948Download

Vehicle in CanalDownload

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