Author: KYMA

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) put a grant to work over Thanksgiving weekend to keep holiday roads safer.

Four deputies worked a special traffic detail from Thursday through Saturday, focusing on speeding, aggressive driving, red-light running, and impaired driving.

The effort is aimed to reduce crashes and injuries during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

Locals said they appreciated the extra patrols. Mary Stephenson said, “Then there’s less chance of people having accidents and, you know, being harmful to others.”

The detail had results: Zero DUIs were issued, though deputies handed out 15 traffic citations over the three days.

Winter visitor Ron Wan added, “They’re a deterrent. Yes. Their presence does cut down on crime. So if somebody is thinking about it, they’re going to look and see them. They’re going to want to go elsewhere.”

Stephenson said, “It’s safer for the people, you know. It’s just I think it’s a good idea to make the police presence out there.”

YCSO says it’s considering running similar traffic details around Christmas and New Year’s to keep holiday travel safer for everyone.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Imperial says it’s aware of plans for a 950,000 square-foot data center to come to Imperial County.

Last week, the City of Imperial shared information about a large-scale date center complex that could be built in the area of Aten Boulevard and Clark Road.

In the Facebook post, the City shared that the County of Imperial has approved or is in the process of finalizing the project.

“I think the County needs to give us an explanation. What was the reasoning behind this? What was the thinking process, the logic behind saying this is the perfect ideal site right? [I] have seen all over the news that these just bring harm to communities, ‘specially to the people close by,” said Francisco Leal, an Imperial County resident.

Many locals on social media expressed their concerns, including one local who would be right next to the center.

“These facilities create a lot of contamination, air pollution, they create also noise pollution and not just the kind of noise that you can hear but also the noise that you can feel…vibration,” said Leal.

A local activist who share this project would be bad for Imperial County. 

“We are talking about 24 computer center that are notoriously famous for using an insane amount of water in a desert region like us. They’re always telling us that we gotta take care of our water and conserve water because we only help so much with the Colorado River, but then they go ahead and bring industries of our water intensive, so like it doesn’t make sense,” said Gilberto Manzanarez, founder of Valle Imperial Resiste.

He also says a petition has been created to bring more attention to the issue.

The Imperial Irrigation District says it’s also aware of the project and is encouraging residents to understand the growing interest in data centers.

We reached out to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and we are waiting to hear back.

To find both petitions, click here for the first and here for the second.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals celebrated the completion of the Yuma County Administration Services building Monday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The approximately 100,000 square foot three-level building is located in Downtown Yuma.

Everything from the colors on the floors to the murals on the wall represents key parts of Yuma County.

“There’s a blue floor, a green floor, and an orange floor. The blue floor’s for the Colorado River. The green is for our military and our agriculture, and our orange’s for our beautiful sunsets, and so, each floor is color coded,” said Yuma County Supervisor District 5 Lynne Pancrazi.

A wooden scale replica of the USNS Yuma was unveiled on the first floor. The space brings eight departments all under one roof.

“So I think that it’d be convenient and easier for our residents to come and do business with the county,” said Yuma County Board of Supervisors District 1 & Chairman Martin Porchas.

Chairman Porchas shares more on the price tag.

“The final numbers…there was over $50 million. I think that went into between 52-53, but it’s a great building. It’s a building that we’re going to have here for over 50 years,” said Porchas.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors held their first meeting in the new space. They dedicated the new auditorium in recognition of Eugene Francis Sanguinetti.

He was a community leader and business pioneer who made early and lasting contributions to Yuma County.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Nova Home Loans made a donation to the Yuma Community Food Bank Monday.

The local business donated $1,000, which is equal to 5,000 meals.

They have also partnered with YCAT for the 2025 Food Drive. This is a part of YCAT’s holiday donation partnering with sponsors.

Dustin Craig with Nova Home Loans shares why it’s so important to give back to the local community.

“This is a place where I have grown up, it is a beautiful community, I love it very much, and we just want to help out the less fortunate, and really take care of this place,” Craig shared.

For a full list of where to donate, see below:

Walmart Supercenter, Ave B, Yuma, Nov. 20-Dec. 1 (Lerner and Rowe Accident Attorneys)

Walmart Supercenter, Pacific, Yuma, Dec. 1-8 (Todd Craig Nova Home Loans)

Walmart Supercenter, San Luis, Dec. 4-15 (Rafi Law Group)

Walmart Neighborhood Market, Yuma (Chapman Chevrolet, GMC)

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Wreaths Across America Day is coming up and volunteers are needed to help honor our fallen veterans in Yuma.

On Saturday, December 13, remembrance wreaths will be placed on the graves of fallen service members at Sunset Vista Cemetery in the Foothills.

Each Veteran’s name will be said aloud before their wreath is laid.

Organizers fundraise year-round to make this tribute possible. If you’d like to volunteer to lay a wreath, click here to learn more.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Rotary Club is hosting the 67th Annual Walt Kammann Sausage Fry later this week.

The Sausage Fry is taking place Friday, December 5, at the Yuma Civic Center from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Attendees can purchase tickets online for $18, and the money goes to fund local scholarships.

For more information, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro announced they are hosting their annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Street Fair later this week.

According to a press release, the event is taking place Friday, December 5, at Fire Station No. 3, located at 1910 Waterman Avenue, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Courtesy: City of El Centro

Courtesy: City of El Centro

During the event, the City says there will be food vendors, live entertainment and music, cookie decorating and an appearance from Santa Claus himself.

“Our Christmas Tree Lighting has grown into one of El Centro’s most cherished traditions,” said El Centro Mayor Sonia Carter. “This event brings our community together to celebrate the spirit of joy, kindness, and unity that defines our city. We look forward to welcoming residents of all ages for a night of holiday magic.”

Courtesy: City of El Centro

Courtesy: City of El Centro

In addition, the band TABU will serve as the main headlining band during the fair. The band, according to their website, is from Orange County that specializes in a variety of music, such as Latin, Reggaeton, Pop and Disco.

To learn more about the annual event, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

XmasTreePREngDownload

XmasTreePRSpaDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Somerton Community Resource Clinic is hosting the Legal Permanent Residence Renewal Clinic later this month.

The clinic is taking place at the center, located at 214 W. Main Street, Thursday, December 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

According to the center, they are asking those who plan on attending the clinic to bring their updated paperwork.

To schedule an appointment, or for more information about the clinic, call Martha Gonzalez at (928) 315-7910.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Caballeros de Yuma hosted the the 40th Annual Holiday Tower Pageant Lighting Ceremony Saturday night.

The event, which took place at 6:30 p.m. at Desert Sun Stadium, had multiple performances from dance companies all over Yuma, the Yuma Catholic High School choir, and Wendy McKay who sang at the event.

The entry fee to get in was to bring a couple of cans of food to donate to the Yuma Community Food Bank.

Robert Land, the chairman of the event, shared about why they want the community to come out and participate.

“We feel it’s important for the community to have fun. The Caballeros, their chief concern is to make Yuma a better place to live, and so we put on several events a year,” Land explained.

Caballeros de Yuma said they will continue to put this event on every year and there’s no end in sight.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Spartans wrapped up a perfect 10-0 regular season, earning the conference title in AYF play.

The Spartans kept rolling in Solano County, beating the 10U Oakland Dynamites 7-0 for the Northern California regional title.

Head coach Richard Norwood says the team is ready to represent Imperial Valley in Florida, but need the communities support.

“This is going to be something really special for all the boys. This team is a very special team…We have been together for two years and in the time of the two years, we have been together we have built that bond…that chemistry, that brotherlyhood, stuff that makes this time work,” said Norwood.

The team will be heading to Florida next week. If you would like to support the team, click here.  

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