Author: KYMA

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – As we celebrate Nurse Week, we share the story of a Yuma woman closer to achieving her career dreams after some much needed help from Onvida Health.

“At Onvida Health, we want to help develop our employees and develop their career,” says Laura Wisniewski, the Administrative Director of Human Resources at Onvida Health.

That’s exactly what their doing with Carolina Martinez who says it’s her dream to one day become a registered nurse.

That dream is well on its way to becoming a reality after she was chosen for the first Internal Nurse Sponsorship program at Onvida Health.

“Now I’m closer to my goal of becoming an RN,” says Martinez.

The program covers tuition and allows employees to study while maintaining full-time pay and benefits.

“As our organization grows, we know our workforce needs to grow. Sometimes we need to be creative on how do we train high-potential, high-performing employees to get to that next step in their career,” says Wisniewski.

Martinez says as a mother, military spouse, and full-time nursing assistant, stopping work to further her education would be a stretch.

But after graduating from the 9-month program, on top of her 15 plus years of experience, Martinez is now a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

Martinez says, “Nursing programs are pretty intense. Sometimes people have to work part-time, PRN (“Pro re nata” which translates to “As needed”), or not work at all. With this opportunity we didn’t have to. We were paid to go to class and clinicals. I thought it was a great opportunity.”

She says she’s in it for the long run.

“To be a nurse, you have to have big heart and a lot of patience,” says Martinez.

Martinez was one of five employees selected for the program.

Onvida Health says they would like to expand the group to 20 employees starting this summer.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) says they’re responding to more emergency calls now then ever before, but with limited resources, keeping up with this demand has been an ongoing challenge.

Firefighters say they’re doing everything they can, but they need support. 

This year, YFD broke records for emergency calls. 441 in a single week. Thats about 100 more than their weekly average.

YFD Public Information Officer David Padilla says, “What we’ve seen in previous years as kind of the base is now becoming the new norm for us.”

Padilla says Yuma is seeing large population growth, especially on the east side, which had affected the departments ability to respond to calls.

“The community has outgrown the our fire department, and its time for the fire department to catch up,” Padilla shared.

The growing demand is especially visible in emergency medical services. YFD EMS Division Chief Daniel Espino says crews are working overtime to keep units in service.

“We’re running two units right now on overtime. Medic 7 is running overtime 24 hours a day, and we’ve up-staffed a day car that’s also running from 9 to 5…also with overtime,” Chief Espino said.

And while no one is forced to work extra hours, the department relys on dedication and volunteerism to fill in the gaps.

“It’s voluntary, no one’s made to work overtime. So I think its really good that we’ve got good guys that are electing to pick up the shifts on their days off,” Espino explained.

The workload is not only intense. It’s personal. John Dunbar, Chapter President of the United Yuma Fire Association says for many firefighters its about doing more, with less.

“We’ve seen a large increase in call volume which puts more strain both physically and mentally on our members, but staffing levels haven’t changed,” Dunbar spoke. “Whether it’s an EMS call and you’re running a cardiac arrest with two or three people instead of the recommended five or six, we’re going to do it. It just puts more strain on our members.”

Dunbar says the extended shifts and rising call loads are becoming stressful: “The increased workload, overtime, extended shifts, working 3 to 4 days in a row, that takes a toll.”

Still, the department is pushing forward. Padilla says they’re actively looking at how to position the resources they do have: “We are currently undergoing some adjustments to be able to better serve out community. The Yuma Fire Department is always looking to allocate resources the best way we can across the city.”

With recruitment coming soon, YFD says anyone can apply with training provided for those who qualify.

“We allow anybody to apply as long as your the minimum age and have a drivers license and then we will put you through all the training to become a firefighter EMT and work for the Yuma Fire Department” Padilla remarked.

While challenges continue firefighters say their mission hasn’t changed, and neither has their commitment to the community 

“Rest assured the united yuma firefighters is 100% willing to, and were able to work with both the city and fire administration to come up with real solutions,” says Dunbar.

YFD says they’ll continue to push for additional funding and staff, but until changes are made firefighters will continue to feel strain and emergency response times could be affected.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – County leaders are presenting a $548 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 to 2026. It’s designed to fund major improvements while staying fiscally conservative.

Tuesday’s meeting gave county departments and the public the chance to weigh in.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors heard from different departments across the county.

Yuma County Administrator Ian McGaughey says this budget is a conservative, smart, fiscally proven budget that will fund certain projects that meet the county’s needs.

“All of these big projects come down to one thing which is how can we better serve our community and that’s the top initiative of the board. Customer service is in our strategic plan, it’s the heart of our mission and this budget helps facilitate that,” said McGaughey.

The plan includes about $38.8 million of general funding which will go towards expanding health facilities, finishing the new administration building, and a new south county transfer site to cut down on illegal dumping.

Supervisors Chairman Martin Porchas says he’s grateful for the department heads understanding during the process.

“It’s a year where we’re getting so many things. Uncertainty, and so, we just want to be ready and make sure where we can adjust if something down the road comes that is gonna affect us,” Chairman Porchas expressed.

McGaughey says the proposed budget was made to keep taxpayers in mind, ensuring the budget accomplishes a lot without increasing the general fund tax rate or combined tax rates.

“We have a very conservative outlook and we make sure we reflect that to our taxpayers. We want to keep that tax rate static,” explained McGaughey.

County officials say this budget is about stability and service, keeping Yuma strong today, and ready for tomorrow.

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Abraham Retana

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of El Centro launches a new system to keep the community informed about a variety of topics happening with the city.

The mass notification system started last March as a new way to communicate between the city and the residents.

“It’s another tool to communicate with our residents. They can sign up for text email or voice calls to receive notification about emergency events such as major earthquakes, flooding, major weather or something non-emergency like traffic reports,” explained Mario Renteria, City of El Centro public information officer.

You may sign-in using the City of El Centro official website and choose the way you would like to notified, whether by text message, email or voice call.

“We are always looking for ways to communicate with the public for very various things. We use local media also social media and this gives us another tool to reach those residents who may not always watch traditional media or social media,” said Renteria.

You can check out more on the City’s website here.

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Eduardo Morales

WELLTON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – 31-year-old Ramon Marquez was arrested for allegedly having sexual relations with a 16 year-old-girl.

Marquez was arrested Monday morning in Wellton with five felony counts, including sexual exploitation of a minor, with the alleged relations happening on March 21.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) approached the Yuma Police Department (YPD) about the allegations in late April.

“Our department started an investigation into it, through the investigation probable cause was gotten to believe that he had committed sexual conduct with a minor,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin, Public Information Officer for YPD.

Meanwhile, CBP shared the following statement:

“On May 5, 2025, at approximately 8:48 a.m., a CBP employee was arrested for state charges for multiple felony sexual offenses by the Yuma Police Department. The incident is under investigation by the Yuma Police Department and CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. An arrest is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Marquez appeared in court for the first time Tuesday morning, and will be back on Thursday.

Marquez had a bond of $50,000, but is no longer in custody according to the Yuma County Inmate Search website.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Elizabeth Cooley, a former teacher turned agriculture book author, shared her story with a local school.

She says she was inspired to write her book “Deserts Grow Veggies” because of agriculture’s importance in Yuma.

While driving by an AG field one day, she decided to write an AG story for kids.

She says she regularly attends schools to read her book and inspire students.

“So many local companies are really investing in our students and giving our children the education on agriculture because we really are at the forefront here in Yuma and so I just think it’s so neat and I’m glad my story can be a part of it,” said Cooley.

Cooley will have a book signing at Barnes and Noble on May 10.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma local says Mexican National Guard Troops stole from him during a border crossing stop.

Jose Sanchez just received his second award for Best Employee at the Marine Corporation Hospitality Service.

He was recently visiting his mom across the border after she had a stroke to show her his new award. On his return back home, he was stopped at the Baja California and California border crossing.

He says it was for the type of music troops said he was playing.

During his car search, he says troops stole 400 pesos which is a little more than $20 and his honorary coin. He posted about the incident on social media, and the next day, troops responded back about finding his items.

“So I got a response from Mexican National Guard. They sent me a message ‘Aye you now what we see your post, and then we got the coin, and then we got this, and we got your money’ because they took 400 pesos, it’s a little bit more than $20,” said Jose Sanchez.

He says he’s thankful to have his items back, but advises those who go through similar experiences to make a complaint so these type of problems don’t happen again.

“If you don’t make a complaint they don’t know about it. I mean, they really got to take care of those kinds of problems, so if nobody complains, I mean do the right thing,” said Sanchez.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Western College (AWC), the City of Yuma, Visit Yuma and Caballeros de Yuma are looking for volunteers to assist with the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series this month.

AWC says the event is taking place at Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex from Monday, May 19 to Saturday, May 24.

This is the third time Yuma hosted the event, AWC says.

“Supporting student-athletes from around the country is a huge honor,” said Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Volleyball Coach Lorayne Chandler. “These players are getting their two-year degrees while playing national-level softball. The competition will be fierce, and we’d love to see lots of the community come out and help.”

AWC says the organizations are looking for volunteers to fill the following roles:

Team Hosts (20 needed): Welcome team to town, act as a local expert and point of contact, and/or cheer for the team at games. Team Hosts will be connected with a team contact prior to the tournament.

Gate volunteers (many needed): Take tickets and check credentials at the venue entrances.

Game Stats and Live Stats volunteers: Record game statistics live online. Should have some working knowledge of softball or baseball stats. Refresher training can be provided, if needed. One will enter the stats in the computer and the other will track with paper and pencil. Materials & Laptop provided.

Recorded music host: Plays mood music between games & innings to create a lively, fun atmosphere. Equipment provided.

“Volunteering for the softball tournament gives our community a part in welcoming these 250+ players and coaches to our special spot here in Arizona,” shared Lori Stofft, Vice President for Advancement. “Yumans really take pride in their city and in our amazing way of life, from the river to our agriculture fields, to our restaurants and downtown area. You can really make a difference for these players by taking on one or two shifts at the event.”

If anyone is interested in volunteering, click here. To purchase tournament passes, click here. Children 12 and under are free to attend. To learn more about the event, click here.

Volunteers needed for national softball tournamentDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A teen boy is in custody after law enforcement responded swiftly to an online threat of a school shooting targeting the San Pasqual School District.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) and the Quechan Police Department launched an investigation Tuesday night after a social media post surfaced threatening violence on campus. Investigators tracked the threat to a juvenile in Winterhaven.

Deputies searched the teen’s home and found no weapons, but the minor was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall for making criminal threats.

“At this time, there are no additional threats or no additional suspects in this case,” said Sgt. Moises Badena with ICSO. “The juvenile arrested was the sole suspect in this matter. Parents and students are encouraged to continue to work with law enforcement to report all concerns regarding community and school safety.”

The San Pasqual School District worked closely with law enforcement throughout the investigation and praised the rapid response.

“We are thankful for the immediate action taken by our law enforcement partners,” the district said in a statement. “Their efforts helped bring a quick resolution and allowed us to maintain a safe school environment.”

Officials say tips from families and students remain critical in helping prevent violence. Deputies are urging parents to be proactive in monitoring their children’s online activity.

“Really our information that we get is from the parents,” Sgt. Badena added. “The more active the parents are in monitoring social media of their children, the better it is for us. The sooner they can notify us, the sooner we can investigate. We’re available 24 hours a day. There’s nothing too small that we’re not willing to look at.”

Law enforcement says the safety of students remains a top priority and that they will continue collaborating with school districts and local agencies to address threats swiftly and seriously.

Winterhaven School ThreatsDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma residents are reacting to having to use REAL ID to travel across the United States.

Beginning May 7, 2025, travelers are required to use the REAL ID or any other accepted forms of identification when boarding flights as well as entering secure federal facilities.

Reetika Dhawan, a local traveler, says using the Real ID is efficient and simple.

“It will help you to make your travel easier and faster, it will really benefit you and make your travel less stressful and easier if you have that travel ID,” Dhawan says.

While Jimmy Butler, another local traveler, is not a big fan.

“Honestly I didn’t see the difference between that one and the original driver’s license I had except for the little gold star and 25 more dollars out of my pocket,” Butler said.

Joshua Crosby, also traveled by plane earlier Wednesday morning, and explains why he might not get a Real ID.

“I mean I wouldn’t think about getting a Real ID just cause like the way that I do it is very efficient now but if it’s required by law then I guess I would have to get it you know,” Crosby says.

However, Colene Geleason, a Real ID holder for over a decade, shares why she enjoys it.

“I got my Real ID about 15 -20 years ago I think so that I can travel to Canada and Mexico, I’m grateful to have it,” Geleason said.

If anyone has yet to apply for a REAL ID, visit the local DMV located at 2165 Gila Ridge Road or visit the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division’s (AZMVD) website HERE.

If you would like to see which other forms of federal identification are acceptable, click the link HERE.

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