Author: KYMA

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A conference was held at the Four Points Sheraton and featured plenty of projects from all around the states and Mexico.

The projects were carefully observed to be selected for a grant to fund the project.

The conference is described as the perfect way for a club to get involved in the Rotary Foundation Global Grant and is open to all Rotary clubs and districts.

In addition, the conference continues Saturday for a Day of the Dead celebration, and Sunday, when selections for the grant will be revealed.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A spooky night at the Yuma Territorial Prison for their cell block lock-in. Locals solved riddles, decode clues, and complete challenges to earn their escape.

The haunting takes place 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday night at the prison. Costumes are encouraged.

“This will be a night of entertainment and fun for history buffs and also for people who want to get their scare on for Halloween night as they walk among the cells with the century old ghosts that linger among us,” said Yuma Territorial Prison manager Yanna Kruse.

“People are gonna be able to solve some history mysteries and get their monster mash on and dance with the skeleton here, and of course it’s Halloween, so there’s going to be some candy,” said Yuma Territorial Prison tour guide Shua Lopez.

You can also enjoy mocktails and food from Fat’s Barbecue. Tickets are $15 dollars, $10 dollars for youth, and free for kids.

Tickets go up $2 at the door.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Several witnesses took the stand in the trial of a 20-year-old Romeo Jay Arellano for brutally murdering an elderly couple.

One witness was a family member of the victims, 82-year-old Manuel Marquez and 79-year-old Patricia Marquez.

The witness said their family went to the Marquez household after receiving a call from Arellano’s grandfather.

When they arrived at the home, the witness said they saw blood on the doormat.

The witness was emotional on the stand as she described the smell coming from inside the home as something rotting, like a dead animal.

After entering the home, the witness said the house was unusually messy. 

There was blood in certain spots throughout the house, and it looked like some of it had tried to be cleaned up.

As they entered the house further the witness said the rotting smell grew stronger from the guest room.

After entering the room and seeing blood on the floor, they decided to leave the house and call 911.

The prosecution said Manuel was stabbed at least 18 times, while Patricia was stabbed at least eight times, and says they found items in Arellano’s possession, tying him to the victim’s murder.

Arellano faces seven felonies, including two counts of premeditated first-degree murder.

The maximum sentence Arellano could receive, if he’s found guilty, is life without parole for each murder.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Opening statements began Thursday evening for 20-year-old Romeo Jay Arellano‘s trial.

Arellano is accused of murdering 82-year-old Manuel Marquez and 79-year-old Patricia Marquez.

The prosecution said Manuel was stabbed at least 18 times, and Patricia was stabbed at least eight times.

Their bodies were found in a closet, and they say they found DNA matching Arellano in different parts of the victim’s home.

They also revealed that when they found Manuel’s stolen truck they found empty shoe boxes and glass cases.

When investigating Arellano’s home they found those items in his possession.

They also found Patricia’s phone on Arellano, and even a video on it of him recording the police investigating the Marquez household.

They say they found blood-stained gloves in the victim’s kitchen, with stains that match injuries police found on Arellano’s hands.

Meanwhile, the defense reminded the jury that, despite whatever they hear, they must be able to believe without a reasonable doubt that Arellano truly committed these crimes.

Arellano faces seven felonies, including two counts of premeditated first-degree murder.

According to court documents, the murders happened five days before the bodies were found on may first. 

Arellano’s other charges include burglary in the second degree, theft of means of transportation, taking the identity of another person and theft of a credit card.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – “Eurydice” will premiere at the Yuma campus theater starting Thursday, October 30, and will run to Friday, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., but will premiere at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

The play is a retelling of the classic tale of Orpheus (played by Dylan Potratz) as told from the perspective of the female lead of the story, Eurydice (played by Brianna Coronado), and takes place in the 1950s.

Assistant Director Julia Castillo, along with the two leads, Potratz and Coronado, were interviewed before the show. Castillo shared what she is most anticipating for audiences to see.

“I’m most excited to see our technical elements. Our techies have worked overtime to make this come to life. I’m very excited for them to see our special set pieces; we have things coming from the sky, we have the use of water,” Castillo shared.

This is also the first play to be overseen by the new theatre professor, Shadow Zimmerman, following Ann Wilkinson’s retirement.

The cast includes Brianna Coronado, Dylan Potratz, Gabriel Muniz, Matthias Rodriguez, Lauren Hall, Jordan Champlin, and Scarlett Wilson.

The play will include a speech honoring an AWC student and active theatre club member who passed away.

All proceeds from opening night will go directly to the Trevor Project.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With the government shutdown still underway, thousands of people could lose access to food and supplies.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as WIC, is a healthcare program.

It currently helps provide food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to approximately 145,000 clients in Arizona.

If a decision is not reached by November 15, these people would lose access to these benefits.

They say this will not only affect their clients, but the grocery stores where their clients use this money.

“If we don’t get additional allocations, not only will families feel it, but our local economy through the grocery stores will also experience challenges,” said Celia Nabor, the Assistant Director for Preventio Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services.

On average, WIC says they give out around $12.5 million a month to their clients.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Exceptional Community Hospital held the event from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

It featured cars decorated for Halloween to give out candy to children and many different companies supporting the event.

Onvida Health brought therapy dogs and a pony for children to see and pet throughout the event.

The hospital’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Lisa Brazeel, shares more about what the event is about.

“This is a free truck—trunk or treat, a modified trunk-or-treat, for all the community. It’s absolutely free. We have some great community partners that are here with us tonight,” she explained.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local high school in Yuma received a grant to help support student inventors.

Harvest Preparatory Academy (HPA) has been selected as one of only eight high schools in the entire nation to receive a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant.

Courtesy: Harvest Preparatory Academy

Courtesy: Harvest Preparatory Academy

The $7,500 grant supports student inventors in designing a solution to reduce E. coli contamination in leafy greens, an issue that has repeatedly impacted Yuma’s agriculture industry, which supplies nearly 90% of the country’s winter leafy greens.

Harvest Prep was the only school selected to receive this grant this year.

Courtesy: Harvest Preparatory Academy

The HPA InvenTeam will spend the school year designing and building a working prototype to help protect consumers, field workers, and growers across the region.

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

HPA MIT Inventeam Press ReleaseDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Calexico Recreation Department and the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center is inviting Calexico residents to attend a live chamber music concert featuring Trio Mictlán next week.

According to the City of Calexico, the concert is taking place Tuesday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center, located at 421 Heffernan Avenue.

The city says the concert will feature Trio Mictlán, an ensemble performing captivating works for piano, violin, and cello.

Courtesy: Calexico Recreation Department

Courtesy: Calexico Recreation Department

The concert is free and open to all.

For more information, contact the Cultural Arts Center at culturalarts@calexico.ca.gov or call (760) 357-5575 or (760) 768-2176.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 45-year-old Alfredo Enriquez Flores appeared in court Wednesday to set up a date for a change of plea agreement.

Flores is accused of running over 21-year-old Esteyan Madel on New Year’s Day.

Flores was originally charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs.

According to official court documents, Flores had admitted to using methamphetamine at 8:00 p.m. and failed the Standardized Field Sobriety Test he was given.

He pled guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. However, after Judge Roger A. Nelson saw no remorse in Flores, he denied the plea agreement.

Now, Flores is scheduled to be back in court on December 3 with a different judge, and a change of plea.

Despite having to wait another couple of months, Steve Madel Jr., Madel’s father, is sure justice will prevail.

“He hit my son, he killed my son, he took my son away from us. That’s something I will never ever get back ever. We will never see him again, we will never hold him again, we will never give him a kiss or a hug,” Steve says.

He also describes the pain he is in knowing he will not have his son during this upcoming holiday season.

“I’m always used to having my son there. That’s going to be the hard one…one year without our son,” Steve said.

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