Author: KYMA

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – It’s the final week for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. The Christmas Assistance Program helps over 300 Yuma County families and provides holiday food boxes and gifts to children up to 12-years-old.

Locals can find the angel trees tags at Walmart, Sam’s Club, and several other local business around town. Each tag represents a specific child in Yuma that needs your help to make their Christmas dreams come true.

“It’s going to give you their three wishlist items as well as their clothing sizes and their most needed clothing item, so if you’re able to get one of their wishlist items, if you’re able to get them all, if you’re able to team up with a family or friends and fill that tag, each and every bit of it helps,” said Yuma Salvation Army Corps officer Lt. Amber Herzog.

The deadline to return the tags is this Friday, December 12 in order to get the items packaged and delivered to the families before Christmas.

You can bring them to Salvation Army red bins or any fire station in Yuma County.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local non-profit is doing all they can to help children in foster care this holiday season. 

Since it first opened in 2013, Jessie’s Closet has made it its mission to support children in foster care through drives like this one.

People are encouraged to donate toys, clothes, undergarments, and socks to the closet, which will all go directly to foster kids.

The store director, Karen Liles, said for some foster kids, they may have never experienced Christmas, and said how much impact any donation can make.

“We not only help our kids here, we help kids from DCS, we help kids from licensing agencies, and families that just are down and out and have nothing,” Liles shared.

Liles also wanted to thank the Yuma Rotary Club for all of the work they have done in supporting the organization and this drive.

The drive is ending December 10, but the non-profit organization is encouraging people to continue donating throughout the year.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The “Hams for Heroes” drive encouraged people to donate hams that will go to firefighters, police, Veterans, the Marines and anyone else who’s a hero.

The event is being put on by the “K-9 OPS Foundation,” with all donations going towards these local heroes.

The foundation passed their goal by collecting over 100 hams.

“We wanted to do something for our everyday heroes in Yuma and our whole community and we decided to do this ‘Hams for Heroes’ event to just give back to them for all they do for us,” says KC Hoffman, president of the foundation.

If you would still like to donate to our local heroes, you click the link HERE.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Neighbors in El Centro are sharing their reaction to the shooting which left one woman injured.

According to the El Centro Police Department (ECPD), it happened Sunday at around 12:40 a.m. Pacific in the area of E. Heil Avenue and S. Dogwood Road, near the Dogwood Canal.

ECPD says the suspect, a 44-year-old El Centro man, allegedly shot a woman inside a home, and says the woman was treated at the scene, but was later taken to the hospital for further treatment.

“I was watching my show and I heard gunshots, and I peeked through the window and I didn’t see anything, then I heard a couple more,” said a resident, who didn’t want to be identified.

Neighbors say they thought it was fireworks until more followed.

“I heard one shot, I thought it was fireworks, but then, I heard more gunshots. When I heard the ambulance and police, I didn’t know what it was,” said Maria Avila, a resident.

They also say the street stayed closed the whole night.

“They were here all day. I can hear them…telling them…’Come out, come out’ with the big speakers, and then, the cops from this side were like zoom that way to see what was going on and then, the cops that would run would run out this way then they would go behind these house…there is like a alley…so they would go behind the alley it was a whole commotion,” said a resident.

ECPD says the suspect was found and arrested, and says “the Investigations Division, department drones, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the Imperial Police Department” helped them in the search.

The suspect is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, according to ECPD.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call Detective Alex Garrido at (760) 352-2111, or email him at agarrido@ecpd.org.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is hosting the annual Art in the Park next month.

According to a press release, the two-day event will take place at Gateway Park, located a 250 N. Prison Road, on the following dates:

Saturday, January 10: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 10: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

During the event, the City says there will be a variety of artwork, live performances, lawn games and food vendors.

“Art in the Park is one of Yuma’s most vibrant traditions—an event inspired by Georges Seurat’s iconic painting Sunday in the Park,” said City of Yuma Arts & Culture Program Manager Ana Padilla. “With the Colorado River as its backdrop and Gateway Park as its home, it brings artists, performers, and our community together to celebrate creativity in a truly beautiful setting.”

Admission is $1 per person per day while children ages six and under can get in for free. Leashed dogs are also welcomed, the City says.

To learn more about the upcoming event, click here.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Territorial Young Marines experienced the trip of a lifetime as they explored our nation’s history.

21 Young Marines traveled from Yuma to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to take part in this year’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremonies.

The group got to spend the night aboard the U.S.S. Missouri then line the decks in the morning for a special flyover.

The Young Marines hosted car washes and fundraisers all year long to make the journey a possibIlity.

Program leaders say the experience will have a lasting impact and thank the community for the support and contributions.

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Marcos Icahuate

YMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Freedom Library is hosting a takeover at a local restaurant.

The takeover is planned for Thursday, December 11 at Lutes Casino.

Proceeds from the night at will go towards education and scholarships. The Freedom Library must be mentioned during purchase.

Lutes Casino is located at 221 S. Main Street in Downtown Yuma.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) says a driver hit and killed 21-year-old Mariella Acosta of Yuma on South Avenue B and West County 14th Street early Saturday morning.

Deputies say she was walking along the side of the street when a passing vehicle hit her and did not stop.

Acosta died at the scene and the suspect, a 27-year-old man from Somerton, later turned himself in.

“It’s very important to stay on scene of a collision and that way all the facts and circumstances can be basically told to the first responders on scene,” said Cpl. William Rice, a corporal for YCSO.

The suspect is still in custody with a $100,000 bond and is facing one count of failing to stay at the scene of an accident involving death or injury.

YCSO has a warning for those considering leaving a scene like this.

“If you do happen to flee, this case and your case will not be closed, the sheriff’s office, and investigators will continue to work the case until the suspect is located,” says Tania Pavlak, the Public Affairs Specialist for YCSO.

The suspect is still in custody and is set to appear in court on Tuesday morning.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Students and their families attended Gila Vista Jr. High School’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Family Night last week.

The event took place Thursday, December 4, at the school from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., according to the school.

During the event, students and their families participated in activities to highlight “writing, Inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading,” the school said.

They also participated in an “Egg Drop Challenge, a larger than life game of sudoku, a blindfolded communication activity, and a brief introduction to philosophical chairs,” the school added.

Gila Vista Jr. High School is holding a Career Day event on January 23 from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. To learn more about this, call (928) 502-7100.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) has arrested a man in connection to an attempted murder during the overnight hours on Sunday.

According to a press release, it happened at around 12:40 a.m. Pacific in the area of E. Heil Avenue and S. Dogwood Road, near the Dogwood Canal.

ECPD says the suspect, a 44-year-old El Centro man, allegedly shot a woman inside a home, and says the woman was treated at the scene, but was later taken to the hospital for further treatment.

ECPD says the suspect was found and arrested, and says “the Investigations Division, department drones, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the Imperial Police Department” helped them in the search.

The suspect is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, according to ECPD.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call Detective Alex Garrido at (760) 352-2111, or email him at agarrido@ecpd.org.

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