Category: kyma-local-news

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A GoFundMe has been created for a Yuma man who was injured in a motorcycle crash last week.

The crash happened at around 7:05 p.m. Friday in the area of E. 32nd Street and S. Fortuna Avenue, near Bici Park.

20-year-old Chauncy Negrete was riding a black Honda CBR600RR westbound on 32nd Street when he crashed into a silver Nissan Sentra, driven by a 46-year-old man.

According to the Yuma Police Department (YPD), the Nissan was making a lane change when the Honda crashed into it.

YPD says Negrete was taken to Onvida Health, but was later flown to a Phoenix area hospital in critical condition.

According to the organizer of the GoFundMe, Negrete had undergone multiple surgeries, with his mother sharing to the GoFundMe that his arm had to be amputated.

The GoFundMe has been created to help ease the financial burden for Negrete so he can focus on healing and “being present for his young son and family.”

The GoFundMe has a goal of $5,000, with only $3,880 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Somerton is gearing up for its annual UTV showdown, and this year promises bigger excitement than ever.

The event, happening on October 18 from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, will take over Main Street, closing it off for an evening packed with family-friendly fun.

Danya Carrasco, a representative, shared details with us about what attendees can expect.

The event will feature a lineup of UTVs, live music, food vendors, a kids’ area, and even a chilada contest. Special guests from the off-road community, including Corey Exotics, Tommy Sabala, and Ford, will also be on hand.

Best of all, the event is completely free. No tickets or registration are required.

Attendees can enjoy the festivities, sample a variety of tacos, and experience the thrill of the UTV showcase right in the heart of Somerton.

Don’t miss out on this fun-filled community event!

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Fourth Annual Fall Fest is set to be held at the Yuma County Fairgrounds. The event will be on October 17-19 with gates opening at noon.

Multiple events are planned, such as a hedge maze, demolition derby, pumpkin carving and live music.

General admission is $7 and kids under five are free to enter.

Food vendors and carnival rides will be at the event.

You can buy admission tickets here.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is offering sandbags in anticipation for possible rain.

Sandbags can be picked up at the Yuma Civic Center (1440 W. Desert Hills Drive) starting October 8 at 10 a.m.

The sandbag station is self-serve and will stay open until further notice.

The City says sandbags are limited to five per vehicle.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – It’s Fire Prevention Week and the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) wants to warn the community about Lithium-ion batteries.

When these batteries go bad, they don’t cool down properly and become a fire hazard. These batteries can be found anywhere like phones, laptops, e-bikes, and power tools.

YFD wants to remind the community in order to prevent fires, they need to charge these batteries with the charger it came with, purchase only listed and tested devices, and recycle responsibly.

Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD, says, “You can look up videos on YouTube, these things go up in flames super quick, you’ve got probably 20 to 30 seconds to get out, and on top of the extreme heat that they put out they also put out really toxic fumes, so if the heat doesn’t get you or you don’t get burned the fumes may.”

You can properly recycle these batteries by going to www.call2recycle.org to find your nearest recycling center.

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Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – Brawley residents had to be evacuated Tuesday morning after a fire broke out at a vacant structure.

The Brawley Fire Department says the fire was reported at around 3:00 a.m. in the area of Western Avenue and West C Street.

Locals who live nearby say this isn’t the first time the structure has caught fire and they often see people coming in and out of it.

One family says their daughter alerted them about the fire.

“We noticed there were a lot of ambers coming from the property and there is a massive tree they have in their backyard. It was windy last night so we were concerned that the ambers would either carry over the street or that tree may catch. Catching to other properties in front of it and then traveling across,” said Chris Gentry, Brawley local.

The structure was destroyed.

Brawley Fire says they are still not sure what caused the fire.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma County says damage from recent storms brought some delays to the Smucker Park construction project.

The project includes installation of a new storm drain system, a new sanitary sewer system replacement and construction of an embankment. It also includes a new pump station for park irrigation.

The Yuma County Department of Engineering says the storms created more work for them. 

“Unfortunately, with their recent rains, it may have set some of that back just a little bit. So right now with the contractors working on the pipe system here at 28th Street, and then up the ways just a little bit at West Ridge Drive. And those are storm drain pipes that are going to go through the park there down to the basin below,” said Dave Nash, Yuma County Communications Director.

The contractor is working on the installation and backfill of the remaining two sections of the storm drain concrete pipe.

The Avenue A storm drain system improvements will start once all storm drain work in the park has been completed.

 

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is looking for the public’s input on how to improve road safety.

The city received a grant worth over $400,000 as part of a safe streets for all project. The goal is to reduce crashes by improving Yuma’s roadways.

They plan on doing this by looking at locations, posted speed limits, and types of crashes.

The city is asking for people to share their ideas on what kind of improvements they should make.

“I truly believe that safety is a responsibility that we all share, and identifying where we have safety issues comes from a lot of different sources, one of them being the public,” said Steve Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering.

Patricia Quiroz, Shares what kind of improvements they would like to see. 

“Maybe pedestrian crossings, I know there’s been a lot of accidents lately, lot of hit and runs, I don’t know maybe installing cameras,” Quiroz says.

There will be a virtual public meeting on October 20.

If you would like to share your thoughts on how to improve the roads, click the link HERE.

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Adrik Vargas

HEBER, Calif. (KYMA) – A new program in the Imperial Valley is helping local residents gain skills in sustainability while creating opportunities for meaningful work.

The From Waste to Green Project, led by Southern California nonprofit Raizes Inc., combines technical training with entrepreneurship education.

Participants learn how to launch their own sustainable businesses while contributing to environmental solutions.

The program lasts five and a half months and provides participants with job-search support, a Horticulture Certificate, and a laptop to support their learning and future work.

The program is free for eligible individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or from low-income communities.

Learn more about Raizes Inc. and the From Waste to Green Project at Raizes.org

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In Tuesday’s Home Grown report, we highlight a local insect trapping network that monitors trends of insect activity.

The network was established 12 years ago, with the more common insects in the area being worms, thrips, aphids, and whiteflies.

It functions as an early warning system, detecting pests found in higher numbers than usual.

“Think about it as an early warning system for the PCAs so that they can be more vigilant or be more alert on where to look for the pests,” says Dr. Samuel Discua Duarte, the interim Director of the Yuma AG Center.

The Yuma Agricultural Center is currently making efforts to expand this network into Mexico.

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