Category: kyma-local-news

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – In celebration of National Small Business Week, the Arizona Western College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is reminding the Yuma community to support local entrepreneurs.

The SBDC launched its “Please Buy Local” campaign, placing bright yellow banners across Yuma County in high-traffic areas to encourage residents to shop locally.

“We want to make sure we highlight the innovation, the resilience of our local entrepreneurs,” said Crystal Mendoza, Director of the SBDC.

The SBDC will also host a Small Business Resource Fair on Wednesday, May 14 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Career Center at 4 p.m.

The event will offer marketing tips and business planning advice for anyone interested in starting or growing a business.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A new gym in El Centro is opening its doors to support kids with autism through movement, exercise, and specialized care.

Kidisthenics, located at Yellowstone Plaza, is now open and offers a safe and supportive space for children to build confidence and reduce stress.

The gym is designed to be a resource for families looking for ways to support their child’s physical and emotional well-being.

Founder Arlene Lopez Martinez, originally from Mexicali, says the Imperial Valley feels like home, so opening the gym here was personal.

“How can I help, and I believe in order to help others you have to start from the root, and my roots are here,” Martinez said.

Kidisthenics works with specialists to ensure every child gets the attention and tools they need to grow.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – First responders from across Imperial County came together this week for a full-scale emergency drill that looked and felt like the real thing.

Led by Imperial County Public Health, the training simulated an active shooter scenario and included over 100 participants from local fire departments, police, medical teams, and the bomb squad. The goal: To test how well agencies communicate, coordinate, and respond under pressure.

“This is a pretty elaborate drill,” said Cedric Ceseńa, Deputy Chief. “It had probably over a hundred participants, and that’s just the first responders. It’s very realistic.”

From handling mock injuries to working through a simulated explosive threat, teams had to act fast and work as one.

“We encountered an IED inside of a building, so coordination with the SWAT team was one of the things we discussed today and learned from,” said Aaron Castro, Fire Captain and Bomb Commander.

Officials say these drills are about more than just checking boxes, they help make sure that when a real emergency happens, everyone knows their role and can work together.

“It really helps tie our functions together,” Castro added. “It puts faces to names.”

While the scenario may have been staged, the preparation was very real, and could make all the difference when seconds count.

Click here to follow the original article.

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Court Appointed Special Advocates, or “CASA,” advocates for abused and neglected children in the foster care system.

“As an advocate, you get to know the child. You meet them a minimum of once a month. You attend events with them that they’re involved in, extracurricular activities,” said Yuma CASA coordinator Veronica Davis. “Then you report to the judge every 3 to 6 months on what’s in the child’s best interest and what they need to thrive while they’re in the foster care system.”

Davis says every county in Arizona has an active CASA program.

There was nationwide reaction after the Trump administration cut funding for CASA services. However, Davis says they are not impacted here locally and are still able to serve youth.

“Government cuts have not impacted the local programs here in Arizona. So, CASA of Yuma County is part of CASA of Arizona, and we are all under the national CASA G.A.L umbrella. However, our funding does not come from the National CASA program. On the national level, they have experienced some cuts, but fortunately those cuts have not trickled down to affect our programs. We still have maintained the funding that’s being provided to us,” shared Davis.

With the growing number of children in the foster system, there is a growing demand for more CASA volunteers. They say you can apply online to become a volunteer and help make a difference in the community.”

“You know, you get joy from it,” said CASA volunteer Bernadette Presloid. “You see the children have joy, so it’s a good thing, so please volunteer.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Abraham Retana

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Two people connected to the murder of a Calipatria resident were back in court Thursday, where they learned about DNA evidence tied to the case.

22-year-old Johvan Herrero and 25-year-old Xochitl Arce were arrested for the murder of 28-year-old Nicholas Spence in January.

Herrero’s defense attorney asked the judge for more time to receive DNA results that could be used as evidence in the case.

Herrero remains in custody and is charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Arce is out of custody and is charged with being an accessory to the crime.

They’re both expected back in court in July.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A fire broke out Friday morning in the area of Engler Avenue and 13th Street.

Rural Metro Fire and Yuma Fire worked together to contain a fire at an auto parts shop north of Yuma Palms.

The fire started around 9 a.m. at Engler Avenue near 13th Street.

Rural Metro says a brush fire got into the building and spread to the lot with crushed cars and chemicals.

One person working on-site was burned and taken to Onvida Health.

Two Rural Metro firemen were injured.

“We got one person burned that was working at the facility. We transported him and we got two of our personnel injured, one of them was transported and the other chose not to seek treatment,” said Rural Metro Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Woodruff. 

A witness who works at a nearby auction barn said he heard an explosion followed by a cloud of smoke. He then took safety measures for his workplace.

“We were making sure people were safe inside. We let everyone know there was a fire nearby just in case something happened if we have to evacuate but it was far enough down the road so we should be safe,” said Isaac Yablonsky, a Yuma resident.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Local families got the chance to celebrate Mother’s Day in a very unique way Saturday.

The Mother’s Day event started at 10:00 a.m. and took place at the Garden Center of the Walmart located on Pacific Avenue.

During the event, families got to meet and take photos with Minnie Mouse, participated in making a Mother’s Day card as well as other fun activities.

In addition, families also bought gifts such as candles, coffee mugs, teddy bears and more, with prices ranging between $5 and $15.

According to Otilia Condie, the store’s manager, if you missed out on the event, Walmart will host it again on Sunday.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Residents across Yuma County attended the annual Women’s Expo Saturday morning.

The event, hosted by the Yuma Territorial Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), started at 8:00 a.m. in the Yuma Civic Center.

Local businesses and organizations, such as Onvida Health and Shear Skills School of Cosmetology, participated in the annual event.

Cathy Hansen, President of the ABWA Yuma Chapter, explains the importance of the expo saying, “In a rural community, there are not as many options for education and equipping and access to tools, you know, that can further you and help you along…We do all that and try to help women get better equipped to build their business and grow.”

During the event, there was a fashion show, gift raffles, food, and the first 200 people who attended the event got a swag bag.

The expo lasted until 2:00 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Eduardo Morales

WELLTON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – 31-year-old Ramon Marquez appeared back in court Thursday with more charges after being accused of getting sexually involved with a 16-year-old girl.

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent was read the 15 counts he is being charged. These include sexual intercourse, oral sexual contact, and sexual exploitation of a minor.

The complaint states that Marquez knowingly recorded, filmed, or photographed the minor he is accused of sexually abusing.

According to documents we obtained, the alleged abuse happened multiple times, from December 2024 to April of this year.

The judge told Marquez to not have any contact with the alleged victim.

“Do appear at all scheduled court proceedings, do obey all laws, I’m going to order you not threaten or initiate any contact with any alleged victims, and when I say no contact, that means absolutely nothing,” said Judge Russ Jones.

We reached out to CBP to see if Marquez is still employed by them, but they declined to comment.

Marquez posted his bond earlier this week and is no longer in custody.

He is set to appear in court again later this month.

Click here to follow the original article.

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – During the summer, a lot of kids and adults suffer from food insecurity. During the school year, cafeterias provide students with a nice warm meal, but when summertime comes around, some students are worried about where their next meal is going to come from.

“During the summer, of course, we all know those kids are getting meals from the schools, so now schools are going to shut down, kids are going to go home, and those kids are now going to be home with their families. So the burden is going to be on the families now,” said Yuma Community Food Bank Chief Operating Officer Michelle Merkley.

It’s why the Yuma Community Food Bank helps fill food pantries on several local campuses, all to make sure no student goes hungry. Those include Yuma’s Northern Arizona University and Arizona Western College campuses along with O.C. Johnson. They say there’s a huge call to action during the summer.

“More and more people come to us during the summer, so we’re always asking for food donations. You know help do a food drive, you know, clean out your pantry. You can drop off food right off here at the main location here, said Merkley.

May until the end of July, the food bank is partnering with Pilkington Construction to support families through the summer.

“Pilkington construction, they’ve agreed that until the end of July, they will match up to $5,000 in total for every dollar donated,” said Yuma Councilman Art Morales. “With this initiative, we’re hoping to get the Yuma Community Food Bank through the summer to support the families.”

If you’d like to help support families and students in need, you can volunteer here, or donate at the Yuma Community Food Bank.

Click here to follow the original article.