Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – Three students from the San Luis High School each received the QuestBridge Match Scholarship.

According to the Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD), the students earned the scholarships through the QuestBridge National College Match program.

Alonso Mendoza matched with Stanford University and will be studying Electrical Engineering, Niltza Reyes matched with Wesleyan University and will be studying English-Creative Writing, and Emilio Lopez matched with Emory University and will be studying Biochemistry “as a pathway to medical school,” YUHSD said.

“To me, this opportunity means that all the hard work and sleepless nights of the past four years have borne fruit, for I have the privilege of attending a prestigious university without worrying about putting any financial strain on my parents,” Reyes said. “It also means I can finally fulfill the promise I made to my younger self: be a source of pride to my parents and study English in a place rich with history.”

YUHSD says the students will receive a full-ride, four-year scholarship which will cover tuition, fees, housing and more at their matched colleges.

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

PR – SLHS Quest Bridge MatchesDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Olivia Zepeda, a member of the Arizona Western College (AWC) District Governing Board, has been named to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Board of Directors.

According to AWC, the ACCT is an “educational non-profit that advocates for community colleges nationwide,” and says Zepeda will serve a three-year term before running for re-election.

“I am honored to have been appointed to the ACCT Board of Directors as a representative of the Pacific Region,” Zepeda shared.

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

“ACCT is an institution that supports community colleges and trustees while providing valuable learning opportunities. As a board member, I look forward to continuing to advocate for student success and strong governance,” she added.

Zepeda, who has spent 40 years in education, was appointed to the District Governing Board back in 2012 and was inducted into the AWC Hall of Fame four years later, AWC says.

To learn more about Zepeda, click here, or read the press release below.

Olivia Zepeda named to ACCT Board of DirectorsDownload

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma appointed a new fire chief.

John Louser has over 25 years of fire service experience, working for over 22 years with the Yuma Fire Department.

About 30 qualified people applied for the position from across the country, allowing them to compete with internal candidates, according to the City of Yuma.

“I am honored to have been chosen to step into the role of Fire Chief for the City of Yuma Fire Department,” shared Chief Louser. “I’m deeply grateful to the public and to our city’s leadership for their trust and support. I look forward to serving our residents and working alongside our dedicated men and women of the Yuma Fire Department to strengthen public safety and build on the department’s proud tradition of excellence.”

The previous fire chief, Dusty Fields, retired in September after more than 30 years of service.

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Joaquin Hight

SEELEY, Calif. (KYMA) – In a community where air quality challenges are part of daily life, students, parents and school staff at Seeley Union School District took action by learning how to build their own indoor air purifiers.

A recent workshop, led by Comite Civico del Valle (CCV) in partnership with Seeley Elementary School, gave staff and students hands-on tools to improve their health and protect vulnerable residents.

The training focused on constructing Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, low-cost, do-it-yourself indoor air purifiers made with simple materials but capable of dramatically improving air quality inside homes and classrooms.

Imperial Valley has some of the highest asthma rates in California, making indoor air protection especially critical for families with children and elderly relatives.

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Joaquin Hight

(KYMA) – Ongoing Caltrans maintenance along Fourth Street, which is part of SR 86, may cause traffic delays and multiple lane closures that are expected to continue for up to two weeks.

Public works is coordinating directly with Caltrans to help reduce traffic impacts where possible, including exploring options to shift certain activities to nighttime hours.

Some portions of the work cannot be completed at night and will continue during the day.

Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes when possible and allow extra travel time.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – For many small businesses the holidays are a make-or-break time period.

The end of the year can be the most chaotic time of the year, but also wonderful, especially for small businesses.

Dave Charest, Constant Contact Director of Small Business Success, says, “Those dollars that you spend within the local economy are going to recirculate two or four times more than if you spent that money with a non local company for example.”

According to constant contact, 60% of small businesses earn up to about half of their revenue during this time.

The holidays are crucial in order to help businesses take a look at what the next year will look like.

It’s the perfect time to shop at a local business because it means more than you think.

“Go out into the local community, go into a local shop, find something that offers that unique experience that for that gift or whatever that case may be, you not going to get any place else because it really does make a difference,” emphasises Charest.

We spoke to a local business about why it’s important to shop local for Christmas.

Serena Koogal, owner of Rebel and Rove, says, “You get a different type of service when you come to a small business, the heart is there. Corporate businesses while they employ a lot of local people, the money doesn’t stay in the community like it does when you shop a local small business.”

She adds that being a gift shop, she sees a lot of revenue come in during the holidays.

“We are primarily a gift and clothing store, so we do see that at the holidays, everyone needs a fun little gift for someone at work or a family member or friend,” said Koogal.

When you spend money locally, you’re not only supporting small businesses, but also the members of our community.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Imperial has filed a lawsuit against Imperial County and the Board of Supervisors to stop the development of a data center.

“Our hope is that will be able to dialogue with the county and the developer, and so, the concerns that the council has I anticipate and hope that they’ll be addressed in a way that it’s a lawsuit doesn’t need to go forward,” said Dennis Morita.

The City of Imperial says the county did not notify residents about the center and claims the project was pushed through quickly, without proper environmental oversight.

“We feel that there is details about the project that should be made public and folks should have the opportunity to way in,” said Morita.

The lawsuit claims that the project is not in compliance with the California Environmental Act.

“County ordinances identify a data center as being a permitted use, and what does that means is that they’re the county could basically issue permits for the project excuse me to go forward and wouldn’t require much in the way of public engagement,” said Morita.

The lawsuit also states that the City of Imperial has attempted to reach an agreement with the county on the appropriate public process and permits.

The City of Imperial says they are not against the data center, but are asking for the county’s transparency.

“As the developer as indicated could be a big economic boost to the County of Imperial, and so the City Council isn’t necessarily a published to that, but it is interested in making sure that the project is built in a way that doesn’t unduly impact its neighbors,” said Morita.

The City of El Centro says they haven’t received or approved the use of wastewater and are also not committed to the project.

We reached out the county last week and we are waiting to hear back.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local members of the Jewish Community in Yuma are reacting to the Bondi Beach shooting from over the weekend.

People everywhere are mourning the lives lost at Bondi Beach.

Kristin Lavotshkin, a member of the local Jewish community, say she was distraught when they saw the images and videos from the tragic event near Hannukah.

“Just takes your breath away, you almost don’t have words, again for what for being at a celebration? It just completely breaks my heart,” says Lavotshkin.

With 15 victims, ages ranging from ten to 87, it was difficult to hear.

However, local Rachael Barkley says she will not hide away from her religion.

“I’m going to show more light, I’m going to invite more people over to celebrate Hanukkah, non-Jewish and Jewish, and yes, it makes me want to share my Jewish religion with everyone that I can,” Barkley says.

Lavotshkin agrees with her not shying away from who she truly is.

“It makes me kind of stand firm. I don’t think more fighting is what’s needed when this kind of thing happens. I think if anything we need to sit down and talk, we need to find peace,” she explained.

They also share what they would say to the two shooters.

“I would tell them to open their hearts and try to believe in love not hate. Hating a person because of their religion is terrible,” said Barkley.

“These are innocent children…these are people just trying to celebrate their traditions…No one is attacking you, and if you feel that way, why is that,” Lavotshkin says.

She also urges people who are scared to pray, listen to their heart, and respect everyone’s expression of love no matter the religion.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Salvation Army in Yuma needs your help reaching its goal in their largest annual fundraiser.

This year is the 135th Red Kettle Campaign which raises money for the Salvation Army for the entire year.

As of Monday, they’ve raised $77,500, but they are still short around $52,000 of their $130,000 goal.

“But just know that all of these dollars, every single dollar, every single penny is helping somebody else in the community that’s less fortunate. And we all need help sometimes in our lives, and it just brings me great joy to be able to continue to serve the community,” said Salvation Army Christmas coordinator Cristina McInnes.

Christmas Eve is the last day of bell ringing. You can register online to volunteer or find volunteers outside several local stores like Hobby Lobby and Walmart to donate.

Families can still help and support through the end of the year by giving online on their website.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Trinity United Methodist Church hosted their 45th Annual Cindy Klein Memorial Handbell Choir Concert over the weekend.

The choir, which took place at the church from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, was formed after the tragic death of Cindy Ann Klein.

The concert welcomed groups of guest performers and began with “He is Born,” which is a traditional French Christmas carol.

Host Michael Finch shared a little bit about Klein saying, “Cindy loved music and sang in choirs and often played the obo and flute. Through memorial donations the first handbills were purchased.”

The carols and songs were individually selected by each member of the choir.

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