Great Clips Yuma location open for business

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals got the chance to get their hair cut Saturday as Great Clips held a grand opening for their Yuma location.

The grand opening took place at the salon, located at 2383 W. 24th Street, Suite 115, at 8:00 a.m., and the salon held a special grand opening price of $6.99 haircuts.

“As an Arizona native, I’m grateful for every opportunity to serve the communities where my salons operate, and I’m thrilled that now includes Yuma,” said salon owner and Great Clips franchisee Sally Bell. “With this new location, we’re excited to bring Yuma residents — and winter visitors — the convenience and affordability that Great Clips is known for, and we look forward to becoming an active and supportive part of the Yuma community.”

The grand opening will go until 6:00 p.m. The Yuma location’s hours are as follows:

Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If anyone wants to schedule an appointment, they can check in online or through the Great Clips app.

Click here to follow the original article.

Quick Refrigeration boosts Arizona Western College HVAC programs

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On December 5, Quick Refrigeration made a generous contribution to Arizona Western College (AWC) Foundation to establish the Ricardo “Ric” Daniel Memorial HVAC Scholarship.

The endowment will honor the life and legacy of Quick Refrigeration’s longtime General Manager, Ricardo Daniel, who served the company for more than 35 years before he passed from pancreatic cancer.

AWC Presidential Candidate Dr. Reetika Dhawan attended the event, and spoke about how this new scholarship will truly help the students.

“This means a lot to the students, and thank you so much to you and your family for the contribution,” Dr. Dhawan expressed.

The check was presented at 7:00 p.m. during Quick Refrigeration’s Christmas celebration, marking its 70th anniversary.

Click here to follow the original article.

Walt Kammann’s 67th Annual Sausage Fry

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On Friday, December 5, at the Yuma Civic Center, people gathered to celebrate the 67th Annual Walt Kammann Sausage Fry.

With live music, slideshows and even a Santa performer for kids, the event was lively and fun for all ages.

Jeff Kammann says that it’s an amazing opportunity to carry his grandfather’s legacy in such a way.

“It really has a place in my heart because my grandfather started this, and so, for me to carry on the tradition that this has been going on for that long, it’s really a great thing,” Kammann expressed.

The sausage fry has been a staple since the late 1950s, helping support future generations while bringing Yuma together for a simple, classic meal.

Click here to follow the original article.

Fourth Annual Imperial Giveback Event returns this weekend

Danyelle Burke North

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – It’s time for Imperial’s Fourth Annual Giveback Event!

The event is Sunday, December 7 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific at Cheval Farms in Imperial Valley. Families can enjoy over 40 local vendors excited to give back to the community, all completely free!

They will also have raffles and a toy drive going to local kids in need at CASA and Imperial Valley Children’s Coalition.

“It’s completely free! All we ask, if you can, to bring an unwrapped toy for the toy drive. And then with that, so if for every toy you bring, you do get a raffle ticket, and that raffle ticket is your chance to win a bunch of prizes, so I mean maybe Santa’s going to bringing a PS5. Who knows,” said Giveback Event organizer Rudy Leyvas.

Event organizer Leyvas says the year hasn’t been easy for some, and he hopes this Sunday gives them a chance to relax, have fun, and forget about the busyness of life.

Click here to follow the original article.

City of Yuma launches regional holiday food drive challenge

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is launching a regional holiday food drive challenge to support the Yuma Community Food Bank.

The food drive runs from now until December 19, and includes participation from Yuma County, the City of San Luis, the City of Somerton, and the Town of Wellton.

The Cocopah Tribe will also be collecting donations. Each jurisdiction will collect non-perishable food donations and deliver them to the Yuma Community Food Bank.

“The challenge is going to be which organization can collect the most food, and we base it on pound, so it’s the heaviest, and we’re going to really determine that by the number of employees. So if we have 1,200 employees with the city of Yuma, we’ll divide it by the pounds,” said Deputy City of Yuma Administrator Jennifer Reichelt.

The Yuma Community Food Bank serves thousands of homes each month and sees increased need during the holiday season.

“One of the things that they ask for right now are canned foods…nonperishable things that are going to be like staple fresh that won’t go bad for a long period of time,” said Reichelt.

The city collected over 700 pounds of holiday food items for the food bank for last month’s Frozen Turkey and Ham Drive, and they hope this challenge will help even more.

“This challenge was just for us to kind of get all together and do a meaningful impact for the community. And once our community gets together, we truly make a big difference,” said City of Yuma Public Information Officer Christian Magana.

If you’d like to help, you can drop off nonperishable food items at municipal facility donation boxes around Yuma County, like Yuma City Hall, or donate directly to the food bank.

Click here to follow the original article.

Arizona universities receive regents grant from state board

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Board of Regents announced Thursday it will give regents grant worth $3,000,000 to the local branches of Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University.

“I want all three working together because they all bring complimentary expertise,” said Paul Brierley, Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

They will award $1,000,000 a year for the next three years.

This new hub will prioritize tri-university agriculture research and collaboration. This grant is meant to advance resilient and sustainable farming practices.

“There’s a real threat to agriculture from the water cutbacks and everything else, and how can we keep agriculture sustainable and productive, and so that’s the challenge here with this opportunity statement,” Brierley says.

Arizona State Senator Tim Dunn (R) says it’s all about continuing to advance AG in our area.

“[The] grant is one thing, but actually getting the research and making sure that we’re continuing to improve our soils and the ability for us to ship and provide Americas safe produce,” said Sen. Dunn.

Brierley explains how and why Yuma can be the future of AG not just for the state, but for the nation.

“The three universities all have a presence here, AWC is here as a great partner, it has the broadband network that’s connecting all the farm fields with high speed broadband, it has progressive farmers that are really interested in the newest and latest technology,” Brierley says.

The meeting highlighted how Yuma’s agro-business continues to develop.

Click here to follow the original article.

Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne visits Gowan Science Academy

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On Thursday, December 4, State Superintendent Tom Horne visited the academy to recognize their excellent academic performance.

He toured the school and its classrooms and gave several speeches to the children in class. He considered these children future leaders of Arizona’s education and commended them for their successes.

The academy’s math rate is 56%, nearly double the state average of 31. For Language Arts, their average is 66% compared to the state average of 40%.

Horne presented the school with an Exemplary Academic Achievement Award plaque, recognising progress, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence.

Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne presents Gowan Science Academy Principal Alissa Guevara with an award.

Click here to follow the original article.

Previewing the Hams for Heroes Drive next Monday

Eduardo Morales

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

The event is being put on by the “K-9 OPS Foundation,” and the foundation’s president, KC Hoffman, says they are here to support local heroes.

“What we want to do is give them the chance to either keep them for their family or give them to someone that they feel needs it more than they do,” Hoffman says.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Blackwell, the General Manager of Z93 and and Outlaw Country Radio, shares why it is important to help out those who consistently help others.

“Our heroes give so much of themselves to each of us every single day and a lot of ways we never realize and it’s important that we think of them, the holidays can be difficult, and this is one way where they really might feel appreciated,” said Blackwell.

The drive is happening next Monday, December 8,  from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Foothills Walmart. We’re a proud sponsor of this drive, along with  Z-93 and Outlaw Country. 

For more information on the drive, you can reach out HERE.

Click here to follow the original article.

Previewing the local Farm Film Festival

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On Tuesday’s homegrown report, we are previewing the upcoming Farm Film Festival in Downtown Yuma.

The festival is set to highlight Yuma’s massive impact on the world’s agricultural landscape.

People will be able to learn more about the technology and this driving economic industry.

It will also show how Yuma supplies over 90% of America’s leafy greens during the winter months, and other important statistics.

The festival will take place on Thursday, December 11th at the Historic Yuma Downtown Theater.

Click here to follow the original article.

SNAP changes could affect thousand of Arizonans

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” changed multiple requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP.

One of the main changes is raising the age limit from 54 to 64 for people who must work, train, or volunteer at least 80 hours a month.

Julie Tay, a Yuma local, says that’s not possible for some people. 

“A lot of people aren’t able to keep working till they’re 64 and can collect social security and stuff, they’re trying to make it with minimal income,” says Tay.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has also threatened to cut  federal funding from democrat led states.

Secretary Rollins says it’s because of their alleged refusal to share SNAP program data with the Trump administration.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobb’s press secretary, Liliana Soto, released this statement:

“This latest threat from Secretary Rollins is a dangerous attack on Arizonans…The Trump administration is yet again weaponizing food assistance for political gain. Instead of focusing on political games, the administration should prioritize making sure people don’t go hungry,” says Soto.

Click here to follow the original article.