Category: kyma-local-news

Wesley Williamson

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) – Massive clouds of smoke were seen across the skies in Yuma County Sunday morning.

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to a call of a trailer fire in Winterhaven near the area of Foster and Arnold Road.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed the fire had expanded to nearby brush.

YFD was able to extinguish the initial trailer fire, but required more resources from nearby agencies.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also assisted in battling the fire.

Capt. Diego Galindo with ICFD says, “We were able to save the main residence, the structure, we did a defensive attack on that. It has spread to a near by brush. Right now, it’s about 50 acres burning from what they reported, we have a potential of about 100 acres.”

BLM has been assigned to extinguish the brush fire, which is currently under investigation.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma County officials are continuing efforts to reduce illegal dumping through expanded cleanup initiatives, free disposal resources and strict enforcement.

Yuma County Public Works says illegal dumping remains a persistent issue, particularly in remote desert areas throughout the county.

“Illegal dumping has been a big issue for Yuma County,” Michael Herrera, Public Works Waste Management Supervisor said. “It’s more in the deserts, here in South County especially. This has been the reason why we have free transfer sites for residents.”

To address the problem, Public Works has spent more than a year working through its “Desert Strong, Yuma Clean” campaign.

The initiative is supported by a nearly $80,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, helping fund cleanup projects, community outreach and expanded disposal options for residents.

While county officials say education and public awareness are important, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office says enforcement also plays a critical role.

“The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) does have a zero tolerance policy for illegal dumping,” Tania Pavlak, Public Affairs Specialist for YCSO said. “If somebody is caught illegal dumping, they can face anywhere from a misdemeanor up to a felony charge. And those penalties can range up to $150,000 in fines and up to two years in prison.”

To help residents dispose of waste legally, Yuma County currently operates five free transfer stations, allowing residents to bring one load of household waste per day at no cost.

“We got five free transfer stations now with this one just being established for Yuma County,” Herrera said. “There shouldn’t be really that much of an issue of people going out there and wanting to dump in deserts. Call Yuma County if you guys have any concerns, any issues about where to dispose of your waste.”

County officials encourage residents to use the free transfer stations, report illegal dumping when they see it and volunteer during community desert cleanup events as part of the ongoing effort to keep Yuma County’s deserts clean.

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Jessamyn Dodd

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – With the general election happening in a few months, News 11 is introducing a candidate running for the Calexico City Council.

Alexis Rangel, a former member of the Calexico Police Advisory Traffic and Code Enforcement Commission, has officially filed for a position on the Calexico City Council.

One of her main focuses is bringing businesses back to the downtown area.

“Regarding downtown, I think that’s where public safety is important also,” Rangel shared. “I know we don’t have that much money to be spending. That’s a reality. But at the same time, police officers on the, on the beat over there deters a lot, could deter a lot of the crime.”

One project she is focused on is a recreation center.

“We need to start talking about that recreation gym for the Recreation Department,” Rangel spoke. “There’s a lot of revenue there we could bring into the city with that, but we’re nor really moving on it.”

Meantime, the City of Calexico is weighing a ban on data centers within city limits.

“I don’t want a data center in my backyard. I completely sympathize with people who don’t want a data center in their backyard…have kids here and I worry about what the potential health concerns are. They’re fairly new…We don’t know,” Rangel expressed. “Maybe down the road we will know. So I definitely want to get the facts before I give a statement on that.”

Candidate filing is open through Friday at 5 p.m., with an extension to August 12 for offices where an incumbent does not seek reelection.

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KYMA News Team

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Residents seeking a career in emergency services can now apply for full-time 911 dispatcher positions that offer a starting pay of $24.52 per hour, according to the Yuma Police Department (YPD).

Recruitment for the roles, which act as the primary connection between the public and emergency responders, opened Thursday.

Applications are being accepted through late Sunday night for the positions, which carry a salary range of up to $31.86 hourly.

YPD is looking for candidates to handle both emergency and non-emergency calls for local police, fire and medical services.

Staff in the 911 center are responsible for entering call information into the Computer Aided Dispatch database. The system allows dispatchers to manage data for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. The role also involves assisting animal control and other area agencies to coordinate help for the general public.

While the current hiring effort is focused on full-time employees, the recruitment process may also be used to fill part-time positions as needed.

Officer Hayato Johnson, who released the recruitment information, stated the position serves as the primary link during emergency situations.

The application window closes this Sunday, August 9, at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time. Residents must complete the formal application process by the deadline to be considered for the current hiring round.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – As summer break officially wraps up and local classrooms prepare to reopen, two El Centro campuses are starting the new school year under a leadership.

Monica Martinez has been named the new principal of Desert Oasis High School and Phoenix Rising High School.

Martinez is a highly familiar face within the Central Union High School District, having dedicated the last 22 years to local schools.

Her professional journey within the district began as an instructional aid, eventually moving up to roles as a classroom teacher, site instructional coach, and most recently, the district’s director of instruction and technology.

Reflecting on her multi-decade career path, Martinez credits her professional growth to the continuous learning environment provided by the district.

“As I go back and I take a look, it’s all about the continued learning that was very important,” Martinez said. “I didn’t really come in here with a plan to say I’m gonna do all of this, but it’s just those opportunities presented themselves, and I’ve seen how all of that has helped me to continue exploring different opportunities.”

Both Desert Oasis and Phoenix Rising operate as alternative high schools, offering non-traditional students a flexible, personalized path toward earning their high school diplomas. Martinez notes that her deep connection to this specific student demographic was forged during her early days in the classroom.

“I really connected here when I was here as a teacher. I got to know the students, I’ve seen their potential, and trying to understand how to best support them,” she explained. “So I guess that’s kind of what led me to say like, ‘Yes, I’m gonna move forward with this opportunity.'”

Martinez shares that her educational philosophy is heavily driven by her dual perspective as both an educator and a mother.

When she was teaching, she strove to treat every student with the same standard of advocacy and care she expected for her own child.

“I guess I always saw it of course from the lens of a teacher, but also from the lens of a parent,” Martinez said. “And I wanted my daughter to make sure that she had the best that she can get, so I’m like, ‘I’m gonna try to be that teacher for whatever reason their parents, or whatever there was something missing there.’ As a parent, that’s what I want for my daughter and for all kids.”

Now occupying the top leadership position at both campuses, Martinez aims to unify her faculty around a shared vision: Combining strong emotional and social support with rigorous academic expectations. She believes alternative education should never mean a compromise on a student’s future potential.

“We want to make sure that all our kids see that we care, that we know them, but at the same time keep the expectations high so that they work towards that and they could see their own potential,” Martinez emphasized. “That we’re here to help them, but at the same time push them to want more and not to see where they’re at.”

Fortunately, she won’t be starting from scratch. Because of her long history in the district, she already shares an established trust with the educators she will now lead.

“I’m familiar with the majority of the staff, so that’s definitely going to be helpful, and the staff is great. They’re extremely caring,” she said. “They understand the alternative population, and we’re here to provide them with opportunities and get them to high school graduation, with the chances of them continuing, whether they’re gonna go to college or going into the workforce, but having options available to them moving forward.”

Looking ahead to the immediate future, the new principal says her primary objective is supporting her team to ensure every individual student’s needs are met.

“I’m excited to work with the students. I’m excited to work with staff. So my role is, of course, to support students, but of course to support staff. We have a lot of services that we provide, so I’m excited to see how that continues to help our students as far as their social-emotional health, but also academically.”

Classes for the entire Central Union High School District officially head back into session this Monday.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A single mother and her eight-year-old son are facing homelessness and are turning to the community to ask for help.

54-year-old Robbin Manell, a Yuma resident seeking help, saying, “To be homeless three times after breast cancer was really tough.”

Manell is a breast cancer survivor who is fighting to keep her eight-year-old son and two dogs safe after facing major health and financial setbacks.

“So I got behind, you know, and I couldn’t keep up with my mortgage on my home. So I put together a GoFundMe so that I could save my home, because not only do I have my child, but I have two animals as well,” Manell said.

After undergoing a bilateral mastectomy in 2023, and experiencing homelessness three times during and after her breast cancer treatment, Manell is now facing another crisis as the home she purchased for stability is in foreclosure, and she fears it could happen again.

“So the house is up for foreclosure in September, but at that point, my son and I won’t have anywhere to go,” Manell said.

After facing one hardship after another, Manell says her eight-year-old son remains her greatest motivation and the reason she refuses to give up.

“It’s disheartening, you know, and my son doesn’t ask. He knows what’s happening, but we are together. What more can you ask for than that? Whether we have a roof over our head or not, or food in our belly, we have each other, and that’s all I can ask for as a parent, you know?” Manell said.

If you’d like to support Manell and her family, click here.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is asking the community’s help identifying a group of young men they said were checking car doors in the College Park area.

YPD said four young men were seen in the College Area on July 9, checking car doors and looking inside vehicles.

Photos released by YPD show the suspects and a white car, and they said they hope the images help someone recognize them.

“It appears they’re about high school age or so. And then there’s some key clothing that was in the images that were captured,” said Officer Hayato Johnson with YPD. “So I mean, I believe there was like a bright green dinosaur backpack that would stand out…It appeared there’s white ski masks used as well.”

Police are reminding residents to lock their car and keep valuables out of sight.

If anyone recognizes the suspects, call YPD at 928-783-4421, or call 78-CRIME at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The sentencing for a Yuma man convicted of shooting his friend has been rescheduled.

20-year-old Keith Simmons was found guilty of negligent homicide and unlawful discharge of a weapon back in June for the August 2024 death of 19-year-old Eduardo Dominguez.

During the trial, Simmons, who was originally charged with second-degree murder, testified the shooting was accidental.

He told the court he and Dominguez had been shooting recreationally before it happened.

Simmons said he handed the gun to Dominguez, and claimed the firearm malfunctioned before it discharged.

Simmons, who is still in custody, will be back in court next Thursday, August 13, for his sentencing.

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Connor Emery

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – Spirit Mountain, a coffee shop in Winterhaven, has recently earned a national certification for its roasted coffee.

The certification called “Made/Produced by American Indians” comes from the Intertribal Agriculture Council. 

The certification confirmed the company’s products are authentically native made and produced by a federally recognized tribal member.

Tudor Montague, the owner and founder of Spirit Mountain, said this certification highlights their coffee.

“For us, it ensures that our customers, when they spend their money in our shop, know they’re getting something that’s authentically made by tribal members or producers,” Montague explained.

Spirit Mountain recently opened their doors after a two-week summer break.

To learn more about their certification, click here.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) said they have received a $5 million dollar grant through the U.S. Small Business Association’s Manufacturing in America E2G Grant Initiative.

In a press release, the grant will invest in “existing technical education programs to train small manufacturers and strengthen the nation’s manufacturing industry,” and AWC said it was one of 11 organizations to be selected.

“Manufacturing has always been about building something that lasts,” said AWC president Dr. Reetika Dhawan. “Through this investment, we are not only strengthening small manufacturers, we are building careers, creating opportunities, and fueling innovation that will shape the future of our communities. At AWC, we are proud to stand alongside industry as a trusted partner in preparing the workforce and businesses that will power America’s next generation of manufacturing.”

The budget, according to AWC, will support their established manufacturing training models, such as the Wellton Manufacturing Training Center and the Manufacturing Business and Automation Accelerator, as they provide a hands-on training and “comprehensive business advisement to small manufacturers and startups across Southwest Arizona.”

“This award represents a strategic investment in the future of manufacturing, workforce development, and economic growth throughout Yuma and La Paz Counties,” said Dr. Shadi Kilani, Executive Vice President of the Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College. “AWC has spent years building the partnerships, expertise, and infrastructure necessary to support manufacturers at every stage of growth. This funding allows us to accelerate that work by combining hands-on technical training, business assistance, and workforce solutions that help companies innovate, expand, and create high-quality jobs throughout the region.”

To learn more about the grant initiative, click here. To learn more about this story, read the press release below.

Arizona Western College receives 5 million grant through Small Business AdministrationDownload

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