Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attended the first Smoke & Fire BBQ Fest over the weekend.

The event, organized by Destiny Christian Church, took place Saturday at noon, and was presented by Jeff and Christine Stoner of Yuma Electric Service.

During the event, there was a kids area, live music, photo ops, and even cooking stations where people were cooking ribs.

Alysia Schweda, the spokesperson for the festival, shared why the hosted the event.

“We’ve been doing world missions for 25 years with World Ignite Network, and they take care of orphans and the underserved overseas in Southeast Asia, but we decided this year, we want to do more than that. We wanted to make sure that the Yuma community is taken care of as well,” Schweda explained.

Schweda says 70% of the proceeds goes to World Ignite Network while the other 30% goes to local organizations, such as Crossroads Mission, Children’s Museum of Yuma County and Gateway to the Heart.

The event lasted until 10 p.m.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The family and friends of an local Vietnam War Veteran came together to honor his legacy.

The ceremony took place at Armed Forces Park, near Downtown Yuma, at 9 a.m. Saturday, and it was to remember Lance Cpl. Kent Hansen.

During the ceremony, a bloodstone was unveiled not only to honor Lance Cpl. Hansen, but to honor the men and women wounded in all of our wars.

Some of Hansen’s family and friends spoke fondly of him, and shared how his death affected them.

“I don’t have the words to tell you…what a hole he left in my life. The only thing I can try to do is fill it up for my caring and love for him, but it’ll still be a hole,” said Greg Long, a Veteran.

Also during the ceremony, the names of those who were killed in Vietnam and other wars were read, with a bell ringing each time their name is called.

In addition, the ceremony continued with a dinner for his platoon, which took place at 5 p.m.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Community members and students came together this weekend to raise money and awareness for a great cause.

The Gila Ridge Student Council (GRSC) hosted the Miles for Childhood Cancer 5K Run and Walk at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 7 a.m.

All proceeds from the event went to the AdvoKATE Foundation, and runners were encouraged to wear yellow in support for childhood cancer research.

“I danced with Kate growing up, so it’s really nice to pour back into this foundation, cause they pour so much into us…No matter the outcome, I’m just happy to be bringing awareness and fundraising as much as we can for them. Obviously, shoot for the stars, go as high as we can, get as much as we can,” said Hayden Bailey, Student Body Treasurer for GRSC.

Community members were also invited to participate in event activities other than running or walking to help raise awareness.

The event lasted until 11 a.m.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man pleaded guilty in a shooting which left one person injured.

36-year-old Lorenzo Casillas was accused of shooting a man twice last year near Arizona Avenue and 32nd Street. The victim survived the attack.

Casillas was originally charged with multiple counts, including attempted first-degree murder, before entering the plea.

He now faces a presumptive sentence of 7.5 years in prison, with a range from five to 15 years.

Sentencing is scheduled for next month.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health has made significant advancements in robotic surgery and is now receiving recognition from a major biotechnology company for its efforts.

The hospital has been designated by Intuitive as an official Epicenter Case Observation Site, a distinction that highlights both the scale of its program and the expertise of its medical team.

The recognition reflects over six years of development within the hospital’s robotic surgery program.

“What it does is recognizes the fact that we are a high-volume center with multiple robots, and more specifically, and importantly, that we have highly-trained competent surgeons and staff that are able to show others best practices and ways that they should be building their programs,” said Jake Childs, President of Hospital Operations.

As part of this designation, surgeons and healthcare professionals from across the United States will travel to Yuma to observe and learn from Onvida’s approach. The training will provide a look at the entire surgical process, from beginning to end.

“How we, for example, get patients in and out of the room; how the team prepares patients to go in and out, and then, of course during surgery, how the operations are performed,” explained Dr. Simon Lavotshkin.

The hospital currently operates seven robotic systems that are utilized by surgeons. Through this infrastructure, Onvida is able to train visiting surgeons on each phase of robotic-assisted procedures, offering a detailed understanding of workflow and technique.

“Building up a program is tied to all of those things that everyone wants when they have a surgery…lower risk of infection, lower risk of blood loss, lower risk of hospitalization, increased recovery time,” Childs remarked.

Robotic surgery at Onvida Health has contributed to improved patient outcomes, including reduced risks of infection, minimized blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times.

These benefits are central to the hospital’s continued investment in the technology and its commitment to advancing patient care.

“Expansion for us doesn’t necessarily mean buying that eighth or ninth robot. It goes back to a lot of what I said, is where are we using them, how are we using them, what procedures are allowed to be done on them,” Childs explained.

During Onvida Health’s time utilizing robotic technology, it has performed over 8,500 robotic-assisted surgeries.

With its new designation, the hospital is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping how robotic surgery programs are developed and implemented nationwide.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Kofa High School Law and Public Safety CTE Advisor Eric Frost earned a major honor, being selected as the SkillsUSA Arizona Advisor of the Year.

Frost received the honor after he was nominated by students and his instructional leader. Kylie Mackall.

The award honors teachers for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to students and their program.

“It was a surreal night,” said Frost. “My family was there. My wife was there and my children were there to see that. It was a big honor for me…I don’t do it for the recognition. I’ve never really put myself out there. It’s really about empowering my students, so to see that my students took that effort, and to be able to read those nominations and what they actually said, it choked me up a lot.”

The award is well-deserved, as Frost has led the high school’s law and public safety team to three consecutive national titles.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local elementary school students recently stepped into adult roles for a day through United Way’s “BizKids” program, an initiative designed to give young participants a firsthand look at what it means to be a working citizen.

The program allowed students to visit local businesses that sponsored the event, where they explored various job roles and gained insight into the responsibilities and opportunities within their community.

In preparation for the experience, students completed a 16-week curriculum at their schools that focused on practical, real-world skills.

This included activities such as mock job interviews and exercises intended to build confidence and familiarity with professional environments.

The hands-on approach aimed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-life application.

Mallory Edgar, Executive Director of United Way Yuma County, emphasized the importance of early exposure to these experiences.

“Having the experience of going through a mock interview, there’s some people that, you know, they never interview for anything until they’re an adult and they’re going for their first job interview…our goal is for them to stay local, and contribute to Yuma County,” she expressed.

The BizKids program is primarily open to fourth and fifth grade students.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local residents will have the opportunity to stay active while supporting a meaningful cause this weekend as the Gila Ridge Student Council hosts a 5K walk and run event.

The event is scheduled to take place at the high school’s Veterans Memorial Stadium from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Advokate Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families affected by childhood cancer.

Participants are encouraged to wear yellow to show their support for childhood cancer research and to help raise awareness for the cause.

Kristan Sheppeard, founder and board member of the Advokate Foundation, expressed appreciation for community-driven efforts like this event.

“We’re really grateful when organizations like the Gila Ridge Student Council put together the events that help the awareness continue, as well as raising funds because our organization still supports families in Yuma that are dealing with this today, and will continue to deal with it in the future,” Sheppeared shared.

The event is open to the public and requires a cash-only registration fee, with entry costing $10 for students and $15 for other community members.

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Lynette Niebla

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Do you have unused or expired prescription medications you need to get rid of? If so, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are partnering to host the biannual National Take Back Initiative this Saturday.

Residents have the opportunity to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications completely free and anonymously at YPD headquarters. The service will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1500 S. 1st Avenue.

“All you got to do is come by the station, drive up…you don’t even have to get out of your car,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin with YPD. “We’ll be waiting there and we’ll take everything that you have.”

It is important to note that YPD will not accept syringes, sharps, liquid products, or illegal drugs “due to the hazardous conditions they pose during the disposal process.”

The initiative, a familiar fixture in Yuma County, is designed to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs and help combat addiction.

Nationwide, Take Back Day has removed more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications from communities across the United States.

Beyond clearing space in your medicine cabinets, the event also helps keep residents safe from potential theft.

Sgt. Franklin noted that for “winter visitors” preparing to return home for the summer, leaving drugs behind creates a risk.

“Somebody breaks in [and] they’re gonna get their hands on it,” Franklin said. “These are narcotics. We don’t want them to get into the wrong hands.”

The San Luis Police Department will also be hosting a take-back event this Saturday.

If you cannot make it to either location, local pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS offer year-round kiosks to dispose of medication properly.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Becoming Project, a Calipatria-based nonprofit, has introduced its Youth Civic Engagement Initiative.

The campaign focuses on increasing voter registration among high school seniors ahead of the upcoming June 2 primary.

Launched on March 22, this initiative runs until May 20, wrapping up just before high school graduations and the statewide primary.

Its goal is to inspire Imperial County youth to engage in politics and vote, addressing the county’s historically low rates of voter registration and turnout.

By fostering a friendly competition among neighboring high schools across Imperial County, the initiative aims to show seniors that they have the potential to become local leaders and politicians as they enter adulthood.

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