Category: kyma-local-news

Samuel Kirk

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The greens were buzzing with excitement Saturday morning as local golfers hit the course for a cause.

A community golf tournament at Cocopah RV & Golf Resort brought together 13 teams, all swinging for a shared goal: Supporting the Somerton Senior Center.

The event, held under clear skies and sunny weather, raised nearly $3,000 for the center, which provides vital services, meals, and programs for local seniors.

Brad Arnn, the resort’s pro shop supervisor who helped run the tournament, said it’s something he genuinely enjoys.

He said, “I love running it. It’s what I do. It’s something I enjoy to get people to go out there and enjoy themselves. A lot of people don’t golf, but this gets them to golf and really enjoy the game.”

The day included a friendly competition on the course, plenty of smiles, and a chance for participants of all skill levels to bond over the sport.

Organizers say they hope the tradition continues, and grows, with each year.

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Adrik Vargas

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Calexico is marking a major milestone this week: 117 years since it was officially incorporated.

To honor the occasion, city leaders invited the community to City Hall where there was a proclamation to mark its 117th anniversary.

Local groups, such as the Calexico Women’s Improvement Club, also showed up to celebrate and show their continued support for the city.

“We have a community that’s concerned about what’s going on, and we want to be here to assist with the improvement of the community,” said Rosalind Guerrero with the Calexico Women’s Improvement Club.

City officials reflected on the city’s history that helped shape it into what it is today.

Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – For more than 50 years, the Sure Helpline Center has been a lifeline for individuals across Imperial Valley facing crisis situations, including survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Johana Ramirez, lead advocate at the center, says callers can expect support that’s immediate, compassionate, and rooted in healing.

“They will assist you in the best way they can by providing crisis intervention, coping skills, or techniques that will help you reduce anxiety, or feelings of sadness,” Ramirez said.

She also shared that even something as simple as a brochure has made a life-saving impact.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the center is continuing its mission to raise awareness and offer safe, judgment-free support.

Ramirez hopes the community will better understand the realities survivors face, especially the fact that abuse often comes from someone close.

With resources, education, and empathy, the Sure Helpline Center reminds survivors that they are never alone and they deserve peace, love, and healing.

If you or someone you know needs help, call the Sure Helpline Center’s 24-hour support line at 760-352-7873.

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Marcos Icahuate

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A man was found dead after a hit-and-run, according to Calexico Police Department.

On April 17, at about 6:19 a.m., officers were told of a man down on State Route Highway 11 south of Jasper Road.

Officers found the man unresponsive near the east shoulder of the highway. The man was pronounced dead on scene.

Investigative reports say the man was hit by a vehicle while standing near the shoulder of the highway close to his parked car. The vehicle that hit the man fled the scene.

Investigators believe the suspect’s vehicle is a black Volvo semi-truck and may have received significant damage to its right front bumper and fender.

Police say this case is being investigated as a vehicular homicide.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call the Calexico Police Department Investigations Bureau at (760) 768-2140.

Adrik Vargas

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Parents and Little League players gathered outside Calexico City Hall to demand safer, updated parks for the city’s children.

The rally, which took place before the City Council meeting, was sparked by concerns that many parks in Calexico are unsafe and unusable.

Families are urging city leaders to prioritize park improvements rather than removing or demolishing them.

Jessica Perez, President of the Calexico Baseball Network, spoke during the meeting, highlighting the consequences of the city’s current park conditions.

“Not only are there consequences for the children of Calexico that still don’t have safe parks, but it could also have severe consequences in our city,” Perez said.

City Council members acknowledged the concerns and mentioned that past planning decisions had complicated efforts to improve the parks. However, they reassured the community that they are actively working on solutions for the future.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Residents across Yuma County, along with winter visitors, participated in the “Hands-Off” protest Saturday morning.

The protest, hosted by Yuma County Indivisible, happened at 9:00 a.m. on the corners of Fourth Avenue and 16th Street, near Sprouts and Del Sol Market.

This is the second protest this month where people across the country are responding to the Trump administration’s policies regarding healthcare, Social Security, civil rights, and more.

“We don’t want to slip into authoritarianism, and it’s a slippery slope for democracy. You have to stand up for democracy. For everybody,” said Darlene Erwin, one of the organizers of the protest.

According to Erwin, over 400 people attended the protest earlier this month, and said she was expecting over 100 people to attend Saturday’s protest.

Erwin also said they will be holding another protest next month. To learn more about the upcoming protest, click here.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Crane Elementary School District has increased the amount of pay for its employees by 2%.

“To know that you are valued as a person and valued as an employee makes a great difference,” said Neomi Pharmes, a seventh grade teacher at Crane Middle School.

This brings the minimum wage from $15.00 to $15.15.

New teachers at the district can now make $61,100 their first year.

Pharmes shares what this wage increase means to her.

“With the cost of living increase and those things that are happening to us on a daily basis, that helps us. It helps let us know that you see us and hear us, and you feel the thing that we go through daily,” said Pharmes.

Sheila Mendoza, the principal at Salida Del Sol Elementary School, says this wage increase makes it easier to retain some of their best teachers.

“We know we have some great staff and some great teachers, and for us to just be able to retain them and have competitive salaries, so that we can attract and keep them here,” said Mendoza.

The better pay also allows the teachers to invest more into their students as well.

“It helps us with the rewards and the things that we want to do for the children. They do amazing jobs. When we put a high ceiling on them, they actually try to meet that high ceiling, and sometimes they emet it and exceed it,” said Pharmes.

Since 2016, the Crane School District has increased pay for educators by 53% and and 42% for other non-classroom teachers.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Make-a-Wish grants a local teen’s Can-Am wish helped grant a local student’s wish.

Yuma local Rico Montemayor was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 13-years-old.

“I went blind in my left eye in the seventh grade, so they took me to the hospital at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital to have brain surgery. After that, I had six weeks of radiation. Four weeks in, I had my second brain surgery, and that’s when they nominated me for the Make-A-Wish,” said Rico Montemayor.

Montemayor wished for a four-door Can-Am that would give him and his brothers freedom of adventure anytime they chose.

“I grew up in the counties, so off-roading was everywhere, and I loved being outdoors and to off-road, so having a Can-Am of my own is very exciting,” said Montemayor.

Make-a-Wish says this year, they are working to grant more than 475 wishes in the state of Arizona. 

“The wish is really their time to just be a kid and to get to do what they love. And for Rico, that’s riding around in a Can-Am,” said Director of Project Wishes Mathew Wall.

As part of the wish reveal, Rico and his family got to tour the Dixxon Flannel Warehouse in Phoenix and got some free clothes and as well as their brand new ride.

Montemayor says he’s thankful to Make-a-Wish grants a local teen’s Can-Am wish and the Dixxon sponsor for making his wish possible.

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Fire Department is looking for some much-needed help from the City of Yuma.

The department voiced their concerns at a City of Yuma work session on Tuesday night.

A third-party consultant provided an in-depth presentation on the current issues and statistics YFD is facing.

The findings addressed issues with response times, aging equipment, staffing levels, and service demands.

Third-party consultants are experts fire departments use to improve fire safety practices and compliance with regulations.

“The third-party consultant was a tool to help the city identify the needs of the fire department, help council work on their budgetary issues, and overall, I think it was a success. It helps us better serve the community and that’s what we want,” says John Dunbar, a local firefighter and Union Officer.

Over 50 firefighters were in attendance.

The firefighters believe their message was well-received by the City Council.

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A program in Yuma could help you learn more about the plants in your garden, house plants, and trees.

The Master Gardener Program allows people to do a variety of things such as harvesting food for the food bank.

Members can also help out in the community garden, and the “U-Pick” events.

Bobi Kress, local Master Gardener, shares why she enjoys the program.

“Gardening in Arizona, that’s a whole different ballgame, and I needed help and I reached out and found Master Gardeners who were kind enough to come out and go through my garden,” said Kress.

The program starts on May 22 and ends on September 4, and will be on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.