Category: kyma-local-news

Wesley Williamson

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Calexico invites all to join their annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Thursday, November 19, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Calexico City Hall, 608 Heber Avenue.

Enjoy an evening filled with holiday cheer, including pictures with Santa, The Grinch, Mickey & Minnie Mouse, raffles, food vendors, fun activities, music, and more!

Also special performances by La Chambita, Grupo Los De La Torre, John Leo, The CHS Mighty Bulldog Marching Band & Drumline, and Calexico Recreation dance classes.

Bring the whole family and don’t forget your lawn chairs!

For more information, contact the Calexico Recreation Department at 760-768-2176.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is visiting Yuma County Tuesday ahead of the November 3 election.

During her visit, Rep. Grijalva will stop at Ed Pastor Elementary School in San Luis to recognize the winners of the Congressional student art competition and educators for their achievements, her office said.

After that, the congresswoman will stop at a Head Start facility, operated by WACOG, in Somerton to “meet with staff to discuss the Trump Administration’s efforts to gut Head Start and the potential impacts on children, families, and educators,” her office shared.

Later in the day, her office said Grijalva will participate in a roundtable with Arizona Western College students. To learn more about this story, click here.

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Connor Emery

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is participating in a roundtable with Arizona Western College (AWC) students Tuesday afternoon.

According to her office, Rep. Grijalva and the AWC students are discussing higher education and college affordability.

In addition, they are also discussing the America’s College Promise Act, legislation she, along with other Democratic lawmakers, such as Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), introduced to “expand access to tuition-free community college,” her office said.

Earlier in the day, the congresswoman visited Ed Pastor Elementary School in San Luis to recognize the winners of the Congressional student art competition and educators for their achievements, her office said.

She also stopped at a Head Start facility, operated by WACOG, in Somerton to “meet with staff to discuss the Trump Administration’s efforts to gut Head Start and the potential impacts on children, families, and educators,” her office shared.

To watch the livestream of the roundtable, see attached video.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) – The three men who accepted a plea deal for being involved in a robbery were sentenced in Imperial County.

Emmanuel Contreras, 25, and Ernest Martinez, 23, received the same sentence of three years in state prison while Elijah Roberts, 24, was sentenced to two years due to the fact he’s serving three years in a separate case.

The three men accepted a plea deal last month for taking part in a violent robbery, which left one person hospitalized.

Veronica Henderson, Contreras’ attorney, said he received credit for 352 days served.

Depending on how prison officials calculate the credits, Contreras could serve about one more year if they qualify him for time off for good behavior.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to encourage screening and remind people to pay attention to changes in their health.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than two million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Julie Dance, a certified nurse-midwife specializing in women’s health at Onvida Health, said annual wellness visits are an opportunity to discuss breast health and recommended screenings.

She also encourages people to contact their health-care provider if they notice a change or something doesn’t feel right, rather than waiting for their next appointment.

Yuma resident Claudia Rodriguez knows how important it is to speak up. At 32, she didn’t expect to have breast cancer, especially without a family history of the disease.

After a co-worker encouraged her to get checked, Rodriguez was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. She underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy, with support from her family and partner.

Rodriguez now shares her experience to raise awareness and encourage others to check their health.

Breast cancer survivor Lori Roy also turned her experience into a way to help others. Diagnosed in 2018 at age 48, Roy documented her journey through poetry and writing. That work became her book, “Four Stages,” which explores diagnosis and surgery, treatment, recovery, and grief and acceptance.

Both women urge people facing cancer to seek support and be kind to themselves. Their stories also carry a shared reminder: If something doesn’t feel right, reach out to a healthcare provider.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma residents will soon have a new way to support local nonprofits through the Giving Machines, coming to the city for the first time.

The red kiosks work like vending machines, but instead of buying something for yourself, you can choose items to donate to people in need.

The machines are part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Light the World campaign. Donations will benefit four local nonprofits: Amberly’s Place, United Way of Yuma County, Safe House and the Food Bank.

Mallory Edgar, Executive Director of United Way of Yuma County, said the event is an opportunity to raise awareness about the work local nonprofits do.

Supervisor Jonathan Lines said the project makes it easier for people to give back to their neighbors during the holiday season.

The Giving Machine will be at Yuma Palms Mall in front of Harkins from November 16 through November 29.

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Connor Emery

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – The San Pasqual Valley Unified School District hosted its red ribbon walk to kick off red ribbon week.

The “Hero Walk” involved students from elementary to high school to share the importance of staying drug free, and the school district hopes these messages can influence students throughout red ribbon week and in the future.

“So those little messages, I hope, start when they’re small and it carries on as they get older so that they know, like there’s other options out there. There’s healthier ways to express when things happen in your life,” Adina Alvarez, the school district’s community liaison said.

Students had signs and heard from key speakers in the high school gym that drugs are not the answer.

Superintendent Richard Cordero said this walk shows students that not every hero wears a cape.

“Well, I think it’s important for people to realize why things are happening and the importance of just saying no to drugs and how drugs really affect people. I think this week’s events or activities that are scheduled, just a constant reminder to the student that they’re important,” Cordero said.

One student, Reva Barley, shared saying the important takeaway she got is that drugs can ruin the special moments with people close to you.

“I think it’s important because drugs can ruin your life and ruin the moment that you can’t get back with people. And I think staying drug free is the important thing to do,” Barley expressed.

Another student, Genavecia Denard, who was leading the walk emphasized signs of peer pressure when it comes to saying no to drugs.

“Being peer pressured to do drugs is actually not good. And I would actually encourage people to say no. And even walk away from that and that you can always say no, even if it doesn’t make you look cool or anything,” Denard remarked.

The school district said this walk is part of a long-time tradition.

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Andrea Turisk

WELLTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Association of Realtors (YAR) and the Town of Wellton are celebrating the completion of a new playground slide.

The new playground slide, located at Butterfield Park, was made possible through an over $7,000 grant from the National Association of Realtors.

YAR members, Town of Wellton representatives and community partners came together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completed project.

For the Town of Wellton, the new slide represented another opportunity for families to enjoy one of the community’s recreational spaces.

Wellton Press ReleaseDownload

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Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Get ready for a spooky good time! Keller Williams is set to host a Trick or Treat event at the Keller Williams office in Yuma.

This free event is open to the public and will be held Friday, October 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Keller Williams Yuma office, located at 2553 E. 24th St., the day before the Halloween holiday.

Bring the kids and bring the family for all the trick or treating fun!

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Mayors’ International Bike Ride celebrated its 10th year Saturday, bringing cyclists and communities together across the U.S.-Mexico border.

The free, family-friendly event began at Desert Hills Golf Course in Yuma, taking riders through communities including Somerton, Gadsden and San Luis before offering participants the opportunity to cross into Mexico and finish in San Luis Río Colorado.

More than 500 riders registered for this year’s event, which brought together cyclists, mayors and elected officials from across the 4FrontED region.

Martin Porchas, chairman of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors, was mayor when the first ride took place. He said the event has grown beyond what organizers initially expected.

“It’s a good event that it brings the whole county together, plus our neighbors across the border,” Porchas said. “I remember we were probably about 100 [riders] when we the first year that we did it. We were excited. We knew it was going to grow, but we didn’t actually, you know, think that it was going to grow this big. But it’s been great.”

What began with approximately 100 riders has developed into a regional tradition focused on bringing people together across city and international borders.

The 10th anniversary highlighted the event’s continued growth and its role in showcasing the communities that make up the Yuma region and its neighboring communities in Mexico.

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