Andrea Turisk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Rotary Club is hosting the 67th Annual Walt Kammann Sausage Fry later this week.
The Sausage Fry is taking place Friday, December 5, at the Yuma Civic Center from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Attendees can purchase tickets online for $18, and the money goes to fund local scholarships.
For more information, click here.
Dillon Fuhrman
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro announced they are hosting their annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Street Fair later this week.
According to a press release, the event is taking place Friday, December 5, at Fire Station No. 3, located at 1910 Waterman Avenue, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Courtesy: City of El Centro
Courtesy: City of El Centro
During the event, the City says there will be food vendors, live entertainment and music, cookie decorating and an appearance from Santa Claus himself.
“Our Christmas Tree Lighting has grown into one of El Centro’s most cherished traditions,” said El Centro Mayor Sonia Carter. “This event brings our community together to celebrate the spirit of joy, kindness, and unity that defines our city. We look forward to welcoming residents of all ages for a night of holiday magic.”
Courtesy: City of El Centro
Courtesy: City of El Centro
In addition, the band TABU will serve as the main headlining band during the fair. The band, according to their website, is from Orange County that specializes in a variety of music, such as Latin, Reggaeton, Pop and Disco.
To learn more about the annual event, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.
Dillon Fuhrman
SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Somerton Community Resource Clinic is hosting the Legal Permanent Residence Renewal Clinic later this month.
The clinic is taking place at the center, located at 214 W. Main Street, Thursday, December 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
According to the center, they are asking those who plan on attending the clinic to bring their updated paperwork.
To schedule an appointment, or for more information about the clinic, call Martha Gonzalez at (928) 315-7910.
Madeline Murray
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Caballeros de Yuma hosted the the 40th Annual Holiday Tower Pageant Lighting Ceremony Saturday night.
The event, which took place at 6:30 p.m. at Desert Sun Stadium, had multiple performances from dance companies all over Yuma, the Yuma Catholic High School choir, and Wendy McKay who sang at the event.
The entry fee to get in was to bring a couple of cans of food to donate to the Yuma Community Food Bank.
Robert Land, the chairman of the event, shared about why they want the community to come out and participate.
“We feel it’s important for the community to have fun. The Caballeros, their chief concern is to make Yuma a better place to live, and so we put on several events a year,” Land explained.
Caballeros de Yuma said they will continue to put this event on every year and there’s no end in sight.
Karina Bazarte
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Spartans wrapped up a perfect 10-0 regular season, earning the conference title in AYF play.
The Spartans kept rolling in Solano County, beating the 10U Oakland Dynamites 7-0 for the Northern California regional title.
Head coach Richard Norwood says the team is ready to represent Imperial Valley in Florida, but need the communities support.
“This is going to be something really special for all the boys. This team is a very special team…We have been together for two years and in the time of the two years, we have been together we have built that bond…that chemistry, that brotherlyhood, stuff that makes this time work,” said Norwood.
The team will be heading to Florida next week. If you would like to support the team, click here.
Paul Vozzella
SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals gathered in Somerton in an effort to raise money for cancer patients.
The Josefina Yepez Cancer Walk-a-Thon brought together a big crowd for a 10 kilometer walk.
The annual event, which took place at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, raises funds to help financially strapped cancer patients and their families in Yuma County pay household expenses.
Over 100 people traveled from San Luis Walk-In Clinic to the Cocopah Casino and back.
Yesenia Grajeda Yepez, Yepez’s granddaughter, shared why her family started the fundraising walk.
“We noticed that…it’s really hard with all the funds and so in her memory. Literally a few months after she passed, we started our first Walk-a-Thon [back] in 2007 and ever since then, we’ve been able to help over 100 people,” she explained.
It was the 19th year the Yepez family has hosted the annual event.
Karina Bazarte
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Law enforcement wants to remind everyone to have a safe holiday season.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) El Centro Sector says their main focus this holiday season is occupant restraints.
Law enforcement says Thanksgiving is typically the busiest travel holiday on the highways.
“We do have a lot of busier stats. For example, last year during the same time frame 312 citations were issued for violations…We had 12 people arrested for driving under the influence on alcohol or drugs and we only had one fatal,” said Lt. Arce Zendejas with CHP.
The holiday enforcement period starts Wednesday evening and continues through midnight on Sunday.
Marcos Icahuate
PINETOP, Ariz. (KYMA) – A woman was found shot in Pinetop, according to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies investigated a murder on November 20 in the area of Bruin Way and Branding Iron Loop.
The woman was identified as 59-year-old Kerri Ann Abatti.
Deputies have no additional updates and the investigation is ongoing.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety awarded a grant to a Yuma organization.
The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) received the grant to support traffic enforcement.
YCSO says enforcement includes ways to focus on identifying impaired drivers and speed violations.
The Sheriff’s Office is committed to promoting roadway safety.
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Many locals throughout Yuma County made their way to the stores to try and get some holiday deals.
According to driveresearch.com, over 70% of people are expected to shop online. Meanwhile, just under 30% are expected to shop in-person.
Some locals say that while it may not be as busy in person, it just doesn’t feel the same.
“I kind of like how it used to be, even though it was more chaotic and you were like waiting in line for long periods of time, it felt more special,” said local Black Friday shopper Isabella Olin.
However, Kim Peralto-Gee, a first time Black Friday holiday shopper, said the whole experience still made her a bit nervous.
“Anxious, anxiety level kind of high, and felt like I was suffocating in the store, it’s okay though…we enjoyed the deals,” Kim says.
Meanwhile, Alexandra and Isabella Olin have some advice on how to better prepare for black Friday shopping.
“You can look up what things you want in advance so you’re not caught up in the chaos of shopping,” said Alexandra.
While Isabella says Black Friday isn’t just about the big pictures items.
“Take advantage of Black Friday to buy things that I would normally buy anyways, so like if there’s like a sunscreen that I need or something like that, if I run out of it like the week before Black Friday, I’ll wait until Black Friday to get it,” Isabella says.
