Yuma Sun
Breaking ground
Comité de Bien Estar has officially expanded into Somerton by launching construction of a townhome complex in the northwest part of the city. On June 9, organization officials, city leaders and local guests celebrated the groundbreaking of Somerton...
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Road cleanup
Yuma County CERT volunteers spent the day helping Emergency Manage‑ ment clean up South Frontage Road near Fortuna Road, clearing debris and improving one of the community’s busiest corridors. Their work is part of an ongoing effort to keep Yuma County...
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Quechan Tribe celebrates Father’s Day early
About 350 people attended Saturday’s Father Day’s Celebration at the Quechan Community Center in Winterhaven. Michael Jack, parks and recreation director for the Quechan tribe, said the event was intended to be a fun day for fathers and their...
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Somerton, Cocopah mark 25 years of unified fire department
Somerton Cocopah Fire Chief Javier Hernandez still remembers the day the department was born. He was one of six Cocopah firefighters hired 25 years ago when the City of Somerton and the Cocopah Indian Tribe merged their fire services – a partnership...
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Unsung hero continues family tradition
When residents take their trash to the curb to be picked up on Monday and Tuesday, the furthest thing from their mind is probably who is going to pick up their garbage. Joseph Herrera, a heavy equipment operator with the Yuma Solid Waste Department,...
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Biosolids processor offers behind-thescenes look as the local debate rages
As the debate on biosolids rages online among Yuma County residents, local biosolid processor Agtech on Monday gave a behind-the-scenes look at what biosolids are, how they’re produced and how they are being used in some of county fields. Biosolids...
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Water Safety Day
Yuma residents beat the heat on Saturday, June 6, at the Yuma Valley Aquatic Center, on Water Safety Day, which included free swimming for the community. Ryan Dusek, a pool manager at the facility, explained the purpose behind the event, which was...
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Firefighters train for worst‑case scenario in nighttime rescue drill
Yuma firefighters spent Wednesday night inside a smoke‑filled former hotel, running a high‑intensity rescue drill designed to prepare them for one of the most dangerous situa‑ tions in the fire service – locating and saving a lost or disoriented...
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Future heroes
Middler schoolers had the chance to observe “heroes” in action while exploring healthcare careers during a summer school program. Exceptional Community Hospital hosted a specialized facility tour for 75 students, teachers and chaperones participating...
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Brush fire burns 2 acres along river
Firefighters from the Yuma Fire Department contained a brush fire along the Colorado River on Wednesday evening after flames spread through dry vegetation north of Levee Road. Firefighters were dispatched around 7:20 p.m. to the 200 block of North...
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Touch a Truck
On Saturday, the parking lot of the Chick‑ fil‑a in Yuma turned into a kid’s dream with the Touch‑a‑truck event, which allowed kids to get up close to first responder vehicles, meet local “heroes” and explore all the lights, sirens and big trucks they...
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Law of the River being looked into by city officials
The 2007 Interim Guidelines that govern how the Colorado River’s Lower Basin shares shortages are set to expire at the end of the year, leaving the seven basin states divided over what should replace them, Yuma Assistant City Attorney Rodney Short...
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Tails are wagging again: Bark Park reopens after repairs
For the first time in more than a month, the familiar chorus of barks, jingling collars and morning chatter drifted back across the Bark Park on Saturday. After five weeks of silence and construction dust, the city’s only off‑leash haven at 1705 E....
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Yuma firefighter turns vintage 1978 fire engine into community tap truck
When Yuma Proving Ground firefighter Raul Carlos bought a 1978 Pierce fire engine off Facebook Marketplace last November, he realized he wasn’t just picking up a vintage truck – he was taking on a mystery. Carlos, owner of E7eight Tap Co., said he...
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
More than 200 graduates received diplomas at the 113th annual commencement held May 22 at Yuma High School. There were tears of happiness and hugs, as they bid farewell to the campus they had called home for the last four years. Before the...
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Yuma Catholic’s Class of 2026 walked through the green light under the bleachers at Ricky Gwynn Stadium and onto the grass for the final time on Friday, May 22, 2026, as 126 seniors turned their tassels in front of friends and family. The Shamrock...
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
The graduation ceremony for the San Luis High School Class of 2026 was held May 22, marking the end of an important stage in the students’ academic journey and an achievement they will treasure for a lifetime. The Sidewinders football field served as...
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Families, friends and faculty members gathered Friday, May 22, to celebrate the Class of 2026 at the Kofa High School graduation ceremony held at Irv Pallack Stadium. “From those first days of high school to this very moment, I’ve had the privilege of...
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Editors note: Check out upcoming editions of the Yuma Sun as we showcase each high school’s graduation ceremony. The Class of 2026 graduated on Friday, May 22, completing their studies at Harvest Prep Academy and celebrating the milestone alongside...
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
The Class of 2026 at Gila Ridge High School closed out an exceptional year of achievement, with seniors earning acceptances to more than 40 colleges and universities. More than 120 students received scholarship offers, and 100 graduates finished with a...
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Editors note: Check out upcoming editions of the Yuma Sun as we showcase each high school’s graduation ceremony
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Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Graduates from the Cibola High School Class of 2026 walked the stage and earned their high school diplomas on Friday, May 22. Amidst the smiles, tears and speeches, the students shared their final moments as a class together, surrounded by friends and...
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Vista High School celebrates 2026 spring graduation
Editor’s note: Check out upcoming editions of the Yuma Sun as we showcase each high school’s graduation ceremony. Vista High School honored 53 graduates during its annual spring commencement on Wednesday, May 20. Yuma Union High School District...
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Adrian Chavez and Karina Medina bring a motorcycle ministry to Yuma
For many residents of Yuma, finding a sense of community means looking beyond the traditional four walls of a church. For the founders of the Yuma chapter of Iron Sharpens Iron, a motorcycle ministry with chapters across the country, fellowship is best...
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STEDY Class of 2026 celebrates grad night
Teachers, school board members, students and families of the Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma gathered on Tuesday evening to celebrate the achievements of its career and technical education students during the Class of 2026 graduation...
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Yuma School District One and YPG partner to replace aging James Price Elementary
Local leaders, military officials, and community members gathered at the Yuma Proving Ground to break ground on the new James D. Price Elementary School, marking the beginning of a much‑needed update for the aging school. The project, which has been...
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Warm winter triggers early, aggressive melon virus outbreak in Yuma fields
The spring melon season in Yuma is facing a formidable challenge this year as a significant outbreak of destructive yellowing and mosaic viruses sweeps through local fields. Agricultural experts report that these plant diseases have arrived much...
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Bringing innovation to downtown
Once used as a railroad site, the City of Yuma has for quite some time been developing a concept for Old Town South as part of its Innovation District. The district is an exten‑ sion of Main Street and will identify vacant prop‑ erties for...
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AWC celebrates 2026 graduates
Arizona Western College held its Spring 2026 Graduation Ceremony Friday night, celebrating one of the largest graduating classes in the college’s history. Held at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the ceremony recognized students from across Yuma and La Paz...
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Yuma remembers fallen officers
As the evening sun faded over the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex on Friday, law enforcement officers, families and community members gathered at the Fallen Officer Monument for the 49th Annual Peace Officer Memorial Day Services, hosted by the...
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Peyton Ortiz helps give LGBTQ+ people a voice and sense of community
Alocal business owner has spent the last several years working to ensure that every member of the Yuma community feels they have a place to belong. Peyton Ortiz moved to Yuma roughly a decade ago, and while she spends her days running a local...
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Honoring fallen agents
Border Patrol agents, families and local law enforcement gathered Wednesday morning at the Yuma Sector Headquarters on South Avenue A for the 2026 Law Enforcement Memorial, a ceremony held to honor agents who died in the line of duty. The event began...
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Motorcycle club makes donation to YCSO Explorer Program
The Devoted Few Motorcycle Club donated $1,000 to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program during a check presentation Monday night, offering support that leaders say will help the program continue to grow. Cpl. Eric Cisneros, who helps over‑...
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Gethsemani resumes large-scale food assistance events in San Luis
The Gethsemani Church distributed nearly 120,000 pounds of food during its first large community assistance event in almost two years, following an agreement to end a legal dispute with the San Luis city government. The parking lot at San Luis Middle...
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Yuma firefighters complete annual swift‑water rescue training on Colorado River
The Yuma Fire Department wrapped up its annual swift-water rescue refresher Thursday morning, completing six days of training designed to keep more than 120 firefighters proficient in river operations before the summer recreation season begins. Fire...
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Tanks for the Memories
Families filled the Yuma Readiness and Community Center on Saturday night as mothers and sons gathered for the city’s annual themed dance. This year’s event, “Tanks for the Memories,” brought a playful mili‑ tary flair to the venue, framed by the...
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Port being prepared for major modernization construction work
The work currently visible at the tourist port of entry in San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico, is only the preparation phase for the larger construction project that will bring new buildings and expanded capacity for entry into Mexico. Jesús Moreno, the...
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May the Fourth Be With You
Those who attended the May the Fourth Be With You movie night at the Yuma Historic Theatre were not the run-of-the-mill movie fans. These were Star Wars aficionados. The May 4 event featured a screening of “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes...
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Charro celebration marks Cinco de Mayo in Somerton
The commemoration of the historic feat of May 5, 1862, when the Mexican army defended the country against the French invasion, once again took on the tone of a charro celebration with the traditional event held by the Espuelas de Oro Association. On...
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National Nurses Week
As the Yuma medical community prepares to observe National Nurses Week, healthcare professionals across the region are taking a well-deserved moment to reflect on the challenges, rewards and everyday realities of a famously demanding field. Jason...
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Cleaning San Luis’ ‘backyard’
San Luis, Ariz. – The second cleanup day in the desert area adjacent to the city of San Luis showed that the practice of dumping trash and waste in uninhabited areas will be difficult to eradicate unless it is more strictly penalized. On Saturday,...
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Building a wall
After six weeks of wading through the red tape to build a wall at the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center loft, it has started to take shape. On Saturday seven Yuma Rotarians started the process of putting the wall up, but it will not be complete until a...
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Autism Awareness
Families and community members spent Saturday morning at the Yuma Police Department’s first Autism Awareness event at the Public Safety Training Facility. The event was created with people who have intellectual and develop‑ mental disabilities in...
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Happy 100th birthday!
At 100 years old, Ray Evans is the oldest active member of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Posse. A third‑generation Arizona native, Evans served in the U.S. Navy from 1944–1946 aboard the Fleet Tug USS Jicarilla. He and his wife, Marlene, have shared...
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Kids take over YPG for a day of learning and fun
Between 250-300 children had the unique opportunity to join their parents or grandparents at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground Thursday for the second annual Bring Your Child to Work Day. The adults affiliated with YPG, either as soldiers or civilians,...
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Inside Cibola High’s aesthetics class
This school year, there’s been a new career and technical education course at Cibola High School: aesthetics. Not in the sense of philosophy, but rather, cosmetology – skincare and beauty, to be precise. It might not seem like an obvious CTE offering,...
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San Luis firefighters serve up pancake breakfast
The San Luis Fire Department hosted the 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast in Fire Station 1 on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Attendees enjoyed free pancakes made by firefighters as well as a morning filled with activities, live demonstrations, games and prizes.
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The true austere tropics: why tropical testing is topical
When most think of the tropics, they picture Hawaii with its sandy beaches, swaying palms, and endless sunshine. However, Hawaii is sub-tropical, and the true austere tropics are places like Panamá in Central America and Suriname in South America,...
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From 4-H roots to flower fields
In a field that served as a quiet pasture for over 30 years, a vibrant transformation is taking place. Sunflowers with white, yellow and black centers now sway alongside cosmos and zinnias, marking the latest chapter in a family legacy. For Skylar...
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Yuma celebrates America’s 250th birthday
Well over a thousand people attended Saturday’s Yuma Salutes America 250–a star-spangled celebration at Desert Sun Stadium. Musical acts were homegrown Bobby Mcclendon, Parmalee and headliner Randy Houser. Mayor Douglass Nicholls said the event...
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Festival of the Arts big hit with Yuma’s kids
Scores of Yuma parents and their children came out to the Children’s Festival of the Arts Saturday on Main Street. The event featured food stalls, activities and performances up and down the street, which was closed to car traffic. LEFT: Eventgoers...
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‘Build the Red Wall’ rally in Phoenix
President Donald Trump joined Erika Kirk at Dream City Church in north Phoenix for Turning Point Action’s “Build the Red Wall” rally Friday to show support for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.
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Bill would ban drones near events; critics cite free speech concerns
PHOENIX–IT’S being promoted as a measure to protect public safety. Sen. Tim Dunn said the operators of Phoenix International Raceway came to him with concerns that drones over their events could become a hazard if they fell into a crowd. So the Yuma...
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A single mom, Veronica Shorr embodies community service
Empowering a community is something that can take someone full circle. Veronica Shorr is a native Yuman who embodies this ideal in her work every day. “Being raised in Yuma by a single mom, I relied on a lot of social services to really become who I...
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Yuma High School librarian cultivates welcoming atmosphere, student input
Cait Zaksheske’s path to the Yuma High School Library began to open up early on in her life. “My mother is a librarian,” she said. “When I was growing up, she was a children’s librarian, so I literally grew up in the children’s section of the library....
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Food, music highlight San Luis Asado & Brew Festival
The Asado & Brew Festival, held Saturday at Joe Orduño Park in celebration of San Luis Founders’ Day, brought together food, music and family-friendly activities for the community. Organized by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the event...
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YFD palm tree rescue training
Recruits with the Yuma Fire Department’s 26-1 academy class took part in hands-on palm tree rescue training last week, learning specialized techniques used in fire suppression scenarios. The training, led by members of the department’s Tactical Rescue...
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Sinkhole closes portion of Ave B, vehicles trapped in flooded area
A sinkhole forced the closure of Avenue B between 22nd and 24th streets on the morning of Saturday, April 11. At about 3 a.m., emergency crews responded to reports of a vehicle submerged in a flooded area near West 24th Street and South Avenue...
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Change in leadership
A Marine Corps tradition was on display at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma as leadership changed hands during a relief and appointment ceremony on Friday, April 10, 2026. The ceremony marked a change in the base’s top enlisted leader, known as the...
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Allegations leveled against council candidate
A Yuma City Council candidate running unopposed in this year’s election faced several allegations from Jan. 1, to April 15, 2025, when he was a Yuma police lieutenant. The YPD investigated Henry Valenzuela on the allegations of unbecoming conduct,...
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Arizona sees nation’s steepest drop in food stamp recipients
PHOENIX – A higher percentage of Arizonans have been knocked off food stamps since Congress approved HR 1 than any other state in the nation, according to a new study. The report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities says participation in the...
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Residents share opinions on Somerton’s vision toward the year 2032
Public hearings for the “Imagine Somerton 2032” Strategic Plan, focused on the city’s vision and identity, were held with strong participation. The Think-tank Open House events were held over a twoday period last week at the Community Center as part...
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Training the trainers
Twice a year, the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma carries out Weapons and Tactics Instructor training. On Monday, this training was performed in a Foreign Humanitarian Assistance exercise, simulating maneuvering and landing in urban...
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Fun at the Yuma County Fair
As the 74th annual Yuma County Fair came to a close Sunday, fairgoers left with another year of memories made through carnival rides, livestock shows, fair food, music and time spent together at one of Yuma’s longest-running traditions.
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Livestock auction
More than 530 animals were sold Saturday at the Yuma County Fair livestock show. Of the more than 530 livestock, 381 were larger animals, like sheep, goats, steers and many others. Before the large animal auction began, exhibitors made last moment...
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Wind and spirits stay high at fair
Dianalynn Romberg glowed on Friday afternoon as she looked around at more than a dozen children crafting creatures at the LEGO Experience table that she and her husband run at the Yuma County Fair. “These might be our next engineers,” Romberg...
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Families flock to rides, games and fun at fair
From gentle children’s attractions to thrill rides that soar more than 100 feet in the air, families found plenty to enjoy Thursday at the Yuma County Fair. The midway was busy with fairgoers taking in carnival rides, games, livestock events and...
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Demo Derby brings mangled metal to fair
Fans eager to see crumpled chrome packed the stands Wednesday night as they watched contestants vie for first place at the Yuma County Fair Demolition Derby. There was a surprise upset at the end between the two finalists, Nos. 11 and 199. After the...
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Fair unfolds with many shades of excitement
Artist Vincent Rensel was among hundreds of people dusting off tools and setting up materials as the general public started to stroll onto the Yuma County Fairgrounds late Tuesday afternoon, as the Yuma County Fair opened up to the general public. The...
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