2013 Local News Archive Stories

Named by the second-grade students at Alice Byrne Elementary School, Goldie Love was recently announced as the newest staff member at Amberly's Place. A 3-year-old golden retriever, Goldie Love is about to begin her training courses to become a certified therapy dog to help provide extra comfort for abuse victims in Yuma.

Harrier, F-35 group commander departs, new commander welcomedMarines, sailors, civilian employees and community members gathered at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma for an official change of command ceremony Thursday for the incoming and outgoing commanding officers of Marine Aircraft Group 13.During the ceremony, MAG-13 bad

As he prepared to board an airplane Thursday evening to return to Yuma after participating in the national meeting of the Boy Scouts of America, Wade Noble wasn't sure what the reaction will be locally to the organization's vote to lift the ban of openly gay boys in the youth program.Before heading to the conference as one of 12 voti

SOMERTON — Police continue seeking leads in connection with the discovery in February of an infant's body in Somerton's recycling plant.In the meantime, police are disclosing little information to the public about the ongoing investigation.A worker found the body in a plastic bag on Feb. 14 while separating recyclab

Final returns released Thursday show Somerton voters electing political newcomer Carlos Gonzalez and incumbent Miguel Villalpando to two city council seats.Voters in Tuesday's general election also approved a measure allowing the city government to continue setting the amounts of its annual budgets, rather than complying with the low

According to the latest numbers released by the U.S. Census, Yuma's population was less in 2012 than in 2011, dipping from 96,176 two years ago to 95,429 last year for a 0.8 percent loss.City Administrator Greg Wilkinson says that's not necessarily true. He sees it instead as a correction of what he calls a mistake made by the federa

The Island Lake Fire burning about 25 miles northeast of Yuma remained at about 90 percent contained Thursday afternoon, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Smoke will continue to be visible for several days as interior vegetation pockets of the fire continue to burn. The total perimeter of the fire encompasses ab

Maj. Gen. Steven W. Busby (left), commanding general of Third Marine Aircraft Wing, congratulates Lt. Col. Brent Weathers on receiving the Bronze Star. Weathers, an AV-8B Harrier pilot with Marine Aircraft Group 13 and native of Marshall, Okla., was awarded the Bronze Star for his courageous efforts in Afghanistan in support of Operation Endurin

As Yuma area residents and visitors take to the roads and waterways this weekend to celebrate Memorial Day, the Yuma County Sheriff's Office reminds them to be safe, and to never operate a vehicle or boat while intoxicated.“The Yuma County Sheriff's Office would like to encourage all citizens to be safe this holiday weekend,&rd

A full day of local services will honor veterans on Memorial Day.The Rev. Woodie Woodward, senior vice commander of Yuma's American Legion Post 19, said several area veterans' groups are working together to honor their military brothers and sisters.“Too often people wake up in the morning and take for granted the fa

The attorney for Jose Jimenez, who is charged in the death of 29-year-old Christal Figueroa, expressed concern during a hearing in Yuma County Superior Court Wednesday that the intense media coverage of her client's case may affect his chance to get a fair trial here.In doing so, attorney Kristi Riggins of the Yuma County Public Defe

Sentencing for a Tacna man charged with drug and gun-related offenses had to be continued for more than a month when the man's attorney requested a mitigation hearing after learning of the sentence the court intended to impose upon his client.In a brief hearing in Yuma County Superior Court, Superior Court Judge pro tem David Haws in

Wednesday's all-day Go Digital Yuma featured a variety of speakers and workshops to help businesses take their names and products to the next level through digital technology and a social media presence.

The Island Lake Fire, which has scorched about 3,200 acres of vegetation along both sides of the Colorado River on the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge and Picacho State Recreation Area, was about 90 percent contained as of Wednesday afternoon.“We just don't feel completely comfortable calling it 100 percent contained yet,&rdq

Season passes for the Imperial Sand Dunes will still be available for regular duners, but at a higher price, while the plan to increase the price for weekly passes remains unchanged, according to the Bureau of Land Management’s updated plan for the off-roading destination. Under the revised proposal, season passes would cost $150 a

Dr. Dale Feinberg of Yuma made a Civil War presentation Wednesday to seventh-grade students in Tony Harman’s class at Yuma Lutheran School. Feinberg, portraying Confederate Maj. Gen. ZZ Mutazarnik and dressed in an authentic period uniform, is preparing to embark on a cross-country trip to take part in several Civil War

With aspirations that eventually lead to running for Congress, Cibola High School senior Michael Woodson, 18, was recently awarded the Baird scholarship for $40,000 to the University of Arizona.He also received the renewable Wildcat Excellence Award for $6,000 a year and other financial aid to help him cover all but about $1,000 a ye

Two more F-35B Lightning IIs fly overhead before landing at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma on Wednesday, becoming the 5th and 6th aircraft attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121.

Class by class, about 400 students at Crane Middle School were trained on the basics of compression-only CPR as part of National Emergency Medical Services Week.City of Yuma Fire Department public information officer Mike Erfert said the theme of this year's EMS Week, which ends Saturday, is “One Mission, One Team,” encou

Federal agents nabbed a child sex offender as he tried to illegally re-enter the United States early Tuesday.Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector arrested three men in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge near Lukeville. A records check revealed one of them, Jose Gomez-Dominguez, is an aggravated felon with an extensive cr

A man was arrested Monday night after allegedly being involved in a shooting. There were no injuries or property damage reported as a result of the incident.According to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, at about 11:50 p.m., deputies were sent to the 11000 block of South Avenue 9E after receiving a report of shots fired.O

A World War II Memorial is coming to the state Capitol, and the last existing gun barrel from the USS Arizona will be part of its centerpiece.Secretary of State Ken Bennett, who has been active in the establishment of the WWII memorial, said he learned a couple of years ago that a barrel from the famed, fallen battleship still lived,

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett sees the concept of Yuma County's voting centers spreading around the state.“I think they're on the right track down here with these voting centers so that people don't have to be turned away from a voting location because they didn't find their specific precinct, and that any voting cente

The case against a man who allegedly threatened to shoot a woman, kill other unspecified people and then kill himself may be sent back to a grand jury for a second time.During a status hearing before Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Stephen J. Rouff, defense attorney Bill Fox, who represents 23-year-old Gary Smith, said he has filed a mo

Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector arrested a suspected smuggler attempting to transport methamphetamine and cocaine through a checkpoint, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a man wanted on an Alabama murder case.According to agent Kyle Estes, public affairs officer, a man was attempting to drive a Chev