Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why a longtime college coach is taking over Yuma Catholic football

Coming up on the Yuma Patch calendar: Art in the Park 2026

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday December 19th Patch AM
Friday December 19th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good day Yuma! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why a longtime college coach is taking over Yuma Catholic football
  • Where to catch Yuma’s drive-through Tunnel of Lights this weekend
  • How a $606M border project could reshape the Yuma sector

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Doreen C.!

Find out what's happening in Yumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Yumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 52 degrees.
  • Saturday: Sunny and very warm, temps: high: 78, low: 53.
  • Sunday: Sunny with near-record warmth, with a high of 78 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Arizona high school football coach tracker: Schaetzle in at Yuma Catholic (azcentral.com) — Yuma Catholic High School has promoted longtime assistant and Yuma native Marty Schaetzle to head football coach, making him the program’s third leader in three years. After decades coaching at the college level, he now takes over a 5A powerhouse built by former coach Rhett Stallworth, aiming to keep the Shamrocks’ winning tradition strong for local fans and families.
   

2. Harvest Preparatory puts on "Tunnel of Lights" in San Luis and Yuma (kyma.com) — Harvest Preparatory is turning its Yuma campus into a drive-through “Tunnel of Lights” where families can enjoy student-made holiday displays by donating cash or canned food to help local people in need. More than 600 students helped design scenes inspired by Christmas traditions worldwide, and Yuma’s event runs nightly December 19–23, giving residents a festive, charitable outing close to home.
   

3. Border Wall Contractor Says $2B Federal Award Package Sets Stage for 2026 Construction (enr.com) — Major new federal border projects will bring extensive construction to Arizona’s Tucson and Yuma sectors, including new barriers, patrol roads, and security systems over the next three years. A Tennessee contractor plans to ramp up hiring and equipment across the Southwest as work begins in early 2026, signaling a long-term return to active border infrastructure building after several years of slowdown.
   

4. Filling farmwork jobs is hard. Will Trump wage cuts make it even harder? (azcentral.com) — Yuma’s $3.2 billion winter farm economy, especially lettuce and lemon harvests, relies heavily on cross-border and H-2A visa workers whose pay could drop under Trump administration wage changes. Local growers and advocates warn lower wages may still attract desperate workers but strain families, threaten smaller farms, and ripple through Yuma businesses that depend on the harvest season.
   

5. Arizona leaders call out tariff supporters in the state (kyma.com) — Yuma community and Democratic leaders are warning that Trump-era tariffs are driving up local living costs, from groceries to coffee, and squeezing small businesses like a Yuma coffee shop that imports beans from Mexico. Speaking in the Foothills, they criticized several Republican gubernatorial hopefuls for backing the tariffs, arguing the policies threaten local farms, exports, and family budgets.
   

📸 Around Yuma

Feedback image
📸 Dotty the Jack Russel spotting her New Ho ho ho hat! —Doreen C. Like

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

NEW: Like a shout-out or pic? Click the heart!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Yuma

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Saturday January 10
  • Art in the Park 2026
    Gateway Park, E 1st St & S Gila St, 250 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma
    10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events
    Saturday December 20
  • GRHS Choir Concert Community Fundraiser
    Cibola High School GRHS Performing Arts Center
    6:00 pm

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • UPDATE: He wanderes into the house at around 2 am this morning!
    He's not talking about it Not sure when he got out. Approximately 4 year old tuxedo neutered male cat. No collar but he is microchipped. Name is… (Nextdoor Yuma Foothills)
  • Hello!
    My wife and I just moved to Yuma. We looked on meetup.com and were looking for groups to join and play board games or have coffee but we didn't… (Nextdoor Vista Del Valle)
  • Golden Corral posted a job opening for Meat Cutter in Yuma. Apply here.
  • Tractor Supply posted a job opening for Team Member in Yuma. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Yuma here.

Ok Yuma! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Yuma