SECOND HALF OF 2025 TAXES ARE DUE

CANYON COUNTY, Idaho – Canyon County Tax Reminder: 2025 second-half property taxes are due soon! While Idaho Code §63-903 sets the deadline for June 20th, the weekend gives you a little extra time. Payments are due by Monday, June 22, 2026. To avoid automatic late fees and interest, your payment must be received in the office or postmarked by June 22nd. Check out the guidelines below to make sure you’re covered:

• Canyon County offices will be closed on Friday, June 19th for Juneteenth. Please plan ahead if you intend to drop off your payment in person.
• A 2% late charge and 1% interest, retroactive to January 1, 2026, will be applied to payments received after the deadline.
• Payments may be made in person during office hours, Monday through Friday,        8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For other payment options, please visit the Canyon County Treasurer’s website, https://www.canyoncounty.id.gov/elected-officials/treasurer/, or via the automated phone system at (208) 718-5186. Note: there is a convenience fee of 2.39% when using a credit card or 1% when using a debit card. No part of this fee is retained by Canyon County.
• Drop boxes for payment are located inside the main entrances of the Administration Building. These are not accessible outside of business hours.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

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For more information, please contact the Treasurer’s Office at 208-454-7354.

UPDATE: CANYON COUNTY CORONER TO CONDUCT AUTOPSY IN FATAL TWO-VEHICLE CRASH IN CALDWELL

CANYON COUNTY, Idaho – Idaho State Police are investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash that occurred
Monday, June 8th, 2026, at 9:20 p.m., at the intersection of East Linden Street and South Kimball Avenue in
Caldwell.

A silver 2011 GMC Sierra driven by a 28-year-old male from Guatemala was driving westbound on E Linden St. A
white 2007 Pontiac G6 driven by a 35-year-old male from Caldwell, Idaho with three juveniles in the vehicle was
driving southbound on S Kimball Avenue. The GMC failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the Pontiac in
the intersection.

The driver of the Pontiac succumbed to his injuries on scene. The three juveniles in the Pontiac were transported by
ground via ambulance to a local hospital. The driver of the GMC was transported by ground via ambulance to a local
hospital and was later arrested and booked into Canyon County Jail.

The Canyon County Coroner has identified the driver of the Pontiac as 35-year-old male, Miguel Vasquez, of
Caldwell. He succumbed to his injuries on scene. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the extent of those
injuries.

The Canyon County Coroner’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Miguel, who
tragically lost his life in last night’s fatal vehicle collision. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and
friends during this difficult time,” said Jennifer Crawford, Canyon County Coroner.

This crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police. The link to the original release by the Idaho State
Police can be found here.

For more information, please contact Steve Cushman
at (208) 614-5011 or steve.cushman@canyoncounty.id.gov.

REPEAT GANG SHOOTER RECEIVES TWELVE-YEAR SENTENCE

Caldwell, Idaho – May 29, 2026 – Lazaro Vela was sentenced today in Canyon County District Court for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement in connection with a gang-related shooting in Nampa. Prosecutors requested a thirty-year concurrent sentence, with twenty of those years fixed.

On September 1, 2022, Vela – a member of the Brown Pride Surenos (BPS) street gang – pulled a handgun and shot a Norteno gang member three times in the parking lot of the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Nampa. Brian Moreno, a Norteno, then shot innocent bystander Joe Flores in an attempt to retaliate. Moreno was previously convicted of first-degree murder in February 2026 for that shooting.

In 2023, a year later, Vela was involved in another gang shooting in Grove Plaza parking lot in Boise. He fired several rounds into a group of rival Norteno gang members during a confrontation in the Grove Plaza parking lot. A 16-year-old female juvenile was struck in the arm, suffering a gunshot wound and non-displaced fracture. Another victim was possibly struck as well. In that case, Vela was convicted at trial by an Ada County jury and sentenced to twenty years in prison with ten years fixed.

This was Vela’s second gang-related public shooting, and prosecutors recommended a minimum of thirty years of prison with at least twenty before becoming parole eligible. Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Boyd stated: “This man has actually shot people in two separate gang shootings in public places in our community. He presents an unacceptable risk to take with our citizens’ lives, and incarceration is the only way to protect them.”

Although the prosecutor requested a thirty-year concurrent sentence, Judge Gabriel McCarthy sentenced Vela to seven years fixed followed by five years indeterminate, to be served consecutive to the Ada County sentence.

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CANYON COUNTY CORONER IDENTIFIES INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN FATAL VEHICLE CRASH IN CALDWELL

CANYON COUNTY, ID — The Canyon County Coroner has identified the victim of a tragic two-vehicle collision that occurred on Monday, May 25, 2026, in Caldwell, Idaho. The deceased has been identified as Juan Amador Lopez, a 24-year-old male out of Homedale. According to the coroner’s report, Amador Lopez sustained blunt force injuries as a result of the crash and succumbed to his injuries on scene.

The incident occurred near Simplot Boulevard and Farmway Road, where the vehicle driven by Mr. Amador Lopez crossed the center line colliding head on with a Kenworth commercial vehicle. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends during this difficult time,” said Jennifer Crawford, Canyon County Coroner.

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For more information, please contact Steve Cushman
at (208) 614-5011 or steve.cushman@canyoncounty.id.gov.

CANYON COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO PURSUE PROPORTIONATE COST SHARING IN MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTION CONTRACT WITH CITY OF CALDWELL

CALDWELL, ID – The Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today its intention to pursue
proportionate cost sharing in its misdemeanor prosecution contract with the City of Caldwell.
Cities are required by Idaho code to fund their own misdemeanor prosecutions.
Currently, Canyon County taxpayers pay about 2.4 million dollars to service all misdemeanors
county-wide. Last year, the City of Caldwell accounted for 22.9% of that workload, but under
the previous contract reimbursed only 7% back to county taxpayers.

Chris Boyd, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney, requested a proportionate cost share this
year. “We worked with Nampa last year and they now do pretty reasonable cost-sharing with us.
I appreciate Caldwell’s understanding that costs need to be fairly reimbursed,” Boyd said.
Caldwell’s full reimbursement cost last year would have been $569,114, but Caldwell paid just
$350,425. Other Canyon County taxpayers paid for the remainder.

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For more information, please contact the Director of Constituent Services,
Steve Cushman at (208) 614-5011

Melba, ID – Starting Friday, May 22nd, 2025, the Celebration Park boat ramp will be reopened to all access, as the
Phase I Boater Improvements project have been constructed. Improvements include new ADA access, parking lot
and pathway improvements, new boat ramp, docks, and gangways. The $600,000 project was funded in part by an
awarded $377,638 Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation (IDPR) Waterways Improvement Fund (WIF) grant.

*Please Note: The boat ramp area will be closed again for Phase 2 barb construction during later summer annual
low water flows. A brief closure of the boat ramp is anticipated to commence in August, 2026 to complete Phase II
of the Celebration Park Boater Improvements Project. Phase 2 will further improve and protect the motorized
boating facility. Work will consist of redesign and construction of an armored barb to protect the Phase I boat
ramp and dock improvements and prevent river scour and erosion. A $275,000 project, is funded in-part by a
$265,540 Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Waterways Improvement Fund grant award. Construction of
this final phase is expected to be completed later this fall. Updates will be posted on the website at:
www.canyoncounty.id.gov/parks

“For over 3 decades, this boat ramp has functioned as a boater access for the Snake River downstream of Swam
Falls Dam, including river access within the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation Area. This
boater access spot has been used by local fishing guides, jet boat groups, law enforcement, and the public for
decades” said Parks Director Nicki Schwend. “This project includes an upgraded, ADA-accessible design that will
help us better meet the needs of all boat user groups. We’re excited for this project and for all the continued
improvements happening at Celebration Park.”

For questions about this project or for construction updates, please contact Canyon County Parks at 208-454-
6884, or call the Celebration Park visitor center at 208-455-6022.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

5/20/26

Update: Autopsy Results from Nampa Man Found in a Canal South of Caldwell

Caldwell, ID – The Canyon County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy earlier today on the 62-year-old Nampa man who was recovered from a canal yesterday by the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office. The results of the autopsy indicate that Robert W. Nourse died from drowning due to compromising health conditions that prevented him from swimming to safety after falling into the water.

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For more information, please contact the Director of Constituent Services,
Steve Cushman at (208) 614-5011.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3^, 2026

 CANYON COUNTY WELCOMES JOSE OROZCO AS ITS NEWEST DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE PROBATION

CALDWELL, ID — Canyon County is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jose Orozco as the county’s newest Director of Juvenile Probation, effective April 2, 2026.

Jose had previously served as the county’s interim Director of Juvenile Probation, bringing over 25 years of experience in Juvenile Probation and 15 years’ experience with county government. Together with his team, Jose is proud to continue spearheading the department’s mission to protect the community and emphasize accountability and resilience for Canyon County’s youth.

Outside of the role, Jose considers himself a dedicated adventurer and family man, with some of his most exciting memories being his recent trips with his wife to Guatemala and Belize.

Learn more about Jose, his team, and the mission of Canyon County’s Juvenile Probation Department on our website.

Link to Website: https://www.canyoncounty.id.gov/elected-officials/commissioners/juvenile-probation/

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For more information, please contact Nathan Jones, Canyon County Communications Specialist by email at Nathan.jones@canyoncounty.id.gov or by phone at (208)-614-5012.

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