Celebration Park Boat Ramp Area Reopening After Construction November 10th, 2026

Melba, ID – Starting Tuesday, November 10th, 2026, the Celebration Park boat ramp will be reopened to all access, as the Phase II Boater Improvements project has concluded. Improvements include new construction of a barb barrier to protect against erosion of boat ramp infrastructure, and planting of native vegetation. This project was funded through the Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation (IDPR) Waterways Improvement Fund (WIF) grant.

“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 location has been used by local fishing guides, jet boat groups, law enforcement, and the public for decades” said Parks Director Nicki Schwend. “The entirety of this project includes an upgraded, ADA-accessible design that will help us better meet the needs of all boat user groups. The new ramp is two feet longer and several inches deeper than the old ramp, and the extended dock system will accommodate additional users. We’re excited for this project to come to a finish, and for all the continued improvements happening at Celebration Park.”

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

Man Who Fired at Caldwell Officers During High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Life in Prison

CALDWELL, Idaho — Alfredo Paz, 50, was sentenced today to life in prison for repeatedly firing a handgun at Caldwell police officers during a high-speed chase through Caldwell in September 2025. District Judge Davis F. VanderVelde imposed the sentence on October 29, 2026. Under the terms of Judge VanderVelde’s sentence, Paz will not be eligible for parole for 27 years.

On September 25, 2025, Paz fled a routine traffic stop in Caldwell, driving at speeds up to 80 mph while repeatedly firing a handgun at pursuing officers. After crashing his car, Paz got out and raised the gun toward officers before he was shot in the buttocks and taken into custody.

On July 21, 2026, Paz pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to two counts of assault with intent to commit murder on a law enforcement officer, two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of eluding a peace officer, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He also admitted a persistent violator enhancement.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Haws asked the court to impose a fixed life sentence, arguing that Paz posed an intolerable risk to law enforcement and the community. Paz’s defense attorney asked the court for a lesser sentence, pointing to generational trauma and urging the court not to let Paz become another statistic of institutionalization.

But Judge VanderVelde was not persuaded. He imposed life in prison with 27 years fixed. “You have regularly throughout your life endangered the lives of members of our community,” he told Paz. He also credited the officers’ bravery and restraint, which preserved Paz’s life despite his repeated attempts to shoot them.

“Police officers risk their lives for us every day. This case shows exactly what that means,” Prosecuting Attorney Chris Boyd said. “Anyone who comes after our officers will face the full force of my office.”

Boyd thanked the Caldwell Police Department for its investigation, as well as the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Nampa Police Department, and Idaho State Police for their investigative support.

Canyon County Man Sentenced to Up to 30 Years in Prison for Using AI to Create Sexually Exploitative Material of a Child

CALDWELL, Idaho — A Canyon County man was sentenced today to up to 30 years in prison for using artificial intelligence to create sexually exploitative material depicting a teen he knew.

Third District Judge Bradly Ford sentenced Adam Pettibone, 39, to 10 years fixed followed by 20 years indeterminate for one count of Producing Sexually Exploitative Material of a Child, a felony under Idaho Code § 18-1507(2)(c). Pettibone previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

Pettibone took photographs of the teen from Facebook and used artificial intelligence software to turn them into pornographic videos. Police discovered the material after a traffic stop in Greenleaf in May 2026. During the stop, officers also found extensive handwritten material describing Pettibone’s desire to violently sexually abuse young children and infants.

In a statement, the victim told the court about the toll the defendant’s conduct had taken on the victim’s life. “Think about what it means to look at yourself and feel disgusted, not because you did anything wrong, but because someone else chose to violate you,” the victim said. “I deserved to trust people without wondering what they might do with that trust. And I deserved to have my childhood and my dignity respected.”

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Garrett Swenson asked the court to impose a 30-year sentence, with 10 years fixed followed by 20 years indeterminate. The defendant’s attorney asked for a sentence of five years fixed followed by 10 years indeterminate.

Judge Ford stated that in his 29 years on the bench, he had never read anything as dark as the writings found in Pettibone’s car. He said he was “deeply concerned” for the safety of the community, noting that Pettibone had repeatedly written about and carried with him statements expressing a desire to sexually abuse children, including newborns. Ultimately, Judge Ford agreed with the prosecutor’s recommended sentence of 30 years, with 10 years before the defendant will be eligible for parole.

“People who sexually exploit children are among the most heinous and vile offenders our office prosecutes. This defendant took innocent photographs of a minor and twisted them into something unspeakable,” said Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd. “I want to thank the Wilder Police Department and the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication and outstanding work in bringing this defendant to justice.”

Martin Landing Camping Closed for the Winter Season – October 31^st, 2026 – April 2027

Beginning Saturday, October 31^st, 2026, Martin Landing Campground will be closed to all camping for the duration of the winter season. The main campground area will be gated and closed to vehicles and Campers. Walk-in access for day use, wildlife-viewing, and legal hunting and fishing activities will continue to be available year-round, though camping is also prohibited in the walk-in and day use areas.

Martin Landing is expected to reopen for camping in April 2027. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Martin Landing Campground and fishing access, please contact:

Idaho Department of Fish and Game – 208-465-8465
Canyon County Parks, Cultural & Natural Resources – 208-454-6884 – parks@canyoncounty.id.gov

Early Voting begins in Canyon County This Week

Caldwell, Idaho – Canyon County is gearing up for the upcoming general election, early voting begins October 19th, 2026, and runs through October 30, 2026.

Canyon County residents who would like to cast their in-person ballot prior to election day can visit the Canyon County Elections office at 5815 Graye Lane in Caldwell, or Nampa City Hall at 411 3rd Street S in Nampa from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until October 30th. Additionally, the Canyon County Elections office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday October 24th.

Voters can check their voter registration status at voteidaho.gov. If voters have changed address since they last voted, they will need to update their voter registration.

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For more information, please contact the Canyon County Election Office at (208) 454-7562.

The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Division is offering ten free boating safety courses over the next several months. The courses will be held at least once a month through March 2027, with the final one scheduled for Saturday, March 20. Classes will be held at the Canyon County Marine Patrol Office, 12974 Iowa Ave. (Lake Lowell Park), in Nampa. Attendees will learn general information about boats and maintenance, tips to make their boating experience safer, and how to be a more courteous boat operator. Boaters will also learn about Idaho laws and regulations associated with owning and operating a boat.

Attendees who complete the one-day course will receive a NASBLA boat safety card that is recognized in all 50 states. Attendees may bring lunch, snacks, and drinks, but each course includes a one-hour lunch break.

Those interested can register for the course by completing the registration form below or by emailing Sgt. Jason Roberts at jason.roberts@canyoncounty.id.gov.

Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sexually Abusing a Child

CANYON COUNTY, Idaho — Juan Cardoza, 24, was sentenced October 9, 2026, to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing a young child by Third District Judge Gabriel McCarthy. The Defendant was prosecuted by the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.

Beginning in 2022, Cardoza sexually abused a 9-year-old child on multiple occasions in Canyon County and photographed the abuse.

In July 2026, Cardoza pleaded guilty to one count of Lewd Conduct with a Minor under Sixteen. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child sexual abuse material in a separate case brought by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.

At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kyra Venecia asked the Court to impose 25 years fixed followed by an indeterminate life term.

“The risk that this Defendant poses to our community is immeasurable,” Venecia told the Court. “It will be gambling the safety of any child the Defendant can have access to either in his life or online.”

Judge McCarthy imposed a total of 20 years fixed followed by 20 years indeterminate.

“I’m not going to take a long time to explain how truly evil your criminal conduct has been,” Judge McCarthy told Cardoza. “You have sick and deviant sexual impulses and desires. You are a continuing danger to young children.”

“The Court is familiar with the lifelong damage these crimes cause,” the judge added.

Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Boyd said, “No punishment is great enough for someone who abuses children in this way but I hope that this judge’s lengthy prison sentence brings some comfort to the victim and their family.” Boyd also thanked the Nampa Police Department and the Idaho Attorney General for their diligent work in bringing him to justice.

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 Wrong-Way Drunk Driver Sentenced to Life in Prison for Crash That Killed 20-Year-Old Gabriela Gonzales

CANYON COUNTY, Idaho — Kaleb Lancaster has been sentenced to life in prison with 26 years before becoming eligible for parole for the drunk-driving crash that killed 20-year-old Gabriela Gonzales and injured two others earlier this year.

On February 6, 2026, Lancaster got behind the wheel of his Ford F-250 with a blood alcohol content of .253—more than three times the legal limit—and drove the wrong way down Interstate 84 between Nampa and Caldwell. He struck a sedan driven by Gonzales’ boyfriend, killing Gonzales, who was a passenger in the vehicle, and seriously injured her boyfriend. Lancaster also injured another individual in a different vehicle.

At sentencing, members of Gonzales’ family delivered emotional victim impact statements. “Not only did Lancaster take her life, he completely destroyed our whole family,” Gonzales’ sister told the Court. “She had a beautiful soul.”

Deputy Prosecutor Virginia Bond asked the Court to sentence Lancaster to life in prison with 35 years fixed. “He stole Gabriela’s life,” Bond told the Court. “This is every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Lancaster’s attorney asked the Court to impose a 30-year sentence with parole eligibility after 10 years. Ultimately, Judge VanderVelde imposed a life sentence. Under the terms of the sentence, Lancaster will not be eligible for parole for 26 years. “This is not a wrong that can be cured or fixed. She is gone and we cannot bring her back,” Judge VanderVelde said.

Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd thanked the Idaho State Police for their investigation into the case. “This defendant’s selfish decision to drink and drive stole the life of a beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her,” said Boyd. “No sentence can ever bring Gabriela back to her loved ones, but this sentence sends a strong message that drunk drivers will not be tolerated in our community.”

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Prosecutor Moves to Dismiss Trespass Citation for First Amendment Considerations

Caldwell, Idaho — Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Boyd has moved to dismiss State of Idaho v. Titus N. Folks, Case No. CR14-26-10419.
The infraction arose from a trespass citation at a permitted, publicly advertised event at Lakeview Park in Nampa. Titus Folks set up a table in a reserved portion of the park, spoke with participants, and attempted to hand out flyers. Event organizers asked him to leave and called police. Officers told him he could relocate outside the reserved area and issued a citation only after he requested one.

A public park is a traditional public forum. After reviewing the evidence and applicable precedent, the Prosecuting Attorney concluded that a permit for an event that is open to the public does not give the permit holder unfettered discretion to exclude a person from that forum for the content of his speech. While Folks could be properly required to relocate his table, he could not be precluded from speaking with and handing flyers out to participants at the event based upon the content of his speech.

“The officers handled a difficult situation professionally and in good faith,” Boyd said. “That does not change the constitutional analysis. The First Amendment does not yield to a permit or a preference. It is the enduring promise of American liberty that no citizen will be silenced in a public forum for the content of his speech.”

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World Mosquito Day Reminds us of the Importance of Protecting Ourselves from Mosquitoes and the Diseases They Carry

World Mosquito Day is observed annually on August 20th to commemorate Sir Ronald Ross’s
1897 discovery that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmitted Malaria between humans. This
discovery fundamentally changed our understanding of disease transmission and forever linked
mosquito control operations with public health.

Lessons learned in the wake of this discovery are still relevant today in Canyon County,
although we are dealing with West Nile virus instead of Malaria. “Artificial containers, water
troughs and other small back yard larval sites continue to be the most difficult for us to control
effectively,” said Jim Lunders, Director of Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District. Just as
it was in Ross’s Day “we need the public’s help in eliminating as many of these sites as possible
to limit the spread of mosquito borne diseases”.

Lunders explained that the Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District routinely sets gravid
traps and dry ice baited EVS traps at over 100 locations throughout Canyon County to monitor
adult mosquito populations and the presence of vector borne diseases. To date, the District
has tested over 2100 mosquito pools for West Nile virus. Despite relatively low mosquito
numbers the percentage of those mosquitoes which are infected has dramatically increased
and positive mosquito pools are being detected throughout the county. As of this week 22
total positive pools have been detected from 19 different locations. The District has performed
increased larval and adult control operations in these areas in response to the increased public
health threat.

Human and horse infections typically begin to be reported in August with Southwest District
Health reporting a human case earlier this week. Symptoms of West Nile virus vary depending
on the severity of the disease and are like many other viral infections. “Unfortunately, neither
humans or horses can be conclusively diagnosed with West Nile virus without being tested,”
said Lunders, “if a physician or veterinarian suspects a patient has West Nile virus a blood test
should be performed to confirm their diagnosis.” He offered the following suggestions to
reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus:

Eliminate or treat all sources of standing water that can be a breeding ground for biting
mosquitoes, such as:

• flooded fields
• birdbaths
• wading & swimming pools not in use
• clogged gutters
• old tires (If it holds water for 7 days, it can produce mosquitoes)
• Wear repellents while outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in mosquito-infested areas.
• Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Picaridin or 2 undecanone, making sure to follow the directions on the container.
• Make sure all screen doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly.
• Vaccinate horses for WNv, WEE, and other diseases.
• Use EPA registered residual insect sprays on horses, making sure to follow the directions
  on the container.
• Have your livestock watering troughs stocked with mosquitofish for free by submitting a
  service request to CCMAD.

Notify the District at 208-461-8633 if you have a site that is too large to be eliminated so
it can be properly treated.

Additional information on mosquitoes and the diseases they carry can be found at:
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare – https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/west-nile-virus

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html

Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District – https://www.2cmad.org/