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$1.50 | TheEurekaCountyStar.com | Vol. 3 No. 48 | e Week of May 21, 2026
Shining a light on all of Eureka County. Our Mission: Inform, enlighten, educate and entertain—Enjoy the journey.
Is this you? e Rut
Mid-Term Election News Relating To Eureka County-Plus Trina Machacek
By Trina Machacek I am a rut follower. I feel comfortable in any one of a hundred ruts I follow. A rut, with its high sides and smooth bottom will always keep me moving forward. But. Yes, a tattered, rutted “but.” If I only followed ruts what would happen to my wings that are in place to fly me to places that I can only imagine? Ah, and there is the rub. e rub on the sides of my rutted life. To remain rutted, or fly. Okay, here’s the story... Change is for shoes and shirts and sheets. Change is something we all do on some level. Automatically. en for some reason something changes that just doesn’t sit very well. My latest change was quite small, it did however rub me the wrong way. When I sit to write these fun “Is is You?” stories, I start by centering the “Is is You?” at the top, go down two spaces and put the title. Somehow at some time an editor requested all the lines to be lined up on the le. Le, with those two lines clear over to the le margin. Got it? Clear over to the le! It just felt, well unnatural. Oh I did it. Aer all I am just the writer, the editor is all knowing—and has a hand on the money bag to pay me. Going all the way to the le, drug me out of my comfortable “Is is You?” spacing rut. A little thing I know, I know. But a thing just the same. en it dawned on me. I really was in a rut. A centered rut. Coming out of my comfy well centered rut had ill effects. Each time I sat to write I kept going to the le side of the page and starting. en time and time again the whole story just went kafooie.
It would be like if you were let’s say, baking cookies and put the flour in before the sugar. at would be so wrong. Or you were changing the oil in your truck and you took the filter off before taking the plug out. Now we all know that would just be wrong, and terribly messy. A rut is a rut is a rut. To be drug out of it? Nonsense. ere are ruts that last just a short while and some will last an entire lifetime. We, the rutted and the nonrutted seem to be quite happy in both circumstances. So why rock the boat? Because we are here to, “ROCK ON!” I challenge you to point out a rut you are in. You have the same two cups of coffee each morning? You drive the same route and park in the same spot to work? You cut you lawn the same way—every time? You make chicken the same way? Fold your undies exactly the same way? Well welcome to the world of rut-ness. Personally I quit writing all the way to the le. I went back to center-ville and I am quite content with my decision. But there are other ruts this chick-a-dee sloshes around down in. I will not drink a soda unless it has a full cup of ice to begin with. I do my wash on Saturday mornings. Not Sunday. Not Wednesday. Saturday. No rhyme or reason. Just Saturday. Oh there is a change coming though. I can feel it. I have used the same brand of lemonade for many years. It makes two quarts. Well someone introduced me to these single packets. You can use them in a bottle of water. Or! I can use them in my carry around with me everywhere metal Rocky Mountain Tumber that has a lid. A lid with a hole that I put a straw in. Not just any straw. It has to be one from Jack-in-the-Box. ey fit my demure pie hole just right. Where was I? Oh yeah. ese little pink lemonade packets are perfect for one fill of water—with lots of ice. Yes, that is about as un-rutted as this mind can grasp. Baby steps, my friends. Baby steps. Trina lives in Diamond Valley, north of Eureka, Nevada. She loves to hear from readers. Email her at itybytrina@yahoo. Really!
e primary election official date to vote is June 9, 2026 with early voting beginning on May 23. If you are a registered voter, you will have already gotten your primary ballot. On the inside of the front cover there is an extensive list of places, times and dates to vote. But in case you still have a little bit of interest here is what has been happening in Eureka County concerning a few races on the primary ballots. THIS JUST IN MAY 14, 2026 Make no mistake, word from the Eureka County Register's Office is that Rich McKay is still in the race for another term as Eureka County Commissioner. e big race will be the run for Commissioner. is is absolutely a two-man race. It’s been reported by another paper that McKay is out. e truth is that he will be on your ballot for you to choose if you desire. RACE FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER McKay has a track record that he is proud of. He says it’s hard and actually impossible to keep everyone happy. To the best of his ability, he has tried to do what is always best for the residents of Eureka County. As an example: Will he put in a sewer system in Crescent Valley? Preliminary costs say that projects could start at $50 million, so that may not be an option. Maybe some kind of grant for funds to help those who need a septic system could be worked out. He never promises something that huge without much discussion and responsible planning with all involved. Raine is a new-comer who hopes to be the newest commissioner in a very long line of men and women who have undertaken the job of the business of Eureka County. Making promises to various groups, Raine hopes to be the newest commissioner in a very long line of men and women who have undertaken the job of the business of Eureka County. It’s a hard pill to swallow when promises are made without backing up those promises. Mr. Raine is ready though. He plans to learn as he goes. RACE FOR EUREKA COUNTY SHERIFF Two law minded men have thrown hats in the ring to fill the next 4-year term of Eureka County Sheriff. Sheriff Miles Umina and Justice Court Bailiff/Deputy Jason Flanagan. Umina–e current Sheriff is Miles Umina. Umina was appointed unanimously by the Eureka County Commissioners to take over the position vacated by Jesse Watts as he le the service of the county under what some still feel was a dark cloud and successful recall. Aer filing at the Eureka County Courthouse for Sheriff, Umina posted, “I officially filed for office yesterday, March 2. In the short time I’ve been in office, the relationships that have been made with State and local agencies/departments and the community engagement and support has been amazing. I have much more to accomplish in Eureka in the time to come. I look forward to this campaign season to meeting and speaking with everyone in the community.” Umina is coming up on 25 years in public service. He took over the job and has worked nearly nonstop at getting the shambles of the Sheriff ’s office he walked into back into order. Miles and his wife, Kristan have made their home in Eureka just buying a new home within the year. ey own and operate e Aerlife Antiques and Oddities shop on main street in Eureka. Sheriff Umina has a very detailed and informative website and Facebook page that gives his accomplishment experience and goals he has for the job of Sheriff of Eureka, County. Flanagan–As a Deputy for Eureka County Jason felt his service would be better spent as the Justice Court Bailiff. He took over that position when Jeri Sanders retired.
Flanagan reports having over 20 years of experience in law enforcement. He was brought into Eureka County as a hire for and by Watts. As was Umina. Flanagan was a double hire as his wife, Allison is also a deputy for Eureka County’s Sheriff ’s office. Aer filing for the position, Flanagan posted, “is is a pivotal year for Eureka County, with the potential for a new District Attorney, a new District Court Judge, a new Sheriff, and several other county and state positions on the ballot. I encourage everyone to reach out to the candidates, learn about who they are, understand their core values, and know what they hope to accomplish if elected.” Jason also has a Facebook page where he posts his thoughts and hopes for what could be his new office as Sheriff if he is victorious in this two-man race. A FEW MORE NOTES ON PRIMARY RACES Nevada will be filling a U.S. Representative seat. A seat that has been held since 2011, yes that is 14 years by Mark Amodei. He has announced his retirement. In this primary race we will have fourteen (14) Republican and eleven (11) Democratic hopefuls for this two-year term job. Front runners are out shaking hands and kissing babies around the state. In Eureka so far, we have seen and heard from David Flippo. He met with residents over coffee and was hosted by and shown around town by Sheriff Umina. In a short visit Mr. Flippo discussed a few of his issues that he feels need immediate attention. ey are: • American Energy Independence • Economic Growth & Prosperity • Secure Our Border • Support Law Enforcement • Cut Wasteful Government Spending • Defend Our Constitutional Rights Mr. Flippo is a Christian, Father, Grandfather, Conservative Republican, and a battle-tested American Patriot with a proven record of strong leadership and problem-solving. OTHER POSSIBLE RACES OF EUREKA INTEREST We will be voting for incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo or one of the other 12 candidates. Additional jobs in public service that are on your primary democrat or republican ballots are state treasure, attorney general secretary of state. State controller and lieutenant governor. One last one is the nonpartisan seat on the University Board of Regents for our district, District 8. ere is one seat for this 2-year term office. ere are four (4) hearty souls running for this seat. One of which is the incumbent and our local Pete Goicoechea. Pete has served this county as a county commissioner for 16 years then went on to serve in the State Legislature and moved on to become a Nevada State Senator. During his last term as Senator, Goicoechea was appointed by Governor Lombardo to the Board of Regents. When asked at a Soil Conservation Dinner about his seat on the board, he talked of how the regents are an important piece of the higher education aspects of Nevada. He laughed at the amount of reading, adding that this job as regent is rewarding and fulfilling. e other three running for this nonpartisan office are; Lori Lane, Karmen LaShauna Miller and K. Talib-deen. As the primary and then general election comes around it is your right and privilege to vote. It is also your immense responsibility to structure your ballot as to choose wisely and for the best person for the job they are applying for. Yes, each of these candidates are applying for jobs, working for you. You are the boss, choosing the best qualified and best fit for each position.
Cast your vote responsibly. Vote now through June 9, 2026.
IN THIS EDITION Graduation Class 2026 . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Our Little Ants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Worship Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 From Our Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Commissioners News & Notes . . . . . .5
Market Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Senior Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 May Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8