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$1.50 | TheEurekaCountyStar.com | Vol. 3 No. 51 | e Week of June 11, 2026
Shining a light on all of Eureka County. Our Mission: Inform, enlighten, educate and entertain—Enjoy the journey.
Is this you? Rules Versus Suggestions
What is Your Vote Worth?
By Trina Machacek I drive a pickup. Not a huge pick up. Not like the ones I oen see trying to get into a regular sized parking place in a parking lot. I watch with a grin at someone trying to get a tank sized truck into a VW Bug sized spot. I usually say out loud, “Next time get the big truck!” at makes me both laugh and feel sorry for the driver. en of course I wonder if they gave thoughts to parking while they at the car dealership oohing and awwing at all the bells and whistles that baby had. As they stood next to it, on tip toes trying to take a peek inside the bed. Where the sides are at least six to seven feet above the ground. No, my truck is not a big truck. But. Yes, a short bedded “but.” I, on rare occasions, have a bit of trouble fitting my truck into those smaller than “boat sized cars” parking spots of the 1970’s. I was lucky to have a farmer as my other half. He could park things that I could only see getting into if they were “pull-thru” spots. More so, he took the time to teach me a few tricks of that parking trade. Happily I can back up to and hook up a trailer, take it to the dump, clean it out and pull back into the yard. en back that baby in its hidey hole without even thinking about hitting the two buildings it goes in between. en there are those smaller parking spots… Now I have a question to ask when I park, get out to see I am one way too far to the le or right, or maybe even straddling the parking lot lines? Are those lines a suggestion, or are they a rule? And if they are a rule, are they hard and fast rules? Or are they just kind of suggested rules? Like the yellow diagonal diamond shaped highway signs with a “suggested” speed of forty mph. ere are some of those in a farming community between where I live and a town to the north. Where a farm/ranch is on both sides of the road and the signs have a pictorial embossed farmer on tractors with a “suggested” and cautionary speed posted below or on them. Wait. Wait. While I am here let me just say, “Who’s interpretation is the farmer on those signs?” I’ve never seen a farmer sit that straight up—and I don’t even want to discuss that hat! I feel better. Moving on… I know how to get my truck into a small space. But where there are fiy spaces, do we have to pull into the exact middle of what someone, probably in the middle of a sultry summer night, painted on the asphalt? What is the difference between yellow lines in a parking lot and white lines. I know the blue lines. Because of my MS I have what I call my “Hobble Zone” placard. I happily only use it when I really need it, but I know that the blue lines outline my Hobble Zone. I also know there are parking lot security officers. Will they ticket me if I miss the “zone” by a few inches, or feet? Is there a “fudge” measurement that we are allowed? How do we find out what the fudge line rules are? As we boomers all get a titch into the latter years, we may miss the lines in the parking lot. But for those who would want to cuss and discuss it with us? Well. WE have a few suggestions for you about rules. How about when going camping and you pull into the grocery store to “stock up” for that week-end? A truck and camper, or motorhome with side-by-side, boat or another toy behind on a trailer. ey pull horizontally in taking up maybe six to eight parking spots. Which, come on now, we all have done. Lord knows we have to take everything with us to make the outdoor camping trip as rustic as staying in a five-star resort! Again, moving on. Is it a rule, to park precisely centered in measured parking spots? I vote that they are actually suggestions. Just like going into that grocery store, shopping for your camping trip. Spotting two packages of cupcakes! Side-by-side. One lists no fat, sugar, gluten, dairy or nuts. e other piled high with red-white-and blue swirled fluffy frosting on top of deep dark chocolate cakes. Offering just a “few” camping calories dripping off the little colorful fluted papers. making your lips smack. A rule or suggestion? GET the dream cupcakes. Leave the sawdust cakes in—the dust! Trina lives in Diamond Valley, north of Eureka, Nevada. She loves to hear from readers. Email her at itybytrina@yahoo. Really!
By Trina Machacek
“No matter where you live, you should vote in the upcoming election, as it’s your civic duty and gives you a chance to have a say in our political system. At the same time, it’s evident that not all votes hold the same weight. e top five states where residents’ votes ‘had’ the biggest impact in the 2024 election are all fiercely-contested battleground states: Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin. If you live in one of these states, you could quite literally have the fate of the election in your hands,” as reported by Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. Mr. Lupo gave much thought and analysis to this timely question before the presidential election in 2024. Today this question, “What is your vote worth,” is just as important even though we are in what is called the mid-term elections. Make no mistake, Nevada still has a power to shape and shake things up in Washington D.C. ere are more ways to value your vote than there are hairs on the back of Big Foot. In gathering and putting a financial value to one vote and putting that request into Google the results are mind numbing. Economically and mathematically, a single vote can be valued in the hundreds of thousands or millions
of dollars when calculating expected value. is formula multiplies the billions of dollars at stake in a federal budget by the tiny probability of your vote directly deciding the election outcome. en there is the power of your vote in local politics. As voters catch their breaths aer voting in the now finished primary election of 2026, you can hear a faint, “Start Your Engines,” for the haul to the general election coming up in November. ere is a bigger chance of your vote being a tie breaker in a local election. Moreover your vote has a shot at creating a tie. In Nevada there have been tie votes in local elections over the years since Nevada became a state. Stories of cutting cards and high card wins; stories of drawing straws and the longer straw puller would be named the victor. Actually the NRS gives the decision ability to different officials throughout the state government to hold proceedings and decide these last lines of the races. us the “luck of the draw” makes things become real. Your vote is as important whether you have voted in elections for many years, or this would be your first time to vote. Recently I had the opportunity to speak to a gentleman who has never voted. Explaining the difference between a primary and a general election. His take was like most who do not vote. He felt his vote would never make a difference in who the president would be, or a congressman or senator. When he heard that yes, his vote did count in every race he looked at me like I was full of bologna. When getting right down to it, I can see where a voter may feel that your one [ Continued on page 2 ]
TIDDLES-N-BITTLES e Rusted Shack Get ye to the Rusted Shack! Trees-n-bushes-nflowers, OH MY! Lynn is open ursday, Friday and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. You should see what your beds are missing—then buy more plants!
Vacation Bible School
Favorite Month of the Year!
Not June but coming up in JULY 20-24th at the Eureka Community Church. Get ready to have your littles from ages 4years old through 6th grade join the journey of the Emerald Crossing Adventure. Mark your calendars. Having company come to stay? eir kids are invited to join in the fun too.
Oh, June! Your editior’s favorite month of the year. What is going on this month? OH.OH.OH. From Eureka to Crescent Valley things are coming alive and such great events are scheduled. Grab your flip flops, pull on your shorts and check out the community calendar for some great times
IN THIS EDITION Eureka HS News & Notes . . . . . . . . . . .2 Sheriff’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Senior Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Johnny’s Tech Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Worship Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
From Our Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Commissioners News & Notes . . . . . .5 Market Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Arrest Recaps & Court Recaps . . . . . . .5 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 June Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8