Crescent Valley advisory board plans community Christmas events, celebrates promotion of new sheriff’s lieutenant

Friends, family and local officials packed the Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board meeting on Oct. 21, gathering to finalize arrangements for community holiday traditions and witness the formal promotion of Brian Shoaf to lieutenant with the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office.

Chairwoman Diana Kersey called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. Following approval of the agenda and minutes from Oct. 7, the board launched into planning for Crescent Valley’s annual Christmas celebrations. Festivities scheduled for Dec. 12 will open with a Parade of Lights departing from the fire station at 5:30 p.m., followed by the community Christmas dinner at 6 p.m. Homebound meal deliveries will begin earlier that afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

The board also set the annual home decorating contest for Dec. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m., with entries welcome from across the broader region.

“They need to come and get an application from Christina and turn that in so that way we know every place we need to go,” Kersey said, encouraging participation across the entire valley rather than just within the central town boundary. Volunteers will begin decorating the Community Center on Dec. 7.

In emergency services, Emergency Medical Services Director Nichole Cooley joined the meeting remotely to review September response figures. During the discussion, resident Forest Anderson requested a local CPR recertification course for Crescent Valley residents. After emergency medical technician Brent Jones noted that classes are being provided to county personnel, Cooley agreed to expand the program.

“We can throw together some dates,” Cooley said. “Then we can put them out to the community.”

Public Works Director Jeb Rowley reported on local maintenance, noting that crews continue to make steady progress on enhancements at the town park and confirming that a new electronic card reader system has arrived for installation. Eureka County Commissioner Mike Schoenwald commended the full room and encouraged sustained community engagement.

Schoenwald expressed “appreciation for everyone showing up today.” He added, “I’d like to see this kind of attendance in future meetings.”

The meeting then shifted to the sheriff’s office promotion ceremony. Sheriff Miles Umina addressed the audience, highlighting the personal and departmental importance of holding the ceremony in northern Eureka County.

“This is a really important day not just for the Sheriff’s Office and Brian Shoaf, but also for Crescent Valley,” Umina said. “Crescent Valley has a special spot in my heart because I was appointed and sworn in right here.”

Umina explained the operational need for an administrative supervisory post dedicated to the northern end of the county, praising Shoaf’s leadership and work ethic.

“This wasn’t just given to him; he worked hard for it,” Umina said. The sheriff explained that Shoaf is almost done with the POST Leadership Institute class and detailed the promotional testing process Shoaf completed, which included submitting an essay and interviewing before an examination board composed of a state major crimes lieutenant, County Commission Chairman Rich McKay and Dispatch Supervisor Clara Bundy.

“This wasn’t just saying, ‘I’m making you a lieutenant,’” Umina said. Shoaf presented his essay to the entire board, and “he blew them away.”

Umina characterized himself as “the captain of the ship, and Dave [Hicks] and Shoaf, they’re leading the pirates on my pirate ship, and we’re going for it, and we’re doing a lot of hard work up here.”

Shoaf raised his right hand and repeated the oath of office, solemnly swearing to support, protect and defend the constitutions of the United States and Nevada and to faithfully discharge the duties of lieutenant. Following the oath, Umina invited Shoaf’s three children forward to pin the new badge and lieutenant’s bars onto their father’s uniform.

Shoaf addressed the room, thanking former partners and supervisors who attended the ceremony.

“I want to thank everyone who came out, especially my kids, who have sacrificed the most over the last 13 years,” Shoaf said. “We could not do this job without you guys.”

Before concluding the celebration, Kersey presented the newly sworn lieutenant with a Batman-themed gift bag, and following adjournment, the attendees stayed for cake.