Eureka JPO programs celebrate 37 years of empowering local youth

Tucked away in the heart of Nevada along Highway 50, Eureka is a quaint rural town that embodies the essence of small-town America, boasting a close-knit community and rich history that belies its modest size. For nearly four decades, the Eureka Juvenile Probation Office (JPO) has played a vital role in shaping the lives of local youth, offering a range of innovative programs and services that foster positive growth, development and community engagement. County-funded programs include youth baseball, softball, T-ball, soccer, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, the Crescent Valley swim program, the dance program, Red Ribbon Week, Beautiful Roots, the annual ski trip, the youth enrichment program, Grad Night, the Duck Stamp contest and back-to- school parties. 

Grant-funded programs are comprised of Girls Circle, Mother-Daughter Circle, Life Skills, the Boys Council and after-school tutoring. Under the dedicated leadership of Steve Zimmerman, JPO, and Irma Davila, JPO Administrative Assistant III, the Eureka JPO provides a stable and supportive environment that allows young people to flourish and reach their full potential. Zimmerman has worked for Eureka County for 17 years; Davila for the past 9. 

Pioneering the foundation of Eureka JPO’s youth programs was Karen Laberry, the preceding probation officer who laid the groundwork for the initiative’s enduring success. Reflecting on the early days, Laberry offered valuable insights into the program’s humble beginnings and the vision that drove its creation. “Not sure what year we started the programs. I’m guessing 87-88. The Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (BADA), what it was called then, was offering grants for $20,000! Judge Merlin Hoyt got on board and the Seventh Judicial District Probation Offices were required to apply.” 

Eureka put a group together comprised of JPO members and several students. They were tasked with figuring out what type of programs would work for the youth of the county. “We started with the dance program, ski trip, wrestling, the basketball program, a bowling trip (one time only because there wasn’t much interest), Red Ribbon Week and sometime thereafter we did the back-to-school pool party,” said Laberry. “It didn’t take too long and we hired a secretary to do data management, the grant reports and etc. It was a few years later that we added the after-school tutoring using grant funds. The county then came on board and paid for a full-time secretary (partially funded by grants)…Yes, there were many trials and tribulations! We just worked through them.” Building on its legacy of supporting local youth, the Eureka JPO has continued to expand its offerings, introducing new programs designed to achieve two primary objectives. First, the department aims to prevent children from becoming involved in delinquent behavior and entering the juvenile probation system. Second, the JPO seeks to foster stronger, more resilient families within the community by providing numerous volunteer opportunities that encourage parental involvement. Notably, many of the volunteers are parents of children participating in the programs, further reinforcing the department’s commitment to building a supportive and interconnected community.