Civics 101 workshops coming to Grant County libraries
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 months, 2 weeks AGO
North Central Washington Libraries, which includes branches in Moses Lake, pictured, Ephrata, Mattawa, Royal City, George, Quincy and elsewhere in Grant County is hosting a series of civics seminars to help people understand how government functions in the U.S. and locally.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | October 23, 2025 3:00 AM
WENATCHEE — NCW Libraries will host “Civics 101,” a series of workshops to learn more about state, federal and local government, according to an announcement from NCW Libraries. The workshops are offered through the Washington Secretary of State’s Civics Engagement Program, according to Alicia O’Dell, adult programs coordinator for NCW Libraries.
“(It) focuses on rural communities, giving people kind of a refresher on the three different levels of government: federal, state and local,” O’Dell said. (It’s) … a refresher of how the government works, because it is complicated.”
These workshops will cover topics like how bills become laws, how the different branches of government work and relate to each other, and how to participate in the political process, according to the announcement.
The first installment will focus on the federal government and cover the three branches of government, the Constitution and legislative committees, according to the announcement. The second will tackle state politics, including how a bill becomes law and how the public can track and participate in the process.
The final session will look at local government.
“We're going to be focusing on the different forms and functions (of local governments), O’Dell said. “Talking about city and county councils, advisory boards, commissions. We're hoping to connect with one of the local auditors to help give us information as well.”
The interactive workshop will be held online. There is no cost, but registration is required as there are limited spaces available.
All three workshops will be facilitated by Michael Bowman with the Office of the Secretary of State’s Civic Engagement Program, according to the announcement. The Civic Engagement Program develops strategies, resources and programs that encourage disenfranchised, underserved, and marginalized communities’ participation in civic life throughout Washington.
The program is carefully non-partisan, O’Dell said.
“This is really just what it says, Civics 101,” she said. “This is adult education for anyone to come and learn without political leanings. I know that can be hard nowadays, but this really is just the facts.”
The program grew out of a group in Wenatchee that O’Dell was involved with called Braver Angels, she said, which facilitates dialogue between people of opposing political parties.
“What was coming out of these discussions was that missing foundation of, how does government actually work?” she said. “Myself, I had one civics class in high school, which was a while ago. It's super brief, so we forget. In order to do for people to know how to get involved, we’ve got to understand how these systems work.”
To participate, register at the links below. A Zoom link will be sent to participants at the time of the session.
The workshops:
Civics 101: Federal Government| Monday, Nov. 10, 6-7:30 p.m. https://bit.ly/Civ101Federal
Civics 101: State Government| Monday, Nov. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. https://bit.ly/Civ101State
Civics 101: Local Government| Monday, Nov. 24, 6-7:30 p.m. https://bit.ly/Civ101Local
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.
Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.