National Night Out
Moses Lake Police Department Officer Aaron Hintz helps a child try on a vest at National Night Out 2022. The department will sponsor NNO 2023 Aug. 1.
File photo
Francisco Araiza of the Mattawa Police Department hands out stickers at the 2022 National Night Out, the department’s first. For 2023 NNO will be combined with the city’s summer movie night.
Stormy Baughman of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office hands a sticker to an attendee at National Night Out 2022 in Quincy. The Quincy Police Department’s NNO 2023 is July 31.
Moses Lake Police officers talk to attendees at the 2022 National Night Out. A number of local agencies will be sponsoring NNO events beginning next week.
A beanbag player tries to hit the target at National Night Out 2022 in Quincy. National Night Out 2023 is July 31.
The tower from the block game crashes to earth during Mattawa’s 2022 National Night Out. The event returns Aug. 4 for 2023.
COLUMBIA BASIN — Police cars and fire trucks, stickers and snow cones, games and lots of information will be among the attractions at National Night Out events in Grant and Adams counties.
National Night Out is hosted by local law enforcement agencies across the country, and is a chance, said Mattawa Police Chief Robert Salinas, for officers and community residents to get to know each other better.
“It’s an opportunity to interact with the public,” Salinas said.
National Night Out events are scheduled in Quincy, Moses Lake, Mattawa, Othello and around Adams County. Most are the first week in August, although the Adams County events are scheduled throughout the month.
The Quincy Police Department leads off with National Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. July 31 at Lauzier Park, 1400 13th Ave. SW. Quincy Chief Ryan Green said NNO typically attracts about 1,000 people.
“It is a fun event. Probably one of the best events we have all year,” Green said.
Grant County Fire District 3 will bring some of its interesting trucks; the QPD will be bringing some of its vehicles too. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office also will be making an appearance – in 2022 they brought a motorcycle that attracted a lot of attention from the children – and the Washington State Patrol and other agencies have been invited. Quincy officers will be working the hot dog grill, and parents and children can try their hand at some games.
The QPD also is encouraging Quincy residents to hold block parties that night.
National Night Out for the Moses Lake Police Department will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1 in McCosh Park, 401 W. Fourth Ave.
The Moses Lake Fire Department and the MLPD will have some of their coolest equipment for children to look at and possibly even sit in. So will the GCSO and Grant County Fire District 5. Parents will be able to get fingerprinting for their children, sponsored by the MLPD, and children and adults can register their bikes. There’s a dunk tank on the schedule, and among the volunteers willing to take a swim will be interim MLPD Chief David Sands and Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete. The SIDNE simulator will be on hand, where people can get a feel for impaired driving.
A number of local agencies will have information booths, and snow cones and other food will be available. The snow cones are free, and sponsored with the help of Granco Federal Credit Union.
The Mattawa National Night Out will start about 5 p.m. Aug. 4; it’s being held in conjunction with the last Movie Night of the summer sponsored by the city of Mattawa.
Salinas said NNO will give Mattawa residents a chance to meet the MPD officers in a non-emergency setting, including the two officers recently hired. Grant County Fire District 8 will bring some of its fire trucks – the fire hose it set up as a sprinkler was very popular in 2022 – and other local law enforcement agencies have been invited. In 2022 the MPD gave out lots of stickers.
The MPD officers will be serving snow cones, and because it’s movie night, they’ll also be handing out popcorn. “The Bad Guys” is the scheduled movie.
“It’s a chance to enjoy each other’s company,” Salinas said.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office will sponsor NNO events throughout the county, the first one in Othello from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Columbia Basin Health Association, 1515 Columbia St. The ACSO is partnering with the Othello Police Department.
Sheriff Dale Wagner said there will be a dunk tank, and that it is rumored he will be among those volunteering to be dunked.
The ACSO’s remaining NNO events will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 12 at Bassett Park in Washtucna, from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Ritzville City Park, and from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 23 at Lind Town Park. All three events are movie nights.
Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.
