Crook County celebrates first graduating class of its County College program
Barney Lerten
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County announced Monday it’s proud to celebrate the completion of its first participants in the County College program, an initiative designed to give residents an inside look at how county government operates.
Through a series of classes, participants heard directly from county department heads about the services they provide, how departments are funded, and the day-to-day work that keeps county government running.
“The County College program was a great experience and gave me a much deeper understanding of how county government actually works,” said Jessica Barnes, one of the program’s graduates. “I’m grateful to Commissioner Seth Crawford and everyone involved for creating such a transparent and informative program.”
Graduate Pam Dykstra said the program was also valuable for local business owners.
“County College helped me better understand how county offices operate and the people behind the scenes who keep them running, ” Dykstra said. “The information has been incredibly valuable in my work as a realtor and will help make our businesses stronger by knowing where to go for resources.”
Graduate Julie Johnson said the program gave participants a new appreciation for county employees and the work they do.
“It was a great opportunity to learn about the inner workings of county departments and the hard-working people behind them,” Johnson said. “I came away impressed by the scope of work the county handles.”
County officials say the program reflects Crook County’s commitment to transparency, public education, and strengthening connections with the community.
Future sessions of County College are expected to be announced later this year, offering additional residents the opportunity to learn more about their local government. Apply now if you are interested in the next county college sessions https://www.crookcountyor.gov/1661/Crook-CountyCollege.