CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities.
Recent Stories
Wahluke track team focuses on personal, team improvement
MATTAWA — Track is both an individual and a team sport, and Wahluke’s head track coach Josh Dugan said the Warriors work on both parts of that equation. “It doesn't matter if you went to state last year or you're running a 20-second 100 meter. We emphasize PRs – personal records. So again, if somebody starts out at 20 seconds (in the 100 meters), but if you end the year at 17, that's our focus. The first time you write an essay it might be terrible, but then you start getting better and better,” he said. “So, we're focused on just pure self-improvement, because I always tell the kids that if you beat your own record enough, you start to beat everybody else as well.” It's a team sport at the same time, however, and Dugan said the track team also is asked to think of that.
Wahluke soccer coach expects to be competitive in tough league
MATTAWA — Wahluke boys soccer coach Cele Lopez said the 2026 season is shaping up to be competitive and Wahluke is going to be in the middle of it. “I think we're going to do just fine this year. We lost a few key players, but there are some freshmen coming up, and there's some other guys that have been stepping it up – they've been grinding over the offseason,” Lopez said. “I think we'll we're going to be just fine, at least at the point where we can be competitive.” With only a week of practice behind the team, Lopez said it’s too early to pick varsity lineup.
Quincy tennis focusing on the mental game
QUINCY — New Quincy girls tennis coach Joahan Fregoso said the team is set up to challenge his players, which helps them over the course of the season. "I feel like a big strength is (that) our girls really compete with the boys (in practice), which keeps them on their toes, which is really good for them,” he said. There are things the team needs to work on, however.
Adams Road bridge, other projects in planning or underway
Quincy soccer sets high expectations
QUINCY — The Quincy boys soccer team has a lot of returning experience and as a result the players are expecting a successful season. “We have really high expectations this year for them – as well as they do. They really set that bar pretty high,” said head coach Hector Vaca. The Jacks shared the Central Washington Athletic Conference title in 2025 in their second year in the league. They lost in the opening round of the state playoffs to North Kitsap, the eventual second-place finisher.
Hansen Road bridge construction to begin late June, early July
MOSES LAKE — Demolition of the Hansen Road overpass will begin in late June or early July. Chris Keifenheim, North Central Region administrator for the Washington State Department of Transportation, said DOT officials will be monitoring the Hiawatha Road overpass to ensure it stays open during construction.
State Senator Judy Warnick announces retirement
MOSES LAKE — State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has announced her retirement from the Washington Legislature at the end of her term in January 2027. Warnick represents the 13th District and has been in the Senate since 2015. “Serving the people of the 13th Legislative District has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Warnick wrote in a press release issued Wednesday. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together to protect our water rights, support our small businesses and empower the next generation of leaders.”
Asking questions, curiosity, knowledge focus of Wahluke FFA project
MATTAWA — The fifth graders from Morris Schott Elementary had seen bugs and gross worms and skulls and some gross compost during their lesson on decomposition from Wahluke High School Future Farmers of America students. Their last stop, said ag teacher and FFA advisor Jonathan Betts, was out in the greenhouse.
High winds forecast for Columbia Basin
MOSES LAKE — Rachel Fewkes, meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said that while the Columbia Basin is not forecast to get the heavy snow anticipated for the Cascades, it’s forecast to be tree-blowing-down windy.
Registration open for hunter safety classes
OTHELLO — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, is sponsoring one-day classes for people needing field training to complete their hunter safety courses. Classes are scheduled for March 21 and April 18, with the potential for more classes later in the year.