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
Baginski resigns from Othello school board
OTHELLO — Applications will be accepted March 25 through April 11 for an open seat on the Othello School Board. Board member Chris Baginski announced his resignation at the March 10 board meeting.
Packed house for Cellarbration 2025
Scholarship fundraiser draws a crowd to support Big Bend students
MOSES LAKE — Keynote speaker Aldo Farias said the money donated during the Cellarbration for Education dinner benefiting the Big Bend Community College Foundation was more than a donation.
New principal named for Wahluke’s Saddle Mountain Elementary
MATTAWA — Melissa Hattaway has been named the principal at Saddle Mountain Elementary beginning with the 2025-25 school year. “She’s replacing Kurt Hoffman who’s retiring after 40 years in education,” Wahluke School District Superintendent Andy Harlow said. “Melissa is a Royal High School graduate and has worked for (the Wahluke School District) for 15 years. This will be her first role as principal.”
OneD process passes independent test
MOSES LAKE — Testing by a third party has indicated the process used by a company with a battery development facility in Moses Lake is less harmful for the environment than traditional alternatives, according to an announcement from OneD Battery Sciences. The results of testing by Minviro were released Tuesday.
Moses Lake water fines delayed
MOSES LAKE — Encouraging water conservation – and how to enforce city water use ordinances – turned into a wide-ranging conversation about not only water but code enforcement, education and control at the Moses Lake City Council meeting.
Grant PUD financials solid with above-projected revenues
EPHRATA — Higher-than-anticipated revenue is projected to make 2024 a good year for the Grant County Public Utility District. Wholesale and contracted power sales are projected to end 2024 at $286.5 million, once the books are fully balanced. That's $196.3 million over the initial budget projection. Angelina Johnson, PUD deputy treasurer, said that may be a short-term advantage though.
Moses Lake man arrested in connection with March 8 shooting
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested Friday in connection with a March 8 shooting on Stratford Road in Moses Lake. Luis Medina, 27, was arrested in Moses Lake and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and drive-by shooting, said Moses Lake Police Department Captain Jeff Sursely in a press release.
Mistakes cost Mavs in baseball season opener
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School baseball team opened the 2025 season with a 5-2 loss to Mt. Si (Snoqualmie) Friday afternoon.
Royal’s Arroyo named SCAC co-wrestler of the year
ROYAL CITY — Junior Sharon Arroyo was named as one of two wrestlers of the year, and girls coach Jesus Carlos Villa named coach of the year on the South Central Athletic Conference all league team. The Knights also received the sportsmanship award.
Additional testing needed for Quincy pool
QUINCY — Excavation for the new Quincy Aquatic Center is going to require some additional soil sampling first. Parks and Recreation Director Russ Harrington said in an earlier interview that city officials hope to start work on the pool this summer, possibly in May or June. But the city may have to make some changes to the project before starting to move dirt, due to the possibility of subsurface contaminants.