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
City council approves 2025 Moses Lake budget
MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake is projected to spend about $117.2 million in 2025, which will require using about $6.7 million from the city’s reserves. Moses Lake City Council members approved the 2025 budget at their regular meeting Tuesday. That’s a decrease from the preliminary budget, which was about $119.62 million. Council members held a workshop after the preliminary budget was presented in November and made some changes.
Candidates interviewed for Moses Lake city manager
MOSES LAKE — Two candidates for Moses Lake city manager answered questions from city residents and municipal staff in an informal session Wednesday. That was followed by a day of interviews with Moses Lake City Council members and residents Thursday.
Adams Co. Commission workshop addresses Othello homeless camp
OTHELLO — Adams County officials didn’t come to any conclusions about ways to address the challenges presented by a homeless encampment west of Othello in a discussion Wednesday afternoon. But Adams County Commissioner Jay Weise said the meeting was a start toward finding answers, not the end.
Newhouse provides ‘toolkit’ for people fighting fentanyl
YAKIMA — U.S. Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Fourth District) has published a list for people looking for resources to help them deal with fentanyl use. “The fentanyl crisis touches every corner of our communities, and we must work together to prevent opioid overdose,” Newhouse wrote in a release announcing what he called the “fentanyl resource toolkit.”
GALLERY: Moses Lake heritage commemorated at 2024 Ag Parade
MOSES LAKE — Tractors, horses, cars, trucks, work trucks and people took to the streets of Moses Lake Dec. 6 decked out in lights and costumes for the annual Ag Parade.
Christmas lights, music, fireworks at Othello celebration
OTHELLO — Othello celebrated the coming of the Christmas season with a day of games, food, fireworks and a parade full of twinkling lights, costumes and candy Dec. 7.
Better year in 2024 for apples, cherries — not so much for pears
YAKIMA — After two years of bumpy weather and bumpy harvests, the 2024 apple and cherry harvests were closer to average. Pear growers were not so lucky.
Trails, pedestrian access fruits of first 20 years of multimodal system
MOSES LAKE — Almost two decades after Moses Lake residents started building a walking trail system, some work is done, some is still left to do, and some projects have been abandoned. Participants in planning the “multimodal” system conducted a review of the project and will present their report to the Moses Lake City Council Tuesday.
Better training recommended for Moses Lake accounting staff in audit finding
MOSES LAKE — Auditors with the Washington Auditor’s Office recommended that Moses Lake city officials provide more training for staff after finding some money was allocated to the wrong funds in a review of the city’s financial statements for 2021.
Quincy aquatic center, indoor sports arena design coming in 2025
QUINCY — Quincy Parks and Recreation District residents will get a chance to see the designs for the new Quincy Aquatic Center and the indoor sports facility, called the Q-Plex, in 2025. Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley said the two projects are at different stages of design.