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
Ritzville hospital announces $10.5 million loss over last three years
RITZVILLE — Investigations are ongoing into allegations that mismanagement and possible fraud left East Adams Rural Healthcare with what its current administrators say was a $10.5 million loss between 2022 and 2025. Hospital officials announced Thursday at a press conference in Spokane that they have filed a request with state and federal authorities to convert to a rural emergency hospital. “With our latest model, EARH will employ between 55 and 60 people,” said Chief Executive Officer Todd Nida in a statement. The current staff is 69 people, he said.
Quincy council approves co-living housing rule
QUINCY — Quincy city residents will be able to set up “co-living housing” units under the terms of an ordinance approved by Quincy City Council members Tuesday. Public Works Director Carl Worley said it’s something new in Quincy, required by recent actions by the Washington Legislature. Worley said city officials weren’t sure there would be much impact in Quincy, but council member Dylan Kling said he thought it could make a big impact.
Port of Othello breaks ground for new water tower
OTHELLO — It took a few years, but Port of Othello commissioners broke ground on a second water reservoir on port property in Bruce Thursday morning. Port Commissioner Gary Weaver said the new reservoir will mean more business opportunities in the Othello area. “The main reason we really needed the water here is so we can expand,” Weaver said. “We're kind of locked here because of our water – we had to have more water storage in order to develop this. And it's a big deal for Othello, because this gives the opportunity to bring businesses here, not just little business, but businesses with good paying jobs (and) benefits.” The new water tower will be on the east side of Booker Road and will hold about 200,000 gallons. The port received a combination of a $3.75 million low-interest loan and a $1.25 million grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board to pay for the project.
Bill expanding military, veteran benefits passes WA Senate
OLYMPIA — A bill that would extend access to state benefits and other opportunities for veterans, military spouses and other uniformed personnel has passed the Washington Senate and is pending in the Washington House of Representatives.
Young Lind-Ritzville team looks to place wrestlers on the podium
RITZVILLE — Lind-Ritzville Head Coach Jason Hilzer said he’s optimistic that the Broncos can get some wrestlers on the Mat Classic 2026 podium in what has been a year of growth. “We’re young. The increase in the skill level from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is huge for the freshmen and sophomores,” Hilzer said. “That’s what I’m really pleased about.”
Experience big factor for Royal boys at Mat Classic
ROYAL CITY — Royal High School boys wrestling coach Darrin Miller said his team’s experience should help them when they get to the Tacoma Dome. “We have a large group of seniors this year, so I think the consistency of showing up to practice every day for four straight years for a lot of these kids, as well as the underclassmen learning from some of those upperclassmen,” Miller said. “Everybody has just been really committed up to this point, which is what it really takes in the sport to be successful.”
Royal girls wrestlers rise to the challenge, have high hopes for state tournament
ROYAL CITY — They’ve had a lot of success on the mat, but it’s still been a tough year for the Royal High School girls wrestling team. Their coach Seth Weeks said the girls have risen to meet the challenge. Jesus Carlos Villa, the head coach who led the Knights to a second-place finish at the 2025 Mat Classic, suddenly passed in a car accident in July 2025. Coach Carlos has been missed, Weeks said.
Grant Co. solar projects moving forward
COULEE CITY — A new solar electrical generation facility near Coulee City has received a conditional use permit from Grant County officials. When it goes into operation, Dry Falls Solar is projected to generate up to 400 megawatts of electricity, said Grant County Planning Director Jim Anderson-Cook.
Wahluke qualifies two wrestlers for Mat Classic
MATTAWA — The Wahluke High School girls wrestling team advanced two wrestlers to Mat Classic 2026 in what coach Windy Lovejoy said was a learning year. “We have primarily freshmen on the team,” Lovejoy said. “There were three upperclassmen.” Her team adapted to a pretty steep learning curve, however.
Othello High next focus with EP&O levy passing
OTHELLO — Voters in the Othello School District are approving a four-year educational programs and operations levy in updated vote totals from the Feb. 10 special election released Friday. The levy proposal had 794 yes votes and 434 no votes, about 64.7% approving. Because it was a school levy, it needed a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass.
Haley resigns as Quincy city administrator
QUINCY — Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley announced his resignation, effective immediately, in a press release issued by the city Tuesday morning. Danielle Marchant, the city’s attorney, declined to specify the reason for Haley’s resignation. “As a matter of policy and out of respect for his privacy, the city will not be commenting on this matter,” Marchant said.
Local REC Silicon plant remains closed as more stock issued
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake REC Silicon facility will remain closed, at least for now, as its owners announced an issuance of new stock to raise money for continuing operations and pay off debt.
Moses Lake to prioritize services in financial sustainability planning
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members – and Moses Lake residents – will be asked to determine where they think the city should spend its money, a process that started with a look at the city’s current financial state at the Feb. 10 council meeting.
Standalone energy project eyed for Quincy
QUINCY — While it’s only in the beginning stages, the Port of Quincy and a California Native American tribe will be working on a project to bring a standalone energy project to Quincy. Ken Ahmann, chief operating officer of Colusa Indian Energy, said the project would help the Quincy area in the search for a diversified – and robust – economy.
Moses Lake officials working to correct audit issues
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake city officials are working to correct errors identified by the Washington State Auditor’s Office and catch up on delayed audits. Municipal Finance Director Madeline Prentice said city officials are working to have the delayed audits for 2023 and 2024 submitted by May. “Trying to get caught up on the audits is our first priority,” Prentice said. “We have actually brought in an outside accounting firm to assist us with that.”
Hansen Road, Quincy basketball made news in January
MOSES LAKE — Traffic disruption in Moses Lake, historic numbers for a Quincy Jacks basketball player and a new Dancing with the Stars king are among the big stories of January 2026.
Wheeler roundabout construction scheduled for Feb 23
MOSES LAKE — If the weather cooperates, construction will begin Feb. 23 on a roundabout at the intersection of Road L Northeast and East Wheeler Road. Moses Lake’s financial contribution to the project is about $81,000. Contributions by other stakeholders in the project was not immediately available.
Intermodal terminal gets freight where it needs to go, supports Eastern WA economy
KENNEWICK — By definition, freight is something – goods of whatever kind, from fresh produce to sound system components – that is moved in bulk on trains, trucks, ships or aircraft. Teri Zimmerman, vice president for sales and marketing at Tri-City Intermodal in Kennewick, said the company’s role in the freight business is connecting different methods of transportation to move freight. Which sounds simple enough.
Adams, S. Grant Co. EP&O levy requests being approved
EPHRATA — Educational and operations levy requests in three Grant County are still winning approval by substantial margins in three local school districts in updated election results released Wednesday.
Moses Lake residents asked to weigh in on financial priorities
MOSES LAKE — With the Moses Lake City Council working on a financial plan that will require what council member Jeremy Davis said will be hard decisions, city officials want to hear which services residents think are the most important.
Feb. 10 initial election results
EPHRATA — Voters were asked to approve or reject educational programs and operations levy requests from a number of Grant and Adams county school districts in Tuesday’s special election. Voters in the Ephrata School District and East Adams Rural Healthcare decided the fate of specific proposals. Unofficial results released Tuesday night are listed below with additional votes coming in via mail over the next few days. Mailed-in ballots must have been postmarked by Feb. 10, 2026 to be counted.
Upgrades to Mattawa City Hall subject of feasibility study
MATTAWA — What kind of improvements could and should be made to Mattawa City Hall – or whether it would be better to replace it – will be the subject of a feasibility study by the city’s engineers. Jamin Ankney of Gray and Osborne, Yakima, said the idea is to produce information that city officials can use to look for funding for the project.
Othello splash pad construction on schedule for spring 2026
OTHELLO — The construction of a new splash pad in Othello’s Kiwanis Park is still on track to start this spring. Construction originally was scheduled for 2025, but Mayor Ken Johnson said the need for state agency approval slowed down the project. “I’m excited for that to finally happen,” Johnson said.
Big street projects coming to Quincy in ’26
QUINCY — Drivers going around Quincy can expect some delays as road projects ramp up around Lauzier Park, along a section of M Street Northeast and sections of A Street Northeast this summer. City Engineer Ariel Belino said some big projects are planned for those locations.
Planning a healthy move underway at Samaritan
MOSES LAKE — Finishing work is still underway, but there’s plenty of activity at the new Samaritan Hospital on Clover Drive. Patients will start being treated at the new facility at 7 a.m. March 7. Joe Kunkel, the consultant who’s been working with hospital officials on the project since its inception in 2018, said the timing is crucial. “That’s the switchover time,” Kunkel said.
Respiratory illnesses rising in Grant Co.
MOSES LAKE — As of the first week of February there has been one flu-related death in Grant County during the 2025-26 flu season. Lexi Smith, communications coordinator for the Grant County Health District, said it’s been a pretty active respiratory illness season so far.
Bridge deck repairs Monday at Hiawatha Road Northeast overpass
MOSES LAKE — Drivers who are using the Hiawatha Road Northeast overpass as the detour route to Moses Lake should be prepared for delays Monday while Washington State Department of Transportation crews make repairs to the bridge deck. Drivers can expect flagger-controlled traffic on the overpass from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a WSDOT press release. Lauren Loebsack, communications manager for WSDOT’s North Central region, said the Hiawatha Road overpass is showing signs of damage, although not as severe as the now-closed Hansen Road Northeast overpass. “It’s definitely got some deterioration on it as well,” she said.
Council discusses options to ensure Moses Lake water supply
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members discussed ways and means of obtaining more water and making more efficient use of water at a lengthy special meeting Tuesday. Mayor Dustin Swartz said water is a problem throughout the Columbia Basin, and cities, counties, ports and other entities would benefit from a common effort.
Inattention causes driver to hit GTA bus, GCSO says
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man received a traffic citation Tuesday night after he T-boned a Grant Transit Authority bus near the scene of a previous collision on Patton Boulevard.
Grant County PUD rates to increase April 1
EPHRATA — Rates for all classes of Grant County Public Utility District will increase in 2026, but the percentage of increase won’t be the same for all customers. The new rates will go into effect April 1. Utility district commissioners voted in November 2025 to change the way rates are calculated, a change Commissioner Tom Flint said he supports. Flint said he’s been on the commission for 25 years, and the Jan. 27 vote was the second time he voted in favor of the rate proposal. “This is a great opportunity. It protects the core customers, it increases the rate that non-core customers, large industrials are going to pay, and it’s going to be substantially above what the core customers pay,” he said. “It’ll give (industrial customers) a 10-year forecast that they’ve been asking for.”
Two arrested after chase north of Ephrata
EPHRATA — A Wenatchee man and a Moses Lake woman were arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary after allegedly breaking into a residence in Douglas County and trying to elude law enforcement in Grant County Monday afternoon.
Adams County receives more money for jail project
RITZVILLE — Adams County has received an additional $2 million through the federal appropriations process for upgrades at the Adams County Jail. Adams County Commissioner Dan Blankenship said the money will help pay for the second phase of jail improvements.
Upgrades coming to The Gorge Amphitheater
GEORGE — New improvements and previously requested upgrades are scheduled for the Gorge Amphitheater starting in 2026. Grant County Planning Director Jim Anderson-Cook said county officials have approved plans from Live Nation, the venue owner, to add some upgraded camping sites, what Anderson-Cook called “glamping” sites, and a new water reservoir.
Two Grant County solar farms under construction
QUINCY — Construction has started on two solar electrical generation facilities in Grant County, with five more in the permitting or planning phase.
Air quality monitoring routine, Ephrata School District officials say
EPHRATA — The heating-cooling system at Ephrata Middle School is working as designed, according to Ephrata School District officials, and the building has not seen extended periods of elevated levels of carbon dioxide.
Warden man arrested for alleged burglary
WARDEN — A Warden man was arrested on suspicion of burglary after Warden Police Department officers allegedly found him inside an empty residence.
Two arrested on narcotics charges after search of Moses Lake residence
MOSES LAKE — Two Moses Lake men were arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of distributing narcotics following the search of a residence on Kathy Drive in Moses Lake Thursday.
Road projects scheduled for Grant, Adams counties in 2026
GEORGE — While the Washington Department of Transportation doesn’t have a lot of roadwork projects scheduled for the Columbia Basin in 2026, a multi-year project will be starting up for the season in about a month. Construction on the Vantage Bridge will be in its third year. “Construction resumes in March,” said Summer Derrey, assistant communications manager for the South Central region of the Washington Department of Transportation.
2 MLFD officers promoted
MOSES LAKE — Two Moses Lake Fire Department officers were recognized for recent promotions with a longstanding fire service tradition at the Moses Lake City Council meeting Tuesday. Newly promoted Captain Lynn Dodd and Lieutenant Mike Miner each received the badges for their new offices from members of their families.
Confluence opens new facility for pre-surgical patients
WENATCHEE — A new clinic designed to make it easier for patients to get all the tests they need prior to surgery at Central Washington Hospital was celebrated with a ribbon cutting Tuesday.
Repair, replacement under consideration for Hansen bridge
MOSES LAKE — The Hansen Road overpass could be closed for a maximum of about 24 months. Chris Keifenheim, North Central Region administrator for the Washington Department of Transportation, said Tuesday that DOT officials are considering repairing it or replacing it, but would prefer to replace it. Either solution, he said, will keep the bridge closed for a while.
Adams County Auditor will not seek reelection in 2026
RITZVILLE — Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt announced Tuesday she would not be running for fourth term. “It’s just a good time to step aside,” Hunt said.
Othello to ask for extension of ACFD 5 contract
OTHELLO — Othello city officials plan to restart conversations with Adams County Fire District 5 on a possible contract to provide fire service for the city. Mayor Ken Johnson said he and Othello City Council members met with ACFD 5 commissioners earlier this month.
New facility to support military coming to Port of Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake has been awarded a $1.2 million loan from the state Community Aviation Revitalization Board to help pay for upgrades to the area used for military exercises. Kim DeTrolio, the port’s director of finance and administration, said the upgrades will include a building for use by military units on site.
Hansen overpass timeline still undetermined
MOSES LAKE — The timeline and cost for repair – or replacement of the Hansen Road overpass west of Moses Lake will depend, in part, on whether the Washington State Department of Transportation decides to repair or replace it. Either way, said Chris Kiefenheim, administrator for WSDOT’s North Central Region, the overpass will be closed for a while.
Watershed music festival canceled for 2026
GEORGE — The three-day Watershed country music festival, one of the major events at the Gorge Amphitheater near George, has been canceled for 2026. The venue is owned by Live Nation, and its owners said during a November presentation on company earnings that at least for now, amphitheaters aren’t as popular as some other venues.
Spring water forecast uneven, drought continues
SPOKANE — Warmer than normal temperatures in December and January may have consequences next spring with lower than normal runoff. Joey Clevenger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said there’s been plenty of precipitation in the Pacific Northwest, but it’s not been falling as snow. Water levels in the snowpack are measured as a “snow water equivalent,” and in a lot of Central and Eastern Washington, that’s low.
Installation of new Road L NE roundabout set for spring
MOSES LAKE — The final phase of traffic upgrades and revisions along East Wheeler Road is scheduled for February or early March. The installation of a new roundabout at Road L Northeast will require some detours, said Levi Bisnett, project supervisor for Moses Lake Public Works.
Coulee City man arrested on stalking, harassment charges
COULEE CITY — A Coulee City man was booked into the Grant County Jail Jan. 21 on suspicion of stalking and harassment after he allegedly threatened two people and displayed a rifle. Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on Road 36 Northeast, according to a GCSO release.
North, Larson Heights elementaries focus of community meeting Monday
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons are being invited to a meeting Monday discuss a recommendation to rebuild North Elementary School. The district’s Facilities Advisory Committee also recommended closing Larson Elementary and moving its students to the rebuilt North Elementary. “The committee recommendation for our next elementary school is to build on the north end of town,” said Ryan Shannon, MLSD director of public relations. “We’re going to go over the items that led to that recommendation, which includes the information from the demographer (who) provided detailed information on all of our schools and the areas around those schools, and people looking at growth patterns and looking at where the need is based off of a number of different factors, including age of (district) buildings.” Shannon said MLSD will be eligible for state funding for North and Larson Heights due to their age. North Elementary dates from 1951, and Larson Heights originally was built in 1956. District patrons approved a local construction bond in 2017, with some of the money allocated to elementary construction. Since the bond approval there has been discussion about building a new elementary school, with Mae Valley being the most frequently mentioned location. Shannon said circumstances have changed, especially with the availability of state financing.