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
School upgrade: Progress starting to show on Royal construction project
Construction workers were adding stucco to the exterior of two new classrooms at Royal Middle School Friday, and crews have finished the foundation slab for the new entrance to the Royal High School gym.
Paving time: Road construction season is here; Valley Road project nears completion
Paving crews should be finished late next week on repaving a section of Valley Road Northeast, adjacent to the Moses Lake city limits, extending from the entrance of Cascade Park to Scott Road.
Learning, sharing: New Grant County Health District spokesperson keeps public informed
Misty Aguilar said her career in communication started with her desire to learn.
Moses Lake Distinguished Young Women program to be held at local venue
Seven high school juniors will compete Tuesday for the title of Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman.
Rimrock Meadows fire destroys travel trailer
EPHRATA — A travel trailer was destroyed in a fire Wednesday at Rimrock Meadows about 16 miles north of Ephrata.
Spring is here, and that means cleaning time
MOSES LAKE — It’s officially spring, and one of the season’s rituals is spring cleaning.
At Easter, churches adapt to changing conditions
Church observances for Easter 2021, like Easter 2020, will have restrictions due to COVID-19, but church congregations have adapted to changing conditions.
Traffic concerns: Hansen Road interchange gets spotlight
Increasing residential development in Mae Valley and plans for a new truck stop at the Hansen Road exit on Interstate 90 have focused attention on traffic flows and traffic volume around the interchange.
Some Easter egg hunts slated to take place this weekend
The COVID-19 outbreak is still putting a damper on activities, but some Easter egg hunts are on Saturday, one way or another.
Grant County Fair planning advances, hinges on phase
It looks likely if the 2021 Grant County Fair happens, it will have a carnival and the exhibit buildings will be open. But numbers of COVID-19 cases will be a determining factor in its fate.
Dorow hired as consultant for Othello sewage plant
Othello City Council member Genna Dorow has been hired by the city on a short-term contract to provide consulting services for the city’s wastewater treatment facility.
Eager to move in: GC Fire District 8’s new fire hall nearly ready for crews
It’s almost moving day for Grant County Fire District 8.
Desert Aire plans Easter egg hunt
Children in the Mattawa area are invited to hunt Easter eggs at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Desert Aire Park at 368 Desert Aire Dr. SW.
Othello looks for new district superintendent
Who the Othello School District superintendent will be in the 2021-22 school year is uncertain, as current district superintendent Chris Hurst announced he accepted another job, but has not resigned from his Othello position.
Othello schools to remain in hybrid model
Othello School District students will attend classes in the hybrid model, which includes classes on campus part-time and online part-time, through the end of the current school year.
Road rebuilding planned around new Love’s Travel Stop
The plans for the new Love’s Travel Stop on the south side of Interstate 90 in Moses Lake include major upgrades to the two roads that provide access to the property.
Royal schools to drop hybrid option after spring break
Royal School District officials are planning to drop the hybrid schedule — part-time on campus and part-time online — April 12, in favor of full-time, in-person instruction, when classes resume after spring vacation.
Police search for suspect in Othello shooting
Othello police are searching for a suspect who shot an Othello man in the leg outside his home early Tuesday morning.
Vaccination clinic tentatively scheduled for Saturday
The Grant County Vaccine Task Force tentatively scheduled a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake.
Sweet tradition: A love of baking is ingrained in Shawna Sloane’s family
Shawna Sloane said her love of baking has its roots in family tradition.
Love’s Travel Stop submits building plan to city
The preliminary floor plan for the new Love’s Travel Stop in Moses Lake is under review by the city’s building department, but likely won't change too much.
Libraries expand operating hours
Libraries in the NCW Libraries system, including those in Grant County, have expanded operating hours.
More vaccines, options available
There are still qualification requirements and appointments required, but people who qualify have more options to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Two Samaritan employees test positive for COVID-19 after receiving vaccine
Two employees at Samaritan Healthcare have tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving both shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
Sandhill Crane Festival still draws birdwatchers
Othello Sandhill Crane Festival events were online this year, but that didn’t stop birdwatchers from trekking to see birds.
Medical students’ research project features Moses Lake
Local first-year medical students turned the challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic into an opportunity to conduct research and provide a small economic boost to communities in which they are studying.
Othello Fair planning begins tentatively
Planning is underway for the 2021 Othello Fair, although whether the fair will occur is still unknown because longer-term use and maintenance of the fairgrounds is under discussion by Adams County Commissioners.
Amy Suarez named Othello School District finance director
OTHELLO — Amy Suarez is the new executive director of business for the Othello School District.
Royal City City Council to resume in-person meetings
The Royal City City Council plans to start in-person meetings April 6 in the council chamber at Royal City City Hall, 445 Camelia St.
Phase 3 begins: Move forward encourages local business owners
MATTAWA — The first day of the third phase of Washington’s reopening didn’t produce much additional business at Tiddaly Diddalys sandwich and pizza shop in Mattawa. Owner Ken Broda said business has been picking up for a couple weeks.
Royal City approves contract for water planning
ROYAL CITY — Royal City officials will spend $30,000 to $40,000 for a plan for a new water system.
Othello man pleads not guilty to manslaughter
An Othello man pleaded not guilty Monday in Adams County Superior Court to first-degree manslaughter in the death of his 4-year-old son Feb. 27.
‘Roller coaster’ ride continues as reopening moves forward
The parking lot at Checo's Mexican Grill was almost full during Monday’s lunch hour.
Katrina Ball first female detective for Grant County Sheriff's Office
Katrina Ball said there was more she could do for her community.
Fixes for the long term: Whether to reupholster depends on a budget, an object’s value to owner
Diana Derricott said there are three questions people should ask themselves when they’re trying to decide whether to reupholster furniture.
In-person instructions: Local school districts meet Inslee’s requirement differently
School districts in Grant County and the Othello School District (in Adams County) have one thing in common: they all meet the criteria established by Gov. Jay Inslee, requiring schools to reopen for some kind of in-person learning by mid-April.
Volunteers sought to assist at vaccination clinics
The Grant County Vaccine Task Force is looking for volunteers to assist at COVID-19 vaccination clinics around the county and there is a bonus.
Ephrata group to review recommendations for Grant County Jail site
A committee of Ephrata residents will meet next week to evaluate two possible sites for the new Grant County Jail, which is among the first steps in the city's requirement.
Othello Police Department swears in a new officer
Tyson Cox, 37, is the newest officer in the Othello Police Department, as he was sworn in Monday by Othello Mayor Shawn Logan.
Othello PD to expand detective division
The Othello Police Department will expand its detective division to address changes in patterns of crime.
In the right place: Royal City’s new police chief has found his niche
Royal City Police Chief Rey Rodriguez said he decided early on that Royal City was the place for him.
Othello schools looking for bus drivers
Holly Gross, assistant transportation director for the Othello School District, said driving a school bus is pretty fun.
Othello to keep schools on blended schedule
Othello schools may remain in a hybrid model through the end of the school year, with the goal of returning to complete in-person instruction at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.
Royal student wins award in regional art show
Royal High School senior Fernandez Ruiz-Cisneros said he was looking for something to draw one afternoon in art class. The resulting piece won him a $2,000 art scholarship from Central Washington University.
Arraignment in Othello manslaughter case delayed
The arraignment of an Othello man charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of his 4-year-old son has been postponed one week.
Phase 3 good news, say local officials
The news Thursday, about the state moving to Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee's reopening plan, was good, officials said.
Grant County Courthouse scheduled to reopen April 5
The Grant County Courthouse and most other county offices are scheduled to reopen to the public April 5.
Warden City Council receives annexation request
Warden city officials may plan to annex a piece of property, located at Pine Avenue and First Street, into the city, after receiving a request for it.
Virtual nature: Sandhill Crane Festival goes online for 2021
The 2021 Othello Sandhill Crane Festival events will move online, with most of them scheduled for March 20.
Warden to add online bill pay option
Warden residents can pay their utility bills online in about a month, as council members on Tuesday approved a resolution allowing online payments.