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
Othello physician had an impact on many lives
OTHELLO — Richard Bunch was a part of life -- from birth to death -- in Othello for more than half a century. Bunch, who died Nov. 10 at 84 years of age, was a physician in Othello from 1962 until his retirement in 2014.
Warden Police give back for Thanksgiving
Warden Police Department officers and staff celebrated Thanksgiving took a charitable project a step further.
Scott Swartz hired as permanent Othello High School principal
OTHELLO — Interim Othello High School principal Scott Swartz has been hired as the permanent principal at OHS. Othello School Board members approved Swartz’s hiring at the Nov. 23 board meeting.
Setting up lights at fairgrounds arena is a slow, precise process
MOSES LAKE — The job of setting a 75-foot light pole on a seven-foot base, using a lift that extends 20 feet and a crane that extends 100 feet, is an inches game.
Maria Celaya appointed new Mattawa mayor
MATTAWA — Maria Celaya, formerly a member of the Mattawa City Council, was appointed mayor of Mattawa last month.
Arranged connections: Flowers allowing people to stay in touch during pandemic
MOSES LAKE — It’s been a bad year to get together with family and friends. The coronavirus pandemic has made the normal summer barbecues and family Thanksgiving dinners — and any other celebration — pretty much impossible, so people have been left to turn to alternative ways to connect with friends and loved ones, and a lot of people have been doing that with flowers.
Local business sponsors coat drive for foster children
MOSES LAKE — A local business is sponsoring an unusual coat drive to benefit children in foster care.
'Christmas Miracle on Main Street' in Othello this weekend
OTHELLO — The Christmas season will be commemorated with a parade, fireworks, lighting the community tree and a food and toy drive at the “Christmas Miracle on Main Street” celebration Saturday in Othello.
Cost for fairgrounds ag building upgrades higher than expected
MOSES LAKE — Refurbishing the agriculture building at the Grant County Fairgrounds will cost $40,000 to $45,000 more than expected, but officials have said funds are available in the budget.
Small Business Saturday: Customers come out in support as downtown ML businesses adapt
Moses Lake businesses adapted to COVID-19 restrictions
MOSES LAKE — Stores were open and business was brisk on Small Business Saturday, but shopping was different. Of course, it was 2020 and in the midst of a pandemic, on the American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Royal schools open, struggle to maintain staffing
Royal School District schools remained open last week, but Superintendent Roger Trail said the surge in COVID-19 cases has had a significant impact on staffing.
Wahluke School District delays return to campus
Wahluke School District has put off on-campus instruction until January.
A jump on shopping: In-store Black Friday crowds down this year
MOSES LAKE — Anyone who can remember back to, oh, Thanksgiving 2019, remembers the hustle and bustle of Black Friday. Cars overflowing the parking lots of stores, shoppers getting an early start on Thanksgiving afternoon, or people lining up before stores’ doors open on Friday morning. But Black Friday 2020 was a lot different.
'Light Up Moses Lake' to feature reverse parade
A new take on a Moses Lake tradition will be part of the “Light Up Moses Lake” celebration beginning Friday.
Maria Celaya appointed as Mattawa mayor
Mattawa City Council member Maria Celaya has been appointed as the mayor of Mattawa.
Moses Lake Food Bank distributes Thanksgiving baskets
MOSES LAKE — Even in the midst of a pandemic, Thanksgiving 2020 is approaching, and some people need a little help getting a Thanksgiving dinner.
Warden schools levy proposal passes easily with 63% in favor
Warden School District voters have approved a two-year educational programs and operations levy.
Royal City man charged in robbery
A first-degree armed robbery charge is pending against a Royal City man in connection with a holdup at a Rock Island business Nov. 17.
Grant County 2021 budget picture developing
Grant County expenses are projected to increase slightly in 2021, while revenues are projected to remain about the same as in 2020.
Animal rescue group celebrates first anniversary
It was Muffy who prompted the founding of the Animal Rescue Friends Society of Grant County.
Wahluke School District revises plan
MATTAWA — Wahluke School District officials have decided to delay the start of on-campus instruction at least until January.
RSD Superintendent Roger Trail: Screening system has worked well
Royal School District schools are remaining open, at least for now.
Stepping down: Mattawa mayor Scott Hyndman resigns
Mattawa Mayor Scott Hyndman announced his resignation on Monday, effective immediately.
Samaritan offers drive-through coronavirus testing
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare is offering drive-through COVID-19 tests, a service that began Monday.
Othello schools return to online instruction
Most Othello School District students will go back to all-online instruction, starting Monday and continuing at least through Dec. 4.
Samaritan operating expenses may be higher than income in 2021
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare will finish 2021 with a profit, but only because it has help from the the hospital district levy and its investments.
Interim principal named for Warden High School
WARDEN — Ausencio “Cinco” Delgado has been named the interim principal at Warden High School. Warden School Board members voted to appoint Delgado as the interim principal during the regular board meeting Nov. 12. Board members had accepted the resignation of former principal Chris Lupo during a special meeting Nov. 9.
Pop-up bakery chance to experiment
OTHELLO — It was a successful first summer for the Cow Path Artisan Bakery and Creamery, and its owner wanted to keep it going during the fall. The solution was to take an urban concept and retool it for Othello.
Free coronavirus testing in Grant, Adams counties from Nov. 17-20
QUINCY — Medical Teams International will provide free COVID-19 testing in communities throughout Grant and Adams counties from Nov. 17-20.
Building a new house is a long, slow process
Kris Butt knew what she wanted in the house she and her husband are building next to the water of Moses Lake.
Samaritan's Patton clinic to be expanded
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare officials are looking to expand the clinic on Patton Boulevard in 2021.
Quincy Valley Chamber seeks nominations for annual awards
QUINCY — Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce members are invited to submit nominations for the chamber’s annual awards event.
Grant PUD campground use rises dramatically
Grant County PUD’s 2020 recreation season not only was busy, it was busier than 2019 even though recreation sites were closed for 45 days.
Othello School District to review sex education curriculum options
OTHELLO — Othello School District officials are forming a committee to review possible materials for a new sex education curriculum.
Othello to move to second phase of water aquifer recharge project
OTHELLO — Two state agencies will help maintain city's water supply.
Blankenship, Weise maintain leads in commission races
RITZVILLE — Dan Blankenship and Jay Weise have maintained their leads in the race for two open positions on the Adams County Commission in updated vote totals released Nov. 6.
Former Moses Lake teacher influenced many lives
MOSES LAKE — Hazel Dozier taught English and Spanish to students at Chief Moses Junior High and Frontier Junior High, but she illuminated kids on more than that.
Some familiar routines, some new requirements as Othello students went back to campus
OTHELLO — Kids were greeted with a red carpet, music and a dancing star, representing the school’s mascot, when they returned to Scootney Springs Elementary last week. But unlike the trappings of a normal first day at school, parents and kids lined up for a temperature check from a touchless thermometer.
Building activity planned in Mattawa
MATTAWA — Building activity continues at a brisk pace in Mattawa.
Wahluke students will return to school next month
MATTAWA — In a decision announced Tuesday during the regular Wahluke School Board meeting, officials announced students would return to school in December.
Grants to Adams County businesses announced
RITZVILLE — The Adams County Development Council recently announced recipients in the second round of the county’s Working Washington Small Business Grant program.
Stratford widening, repaving project in final phase
Paving crews were laying down fresh asphalt at the intersection of Stratford and Mart roads Monday morning, as a two-year project to upgrade Stratford heads into the final phase.
Samaritan plans free flu shot clinic
Samaritan Healthcare will offer a free flu shot clinic to celebrate the first anniversary of the Samaritan Clinic on Patton.
McKay Healthcare temporarily relocates COVID-19 residents
McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation officials announced Friday that COVID-19 cases were identified at the facility, but patients since have been relocated and staff quarantined.
Grant PUD commissioners approve irrigation rate schedules
Grant County PUD has established rate classes detailing the charges for transmitting electricity to irrigation customers.
Food banks need donations, especially in unusual year
With Halloween in the rear-view mirror and Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, it’s time to think about those traditional food and toy drives and donations for local food banks – well, wait.
Othello man identified as accident victim
ROYAL CITY — A man killed when he failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a truck near Royal City has been identified as an Othello man.
System break leaves Lind without water
LIND — Aging equipment caused a leak that required shutting off water to the entire town of Lind last week.
Commissioners vote to raise Grant County landfill fees
Fees charged to dump garbage at the Grant County landfill will go up on March 1. Grant County commissioners approved a fee increase proposal after a public hearing Nov. 3.
Blankenship, Weise leading in Adams County commission races
If the trends established on election night continue, Adams County will have two new commissioners.