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
Adams County primary election results certified
RITZVILLE — Incumbent John Marshall will be challenged by Dan Blankenship in the race for Adams County commissioner, District 1, in the general election in November. Marshall and Blankenship received the highest number of votes in the primary election, which was certified Tuesday.
Othello Police officer in Aug. 5 incident identified
OTHELLO — Investigators have identified the Othello Police officer who discharged his weapon in an incident in Othello Aug. 5.
Primary election results certified
EPHRATA — Incumbent county commissioners received fewer votes than their challengers in Grant and Adams counties in primary election results certified Aug. 18.
Coronavirus testing recommended for contacts of Adams County Jail inmates, staff
RITZVILLE — Adams County Health Department officials are recommending that people who came into close contact with staff or inmates from the Adams County Jail between Aug. 3 and Aug. 17 be tested for COVID-19.
Halfway through season, farmers market drawing crowds
MOSES LAKE — The 2020 season at the Moses Lake Farmers Market is just past its halfway point, and so far it’s been a pretty busy spring and summer.
Contract awarded for Grant County landfill expansion
EPHRATA — Grant County commissioners have voted to award a $2.5 million contract to KRCI, a construction company based in East Wenatchee, to open a new section of the Grant County landfill.
Warden School Board approves 2020-21 budget
WARDEN — Enrollment in the Warden School District is expected to drop slightly for the 2020-21 school year. District Business Manager Tricia Schock said enrollment is expected to be the equivalent of 896 students.
Online instruction planned in Warden schools
WARDEN — The first four weeks of instruction in the Warden School District will be online, but district officials hope to provide instruction at school for some students.
Royal schools 2020-21 budget approved
ROYAL CITY — The Royal School District is projected to start the 2020-21 school year with the equivalent of 13 fewer students than was projected at the start of the 2019-20 school year.
Othello School District, unions still in negotiations about start of school
OTHELLO — Whether teachers and staff in the Othello School District will be working in the district’s buildings, or from home, is still being negotiated.
Othello Fair canceled, livestock sale in planning stages
OTHELLO — While the Othello Fair has been canceled for 2020, livestock committee members are looking at options for a livestock sale.
Building remodel will add food bank storage space
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Food Bank is getting more storage space, at a time when operators say it’s really needed.
Exhibitors not allowed at Grant County livestock auction
MOSES LAKE — Participants in the livestock sales at the Grant County Fairgrounds next week will deliver their animals Aug. 19.
Royal schools to provide some in-person instruction
ROYAL CITY — Royal School District officials have announced the district will begin the school year with on-campus instruction part-time for all grades.
Enrollment projected down in Othello School District
OTHELLO — After about two weeks of online and in-person registration, a lot of kids still haven’t registered for school in the Othello School District.
Grant County Fairgrounds livestock auction details announced
MOSES LAKE — Exhibitors participating in the livestock sale at Grant County Fairgrounds will drop off their animals Aug. 19, and the sale will be held Aug. 20 and 21. Final details for the event were announced Tuesday.
Incumbents trailing in Adams, Grant county commission races
EPHRATA — An incumbent Grant County commissioner and an incumbent Adams County commissioner are running behind challengers in updated vote totals from the primary election Aug. 4.
Othello demolition derby canceled for 2020
Othello Demolition Derby canceled for 2020
OTHELLO — The annual Othello Demolition Derby has been canceled for 2020. The derby was scheduled for Sept. 16.
Most Grant County libraries to open for curbside pickup
MOSES LAKE — Library patrons will be able to get books and other materials from most libraries in Grant County beginning Aug. 13. Library patrons can start reserving materials for curbside pickup Aug. 12.
Warden School District levy request to go to voters
WARDEN — Warden School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a two-year educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy during the general election Nov. 3.
Grant County to start installing keyless entry systems
EPHRATA — The Grant County Courthouse and other county buildings will be getting new keyless entry systems on their exterior doors, a project that could cost more than $200,000.
Blankenship widens lead in Adams County commission race
RITZVILLE — Challenger Dan Blankenship widened his lead over incumbent Adams County Commissioner John Marshall in updated results announced Friday.
Blankenship widens lead in Adams County commission race
RITZVILLE — Challenger Dan Blankenship widened his lead over incumbent Adams County Commissioner John Marshall in updated results announced Friday.
Wahluke School District to start school year online
MATTAWA — Wahluke School District officials are considering a proposal to delay the start of the 2020-21 school year. Whenever school starts, all first quarter classes will be online.
Swartz named interim Othello HS principal
OTHELLO — Longtime Othello High School teacher and administrator Scott Swartz has been named interim OHS principal.
Royal, Wahluke school districts plan for reopening
ROYAL CITY — Officials with school districts throughout the Columbia Basin are looking at options for reopening this fall, and districts are coming to different conclusions. Royal School District officials tentatively are planning some on-campus instruction, while the Wahluke School District will start the year online.
Othello Fair canceled for 2020
Othello Fair, demolition derby canceled for 2020
OTHELLO — The Othello Fair, originally scheduled for Sept. 16-19, has been canceled. Fair officials announced the cancellation Aug. 5.
Royal School District announces tentative reopening plan
ROYAL CITY — If possible, Royal School District officials plan to have children back in school buildings this fall. Royal Superintendent Roger Trail laid out the district’s plan and answered questions at an online community meeting July 29.
Livestock but no exhibitors allowed during livestock show, sale
MOSES LAKE — All exhibitors will be barred from the livestock show and auction scheduled for Aug. 19-21 or Aug. 20-21. The sale is planned for when the Grant County Fair would have been had the fair not been canceled.
Grant PUD considers assistance because of coronavirus
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD officials and commissioners are considering proposals to provide temporary assistance to residential customers who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in paying their electricity bills.
Challenger leads incumbent in race for Adams County Commission
RITZVILLE — Challenger Dan Blankenship has a substantial lead over incumbent John Marshall in the race for Adams County commissioner in early results from the primary election Tuesday.
Challenger leads incumbent in race for Adams County Commission
RITZVILLE — Challenger Dan Blankenship has a substantial lead over incumbent John Marshall in the race for Adams County commissioner in early results from the primary election Tuesday.
Blankenship leads Marshall in Adams County Commission race
RITZVILLE — Challenger Dan Blankenship has a substantial lead over incumbent John Marshall in the race for Adams County commissioner in early results from the primary election Aug. 4.
Othello Farmers Market open for season
Othello Farmers Market opens for season
OTHELLO — The Othello Farmers Market has opened its doors for the summer in a new location.
Othello, Warden schools work on fall plans
OTHELLO — How schools will reopen has been decided in some districts and is still under discussion in others.
Working with others crucial to legislative success, Dent says
Working with others crucial to legislative success, Dent says
MOSES LAKE — Rep. Tom Dent said effectiveness in the Washington Legislature starts with working with people on other sides of the issue, whatever the issue might be.
May sales tax receipts for Grant County much higher than expected
EPHRATA — Even though many local businesses were closed throughout most of May, people in Grant County still spent money. Sales tax receipts were about double for May.
Moses Lake Christian Academy has a new teaching-learning director
Moses Lake Christian Academy has a new teaching-learning director
MOSES LAKE — Daniel Timofeyev is the new director of teaching and learning at Moses Lake Christian Academy.
Unemployment rate falls in Grant County
MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County dropped substantially in June, from a rate of 12.7 percent in May to 8.3 percent last month.
Tentative Warden school reopening plan under discussion
WARDEN — The 2020-21 school year will start in Warden Sept. 2, and a plan for reopening school will be approved by the Warden School Board Aug. 19. How classes will be conducted is still to be determined, but district superintendent Dave LaBounty said July 24 that classes probably will be partly on campus and partly online.
Marilee Garza finishes roller-coaster year
WARDEN — Warden High School senior Marilee Garza said she’s looking forward to new experiences, going to new places. It’s kind of ironic, then, that all classes have been moved online for her first quarter at the University of Washington.
Top Gun concessions keeps cooking to keep going
MOSES LAKE — In any other year but 2020 the Ardell Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds is a great place for a concession business. But it is 2020, and the concession business – well, business is pretty hard to find, since all events scheduled for the fairgrounds since March have been canceled.
Raising fair animals: A bigger gamble than usual
MOSES LAKE — Part of the calculation that goes into raising an animal to exhibit at the Grant County Fair is that it’s a gamble.
Warden High School seniors receive diplomas
Warden High School seniors receive diplomas
WARDEN — Every parade has candy that participants throw to kids along the route, and Kaden Skone made sure the car parade prior to the Warden High School graduation ceremony was no exception. Skone went from car to car, distributing candy to his classmates as they assembled for graduation July 24.
Othello schools to start school year online
OTHELLO — Students in the Othello School District will be starting the school year online.
Challenges appeal to Kaden Skone
WARDEN — Kaden Skone said one of his goals throughout high school was to ensure he had a chance to be class valedictorian. After all, he had to keep up with his brother.
Heat advisory issued for Columbia Basin
MOSES LAKE — Temperatures could get hot enough to be downright dangerous this week. The National Weather Service, or NWS, has issued a heat advisory for the Columbia Basin, with temperatures forecast to be in excess of 100 degrees Tuesday and Thursday.
Warden High School seniors end unusual year with graduation
WARDEN — Alexys Gibbons’ family went all out decorating the truck for the Warden High School graduation parade Friday night — signs, congratulatory messages written in car chalk, and balloons. A lot of balloons.
Very hot weather returning this week
MOSES LAKE — While summer 2020 has been remarkably temperate — a lot more 85-degree days than 100-degree days — it’s still July. Another spell of very hot weather is forecast for this week.
Northwest Ag demolition derby canceled for 2020
Northwest Ag demolition derby canceled for 2020
MOSES LAKE — The Northwest Ag Demo Derby, a longtime event at the Grant County Fair, has been canceled for 2020. The Moses Lake Roundup Committee announced the cancellation Wednesday.