GCFD 8 emphasizes pedestrian safety on first day of school
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 hours, 13 minutes AGO
Grant County Fire District 8 Chief Matt Hyndman (right) conducts students across Government Road on the first day of school in the Wahluke School District.
COURTESY PHOTO/WAHLUKE SCHOOL DISTRICT
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. | September 2, 2026 1:15 AM
MATTAWA — Grant County Fire District 8 crews used the first day of school to emphasize school crossing safety by putting in a shift as crossing guards.
Firefighters supplemented school staff at crosswalks along Government Road, the main artery through Mattawa. The goal was to remind drivers to exercise extra caution now that school is back in session, especially in those areas along Government Road with poor visibility.
“It’s something we try to do every year, if we’re not on a call,” said Barbara Davis, GCFD 8 business manager.
Wahluke School District and GCFD 8 work together on projects throughout the school year, some for safety and education, some just for fun, Davis said. Wahluke second graders get a tour of the GCFD 8 station and fire trucks visit elementary schools for “touch a truck” events. The fire trucks are there for last day of school festivities, too.
The goal is to introduce children to emergency vehicles and teach them about emergency response and public safety, Davis said.
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