Staff Writer
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.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Aaron Garza selected as Othello Police Chief
OTHELLO — New Othello Police Chief Aaron Garza said he likes serving his community.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 HOUR, 46 MINUTES AGO
Othello School District to offer four-year EP&O levy
OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will decide the fate of a four-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election Feb. 10. Ballots are being mailed this week. Typically, Othello has submitted a three-year levy to voters, but Othello Superintendent Pete Perez said there are no guarantees when …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 HOUR, 58 MINUTES AGO
New location, new look for Othello Library
OTHELLO — The Othello Library is attracting a lot of attention in its new space. “Everybody comments on how beautiful it is, and how fresh it is, and that it looks great, and that they’re really happy,” Othello Head Librarian Georgia Reitmire said. “One of our customers came in this …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 16 HOURS, 1 MINUTE AGO
Royal schools EP&O levy on Feb. 10 ballot
ROYAL CITY — Royal School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a two-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election Feb. 10. If it’s approved, the levy would replace an existing levy approved by voters in 2024.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 16 HOURS AGO
GCSO, Wenatchee PD activity spark ICE rumors in Quincy
QUINCY — Rumors that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were in Quincy on Thursday are unfounded, said Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green. However, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office did arrest a Quincy man during a traffic stop at the Jackpot Food Mart Thursday.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 16 HOURS AGO
Quincy voters to consider school EP&O levy Feb. 10
QUINCY — Ballots are scheduled to be mailed next week for a special election that will decide the fate of a four-year educational programs and operations levy proposal from the Quincy School District. If ballots are mailed, they must be postmarked by Feb. 10.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 16 HOURS AGO
Kriete, Sainsbury to run for Grant County Sheriff
EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete will face a challenge from a GCSO officer in the race for sheriff this year. Kriete announced his intention to run for a second term as sheriff Monday; Josh Sainsbury announced he was running for sheriff Tuesday.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 16 HOURS AGO
Swartz chosen for second term as Moses Lake mayor
MOSES LAKE — Dustin Swartz will be serving as Moses Lake mayor for the next two years. Swartz was reelected by Moses Lake City Council members on a 5-1 vote Tuesday. Council member Victor Lombardi voted no, after nominating Mark Fancher for the mayor’s job. Fancher, however, declined.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 16 HOURS AGO
Ybarra introduces bill to roll back special fuels tax
OLYMPIA — A bill to repeal a “special fuels tax” imposed in 2025 on diesel and other fuels was introduced for the 2026 Washington legislative session by 13th District representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, Tuesday.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 16 HOURS AGO
Othello city administrator search will start in town
OTHELLO — Spencer Williams was appointed as interim Othello city administrator Monday, but not before a discussion on who the city administrator should be. Council member Marc Spohr said he thought it should be new mayor Ken Johnson.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 16 HOURS AGO
Othello museum to extend season
OTHELLO — Operators of the Othello Community Museum want to take advantage of upgrades to its heating-cooling system by opening earlier in the year and staying open later. “Our season will be longer, hopefully April to October. But we’ll still be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays,” said …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Basin health care 2025 review
MOSES LAKE — A new hospital opened in Quincy; construction was mostly completed on the new Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Columbia Basin Hospital voters rejected a request for a construction bond. Columbia Basin health care organizations experienced ups and downs in 2025.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Contract awarded for Othello fiber project
OTHELLO — Delays slowed the project down, but a section of Adams County south of Othello will be getting access to fiber this summer. Adams County Engineer Scott Yaeger said the work could start as early as next month.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO
Quincy annexes M Street NE property
QUINCY — New housing, sidewalks and curbs will be coming to a piece of undeveloped property on M Street Northeast as part of an annexation agreement approved Jan. 6 by the Quincy City Council.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO
