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
More park improvements planned for Royal City in ‘26
ROYAL CITY — Lions Park in Royal City now has a soccer field, so city officials will be working on the next phase of improvements in 2026. The first phase of upgrades to Apple Avenue also is scheduled for 2026, and both are among the projects reflected in the city’s …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Sleep Diagnostic Center physician pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud
BREWSTER — A Brewster physician who operates a sleep diagnostic clinic in Moses Lake and Wenatchee will be sentenced March 24 as part of a Wednesday plea deal on Medicaid fraud charges.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 2 MINUTES AGO
Qualifying irrigation-only wells approved by Moses Lake council
MOSES LAKE — Public agencies and semi-public organizations will be allowed to drill individual wells to water fields and other publicly accessible green spaces under the terms of an ordinance approved by the Moses Lake City Council at the last meeting of 2025. Council members have been discussing the ordinance …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 17 MINUTES AGO
Quincy man killed in early-morning crash
QUINCY — A Quincy man was killed when the car he was driving was hit by another car about five miles west of Quincy early Thursday morning.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 11 HOURS, 13 MINUTES AGO
Newhouse to retire from Congress
WASHINGTON D.C. — Fourth District Representative Dan Newhouse has announced he will not seek reelection to the US Congress in 2026. The announcement was made Wednesday. “This decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” the statement …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 20 HOURS, 47 MINUTES AGO
Local legislators discuss 2026 session
MOSES LAKE — Washington 13th District legislators previewed what they see as the challenges of the upcoming 2026 session at a meeting with Moses Lake city officials and residents Tuesday. State Senator Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake along with Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, outlined some …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 20 HOURS AGO
Dorow appointed to Othello City Council
OTHELLO — Chris Dorow has been appointed to a vacant position on the Othello City Council. Dorow was appointed by unanimous vote after candidates for the seat were interviewed at the Dec. 8 council meeting. There was no discussion. Dorow replaces Denae Valdez, who resigned from the council in November. …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 20 HOURS AGO
High winds forecast Tuesday and Wednesday
MOSES LAKE — While the heavy rain, heavy snow and flooding is expected to stay north of the Columbia Basin, the Basin won’t escape the storms forecast to roll through the region this week. According to the National Weather Service, it’s going to get pretty windy. “We do have a …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 20 HOURS AGO
Grant PUD seeks rate input
EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers have until Dec. 23 to submit their comments on proposed rate hikes that would go into effect in April 2026. Comments can be submitted at Grant PUD: Commission Meetings. Customers commenting at the last PUD commission meeting of 2025 said higher rates …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 20 HOURS AGO
More rain for Cascades, high winds for Columbia Basin this week
LEAVENWORTH — A second strong winter storm is projected to hit Washington this week, bringing heavy rains back to areas that were hard-hit by rain and flooding last week. Steve Bodnar, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said rain is forecast to start Monday, but won’t last …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 7 HOURS AGO
Revised Moses Lake ordinance designed to recover some MLFD costs
MOSES LAKE — An ordinance revision approved by the Moses Lake City Council will allow more consistent billing of insurance companies in cases of emergency response by the Moses Lake Fire Department. In certain circumstances, property owners or vehicle owners may be responsible for paying whatever emergency response costs are …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 7 HOURS AGO
Quincy EP&O levy to go to voters
QUINCY — Quincy School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a four-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election in February. If it’s approved, it would replace the levy approved by voters in 2022. District superintendent Nik Bergman said money raised through the levy accounts …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Moses Lake School Board unanimously approves union contract
MOSES LAKE — After lengthy negotiations and a five-day strike, Moses Lake School Board members approved a new three-year agreement between the Moses Lake School District and the Moses Lake Education Association Wednesday. Board members approved the contract on a roll-call vote.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO
Options for responding to challenging times at annual WSTFA meeting
WENATCHEE — The last couple of years have been a bumpy ride in the orchard, and it didn’t matter if it was an apple, cherry or pear orchard. Organizers of the annual meeting of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association asked its speakers and panelists to talk about where the …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO
