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
Stevens Pass set to partially reopen
STEVENS PASS — A section of US Highway 2 will reopen Monday for daytime use, with a pilot car, but other sections of the road remain closed. A detour will be available for people trying to access the east section of Highway 2 from Leavenworth.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Winter temperatures to arrive and stay for a while
MOSES LAKE — All those mild days in November and December? All those 50-degree afternoons? Well, as people may have noticed, that late fall weather is going away, at least for the time being. Joey Clevenger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said weather patterns are starting …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Challenges and perseverance subjects of annual tree fruit convention
WENATCHEE — Anybody who’s been through them knows it’s been a rough couple of years in the tree fruit industry. One of the themes at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association annual meeting was that while it’s been a bumpy ride, Washington growers have the knowledge and skill to lead …
BASINBUSINESSJOURNAL | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Planning ahead key to a safe New Year’s celebration
MOSES LAKE — With Christmas in the rearview mirror, there’s one more big holiday celebration before the New Year arrives. But people who are planning to celebrate the end of 2025 should think ahead – and plan ahead – before they leave home.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 20 HOURS AGO
Moses Lake man arrested for alleged assault after standoff
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary and fourth-degree assault after he allegedly broke into a woman’s home late Christmas night.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 7 HOURS AGO
Adams Co. commissioners approve 2026 budget
RITZVILLE — Adams County Commissioners approved a $62.5 million budget Tuesday, the last step in what commission chair Mike Garza said was a difficult job. “It was a tough, drawn-out process,” Garza said. “I think we came up with something that’s as fair as it can be.”
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 21 HOURS AGO
Othello man injured in alleged vehicular assault
OTHELLO — An Othello man was airlifted to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center after his car was hit while sitting on the shoulder about a mile west of Othello Tuesday night.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 12 HOURS AGO
Othello man injured in alleged vehicular assault
OTHELLO — An Othello man was airlifted to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center after his car was hit while sitting on the shoulder about a mile west of Othello Tuesday night.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 12 HOURS AGO
Outgoing Othello council members recognized for their work
OTHELLO — Outgoing Othello City Council members were recognized at the last meeting of the year Monday. “It’s been a huge honor in my life, the biggest honor I could ever think of, serving with every single person up here on this council, with past council members and with the …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 21 HOURS AGO
Othello approves $29M budget for 2026
OTHELLO — The city of Othello is projected to spend about $10.1 million from its general fund in 2026, the biggest part of a $29 million overall budget. Council members approved the 2026 budget earlier this month, and city Finance Director Spencer Williams said budget planning started in late summer.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 6 HOURS AGO
New Othello mayor, council members sworn into office
OTHELLO — New Othello Mayor Ken Johnson and two of three new Othello City Council members were sworn in Monday during the last council meeting of 2025. Alma Carmona and Kelli Camp joined Johnson Monday for the swearing-in.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 7 HOURS AGO
Audit findings follow sentencing of former GCFD 4 chief
WARDEN — Grant County Fire District 4 is instituting new policies for credit card use and use of its petty cash accounts. Fire district officials also have written new policies governing the purchase of equipment following the two audits by the Washington State Auditor’s Office, released Monday.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 9 HOURS AGO
Port of Moses Lake to build electrical generation, transmission lines
MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake will start construction of electrical transmission lines between port property and Rocky Ford to the north and the port and Connell to the south. Port officials also are working to build electrical generation facilities on port property.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 6 HOURS AGO
Mattawa to work on sewer, water projects in 2026
MATTAWA — The city of Mattawa has budgeted to spend about $200,000 more in its current expense (general) fund in 2026 than it is projected to receive in revenue. Expenses for all departments are projected to be slightly higher than revenues, and as a result Mattawa is projected to have …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 21 HOURS AGO
