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
Sprucing up downtown
Work of Moses Lake students yields colorful results downtown
MOSES LAKE — Samatha Underwood said one lesson she’s learned in three years of planting the flower boxes in downtown Moses Lake is that people really are paying attention. “People actually do appreciate this,” she said. “We actually had somebody in a truck roll down the window and yell, ‘Thank you.’”
Shoppers hunt for the good stuff at museum yard sale
MOSES LAKE — The appeal of a yard sale is that hunt for treasure. Maybe the treasure is a 1930s radio in a handsome wood cabinet. Maybe it’s jewelry or artwork, maybe a vintage baseball mitt or even a 1970s sewing pattern catalog. The thrill of the hunt attracted shoppers to the Rusty Mammoth sale Friday night and Saturday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Ephrata School District hires two new campus leaders
EPHRATA — Ephrata School District officials have announced the selection of Ashlie Miller as the new principal at Ephrata High School. Levi Spencer has been hired as the new assistant principal at Ephrata Middle School.
‘Guaranteed maximum price’ accepted for jail construction
EPHRATA — The maximum cost for building the Grant County Jail and Grant County Sheriff’s Office - just for construction, not equipping it or paying construction fees - will be $131.56 million. The Grant County Commissioners approved an agreement for the “guaranteed maximum price” for construction Tuesday. That’s about $3 million less than the estimated cost for construction made in April, which was about $134.21 million. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said in a separate interview that reflects changes in the construction market.
Quincy tennis finishes season
QUINCY — The Quincy High School tennis team ended its season Saturday at the boys Caribou Trail League championships and the girls District 6 championships in Quincy. Both were qualifiers to advance in state competition, and the Jacks failed to send any players to the next round.
Groundbreaking celebrates new Coulee City clinic, library
COULEE CITY — Construction could begin this year on the first phase of a project to build a new medical clinic and library in Coulee City. Local officials held a groundbreaking for the project May 10. Officials from the Town of Coulee City and the Port of Coulee City have been working on obtaining funding to build new facilities for the library and clinic, an effort that dates back to 2015, according to a press release from the port.
Stratford Road shooting leaves one injured
MOSES LAKE — One person was injured and a suspect was detained after a shooting on Stratford Road about 16 miles north of Moses Lake Monday evening.
Quincy takes next step toward water, sewer upgrades
QUINCY — Design work is beginning on a project to upgrade sewer systems in the city of Quincy. The city’s water system will be getting some upgrades too, among them a new water tower.
Tennis season ends for Quincy Jacks
QUINCY — Quincy’s Victor Torres lines up the shot during a consolation round doubles match at the District 6/Caribou Trail League tennis championships Saturday in Quincy. Both the boys and girls teams ended the season at the tournament. A review of the Jacks’ tennis season will be in the Wednesday edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.
Basin races have mix of challengers, unopposed incumbents
MOSES LAKE — The filing period for the 2024 election closed Friday with a mixed grouping of candidates at the county and state levels. Some will run against multiple challengers while a few incumbents have exclusive spots on the ballot.