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
Hansen Road demolition about halfway completed
MOSES LAKE — Construction crews working to demolish the Hansen Road overpass are halfway through the job. Crews were out Thursday morning demolishing the north end of the overpass while traffic negotiated Interstate 90. Westbound traffic is using the Hansen Road offramp and onramp as a detour, while eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane on I-90. The eastbound lanes shift as different parts of the bridge are demolished.
Moses Lake City Council votes to place restrictions on kratom sales
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members approved restrictions on the sale of products containing kratom, both from the plant and synthetic derivatives. Sales will be restricted to people 21 years of age and older.
Moses Lake City Council seeks to build third fire station in north end of town
MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake will be adding a temporary fire station along Patton Boulvard, the interim step to building a permanent facility. Moses Lake City Council members asked for additional research on an option to install temporary housing as well for firefighters at a site at the Port of Moses Lake.
Ephrata looking for infrastructure, economic development grant opportunities
EPHRATA — Infrastructure improvement usually starts with a plan – at least when a city is looking for state or federal funding to help pay for it. Ephrata city officials are working on plans to help bring in some of that funding, along with working on projects already planned.
4 family members killed in Dodson Road crash with tractor-trailer
ROYAL CITY — Four members of a Tacoma family were killed and one critically injured when they ran into a truck at around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at the intersection Frenchman Hills Road West and Dodson South, about eight miles north of Royal City.
Othello to begin construction of city's first animal shelter
OTHELLO — Construction of an Othello Animal Shelter will start with the fence. Othello City Council members awarded a $68,600 contract to Cortez Fencing, Moses Lake, at the regular council meeting Monday.
Finances for fire district annexation to be discussed at Othello council workshop
OTHELLO — Othello residents are being invited to a workshop at 5 p.m. Aug. 10 to discuss finance options available to the city if a proposal to annex the city into Adams County Fire District 5 is approved. Mayor Ken Johnson said that if an annexation is approved, the way Othello residents pay for their fire services will change, which means the Othello City Council must make some decisions.
Multiple fires keep Grant County crews busy
QUINCY — A car fire that turned into a brush fire closed SR 28 near Quincy for about six hours and prompted evacuation notices Sunday afternoon. Grant County Fire District 3 Chief David Durfee said the fire bordering SR 28 was about 85 acres, but difficult terrain and weather conditions made it a challenge to fight.
Railroad Fire nearing full containment — 10 residences destroyed
MATTAWA — While some hot spots remain, crews have reached the mop-up stage on the Railroad Fire near Beverly as of Monday. No injuries have been reported. “We’re at 90 percent containment,” said Ben Shearer, public information officer for the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team.
Samaritan Healthcare survey asks residents for ideas on future healthcare
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare officials are asking residents of its hospital district and some regional hospital districts for their ideas on where healthcare in the Columbia Basin should go next. Gretchen Youngren, Samaritan chief development and communications officer, said hospital officials are mostly interested in two questions.