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
Sign of spring: dredge hits the water
Part of multi-year project
MOSES LAKE - Signs of spring have started to appear - geese flying north, buttercups, the dredge being returned to Moses Lake.
Students 'Run for Ronda' in support of school secretary
Ronda McPhetridge always has the best interests of the elementary kids in mind when she's at school.
BBCC graduate receives 'Transforming Lives' award
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College graduate Maria Hartman was among 35 people recognized for their efforts to improve their lives through education as the college's "Transforming Lives" nominee for 2013.
Samaritan CEO candidate meets Moses Lake community
MOSES LAKE - The shape of future medical care, recapturing patients who go out of town, how to make maximum use of space and staffing, and the right balance of recognition and accountability. Those were among the topics discussed when Kathy Romano, the first of two candidates for Samaritan Healthcare chief executive officer, met with community leaders Thursday.
Ruby remembered as friend, civic leader
MOSES LAKE - Tell stories about Moses Lake back in the day, and sooner or later the story likely will include Robert Ruby.
BBCC program prepares graduates for workforce
MOSES LAKE - Many of the growing careers of the future will require knowledge of SQLs, DOMs, LANs and WENs and beyond, not to mention Windows. And Cisco. Helping students master the techniques and language necessary to make a career in computing is the goal of the revived computer science program at Big Bend Community College.
Red Cross class scheduled for military families
MOSES LAKE - The first in a series of workshops to help military families cope with absence and reunion is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on March 8 at the Moses Lake Fire Department, 701 East Third Ave.
Job Corps temporarily halts new enrollment
MOSES LAKE -Columbia Basin Job Corps stopped accepting new students at least through June 30.
2013 FFA Week focuses on agriculture education
Activities planned at schools through county
MOSES LAKE - Participants will be volunteering at animal shelters, putting on an assembly and staying in a locked school Saturday night as part of local observances of FFA Week.
Moses Lake School Board OKs pool repairs
Decide to build permanent structure on 3-2 vote
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake School Board members voted 3-2 to replace the existing cover on the high school swimming pool with a cinder block building.
Quincy hospital aims to cut warrant use
Hospital officials want to increase cash flow
QUINCY - The Quincy Valley Hospital Board will receive a package of proposals to reduce the hospital's reliance on interest-bearing warrants at the Feb. 25 board meeting.
Wilson Creek hires new superintendent
Monte Redal was assistant superintendent in Moses Lake
WILSON CREEK - The Wilson Creek School Board hired Monte Redal as district superintendent, at least through the end of the current school year. He starts work Monday.
Washington National Guard sponsors job fair
EPHRATA - Washington National Guard recruiters gave potential enrollees a look at the job training and educational benefits available to the people who serve the country during a weekend job fair.
Diocesan bishop recalls meeting with Benedict XVI
YAKIMA - The announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will retire from his office had a special resonance for Joseph Tyson, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yakima.
2 teams of roboteers advance to state
RoboSparx win regionals, RoboGirls place first in 2 categories
MOSES LAKE - Robotics competition is about tasks, but not really. Competitors are assigned tasks, but they don't actually do them. They tell the robot what to do.
St. Rose of Lima enjoys Catholic Schools week
EPHRATA - Students at St. Rose of Lima school celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a mix of community service projects, dress-up days and school activities.
College cost control requires preparation
MOSES LAKE - Any kind of post-secondary education is expensive, but parents and students can help keep costs under control by planning ahead, according to local high school and college counselors.
BBCC offers financial aid application help Sunday
Families should bring financial information
MOSES LAKE - Parents and students looking for help with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can get that assistance this Sunday at Big Bend Community College during College Goal Sunday.
Chiefs send 3 to state choral competition
MOSES LAKE - Three Moses Lake High School choral students advanced to state competition, and three others and the girls choir qualified as first alternates at regional competition, held recently.
Job shadowing gives inside look at careers
Students gain insight into working world
MOSES LAKE - How exactly does a pharmacy technician prepare medication for delivery to patients? For that matter, what are the qualifications for being a pharmacy tech and what do they do?
Junior chess tournament draws 97 players
EPHRATA - Zech Long was in deep trouble, his king surrounded and probably trapped. But then again, maybe not.
Ephrata musicians make all-state marching band
EPHRATA - Two high school band participants will be part of the all-state marching band performing this summer in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Local high school soccer players show off new skills
MOSES LAKE - Zidane Cantrell and Jeramy Jones were good goalkeepers, and when Jeramy kicks a soccer ball he kicks it with a loud shout. Dorieann Millings can shoot, and she was the nicest person in the whole soccer clinic.
Registration open for career fair
MOSES LAKE - Registration is open for business owners who want to participate in the Job and Career Fair at Big Bend Community College. The fair is scheduled for April 18.
Chief Academy Cafe reopens Tuesday
Will open with fresh paint job, revamped menu
MOSES LAKE - The Chief Academy Cafe reopens Tuesday with a revamped menu featuring a lighter menu and what instructor Vance Frost called artisan recipes.
Moses Lake School District to form bond committee
MOSES LAKE - Growth, overcrowding, construction and where the Moses Lake School District goes from here will be the questions under discussion by a committee that school officials are hoping to form in March. The committee will be asked to make recommendations on the possibility of offering a new construction bond proposal to district voters.
Weekend packs feed kids at North Elementary
MOSES LAKE - Bobby Susemihl's task required concentration.
Moses Lake board will decide on pool repairs
Decision could come as early as next month
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake School Board members will decide, possibly as early as February, how the district will fix the high school swimming pool. The pool was at the center of a discussion about construction projects and construction money during a board work session Thursday.
Welding students tackle tricky project
MOSES LAKE - The project that confronted a group of welding students at Big Bend Community College sounded simple. They were asked to build two brackets, one that would sit on a table and hold a computer monitor, the second one holding the same computer monitor on a wheelchair.
Soccer game raises fund donations for Special Olympics
London Cleverly enlists soccer, football players in charity match
MOSES LAKE - Recipe for a fun fundraiser:
Parents offer overcrowding alternatives
Three say they don't want CBSS to be converted to middle school
MOSES LAKE - Overcrowding at the secondary level and what to do about it brought some district patrons to the school board's regular Thursday meeting.
Mom shares story of son's suicide
EPHRATA - Wenatchee author Julie Zielinski will sign copies of her book "Matt's Last Call," which details the life and circumstances of death of her oldest son, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday at The Bookery bookstore, 1 Basin St. NW, Ephrata.
Seniors in system worry less over health
Satisfied with current arrangement, they say
MOSES LAKE - Affordable Care Act. Medicare Part A, Medicare Part D, Medicaid. Medicare supplements. Individual mandates. Rising premiums. Health care, and paying for health care, is getting very confusing, and maybe worrisome. For seniors who are using the system, however, navigating health care seems to be less about possible changes and more about keeping track of existing arrangements.
Financial aid application help Feb. 10
MOSES LAKE - A class to help people complete college student loan applications is scheduled for Big Bend Community College.
Wood smoke can add to air pollution
Check air quality before firing up the fireplace
OLYMPIA - Gathering round the fire is a time-honored tradition in winter, but sometimes that fire will add to winter air pollution problems, according to the state Department of Health.
State expands charges for Moses Lake doctor
Cases of five more patients added to charges against Allen Quinn
MOSES LAKE - The list of patients whose care from a Moses Lake osteopathic physician allegedly didn't meet standards of treatment grew to 19 after a statement of charges was amended recently.
Samaritan attempts to improve Medicare patient satisfaction
MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare is one of five hospitals in Washington and Idaho that will participate in a program to improve Medicare patient satisfaction.
BBCC to help pilot job training program
English skills also a program focus
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College will be among 10 schools participating in a pilot program to help people learning English improve their language skills and work skills at the same time.
School violence rumor prompts local reviews
Schools a little extra cautious in light of school shooting, rumors
MOSES LAKE - A nationwide rumor that started on social media promoted a security alert to parents in the Moses Lake School District Thursday night, but district officials were unable to substantiate any information relevant to Moses Lake. School was dismissed for Christmas vacation without incident. Other local school districts also started winter break without incident.
Nolan Billman's house has 30,000 lights, give or take
Nolan Billman's house has 30,000 lights, give or take
MOSES LAKE - There are so many Christmas lights in Nolan Billman's yard that he can't really count them. He has to make an estimate.
Warden students witness mock DUI aftermath
WARDEN - So many people came to Garritt Marks' "funeral" they had to use the Warden High School gym.
Job Corps graduates 5
Students advised that work, challenges are worth it
MOSES LAKE - Five students left the Columbia Basin Job Corps with industry training and certifications after graduation ceremonies Wednesday.
Funeral home starts book for shooting victims
Carver Family Funeral Home allows people to leave condolences
MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake funeral home is offering residents the chance to express their condolences for the parents of children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the community of Newtown, Conn.
Soap Lake PA gives up license
SOAP LAKE - A physician's assistant has surrendered his license to practice following a state Department of Health investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with patients and employees.
Ephrata hospital seeks new admin.
EPHRATA - An interim administrator could be hired as early as January 1 at Columbia Basin Hospital to replace former administrator Robert Reeder, who resigned recently.
Local districts reassess after Connecticut shooting
Not many changes, but some reviews
MOSES LAKE - Parents and students probably won't notice a lot of changes at Columbia Basin schools in the wake of last Friday's shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that left 20 children and six adults dead.
Villarreal named new BBCC trustee
OTHELLO - Miguel (Mike) Villarreal was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Big Bend Community College.
REC Silicon donation boosts BBCC computer program
MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake manufacturer recently donated $88,000 in technology equipment to give a leg up to the revived computer science program at Big Bend Community College.
Honoring veterans focus of special dinner
Anonymous donor, Job Corps students team up on Christmas dinner
MOSES LAKE - Under normal circumstances, Theresa Clement said her culinary arts class at Columbia Basin Job Corps would've had to decline with thanks, but these aren't normal circumstances.
Glamor and glitz on display at Winter Wonderland Ball
MOSES LAKE - It turns out glamor isn't difficult, exactly, but it is tricky. Complicated.