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
Ephrata seniors savored high school
EPHRATA - Fidel Bazan and Gabrielle Schmidt learned how to take everything the high school had to offer, and make the most of it.
New skills center targeted for September start
Will serve 10 schools
MOSES LAKE - Construction on the new Grant County Skills Center is projected to begin this fall, possibly as early as September, with classes beginning January 2014.
Moses Lake Spring Festival draws big crowds
Events range from fun run to car show, basketball to parade
MOSES LAKE - A float full of colorful sea creatures and dancing mermaids won the Miss Chewelah and the Chewelah community float the Queen's Trophy at the annual Moonlight Parade.
Soap box racers take to Soap Lake's streets during the weekend
Third annual race
SOAP LAKE - Racers reached speeds 25 to 30 mph as they zoomed down Main Street in the third annual Soap Box Derby on Saturday.
New Ephrata principal announced Friday
Board will meet Friday at 6 a.m.
EPHRATA - The Ephrata School Board will hire a new principal for Columbia Ridge Elementary at a special meeting 6 a.m. Friday at the district office, 499 C St. NW.
Jam-packed weekend at Spring Festival
Basketball, pool opening, parade among highlights
MOSES LAKE - A full schedule of events, from a car show to basketball to the opening of Surf 'n Slide water park, is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend during the annual Spring Festival.
Rubber Ducks on sale for June 16 regatta
New Boys and Girls Club fundraiser
MOSES LAKE - Tickets - well, ducks - are on sale for the first Rubber Duck Regatta, a fundraiser set for June 16 by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin.
Othello art student earns trip to state show
First-ever art competition
OTHELLO - Othello High School senior Janellie Pruneda's first-ever entry won the regional Student Art Show and is on display at the 39th Annual Superintendent's Art Show in Olympia.
Fire destroys Real Deals
Building fully engulfed when fire crews arrived
MOSES LAKE - Real Deals, a Moses Lake home decor business, was engulfed in fire and destroyed Thursday night.
Women find satisfaction, enjoyment, a little bit of themselves in art avocation
MOSES LAKE - Kayleen Simpson picked up her paintbrushes again during stormy times in her life. Deb Polito reconnected with art after seeing her son-in-law's reaction to a painting she presented to him as a gift.
Quincy senior third in international competition
QUINCY - Quincy High School senior Robin Thaemert spent a year recording the activities of the school's DECA chapter, and it earned her third place in the organization's international competition.
Columbia Crest residents parade to Dairy Queen
Celebrate National Nursing Home Week
MOSES LAKE - Residents at the Columbia Crest Care and Rehabilitation facility led the parade down to the Dairy Queen for some ice cream in celebration of National Nursing Home Week.
Othello alternative school to move
Site plan approved
OTHELLO - The Othello School District's alternative school, the Alternative Learning Placement Site, will be moving to a new home, possibly as early as January 2013.
Summer completion expected at school
OTHELLO - From the outside the new Wahitis Elementary School in Othello looks almost ready for the bell to ring, but there's still a lot of work going on inside.
Sage Point Elementary wins achievement award
Receives 'Closing the Achievement Gap' award
MOSES LAKE - Sage Point Elementary students and teachers were recognized for improving the school's test scores with a "Closing the Achievement Gap" award from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
On-the-job learning at the Water Park
Teaches communication and people skills
MOSES LAKE - It doesn't look like a classroom - that surf-simulator-thing is a lot cooler, for one thing - but working at Surf 'n Slide Waterpark will teach some lessons, according to employees.
Moses Lake School Board to review skills center plans
Study session at May 24 board meeting
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake School Board members will hold a study session May 24 to get their first look at the scope of work for the new Grant County Skills Center.
State community college board votes to raise tuition 12 percent
Big Bend students will be impacted
MOSES LAKE - The state Board of Community and Technical Colleges has approved an average 12 percent increase in tuition for the 2012-13 school year.
DOH investigates Soap Lake PA for alleged misconduct
Conduct allegedly occurred between 2008 and 2010
SOAP LAKE - An investigation is pending into allegations that a local physician's assistant had inappropriate sexual contact with two patients and three employees at the clinic, Soap Lake Family Medicine.
Housing Authority Director John Poling dies
Led Housing Authority for 12 years
MOSES LAKE - John Poling, executive director of the Housing Authority of Grant County for 12 years, died this week.
Board to discuss possible tuition hike
State board meets at Big Bend today, tomorrow
MOSES LAKE - Possible tuition increases of up to 12 percent will be on the agenda when the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges meets today and tomorrow at Big Bend Community College, 7662 Chanute St. NE.
'Real life consequences' of substance abuse
MOSES LAKE - A Big Bend Community College student had a question for Barbie Maier, a first responder and veteran of a number of crashes involving people driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Moses Lake cleanup is Saturday
Volunteers meet at 8 a.m.
MOSES LAKE - Residents are invited to help clean the main streets for summer on Saturday, with participants meeting at 8 a.m. at the Surf 'n Slide water park, at 401 S Fourth Ave., Moses Lake.