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
Mother Nature’s mad year: Tonnemaker Hill Farm’s harvest took hit from 2021 weather
ROYAL CITY — The thing about farming is, it’s a gamble. Some years it rains at the right time, it’s warm at the right time, cool at the right time. Other years – well, it’s not.
Schools adjust after cases of COVID-19
EPHRATA — A surge in COVID-19 cases in Grant and Adams counties required local school officials to make some adjustments, returning to a distance-learning format for quarantined classrooms or an entire building.
‘Something for everybody’: New events coordinator starts at Grant County Fairgrounds
MOSES LAKE — Allan Williams, the new events coordinator at the Grant County Fairgrounds, makes sure events run smoothly and comes up with new attractions.
Mattawa, Granger negotiate deal on interim police chief
MATTAWA — Granger Police Chief Estevan Araguz has been hired on an hourly basis by the city of Mattawa while the two towns negotiate an interlocal agreement.
Othello Fall Clean Up in November
OTHELLO — Othello residents can dispose of leaves, branches trimmed from shrubs and trees and other yard waste during the 14th annual Fall Clean Up Day, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 6.
Annual coats drive seeks donations at ML locations
MOSES LAKE — Donations of coats will be accepted through Oct. 31 for the annual Coats 4 Kids coat drive, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Moses Lake and Cobie’s Fine Dry Cleaning.
Counting down to bag ban: State law against single-use plastic bags kicks in Friday
MOSES LAKE — Shopping is going to get a little more complicated — and perhaps annoying — as the state’s ban on single-use plastic bags comes into effect on Friday.
Othello schools start facility planning process
OTHELLO — Facility needs in the Othello School District – what needs to be built, if anything, and when – is the subject of a new plan under discussion by district officials.
Othello residents to vote on parks and recreation levy
OTHELLO — Othello-area voters will consider a one-year, $200,000 maintenance and operations levy for Adams County Parks and Recreation District 1, which maintains P.J. Taggares Park, in the Nov. 3 general election.
Royal City ups garbage rates
ROYAL CITY — Royal City residents and businesses will see an increase in their garbage collection rates, effective in November. Royal City Council members approved the increase at their regular meeting Sept. 21.
The doctor is in: Pioneering Moses Lake physician celebrates 103rd birthday
MOSES LAKE — Jim Young’s kids always knew when he was working late.
Summer hangs on
Wednesday was the first day of fall, but summer-like weather wasn’t quite over, as evidenced by these roses blooming in a Moses Lake garden. Warm weather through the weekend may be giving way to lower temperatures this week.
‘This is awesome’: Samaritan approves $136 million loan for new hospital from U.S. Department of Agriculture
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Hospital commissioners on Thursday approved a resolution allowing hospital administrators to sign loan documents of $136 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Finalists for Grant PUD commission seat named
EPHRATA — Four candidates have been selected as the finalists for an open seat on the Grant County PUD commission.
2021 Grant County Fair sees substantial revenue increase
MOSES LAKE — A bigger crowd spending more money, as well as increases in prices, pushed Grant County Fair revenues this year to almost $650,000.
Back in action: After a year’s absence, the Othello Fair returns
OTHELLO — The Othello Fairgrounds was busy – kids showing animals, the Othello PRCA Rodeo under the lights Friday and Saturday, the carnival rides, traditional fair foods.
COVID jump returns OHS to online instruction
OTHELLO — Othello School District officials announced Monday high school students would switch to online classes due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases at the school.
Jamming in George: Bluegrass, festival bring friends together
Danny Ray Stewart chose the song, about a man working on the railroad. He played the melody, to make sure all the players got it, and invited Bob Martin to take the lead.
Mattawa council votes to negotiate with Granger for interim police chief
MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members voted Thursday to allow Mattawa Mayor Maria Celaya to negotiate an interlocal agreement with the city of Granger for an interim police chief, and terminate the existing agreement with Moses Lake.
New mental health counselor at Samaritan
Angelica Eldred, a licensed mental health counselor, has joined the Behavioral Health department at Samaritan Healthcare.
Fundraising food: Traditional food carries on at Othello Fair
The Othello Fair has its share of tradition, and one of the big traditions is the food.
Othello Fair returns after skipping a year
OTHELLO — Kipton Sams had his pig ready for the arena, brushed clean of wood shavings -- and then it laid back down in the pen. And in an instant, its legs and belly were covered in shavings again.
Fairgrounds upgrade plans include commercial kitchen, fire suppression system
MOSES LAKE — Planning is underway for upgrades to the commercial, 4-H and agriculture buildings at the Grant County Fairgrounds, including a fire suppression system for all three buildings and a new commercial kitchen.
Estudillo gets seat on federal bench
EPHRATA — Grant County Superior Court Judge David Estudillo has been confirmed for a seat on the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington.
Mattawa interim police chief’s letter details strains
MATTAWA — Former Interim Mattawa Police Chief Mike Williams cited what he called a “toxic relationship” between the police department and some Mattawa city officials as one of the reasons for his resignation Friday, after which he agreed to stay until Sept. 17.
Ready to serve: Officials dedicate new Grant County Fire District 8 fire station
MATTAWA — Scott Nesbit, chair of the Grant County Fire District 8 commission, had one word to describe the district’s new fire station, dedicated Saturday.
Othello Fair starts today, adds some new events
OTHELLO — Some new events will be at the 2021 Othello Fair, including a chili cooking contest and a car exhibition.
Stopping the memory thief: Walkers raise money, awareness, to fight Alzheimer’s disease
MOSES LAKE — Louis Logan, of Moses Lake, participated in the Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, Sunday in memory of his mother-in-law, Beverly Hutonen.
Public hearing on Royal City parking revision Oct. 5
ROYAL CITY — The Royal City City Council will hold a public hearing Oct. 5 on a proposal to eliminate parking on the north side of Poplar Street Northeast.
Numbers show AC economy a work in progress
RITZVILLE — While unemployment in Adams County dropped dramatically from July 2020 to July 2021, the number of available jobs actually went down slightly.
Screening crucial for finding latent tuberculosis
MOSES LAKE — The pace of travel has slowed considerably since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic is a reminder some of the “souvenirs” are definitely unwelcome.
Ceremony honors those lost on 9/11
MOSES LAKE — Members of the Moses Lake Fire Department lowered the flag to half-staff and held a ceremony in memory of the victims on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Soft spot: Volunteer project focuses on presents and pillowcases for children in foster care
EPHRATA — Matt Boyce said the pillowcase project started because of the generosity of Grant County residents.
Williams resigns as interim Mattawa police chief
Interim Mattawa Police Chief Mike Williams resigned Friday, but agreed to stay until Sept. 17 at an unnamed city official’s request.
In-person Walk to End Alzheimer’s to return
MOSES LAKE — Online registration is open for the annual Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Moses Lake High School, 803 E. Sharon Ave.
A morning like no other: Local veteran remembers confusion, emotion of Sept. 11
OTHELLO — Aaron Garza was standing post that Tuesday morning.
Into the outdoors: Locals, visitors make the most of Labor Day weekend
POTHOLES RESERVOIR — The boat launch at Potholes Reservoir, about 7 miles south of Moses Lake, was pretty busy early Saturday afternoon, with fishermen and vacationers on the long weekend before the end of summer.
Puppers’ play place: Royal City girl working to build dog park
ROYAL CITY — Nine-year-old Kristi Jenks is working on a project to give Royal City something she thinks it needs.
Run for a Cause 5K Color Run raises money for recreation
OTHELLO — The Columbia Basin Health Association Run for a Cause 5K Color Run Aug. 28 raised more than $40,000 for parks and recreation departments.
Flowers, pumpkins and games: Quincy Farmers Market to wrap up season
QUINCY — A sunny summer Saturday brought local families, as well as people just passing through town, to the second-to-last Quincy Farmers Market of the season.
Unknown water line breaks in Mattawa
MATTAWA — A break, originating in the 300 block of Portage Avenue in a previously unidentified water line, forced Mattawa city officials to shut off the water to about 100 homes Sept. 1.
Road work means closures on west side of Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — Road reconstruction triggered by construction of a Love’s Travel Stop on the west side of Moses Lake, on the south side of Interstate 90, will cause a series of temporary road closures.
No suspects arrested in Mattawa shooting
MATTAWA — A 19-year-old Mattawa man was flown to a hospital early Saturday morning after he was shot outside in the 400 block of Seventh Street.
Sales up: Grant County Fair 2021 drew substantial attendance; livestock sale set a record
MOSES LAKE — Not only did the 2021 Grant County Fair attract more people than in 2019, it attracted a lot more people. And the annual Junior Livestock Show and Sale set a record for sales.
Last splash of summer: Surf ‘n Slide Water Park closes for year
MOSES LAKE — Jenelle Ottmar said she brought her girls to the Surf ‘n Slide Water Park Sunday because it was the last chance in 2021, as the pool closed for the year Labor Day weekend.
Fire burns wildland near Blue Heron Park
MOSES LAKE — A fire on wildland adjacent to Blue Heron park burned about 30 acres Friday afternoon.
Ready to learn: Churches distribute back-to-school supplies
MOSES LAKE — For kids, part of going back to school is new notebooks and pencils, markers, erasers and other school supplies, even in the computer age.
County to look for different site for new jail
EPHRATA — Grant County officials will look for alternative sites for a new jail after the Port of Ephrata commissioners decided not to sell land on East Division Avenue to the county for the project.
Opening doors: Frontier Middle School uses lessons learned last year
MOSES LAKE — Frontier Middle School Principal Guinevere Joyce was at the door as students arrived Wednesday morning.
New judge sworn in: Nick Wallace takes the bench for Grant County District Court
EPHRATA — Nick Wallace was sworn in as a Grant County District Court Judge Monday before a courtroom filled with family, friends and colleagues.