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
ML School Board candidates introduce themselves at forum
MOSES LAKE — Candidates running for seats with more than one opponent in the Aug. 3 primary election for Moses Lake School Board introduced themselves to voters in an online forum July 19, sponsored by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce
Wildfire smoke risky for the respiratory system
MOSES LAKE — Dry conditions, really dry conditions, and record-breaking heat mean it’s not looking good for the rest of the wildfire season. Wildfire smoke isn’t good for anybody, especially people with respiratory conditions like allergies and asthma or other underlying conditions.
Working together: Community support helped Ephrata School District pandemic response
EPHRATA — Ephrata School District Superintendent Tim Payne said he was very proud of the way the district responded to the challenge of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the credit belonged to district administrators, staff and Ephrata residents.
‘Land, labor and lumber’ raise home construction costs
MOSES LAKE — Even people who aren’t building houses have heard about it – the startling rise in the cost of building a house.
Sworn in: Gwinn takes oath as Grant County District Court judge
EPHRATA — Brian Gwinn was sworn in Thursday as Grant County District Court judge in front of a packed house in the Grant County District Court courtroom.
Downtown fun: Better Block event draws big crowds in Quincy
QUINCY — The Quincy Better Block event July 16 and 17 drew about 1,000 people each day, according to Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce officials.
Fairgrounds officials look at adding commercial kitchen
MOSES LAKE — A project to build a new restroom at the Grant County Fairgrounds may be expanded to include a new commercial kitchen.
West Nile virus found in mosquito sample in Grant County
MOSES LAKE — A mosquito sample collected in the Moses Lake area last week tested positive for West Nile virus, the first detection in Grant County in 2021.
Meeting the candidates – virtually: Moses Lake City Council office seekers give perspectives at online forum
MOSES LAKE — Candidates for Moses Lake City Council running in the Aug. 3 primary talked about the issues important to them during an online forum Monday evening sponsored by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Othello to install temporary roundabouts in traffic test
OTHELLO — The city of Othello will install temporary traffic circles at a number of intersections in residential neighborhoods between Seventh and 14th avenues and between Main and Hemlock streets.
Othello adopts new street standards for residential development
OTHELLO — Othello City Council members on July 12 adopted new development standards for the street widths in new residential areas in Othello, reducing them from 40 feet to 36 feet.
Forum canceled: Few candidates willing to participate
A forum designed to introduce Mattawa-area residents to candidates in elections for local offices was canceled due to lack of participation from candidates.
Digging in: Officials break ground for new Moses Lake Food Bank
MOSES LAKE — Dirt flew and there were smiles all around at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Moses Lake Food Bank Monday afternoon.
Proper cooking, storage key to summer food safety
MOSES LAKE — The (mostly) post-pandemic summer is about getting together, maybe around the picnic table in the backyard.
Legislators serve up root beer floats for children; answer ‘What’s a Senate?’
MOSES LAKE — The kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of The Columbia Basin weren’t exactly sure what the visitors did.
Keeping up with home coverage key in changing market
MOSES LAKE — Say there’s a fire. Say the house is damaged, maybe destroyed. Of course, there’s a homeowners insurance policy, and that will cover it, right? Right?
Quincy Better Block event set for today, Saturday
QUINCY — A one-block length of a downtown Quincy street will close to traffic Friday night and Saturday morning to make way for dining and music on Friday and the Quincy Farmers Market on Saturday.
Growing room: Construction to begin on new Moses Lake Food Bank
MOSES LAKE — The construction of a new Moses Lake Food Bank officially starts with a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. Monday at the site, 9393 NE Beacon St. in Moses Lake.
Possible heat-related deaths under investigation
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Coroner’s Office is investigating the deaths of two men to determine if they are related to the record-breaking heat the region experienced in late June and early July.
Ephrata jail meetings set; county looks at other sites
EPHRATA — Residents of the area served by the Port of Ephrata (Grant County Port District 9) are invited to two public hearings on the potential sale of port property to Grant County.
Othello car show returns to Kiwanis Park with slow drags, poker run
OTHELLO — After a year off, cars and their owners will return to Kiwanis Park Saturday for the annual car show sponsored by the All City Classics Car Club.
New mental health facility opens
MATTAWA — A new and larger clinic operated by Grant Integrated Services, offering expanded mental health treatment options, has opened in Mattawa at 221 Government Road.
Mattawa City Council to start meeting in person
MATTAWA - The Mattawa City Council will begin meeting in person with live streaming for those who cannot attend.
New Adams County clerk starts work
RITZVILLE — Katie Sloan was sworn in June 30 and started her new job July 1 as the new Adams County Clerk.
CBCF tries to meet fundraising challenge
MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation is working to meet a challenge by the end of July. And if it’s successful, the foundation will have money needed to build a radiation treatment center for cancer patients in Moses Lake.
Wallace, Gwinn named Grant County District Court judges
EPHRATA — Ephrata attorneys Brian Gwinn and Nick Wallace were selected Monday by Grant County Commissioners as the two new Grant County District Court judges to fill two open positions.
No reopening date set for Grant PUD customer service offices
EPHRATA — While a lot of offices and businesses are reopening following the lifting of restrictions imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grant County PUD isn’t among them.
Commissioners continue discussion on changing fireworks ordinance
EPHRATA — Grant County Commissioners will continue to discuss the county’s fireworks ordinance, and the possibility of making changes, after county officials meet with representatives of fire districts and municipal fire departments.
Commissioners postpone announcement on judges
EPHRATA — The Grant County commissioners will announce their choices for two Grant County District Judge positions at 8:15 a.m. Monday.
Oregon woman last seen in Ephrata still missing
EPHRATA — Police officers throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana are asking people to help them find a missing Prineville, Oregon, woman.
Let freedom ring: Othello gathers for nation’s birthday celebration
OTHELLO — A sunny day, the nation’s birthday, a real chance to get out for the first time in 15 months – there were plenty of reasons to celebrate. And the Othello Independence Day commemoration drew a crowd.
Othello water test project continues
OTHELLO — After about three months, most of the water pumped from an irrigation canal, treated and then pumped into the aquifer serving the city of Othello is staying put, which could give residents more water, if needed, if all goes as planned.
Precautions necessary to avoid harmful effects of sun
Summer, with long days filled with sunshine. It’s so tempting to just soak it up, but that might not be the best idea.
Perez hired as permanent Othello School District superintendent
Interim Othello School District superintendent Pete Perez has been hired as its permanent superintendent, as Othello School Board members unanimously approved a three-year contract for Perez Wednesday.
Time to sell? Homeowners should do their homework before selling a house
MOSES LAKE — Anybody thinking about selling a home in Grant County in the summer of 2021 may need to think about buying one.
Record-breaking hot weather sears region
Sometimes being a part of history is uncomfortable.
County decides not to ban fireworks
Grant County Commissioners decided against banning the use of fireworks over the July 4 weekend, following an extensive discussion Thursday afternoon.
Health district defers on masking guidance
Grant County Health District Officer Alexander Brzezney announced on Thursday the end of most mask mandates, after analyzing county data on COVID-19 incidence rates, according to a press release from the GCHD.
Living space: Othello OKs plan to make housing construction easier
OTHELLO — Changing zoning laws to encourage more residential development, reviewing the rules on accessory dwelling units and reviewing development standards for parking are among the recommendations of the housing action plan adopted by the Othello City Council Monday.
Royal City Summerfest returns this year
ROYAL CITY — After being canceled in 2020, Royal City Summerfest returns for 2021 with plenty of activities.
Parade, fireworks, lots of activities at Othello Independence Day celebration
OTHELLO — After a year off, Othello will celebrate the nation’s birthday on July 3, with a parade, volleyball and basketball tournaments, a new bike ride, a car show and plenty of other activities.
Heat relief: Serve Moses Lake distributes cold water on hot days
MOSES LAKE — For the second year, volunteers working with Serve Moses Lake will be offering cold bottled water on very hot days to unsheltered individuals and to people volunteers meet on the street.
Caution recommended when setting off fireworks; 237 in state injured last year
MOSES LAKE — The snap, crackle and pop of fireworks are part of summer and especially the Fourth of July, but there can be trouble if fireworks are not used properly.
Sheriff leases space from Port of Mattawa
MATTAWA — Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies patrolling the Mattawa and southwest Grant County areas will have a new substation beginning July 1.
Smokin’ deal: Fire district uses mechanical savvy in buying ‘new’ ladder truck
MOSES LAKE — Sometimes it pays to know a trained mechanic.
Adams County commissioners interview candidate
RITZVILLE — Adams County Commissioners will interview the lone candidate for the job of Adams County Clerk, Katie Sloan, at 3 p.m. today.
Leaving for vacation? Take time to secure your home
MOSES LAKE — After 16 months or so – a long, long time, anyway – of being confined to home, people can finally get out and about, maybe take that vacation planned for last summer.
Adams County Commission seeks district court judge replacement
RITZVILLE — Adams County Commissioners hope to appoint a new Adams County District Court Judge in early July, if not before, as current district court judge Adalia Hille announced her retirement effective June 30.
Big Bend Community College celebrates with drive-thru ceremony
MOSES LAKE — After a year when classes were online, Big Bend Community College graduates received their diplomas in person June 18.
Ready to open: Confluence Health is growing in Moses Lake; 7,000-square-foot clinic complete
MOSES LAKE — A new Confluence Health facility opens for patients Monday.