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
Fear for fun: Othello Straw Maze scares through October
OTHELLO — Lily McIndoe knew exactly what she wanted to be Friday night, and she gave careful instructions to Stephanie Carl, who was painting her face.
Wahluke wins cross-country individual boys title; girls take team title
MATTAWA — Wahluke High School sophomore Angel Vazquez was first across the finish line in the boys race at the cross-country meet Thursday at the South Central Athletic Conference meet against Wapato, Zillah, Kiona-Benton and La Salle high schools.
Royal Slope seniors to host soup luncheon
ROYAL CITY — The Royal Slope Senior Center will sponsor a free soup luncheon at noon Oct. 27 in the community center at the Royal City Golf Course and RV Park at 13702 Dodson Road.
Othello wants ideas on spending COVID-19 relief funds
OTHELLO — A second public hearing has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 to take comments and ideas from Othello residents on the best use of about $2.3 million the town has or will have as part of federal COVID-19 relief funding.
Old Hotel Art Gallery to return to in-person fundraiser Saturday
OTHELLO — After a year’s hiatus, the Old Hotel Art Gallery will hold its annual fundraising dinner and auction in person Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish at 616 E. Juniper St. The silent auction starts at 6 p.m. and the live auction at 7 p.m.
Commission to take public comment on redistricting
EPHRATA — The Grant County commissioners will have a public comment session to get reactions on proposed changes in commissioner districts at a date and time yet to be determined.
Resources available for people facing mental health challenges
MOSES LAKE — While discussions about, and awareness of, mental health are more common than they used to be, much may remain unknown.
Gourd riddance: Moses Lake FFA holds extra sale for pumpkin surplus
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School FFA’s pumpkin patch survived the summer well enough the FFA had to sponsor an emergency pumpkin sale.
Grant PUD board selects commissioner to fill vacant position
EPHRATA — Terry Pyle, of Moses Lake, was selected Tuesday as the new Grant Public Utility District commissioner.
Fees at Grant County Fairgrounds to increase
MOSES LAKE — Grant County commissioners on Tuesday approved a request to increase some fairgrounds fees, including an increase in admission to the Grant County Fair in 2022.
Hearing set on land purchase for new jail
EPHRATA — Grant County commissioners will have a public hearing at 3:10 p.m. Oct. 19 for reaction to a proposed budget extension to allow the purchase of 86.9 acres of land – which includes the Ephrata Raceway Park – as the tentative site of the new Grant County Jail.
Royal City street to have no parking on one side
ROYAL CITY — Parking will be prohibited on the north side of Poplar Street Northeast under a new ordinance passed Oct. 5 by the Royal City City Council.
Old Hotel Art Gallery features Cyber Art 509
OTHELLO — Paintings and sculptures from the Cyber Art 509 art cooperative are on display for the month of October at the Old Hotel Art Gallery at 33 Larch St. in Othello. Entry is free.
Wildfire burns about 75 acres near Mattawa
MATTAWA — An afternoon wildfire burned about 75 acres two miles north of Mattawa Sunday.
Fundraising for Fido: Activities, whipped cream, dog treats abound at Adams County Pet Rescue fundraiser
OTHELLO — It was a hectic and profitable four hours Friday for Adams County Pet Rescue.
Flu shots recommended by end of October
MOSES LAKE — It may have been overlooked so far, but flu season is approaching. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get vaccinated against flu soon.
A better reading place: Public libraries in Grant County to receive upgrades in district project
WENATCHEE — Libraries throughout the NCW Libraries system will get upgrades as part of a three- to five-year project recently announced by system directors. The upgrades will involve 28 of the system’s 30 facilities, including all libraries in Grant County.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.