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
Grant County sees higher revenue, sales tax receipts
EPHRATA — Grant County received about $1.1 million more in revenue in the first six months of 2021 than it did in the same period in 2020.
ML pharmacy assistant’s credentials suspended
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake pharmacy assistant’s credentials were suspended indefinitely by the Washington State Department of Health for allegedly taking controlled substances from her employer for her own use.
Reining royalty: 1962 Columbia Basin Rodeo queen, princess share memories
MOSES LAKE — Both Kathy Anderson Graff and Kathie Weber King grew up with horses, and both loved pretty much every minute of it.
Firing on all cylinders: New chief of Grant County Fire District 8 takes the wheel
MATTAWA — Joe Noonchester, who started July 1 as the new chief for Grant County Fire District 8, said he discovered what he really wanted to do after a conversation with a friend.
Adams County residents vote on parks levy, races
Adams County voter turnout Tuesday night was 20% of the 7,552 registered voters, with about 200 ballots left to count. The next count will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, and the results will be certified Aug. 17.
In-person registration for Othello students next week
OTHELLO — Parents of Othello School District students can register their children for the 2021-22 school year in person from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12 in the Othello High School gym, 340 S. Seventh Ave.
Immune response causes ‘COVID arm’
MOSES LAKE — Medical professionals say it’s not dangerous and it doesn’t happen to many people, but it does happen. And it’s common enough that it’s got a name – “COVID arm.”
Othello looks to curb gang violence after shooting
OTHELLO — Othello city officials will look at ways to address gang activity after a shooting July 18 seriously injured a 15-year-old Othello boy.
BBCC summer job fair draws varied interest
MOSES LAKE — Brandy Valdez and Hunter Barnett were among several hundred who came to the summer job fair at Big Bend Community College Thursday with the goal of expanding their horizons.
County commissioners close work release center
EPHRATA — Grant County commissioners voted Tuesday to permanently close the Grant County Work Release Center.
Samaritan commissioners award roof repair contract
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare commissioners on Tuesday awarded a $199,378 contract to Spokane Valley-based Jimmy’s Roofing to replace a section of the roof at Samaritan Hospital.
Candidates face issues: Seven running for Moses Lake School Board talk about local control, communication at forum
MOSES LAKE — Improving the way the Moses Lake School District communicates with the community and how the district should respond to state mandates regarding gender and race were the primary topics discussed during a school board candidate forum on Monday.
Homeward bound: Networks help Adams County Pet Rescue find new homes for animals
OTHELLO — Adams County Pet Rescue employee Giselle Hernandez has a warning for people when they go out to the kennels.
New Adams County District Court judge takes oath
RITZVILLE — Andrea Russell was sworn in July 19 as the new Adams County District Court judge and started hearing cases Monday in Ritzville.
Royal City passed over for parks grant from state
ROYAL CITY — Royal City city officials are working on a backup plan after the city failed to receive a grant to expand Royal City Lions Park.
Chipsealing project slated for Othello
OTHELLO — Chipsealing on a number of Othello streets begins Wednesday and will continue through Aug. 6.
AC Auditor announces a special filing period
RITZVILLE — A special filing period has been scheduled for Aug. 13-16 for Adams County offices that didn’t attract any candidates during the regular filing period in May.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.