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
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.
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.
Smokin’ deal: Fire district uses mechanical savvy in buying ‘new’ ladder truck
MOSES LAKE — Sometimes it pays to know a trained mechanic.
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.
‘A good, tough class’: Pride, determination show through at Wahluke High School graduation
MATTAWA — Seniors Victor Perez and Oscar Tlatelpa said they didn’t quite know how to feel as the Wahluke High School class of 2021 left the football stadium at the end of graduation ceremonies Friday.
Grant County commissioners decide not to buy downtown Ephrata building
EPHRATA — Grant County Commissioners approved a budget revision allowing them to buy property adjacent to the Grant County Fairgrounds, but they decided Monday not to purchase a building in downtown Ephrata, which they also had been considering.
Two new officers sworn in to Othello Police Department
OTHELLO — Two new officers have joined the Othello Police Department.
Othello City Council to discuss traffic
OTHELLO — Othello residents are invited to the July 12 Othello City Council meeting to discuss traffic, the city’s collision rate and options being considered to slow down traffic.
Changes planned for mail delivery
MATTAWA — Mattawa residents will get home mail delivery, with the goal of initiating mail routes by the end of the year, and a second carrier route will be added in Desert Aire.
Wahluke High School graduation 2021
Scenes from Wahluke High School's graduation ceremonies Friday, June 18 in Mattawa.
Bringin’ the heat: Dry, hot air from the southwest to sit on region
MOSES LAKE — Summer officially started Sunday, and it’s going to celebrate its arrival with temperatures that are about as summery as possible.
Seeing and being seen critical to paddle craft safety
MOSES LAKE — It’s the right time of year to take out the boat, whether it’s to the lake or the river. But no boat usually is out there alone, and some of the other watercraft out there don’t have a motor.
‘Abbreviated program’: Even in a pandemic, scholarship winner gets valuable experience
MOSES LAKE — Lauren Tolley said she had certain expectations about the 2020 Distinguished Young Women scholarship program for high school juniors, based on her older sister’s experience.
Some offices attract candidates during special filing period
EPHRATA — Candidates filed for two open seats for the Mattawa Community Clinic board in a special filing period June 1-3, and an open fire district seat also attracted a candidate.
Fun hats, box lunches: Senior Picnic draws crowd for drive-thru
MOSES LAKE — It was a perfect day to be out and about, and Kent Rukke said the beautiful weather was a good reason to drive to the Grant County Fairgrounds for the annual Senior Picnic.
ML man injured in collision
VANTAGE — A Moses Lake man was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after his motorcycle veered off the road Wednesday night, about five miles west of Vantage.
Grant PUD’s 2020 ended with good financial health
EPHRATA — While 2020 was tough on most businesses, it was not quite as tough on Grant PUD.
‘It’s a blessing’: High school experience ends for Warden seniors
WARDEN — Warden High School class of 2021 student speaker Averie Golladay said she welcomed and regretted graduation.
New study details Othello housing challenges
OTHELLO — The city of Othello doesn’t have enough housing to meet the demand, according to a study commissioned by city officials.
Education, health care ‘immune’ to COVID-19 layoffs
RITZVILLE — Unemployment in Adams County was lower in April 2021 than April 2020 and March 2021.
Grant County to consider budget amendment for possible property purchases
EPHRATA — The Grant County commissioners will have a public hearing 1:20 p.m. June 21 to consider changes to the 2021-26 capital facilities plan ...
Fairgrounds events, revenue starting to recover from COVID-19 pandemic
MOSES LAKE — As would be expected for an event venue, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced revenue at the Grant County Fairgrounds. But director Jim McKiernan said activity — and revenue — have started to increase.
Challenges possible in police chief firing appeal
MATTAWA — Attorneys for the city of Mattawa and former Mattawa Police Chief Joe Harris have until June 21 to file requests to disqualify Mattawa Civil Service commissioners who are scheduled to hear an appeal of Harris’ firing.
Othello Police Department starts neighborhood watch program
OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department has started a program designed to encourage neighbors to work together, look out for each other and help reduce crime.
Street work: Othello City Council approves rebidding Ash Street contract
OTHELLO — Othello city officials will advertise a second time for bids for a project to modify some street corners on Ash Street and build a few sections of sidewalk, as Othello City Council members approved rebidding the project Monday.
Warden High School 2021 graduation
Scenes from Warden High School's 2021 graduation ceremony.
Free cargo nets this weekend in Grant County
MOSES LAKE — Advance registration is required for people who want to take advantage of a free cargo net giveaway from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at two locations in Grant County.
Two die in separate Grant County collisions
An Othello man and a Moses Lake child died in separate vehicle collisions Sunday near Moses Lake.
Grant County Fair to go on without restrictions
The 2021 Grant County Fair will go on without restrictions on crowd size or carnival rides, for the livestock sale or the concert venues. In fact, there will be no restrictions at all.
‘A Day at the Races’ theme of annual Senior Picnic
MOSES LAKE — Grant County senior citizens are encouraged to wear their best Kentucky Derby hats and join the parade at the seventh annual senior picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 NE Airway Drive, in Moses Lake.
After a loss: Home inventory list important in recovering
MOSES LAKE — Homeowners and renters insurance is one of those things people hope they’ll never need, and in a way it’s easy just to pay for it and forget about it. But it might be more productive to think of it like a smoke alarm – it needs attention once or twice a year.
Fire destroys trailer northwest of Ephrata
A fire apparently started by a child playing with a lighter destroyed a travel trailer near Rimrock Meadows RV Park, about 17 miles northwest of Ephrata Tuesday evening.
Fire near Soap Lake destroys structures, recreation equipment
SOAP LAKE — A fire destroyed a house, an outbuilding and camping trailers at two homes Wednesday afternoon, about two miles southeast of Soap Lake.
Ephrata man dies when car flips
An Ephrata man died Wednesday morning when he flipped the car he was driving about five miles northeast of Ephrata.
‘A year of new beginnings’: Othello class of 2021 graduates in person
OTHELLO — The Othello High School class of 2021 finished in the traditional way, after a year that was anything but traditional, as class valedictorian Anna Chen pointed out.
Desert Oasis High School seniors graduate in emotional ceremony
EPHRATA — The Desert Oasis High School class of 2021 finished during a ceremony Monday at Huskie Stadium at Othello High School -- a big day for the 25 graduates of the alternative school.
New Grant County Jail plans creep forward
EPHRATA — The planning process for the new Grant County Jail has reached the start of the design phase and negotiations with the Port of Ephrata to purchase more land at the preferred site are in the beginning stages.