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
Analyzing needs and wants first step in kitchen design
MOSES LAKE — Kitchen designer Barb Skaug said successful home design can change the way a room is used. It can even change the way people live in that space.
Grant County Health District announces two additional COVID-19 deaths
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Health District has announced two more people have died due to the COVID-19 virus
Work to start on Moses Lake Christian Academy gym exterior
MOSES LAKE — After years of fundraising and preparation, the exterior walls of the new gym at the Moses Lake Christian Academy will be going up soon.
Mattawa Police Department receives school security grant
MATTAWA — The Mattawa Police Department has received a grant designed to help improve security in the Wahluke School District.
School safety grant awarded to Mattawa Police Department
MATTAWA — A $372,750 grant to improve security in the Wahluke School District has been awarded to the Mattawa Police Department from the U.S. Department of Justice.
County to open mental health crisis treatment center
MOSES LAKE — Grant County will be opening a treatment center for patients suffering from a mental health crisis in the next few weeks.
Othello livestock sale goes on in 'weird' year
OTHELLO — It sure looked like the start of the fair.
Museum to sponsor Rusty Mammoth sale
MOSES LAKE — Watercolors, paintings, china, stoneware, furniture and miniature antique books will be among the items looking for new homes at the Rusty Mammoth Sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Eleventh Adams County resident dies from coronavirus
RITZVILLE — Adams County Health Department officials have announced the death of an 11th Adams County resident due to complications from COVID-19.
Corn sale benefits Moses Lake FFA program
MOSES LAKE — Part of the appeal of a high school club is the chance to go somewhere different, try new skills, learn new things.
Two injured in accident near Warden
A man and a woman were injured early Saturday morning in a two-vehicle collision near Warden.
County officials cut ribbon at crisis treatment facility
People undergoing a mental health crisis will have an option for inpatient treatment in Grant County.
Key Club collects school supplies donations
The first event of the year for the Key Club chapter at Moses Lake High School resulted in donations of an estimated $239 in school supplies.
Moses Lake Roundup queen makes the best of a challenging situation
Mykiah Hollenbeck had it all planned out, as evidenced by a weekend in early March.
Insurance is important for renters too
MOSES LAKE — The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune - things like windstorms and fires - can afflict people who rent their dwellings.
First day of school starts with questionnaire
MOSES LAKE — The first day of school for 2020-21 at Frontier Middle School started with waiting in line.
Othello School District patrons to be surveyed on on-campus instruction
OTHELLO — Othello School District patrons will be asked to fill out a survey asking their opinions on the timeline and planning for a return to some kind of in-person learning in the district.
NCW Libraries expands curbside pickup hours
ROYAL CITY — The NCW Libraries system has expanded its curbside pickup hours.
Moses Lake HS Key Club to sponsor school supplies collection
MOSES LAKE — Members of the Moses Lake High School Key Club will be collecting donations of school supplies from 3 to 6 p.m., Sept. 18 at McCosh Park.
Donations sought for victims of Cold Spring Canyon-Pearl Hill fire
Monetary donations are being accepted for victims of a wildfire that started Labor Day weekend and burned in Okanogan and Douglas counties.
Girl Scouts donate cookies to local health care providers
Members of Grant and Adams county Girl Scout troops brought a gift to Moses Lake Community Health Wednesday, one of a series of the scouts are making throughout the two counties.
Adams County Health District: Two more deaths attributed to COVID-19
RITZVILLE — The Adams County Health Department has announced two additional Adams County residents have died of complications from the COVID-19 virus.
Adams County: 82 new coronavirus cases in 10 days
RITZVILLE — The Adams County Health Department reported 82 new cases of the coronavirus diagnosed in the county between Sept. 4 and 14.
Air quality advisory in effect in Adams, Grant counties
OTHELLO — While visibility may have improved, the smoke that arrived in eastern Washington over the weekend is still sticking around and is expected to affect air quality at least through Thursday
Adams County unemployment increases in July
RITZVILLE — Unemployment rose in Adams County in July, both when measured against July 2019 and against June 2020, but it might not be as bad as the inital numbers make it look.
Moses Lake Alzheimer's walk postponed
The 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Moses Lake has been rescheduled to Sept. 27.
Library system to expand curbside pickup hours
MOSES LAKE — Libraries in the NCW Library system will be expanding the hours they are open for curbside pickup, beginning today.
Grants available to Moses Lake business owners
MOSES LAKE — Qualifying businesses and community organizations in Moses Lake that suffered losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak are being encouraged to apply for grants being awarded by the city of Moses Lake
Warden schools requesting small groups be allowed on campus
WARDEN — While Warden schools are conducting online classes to start the school year, district officials have submitted a plan to the Grant County Health District to allow on-campus instruction for small groups.
Yearly review recommended for homeowners insurance
MOSES LAKE — Say something happens to the house – oh, just to pick something at random – say there’s a windstorm. Say a tree hits the garage. That’s when the homeowner pulls out the insurance policy and – just a second. What exactly is in that policy?
Othello man dies in Winchester accident
An Othello man died Sept. 9 when his car was hit at the intersection of State Route 28 and Road K Northwest in Winchester.
Cellarbration for Education fundraiser moves online
The annual Cellarbration for Education fundraiser to benefit the Big Bend Community College Foundation is moving online for 2020.
Smoke may stick around for a few days
Wildfires north and south of Grant County have made their presence known by the smoke coming and going, depending on the wind.
Othello Food Bank to add service for seniors
OTHELLO — The Othello Food Bank will start a new service for seniors, opening just for them on Monday afternoons beginning Sept. 14.
Drive-through event provides census assistance
MATTAWA — Volunteers from a number of Mattawa agencies and organizations got together to make it as easy as possible to fill out a census form with drive-through assistance Friday afternoon.
Man dies from injuries from Booker Road accident
OTHELLO — An Elgin, Oregon, man has died from injuries suffered when his car was hit while he was crossing the intersection of Booker Road and state Route 26, about seven miles southeast of Othello, on Sept. 2.
Lind man injured in car accident
MESA — A Lind man was injured when the car he was driving was hit by another car in the intersection of SR-17 and Pepiot Road in Mesa Sept. 4.
High winds force road closures, help spread fires
A severe windstorm Monday closed roads all over eastern Washington, was a factor in the rapid spread of a massive fire - a fire that caused street lights in Ephrata to come on in mid-morning - downed power lines and toppled trees.
Preliminary number shows higher jobless rate in Adams County in July
Fewer jobs at publicly owned medical facilities and public schools helped push Adams County unemployment to 9.2 percent in July.
Barrel racers compete at Grant County Fairgrounds
Barrel racing, basically, is about beating the clock. The challenge, and beating the challenge, is one reason Sophie Fountain keeps racing.
High winds push fire south
Strong winds and a large, fast-moving wildfire led to road closures throughout northern Grant County on Monday, and blowing dust and smoke closed Interstate 90 near Ritzville. The strong winds also led to numerous power outages.
Library to resume mail order service
WENATCHEE — Patrons of the NCW Libraries, formerly the North Central Regional Library, system will be able to start using its mail order service Sept. 14.
Shooting suspect found dead near Royal City
ROYAL CITY — A man suspected of killing a coworker near Vantage was found dead Aug. 28 in an orchard north of Royal City.
Coronavirus: 32 new cases reported in Grant County
Grant County Health District officials announced that 32 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the county Friday.
Walk to End Alzheimer's goes virtual
Registration is open for the Moses Lake 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, scheduled for Sept. 12.
Wahluke Industrial Park gets new tenant
MATTAWA — A wholesale food products distributor has opened a new location in the Wahluke Industrial Park in Mattawa.
Local home market is hot despite pandemic
It may seem illogical, but the housing market in Grant County is booming.
Othello school registration near budget projections
OTHELLO — Enrollment for the 2020-21 school year is slightly lower than projected in the Othello School District, at least as the school year starts its “soft opening.
Start of school pushed back in Wahluke
MATTAWA — The first day of school in the Wahluke School District has been pushed back to Sept. 14.
Facilities plan recommends remodeling Quincy Middle School within eight years
QUINCY — Quincy School District patrons should be thinking about remodeling or replacing Quincy Middle School sometime in the next five to eight years. That was one of the recommendations in a new master facilities plan presented to the Quincy School Board Aug. 25.