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
Some construction activities allowed to resume
OLYMPIA — Some construction activities will be allowed to restart under conditions of a revised order issued by Gov. Jay Inslee on April 24. Inslee said during a press conference Friday that the procedure followed in the case of the construction industry will be the blueprint for other industries.
Moses Lake FFA plant sale sells out quickly
MOSES LAKE — The plant sale sponsored by the Moses Lake High School FFA chapter April 24 was successful. It sold out in five and a half hours.
After more than 20 years, PUD shoreline plan completed, accepted
EPHRATA — After writing multiple submissions, revisions, evaluations and updates, the Grant County PUD river shoreline master plan is done. It was a process that took more than 20 years.
Ephrata Senior Center Thrift Store considers locking outdoor donation spot after losses
EPHRATA — Operators of the Ephrata Senior Center Thrift Store may have to close the outdoors area they have designated for donations, after multiple incidents of donated items being taken.
Adams County property taxes still due April 30
RITZVILLE — Adams County residents are still required to pay their property taxes by April 30. The treasurer’s office will provide what Treasurer Kayla Meise called “measured relief” to property owners who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The county will waive penalties and fees for qualifying property owners who can’t pay by April 30, and Meise said she will work with people to make payment plans. Applicants will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Spring cleaning means work for Moses Lake’s wood chipper
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents took advantage of a city offer to help with spring cleaning and dropped off more than 100 pickup loads of branch and tree trimmings, dead branches and other yard debris last week. City employees finished the job Monday morning by feeding the branches and sticks into the city’s wood chipper.
Confluence Health announces pay cuts in wake of pandemic
WENATCHEE — Confluence Health’s chief executive officer, Peter Rutherford, took a 25 percent temporary reduction in pay, effective March 23 — one of a series of temporary cuts for the organization’s senior management and physicians. The cuts come in response to financial challenges resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Adams County property taxes still due April 30
RITZVILLE — Adams County residents are still required to pay their property taxes by April 30. The treasurer’s office will provide what Treasurer Kayla Meise called “measured relief” to property owners who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The county will waive penalties and fees for qualifying property owners who can’t pay by April 30, and Meise said she will work with people to make payment plans. Applicants will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Water mains construction starts April 20
MOSES LAKE — Construction will begin Monday on a project to replace water mains along Valley Road, between Stratford Road and Paxson Drive, and a section along Loop Drive. The project will cause traffic delays and detours.
Grant County property taxes still due April 30
EPHRATA — Grant County property taxes are still due by April 30, but Grant County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant said his office is setting up options for property owners who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mask making, distribution a community effort
MOSES LAKE — Lisa Castro wanted to make sure everyone knows the homemade mask project she’s part of is a community effort.
Moses Lake sewer pipe work underway
MOSES LAKE — Replacement of some wastewater pipes in the Knolls Vista area should be completed by mid-May.
Ephrata folks focus on making it through coronavirus emergency
EPHRATA — On a sunny, mild spring day recently, the guy checking sprinklers at the church on Ivy Street in Ephrata said it was the sort of day he would normally think about getting out his kayak. But not this year.
Pioneer Way sidewalk replacement could begin soon
MOSES LAKE — Construction could start this month on a project to replace sidewalks on a portion of South Pioneer Way.
Churches work to meet challenge of coronavirus
As Easter approaches, local churches work to meet challenge of coronavirus
MOSES LAKE — Christian church services are among the many activities affected by the restrictions on movement and gatherings prompted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Grant County Animal Outreach still busy
MOSES LAKE — April 3 was a good day for Lamb Chop.
Reactions to virus, shutdowns mix resolution, concern, frustration
Basin residents have mixed feelings when it comes to virus, shutdowns
MOSES LAKE — For some local people, the current restrictions on movement and business that are part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak are surreal. Others are troubled by the role of social media during a pandemic. Still others are just trying to keep going in an uncertain time.
Samaritan COVID-19 preparation discussed
MOSES LAKE — A 24-hour hotline for people seeking information about COVID-19 symptoms, operated by Samaritan Healthcare, is getting enough traffic it had to be expanded to seven days a week. Director of Nursing Jan Sternberg said the hotline is getting 20 to 50 calls during the day and 10 to 15 calls during the evening.
For now, Spring Festival planning continues
For now, Spring Festival planning continues
MOSES LAKE — As of Wednesday, planning is continuing for the Moses Lake Spring Festival, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.
Moses Lake dentist uses time, materials to help other medical professonals
Moses Lake dentist uses time, materials to help other medical professionals
MOSES LAKE — Craig Harder has the equipment, and right now he has the time on his hands. So he’s using his equipment and time for a project to help other medical professionals.
Moses Lake man remembers his Navy service with carrier replica
MOSES LAKE — Robin Major enjoyed serving on the USS Bennington.
Grant PUD selects route for Royal City transmission line
EPHRATA — A new 115-kilovolt transmission line to a planned electrical substation near Royal City will run along Road D Southwest.
Volunteer lunch program halted, at least temporarily
MOSES LAKE — Dorine Mata and her best friend Erika Espinoza had to make a tough decision.
Samaritan employees fill in as screeners
MOSES LAKE — The stop signs and barriers at Samaritan Hospital, the screening regimen in place before people can move beyond the lobby, are signs of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. But so is the presence of Jennifer Avery and Megan Peters, at what is, in normal times, the lobby’s information desk.
Most Grant County road work to go ahead as planned
EPHRATA — While the COVID-19 outbreak has postponed some planned repairs to Grant County roads, most of the work will continue as scheduled.
Surgery postponements will hurt Samaritan finances
MOSES LAKE — Hospitals have been ordered to defer all elective surgeries until at least May 18, which already has had an impact at Samaritan Hospital.
Julianne Klein helps a dog find her family
Julianne Klein helps a dog find her family
MOSES LAKE — Julianne Klein said she first saw the dog in the parking lot at Papa’s Casino one day in early February.
People urged to pay more attention to hygiene
MOSES LAKE — The outbreak of COVID-19 is requiring people to pay more attention to hygiene and the possible spread of airborne disease.
Many senior living facilities accept mask donations
MOSES LAKE — Some local assisted-living and extended-care facilities are accepting face masks made by volunteers during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as other kinds of donations.
Volunteers feel impact of Sandhill Crane Festival cancellation
OTHELLO — Planning for the 2020 Sandhill Crane Festival began in August 2019.
Volunteers feel impact of Sandhill Crane Festival cancellation
Volunteers feel impact of Sandhill Crane Festival cancellation
OTHELLO — Planning for the 2020 Sandhill Crane Festival began in August 2019.
Samaritan Hospital will check everyone before entering building
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Hospital officials are looking for — but not finding, at least not yet — additional ventilation machines and adapting more hospital rooms to accommodate possible patients with respiratory illnesses. Hospital officials updated commissioners on the response to the COVID-19 outbreak during a special meeting Friday.
Seven additional Grant County COVID-19 cases identified
Adams County announces first case
Senior centers around the Columbia Basin reduce activities, close
Normally the tables at the Moses Lake Senior Center are full at lunchtime, but not this week.
Local food banks remain open, take extra precautions
MOSES LAKE — Food banks in Moses Lake and Ephrata have changed some of their procedures in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, but they are open and will remain open.
Columbia Basin Allied Arts reschedules performances
Spokane Jazz Orchestra still coming to town
Lawsuit against Grant PUD dismissed
Plaintiffs can file suit in state court, federal judge rules
Repair Cafe teaches students repair skills, professionalism
SOAP LAKE — The telephone presented a challenge.
City officials discourage cash for paying utility bills
MOSES LAKE — On the day after Grant County PUD announced it was closing its facilities to public access, an elderly woman stood on the sidewalk outside the Moses Lake office of Grant PUD, cash in hand. She told a bystander she was trying to pay her bill, but with the office closed she couldn’t.
Preliminary closure plans given to Othello School Board
OTHELLO — Othello School District officials haven’t announced yet how they plan to conduct school during an emergency shutdown ordered by Gov. Jay Inslee, but it won’t be online.
Businesses prepare to close or limit services
MOSES LAKE — Businesses across the county woke up to the news that they would be forced to shutter their doors or limit their business in the coming weeks in the face of the coronavirus outbreak and a Sunday announcement from Gov. Jay Inslee.
COVID-19 scrambles events planned by local organizations
MOSES LAKE — Postponements and cancellations of events, along with facility closures, have piled up nationwide as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Locally, some events have been canceled or postponed, while others are going ahead as scheduled.
Schools canceling indoor events, limiting access in response to COVID-19
As of now, schools staying open for classes
Moses Lake men fined for campaign finance violation
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake attorney and a Moses Lake business owner were assessed $250,000 in fines and court costs after they were found in violation of campaign finance laws. The judgment against attorney Jerry Moberg and business owner Ken Greene stemmed from a mailer sent during the 2014 race for Grant County prosecutor.
Cold weather coming to Columbia Basin Friday, Saturday
MOSES LAKE — That sunny, warmish, moderate weather isn’t going to last. The National Weather Service is forecasting snow for Friday and Saturday, with blustery winds that will make air temperatures feel like they’re in single digits.
Grant PUD closes facilities to public access
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD will close all its customer service offices, PUD headquarters, all other facilities and Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams to public access until further notice after a contract employee was discovered to have had contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus.
Moses Lake High School class in the chicken business
Goal is to make project self-sustaining operation
Commissioners may explore using law and justice tax funds to pay for new morgue
Scope of work being prepared
New campground registration system coming to GC Fairgrounds
New registration system also in the works
Big Bend CC job fair draws prospective employers, employees
MOSES LAKE — More than 100 businesses, agencies, colleges, training schools and other organizations handed out employment information, training criteria and job applications at the annual Job and Career Fair at Big Bend Community College on Thursday.