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
Moses Lake Christian Academy has a new teaching-learning director
Moses Lake Christian Academy has a new teaching-learning director
MOSES LAKE — Daniel Timofeyev is the new director of teaching and learning at Moses Lake Christian Academy.
Unemployment rate falls in Grant County
MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County dropped substantially in June, from a rate of 12.7 percent in May to 8.3 percent last month.
Tentative Warden school reopening plan under discussion
WARDEN — The 2020-21 school year will start in Warden Sept. 2, and a plan for reopening school will be approved by the Warden School Board Aug. 19. How classes will be conducted is still to be determined, but district superintendent Dave LaBounty said July 24 that classes probably will be partly on campus and partly online.
Marilee Garza finishes roller-coaster year
WARDEN — Warden High School senior Marilee Garza said she’s looking forward to new experiences, going to new places. It’s kind of ironic, then, that all classes have been moved online for her first quarter at the University of Washington.
Top Gun concessions keeps cooking to keep going
MOSES LAKE — In any other year but 2020 the Ardell Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds is a great place for a concession business. But it is 2020, and the concession business – well, business is pretty hard to find, since all events scheduled for the fairgrounds since March have been canceled.
Raising fair animals: A bigger gamble than usual
MOSES LAKE — Part of the calculation that goes into raising an animal to exhibit at the Grant County Fair is that it’s a gamble.
Warden High School seniors receive diplomas
Warden High School seniors receive diplomas
WARDEN — Every parade has candy that participants throw to kids along the route, and Kaden Skone made sure the car parade prior to the Warden High School graduation ceremony was no exception. Skone went from car to car, distributing candy to his classmates as they assembled for graduation July 24.
Othello schools to start school year online
OTHELLO — Students in the Othello School District will be starting the school year online.
Challenges appeal to Kaden Skone
WARDEN — Kaden Skone said one of his goals throughout high school was to ensure he had a chance to be class valedictorian. After all, he had to keep up with his brother.
Heat advisory issued for Columbia Basin
MOSES LAKE — Temperatures could get hot enough to be downright dangerous this week. The National Weather Service, or NWS, has issued a heat advisory for the Columbia Basin, with temperatures forecast to be in excess of 100 degrees Tuesday and Thursday.
Warden High School seniors end unusual year with graduation
WARDEN — Alexys Gibbons’ family went all out decorating the truck for the Warden High School graduation parade Friday night — signs, congratulatory messages written in car chalk, and balloons. A lot of balloons.
Very hot weather returning this week
MOSES LAKE — While summer 2020 has been remarkably temperate — a lot more 85-degree days than 100-degree days — it’s still July. Another spell of very hot weather is forecast for this week.
Northwest Ag demolition derby canceled for 2020
Northwest Ag demolition derby canceled for 2020
MOSES LAKE — The Northwest Ag Demo Derby, a longtime event at the Grant County Fair, has been canceled for 2020. The Moses Lake Roundup Committee announced the cancellation Wednesday.
Wheeler Road improvement project to move forward
MOSES LAKE — One major road project in an unincorporated area of Grant County has been canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, but others are continuing. Grant County will open bids Aug. 11 on a project to improve a two-mile section of Wheeler Road.
World War II veteran honored for 99th birthday
MOSES LAKE — Geb Galle didn’t see it himself — he was two decks below at his battle station — but most of the eyewitnesses said it seemed like every Japanese plane over Pearl Harbor drew a bead on the USS Nevada.
Use of Grant PUD recreation facilities rises
Use of Grant PUD recreation facilities rises
EPHRATA — At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grant County PUD officials anticipated a pretty quiet summer at PUD recreation facilities. Now summer is here, and it’s not quiet.
Contract awarded for fairgrounds lights project to upgrade rodeo arena, south end
MOSES LAKE — A company specializing in lighting for sports arenas will install the new lights at the Moses Lake Roundup arena and add lights to the south end of Grant County Fairgrounds.
Outdoor graduation ceremony planned for Warden High School
WARDEN — The Warden High School Class of 2020 brings down the curtain on its high school career at 7 p.m. July 24 at the WHS football field.
Royal School District to hold ‘virtual community meeting’ on reopening
ROYAL CITY — Parents of Royal School District students and other district patrons are being invited to an online meeting, tentatively scheduled for July 29, to discuss the district’s options for the 2020-21 school year.
Grant PUD negotiates contracts that reduce risk of possible rate increases
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD officials are in negotiations with power purchasers for contracts that would help reduce the risk of possible rate increases to PUD customers.
Quincy graduate promotes value of education
QUINCY — Edward Pinto gives his parents credit for showing him the value of education. It shows today in his career as a teacher and in continuing his own education to the point of recently completing a master’s degree from Western Governors University.
Triple-digit temperatures forecast for this week
MOSES LAKE — One of the positive things about 2020 so far has been spring and summer weather in the Columbia Basin, lots of sun but temperatures that stayed below the high 90s and 100s. But it’s July, and that’s about to end.
Planning to continue for new morgue
EPHRATA — Grant County officials will keep working with Samaritan Healthcare officials on a plan to build a new county morgue at the new Samaritan hospital in Moses Lake. The new hospital is currently in the planning stages, with groundbreaking tentatively scheduled for spring 2021.
Othello physician develops app to help treat infant jaundice
OTHELLO — A Columbia Basin Health Association physician has developed a phone app designed to help medical professionals treat a disease that can cause serious health problems for newborns.
Local hospitals review plans to handle a surge, required in reopening plan
EPHRATA — One of the possibilities of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is that a sudden increase in patients with the virus could fill a local hospital to capacity — or more — in just a few days. Preparing to meet a sudden increase has been the focus of planning since the outbreak began, and it will continue to be a focus as counties try to reopen.
Othello doctor’s new app helps care for babies
OTHELLO — An Othello doctor is helping medical professionals treat jaundice, a disease that can cause serious health problems in newborns, through technology.
Spokane man sentenced to federal prison
SPOKANE — A former Ferris High School assistant football coach was sentenced to more than 22 years in federal prison Thursday in a case that involved underage girls, including one from Moses Lake.
Othello school reopening plan reviewed
OTHELLO — Othello schools will reopen to students for the 2020-21 school year, but on a staggered schedule. Othello School Board members gave verbal approval for district officials to keep working on the reopening plan at the regular board meeting July 13.
Building permit applications up in Grant County
EPHRATA — Building permit applications submitted to Grant County show that construction activity in the county’s unincorporated areas is making a comeback after a shutdown of construction in March and April.
Othello School District hires new communications director
Othello School District hires new communications director
OTHELLO — Ed Petersen has been hired as the new communications director for Othello School District. Petersen started work July 1.
Fate of Grant County Fair livestock show still uncertain
MOSES LAKE - Wednesday, July 15, is the last day to register for the fitting and showing portion of the livestock show and sale that is replacing the event that normally takes place during the Grant County Fair. Whether the livestock show will be allowed is still to be determined, but an online livestock sale probably will be held no matter the fate of the show.
Local groups team up to give away face masks
Local groups team up to give away face masks
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake service organizations teamed up with a local agency to give away face masks to anyone who needed a mask, or multiple masks, Tuesday.
More security cameras planned at Grant County Courthouse
EPHRATA — Grant County officials will add more cameras at the Grant County Courthouse after a theft from a parking lot.
Meals to Heal deliveries benefit cancer patients, delivery driver
MOSES LAKE — Steve Czimbal and his fellow volunteers are a crucial part of the Meals to Heal program sponsored by Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, and they don’t even cook the meals.
Tentative design released for fairgrounds campgrounds
MOSES LAKE — Campgrounds at the Grant County Fairgrounds will — eventually — get a new look. Fairgrounds officials are working with a Wenatchee engineering and planning firm to develop a campground master plan. Tentative designs have been released for three of the campgrounds at the fairgrounds, the east, north and pavilion campgrounds.
Libraries to expand wireless internet access
ROYAL CITY — The North Central Regional Library recently announced plans for technology upgrades funded with grant money.
New director of Grant County Public Works talks about his role, career
EPHRATA — Two months into his new job as Grant County Public Works director, Sam Castro said he has enjoyed his career in public works, including working in the field and as an administrator and public works director.
Grant County commissioners award coronavirus aid grants
EPHRATA — Grant County Health District will receive $1.4 million in federal grant funds to help offset some of the expenses incurred during the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding for GCHD was one of the grants announced by Grant County Commissioners July 1.
Libraries to expand wireless internet access
ROYAL CITY — The North Central Regional Library will be adding equipment to make Wi-Fi connections available outside every library in its system. A separate project will add 30 Wi-Fi hot spots in the counties served by the library, with up to 100 additional Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the five-county area.
Fate of Grant County Fair livestock show still uncertain
MOSES LAKE — Registration is open for the livestock show and sale that would replace the event that would normally be part of the Grant County Fair. Whether the livestock show will be allowed is still to be determined, but an online livestock sale probably will be held no matter the fate of the show.
Susan Carbon chosen for Samaritan Healthcare commission
MOSES LAKE — Susan Carbon has been selected to fill the vacant position on the Samaritan Healthcare board.
Grant PUD uses reserves, saves money on debt service
EPHRATA — Financial moves earlier this year will save Grant PUD a lot of money — $158.2 million, the public utility says.
Grant County commissioners give go-ahead for morgue planning
EPHRATA — Grant County commissioners have given verbal approval to move ahead with plans to build a new county morgue in the new Samaritan hospital.
Fire crews have busy, but not too busy, July 4 weekend
MOSES LAKE — While July 4, 2020, had some local fire departments and districts scrambling for a few hours, overall it was a relatively calm night.
Fireworks setup painstaking job
MOSES LAKE — Alex Allsbrook pointed out the irony as he was helping set up the July 4 Freedom Festival fireworks display.
Grant County Health District receives $1.4 million grant
MOSES LAKE — Grant County Health District will hire eight temporary employees and provide some COVID-19 testing for uninsured people by using funds from a federal grant designed to help pay coronavirus outbreak-related expenses.
July 4 fireworks shows please the crowds
MOSES LAKE — People started claiming good spots to watch fireworks long before noon, leaving chairs on the sidewalk along Division Street and cars parked along the curb.
North Stratford Road improvements to begin
MOSES LAKE — Construction will begin Monday on a project to resurface North Stratford Road from the West Broadway intersection to its junction with state Route 17. Crews also will add another left turn lane and another through lane at the intersection of Stratford and Valley Road.
Sidewalk construction requires attention to detail
MOSES LAKE — Pouring and leveling concrete for a sidewalk requires precision, a light touch and attention to detail.
Fireworks shows scheduled at George, Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — There are longstanding traditions around the Columbia Basin when it comes to July 4 — community celebrations, fireworks and people getting together. But, as the organizers of the George July 4 celebration put it, 2020 is a very different Fourth of July.