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
Contract agreement reached in Othello School District
OTHELLO — Members of the Othello Education Association have ratified a new three-year contract with the Othello School District. Othello School Board members must approve the agreement before it goes into effect.
'FarmBot' system coming to Big Bend CC
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College students in the agriculture program – not to mention computer science and research sciences, and maybe others – will get a chance to learn about and use robots in a farm setting, thanks to a partnership with the Center of Excellence for Agriculture.
Summer school gives kids look at career opportunities
MOSES LAKE — Students in the construction trades class were confronted with a pile of wooden pallets and a challenge – build something. Students in the automated manufacturing and design class were handed cardboard and balsa wood, and the challenge of building an airplane that would fly.
Busy July 4 for Grant County Fire No. 5
MOSES LAKE — Grant County Fire District No. 5 crews responded to somewhere between 15 to 18 “fireworks-related outside fires” on July 4, according to fire district officials. In contrast, July 4 in Moses Lake was downright quiet.
Family rescued from Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — An 8-year-old boy was transported to Samaritan Hospital as a precaution after the kayak he was paddling capsized during a family outing on Moses Lake. The incident was reported at about 1 p.m. Thursday at Connelly Park. The boy and his parents were using kayaks that were unfamiliar to them, said Brent Haley, a captain with Grant County Fire District No. 5. The boy’s mother fell out of her kayak, Haley said; “it’s a new kayak to her,” and she had trouble getting back in. Seeing his mom in the water caused the boy to panic, and he fell in the lake. The boy’s father paddled over to help, got out of his kayak and had trouble getting back in. All three were wearing life jackets. A “good Samaritan on a jet ski” arrived on scene and helped the man get back in his kayak, and transported the boy to shore. The mom’s kayak began to take on water, and the jet ski rider returned to help the woman. The jet ski rider flagged down a passing boat, who transported the woman back to shore, along with the two kayaks. A Fire District No. 5 unit was en route to another incident, but was diverted to the park, Haley said. AMR ambulance personnel also responded to the scene, and transported the boy to the hospital.
Big Bend, Moses Lake to start 'Open Doors' program
For youth who have not graduated high school
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College and the Moses Lake School District will be working together on an initiative to help young people who are facing challenges in getting a high school diploma. Students in the “Open Doors” program will also have access to BBCC courses.
Grant PUD discusses criteria for new rate class
EPHRATA — Emerging industries and electrical rates, what qualifies for the “emerging industries” class and what doesn’t, was discussed during a recent Grant County PUD commission meeting.
Food donations still needed during summer months
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Food Bank director Peny Archer said there’s a pattern to food bank donations. People think about the food bank in November and December – but not so much in July.
Othello school superintendent contract renewed
OTHELLO — Othello School District superintendent Chris Hurst was rehired for the 2018-19 school on a 3-1 vote of the Othello School Board.
Summer school gives kids look at career opportunities
MOSES LAKE — Students in the construction trades class were confronted with a pile of wooden pallets and a challenge – build something. Students in the automated manufacturing and design class were handed cardboard and balsa wood, and the challenge of building an airplane that would fly.
'FarmBot' system coming to Big Bend CC
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College students in the agriculture program – not to mention computer science and research sciences, and maybe others – will get a chance to learn about and use robots in a farm setting, thanks to a partnership with the Center of Excellence for Agriculture.
Masquers to offer kids summer drama camp
SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater company will sponsor its first-ever children’s drama camp, the Masquers Summer Youth Program, during the week of July 23. The camp finale will be a performance of “Robin Hood and His Merry Men” at 2 p.m. July 28.
MRJ-90 takes demo flight
MOSES LAKE — The biannual Farnborough International Airshow is a big deal in the aviation world, the kind of event where manufacturers show off their new wares and major deals are announced. The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation will be taking its proposed regional passenger jets – currently undergoing testing and development in Moses Lake – to the show, and gave aviation media and Japanese media a preview Wednesday and Thursday.
Ephrata overpass closure might be two days
EPHRATA — Ephrata city officials are hoping to keep the closure to one day, but the closure of the SR 282 overpass has been announced for two days.
Fast fruit to China, via Grant County
MOSES LAKE — Sometimes speed is of the essence.
Grant County Fair manager resigns
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Commissioners will take over interim oversight of the Grant County Fairgrounds after the resignation of manager Mickey Webb.
New PUD 'emerging industries' rate class proposed
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers will have the opportunity to give their opinion on a proposed new rate class for “emerging industries” at the July 10 PUD commission meeting. The public hearing is scheduled during the business meeting, which starts at 1 p.m.
Othello school superintendent contract renewed
OTHELLO — Othello School District superintendent Chris Hurst was rehired for the 2018-19 school on a 3-1 vote of the Othello School Board.
Ephrata water project hits major intersection next week
EPHRATA — The project to replace a main water line through downtown Ephrata will reach a major intersection next Monday, and drivers should be prepared for detours and delays. With any luck the intersection will only be closed for one day, said city manager Wes Crago.
Samaritan ER operation undergoing adjustment
MOSES LAKE — Ongoing adjustments to treatment options in Samaritan Hospital’s emergency room was a topic of conversation at the regular meeting of the hospital commissioners June 19.
Microsoft, Second Harvest food bank comes to Quincy
QUINCY — Volunteers repackaged and distributed about 11,600 pounds of food to families in Quincy June 20, the latest stop in a monthly food distribution co-sponsored by Second Harvest in Spokane and the Microsoft data center in Quincy. Other eastern Washington organizations are partnering with Second Harvest to sponsor food distributions, including some in Quincy.
Mind over machine
MOSES LAKE — The programming was not quite precise enough. Oh, the robot finished the course all right, but it rolled outside the course boundaries, incurring a time penalty.
Sasquatch exhibit opens Friday at museum
MOSES LAKE — So. Is there something in the woods? Some big semi-hominid creature that’s possibly been seen but definitely never been captured? That’s the question posed by a new exhibit at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Ducks in a row
MOSES LAKE — Aaaand, they’re off! The ducks will be racing to the finish line – okay, all right, they’ll be floating to the finish line – in the annual Duck Derby from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Cascade Park. The Duck Derby is a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin.
Quilt class at Old Hotel
OTHELLO — A quilting class for children who want to participate in the Row By Row project is scheduled for the week of July 17 at the Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello. It’s part of a statewide, and even national and international, quilting project.
Teacher support focus of Warden discussion
WARDEN — Teacher training, the roles of teachers, teacher support and administrators were topics of discussion during a presentation on curriculum at the regular Warden School Board meeting June 14.
Account set up for local girl's family
MOSES LAKE — A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay funeral and other expenses for the family of a 13-year-old Moses Lake girl who died Sunday. Valerie Bashaw committed suicide; according to the GoFundMe page set up by her dance teacher.
Big Bend nursing grads recognized with ceremony
MOSES LAKE — The 16 nurses graduating from Big Bend Community College were recognized in a pinning ceremony Saturday night.
Warden School District patrons to be surveyed
WARDEN — The Warden School Board is looking for a new board member.
Big Bend graduates 538
MOSES LAKE — Each of the 538 graduates in the Big Bend Community College class of 2018 made it to commencement from a slightly different direction.
'The Cemetery Club' opens tonight at Masquers
SOAP LAKE — A play about three friends and the risks – and possible rewards – of moving on comes to the Masquers stage starting tonight. “The Cemetery Club” is scheduled for a three-weekend run.
Flowers, planters stolen from local cemeteries
MOSES LAKE — It’s one of those unwritten rules in society that things left at a gravesite – like, say, flowers – should be left undisturbed. Should be undisturbed. Currently that’s a problem in Moses Lake.
Quilt show set for June 22, 23
MOSES LAKE — More than 100 quilts – and wall hangings, table runners, bags and quilted works of art – will be on display June 22 and 23 at Moses Lake High School, 803 East Sharon Ave. For 2018 the quilt show is a joint presentation of the Basin Piecemakers Quilt Guild and the Moses Lake Modern Quilt Group.
No changes to overall PUD rate policy
EPHRATA — While there may be some changes in rate classes, the basic principles behind the existing rates of the Grant County PUD probably won’t change. That was the conclusion of a discussion at the regular commission meeting Tuesday.
Questions, answers at Othello School Board meeting Monday
OTHELLO — Adjusting for a new elementary school layout, communication, school security and cybersecurity were among the topics discussed at an Othello School Board question-and-answer session Monday evening.
Desert Oasis HS graduates 13
OTHELLO — Desert Oasis High School seniors thanked their parents with a special dinner June 4, and finished their high school careers with graduation ceremonies June 5. The 13 seniors and their parents attended a catered dinner Monday night, Desert Oasis principal Josh Tovar said.
Big Bend CC trustees approve 2018-19 budget
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College will operate with a $18,675,188 budget in 2018-19. College trustees approved the budget at the regular meeting June 7.
Sister City dinner fills the house
MOSES LAKE — The final tally won’t be known for a week or so, but the annual fundraising dinner for the “Moses Lake-Yonezawa Sister City Exchange” drew a full house Saturday night.
Sense of accomplishment at Quincy graduation
QUINCY — Bethany Safe, co-valedictorian of the Quincy High School class of 2018, and class president Josselinne Gonzalez talked about some of the memories the seniors would take from high school. If graduation comes up at future class of 2018 reunions, the conversations probably won’t focus so much on the speeches as on confetti and air horns, cheers and signs, feats of athleticism, noisy trains and a dance that brought down the house.
Moberg, Chestnut teach their last classes
MOSES LAKE — It was the last day with kids at school at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, and the next-to-last day of school for instructors Susie Moberg and Kevin Chestnut. Their next-to-last day of school ever, since both are retiring.
Lakeview 5th-graders go on safari
MOSES LAKE — It’s a tradition at Lakeview Terrace Elementary for the fifth grade to have a year-ending, fifth-grade-only party. This year it had a special twist – the fifth-graders came back from Camp Five.
Benefit concerts set for June 22, 23
MOSES LAKE — Two benefit concerts for a ministry working to reduce child exploitation in the Dominican Republic are scheduled for June 22 and 23 in Othello and Moses Lake.
Review of Samaritan compensation planned
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare officials will start a committee to review benefits, salaries and incentive packages for employees. Human resources director Julie Weisenburg said the idea is to look not only at salaries, but at all parts of employee compensation, to see what might or might not make a person decide to work at Samaritan. “I’m working to put together a committee (to review), not just for nursing, but for everybody,” she said. The committee will include staff from various departments, but no other managers.
Unemployment down from March in Grant County
MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County went down between March and April, but went up when April 2018 is compared with April 2017.
Microsoft, Second Harvest distribute food in Mattawa
MATTAWA — Volunteers packed and distributed more than 9,200 pounds of fresh and frozen food to families in Mattawa during a one-day food bank sponsored by Microsoft and Second Harvest.
MLCA marks graduation with memories, farewells
MOSES LAKE — A few tears, lots of memories, some advice and a moonwalk across the stage were part of graduation ceremonies for the Moses Lake Christian Academy class of 2018 Saturday afternoon.
Samaritan outlines opioid response
MOSES LAKE — Opioid medications and abuse, and what Samaritan Healthcare is doing to reduce the chances for abuse, was the subject of discussion at the regular hospital district commission meeting Tuesday.
Summer reading program starts next week
WENATCHEE — Live theater, science programs, a magician and ventriloquist, folk dancing and a well-dressed medieval knight will be among the programs at local libraries this summer. The annual summer reading program, sponsored by the North Central Regional Library, begins next week. The first special events are scheduled for the week of June 18.
Samaritan commissioners approve MRI project budget
MOSES LAKE — The good news is, Samaritan Hospital will have a new MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine in-house. The bad news is, it will cost more than originally projected, and hospital commissioner Dale Paris characterized the location as an “eyesore.”
Samaritan continues to show profit through April
MOSES LAKE — A busier Samaritan Hospital and Samaritan Clinic meant more revenue for April 2018, but it also meant more expenses. Still, the hospital is turning a profit through the end of April.