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
Downtown tree lighting kicks off holiday season in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — The crowd counted it down and the lights came on, and it’s officially the holiday season in downtown Moses Lake. The Christmas tree in Sinkiuse Square and holiday lights on the surrounding streets came on for the first time in 2018 on Saturday night.
Piper Barn show runs through Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Brooke Schwab and Kelly Wemp spotted the candle just as they were leaving the Piper Barn. There it was, right by the door.
Frontier students make food bank donation
MOSES LAKE — Students in the “Play 60” program at Frontier Middle School did some research while they were looking for a community service project. They discovered an interesting fact about food banks and milk.
Thanksgiving donations sought for food bank
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Food Bank is looking for donations for its annual Thanksgiving basket distribution, and it being Thanksgiving, they need turkeys.
Wilson, Cox leading in PUD races
EPHRATA — It looks like the Grant County PUD commission will have two new commissioners in January. In unofficial election results, Judy Wilson is leading incumbent commissioner Terry Brewer, and Nelson Cox has a lead over Patti Paris in the race for the open seat.
Samaritan Healthcare has profitable September
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare turned a healthy profit in September.
Warden schools to sponsor second survey
WARDEN — Warden School District officials will sponsor a second survey designed to find out what district residents think about the district and where it’s headed.
From scrap to sculpture Metal Art competition requires critical thinking skills
MOSES LAKE — The team from Kamiakin High School had an idea what they were going to do with those broken springs, pieces of rusted pipe, stray gears and that tangled bent-up metal – um, something. What looked like a useless (and dirty) pile of scrap metal would be a scarecrow when they were done.
Samaritan commissioners to choose architect
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare commissioners are scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to select an architectural firm to help determine whether or not to build a new hospital.
Health insurance plan enrollment opens today
OLYMPIA — The enrollment period for health insurance through Washington insurance exchanges will be shorter by about two weeks. Open enrollment for insurance plans offered through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange starts today and is open through Dec. 15.
Community Turkey Drive set for Nov. 15 to 17
MOSES LAKE — Don’t look now, but it’s about three weeks to Thanksgiving. And the thing is, not everybody will have the wherewithal to buy that turkey dinner and everything that goes with it. Employees of local health care organizations are will be working to fix that, with the help of area residents.
Halloween events scheduled throughout Basin
MOSES LAKE — Between trick-or-treat walks, trunk or treats, harvest parties and other events, there will be a lot of candy out there for kids on Halloween night.
'Grease' opens Thursday at MLHS
MOSES LAKE — The ultimate high school musical comes to the Moses Lake High School stage starting Thursday. “Grease” opens for a two-weekend run at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and continues at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10. Matinees are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 10.
School improvement topic at Warden School Board meeting
WARDEN — Setting out goals for the school year, and how to reach them, was the topic of discussion at the regular meeting of the Warden School Board meeting Thursday.
Grant PUD discusses options for $50 million
EPHRATA — How to use all or part of $50 million, or whether to use it at all, was the subject of discussion at the regular meeting of the Grant County PUD commission Tuesday. Commissioners also decided to commit money to build out the district’s fiber program in 2019.
Adams County unemployment drops in August
YAKIMA — Unemployment in Adams County dipped to 3.8 percent in August, down one-tenth of one percent compared to August 2018. The county’s total nonfarm employment has been going up, when counted year over year, for the past 13 months.
Unemployment drops in Grant County in August
YAKIMA — Grant County’s unemployment dropped two-tenths of one percent between August 2017 and August 2018. Unemployment went down one-tenth of one percent between July and August 2018. That’s the lowest August unemployment rate for the county since 2007.
Women's health focus of forum at Samaritan
MOSES LAKE — Addressing the mental health needs of women, pregnancy and what new moms need, changing life perceptions and yoga were among the subjects at the annual women’s health forum Tuesday. “It’s Time for Me” was sponsored by the Samaritan Healthcare Foundation Community Relations Committee.
Facilitator to help Othello school committee
OTHELLO — Members of a committee asked to recommend options to meet facility needs in the Othello School District are asking for some help. Committee chair Ryan Frazier, making a report to the Othello School Board, asked for a facilitator with experience a big construction project, like school construction.
Samaritan earns accreditation from quality control organization
MOSES LAKE — An extensive survey of patient care and quality standards has led to new accreditation for Samaritan Healthcare. The accreditation by an outside firm is part of the hospital’s effort to improve quality, according to hospital officials.
Cost of service part of setting PUD rates
EPHRATA — Rates are a subject that comes up a lot in conversations about the Grant County PUD. How rates are established and how they’re calculated have been debated for a long time.
Quincy company settles harassment suit for $525,000
QUINCY — A Quincy-based company will be required to pay $525,000 to female workers who claimed a supervisor sexually harassed them. The settlement was announced by the Washington Attorney General’s Office Thursday afternoon.
Animal food, donations focus of Peninsula event
MOSES LAKE — The Peninsula Elementary student council is looking for donations of animal food and supplies for the Grant County Animal Outreach at a special event from noon to 4 p.m. at the school. Peninsula Elementary is located at 2406 W. Texas St.
Lecture series sponsored by North Central Regional Library
MOSES LAKE — The North Central Regional Library will sponsor a series of lectures, on subjects from poetry to sports to food, around the region during the fall, including libraries in Grant County. The lectures are part of a series of cultural events sponsored by the library.
Aircraft donated to Big Bend Community College
MOSES LAKE — A single-engine Beechcraft will get a second career as a pilot training aircraft at Big Bend Community College, the result of the plane’s donation to the college by its owners.
Really, really old food subject of museum talk
MOSES LAKE — Long-preserved food, and what it can tell us about the people who cooked it, will be the subject of a lecture at 6 p.m. Monday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Patti Paris running for open PUD seat
EPHRATA — Patti Paris said she decided to run for the Grant County PUD commission because "it is time for me to give back to the community,” and “the PUD is the best fit for me.”
Brewer running for third term as PUD commissioner
EPHRATA — Terry Brewer said PUD commissioners have to plan for the long term. Brewer is running for a third term as Grant County PUD commissioner.
'Molly Brown' opens Friday
SOAP LAKE — A tale of love and money on the Colorado frontier comes to the Masquers stage this weekend. The curtain rises on “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Masquers Theater, 322 E. Main Ave. in Soap Lake.
Grant PUD employees to hold food drive
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD employees will be conducting a food drive to benefit county food banks, beginning Oct. 22. It will be the first “Fill the Bucket” food drive for the PUD; donations will be accepted through Nov. 21.
'Non-failure emergency' lifted at Priest Rapids Dam
PRIEST RAPIDS DAM — The non-failure emergency condition at Priest Rapids Dam has been lifted, as of Monday afternoon.
Grant PUD presents 2019 proposed budget
EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD plans to spend about $279,604,000 in 2019. People testifying at the first of three public hearings on the budget were most interested in the fiber program.
Goehner wants to bring local perspective to Legislature
CASHMERE — Keith Goehner said he decided to run for the Washington House of Representatives because he wanted to bring a local government perspective to Olympia. Goehner is the Republican candidate for the 12th District seat, Position No. 1. He is running against Ann Diamond, Winthrop, running as an independent.
Diamond wants to make government more responsive
WINTHROP — Ann Diamond said she decided to run for the state House of Representatives because she didn’t think her representatives were listening to her. Diamond, an independent, is running for the 12th District seat, Position No. 1. She is running against Keith Goehner, the Republican candidate.
Candidates make their case at Quincy forum
QUINCY — Candidates talked about experience, debt financing, overcrowding at the Grant County Jail, competence, assessment procedures, government responsiveness and many other topics during an election forum Tuesday in Quincy.
'Baked, Mashed or Fried' returns to Moses Lake museum Friday
MOSES LAKE — A new edition of one of the most popular exhibits in the history of the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center will open Friday. The artists reception for “Reheated: Baked, Mashed or Fried” is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the museum, 401 S. Balsam St. The show will be on display through Nov. 9.
Crossroads Center banquet set for Saturday
MOSES LAKE — The Crossroads Pregnancy Center will hold its annual banquet Saturday at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m., at the ATEC Building on the Big Bend Community College campus. “Flowers in the Garden” is the theme for 2018.
East Columbia Basin Irrigation District elections Dec. 11
OTHELLO — The filing period is open through Nov. 5 for two seats on the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District board of directors. People who want to file for a seat must "reside in the county or counties where the district is situated," according to a press release from the ECBID.
School security discussed at Othello board meeting
OTHELLO — Security at Othello schools was the subject of an extensive discussion at the regular Othello School Board meeting Monday. Part of the discussion centered around what board chair Rob Simmons called “lethal protection,” which could include allowing school staff to have weapons.
Fuhr answers questions at meeting
MOSES LAKE — Homelessness and panhandling in Moses Lake were among the subjects discussed at a community meeting Sunday hosted by Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr.
Tapia Rodriguez trial tentatively set for Oct. 31
EPHRATA — A tentative trial date of Oct. 31 has been set for a Quincy man accused of the December 2016 murder of a Quincy woman.
Tractors, drivers put themselves to the test
MOSES LAKE — In a way, tractor pulling is a series of puzzles.
Pancakes, fire equipment at Firemen's Breakfast
MOSES LAKE — Kids got their own fire hats and stickers and a chance to see a fire truck up close, and everybody got a hearty helping of pancakes and sausage at the annual Moses Lake Firemen’s Breakfast Saturday morning.
Gunslingers and schoolmarms
MOSES LAKE — The organizers of the Boys and Girls Club banquet organizers thanked the cowboys and dance hall girls, schoolmarms and cavalry soldiers, mountain men and gunslingers, all assembled for a good cause. The annual banquet, held Saturday night, is the club’s biggest fundraiser each year.
Grant PUD schedules hearings for 2019 budget
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD will sponsor three public hearings for district patrons to review the 2019 budget next week. Hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in Ephrata, 6 p.m. Tuesday in Moses Lake and 6 p.m. Thursday in Quincy.
Gene Harwood still dancing at 101
MOSES LAKE — Gene Harwood said he is looking forward to the next reunion at his alma mater. He might not have been the oldest at the St. John all-school reunion last time, but this time might be different. Harwood celebrated his 101st birthday last week.
Samaritan could build new hospital
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare officials have taken an option on land that could be used to build a new hospital. The project doesn't have an estimated cost, but would be more than $100 million, according to consultants working on the project with hospital officials. A preliminary review of the hospital's finances indicate the project could be paid for without requesting a construction bond from district voters.
Classic and antique tractor pull contest this weekend
MOSES LAKE — Three days of competition to see whose tractor pulls the most weight are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Grant County Fairgrounds. The 11th annual Northwest Fall National Antique and Classic Tractor Pull will be in the Ardell Pavilion.
Results of Warden school survey to be reviewed
WARDEN — The Warden School Board will meet in a study session at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 to review the results of surveys of district residents and current and former school staff. The meeting will be open to the public.
Presidential visit subject of museum lecture
MOSES LAKE — What happens when the president and first lady drop by the house – or at least what happened in Neppel in 1934 – is the subject of a lecture at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.