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
Othello Christmas Baskets
OTHELLO — Donations are still being accepted for the annual Othello Christmas Basket project, a town tradition that dates back more than four decades.
'Tip A Cop' draws a crowd at Rock Top
MOSES LAKE — Why yes, those were law enforcement officers cleaning tables and filling water glasses at the Rock Top restaurant Thursday night. The restaurant teamed up with the Moses Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office for “Tip A Cop” night, with proceeds going to the “Shop With a Cop” program sponsored by those agencies.
Moses Lake HS 'Family Holiday Festival' tonight
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School students will sponsor a holiday party for the community, complete with Santa and a baked potato bar, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the high school.
Ephrata HS 'Toys for Teens' drive next week
EPHRATA — The competition is on next week at Ephrata High School; the annual Toys for Teens drive is scheduled to start Monday and will last all week.
'Miracle on Main Street' Celebration in Ephrata Saturday
EPHRATA — Christmas season will be greeted with a parade and fireworks, and kids have the chance to have breakfast with Santa in Ephrata Saturday. Events in the annual “Miracle on Main Street” town celebration last all day.
Toy, food donations sought by Moses Lake, Ephrata food banks
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake and Ephrata food banks will be distributing food and toys this Christmas season. Both organizations are accepting donations of food, toys and money.
BBCC takes off
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College has been offering unmanned aerial systems classes since fall 2016, but starting in January students can receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in the program.
East Columbia Basin Irrigation District to select two directors
OTHELLO — It turns out there are two seats on the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District board of directors up for election Dec. 12.
STEM careers focus of Engineering Night
MOSES LAKE — What students need to know to pursue a career in STEM fields was the topic of discussion during Engineering Night, sponsored by Big Bend Community College Thursday.
Christmas service scheduled at historic Quincy church
QUINCY — A service to celebrate Christmas and the historical heritage of Quincy is scheduled for Dec. 16 and 17 at the Pioneer Church, 415 F St. SW. Services are scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 5 p.m. Dec. 17.
Festival of Trees is Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake will sponsor its annual Festival of Trees fundraiser beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the 4-H building at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
Irrigation district election set for Dec. 12
OTHELLO — Landowners in District 4 of the East Columbia Irrigation District will vote Dec. 12 on a representative to the district’s board of directors. The winner will be elected to a three-year term, beginning January 2018.
GC unemployment dropping faster than state average
MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County dropped faster than the state average in August, September and October. The unemployment rate for October was 4.3 percent, the lowest it’s been in any October in 27 years.
Community Nativity display opens Thursday
MOSES LAKE — Nativity scenes in every material from wood to porcelain, from countries around the world, will be on display Thursday through Saturday at the Moses Lake LDS church, 1515 S. Division Ave.
Othello High School tennis courts delayed
OTHELLO — The saga of the tennis courts at Othello High School continues.
PUD fiber build will require new policies
EPHRATA — The expansion of the Grant County PUD’s fiber system won’t resume until utility district officials and commissioners make some decisions on how to proceed.
Engineering Night at BBCC
MOSES LAKE — College and high school students who want to learn about opportunities in the engineering field are being invited to Big Bend Community College's "Engineering Night," from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday. All activities will be in the STEM Center in the 1200 building.
Steady stream of shoppers on Small Business Saturday
MOSES LAKE — A sunny day and a chance at store specials attracted a steady stream of customers to downtown businesses on Small Business Saturday.
'The Nutcracker' comes to stage
MOSES LAKE — Today’s Generation dance company will present the classic ballet “The Nutcracker” Friday and Saturday at the Moses Lake High School theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Performances are 7 p.m. Friday, a matinée at 11 a.m. Saturday and the finale at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Stores crowded but orderly Thursday, Friday
MOSES LAKE — Judging from the parking lot on Stratford Road Thanksgiving night, all that talk about most Christmas shopping going online is a little exaggerated.
Grant PUD update will take about a year
EPHRATA — The process to determine the Grant County PUD’s response to a substantial increase in requests for new electrical service will take about a year, starting with six months to study all the implications.
Big Bend Community College wins national recognition
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College is one of eight community colleges nationwide to earn recognition from an organization that promotes academic achievement and improvement at community colleges.
MLHS names Students of the Quarter
MOSES LAKE — Administrators and teachers at Moses Lake High School consider the Student of the Quarter announcement to be pretty important. No list in the bulletin – nope, there’s an assembly in the theater, with time for family and friends to take pictures.
Volunteers share food, goodwill
MOSES LAKE — It was a rainy, soggy, cloudy Monday morning, but the volunteers manning the Thanksgiving basket drive-through at the Moses Lake Food Bank didn’t mind. There was plenty of goodwill going around to counteract the bad weather.
Samaritan commissioners review 2018 budget
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare is projected to generate about $240 million in gross patient revenue for 2018, an increase of about 7.3 percent over the projections for 2017. That includes Samaritan Hospital inpatient and outpatient treatment, along with Samaritan Clinic.
Thanksgiving food distribution Monday
MOSES LAKE — There’s kind of a math problem at the Moses Lake Food Bank as the distribution of Thanksgiving baskets approaches. Actually, it’s more of a missing turkeys problem.
Turkey drive continues through Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Volunteers from Moses Lake health care organizations will be collecting donations of food and money for the Moses Lake Food Bank Friday and Saturday. The annual Community Turkey Drive began Thursday.
Works of Justin Alaniz on display at museum
MOSES LAKE — The works of Moses Lake photographer Justin Alaniz will be featured in an exhibit opening Friday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
'Feed the Mammoth' fundraiser Friday
MOSES LAKE — The annual fundraising soiree for the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the museum, 401 S. Balsam St. Money raised at the annual “Feed the Mammoth” party pays for the museum’s community programs, said museum director Freya Liggett.
PUD to continue fiber buildout
EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD will continue to build its fiber network, subject to year-by-year review and so long as it doesn’t impact the district’s finances. The areas added to the fiber network will be determined by customer interest – and not just people who say they would use fiber, but people who will commit to contracts. That was the decision reached by PUD commissioners after lengthy discussions at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Othello School District voters to consider construction bond
OTHELLO — It’s official – Othello School District patrons will be asked to accept or reject a school construction bond in February. Othello School Board members approved the bond resolution during the regular board meeting Monday. The vote was 4-0.
'It Was a Dark and Stormy Night'
QUINCY — Mystery and mayhem – and a touch of murder – come to the Quincy High School stage this weekend. The curtain goes up on “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the QHS theater.
Volunteer cooks say job is worthwhile and fun
MOSES LAKE — After 10 years, the soup-and-sandwich crew at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church has it down to a science.
Adams County unemployment remains at 27-year lows
RITZVILLE — The good news is that nonfarm unemployment in Adams County dropped a full percentage point in September 2017, when compared with September 2016. The bad news is that the number of nonfarm jobs in Adams County didn't grow at all in that year.
'You'll shoot your eye out' 'A Christmas Story: The Musical' opens Nov. 17
SOAP LAKE — Ralphie and his quest for the best Christmas present ever will come to the Masquers stage this month. “A Christmas Story: The Musical” opens Nov. 17 at the theater, 322 E. Main Ave.
Thinking small
MOSES LAKE — Susan Walpole’s tiny landscape took first place in the 11th annual Miniature Art Show, currently on display at Umpqua Bank. The show is on display through the end of the week, and is sponsored by the Desert Artists.
Parmeter Still leads Brown in Soap Lake council race
SOAP LAKE — Debra Parmeter Still is leading former Soap Lake City Council member Robert Brown, who recently resigned from the council, in unofficial results released Tuesday night.
Quincy hospital voters approving maintenance and operations levy
QUINCY — A proposal for a special one-year $875,000 maintenance and operations levy for Quincy Valley Medical Center is being approved in unofficial election results released Tuesday night.
Moses Lake ice rink set to open Friday
MOSES LAKE — Maybe it’s not official, but winter is here – which is not all bad, because Moses Lake’s municipal ice rink is opening Friday.
Power player
PUERTO RICO — Hurricane Maria made a real mess when she rolled across Puerto Rico in late September.
Washington health insurance enrollment open now
OLYMPIA — People who buy health insurance through Washington’s exchange have until Dec. 15 to pick a plan to ensure coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
Thomas Stredwick named new Big Bend trustee
MOSES LAKE — Thomas Stredwick was appointed as the new trustee at Big Bend Community College. Stredwick will finish the term of Mike Villareal, who moved out of the college district in July to take a new job.
Metal art contest tests creativity, teamwork, hustle
MOSES LAKE — The table in front of the Othello High School team was filled with raw material – old rebar, rusty discs, broken gears, a metal hook. But before the metal art competition ended, that rusty greasy broken metal was going to be repurposed into something terrific.
'They're creepy and they're kooky' 'The Addams Family' premieres Friday at Moses Lake High School
MOSES LAKE — The tale of an, um, kind of, um, unusual family comes to the Moses Lake High School stage as the MLHS drama group presents “The Addams Family” at the MLHS theater, 803 East Sharon Ave.
Samaritan finances reviewed at meeting
MOSES LAKE — While September expenses cut into September revenue, Samaritan Healthcare turned a profit in September and remains in the black for 2017 to date.
Traditional music, dance subject of museum lecture
MOSES LAKE — The music and dance of traditional celebrations, and its place in (and challenge to) a connected world, will be the subject of a lecture at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Christian Academy dinner, auction set for Saturday
MOSES LAKE — A few tickets are still available for the annual Moses Lake Christian Academy fundraising dinner and auction, scheduled for Saturday at the ATEC building on the Big Bend Community College campus.
Othello to submit $61.4 million school bond to voters
OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a $61,415,236 bond to build a new elementary school, a new middle school and make improvements to Othello High School. The project will not include an athletic complex.
PUD commissioners to make decision on fiber
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will discuss, and possibly decide, the next step for the district’s fiber program at the Nov. 14 meeting. The immediate future of the fiber program has been a subject of discussion for commissioners all summer, tied back to the PUD budget.
Yakima art exhibit opens Nov. 4
YAKIMA — The works of 69 central Washington artists will be on display at the Larson Gallery in Yakima from Nov. 4 to Dec. 2. The opening reception for the 62nd “Central Washington Artists’ Exhibition” will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 4 at the gallery, at the intersection of the East Nob Hill Boulevard and 16th Street.