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
Grant PUD to review new customer process
EPHRATA — A blizzard of inquiries about and requests for electrical service has Grant County PUD officials rethinking how the utility responds to new customers, and starting a year-long project to revamp the process.
Zombies and more in Lind this weekend
LIND — The town of Lind will be taken over by zombies – or at least downtown Lind will be taken over – Saturday and Sunday. The first Zombie Walk is an expansion of the town’s annual Halloween Family Night.
'Suit of Lights' to be screened at ML Museum Thursday
MOSES LAKE — A movie meditation on the choices individuals make will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Moses Lake Civic Center. The screening of “Suit of Lights” is sponsored by the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center as part of the museum’s fall speakers series.
Grant PUD installs first advanced meter
MOSES LAKE — The first of an estimated 49,000 new Grant County PUD electrical meters was installed Monday in Moses Lake. The two-year project will replace all existing meters in the PUD service area at an estimated cost of $14.9 million, said PUD public information officer Ryan Holterhoff.
Crossroads banquet draws big crowd
MOSES LAKE — An estimated 360 people filled the 4-H building at the Grant County Fairgrounds Saturday night to raise money for the Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center. The organization’s annual banquet is its biggest fundraiser of the year.
Sister city exchange still going, after almost 40 years
MOSES LAKE — As sister city relationships go, the tie between Moses Lake and Yonezawa, Japan, has been pretty long-lasting. Yonezawa’s mayor and other city and business officials were in Moses Lake last week, the latest visit in a relationship that stretches back almost 40 years.
Othello to make school bond decision Monday
OTHELLO — The Othello School Board hasn’t reached a decision about which projects it will include in a construction bond to be offered to voters in February. Board members discussed their options at a workshop Oct. 16 and planned to come to a decision, but deferred it to the regular board meeting Monday.
Archaeology Days next week
PRIEST RAPIDS DAM — The Grant County PUD will sponsor its annual look at the science and techniques of archaeology Wednesday and Thursday at the Wanapum Heritage Center at Priest Rapids Dam. Youth Day begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the heritage center, and Adult Day starts at 9 a.m. Thursday.
ML Chamber names honorees at banquet
MOSES LAKE — Three farm families were inducted into the Moses Lake Ag Hall of Fame and Samaritan Healthcare received the President’s Award at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday night.
Class shows students real cost of college
MOSES LAKE — So – how much does college cost? It’s a good question, and one that some students don’t think about until they’ve started college and incurred the debt.
Crossroads banquet set for Saturday
MOSES LAKE — The Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center will hold its annual fundraising banquet Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds. The banquet starts at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. in the 4-H building (Building No. 17) at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
History, memory and healing at Moses Lake museum
MOSES LAKE — Coping with the aftermath of historical injustice, and the lessons it can teach, are the subject of a lecture at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Thursday.
Baha'i followers to celebrate bicentennial with film
MOSES LAKE — Followers of the Baha’i faith will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of its founder with a showing in Moses Lake of a movie about Baha’i and its teachings.
Entries sought for museum scarecrow contest
MOSES LAKE — Entries are being solicited for a new contest to find the scariest – and most creative – scarecrows in Moses Lake. The contest is sponsored by the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, and is open to scarecrow artists of all ages.
Masquers names 'A Christmas Story' cast
SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater will present “A Christmas Story: The Musical” opening Nov. 17, with performances weekends through Dec.17. Directors Stacey and Clifford Bresee announced the cast this week.
Women's health subject of forum
MOSES LAKE — Things women should know about health and staying healthy will be the subject of a night out Thursday. “A Girls’ Guide: The Ultimate Source for Women’s Health” will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Pillar Rock Grill, 1373 Road .2 Northeast, Moses Lake.
Grant County PUD budget subject of public hearing
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County PUD is projecting a budget of $263,847,000 in 2018. The proposed budget was presented to utility district patrons at public hearings in Moses Lake and Ephrata Tuesday.
New Grant PUD line under construction
EPHRATA — All the electrical poles currently being installed along SR 17 between Rocky Ford and Moses Lake should in place by the end of 2017. However, the line won’t go into operation for about a year.
PUD to install advanced meters
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers will start getting advanced meters later this month. Customers will have the option to have the meter read manually, but those customers will pay an extra fee.
One of first Vietnam casualties subject of lecture
MOSES LAKE — The story of the first U.S. Army soldier to die in Vietnam will be told by his son at a lecture at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Thursday.
Apple business is better with family
EPHRATA — The Salgado brothers got into the apple and cherry business the way a lot of kids do – their dad took them along when he went to work.
Health district to change accounting practices after audit
MOSES LAKE — Changes in the accounting department in early 2017 meant the Grant County Health District underreported its pension liabilities and made errors in its calculations of federal grant spending. Those were among the errors identified in a report issued by the Washington State Auditor.
Pacific Science Center at museum Saturday
MOSES LAKE — The Pacific Science Center will bring fossils and experiments in agriculture science to the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Saturday. The “Harvest Science” hands-on agriculture exhibit will be on display in the museum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the “Fossil Time” live science shows at noon and 1 p.m.
Mennonite auction set for Saturday
RITZVILLE — The Menno Mennonite Church will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Country Auction and Relief Sale Saturday at the church, 1378 North Damon Rd. near Ritzville. The church is about 20 miles from Ritzville, 25 miles from Moses Lake.
Lending a hand
MOSES LAKE — Tony Jamerson said the experience of working as a Red Cross volunteer in Houston left a vivid impression. The first few nights after he got home “you still dreamed you were there,” he said.
Ritzville author, poet speaks at museum Wednesday
MOSES LAKE — Author and poet Hank Buchmann will read selections of his poetry, from his new book “The Homing,” and from his Western novels at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Crescent Bar contract awarded
CRESCENT BAR — Grant County PUD commissioners voted to award a $1.7 million bid to KRCI, LLC, East Wenatchee, for recreation improvements on Crescent Bar Island. The vote came at the commission’s regular meeting Tuesday.
Samaritan Healthcare turns a profit in August
MOSES LAKE — More doctors and medical professionals at Samaritan Healthcare helped boost the hospital’s bottom line in August.
Othello School Board eyes tennis court project
OTHELLO — Stalled construction at the tennis courts was the subject of discussion at the Monday meeting of the Othello School Board.
Grant County unemployment remains at 10-year low
OLYMPIA — Grant County’s unemployment rate dropped by more than a percentage point between August 2016 and August 2017. But unemployment did edge up slightly between July and August.
Fiber subject of lengthy Grant PUD discussion
WANAPUM DAM — What to do with the Grant County PUD fiber program, almost but not quite finished, was the subject of a 90-minute discussion at the regular meeting of the commissioners Tuesday. The discussion was the latest step in a year-long study – “a good hard look,” said chief executive officer Kevin Nordt – of the fiber system, its cost and the chances of finishing it.
Lectures scheduled at Soap Lake, Ephrata libraries
SOAP LAKE — The crazy in politics will be the subject of a lecture in Soap Lake, and a building block of popular music – the good and bad of it – will be the subject of a lecture in Ephrata. Both are sponsored by the North Central Regional Library.
Planning continues for new BBCC building, for now
MOSES LAKE — A hitch in the state budget process has halted progress on many state-funded construction projects, but work is continuing on the plans for the new workforce education building at Big Bend Community College.
Public hearings set for Grant PUD budget
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers will get a look at the utility’s proposed 2018 budget at three public hearings in early October.
Pioneer Day coming Saturday to Grant County Museum
EPHRATA — The Grant County Museum’s summer finale is scheduled –
Decision expected soon on PUD fiber expansion
WANAPUM DAM — Grant County PUD commissioners will discuss and maybe decide about the expansion of the district’s fiber network at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the headquarters building at Wanapum Dam.
Fall classes begin at Big Bend
MOSES LAKE — The parking lots were full, so full that drivers were circling around looking for a space. The library was bustling with students already researching via computers, highlighting textbooks and reviewing class notes, getting a start on some of those early assignments.
Walking with heroes
MOSES LAKE — Some special people and their buddies went for a walk Saturday afternoon, danced on the stage at McCosh Park, played games, had dinner in the park. The annual Buddy Walk is sponsored by the Down Syndrome Society of Grant County.
Veterans make connections at resource fair
MOSES LAKE — Help for military veterans, from job prospects to benefits to transportation to social services, was the goal of the Veterans Resource and Job Fair Saturday in Moses Lake.
Moses Lake residents walk to fight Alzheimer's
MOSES LAKE — Grandpa Simpson loved the outdoors.
Good competition, food at Adams County Fair
OTHELLO — Recipe for a good county fair:
Grant County housing prices on the rise
MOSES LAKE — The number of houses for sale in Grant County was about the same in August 2017 as it was in August 2016, but prices have increased. Home prices are higher for the year to date when 2017 is measured against 2016, according to statistics the Northwest Multiple Listing Service recently released for August.
Buddy Walk coming Saturday
MOSES LAKE — People with Down Syndrome and their buddies will go walking Saturday afternoon – and maybe go dancing afterward in the park and play some games. The Columbia Basin Buddy Walk is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, starting in McCosh Park.
Fighting 'the longest loss' Walk to End Alzheimer's set for Saturday
MOSES LAKE — The walk in Moses Lake to highlight the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease is scheduled for Saturday. The 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s starts at 10 a.m. at Yonezawa Park, 300 Yonezawa Blvd.
Gov. Jay Inslee makes stop in Ephrata
EPHRATA — Governor Jay Inslee made a brief stop in Ephrata Tuesday to talk about the state’s pending capital budget and the 2016 Washington Supreme Court decision in the Whatcom County vs. Hirst case. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake), 13th District senator, and 13th District Representative Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake) were among those in attendance to listen to Inslee’s presentation.
World premiere of 'Dinner Before Dawn' Friday
SOAP LAKE — The curtain will go up Friday on the world premiere of a comedy about right and wrong choices – on the diner menu and in life – at the Masquers Theater. “Dinner Before Dawn” is the first play written by Masquers players Andrew Covarrubias and Theresa Freeman.
Grant PUD fiber program to be discussed Sept. 28
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will discuss the future of the district’s fiber program during the commission’s Sept. 26 morning session. The discussion will begin at 9 a.m. in the conference room at the Hydro Office Building at Wanapum Dam, 14352 Highway 243.
Moses Lake native accepted to CDC program
ATLANTA — Physician Elisabeth Hesse is training for the kind of job they make movies about.
Grant County unemployment remains at 27-year lows
YAKIMA — Grant County’s unemployment rate stayed the same between June and July 2017. But a big drop in unemployed residents meant there was a big drop in the unemployment rate between July 2016 and July 2017.
CPR lessons help save grandmother's life
MOSES LAKE — Amy Rohrich learned CPR as part of the parenting classes she took prior to the birth of her daughter Eliana Brooks. The instructors recommended learning the techniques, both for infants and adults, just in case. Amy said she agreed. “Better to know than not know it,” she said.