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
Science, philosophy of humanity subject of museum lecture
MOSES LAKE — Scientific discovery and its impact on the philosophical questions of humanity will be the subject of a lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Grant County unemployment drops in February
YAKIMA — Unemployment in Grant County dropped eight-tenths of 1 percent between January and February 2017, and was lower than in February 2016. Unemployment was 9.7 percent in February, down from 10.5 percent in January 2017, and down from 10.7 percent in February 2016.
Kris Neff says job has changed her perspective
MOSES LAKE — Kris Neff said her career allows her to help people, and that’s crucial to her.
Warden singer to compete for 'Next Diva Tejana' title
WARDEN — A Warden woman will be among the finalists singing for the title of the “Next Diva Tejana” in San Antonio Thursday night.
Hankies out for 'Steel Magnolias'
SOAP LAKE — The story of the lives of six friends through good times and bad comes to the Masquers Theater stage beginning April 21. “Steel Magnolias” will run for three weekends, at 7 p.m. April 21 and 22, 28 and 29 and May 5 and 6. Three Sunday matinées are scheduled as well, at 2 p.m. April 23 and 30 and May 7.
Public meetings set on PUD fiber options
EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD will hold two public meetings to discuss the future of its fiber optic network in late April. The first is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 25 at the PUD commission meeting room, 30 Southwest C St. in Ephrata. The second will be at 6 p.m. April 27 at the George Community Hall, 403 West Montmorency Blvd., George.
Goodies in the grass Easter egg hunts offered throughout the Basin
COLUMBIA BASIN — Although the weather has been less than ideal over the last couple of days, forecasts are predicting favorable conditions for several area Easter egg hunts over the weekend.
Grant PUD to consider contract for advanced electric meters
EPHRATA — Installation of new, advanced electric meters is projected to begin in September. Grant County PUD commissioners reviewed the proposed plan to buy and start installing the meters at the regular commission meeting Tuesday.
Moses Lake Distinguished Young Women pageant Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Eight high school juniors will compete for the title of Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman at 7 p.m. Saturday at Moses Lake High School, 803 East Sharon Ave.
Work and music subject of museum lecture
MOSES LAKE — Work, and how work affected (and still affects) the music people sang and played, will be the subject of a lecture, with musical accompaniment, at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Tickets on sale for benefit motorcycle raffle
MOSES LAKE — Tickets are on sale for a fundraising raffle for the Big Bend Community College Foundation. The winner of the “Wheels for Education” raffle will take home a 2013 Harley Davidson Softail Blackline motorcycle.
Uncommon code
MOSES LAKE — The challenge absorbed students in the Digipen class at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center.
Adams County unemployment drops in February
RITZVILLE — More nonfarm jobs came to Adams County in the second half of 2016, and contributed to a slight drop in unemployment in February 2017.
FSA loan program taking applications
EPHRATA — Applications are being accepted for a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that provides loans to beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as farmers in “underserved” groups.
BBCC trustee receives national award
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College trustee Jon Lane will be one of six people honored with a national award for community college alumni. The Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented by the American Association of Community Colleges April 24 in New Orleans.
Washington poet laureate in Moses Lake Thursday
MOSES LAKE — Washington poet laureate Tod Marshall will discuss poetry and read a selection of his works in a presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
Railroad mainline subject of museum lecture
MOSES LAKE — The days when the railroad was the way in and out of central Washington – and an economic lifeline – will be the subject of a lecture at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.
DYW program set for April 15
MOSES LAKE — “Commotion at the Ocean” will the theme of the 2017 Distinguished Young Women of Moses Lake program. The program is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 15 at the Moses Lake High School theater, 803 East Sharon Ave.
Ephrata Middle School students show off their talents
EPHRATA — About 20 Ephrata Middle School students shared their musical and comedy skills with the whole school at the annual all-school talent show Friday.
Building up Big Bend Construction on new workforce education building could start by 2018
MOSES LAKE — The construction schedule will depend on funding, but as of now the plan is to open the workforce education building at Big Bend Community College in 2020. Preliminary plans for the new building were delivered last week.
Molahiettes reap 3 state titles
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School Molahiettes came home with not one, not two, but three state championships from competition last weekend. The previous week the team won a title in national competition.
Grant County unemployment drops in January
MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County dropped four-tenths of 1 percent between January 2016 and January 2017. Unemployment did jump almost a full percentage point between December 2016 and January 2017, following a similar trend in 2015-16.
Work proceeding on Priest Rapids refurbishment
WANAPUM DAM — Just like remodeling a house, upgrading components of a hydroelectric project brings with it some good surprises, some bad surprises and some adjustments to the budget and time schedule. Project managers Molly Hill and Jeff Niehenke updated Grant County PUD commissioners on upgrades to the turbine-generator units at Priest Rapids Dam at the commission meeting Tuesday.
Othello hires 3 new principals
OTHELLO — Othello School Board members approved the hiring of three new principals for the 2017-18 school year at the regular meeting Monday.
Grant PUD commissioners approve rate increase
WANAPUM DAM — Grant County electrical rates will go up by an average of 2 percent, although the actual rate will be different for different customer classes, beginning April 1. Grant County PUD commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the proposed increases at the regular meeting Tuesday.
Samaritan quality of care efforts reviewed
MOSES LAKE — Talking to patients and families helped Samaritan Hospital cut the number of patients who fall and get hurt in the hospital. That was part of a detailed review of the hospital’s ongoing plan to improve care of patients at the last commission meeting.
Awesome rides
MOSES LAKE — The threat of rainy weather may have kept a few cars at home at the annual Moses Lake High School car show, but there were still some sweet rides on display.
No place like home (expo)
MOSES LAKE — All things home, outside and inside, were on display Friday and Saturday at the annual Central Washington Home Expo at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
Sandhill Crane Festival draws crowds
OTHELLO — Birdwatchers and people interested in nature and the outdoors took advantage of a sunny Saturday to fill the Othello High School gym and fan out through the region as part of the 20th annual Sandhill Crane Festival.
'Art of the Undertaker' exhibit opens
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Museum & Art Center director Freya Liggett said the exhibit that opened Friday had been generating curiosity the entire time the collection’s owners and museum staff were installing it.
Good things in store New boutique at CB Tech to open Tuesday
MOSES LAKE — The brand-new Pallets and Pipes boutique at CB Tech is a hands-on way for the students to learn the principles of opening and running a business — hey, wait. Is that an upscale fake fur jacket in leopard print? And are those a couple of prom dresses? And name-brand jeans for men and women?
Samaritan finances dip into negative territory
MOSES LAKE — An unexpected jump in expenses pushed Samaritan Healthcare’s bottom line into the red at the end of February.
Flu shots still a good thing, even after season
MOSES LAKE — The recent death of a 15-year-old that may have been flu-related has prompted the Grant County Health District to urge parents to make sure their kids have flu shots.
Remodel planned for Samaritan Clinic first floor
MOSES LAKE — The first floor of Samaritan Clinic will get a whole new look by the end of the year. Samaritan Healthcare commissioners approved a remodeling plan at the regular board meeting Tuesday.
The play (in a play)'s the thing
QUINCY — A musical about a completely improvised musical takes to the Quincy High School stage this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The curtain goes up for “Just Another High School Musical” at 7:30 p.m. each night at the high school, 16 SE Sixth Ave.
'Art of the Undertaker' opens at museum Friday
MOSES LAKE — The history of the undertaker’s profession and the tools of the trade will be on display beginning Friday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. The opening reception for “The Art of the Undertaker: The Kayser Collection” will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the museum, 401 South Balsam St.
Tradition!
MOSES LAKE — The tale of a beleaguered dad, his daughters and times a-changin’ will come to the stage early next month in the Basin Community Theatre production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The curtain goes up at 7:10 p.m. April 5 at the Moses Lake High School theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave.
Chili experts to vie for bragging rights in cookoff Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Cooks will be putting their best chili forward Saturday, and the public can get a taste, at the first Chili Cookoff sponsored by the Grant County chapter of ABATE of Washington. Cooks fire up their stoves at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Washington Home Expo at the Grant County Fairgrounds. The public can start tasting chili at 1 p.m. The tasting fee is $5 and includes optional chili toppings, onions, cheese and others. There will be an award for the people’s choice.
City: Funding street work expensive but necessary
MOSES LAKE — Streets and roads, and how they’re paid for, has become a topic of discussion in Moses Lake since city officials voted to start a transportation benefit district. At least initially it will be funded with a $20 charge when Moses Lake residents register their vehicles. Moses Lake City Council members have discussed replacing that charge with a two-tenths of 1 percent increase in the sales tax.
Work continues on transit center
MOSES LAKE — The new Grant County Transit Authority transportation center in Moses Lake is on track to open in July.
Grant PUD recreation plan completed
EPHRATA — Conditions have changed, so changes have been made to the recreation plan proposed by the Grant County PUD. The draft plan was reviewed by PUD commissioners Tuesday. It will be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in April.
Customers to be asked about PUD fiber system
EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD will be conducting surveys and sponsoring a couple of community meetings to get the opinion of customers on the fiber network, and what customers think should happen next.
Family support program being considered in Othello
OTHELLO — An effort is underway in Othello to start a new non-profit organization that would help kids and families prepare for school, and what comes after graduation.
Home show coming next week
MOSES LAKE — All things home improvement, from candles to mortgage information, will be on display at the Grant County Fairgrounds March 24 and 25. The Central Washington Home Expo will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 24, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 25. Admission is free.
Friends of the Library book sale Thursday
MOSES LAKE — The bad news for book lovers is that icy nasty weather in January canceled the first Moses Lake Friends of the Library book sale for 2017. The good news is that as a result, the March book sale will be huge.
Youth Dynamics banquet set for Saturday
MOSES LAKE — The Youth Dynamics youth outreach program will sponsor its annual fundraising banquet and silent auction from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, 900 E. Yonezawa Blvd.
BBCC program provides manufacturing skills training
MOSES LAKE — Eduardo Valencia said he looked around at work and saw things were changing.
Foundation plans upgrades to Moses Lake library
MOSES LAKE — A fundraiser to pay for new and improved shelving at the Moses Lake Public Library on Saturday is part of an ongoing project to upgrade the facility.
Snowpack near normal for 2017
MOSES LAKE — Rain and warmer temperatures will mean some melting snow at lower elevations this weekend. That could translate to water – maybe a lot of it – making an appearance in creek-beds and culverts that are usually dry this time of year. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service office in Spokane say eastern and central Washington residents should look out for water in unexpected places.
Report on PUD accident cause expected by April
EPHRATA — A yet-to-be-determined failure on a line near Columbia Basin Hospital Feb. 17 triggered the failure of and an arcing explosion in a transfer station in Ephrata. Grant County PUD commissioners were updated on the investigation into the incident at their meeting Monday.