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
FERC issues Sunland ruling
QUINCY — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted a request from the Grant County PUD to include property in the Sunland Estates development inside the PUD project boundary.
Othello voters to decide fate of school M&O levy
OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a three-year maintenance and operations levy in a special election Feb. 14. If approved, the levy would replace one approved by voters in 2014.
A matter of size
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a $135.3 million construction bond in February, which includes money for a new, second high school. One of the frequently asked questions is how a second high school would impact extracurricular activities.
Adams County unemployment drops year-over-year
RITZVILLE — While unemployment in Adams County went up between October and November 2016, unemployment dropped between November 2015 and November 2016.
New principals at Othello, Desert Oasis high schools
OTHELLO — Othello High School has a new principal, Desert Oasis High School has a new-old principal, and Wahitis Elementary has a new interim principal. Those changes, occurring at the end of the first semester last week, prompted some questions from the high school representatives to the Othello School Board.
Grant PUD fiber, wireless workshop set for Feb. 13
EPHRATA — The cost of providing electrical service, the costs and benefits of the Grant County PUD fiber optic network and electrical rates for individual customer classes will be the subjects of workshops in February and early March. The goal is to set individual customer class rates by early April, said PUD chief financial officer John Janney.
Campus makeover Registrar, counseling offices remodeled at Big Bend
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College students now have a remodeled – and more welcoming – space when they have questions about financial aid, registration and counseling.
Cancer foundation event set for Feb. 4
MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation will sponsor its biggest fundraiser of the year Feb. 4. Social hour begins at 5 p.m. for the 2017 “Country Sweetheart Ball” at the 4-H building at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
Losing weight takes consistency
MOSES LAKE — It's kind of a winter ritual. The last of the Christmas and New Year goodies are gone, and when the new year starts, it’s going to be The Year. No more – or at least not as many – cheese curls. More salad. And way, way more exercise. The Year to get lean and change the diet.
Bad weather calls for parental ingenuity
MOSES LAKE — Well. During the last month, give or take, the Columbia Basin has experienced serious cold, then snow, then cold, then ice storms, then rain. And fog. And the weekend could bring more snow.
Ice, ice, baby
MOSES LAKE — The good news is, traditionally the worst part of winter in the Columbia Basin is December and the first half of January. The bad news is, it’s still January and it’s doing what January does. And it’s going to be January for a while.
Registration underway for Waypoint chess tournament
EPHRATA — Young followers of Caissa (the goddess of chess) will battle it out Feb. 4 at the 11th annual Waypoint Chess Tournament, for kids and teens from kindergarten through high school seniors. The tournament is open to youths living within the Ephrata, Quincy, Moses Lake and Soap Lake school districts, including private school and homeschool students.
Charity is focus of bus tour
MOSES LAKE — Businesses do better when they encourage their employees to get involved in charitable activities, inside and outside their communities. That was the message from participants on a bus tour that stopped in Moses Lake Tuesday afternoon.
Fundraising starts for Ephrata girl's transplant
EPHRATA — Constance Schnegelberger is a tough chick.
Grant PUD employees recognized
EPHRATA — Recognition of Grant County PUD employees and their work with a customer led to a short discussion of the changing customer market at the regular commission meeting Jan. 10.
Site selected for proposed second high school
MOSES LAKE — Patrons of the Moses Lake School District will be asked to approve or reject a $135.3 million construction bond in a special election Feb. 14. If voters approve the proposal, the money would be spent to build a second high school, a new elementary school and make upgrades to Moses Lake High School.
Bond would fund upgrades to MLHS
MOSES LAKE — The fate of a $135.3 million construction bond proposal will be decided by Moses Lake School District voters in a special election Feb. 14. If approved, the bond would pay for a new, second high school, a new elementary school and upgrades to the existing Moses Lake High School.
New elementary school would follow set pattern
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons will decide the fate of a $135.3 million construction bond in a special election Feb. 14. If approved the money would be used to build a new, second high school, upgrade Moses Lake High School and build a new elementary school, the 11th in the district.
Allied Arts soirée set for Jan. 27
MOSES LAKE — Tickets are on sale for the annual Columbia Basin Allied Arts fundraising soirée, set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the 4-H building at the Grant County Fairgrounds. “Under the Sea” is the theme for 2017.
Blowing white stuff to blow over
MOSES LAKE — The message from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, issued at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, was to the point. “Stay off Grant County roads,” it said. “It’s very bad and you’ll probably get stuck in a snowdrift.”
Grant PUD broadband workshop set for February
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD employees will present the findings of an in-depth review of the district’s broadband program at a workshop for commissioners in mid-February. Commissioners requested an evaluation of the broadband program, and general manager Kevin Nordt said it’s also one of the areas of emphasis in the district’s five-year strategic plan.
Snow scramble
MOSES LAKE — Two weekend snowstorms and a touch of freezing rain scrambled morning commutes and canceled school throughout the Columbia Basin Monday.
Unemployment picture improves in November
MOSES LAKE — While unemployment in Grant County increased between October and November 2016, it dropped when compared with November 2015. The county’s unemployment rate dropped from 7.5 percent in November 2015 to 7.2 percent in November 2016. That’s actually lower than the unemployment rate in November 2014, which was 7.4 percent.
Future of Ritzville extended care facility subject of meeting
RITZVILLE — Residents of the East Adams Hospital District are being invited to a meeting to discuss the future of the East Adams Care Center, the community’s extended care facility. The meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Thursday at American Legion Post No. 51, 106 West Broadway Ave.
Electrical system demand hits winter record
EPHRATA — It’s cold and the car barely starts and a lot of people are cranky because it’s cold and the whole family – and the dog – are practically camped on top of the furnace because it’s so cold. And when it’s extremely cold the furnace must be fed.
Microsoft, 2nd Harvest to partner for second year
QUINCY — Organizers are looking for people to help out when 2nd Harvest comes to Quincy to distribute food Jan. 26. The organization, based in Spokane, will be somewhere in Grant County once each month in addition to its regular schedule. That’s thanks to a partnership with the Microsoft data center in Quincy.
'Steel Magnolias' auditions set for Jan. 28, 29
SOAP LAKE — Auditions for the Masquers production of “Steel Magnolias” are scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan 28 and 29 at the theater, 322 East Main St.
Winter chill continues
MOSES LAKE — There’s been something of a pattern to the weather, the last month or so – seriously cold temperatures, zero or thereabouts (or below), then it warms up and snows. And what’s the forecast for the next week or so?
Ephrata airport's war service subject of MAC lecture
MOSES LAKE — The Ephrata airport’s contribution to World War II will be the subject of a lecture at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. “The Ephrata Army Airport” will kick off the museum’s Winter Salon series.
Samaritan begins clinic, ER remodeling
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare officials ended an effort to build what they called “a vertically integrated health care system” with Confluence Health in August. Confluence Health is based in Wenatchee and includes both Central Washington Hospital and Wenatchee Valley Clinic.
New Year mom, baby get what they need to start out right
MOSES LAKE — The rationale behind the gifts included for the first baby of the year at Samaritan Hospital is to give a new mother everything she needs. And maybe a few things she doesn’t need but are just fun for a family, like the 5-foot-tall teddy bear.
Big Bend CC approved as EMT testing center
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College has been approved as a testing site for candidates working to qualify as emergency medical technicians. Big Bend is the fifth site in the state to offer the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians.
Quality of care discussed at Samaritan meeting
MOSES LAKE — Improving care at Samaritan Healthcare was the subject of a discussion at the regular meeting of the hospital district commissioners recently.
Recreation options available during school break
MOSES LAKE — It’s not exactly true that kids don’t have anything to do during Christmas vacation. They can run around the house, watch TV or its streaming equivalent, play with their new toys, fight with their brothers and sisters, take naps, and tell their parents they’re bored and there’s nothing to do.
Registration open for annual swine conference
MOSES LAKE — Registration is open through Jan. 27 for Washington Swine Information Day, scheduled for Feb. 3 at the Pillar Rock Grill at the Moses Lake Country Club. The program is open to all pork producers, including 4-H and FFA producers.
Local food banks need donations year-round
MOSES LAKE — Christmas, along with many other things, is a season when charity goes into overdrive. But Christmas is over, the New Year is approaching, and then it’s January and then people start thinking of spring.
Othello School Board talks sports complex
OTHELLO — Whether or not to ask voters to approve a separate levy for a new sports complex was the subject of discussion at the regular meeting of the Othello School Board Wednesday.
Remodeled ER, mother-baby unit in Samaritan budget
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare will spend $775,000 to remodel its emergency room and $950,000 to remodel the first floor of Samaritan Clinic in 2017. A list of the capital projects was presented to hospital commissioners at the regular meeting Tuesday.
More snow may be on the way
MOSES LAKE — So – snow, followed by bitter cold last weekend, followed by just enough warmth to cause freezing rain in Grant County Monday night. By the way, winter starts today.
Job seekers warned of employment scam
MOSES LAKE — The email looked legitimate – at least at first.
Grant PUD fiber workshop scheduled for January
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD officials will sponsor a workshop during the week of Jan. 23 to discuss the status of its fiber optic buildout, the wireless project, and where it all goes from here.
Boats will be able to fuel up at Crescent Bar
EPHRATA — There will be a fuel station to pump gas for boats at Crescent Bar when recreation improvements to the island and riverbank are completed. Grant County PUD commissioners discussed the district’s possible liability if a tank was installed at their last meeting.
Othello Christmas Baskets deliver holiday cheer
OTHELLO — The first cars leave the Othello Fire Hall about 8 a.m., delivering food, toys and Christmas cheer to needy families in Othello, a tradition that’s 40 years old. The Othello Community Christmas Basket program started with a few guys talking at the Eagles Lodge, and has expanded to include most of Othello.
School construction underway in Quincy
QUINCY — They’ve started excavating at George Elementary, the first step in a two-year construction project that will mean huge changes for Quincy schools.
Ephrata High School teachers clash at karaoke
EPHRATA — In the end it could be said that Ephrata High School teachers Don Hendrixson and Dave Temple tied in the Great Karaoke Battle of 2016. The teacher sing-down was the payoff for EHS students at the end of the annual Toys for Teens drive.
Bid awarded for Othello football field repairs
OTHELLO — Othello School Board members have awarded a $129,007 contract to Desert Sun Landscaping of Moses Lake to rehabilitate the Othello High School football field.
Design for Big Bend building still under discussion
MOSES LAKE — Architects are still working on design options for the new professional-technical program building at Big Bend Community College.
Big Bend's education program growing
MOSES LAKE — The number of students in the Adult Education Program at Big Bend Community College has increased 25 percent from the same period last year. Program director Tyler Wallace reported on the program during the regular meeting of BBCC trustees Monday.
Othello School Board approves levy proposal
OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a three-year maintenance and operations levy in a special election Feb. 14. The Othello School Board approved the levy resolution at its regular meeting Monday.
Santa is coming to school Family Holiday Festival at Moses Lake High School Friday
MOSES LAKE — Families are invited to decorate cookies, watch a classic holiday movie or two, get pictures with Santa and – actually, that’s just the beginning of the activities at the second Family Holiday Festival, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Moses Lake High School, 803 East Sharon Ave.