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
Cold weather lands on Columbia Basin
MOSES LAKE — It’s not unexpected – it is winter, after all – but it’s cold outside. And it’s going to stay cold for a while, according to the National Weather Service.
Miracle on Main Street
EPHRATA — The candy cane walk was very popular. The little girl in the pink dress asked if she could go back just one more time.
'Hope for Haiti' raises money for stricken island nation
MOSES LAKE — About halfway through a dinner organized by a group of teens to raise money for relief efforts in Haiti, Scott Lang had an announcement. The teens set a goal of raising $5,500, and after ticket sales but before the silent auction and live dessert auction, they had raised $4,439. But they did even better than that – as of Sunday afternoon they had raised $7,705 after expenses, with the promise of an extra $75.
Prime time for charitable giving
MOSES LAKE — With the Christmas season shifting into high gear, it’s also prime time for charitable projects.
'Transforming Lives'
MOSES LAKE — People who want to go to college often face obstacles, and it's not just the expense.
How to help: Opportunities for charitable giving around the Basin
MOSES LAKE — Along with many other things, Christmas is the season of charity, and there are a number of charitable opportunities around the Columbia Basin.
'Snow Queen'
MOSES LAKE — The tale of the icy Snow Queen, her cruel magic and an innocent, brave girl searching for her foster brother will come to the stage Jan. 6 and 7, courtesy of Today’s Generation Dance Company.
Fundraising dinner for Haiti set for Saturday
MOSES LAKE — A fundraising banquet with the proceeds going to a mission facility in Haiti heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew is scheduled for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, 724 West Fourth Ave., Moses Lake.
'Miracle on Main Street' returns to Ephrata
EPHRATA — Activities are scheduled all afternoon Saturday as part of “Miracle on Main Street,” the annual community Christmas celebration in Ephrata. Activities begin at noon at the Ephrata Recreation Center, 112 Southwest Basin St.
First snow of the season this week
MOSES LAKE — It being December and all, it’s reasonable to expect it, and it’s here – snow season. A cold front at the surface and a wave of precipitation above it is expected to produce snow Thursday and maybe into the weekend.
Othello School Board approves property purchase
OTHELLO — The Othello School Board has approved an agreement to purchase 81.14 acres of land along 14th Street and Lee Road. The district will pay $2.4 million to the current owner, Terra Gold Farms. The draft agreement was approved during the regular board meeting Monday. The land is located at Lee Road between Seventh and 14th streets.
Big Bend students donate to New Hope
MOSES LAKE — A local organization supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault received a donation of 70 handmade teddy bears, courtesy of the ASB council at Big Bend Community College.
Celtic singers, dancers in concert Saturday
MOSES LAKE — A trio of sisters performing folk music with a Celtic vibe will take the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Wallenstien Theatre. The performance by the Gothard Sisters is sponsored by the Central Basin Community Concert Association.
Realtors kick in over $5,000 for Boys and Girls Club
MOSES LAKE — A charitable project by the Moses Lake-Othello Board of Realtors resulted in a donation of more than $5,000 to the Moses Lake Boys and Girls Club.
State poet laureate to visit Soap Lake, Ephrata
SOAP LAKE — Washington State Poet Laureate Tod Marshall will present readings of his works Thursday at the Soap Lake and Ephrata public libraries. Marshall will be reading his poems at 2 p.m. in Soap Lake and 7 p.m. in Ephrata.
Food, toy donations sought for Operation Friendship
MOSES LAKE — Donations of toys and money are being solicited for Operation Friendship, the annual toy drive for the Moses Lake Food Bank.
Building conundrum focus of Big Bend CC meeting
MOSES LAKE — A conundrum over the design of the proposed professional-technical building on the Big Bend Community College campus prompted BBCC officials to convene a public meeting Monday night to look for a solution.
East Irrigation District elections set for Dec. 13
OTHELLO — The election for the seat for Director District No. 5 of the East Columbia Irrigation District is scheduled for Dec. 13. Polls will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. for in-person voters.
'Jingle Bells Jury' opens Saturday
SOAP LAKE — Masquers Theater will present a story of lost Christmas Spirit and how to find it the first two weekends in December. “Jingle Bells Jury” takes the stage at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 and 9 and 10.
Black Friday requires planning, coordination
MOSES LAKE — People who study these things for a living, and write about them for major publications, are saying Black Friday doesn’t have the power it once did. Online shopping, longer hours, sales that extend for a week or longer – those things make Black Friday smaller than it used to be.
Chief Moses class project provides Thanksgiving baskets
MOSES LAKE — Students in the leadership class at Chief Moses Middle School wanted a service project, something that would help other CMMS students whose families might be in need. And it so happened that Thanksgiving was coming up.
Safe travels
SPOKANE — A lot of Thanksgiving, of course, is about family and friends and getting together. But – well, it’s November, late November at that. And everybody else’s family and friends will be getting together too.
Grant PUD approves union contract
EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD and members of the union representing electrical workers have reached agreement on a three-year contract. Utility district commissioners approved the contract at the regular meeting Tuesday.
Baskets of blessing Thanksgiving packages distributed Tuesday, Wednesday at food bank
MOSES LAKE — The volunteers and staff have it down to a science at the Moses Lake Food Bank when it comes to distributing Thanksgiving food baskets. Chickens and eggs, potatoes and onions, bread, canned goods – on Monday of Thanksgiving week, food bank customers don’t even have to get out of the car.
Boys basketball, adult dodgeball at Moses Lake Parks and Rec
MOSES LAKE — Dodgeball for grownups and basketball fundamentals for grade-school-age boys will be among the classes offered through Moses Lake Parks and Recreation after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Tech talk
MOSES LAKE — Opportunities for engineers in Grant County, engineering education, training and career advancement were among the topics of discussion at Engineering Night at Big Bend Community College Thursday.
Samaritan Turkey Drive Friday, Saturday
MOSES LAKE — It may look a little different this year, but the goal is the same – Samaritan Healthcare volunteers are collecting donations for Thanksgiving Friday and Saturday in the hospital’s annual Turkey Drive. Volunteers are set up at Safeway, 601 South Pioneer Way, and will be collecting donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Travelers from all over donate to Quincy holiday light fund
QUINCY — A GoFundMe account to raise money to refurbish the holiday lights displayed each year along Interstate 90 near Quincy may generate enough money to finish, or almost finish, the project this year, rather than the two years originally expected.
Adams County jobless rate dips in September
RITZVILLE — Unemployment in Adams County dropped by three-tenths of one percent between August and September, and it dropped one-tenth of one percent between September 2015 and September 2016.
Samaritan approves $4.725 million capital budget
MOSES LAKE — The first floor of Samaritan Clinic will be remodeled in 2017 and a project to remodel the emergency room at Samaritan Healthcare is already underway. Those are some of the projects included in the 2017 capital budget reviewed by the Samaritan Healthcare commissioners Nov. 10.
Williams, Marsh honored by Othello School Board
OTHELLO — Former Othello High School wrestling coach Mike Williams and district psychologist Jenny Marsh were recognized by the Othello School Board during the regular board meeting Monday.
'Feed the Mammoth' party Friday at museum
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center kicks off its annual membership drive with the “Feed the Mammoth” party from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the museum, 401 South Balsam St. The campaign will continue through Jan. 6.
Columbia Basin Project, then and now
MOSES LAKE — An exhibit detailing the impact of the Columbia Basin Project on the landscape of the Columbia Basin will open Friday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. The opening reception for “Water at Work” is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. at the museum, 401 South Balsam.
Samaritan Healthcare sets 2017 budget
MOSES LAKE — Revenue at Samaritan Healthcare is expected to decrease in 2017, although hospital utilization is expected to increase. That was part of a discussion of the hospital budget at the regular commission meeting Thursday.
Wall of fame
Wall will feature pictures of veterans
MOSES LAKE — The five Monroe House residents who are military veterans were the first recognized on the new wall honoring veterans at the facility.
Delicate work
MOSES LAKE — The crucial thing when working with glass, said Kathleen Parr, is that the artist has to wait until the glass is ready to cooperate.
Art Garden Pottery to celebrate anniversary
MOSES LAKE — The guiding principle behind ArtGarden Pottery is that when people have the opportunity to make art – well, when people can make art, they do.
Opening delayed at Larson Ice Rink
MOSES LAKE — The warm sunny weather has pushed back the opening of the Larson Ice Rink one more time.
Quincy hospital voters rejecting $1 million levy request
QUINCY — Grant County Hospital District No. 2 (Quincy Valley Medical Center) voters are rejecting a one-year, $1 million levy to help the hospital district cut back on debt owed to Grant County,
Grant PUD approves 2017 budget, but without rates
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners passed a 2017 budget at the regular meeting Tuesday, but did not include 2017 rates. Retail rates will be on the agenda beginning in January but a decision on rates probably won’t be made until spring.
Registration open for agriculture workshops
MOSES LAKE — Registration is open for a pair of workshops designed to help farmers improve their land, set for late November. The workshops, one day each, are sponsored by WSU-Grant/Adams Extension.
Parks and Rec offers ice skating, hockey
MOSES LAKE — Early-morning ice skating lessons, a clinic for kids and teens who want to learn about hockey and making table runners are some of the classes sponsored during the week by the Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department.
Memories, artistry at Monroe House quilt show
MOSES LAKE — The quilt hanging outside Imogene Greif’s apartment at Monroe House was made by her mother about 1940, from scraps of worn dresses and aprons. “Looking at the quilt brings back many memories,” she wrote on the label accompanying the display.
Barn bazaar
MOSES LAKE — Julie Piper Phipps said the Piper Barn Show was a family project, and that was one reason she wanted to revive it.
Enchanted evening 'South Pacific' comes to Moses Lake High School stage
MOSES LAKE — A classic tale of love and prejudice in World War II comes to the stage at Moses Lake High School with the production of “South Pacific,” scheduled for Nov. 10 through 12. Performances are at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the theater, 803 East Sharon Ave.
Drop off point announced for Operation Christmas Child
MOSES LAKE — Churches and individuals donating to Operation Christmas Child can drop off the shoeboxes at the Lake City Foursquare Church, 333 North Central Dr., from Nov. 14 to 21.
Meetings for stewardship program scheduled
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Conservation District is sponsoring a series of meetings introducing a program that will work with farmers to manage critical land use areas on their property. Meetings to explain the Voluntary Stewardship Program are scheduled in Quincy, Royal City, Warden and Mattawa.
Grant Transit Authority to celebrate 20th birthday
EPHRATA — The Grant County Transit Authority will return to its roots for its 20th anniversary celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Ephrata Amtrak station, 90 Northwest Alder St.
Big Bend fall quarter enrollment up slightly
MOSES LAKE — Fall quarter enrollment at Big Bend Community College was slightly higher than enrollment in fall 2015. Summer quarter 2016 enrollment was up in terms of students on campus, but there were slightly fewer full-time students in summer 2016 as compared to 2015.
Allied Arts sponsors 'dramatic reading' of play Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin Allied Arts will present a “dramatic reading” of a play by University of Idaho professor and playwright Robert Caisley at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Wallenstien Theater on the Big Bend Community College campus.