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
Walkers take to the street to fight Alzheimer's
MOSES LAKE - His daughters and his niece agreed that Jack Wood was just a big kid at heart, with a great sense of humor. He kept that sense of humor even when Alzheimer's attacked him, said his daughter Teri Swindell. That was good, because Alzheimer's took a lot from him, and from his family.
Ephrata woman dies in collision with Grant County Sheriff's Office vehicle
Washington State Patrol will handle investigation
EPHRATA - Washington State Patrol detectives will investigate a traffic accident that killed an Ephrata woman and involved a Grant County sheriff's deputy Saturday.
Cherry season generates good profit for growers
Growers produced about 23 million boxes, one of biggest in state history
QUINCY - Despite an inconvenient hot spell, the 2014 cherry crop should generate enough returns to allow growers to tum a profit.
Moses Lake School District taxpayers to be surveyed
MOSES LAKE - A survey to determine what Moses Lake School District patrons think of the idea of a construction bond will be conducted in the next couple weeks.
Expanded FAA certificate authority at Big Bend
Certificate only for BBCC aviation program graduates
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College's aviation program will be one of two in the Pacific Northwest authorized to award Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificates to graduates.
Moses Lake School District taxpayers to see construction bond survey
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons will be asked their opinions on a possible construction bond during the next few weeks. A survey listing the options will be available on the district's website this weekend. All district patrons will receive a copy in the mail.
Cost of service analysis explained at Grant County PUD workshop
EPHRATA - The cost of providing electricity to Grant County PUD customers, and how the PUD arrived at its conclusions, was the subject of a workshop with customers Thursday.
Bond committee meets at 6:30 tonight at Moses Lake School District Transportation Center
MOSES LAKE — The committee tasked with recommending whether or not to offer a construction bond proposal to Moses Lake School District voters will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the district transportation center, 920 East Yonezawa Blvd.
Adams County Fair finishes four-day run in Othello
OTHELLO - The family just finished lunch and Mom had her eye on dessert. "I'm going to go get an elephant ear," she said.
First anchors installed at Wanapum Dam
Repairs to dam will cost an estimated $69 million
WANAPUM DAM - Repairs to Wanapum Dam will spill over into 2015, although enough work will be completed to partially raise the water level behind the dam sometime before the end of the year, according to PUD officials.
Real sea hawk fishes Moses Lake
The bird, not the football team, scopes out the fishing on the lake
MOSES LAKE - The crew at Ken Thompson Drilling, not far off the lake shore, was going about their business Monday when they noticed a bird hanging out around the shop yard, perched at the top of an electrical pole.
Adams County Fair opens Wednesday
Demolition derby, chuck wagon cook off, rodeo among activities
OTHELLO - Exhibits and competition, two days of rodeo, a demolition derby and chuck wagon cooking are among the events scheduled for the 2014 Adams County Fair.
Samaritan Healthcare shows $4.8M profit for year
Income up, expenses down after seven months in 2014
MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare turned a $657,779 profit in July, and made a $4.8 million profit through the first seven months of 2014.
Big Bend program will help low-income students
One of four participating community colleges in Washington
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College is one of four Washington community colleges participating in a program designed help low-income students finish their degrees.
Skills center opens for school year
Three sessions each school day at Columbia Basin Skills Center
MOSES LAKE - The global health students at the newly-opened Columbia Basin Skills Center were trying to induce a chemical reaction to produce ionized (and super-heated) gases.
Dispute scrambles school improvement process
Some students will be eligible fo no-cost tutoring
MOSES LAKE - A dispute on education policy between the federal and state governments will mean every school district in the state will be offering additional education services to some students.
Potholes drowning victim identified as Tiffany Cohee
MOSES LAKE - A woman who drowned at Potholes Reservoir last week was identified as Tiffany Cohee, 30, of Moses Lake.
Food drive to be part of Dave Matthews concert
Band also will sponsor fundraiser during three-day concert
GEORGE - The Dave Matthews Band will partner with a local farmer and area food banks to conduct a fundraising and canned food drive while the band is performing at the Gorge Amphitheatre on Aug. 30.
Food drive to be part of Dave Matthews concert
Band also will sponsor fundraiser during three-day concert
GEORGE - The Dave Matthews Band will partner with a local farmer and area food banks to conduct a fundraising and canned food drive while the band is performing at the Gorge Amphitheatre on Aug. 30.
Boys and Girls Club construction continues
Club will be open at Third Avenue location when school starts
MOSES LAKE -
New 'water trail' at Priest Rapids pool by 2016
New canoe and kayak launches with trails to and from parking lots
BEVERLY - The Grant County PUD will build new riverbank launch spots for canoes and kayaks along the shoreline of the Priest Rapids Recreation Area.
Job Corps celebrates 50 years
Signing of law commemorated with success stories, cake
MOSES LAKE - David Gillett said it wasn't easy, but he got help and he made it. The place he turned to for help was the Columbia Basin Job Corps.
Victim in Soap Lake fire identified
SOAP LAKE - A man who died in a Sunday morning fire was identified as David C. Dally, 58.
Identity of Potholes drowning victim released
Tiffany Cohee fell off inner tube into fast-moving water
MOSES LAKE - A woman who drowned at Potholes Reservoir Sunday afternoon was identified as Tiffany Cohee, 30, of Moses Lake.
Unidentified woman, 30, drowns at Potholes
Name withheld pending completion of autopsy
EPHRATA - A 30-year-old woman was an apparent drowning victim after she fell off an inner tube at the Potholes Reservoir Sunday afternoon.
Man dies in early morning Soap Lake fire
Six-apartment complex damaged, residents forced to relocate
SOAP LAKE - An early-morning fire in Soap Lake killed one man and severely damaged an entire six-unit apartment complex Sunday.
Local school districts pass 2014-15 budgets
Ephrata officials buying portable classrooms to accommodate overflow
EPHRATA - With the school year less than a month away, Columbia Basin school districts are adopting 2014-15 budgets.
Fund raising through the fair food court
Fair food raises money for scholarships, activities, good works
MOSES LAKE - People visit the Grant County Fair to watch (and root for) exhibitors in the show ring, to look at the exhibits, ride the carnival rides, go to the demolition derby or the rodeo.
Sid Sackman is 2014 Hay King
Best dairy alfalfa entry at Grant County Fair
MOSES LAKE - Sid Sackman, of Moses Lake, submitted the most nutritious bale of alfalfa and was crowned Hay King for the 2014 Grant County Fair.
Rate cost workshop last week of August
Commissioners will get results of 'cost of service' study Aug. 26
EPHRATA - The results of a "cost of service" study will be presented to the Grant County PUD commissioners at their regular meeting Aug. 26, and then to PUD customers on a date still to be determined.
Big Bend summer enrollment down
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College officials will be working to recruit students for the fall 2014 quarter. Summer quarter registration was below the target, and so far fall registration is lagging behind the target as well, according to BBCC officials.
Workshop on PUD rate structure later this month
EPHRATA - Grant County PUD operators will sponsor a workshop to explain a rate structure that will set all PUD rates at least through 2023. Tentatively it's scheduled for the last week in August, with the date to be announced, PUD spokesperson Chuck Allen said.
Car show for community, foster families
MOSES LAKE - Gleaming 1950s sedans, big 1960s and 1970s muscle cars, Model Ts and a few low-riders filled Civic Center Parks as part of the "Cars for Kids" car show.
Fiesta Amistad draws big crowd
OTHELLO - Take a gorgeous summer evening, add live music, and the result is a lot of people in Lions Park for the return of American Fiesta Amistad Aug. 8 and 9.
Fiesta Amistad draws big crowd
Two nights of live music in Othello
OTHELLO - Take a gorgeous summer evening, add live music, and the result is a lot of people in Lions Park for the return of American Fiesta Amistad Aug. 8 and 9.
Celebratory crowd at Columbia Basin Skills Center grand opening
MOSES LAKE - Students stood at the door to greet people attending the grand opening of the new Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, they led tours of the facility, answered questions and kept working on their projects.
Workshop on PUD rate structure later this month
EPHRATA - Grant County PUD operators will sponsor a workshop to explain a rate structure that will set all PUD rates at least through 2023. Tentatively it's scheduled for the last week in August, with the date to be announced, PUD spokesperson Chuck Allen said.
Moses Lake board discusses possible levy, bond Aug. 7
Could be sent to voters at different times
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake School Board has scheduled a work session to discuss the options for a maintenance and operations levy, as well as possible options for a construction bond. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 7 in the conference room at the district's transportation office, 940 East Yonezawa Blvd.
River passage addressed with fish water slide
BEVERLY - Various subspecies of salmon and the seagoing trout called steelhead are at the mouth of Columbia River. They're making their way to the spawning grounds in inland streams.
Wilson Creek city hall damaged by windstorm
Winds clocked at 41 miles per hour in Soap Lake
WILSON CREEK - A fast-moving thunderstorm packing high winds blew through town Wednesday night, toppling trees and damaging buildings.
Workshop set to explain PUD rate structure
Commissioners review preliminary capital budget
EPHRATA - Grant County PUD officials will sponsor a workshop for customers to explain a new study that will help determine electrical rates in the future. The workshop tentatively is scheduled for the week of Aug. 11.
Lots of opportunities for wildfire donations
Bottled water, camping equipment, generators among needed items
MOSES LAKE - Joni Parks said nobody really expected the fire to burn into the town of Pateros. At least nobody in the little group watching from Watson Draw Road the night of July 17.
Masquers auditions July 26-27, Aug. 2-3
'The Pajama Game' is winter musical
SOAP LAKE - Auditions for the Masquers Theater production of "The Pajama Game" are scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. July 26 and 27 and Aug. 2 and 3. Auditions will be at the theater, 322 East Main St.
Moses Lake family organizes donation run for fire victims
MOSES LAKE - Cole Brumet and his family were planning to go camping last weekend. Then Cole saw the pictures of the damage caused by the fires that roared through Okanogan County Wednesday and Thursday.
River passage addressed with fish water slide
BEVERLY - Fish, various subspecies of salmon, and the seagoing trout called steelhead are at the mouth of Columbia River. They're making their way to the spawning grounds upstream. The question is, how to get them there.
Celebratory crowd at skills center grand opening
MOSES LAKE - Students stood at the door to greet people attending the grand opening of the new Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, led tours of the facility, answered questions, kept on working on their projects. And the point about the new building, district superintendent Michele Price said, is that it's for the students.
Preparing for the future: new Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center readies students for careers
Work ethic, perseverance part of the curriculum
MOSES LAKE - Summer session students at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center have been learning about computer programming, welding, engineering, among others, even building a business. Daisy Ramirez, who's attending the summer session, said the kids have been learning more than just skills.
George celebrates 4th with cherry pie
GEORGE - Cherry pie on the 4th of July will be among the headliners at the annual celebration in George, along with a parade, children's games, a car show, ringing the freedom bell and fireworks.
Artifacts of 9/11 pass through Moses Lake
Will be used in Mercer Island Fire Department project
MOSES LAKE - When it was serving its intended purpose, the steel-reinforced pillar was a utilitarian object, one of many supports in an urban parking garage. Nothing special. It gained an entirely new meaning on Sept. 11, 2001.
'Charley's Aunt' premieres Friday
Classic farce begins three-weekend run
SOAP LAKE - Undeclared love, despicable guardians, aunts incognito, marrying for money, a pratfall here and there - not to mention a little cross-dressing - will fill the stage with the Masquers production of "Charley's Aunt," opening Friday.