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
GC Fair attendance up 58 percent
Fair visits top 60,000 in 2013; food booth revenue up
MOSES LAKE - Attendance apparently was up by 58 percent, or 25,144 people, and revenue was also increased at the 2013 Grant County Fair. Planning already is underway for 2014, and may include moving some longtime nonprofit food vendors to new locations.
Students urged to finish GED test by December
Students who don't finish will start over, pay fee again
MOSES LAKE - With a new GED test coming in January, students who are taking the test must be done by Dec. 31, or they will have to start over and pay the fee a second time, according to Big Bend Community College officials.
Crews moving to new school transportation center
Move could begin as early as this weekend, but date still undetermined
MOSES LAKE - Buses could be moving to the Moses Lake School District's new transportation center as early as this weekend. District Transportation Director John Eschenbacher said that's not a guarantee, but either way, parents shouldn't notice any difference.
Volunteers swim to raise money for research
First local Swim Across America attracts a number of swimmers, volunteers
MOSES LAKE - Swimmers took to Moses Lake to raise money to fight cancer in the first local Swim Across America fundraiser Saturday.
Back 2 School fills Larson gym
Haircuts, school clothes for kids in need
MOSES LAKE - Haircuts, school clothes, books, live music, games, a bouncy house and hamburgers were among the attractions at the Back 2 School event sponsored by Serve Moses Lake Saturday.
School bells start ringing Tuesday
Classes begin for most schools Wednesday
WILSON CREEK - Technically, summer doesn't end until Sept. 22, but every child knows summer ends when school opens. By that definition, summer ends for most Columbia Basin kids Wednesday or Thursday.
Ken Murray is new Ephrata Middle School principal
Ephrata grad, teacher comes back as EMS principal
EPHRATA - There wasn't any hesitation when Ken Murray heard they were looking for a new principal at Ephrata Middle School.
Serve Moses Lake 'Back-2-School' Saturday
School clothes, school supplies, available during charitable event
MOSES LAKE - Volunteers and donations are still being sought for the second annual "Back-2-School" outreach Saturday, sponsored by Serve Moses Lake.
Motorcycle fundraiser for Quincy hospital
"Crusin' 4 Care" to raise money for new ultrasound equipment at QVMC
QUINCY - Registration is open for the first "Crusin' 4 Care" fundraising motorcycle ride, scheduled for Sept. 14. Riders will be raising money for a new ulstrasound machine and upgrades to the radiology department at Quincy Valley Medical Center.
West Nile virus found in Grant County
Infected mosquito found southwest of Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — Grant County residents are being advised to take precautions when outside in mosquito-infected areas. Tests have found mosquitoes with West Nile virus in an area about seven miles southwest of Moses Lake.
Officials refine Gorge concert response
EPHRATA - Emergency response to concerts at the Gorge amphitheater, treating patients from the concerts and how to deal with the impact was the topic of a meeting between operators of the facility, Grant County commissioners, and commissioners and staff from Quincy Valley Hospital and Grant County Fire District No. 3 Tuesday.
Program, staff cuts at Job Corps
Moses Lake site will continue to offer 10 training programs
MOSES LAKE - The welding program and some staff positions are being eliminated at Columbia Basin Job Corps, with staff cuts starting this month.
Commissioners to meet with Gorge operators
EPHRATA - Grant County commissioners will meet Tuesday with representatives of Live Nation, owners of the Gorge Amphitheater in George. The meting was prompted by a letter from the commissioners of Grant County Fire District No. 3, expressing concern about some operations at the site. That included a concert that required response from all the ambulances in Quincy, as well as about a dozen fire personnel, the morning of June 30.
Summer's work pays off, in cash, at stock sale
Bidding lively for 4-H, FFA, open competitors' fair animals
MOSES LAKE - All summer long kids throughout Grant County are feeding and watering a fair animal, training and spending time with it. All that work is designed to prepare the animal and exhibitor for the week of the Grant County Fair.
Exhibitors find ways to pass time at the fair
Hanging out popular pastime in down time
MOSES LAKE - The families of the exhibitors at the Grant County Fair start rolling in the Sunday before the fair opens, and those who come from out of town may stay the entire week. One whole week. A whole lot of hours.
Sold! Stock sale is Friday
The summer's work pays off, literally
MOSES LAKE - The annual livestock sale for exhibitors at the Grant County Fair will be at 9 a.m. Friday at the Ardell Pavilion at the fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr.
BBCC computer science program expands
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College will expand its computer science program this fall, adding a software and web development option. Registration for all classes is open now, with fall quarter beginning Sept. 23.
New fair food offerings
MOSES LAKE - Maybe some things shouldn't be tampered with, at least not much. Fair food might be one of those things.
Hearing set to try ML boy as adult
EPHRATA - Both prosecution and defense asked for another delay for a hearing to determine whether or not a 14-year-old Moses Lake boy will be tried as an adult in the shooting of his parents.
Cowboy breakfast draws about 300
Traditional fair, rodeo kickoff fills Sinkiuse Square
MOSES LAKE - Calf roping is tough.
Grant Co. Fair is here
Exhibits, 4-H, FFA and open class competition, fair food, all on tap
MOSES LAKE - A summer's worth of effort will be on display this week at the Grant County Fair, Aug. 13 through 17.
Joint effort results in big defibrillator donation
Rotary, Kiwanis clubs donate defibrillators to MLSD
MOSES LAKE - Two community groups worked together and raised enough money to provide a portable defibrillator to every school in the Moses Lake School District. Moses Lake High School and the transportation program will receive multiple units.
Board votes to convert CBSS, change high school schedule
Decision comes on 5-0 vote
Field almost full for NIE golf tourney
First time at Moses Pointe golf resort
MOSES LAKE - Entries close at 5 p.m. Friday for the Newspapers in Education golf tournament, scheduled for Saturday on the Links at Moses Pointe. Organizer Tom Hinde said room remains for a couple of four-person teams and a few individual players.
Cowboy Breakfast in Sinkiuse Square
Annual kickoff for Grant County Fair, Moses Lake Roundup
MOSES LAKE - Flapjacks and tradition will be on the menu at the annual Cowboy Breakfast, the longtime kickoff for the Moses Lake Roundup and the Grant County Fair, Friday morning from 7 to 10 a.m. in Sinkiuse Square.
Grant Co. Fair is here
Exhibits, 4-H, FFA and open class competition, fair food, all on tap
MOSES LAKE - A summer's worth of effort will be on display next week at the Grant County Fair, Aug. 13 through 17.
Samaritan staff increases with spike in business
Hospital profit, expenses more than 2012
MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare is expanding its staff by four positions in response to increasing demand.
Practice matters when getting ready for fair
Kelsey Kane works to make impression in the show ring
WILSON CREEK - On the surface it's something of a conundrum. How does a 10-year-old, or for that matter a teenager, control a 1,500-pound steer in the show ring at the Grant County Fair?
Bad debt, charity care impact Othello hospital
OTHELLO - Bad debt and charity care costs meant Othello Community Hospital ended the month of June with an operating loss.
Boys and Girls Club marathon Saturday
MOSES LAKE - Runners will take to the roads south of town Saturday for relatively short, long or really long runs to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin. Participants have their choice of a marathon - the full 26 miles, 385 yards - the half-marathon of 13-plus miles, or a 10-kilometer or five-kilometer run, Brant Mayo, Boys and Girls Club executive director, said. The marathon starts at 7 a.m., the half-marathon at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K and 10K runs at 8 a.m.
New Hope seeks volunteers, funds
Loss of grants prompts New Hope to ask for donations also
MOSES LAKE - The New Hope agency, which helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, is looking for help from the community to continue some programs that have lost funding.
Fire chars 550 acres west of Soap Lake Saturday
Homes and outbuildings threatened, but no structures damaged
SOAP LAKE - A fast moving brush fire scorched more than 550 acres and threatened but didn't burn structures near Adrian Road about five miles west of Soap Lake Saturday afternoon. A stretch of state Route 28 west of Soap Lake was closed for about 90 minutes while crews worked along the fire lines.
Bluegrass festival about friends, music
Music not only on the stage at Five Suns Bluegrass
MOSES LAKE - One of the most fun things about bluegrass music, according to those who attended the Five Suns Bluegrass Festival over the weekend, is its adaptability.
Lind egg processor settles lawsuit
National Food Corporation pays $650,000 to five former employees
LIND - A Lind business agreed recently to pay $650,000 to five workers to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against female workers and poor working conditions. The workers also alleged the company retaliated against them.
Tentative decisions reached on school overcrowding issue
CBSS to be converted to middle school; district may submit new construction bond proposal
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake School Board tentatively decided to convert Columbia Basin Secondary School into a middle school and move high school students at CBSS to Moses Lake High School. The high school would go to a six-period day and the schedule will be expanded classes before and after the normal school day, as well as night courses.
Former Columbia Basin Herald joins husband in local business
MOSES LAKE — Former bookkeper of Columbia Basin Herald has started working for Bishop Spray Services, where her husband, Pat Zickler, is part owner.
MAC offers classes in August, September
MOSES LAKE - Abstract art, clay animals and the ecology of Moses Lake will be among the subjects covered in classes at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center, 401 South Balsam St., during August and September.
2nd Harvest food distributed to Moses Lake families in need
Organization wants to expand distribution in Grant County
MOSES LAKE - Volunteers handed out more than 8,000 pounds of food to needy families Wednesday morning, part of the Second Harvest program's regular visits to town.
Online program could save failing Moses Lake students
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake School District officials will sponsor an open house next month to promote the district's online learning program. The date will be announced.
Auditor addresses ballot confusion
Othello city races, levy and bond requests on primary ballots
RITZVILLE - Voters in the Othello city limits will receive a primary ballot, but people living in the rural area around Othello won't; there are no races or levy or bond requests in that area, according to elections officials at the Adams County Auditor's Office.
Found property up for auction starting Friday
Lost items sold in online auction
MOSES LAKE - So a bicycle turns up that doesn't belong to anyone in the neighborhood, and it gets turned in to the Moses Lake Police Department. Or maybe an iPhone turns up on a bench in McCosh Park, and gets taken to the PD.
Moses Lake Relay for Life Friday, Saturday
MOSES LAKE - Participants in Moses Lake's Relay for Life will walk all night to raise money for cancer research Friday and Saturday.
No increase in BBCC tuition for '13-'14
MOSES LAKE - Tuition at Big Bend Community College will remain unchanged for the 2013-14 academic year.
School district administrators receive raises in Moses Lake
Negotiations underway with teachers, aides
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake School District Superintendent Michelle Price will receive a 19 percent raise for the 2013-14 school year, bringing her annual salary to $162,000.
Entries sought for Smokiam photography show
SOAP LAKE - The Art Guild of the Soap Lake Area is requesting public entries for the Smokiam Photography Show, which has been moved to Aug. 3, 4, 10 and 11. Entries must be submitted on July 27 and 28 at the show venue, Las Brisas Arts and Conference Center, at the intersection of Second SE and Daisy streets, Soap Lake.
Traditions, activities make it summer
MOSES LAKE - So. What makes summer?
Bad timing for rain during hay harvest
Rain damage serious, according to hay exporters
MOSES LAKE - It looked like 2013 would bring a pretty good hay harvest, not the best ever, but pretty good. Then it started raining.
David LaBounty is new Warden superintendent
Experiences have made him better administrator, "no doubt"
WARDEN - David LaBounty was a professional baseball player, then a director of a youth organization in southern California, then a teacher with certifications in PE and health, special education and history, then an administrator. He said all his experiences are preparation for his new job as superintendent of the Warden School District.
July 4 celebrated in Othello
OTHELLO — The nation’s birthday will be celebrated with a parade, community fireworks, a demolition derby, a community breakfast, three on three basketball and a whole schedule of games for kids in the park. Othello’s July 4 celebration begins at about 8 a.m. and winds up with fireworks in the at dusk.
School crowding decision late July
MOSES LAKE - A decision on fixing secondary-level overcrowding in the Moses Lake School District probably won't come until after July 21, when the school board holds a retreat.