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
With break over, kids back in school
Back to the routine for parents, students, teachers
MOSES LAKE - The busses ran, the school bells rang, the playgrounds filled up, the kids ate breakfast and talked about their adventures during Christmas vacation. And before the bell rang, Park Orchard Elementary School second-grade teacher Brady Wiltbank passed a student in the hall, with a gap in her smile.
4-H 'Super Saturday' this weekend
Demonstration of 4-H activities, information on 4-H program
MOSES LAKE - Youths in 4-H, and kids interested in learning about 4-H programs, are being invited to Super Saturday, scheduled for Jan. 11 at Frontier Middle School. There will be information for adult volunteers and people interested in volunteering as well.
Ice skating, exercise on Parks and Recreation schedule
Classes for all ages, indoors and outdoors
MOSES LAKE - Ice skating, fitness classes, basketball and soccer for toddlers, hockey for adults and tai chi for beginners are among the classes offered by Moses Lake Parks and Recreation, beginning next week.
Agenbroad named permanent Othello hospital CEO
Bad debt, charity care expenses impact November bottom line
OTHELLO - Connie Agenbroad was hired as the permanent chief executive officer at Othello Community Hospital.
ML Women's Club celebrates 100th anniversary
Founded in 1914 to help others, improve community
MOSES LAKE - One of the first purchases of the brand-new Neppel Women's Club, back in 1914, was a little memo book with red covers. In that book the club's founding mothers wrote their bylaws, and their names. New members have written their names in that book ever since, going on 100 years now.
Land for new building donated to ML food bank
Will be relocated to intersection at Grape Drive, Hwy. 17
MOSES LAKE - Community Services of Moses Lake will have a new and much larger location in a few years, with the help of the donation of about six acres of land on Grape Drive. The land was donated by Moses Lake resident Chris Hanson, and was part of a charitable trust established by her father, the late C.A. (Marc) Marchand.
$7.7 million transportation center opens in September
Room to fix up to eight buses
MOSES LAKE - Buses moved to Moses Lake School District's new transportation center in early September.
Overcrowding decisions still work in progress
CBSS conversion, new high school schedule still under discussion
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake School Board voted 5-0 to convert Columbia Basin Secondary School to a neighborhood middle school Aug. 8, and to scrap the four-period day at Moses Lake High School for an altered schedule.
Boston bombing witness remembers 'eerie silence'
Jodi, Christian O'Shea near finish line when Boston Marathon bombs went off
BOSTON - Moses Lake's Jodi and Christian O'Shea said the silence was the most vivid memory, in the first few seconds after two bombs exploded during Monday's Boston Marathon.
Registration open for business class about hard cider
Will highlight regulations, production costs, varieties
MOSES LAKE - Registration is open for a daylong workshop for people interested in learning about the Washington hard cider industry. The workshop is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18 in the ATEC building at Big Bend Community College.
About 300,000 make original ACA deadline
OLYMPIA - The original deadline to ensure health insurance coverage on Jan. 1 under the Affordable Care Act prompted a spike in visits to Washington Health Plan Finder, according to program officials.
BBCC dorms benefit from increased security
Dorms almost full during fall quarter 2013
MOSES LAKE - Increased security, including more security patrols, improved lighting and additional cameras, may have had an impact on near-record levels of occupancy in Big Bend Community College dorms, according to a press release from the college.
New Year party for teens at Larson Rec Center
Ice skating, pizza, games, music among activities
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Parks and Recreation department will host a New Year's Eve party for teens, from sixth graders through high school seniors, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday at Larson Recreation Center, 610 South Yakima St.
New middle school will have STEM focus
District's online program has about 200 students
MOSES LAKE - The committee working on a schedule for the new middle school recommended that elective classes focus on science and technology.
Volunteers make Christmas brighter for foster care kids
Donations fill Christmas stockings
EPHRATA - About 140 foster children in Grant County got their own Christmas stocking, with the help of a lot of volunteers, from a class at Big Bend Community College to the crew at the Grant County Courthouse.
Ephrata HS fundraiser finishes with llama kiss
Students raise more than $4,400 to buy and donate gifts for other teens
EPHRATA - Frankie did not look like a guy who was guaranteed a kiss from a pretty girl. He hesitated. In fact he dug in his heels, and wouldn't move even when one of his entourage got behind him and pushed.
Most of Othello contributes to Christmas basket drive
Volunteers donate food, toys, money, time
OTHELLO - It started as an act of Christmas charity by a bunch of guys who knew some families that needed a hand. That was 1976, and in 1977 a few more people joined in, and over time, so did the guys at the Eagles, the Moose Lodge, the men and women in the fire department.
'Lion Pete' receives highest award
MOSES LAKE - William "Pete" Peterson received the highest honor a Lions Club member can earn, courtesy of an effort by the Moses Lake Leo Club, the Lions youth organization.
Telemedicine coming to Samaritan Healthcare
MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare will be adding some telemedicine services in 2014.
Registration open for BBCC communications class
MOSES LAKE - Students still can register for a Big Bend Community College series that teaches the basics of communication technology. The electronic communications class begins when winter quarter opens Jan. 6.
Santa comes to breakfast Saturday
MOSES LAKE - Santa will take time from his busy pre-Christmas schedule to have breakfast with kids from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church CCD Center, 200 North Dale Rd. Admission is free.
Royal City irrigation dealer wins award
Reinke Manufacturing recognizes Desert Rain Irrigation with top award
ROYAL CITY - Desert Rain Irrigation was recognized for a successful marketing year by its manufacturing company at its annual convention in October.
Christmas toy drives still collecting donations
Most local distributions next weekend
MOSES LAKE - Christmas being a season of charity, individuals and organizations throughout the Columbia Basin are collecting donations to help their less-fortunate neighbors.
Midway Elementary sponsors family reading night
MOSES LAKE - Midway Elementary students and their parents could solve mysteries, meet Clifford the Big Red Dog, and listen to Christmas stories at the Family Literacy Night.
Unchained Brotherhood toy drive Saturday
MOSES LAKE - Members of the Unchained Brotherhood will be collecting donations of money and toys for the club's toy drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot at Penhallurick's True Value Hardware, 711C N. Stratford Rd.
Moses Lake School Board discusses CBSS conversion
Columbia Basin Secondary School students might have own space
MOSES LAKE - High school students from Columbia Basin Secondary School probably won't go to Moses Lake High School. Keeping CBSS students in a separate space was one of the recommendations from a committee asked to design a program for those students, whose school will be converted into a middle school in 2014.
Skaug, Bailey, Foster leading in MLIRD races
MOSES LAKE — Challenger David Skaug is leading incumbent Ron Covey in the race for a seat on the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District board in unofficial election results updated Wednesday morning. Skaug has 1,034 votes to 486 for Covey.
Committee reports on 2014-15 MLHS schedule
Tentative proposal would include seven periods, sliding start times
MOSES LAKE - The 2014-15 class schedule at Moses Lake High School could feature seven 50-minute classes, with students attending class on a sliding schedule starting at different times of the morning. That's the tentative proposal from a committee of high school administrators and teachers asked to come up with a schedule that addressed overcrowding.
Cold, windy weather doesn't stop Ag Parade
Decorated farm equipment, floats roll down Third Avenue
MOSES LAKE - Master of Ceremonies Dale Roth gave a shout out to the crowd that braved cold temperatures and brisk winds for the annual Ag Appreciation Parade Saturday.
Senior project raises money for charity
MLHS senior sponsors pool tournament for Pets for Vets
MOSES LAKE - Pool sharks gathered to shoot a couple games in a good cause Saturday at the Broadway Bar and Grill. The tournament was organized by Moses Lake High School senior Courtney Burkett, to raise money for Pets for Vets.
MLIRD candidates detail their election platforms
Four candidates running for two seats
MOSES LAKE - Four candidates are vying for two new positions on the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District board in the annual election scheduled Tuesday.
BBCC bazaar offers variety of handcrafts
Proceeds benefit college nursing program
MOSES LAKE - Browsers had their choice of handmade jewelry and crocheted hats, homemade candy and direct-sale products, among much else, at the craft bazaar at Big Bend Community College Saturday. The bazaar was sponsored by students in the college's School of Nursing.
Classic car club donates to BBCC auto repair class
Donation gives students tools to keep
MOSES LAKE - All second-year students in the Big Bend Community College automotive classes will have their own performance tool kits, thanks to Moses Lake Classic Car Club members.
Painting classes at museum this month
Clay ornament class Saturday
MOSES LAKE - Classes in clay and painting will be offered at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center during December.
MLIRD election Tuesday
Polls open from 1 to 8 p.m.
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District patrons will cast ballots Tuesday for three seats on the board of directors.
Ron Covey, David Skaug vie for MLIRD seat
Winner will serve three-year term on board
MOSES LAKE - Incumbent Ron Covey is being challenged by Moses Lake businessman David Skaug for a seat on the Moses Lake Irrigation and Reclamation board in the annual election Tuesday. The winner will serve a three-year term.
Organ donor's gifts help about 30 people
Samantha Wibberding gave new lease on life to others
MOSES LAKE - Samantha Wibberding was 19, and she was working on nursing program prerequisites at Big Bend Community College. She played hockey, for a while the only girl on the team, and she worked at a local supermarket.
Ag Appreciation Parade Friday
'Street party' features marshmallow roast, caroling
MOSES LAKE - Tractors, stackers, combines and trucks studded with Christmas lights will hit Third Street Friday night, in honor of the season and the agriculture industry. The Ag Appreciation Parade begins at 7 p.m. It's sponsored by the Moses Lake Business Association.
Ritzville board sets M&O levy request
Lind School Board to decide on levy, possible capital improvement bond
RITZVILLE - Ritzville School District patrons will be asked to approve or reject a two-year maintenance and operations levy in voting Feb. 11. If the levy is approved, the district would receive $983,000 per year.
Royal irrigation dealer wins award
Reinke Manufacturing recognizes Desert Rain Irrigation
ROYAL CITY - Desert Rain Irrigation was recognized for a successful marketing year by its manufacturing company at its annual convention in October.
Workshop for BBCC CDL class Thursday
Class will cover course offerings, financial aid
MOSES LAKE - People interested in training for a commercial driver's license at Big Bend Community College are being invited to a workshop at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the Masto Conference Center at the college's ATEC Building, 2600 Bolling St. NE.
Basketball league registration deadline Thursday
Wrestling, girls basketball among other activities offered
MOSES LAKE - Wrestling, basketball and soccer for kids and yoga and basketball for adults are among the activities sponsored through Moses Lake Parks and Recreation beginning this week.
PUD rates increase 2.5 percent for many customers
Residential customers, small businesses, some large businesses will see increase
EPHRATA - Grant County PUD residential customers will see a 2.5 percent rate increase on their electrical bills in 2014. Small businesses, and some large businesses, also will see their rates go up by 2.5 percent in 2014. The PUD's commissioners approved a 2014 rate schedule during a recent board meeting.
Salvation Army seeking Christmas time volunteers
Bell ringers, gift givers, package wrappers needed
MOSES LAKE - Christmas season is, among many other things, a season of charity, and the Salvation Army is looking for people to help with its charitable efforts during December.
Food drive nets more than $9K, over 200 turkeys
Samaritan Healthcare food drive also brings in more than 500 bags of canned food
MOSES LAKE - Residents donated more than $9,000 and more than 200 turkeys to the Moses Lake Food Bank through Samaritan Healthcare's Canned Food and Turkey Drive.
CBSS team takes robot competition
Top two places to CBSS in Wenatchee competition
MOSES LAKE - Robotics teams from Columbia Basin Secondary School took first and second place in competition in Wenatchee recently.
Patient, community perception of hospital discussed
Samaritan revenues, expenses above budget projections
MOSES LAKE - How to find out what people think of Samaritan Healthcare, why they think it and changing negative opinions of the hospital was the topic of conversation at the hospital board's last meeting.
Chief Moses sixth graders STEM contest state finalist
State winner will be announced in December
MOSES LAKE - Sixth graders in Kelly Frederick's class at Chief Moses Middle School took up a challenge laid down by the Samsung corporation - identify a problem in their community, then figure out how science and technology can help fix it. Their solution so impressed the judges that they will compete for the state prize in Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow contest.
October health exchange enrollment released
About 500 people in Grant County, 170 in Adams County sign up through health exchange
OLYMPIA - Just over 500 Grant County residents signed up for health insurance through the state of Washington in October, according to data released by Washington Health Plan Finder on Nov. 15.
'Nutcracker' takes to local stage Dec. 13-14
Today's Generation Dance studio stages Christmas classic
MOSES LAKE - Today's Generation Dance studio will present the classic story of a little girl named Clara and her Christmas evening dreams in the "Nutcracker" at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 in the Moses Lake High School theater. A matinee performance is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Dec. 14.