Staff Writer
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.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
BBCC student information not hacked during computer shutdown
MOSES LAKE — Personal information of Big Bend Community College students was not compromised as the result of a cyberattack against a company that provides system management software. Matt Killebrew, BBCC director of communications, said the college does use the Canvas system, which allows students to access class and financial …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 19 HOURS AGO
No injuries reported in aircraft emergency landing
WILSON CREEK — No injuries were reported in the emergency landing of an aircraft along Road P.5 Northeast about 11 miles south of Wilson Creek Friday morning.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 21 HOURS AGO
Road closure starts Monday near Othello
OTHELLO — Drivers should prepare for delays on State Route 17 at the intersection with West Cunningham Road in Othello as construction of a new roundabout gets to the cutting-pavement and construction stage.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 3 DAYS, 13 HOURS AGO
Quincy man sentenced in controlled substance homicide
EPHRATA — A Quincy man was sentenced to two years in prison in connection after he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter Tuesday. Abraham Florez Velazquez pleaded guilty and was sentenced in connection with the December 2024 death of Ariel Armas Flores, 27, Quincy. “An autopsy concluded Armas died from an …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 13 HOURS AGO
Cause of Mattawa-area fire still under investigation
MATTAWA — The cause of a fire that destroyed a Mattawa-area wine production facility Tuesday is still being determined. “I’d say it’s still under investigation at this time,” said Derek Beach, deputy fire marshal for Grant County, Wednesday. Fire crews were briefly called back to Central Washington Wine Production Group …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 13 HOURS AGO
Scam victim hopes to keep others from falling victim
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake woman lost thousands of dollars to a scammer earlier this week, a story that Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, said was all too familiar. “The scammer’s career is based on the fact they’re very, very good at convincing …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 14 HOURS AGO
Maximum irrigation efficiency, like all farming, is a balancing act
OTHELLO — The eternal challenge of the farmer – or one of them, anyway – is water. Adequate irrigation water is what turned substantial sections of Central and Eastern Washington into some of the most productive farmland and orchard land in the country. Getting the most out of the available …
BASINBUSINESSJOURNAL | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 18 HOURS AGO
Othello SD classes dismissed early Friday to accommodate memorial service
OTHELLO — Classes at Othello High School and McFarland Middle School will be dismissed at 11 a.m. Friday to allow the OHS gym to be used during the afternoon for a community service for three students who were killed in a collision April 25.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 14 HOURS AGO
Othello man pleads not guilty to vehicular homicide charges
RITZVILLE — An Othello man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of vehicular homicide in connection with a collision that killed three 15-year-old girls last week. Presiliano Perez-Pineda, 19, entered a not guilty plea at an Adams County Superior Court Monday morning. He is being held on $1 million …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 19 HOURS AGO
Hermiston man sentenced in 2022 murder of Moses Lake woman
EPHRATA — A Hermiston, Oregon man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison following his guilty plea in the March 2022 murder of a Moses Lake woman.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO
Delays anticipated at Othello intersection as roundabout construction begins
OTHELLO — Construction begins Monday on a new roundabout near Othello, which will mean the start of flagger-controlled traffic at the intersection of State Route 17 and West Cunningham Road.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO
Retiring Samaritan CEO recognized at last board meeting
MOSES LAKE — The recognition of Samaritan Healthcare commissioners didn’t go as Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan thought it would. What Sullivan thought would be recognition of the commissioners also was recognition for her.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 3 DAYS AGO
Road Report: Road construction starting to ramp up
MOSES LAKE — It turns out that building a more pedestrian-friendly crosswalk involves digging. A lot of digging.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 3 DAYS AGO
Moses Lake council approves fiscal sustainability plan
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members approved a fiscal sustainability plan Tuesday, but City Manager Rob Karlinsey cautioned that the work is just beginning. “In short, as hard as this might have been to adopt the plan and get here, this is the easy part. Actually implementing it …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 4 DAYS AGO
