Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

St. Marys shooting case moves forward

By Sydney Albert
WAPAKONETA - A Columbus-area woman charged in connection with a 2018 fatal shooting in St. Marys is tentatively set to go to trial April 27-May 1 in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court.
Syniqua Bell, 31, appeared in court on Tuesday with her defense attorney Isabella Dixon for a short pretrial hearing. Dixon said a trial date in April would likely give her enough time to prepare to defend Bell and would not conflict with her other cases.
Both Dixon and Auglaize County Assistant Prosecutor Josh Muhlenkamp estimated the trial would take about five days.
According to the common pleas court website, Bell has been scheduled for a final pretrial hearing at 11 a.m. Jan. 24 with her jury trial set for April 27-May 1.
In September, Bell pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and murder, both unspecified felonies; attempted aggravated murder and two counts of attempted murder, all first-degree felonies; two counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and third-degree felony obstructing justice.
Bell was one of three suspects arrested and charged in connection with the April 2018 shooting at a condominium at 10988 State Route 364, St. Marys. At about 3:22 a.m. April 11, 2018, a male called 911 stating he had been shot, according to the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office. Deputies found two victims later identified as Dexter Lee Turner, 47, and Alim Amir Turner, 25, with gunshot wounds. The father and son were transported to hospitals by the St. Marys Rescue Squad.
Alim Amir Turner was transferred to Lima Memorial Health System while Dexter Lee Turner was taken to St. Rita's Medical Center, where he later died of his injuries.
Also arrested were Jacar Bitting, 27, and Keith T. Waddell Jr., 31, both also from the Columbus area. Bitting also had been scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on Tuesday, but that hearing was continued. Waddell is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing at 11 a.m. Nov. 26.
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Schools in Auglaize and Mercer counties were closed on Tuesday due to the same icy road conditions that resulted in multiple slide-off accidents on Monday evening. [More]
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ROCKFORD - Voters likely will consider a Parkway Local Schools' income tax levy renewal issue on the March ballot.
School board members on Tuesday approved a resolution declaring it necessary to renew a five-year, 1% income tax that generates about $1.175 million annually.
MENDON - The village's five employees will receive 3% pay raises for 2020
Council members approved the increases on Tuesday during their regular meeting. Raises will go into effect on Jan. 1.
MINSTER - Minster Local Schools's district treasurer Laura Klosterman's five-year forecast presented Monday night predicted the district could enter deficit spending in 2023.
WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County board of health members have decided that charitable organizations will no longer receive a discount on two license fees
ST. HENRY - School board members at Monday's meeting heard the district's five-year forecast, which predicts deficit spending by fiscal year 2021.
MARIA STEIN - Marion Local's five-year financial forecast shows possible deficits in fiscal years 2021, 2023 and 2024.
District treasurer Heather Cramer on Tuesday told school board members she also predicts a surplus in 2020 and 2022.
ST. MARYS - Abby Balster has resigned as St. Marys Chamber of Commerce director after serving four years in the position.
Balster left the chamber Nov. 5 and said she looks forward to spending more time with her family
"I want to watch my daughters grow into beautiful young ladies," she added.
AKRON (AP) - Shaq Vann rushed for 142 yards and four touchdowns and Eastern Michigan beat winless Akron 42-14 on Tuesday night.
Vann became the fir
2019 Division IV Volleyball State Champions
ROSTER:
#  Player  Pos.  Ht.  Gr.
0  Diana Heitkamp  L  5-7  11
1  Katie Howell  S  5-3  11
2  Gabi Heckman  S/RS  5-7  10
3  Megan Reinhart  OH/MH/RS  5-8  9
4  As