Police: Middletown church vandalized causing thousands of dollars in damage
Berachah Church in Middletown was broken into and vandalized overnight, according to Middletown police.
Pastor Lamar Ferrell said three to four juveniles smashed out a window and broke into the church. Once inside, they broke LED lights and spray painted vulgar images on the walls and floors, Ferrell said.
“Sad,” Ferrell said. “Why would anyone want to do that in Berachah, a place of blessing? It’s not our house, it’s God’s house.”
What they’re saying: Middletown residents react to proposed $1.3 billion Hollywoodland development
Twenty-two Middletown residents spoke during Thursday night’s special City Council meeting and a large majority said they’re against the proposed $1.3 billion Hollywoodland, an entertainment and destination project planned near the Great Miami River and historic downtown.
This was the third meeting where citizens addressed Hollywoodland.
Here are some of their comments:
Bond set for Middletown woman accused of shooting and killing her sister
A Middletown woman was arraigned this morning for murder after allegedly fatally shooting her sister at their Lafayette Avenue home.
Monica Ann Pennington, 48, of 1607 Lafayette Ave., was booked into the Middletown City Jail on Wednesday just a few hours after her sister, Pamela Pennington, 52, was shot dead.
Middletown Municipal Court Judge James Sherron set bond at $100,000 cash, property or surety. She is scheduled to be back in court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 29.
Butler County high school girl wins international gold medal in karate
In recent years the karate skills of a Badin High School student have seen her compete around America but junior Kendyl Roberts recently upped her game by bringing home a world championship title from her first international event.
The 17-year-old won top honors earlier this month in the World Karate Championships in Romania with a gold medal in Sai, which is a short sword weapons form of karate, according to Badin school officials.
“It was one of the best times of my life,” said Roberts, whose family lives in Butler County’s Liberty Twp.
Death sentence overturned for inmate who killed elderly Hamilton man in 2003
Donald J. Ketterer, who was sentenced to death for killing an elderly Hamilton man in 2003 is no longer on death row due to a new law prohibiting the execution of people who had severe mental illness at the time of their crime.
In January, Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill into law covering killers diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder or delusional disorder when they committed their crimes.
Last month, a Visiting Butler County Common Pleas Judge James Brogan granted Ketterer’s July 2021 motion for post-conviction relief regarding his sentence, citing the the new law, and resentenced Ketterer to life in prison with no possibility for parole for killing 85-year-old Lawrence Sanders.
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Longtime Warren County high school Spanish teacher dies of COVID-19
Kings Local School District in Warren County is mourning the sudden loss of a longtime teacher.
Jorge Gonzalez died Monday at age 56. He was the Spanish teacher at Kings High School.
Dawn Gould, the school district’s community relations coordinator, said Gonzalez contracted COVID-19. Gonzalez was vaccinated, according to Gould.