Region briefs 3/26/08

Cell phone service re-established in Chaffee

Cell phone service was re-established in Chaffee, Mo., over the weekend when AT&T brought in a temporary tower. The cellular tower in Chaffee was disabled last Wednesday when floodwater got into the tower's control room and damaged electrical equipment. By Friday, AT&T crews were in the city installing a temporary, mobile tower. The deployment of the mobile tower, known with AT&T as the Cells on Wheels program, usually takes about 30 days, said Marsha Haskell, regional spokeswoman with AT&T. But the 80-foot tower was brought in and service restored by 6 p.m. Saturday, Haskell said.

Kelly High School Drama Club to present play

The Kelly High School Drama Club will present "Nothing But the Truth" at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the gym. The play is a two-act mystery and comedy by Philip J. Anderson.

Proposed amendment targets past sex offenders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Senators endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment Tuesday that could undo a Missouri Supreme Court ruling and restore the names and addresses of more than 4,300 past sex offenders to a state registry. They also voted to require sex offenders to stay in their homes on Halloween. The Senate’s effort to increase the tracking and public notification of people convicted of decades-old sex offenses came just moments after a registered sex offender urged a House committee to use restraint in imposing new restrictions. Aside from registering their names, addresses and other information, sex offenders also are prohibited under Missouri law from living or loitering near schools and child care centers. An amendment added to a Senate bill Tuesday would require registered sex offenders to avoid all "Halloween-related contact with children" by remaining in their homes, with the external lights off, between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. They also would have to post a sign stating they had no candy or treats.

— From staff, wire reports