Stories from Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The State House of Representatives has proposed an 87.5 percent increase in signatures needed to amend the Missouri Constitution through initiative petition by the next general election. State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, has pre-filed a constitutional amendment -- House Joint Resolution 13 -- that would increase the number of signatures required to propose an initiative petition amending the Constitution from 8 percent to 15 percent of legal voters in six of the eight Congressional districts held in the previous general election.. ...

Smoked pork chops can now be ordered from the men's organization at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Aurora. The pork chops, from Cloud's Meats in Carthage, come vacuum packed, two per package, four packages for $20. Orders will be available Feb. 15. Orders accepted until Feb. 8 by calling 417-678-3714...

A State Senate bill filed by State Sen. David Sater aims to modify the requirements to obtain public assistance in Missouri through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. "Once you get a job, you are still getting these cash benefits and the food stamps for as long as you are on the program, and hopefully their job will start paying a lot more to where they wouldn't need those benefits anymore," Sater said. ...

Former Associate Circuit Judge Victor Head retired in December, but wanting to continue his involvement in Barry County Drug Court will keep Head on the batch a little longer. With former Barry County Prosecutor Johnnie Cox taking Head's associate judgeship, Head said he will continue to preside over Drug Court as a senior judge for the time being...

Free-form dance is something children learn instinctively. Students in Tiffany Gorman's second grade class at Monett Elementary School found new expressive ways to move during a Jump Rope for Heart activity in the school gym with physical education teacher Magan McPheeters on Tuesday morning. Pictured in front, from left, are students Karlee McCallister, Daniela Meaho and Serenity Morris. In the back are Kayrie Burdett, Melanie Shaw and Abby Inman. Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com...

The Purdy City Council approved the purchase of a new mosquito sprayer, but problems subsequently developed, leaving the city in an uncertain position. Public works superintendent Teddy McIntire reported the blower on the sprayer unit had gone out and would cost $2,650 to fix, including a $500 trade-in. For an identical unit, a new replacement would cost $6,550 from Mug-A-Bug, the same Iowa company. No warranty information was available...

Purdy High School's Student Council has announced candidates for queen and Mister Tip-Off at the 2015 homecoming celebration this week. The 2015 Mister Tip-Off will be crowned at a special assembly at 2:40 p.m. on Feb. 6. The 2015 homecoming queen and her court will be presented between the junior varsity boys and varsity boys basketball games against Southwest High School on Friday evening...

The first project to seek tax breaks under Barry County's Enhanced Enterprise Zone has received approval. The application from the Scoular Company, a 120-year-old grain company with more than $6 billion in annual sales, received final approval from the Barry County Commission following a recommendation by the Barry County EEZ Board. Scoular built a grain elevator in Butterfield last summer and began purchasing local grain...

Looking for a way to honor in the present those from the past, the Purdy School District has established the Purdy High School Athletic Hall of Fame. According to the guidelines adopted by the board: "The Hall of Fame has been organized as a way of maintaining the rich heritage and tradition of successful athletic programs at Purdy High School," the guidelines said. ...

The scheduling mountain is only getting steeper for the Monett girls basketball team as the welcome Mt. Vernon to town on Thursday. The Lady Cubs are still seeking their first win of the season and the Lady Mountaineers are coming off a third-place finish in the Carthage Invitational...