Students at the Moran Independent School District will not have class this Friday, Feb. 1, and the staff will have a comp day.

The student holiday was added to correspond with the county stock show.

Six FFA students and one 4-H member from Moran have entered project animals in the show.

Junior High UIL

Sixteen Moran sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students competed in the District 20 junior high UIL academic meet on Jan. 16 at Gordon. 

Other schools in District 20 are Baird, Eula, Gordon, Ranger, and Strawn.

Both junior high basketball teams were able to put a tally or two in the win column this week, though the varsity teams did not fare as well.

The varsity teams were scheduled to play in Baird on Tuesday, Jan. 29. Results were not available at press time.

Upcoming Games

The Eula Pirates and Lady Pirates will be in Moran on Friday, Feb. 1 for games starting at 6:30 p.m.

Moran varsity teams travel to Strawn for the Lady Bulldogs’ last game of the season at 6:00 p.m. followed by the boys match at 7:00 p.m.

High School Games

The number of recently confirmed cases of influenza have increased at both of the two health clinics in Albany, reflecting a trend seen across Texas and the nation.

Flu-like symptoms have affected so many local students that the junior high girls’ B team game was cancelled on Monday evening and both JV basketball games at Roscoe were cancelled on Tuesday.

“We are seeing quite a bit of flu (at the county health clinic),” said Shackelford County Hospital District Administrator Jera Fairley. “The number of cases seems to be increasing.”

Local FFA and 4-H exhibitors are expected to weigh in a total of 261 chickens, rabbits, goats, lambs, and pigs at the Shackelford County Youth Livestock Show barn Thursday afternoon (today), and the first class in the 2019 county livestock show will enter the arena at 7:00 p.m. tonight, Jan. 31.

Cattle exhibitors will check in 14 head of cattle on Friday, Feb. 1, to bring final registration numbers in this year’s show to 275, down 43 entries from last year.

Exhibitor numbers are also down from 2018, with 137 youth showing animals this year, 38 fewer than last year.

Clint Chapman and Stephen Kayga threw their hats into the ring for Place 7 on the Albany school board this week, joining Dinty Bowman and Jerry (Mike) Bean who both filed for the Place 7 trustee spot last week.  

The seat, currently held by retiring school board president Betsy Parsons, was the only contested race on the ballot as of press time on Tuesday.

Candidates must file by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 to have their names listed on the ballot for one of the local offices up for election on May 4. There is no filing fee.

Albany City Council

Spots are still available in local GED classes that are taking place on Mondays and Tuesdays each week, according to instructor Kenzie Fairchild.

Official registration was last week, but Fairchild said Monday that the class is not yet full and students can still apply by coming to the Shackelford County Library on Monday or Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. or by calling her at 325-721-5233.

GED classes meet at the library every Monday and Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. throughout the school year, following the AISD holiday schedule.

Although no action was taken, the Shackelford County Hospital District directors are closer to ordering a new ambulance after their meeting on Monday, Jan. 21.

EMS supervisor Mary Quintero presented prices from two companies, but the board directed her to advertise for bids and have them ready for the next meeting on Feb. 18.

The new ambulance will replace one of the two 2009 models owned by the district. A 2013 ambulance will remain in service.

Audit Report

Shackelford County commissioners got an update on the county’s new official website and discussed a possible contract with the Walker-Sayle Unit in Breckenridge during a regular meeting on Monday morning, Jan. 28.

The session was conducted by senior commissioner Steve Riley, as new county judge Bob Skelton was attending a judges’ school this week.

New Precinct 2 commissioner Ace Reames was present for his first meeting as a county official.

County Website

Albany High School students competed at the Haskell Pow Wow, a University Interscholastic League academic invitational meet, on Saturday, Jan. 26, and several Albany students brought home individual medals. In addition, Albany journalism students won the first place team plaque. 

“The students did great!” Rick Davis, UIL coordinator said. “I think we are well on our way to another successful year in UIL academics.”

Albany was the top journalism team with 93 points. Coleman was the second high journalism team with 76, and Guthrie took third with 53.

Time is running out to purchase special gifts and/or handmade Oreo© truffles from Project Graduation’s Valentine’s Day fundraiser.

“Orders for Valentine gifts need to be turned in by Thursday, Jan. 31, so we can get everything here before Valentine’s Day,” organizer Tisha Wilkins said. “Truffles need to be ordered by Feb. 5, so we can have them ready for students to dip those on Feb. 9.”

Flyers were sent to both Albany schools. The various Valentine gift items vary in price from $1 up to $8, while the hand-dipped truffles are $3 for six or $6 for a dozen.