Almost 94 percent of the 2018 tax levy had been collected as of Tuesday, according to chief appraiser Clayton Snyder, with mailed payments coming in for a week or so with the required Jan. 31 postmark deadline.

He also said that there had been fairly steady walk-in traffic since Feb. 1, with property owners paying a little penalty and interest in addition to their original taxes.

Reports from the Shackelford County Central Appraisal District (CAD) showed that $9,009,400 of the $9,593,390, or 93.9 percent had come in or was postmarked before the Jan. 31 deadline.

A free pipeline awareness class will be offered at no charge next week on Thursday, Feb. 28 at the Aztec Theater.

The 11:00 a.m. class, which includes lunch, is mandated by federal regulations requiring annual public awareness and emergency response training by pipeline owners for emergency responders, public officials, excavators, and the general public.

TCOLE and fire credits are given for the training.

Register at pipeline response.org.

All of the Albany school bands will be performing for the community this Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2:00 p.m. in the high school gym, and band director John Stockdale is hoping that there will be a large audience to appreciate all of the work and practice the students have put into the concert.

“I want to make sure that everyone knows about the concert, and that they realize that it will be in the gym this time, not the auditorium” said Stockdale. “We are hoping to have a good crowd, and we’d really like for them to stay to hear all of the bands if they can.”

Seniors Cameron Dacus (seated, l) and Ryan Hill (r) both signed letters of intent to play football for Hardin-Simmons University. Witnesses for the Feb. 8 signing included coaches (standing, l-r) Rod Britting, David Fairchild, Denney Faith, Jimmy Fuentes, and Ryder Peacock.

Albany High School’s theater troupe performed The Fourth Ward by Amanda Guthrie at a one-act play (OAP) festival in Clyde on Thursday, Feb. 14.

“The festival went well, and we got a lot of good feedback in our critiques,” said co-director Jenny Scott. “There is no placing at festivals. It is really a time to show where your production currently stands and get constructive feedback on what to improve on prior to the district contest.”

Scott said that they have already implemented a few of the suggested changes.

Delton Peacock, age 80 of Brownwood, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. Graveside funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 15 at the Albany Cemetery with Rev. Jeff Turner officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Inez Benda was born Aug. 18, 1922, in the Pueblo Community near Putnam, Texas, to Chester and Emogene (Jeter) Allen and died Feb. 13, 2019, in Quitman, Texas. 

She was raised in the Pueblo Community and graduated from Moran High School and Abilene Business School. 

She later worked for the General Motors Corporation and was honored by earning Oldsmobile’s Nationwide Highest Achievement Award (twice) as part of the Oldsmobile Business Management Club.

More than one driver traveling from Albany to Breckenridge last week mentioned an unexpected jolt, which was quickly replaced by a six-mile detour.

A collapsing metal culvert, located between O’Neill Drive and the Breckenridge city limits, is being replaced with a concrete culvert, and TxDOT officials are unsure how long the repair will take.

Meanwhile, motorists must travel to the south on FM 2231 and FM 3099 to reach Breckenridge.

The deadline to file for local board seats to be decided May 4 is fast approaching, and five candidates filed their paperwork during the last week.

Amanda Tabor filed for an Albany school board seat, while Dwaine “Dewey” Knight and incumbent Carolyn Waller added their names to the ballot for Albany City Council.

Mike Folsom and incumbent Jo Ann Estridge filed for the Shackelford hospital board.

Candidates must file by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 to have their names on the ballot.

Despite cold and rainy weather since the January start date, city manager Billy Holson reported at Monday’s regular council meeting that water system installation at the newly annexed Clarke Estates development is moving along ahead of schedule.

Also approved during the Feb. 11 session was the purchase of a new skid steer for city operations.

The meeting was conducted by mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery in the absence of Rodney Alexander.

Water Line Progress