By Kathy Thomson

Eight youth from Shackelford County went to a Multi-County 4-H Camp at Buffalo Gap last week, along with local extension agent Michaela Bradford and 4-H members and leaders from Jones, Nolan, Fisher, Coke, and Sterling counties.

“On Thursday, they played team building and leadership games, and then they had a dance that evening,” said Bradford. “The following day they were divided into groups based on grade level and participated in team competitions. Later they swam in the pool before we came home.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

The teacher workshop to be hosted on Friday, July 26 by the Old Jail Art Center will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. instead of the times previously reported, according to OJAC membership and development coordinator Susan Montgomery.

The time is 30 minutes earlier than the Old Jail’s other three teacher workshops because the participants will be taken on a charter bus for a tour of historic railroad sites.

By Kathy Thomson

The City of Moran Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) class on Saturday, July 27, and the public is welcome to attend.

“The class will be open to anyone needing CPR certification or a refresher,” said Moran VFD secretary/treasurer Michelle Taggart. “The cost to the public will be $35 per person.”

By Kathy Thomson

Organizers for the 2019 Fort Griffin BBQ Cook-Off and Battle for the Blade plan to hold the contest at Fort Griffin State Historic Site this year.

The event, once again scheduled for the last weekend in September, raises funds for the historic calvary fort located around 14 miles north of Albany on Highway 283.

The entry fees for the fifth annual cook-off are $150 per team, and judging will be done in several categories including steak, dove, brisket, ribs, and chicken.

By Kathy Thomson

KTAB News will be “On the Road” in Albany on Thursday, July 25 and everyone in the community is invited to join the Abilene TV news anchors at The Feed Store for the free event.

“It is important for us to connect with our audience,” said KTAB vice president and general manager Albert Gutierrez. “On the Road allows us to go out and meet our amazing viewers all across the Big Country. It also allows us to connect with our advertisers and offer them unique exposure to connect them to a greater audience.”

Austin Sherwood of the financial services firm Edward Jones recently received the firm’s exclusive Century Award for outstanding performance during 2018.

Sherwood, who lives in Albany with his family, was one of only 767 of the firm’s more than 18,000 financial advisors to receive the Century Award.

Sherwood has been an Edward Jones advisor for five years, and he knows the hard work that goes into building a business in the financial services industry. Sherwood is honored to receive the award.

By Kathy Thomson

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $34,382 from the state this July. The amount is down 11.08 percent from the $39,028 payment received in July of 2018.

Payments to date for the 2019 year to the city of Albany are $333,971, up by 13.01 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $295,514 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,198 this period for a 72.08 percent decrease from the $4,293 received in July 2018.

The Hendrick Regional Blood Center bloodmobile will be at First Baptist Church on Thursday, July 18 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 

Hendrick Regional Blood Center supplies all of the blood and blood products used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.

Blood center employees urge community members to donate blood to help ensure that patients in the hospitals they serve have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs.

Donors will receive a T-shirt. Those who have eligibility questions may call 325-670-2880. 

By Kathy Thomson

The Fort Griffin Fandangle is put on by members of the Albany community and the cast typically includes many family groups, but this year one of those ensembles was a little larger than most.

“Our group is 19 strong!” Melinda Musselman said. “Viva Fandangle!”

Henry and Melinda Musselman brought 19 family members and employees with them to swell the ranks of the cast, which already included their nephew’s family of three. All total, the Musselmans’ contingent included 22 people, two trailer loads of horses, a team of mules, and a wagon.

By Kathy Thomson

Pick-up dates for the July distribution of the commodity food program will be this Thursday and Friday. The distribution did not take place last week because of the July Fourth holiday.

On Thursday, July 11, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.