By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of participants in junior high football and volleyball remained high for this season, with both programs starting competition on Thursday, Sept. 5.

The volleyball teams will host Wylie East starting at 4:30 p.m. with the seventh grade teams playing in the old gym and the eighth grade in the newer gym.

A total of 32 girls have been divided into four teams, with an A and B team for each grade level.

“The girls are sticking with it and doing a good job of working hard,” coach Dakota Fowler said.

By Kathy Thomson

Only a handful of slots remained available for the Albany Golf Club’s annual Labor Day tournament as of Monday, and those who still want to enter should call as soon as possible to see if any tee times are still open.

“We only have four afternoon spots left,” club president Randy Walker said Monday afternoon. “All of the morning tee times have been taken, and all of the rental golf carts have been claimed.”

The event is held at the Albany Golf Course. 

By Kathy Thomson

The varsity football players, cheerleaders, and Bonnie the Bulldog were on hand to greet students arriving at the Moran Independent School District campus to begin the new school year on Monday, Aug. 26.

“The first day of school was great,” said superintendent Danny Freeman. “Enrollment is 113 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, which is an increase of about 10 students from the end of last year.”

Compared to the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, Monday’s registration numbers were also up, but only by three students.

By Kathy Thomson

Moran residents still have a week to contact organizer Michelle Taggart and sign up to include their location in the annual Moran city-wide garage sale.

The sale will start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, but participating sites should be turned in to Taggart by 10:00 a.m. next Friday, Sept. 6. 

“This will give me time to get maps and lists printed,” she said. “If you are interested in getting on the list, please let me know. As always, there is no cost to join.”

To register a sale, contact Taggart at 325-513-5398.

By Kathy Thomson

Moran Independent School District earned a rating of “C” from the Texas Education Agency, with an overall score of 79 out of 100.

Because Moran is a small district, 2019 is the first year that it was awarded a letter grade instead of the previously used “Met Standard” or “Improvement Required” categories.

Moran’s Accountability Ratings this year were Overall “C” (79), Student Achievement “C” (78), School Progress “B” (80), and Closing the Gaps “C” (76). 

By Kathy Thomson

The Lady Bulldogs won three of four games last week, beating Rotan last Tuesday and hitting the court again to claim second place at the Gorman tournament on Saturday.

The Moran team hosted Rotan in the regular season match-up on Tuesday, Aug. 20, defeating the Lady Yellowhammers in five sets 26-25, 20-25, 25-6, 12-25, and 15-4.

“Every girl got the chance to play at least two sets in the Rotan game,” said coach Jo Hise.

By Kathy Thomson

The Moran Bulldogs finished preseason scrimmages last Friday in Gustine, started this week by greeting children arriving at the Moran campus for the first day of school on Monday, and are scheduled to open the 2019 football season in Benjamin tomorrow, Aug. 30 with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

By Kathy Thomson

With the annual campaign to raise funds for local organizations starting in October, board members of the Albany Chest will meet soon to organize the 2019 fundraising drive and elect new directors.

The meeting is set for Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 5:15 p.m. at The Feed Store.

“We will be accepting nominations for positions on the board,” said chairman Amy Kelly. 

Four of the 12 director positions come up for election each year, and Chest by-laws allow directors to serve two terms before they cycle off. 

By Kathy Thomson

Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce named their first three “Lights of Albany” at the bi-annual party held last Friday, Aug. 23 at the Aztec Theater. 

Chosen for the honor this year were the Albany ISD ag students, teachers, and coaches, Jane Hooker, and Lisa Barton.

Albany ISD

By Melinda L. Lucas

A special meeting was scheduled at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 by the Shackelford County commissioners, who plan to propose a budget and tax rate.

The elected officials continued hammering out the 2019-2020 budget during a workshop following the regular session on Monday, Aug. 26. After it was decided that the rate needs to be set above the effective tax rate, commissioners planned Friday’s meeting in order to post required notices prior to the final vote in September.

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