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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.