By Kathy Thomson

Albany High School students Addie Beth Denton and Mady Connally both won awards at the Cisco Junior Rodeo last weekend.

Denton won belt buckles for the highest score over the course of the two-day rodeo in both goat tying, where times of 11.08 and 14.04 placed her first in both gos, and in ribbon roping where she claimed the average with a first place time of 12.38 seconds on Saturday after a “no time” on Friday. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

High school cross country runners continue to work out in the mornings in preparation for the season, with practices moving to 6:30 a.m. with the start of school on Thursday.

Coach Tate Thompson said that he only has four girls and one boy consistently showing up for workouts at the high school level. He originally thought he would have twice that number of girls, but injuries and participation in other sports have thinned the numbers down.

By Kathy Thomson

Michael Christopher Matson, a long time artist and a fairly recent addition to Albany, was selected earlier this year to craft the sign that now marks the South of Downtown Abilene (SoDA) district in Abilene.

The sign was installed at 833 South First Street on Saturday, Aug. 10, and the official ribbon cutting to commemorate the installation of the S.o.D.A. District Wayfinding Sign, took place this Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Officers who will serve during the upcoming year for Moran Masonic Lodge #863 were installed in Clyde earlier this summer.

The Moran organization held its officer installation ceremony in conjunction with the Clyde Masonic Lodge officer installation on Saturday, July 13 at the Clyde Masonic Lodge on Oak Street. 

Masonic Lodge officers include Worshipful Master Harley Wheeler, Senior Warden Chris Robinson, Junior Warden Bob EstesTreasurer C.L. Miller, Secretary John Adams Junior Deacon Frank Davidson, and Tiler Earl McFerrin.

Higher limits are now available for borrowers of USDA’s farm loans, which help agricultural producers purchase farms or cover operating expenses. 

The 2018 Farm Bill increased the amount that producers can borrow through direct and guaranteed loans available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and made changes to other loans, such as microloans and emergency loans.

By Kathy Thomson

Although the 2019-2020 school year is underway for faculty at the Moran Independent School District, students will not begin classes until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 26.

Staff development days are scheduled weekdays from Aug. 8-23, and teachers are undergoing mandatory training, preparing lesson plans, and readying their classrooms for the upcoming semester. 

By Kathy Thomson

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Loraine last Saturday, Aug. 10, in their season opener on the road.

Moran won in straight sets 25-17, 27-25, 25-15.

The varsity girls will travel to Lingleville for 11:00 a.m. match on Saturday, Aug. 17, and then host Rotan in Bulldog gym on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 5:00 p.m.

The girls will face tournament action in Gorman Aug. 22-24 and in Lingleville Aug. 29-31 before finishing pre-district action in Lingleville on Sept. 10.

By Kathy Thomson

The third annual Shifters Car Club Truck Show should entice nostalgia buffs and truck enthusiasts to downtown Albany this Saturday, Aug. 17, to see antique vehicles, hot rod pickups, and classic work trucks lined up side by side for judging and viewing. 

Everyone is welcome to come out, walk around the show for free, view the preserved and restored relics of a former time, and listen to the rumble of engines that relied on two- or four-barrel carburetors to mix the fuel and air mixture into the proper proportions.

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Independent School District 2019-2020 school year began today, Aug. 15, with classes starting at 7:55 a.m. on the elementary campus and five minutes later, at 8:00 a.m., for junior and senior high students.

Nancy Smith Elementary had 283 students registered as of Monday, Aug. 12, compared with 272 at the same time last year and 279 two years ago.

“All of the new students that we know of have registered,” said administrative assistant Stephanie Gleitz. 

AJH/SH Registration

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members approved a recommendation to go with the effective tax rate, which is almost the same as last year’s actual rate, during their regular session on Monday, Aug. 12.

They also approved an increase in water and sewer rates per thousand gallons, effective at the first of 2020.

Tax Rate