By Kathy Thomson

One of the biggest annual events in the county, the local stock show, takes place next week, and final preparations are underway.

“We had our finance committee meeting on Monday, Jan. 13, and it looked pretty good,” said Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association president Bronco Askew. “The next big deal is the barn clean-up on Saturday.”

Barn Clean-Up Day

The stock show barn clean up day is scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County’s IT consultant, Sam Goldsmith, presented a technology update for the elected officials and also answered questions about billing charges and other issues during a Monday morning meeting on Jan. 13.

Goldsmith first reviewed upcoming projects, including the possible change from AT&T to an alternate provider for faster and less expensive internet service.

Gwendolyn Turner (above) scrapes her dad’s pickup windshield after local residents woke up to several inches of snow Saturday morning. 

By Kathy Thomson

Shackelford County senior adults (60 and up) are invited to attend the Shackelford County Resource Center’s January senior luncheon to be held on Friday, Jan. 17 at the Youth Center beginning at 11:15 a.m.

Bethel Assembly will be hosting the meal this month, according to program assistant Ragan Riley.

The menu for the January luncheon is barbecue beef and sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, and beans, with a “Happy New Year” theme.

By Kathy Thomson

Several local 4-H students will compete at the district 4-H Food Challenge in San Angelo next Wednesday, Jan. 22.

“I will be taking three teams to the competition,” said Shackelford County agent Kloey Painter. “They will have 40 minutes to cook, prepare their dish, and prepare a presentation for the judges. They have been practicing for several months.”

The junior team members are Charli Trail, Hattie Braly, and Tara Cauble.

One intermediate aged team is made up of Mimi Ivy, Sidney Russell, and Landon Kreitler.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $37,143 from the state this January. The amount is down 28.52 percent from the $51,963 payment received in January of 2019.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,444 this period for a 2.09 percent decrease from the $1,475 received in January 2019.

Cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts will receive $763.8 million in local sales tax allocations for January, four percent more than in January 2019. These allocations are based on sales made in November.

Donald Stilwell, age 86 of Albany, passed away Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. Graveside funeral services with full military honors were held Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery of Abilene with Dinty Bowman officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Donald Leroy Stilwell was born May 20, 1933 in Breckenridge, Texas to parents Leroy Forest Stilwell and Nellie Marie Long Stilwell. 

He graduated from Albany High School and furthered his education with two years of college. 

By Kathy Thomson

Albany High School’s annual Winter Formal will be held this Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Whitney Theatre from 7:30 until 10:00 p.m. 

Tickets are $12 individually prior to the event and $15 each at the door. Snacks and water will be available at the dance.

The Winter Formal is sponsored each year by members of the Albany High School student council, and all four high school class presidents have tickets for sale.

By Kathy Thomson

Open registration for the next series of General Education Development (GED) classes in Albany is taking place this month, according to local instructor Kenzie Fairchild.

“Open enrollment will be available on Monday nights in January only,” said Fairchild. 

The Albany GED class meets at the county library on Mondays and Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. throughout the school year, following the AISD holiday schedule. 

The Albany Independent School district will be closed on Monday, Jan 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Classes will resume at the usual times on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

AISD will also have a student holiday on Friday, Jan. 24, to enable students to attend the local stock show.

Teachers and staff will have a comp day on Friday, Jan. 24.

The next student holiday at AISD will be on Monday, Feb. 17, with a staff development day scheduled for faculty members.

Classes will release early on Friday, March 6 and Spring Break is set for March 9-13.