By Kathy Thomson

The Moran Independent School District, like other districts in the Big Country area, extended spring break due to concerns about COVID-19.

As of press time on Wednesday, MISD had decided on another extension and hopes to resume classes on April 3.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: 

At press time on Wednesday, there were rumors that the UIL had cancelled all athletic events for the remainder of the school year, but the News was not able to confirm that in time for this edition. If that proves to be the case, most of the facts in this story are obsolete.]

By Kathy Thomson

By Kathy Thomson

The city of Moran plans to replace almost twenty-five hundred feet of eight inch sewer lines running along Fisher Avenue and Grand Avenue using local money and HUD Community Development Block Grant funds administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

The grant was applied for last year, according to city secretary Teresa King.

“We’ve got the money,” she said. “We’re just finishing out the paperwork.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Teachers and administrators were scrambling earlier this week to prepare alternative forms of instruction after local schools shut down due to the Coronavirus.

While the schools are closed for the next two weeks, students still need to keep up with instruction that they are missing during the time classrooms are closed to students.

Teachers are still working between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily to change the delivery methods of their curriculum.

Secondary System

By Melinda L. Lucas

Financial figures for both the upcoming year and last year were significant topics during the Albany city council’s meeting on Monday, when a $2.94 million budget was adopted for fiscal year 2020-2021, and the audit was approved for 2019-2020.

The required public hearing time was allowed at the beginning of the meeting, but no one from the public had any comments.

Before the vote, city manager Billy Holson pointed out that the proposed budget included three to five percent salary increases in every department.

By Kathy Thomson

Classes in the Albany schools will resume on Monday morning, March 16 following a week-long spring break.

The tardy bells will ring as usual at 7:55 a.m. at Nancy Smith Elementary School and 8:00 a.m. at the secondary campus.

The remainder of the semester will include mandatory state testing, interrupted by one student holiday.

A teacher workday and student holiday is scheduled for Good Friday, April 11, with classes to take place as usual on Monday, April 13. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

With a March 17 reser-vation deadline quickly approaching, local residents are being encouraged to secure their places at the Old Jail Art Center’s upcoming 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. 

With a theme of “Piano Bar & Supper Club,” the event will feature musical entertainment by Santa Fe’s Piano Man Doug Montgomery and New York City tenor John Tiranno, a meal catered by Perini Ranch, and several valuable auction items.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners voted unanimously to change IT vendors after reviewing three bids opened at a previous meeting.

Sealed bids were received from Computer Transition Services Inc. (CTSI), Tolar Systems, and Goldsmith Solutions on Feb. 24, and elected officials met individually with representatives of the companies last week.

After discussion, the commissioners opted to accept the low bid of $6,664 per month from CTSI.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany FFA members competed in the livestock and in the horse contest at Parker County/Weatherford College CDEs last Thursday, March 5. 

“Weatherford is a practice contest, and I didn’t have all of our usual team members available, so we filled in with kids who were interested,” said advisor Chris Beard. “Several of them were new at it, while others had only participated on a CDE team once or twice before. It was a good chance for them to begin learning how to judge animals in CDE contests.”

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual Membership Drive Crawfish Boil at the Albany Golf Course next Thursday, March 19 starting at 6:00 p.m., and Chamber members, along with those who want to join the organization, are encouraged to attend.

“All Chamber members are invited,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones. “And if you’re not a member, you can come and join at the party. We’ll have special membership prices that night only including families for $50, seniors for $40, and businesses based on the number of employees.”