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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.