By Sandy Morris

Local 4-H members participated in a special farrier program on Thursday, Jan. 28, according to Shackelford County Extension Agent and 4-H sponsor Kloey Painter.

Local county commissioner Lanham Martin presented the program to about 20 4-H members. 

“He talked to the kids about different types of horseshoes and why horses have shoes,” said Painter. “He also talked about the confirmation of horses and a little bit about the anatomy of a horse in their feet and legs. 

Photography Clinic

By Sandy Morris

The month of February is typically the peak month for flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. 

A quick search of the Texas Department of State Health Services reports that the flu season began on Sept. 22, 2020 this year and that influenza activity is low across the state of Texas. 

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership meeting is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 5 immediately after the 12:00 noon luncheon at The Beehive. 

The annual meeting is typically held on the first Friday in February with an agenda that includes reviewing the finance report and electing directors and officers. 

Each year, several of the board members’ terms come up for election on a rotating basis, and the new directors are chosen at the annual membership meeting. 

By Sandy Morris

February is member appreciation month at the Old Jail Art Center, and there are some special opportunities available to OJAC members.

OJAC members will receive free giveaways during their visit to the museum, and they will receive a 20 percent discount off of one item in the OJAC store. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

& Sandy Morris

An Albany clinic started administering the Moderna vaccine Wednesday, and with at least 200 more doses expected in the next week, ResourceCare staff members hope to work their way down the list of those who want the vaccine.

Even though some county residents have already received the vaccine in other locations, quite a few are still waiting for their names to come up.

By Sandy Morris

Next week ends the filing period for local board elections, and as of press time on Tuesday, a total of nine candidates had turned in their paperwork for various positions that will be decided on May 1.

There is not a fee to run for the local offices, but prospective candidates must file by 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 12 to have their names listed on the ballot.

Albany City Council

Julia Elizabeth Putnam, 77, a resident of Albany, Texas, departed this life on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in an Abilene hospital. She was born in Abilene, Texas, on Oct. 10, 1943, to Joseph Carrol Putnam and Margaret Elizabeth Sheers Putnam. Julia lived on the family’s Camp Cooper Ranch in Throckmorton County before they moved to Albany in 1947. The Putnams moved back to the ranch in 1955. Julia attended Albany schools and graduated from high school in 1962.

Jimmie Ray Wheeler, age 70, of Sulphur Springs, passed away on Jan. 16, 2021, at Christus Mother Frances Hospital. He was born Apr. 25, 1950, in Abilene, Texas, the son of Jimmie Joshuay Wheeler and Neta Fae Aston Wheeler. 

Jimmie graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1968 and received an associate degree from Cisco Junior College. He worked for Frito-Lay approximately 20 years and then worked for Coca Cola and United Food Stores. He retired in 2013 from C.D. Harnett where he had been in sales.