By Melinda L. Lucas

Numbers are continuing to fall in both how many ­COVID tests are administered locally and how many are coming back positive, according to a report distributed earlier this week by Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton.

“The Shackelford County Health Clinic (SCHC), the Shackelford County EMS, and Resource Care all combined have reported only three positive ­COVID-19 test results during the previous 14 days,” said Skelton, who added that as of Tuesday, there were only 17 people in a 22-county area who were hospitalized with the coronavirus.

By Sandy Morris

On Monday, Albany mayor Susan Montgomery officially signed a proclamation declaring this as Monarch Awareness Week, with several activities already taking place and a couple more planned in the next few days.

Montgomery decided to participate in the program after she received a letter from the National Wildlife Federation last month.

By Sandy Morris

Rehearsal for the Fandangle Sampler began on Tuesday, March 23 in preparation for the annual membership show scheduled for  Saturday, April 17, with the next practice set for tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. 

The Sampler is returning to Reynolds Bend on the Lambs­­head Ranch after more than a 20-year absence. In recent years, the spring event has been held at locations such as the old Fort Griffin townsite on Collins Creek Ranch, downtown Albany, the Shackelford County Courthouse Square, and the Prairie Theater.

By Melinda L. Lucas

More than three dozen FEMA surveys were completed by county residents and property owners affected by last month’s winter storm, and county judge Robert Skelton is hopeful that the response will cause Shackelford County to be included in the list of Texas  counties already approved for FEMA assistance. 

The deadline to submit the survey was March 21, with 17 of 33 individuals listing “major damage.”

Seven businesses also reponded, while there were 12 separate filings by the City of Albany and one from the City of Moran.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A Shackelford County grand jury met last Tuesday, March 16, issuing local indictments for the first time in more than a year, according to county sheriff Ed Miller.

Eighteen indictments were handed down to the sheriff’s department earlier this week, and Miller stated that he and his staff are “working through the warrants.” 

This is the first convening of a grand jury locally since COVID restrictions went into effect in March of 2020.

By Sandy Morris

The April distribution pickup dates for the commodity food program will be pushed back one week due to the Good Friday holiday on April 2.

Pickup dates have been scheduled for Thursday, April 8 and Friday, April 9. 

Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 8. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Monday’s monthly meeting of the Albany ISD board of trustees, postponed one week from its regular time because of spring break, was mostly COVID updates in various areas, with a couple of motions made on routine agenda items.

The board also went into closed session about  personnel for about 30 minutes at the end of the meeting, but no action was taken before adjournment.

TEA/UIL Updates

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners voted to purchase a new battery backup for the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) at a cost of about $9,000 during a morning session on March 22.

Much of Monday’ meeting was spent in an overall update of the county’s technology with Zach Fitzgerald from CTSI, the county’s IT consultant.

County sheriff Edward Miller asked for the immediate purchase of the “external battery pack” for the LEC IT system in light of the fact that the current backup is completely “dead.”

By Sandy Morris

Thursday, April 1 is the last day to register to vote or make a change of address effective for the May 1 local election. 

Voter registration applications can be found online at votetexas.gov or filled out in person at the Tax Assessor-Collector office at the Shackelford County Courthouse.

Shackelford County voters who wish to vote by mail for the Shackelford County Hospital District can submit applications for ballots; however, the vote by mail applications for this election should not be sent to the courthouse.

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School  FFA members competed in the Cisco College Invitational Career Development Events (CDE) contest on Monday, March 22. 

AHS ag teacher and FFA sponsor Chris Beard said the students competed with either the horse judging team or the wildlife judging team.

The horse judging team of Addie Beth Denton, Elizabeth Chavez, Landree Connally, and Susie Cormack placed second out of 42 teams. 

The Albany team earned 808 points right behind the first place team with 809 points.