By Donnie A. Lucas
Directors of the Albany Chest met on Wednesday, Sept. 1, to organize the 2021 fundraising drive, elect four board members, and vote on officers.
The deadline for organizations to turn in funding requests was set for Friday, Oct. 1, and the board’s next meeting will be held at The Feed Store on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 5:15 p.m. to evaluate the applications and decide on the fundraising target for the 2021 Chest drive.
Members of the Shackelford County community are invited to join the Albany Masonic Lodge and the local Brookshire’s Grocery Store in honoring the first responders of Shackelford County at the 3rd Annual First Responder Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 8:00 a.m.
Peace officers, dispatchers, jailers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel from across the county will gather at the First Christian Church’s Fellowship Hall for the event.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The annual citywide garage sale is set for Saturday, Sept. 11, with about 20 local individuals signed up as of Tuesday.
A few more local residents may have signed up for the event, which is sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce, after the press deadline.
On Saturday, shoppers can pick up maps showing locations of participants.
“The maps are free, and I will hand them out at the Depot from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said. “After that, you can pick up copies at the door.”
By Melinda L. Lucas
After holding the required public hearing prior to their 9:00 a.m. session, Shackelford County commissioners adopted the proposed budget and tax rate at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
There was no one from the general public to voice any opposition or comment on the proposals.
Elected officials also acted on a number of other routine items in a fairly long agenda on Monday morning.
Budget Okayed
A $4,401,613 deficit budget proposed at the Aug. 14 session was approved unanimously without discussion.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The number of new COVID-19 cases held fairly steady last week at the Shackelford County Hospital Clinic, with 26 positive results out of the 57 tests given through Friday, Sept. 3.
The clinic was closed Monday for Labor Day, but reported 18 more tests administered on Tuesday with eight additional positives.
County Judge Bob Skelton issued a report on Tuesday, Sept. 7 with the hospital clinic’s numbers, but was not able to obtain the number of tests or results for ResourceCare’s medical clinic in Albany.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Opening week of dove season including Labor Day weekend typically brings droves of hunters to town, but initial reports indicated few hunters because of a lack of local birds.
According to local game warden Jake Mort, it has been an usually slow start to the season.
“It has been extremely slow since the season opened last week on Sept. 1,” Mort said. “The average kill has been just three to five birds per hunter, so those who are hunting are having a hard time filling their limits.”
By Donnie A. Lucas
An investigative report involving an alleged wastewater violation by a local refining facility has been released by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, with a separate investigation on air quality and pollution still pending.
The final investigation report concerning wastewater disposal at Texas Renewable Group, LLC, was sent to the named complaint, Darla Cotter, by the TCEQ on Aug. 19.
By Sam Waller
Students, teachers and staff at Moran have settled into a new way of doing things through the first two weeks of the new school year.
Principal Jo Hise said the school district is employing block scheduling in the upper grades this year.
“The first week went well,” Hise said. “The kids, teachers, and staff seem to be adjusting to our new schedule really well. I’m very pleased with that.”
By Sam Waller
The Moran Bulldogs took their lumps last Friday in the opening football game, losing 58-6 at Benjamin.
The Bulldogs were hampered by four turnovers, all of which led to scores for Benjamin.
“Our youth showed,” said Moran coach John Hughes, who started three freshmen. “We did a lot of things to ourselves that we shouldn’t have, and Benjamin took advantage. Not taking anything away from Benjamin, but I think we killed ourselves because of our inexperience.”
The Bulldogs finished with 52 total yards. Connor Hail had 54 yards rushing.
By Sam Waller
Moran’s city-wide garage sale is scheduled for Saturday.
Sale organizer Michelle Taggart said the event will begin at 7:00 a.m. with no set time to finish.
Maps will be available at the Moran Community Center.
“I’m still taking names for the sale,” Taggart said. “The deadline to sign up is noon Thursday (today).
To register, Taggart said, contact Teresa King at Moran City Hall.
“They can get ahold of her, and she’ll let me know,” Taggart said.
