By Melinda L. Lucas

At the end of Monday night’s meeting, following the routine closed-session evaluation of AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott, a unanimous motion among the five board members present extended Scott’s contract by one more year to January 2025.

A seven percent salary increase was proposed, contingent upon the 2022-2023 budget.

The action came at the end of a two-hour closed session, with the meeting adjourning a few minutes later.

Scott is finishing up his third full year in the AISD superintendent’s office.

New School Nurse

By Melinda L. Lucas

An abbreviated meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District board was held Monday evening with one director on phone speaker in order to make up a quorum so that bills could be paid and a couple of other time-sensitive decisions made.

Several other items on both the district and clinic agendas were delayed until next month when more members are present.

An election was called for Saturday, May 7, with the two-year terms of Chris Beard, Myra Hise, Janna Ledbetter, and John Peterson expiring this spring.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With just a little over a week left before the official deadline, a large percentage of the county-wide tax levies will be collected in the next few days.

Taxes assessed during 2021 are officially due on Monday, Jan. 31.

Taxpayers have the option of mailing in their payment as well as coming inside. However, if anyone is concerned about COVID exposure, they can use the drop box (to the left of the main door), mail, or go to to the SCAD website (shackelfordcad.com) for online payments.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The newly organized “Albany Live,” a group dedicated to bringing monthly live musical performances to the Aztec Theater in Albany, is currently selling tickets to the second artist in their singer/songwriter series.

Tickets to attend the Chris Knight show on Saturday, Feb. 5 are now available on the group’s website: www.albanylive.org. Prices are $50 for general admission and $75 for reserved seating in the front two rows.

By Sam Waller

The Texas Compulsory Attendance Law which mandates that students attend a minimum number of minutes each semester to receive credit for courses taken, and parents and students are reminded of the importance of school attendance.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Two Albany High Schools students participated in two days of rehearsals for the All-Region Band last week, which culminated in concert performances on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomores Ashley Sanchez and Trinity McBee both earned seats on one of three All-Region bands during tryouts held in December; however, McBee was unable to attend last week due to illness.

Fortunately, another Albany sophomore, Chey’Anne Weaver, was able to move up as second alternate to participate in the event.

The Albany Independent School district will be closed on Friday, Jan. 21 to enable students to attend the local stock show.

Teachers and staff will have a comp day on Friday.

Classes will resume at the normal times on Monday, Jan. 24.

The next student holiday at AISD will be on Monday, Feb. 21 with a staff development day scheduled for faculty members.

Classes will dismiss early on Friday, March 11, and Spring Break is set for March 14-18.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell  will offer a Private Pesticide Applicator Program on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Bell said the training  is specifically for those seeking a Texas Department of Agriculture private applicator license and is not continuing education unit training.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Cub Scout Pack 255 will hold its annual Pinewood Derby at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24 at the Scout Hut.

Scouts from Tiger through Webelos are eligible to compete with cars carved from a standard pine block.

“We pick up the kits with the rules inside them from the Abilene Scout office and give them to the kids,” Cubmaster Jacey Shack said. “The kits include instructions on how to build them, what they should weigh and all the other rules. The Cubs show up on race day and have to weigh their cars in.”

By Sam Waller

Girls from eighth grade through high school can attend the FCA’s Weekend of Champions camp Jan. 29-30 at Solid Rock Encampment near Eastland.

A boys’ camp is scheduled there Feb. 18-20.

The girls’ camp is designed to equip young ladies with truth, encouragement, and fellowship, according to Betsy Spraberry, who helps with local FCA events. FCA membership is not a requirement to attend the program.