By Sam Waller
Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church will have 30 students for its Mothers Day Out preschool program, which starts Friday, Sept. 9 at MMPC.
Mothers Day Out will meet from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. each Monday and Friday through Monday, May 22, following the Albany ISD calendar for holidays.
Brandi Lehew, who is in her second year as director of the program, said enrollment is up from 24 students last year.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Enrollment for local GED classes has been set for Monday, Sept. 12 at the Shackelford County Library starting at 5:30 p.m., according to instructor Kenzie Fairchild.
Anyone interested in enrolling in the free classes must bring a photo identification and Social Security card in order to sign up.
The classes are open to students age 17 years or older, but 17-year-old students must have parental consent to register.
Monday’s session will include some instruction after the registration period.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The 36th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale is set for this weekend at the county show barn, with 135 pigs from 16 consignors from seven states to be sold on Sunday.
Proceeds from the sale benefit the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association for capital improvements or to help fund the county stock show held in January.
The show starts at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, with a champion and reserve to be named for both barrows and gilts. The live-auction sale will follow at 1:00 p.m.
By Melinda L. Lucas
The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, Sept. 14, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.
The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.
The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable, according to local fire chief Travis Gardenhire.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Directors of the Albany Chest met on Wednesday, Aug. 31, to organize the 2022 fundraising drive, elect three board members, and vote on officers.
The deadline for organizations to turn in funding requests was set for Friday, Sept. 30, and the board’s next meeting will be held at The Feed Store on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 5:15 p.m. to evaluate the applications and decide on the fundraising target for the 2022 Chest drive.
Last year, a goal of $46,000 was set, with $50,751 raised and $51,050 distributed.
By Melinda L. Lucas
The Albany Volunteer Fire Department held its first “Birds and Burgers” fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 3 during the opening weekend of dove season.
With over 210 hamburgers cooked, the volunteers considered it a huge success.
“The Albany community showed up in a big way, and we appreciate it,” said fire chief Travis Gardenhire.
At one point, Gardenhire said, cars were lined up all along Railroad Street, waiting for their chance to drive through the fire station and grab a bag of burgers.
By Melinda L. Lucas
More complications arose in the county attorney’s salary issue as Shackelford County commissioners met for a Tuesday session and then scheduled a special meeting on Friday to try to resolve the problem before proposing a budget.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Board members of the Shackelford County Appraisal District (CAD) will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 a.m. for a final discussion about the proposed CAD budget for 2023.
A copy of the budget can be viewed at the CAD office at 132 Hill St., where the meeting will be held.
The $425,791 preliminary figure approved by CAD board members is a 6.73 percent increase, or $29,304, over the current adopted budget of $398,937.
The public is invited to attend the hearing, and the meeting to adopt the measure that will follow.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will host and participate in the second annual “Never Forget” Memorial Walk this Sunday morning, Sept. 11 on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001.
The event will be held at the Shackelford County Courthouse, beginning at 8:46 a.m., the time that the first hijacked aircraft struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
According to Albany VFD officer Eric Johnson, anyone who would like to walk on Sunday morning is welcome to join the fire department members.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The annual citywide garage sale is set for Saturday, Sept. 10, with about 20 local individuals signed up as of Tuesday.
A few more local residents may have signed up for the event on Wednesday after the press deadline.
“We have had a few people inquire about the sale who haven’t shown up yet,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said. “The deadline to sign up was Wednesday.”
