By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs and Albany Lions JV get their football seasons underway Thursday, Aug. 31 (today) with games at Dublin.

The action starts with the seventh grade at 4:30 p.m., followed by the eighth grade at 6:00 p.m. and JV at 7:30 p.m.

Albany athletic director Ryder Peacock, who is coaching the junior high with Tate Thompson, said he expects the seventh grade to be conducted more as a scrimmage than a full game.

“I’m not sure what the plan is,” Peacock said Monday. “We’ll just play it by ear and see.”

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs enjoyed a productive week with the volleyball team recording its first win of the season on Thursday, Aug. 24, while the football team opened its schedule Friday, Aug. 25 by beating Lohn 40-0.

Football

Ellis Hise rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns in addition to throwing a TD pass as the Bulldogs rolled past the Eagles.

Moran looks to build on that success Friday, Sept. 1 with a visit to Baird.

Against Lohn, Moran led 20-0 in the first quarter.

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD superintendent Dr. John Denson was selected recently to receive the Honorary American FFA Degree.

“I’m very honored to be nominated for it and to receive it,” Denson said.

The award is given to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment, according to a news release from the National FFA Organization.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Ticket holders for the fifth annual CareFest concert set for Saturday will get an extra dose of stage time from headliners Pat Green and Kevin Fowler after another country artist had to pull out of the event late last week.

Seven performers were originally slated to take the stage; however, Cooder Graw and his band had to cancel due to a medical situation with a key band member.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany ISD has registered just under 500 students for the 2023-24 school year, showing a small decrease in enrollment for the first time in several years.

As of Monday, Aug. 21, the district is reporting a total of 493 students, compared to 502 students at the same point last year.

“Our enrollment went very well,” said Leigh Lowe, director of student services. “Our numbers have been relatively stable the last four years.”

This is the third year that the district has conducted registration using the Ascender Parent Portal.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany’s city council met in special session on Monday night, Aug. 21 to propose a tax rate, electing to go with the “No New Revenue” (NNR) rate of 56.39 cents.

The NNR rate is calculated to produce the same amount of taxes if applied to the same properties taxed the previous year, and is actually lower than last year’s rate of 61.04 cents and the previous year’s rate of 67.55 cents because of increasingly higher property values within the city limits.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A special meeting to adopt the 2023-2024 budget and tax rate for the Albany Independent School District is set for 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, the last day that the budget can be approved according to state law.

Expenditures for the upcoming school year are projected to be $6,906,021, more than last year’s initial budget of $6,588,482, with a conservative estimate of $6,605,165  in revenue.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners got their first good look at tax rate options during a meeting on Monday, Aug. 21, but could not take any action on proposing a rate because the item was not listed on the agenda.

The elected officials will meet again on Monday, Aug. 28 with the expectation of proposing a rate.

A $4,961,093 budget was proposed and filed after an Aug. 14 session, as required by law, but adjustments can be made before it is adopted pending a budget hearing set for Sept. 8.

By Sam Waller

Approximately 60 members of Shackelford County 4-H were recognized Sunday, Aug. 20 for their participation in a variety of projects at the club’s annual banquet at the Whitney Theatre.

Club members were recognized for completion of projects in the areas of fashion, food and nutrition, horse, livestock, outdoor education, shooting sports, photography, STEAM, and record books. Several completed work in more than one project.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Directors of the Shackelford County Hospital District met Monday, Aug. 21 with budget and tax rate action items on the agenda, but they ended up scheduling two special sessions with the expectation of proposing both a budget and tax rate by at least Sept. 11.

Board member Jason Price suggested working on the numbers on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 5:00 p.m. and again at the same time on Sept. 6 if needed. The directors will also consider employee evaluations, as well as the nurse practitioner contracts, to see how those figure into the budget.