1 year later: State to open 100%

By Melinda L. Lucas

At this time last year, the ­COVID-19 crisis just was beginning to affect Texas, and local school teachers were preparing to teach remotely for “a couple of weeks,” never dreaming that they would not see their students in person for the rest of the school year.

County restaurants, salons, and other businesses shut down as well, and when they reopened after a few months, there were state mandated restrictions and limitations.

As time went on, rural Shackelford County, with fewer COVID cases than urban areas, was able to resume many activities, and as fall approached, both Albany and Moran schools cautiously reopened.

With only a couple of hiccups, county schools and businesses navigated through the rest of 2020, and following a Christmas holiday upsurge of cases, things are finally beginning to level off.

Three different vaccines to help prevent the coronavirus have been released over the last three months, with the Moderna vaccine now available to eligible patients at both local clinics.

ResourceCare has already administered 250 first doses, with 150 more scheduled, and the staff will begin giving second doses next week.

Shackelford County Health Clinic is receiving 100 vaccines this week, with appointments being taken.

“Albany citizens have endured a year of challenges, and they have been so supportive and cooperative with all the situations that they have been faced with during this time,” said mayor Susan Montgomery on Monday afternoon following Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement about ending face mask requirements and opening the state 100 percent by next week.

She added that many local citizens will continue to wear face coverings for protection. 

“We have been fortunate here that we’ve had fewer restrictions, but please be respectful of individuals and businesses that choose to limit capacity or implement safety protocols,” said Montgomery. “We are looking forward to better days, but we still want to be careful.”