The filing period for March 2024 primary elections officially opened on Saturday, Nov. 11, with two incumbents already filing on Monday and several others picking up the required paperwork.

City officials met for a brief session on Monday, Nov. 13, splitting the city’s 411 votes for the Shackelford County Appraisal District’s board of directors between Bruce Bailey and John Tate, current board members who also reside within the city limits.

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary have had to use a make-shift computerlabastheschool’s library this semester while damage to the actual library has been repaired. Hopefully, the renovated space will be ready in thenexttwotothreeweeks for classes to use again, but they may not recognize the facility when they return.

After a long search, a new staff member is joining the Old Jail Art Center’s Education Department as Family & Public Programs Coordinator. Stephanie Swaim of Abilene, a studio artist focused on printmaking and photography, officially began her duties alongside OJAC director of educator Erin Whitmore.

Students and community members have only a couple of days to vote for the staff member who will wear the “Turkey Teacher” costumenextTuesday,Nov. 21 prior to the release for theThanksgivingholidays.

Shackelford County 4-H got November off to a busy start last week with a Horse Club meeting and the general club meeting on Monday, Nov. 6.

Albany’s John Tate has been elected to a position on the TexasAssociation of Soil and Water Conservation District’s state board. Tate was selected to represent Area 5 on the fiveperson panel, succeeding J.C.MathiewsofWoodson.

TheShackelfordCounty ShowBarnwillbetheplace to be for anyone interested in show pigs on Sunday, Dec. 3.

ShackelfordCountyresidents can commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans by participating inNationalWreathsAcross America Day, scheduled this year for Saturday, Dec. 16.