By Sam Waller
Three Shackelford County 4-H members received awards for their entries in the Fine Arts Division at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene.
Carley Kreitler took three first places and a second with her projects. She was first in junior pillow with a jack-o’-lantern reading pillow, junior holiday with a monster decoration, and junior household sewn accessory with a hanging dish towel. She took second in junior clay with gnomes.
By Donnie A. Lucas
ResourceCare is hosting the 4th annual food drive contest for the Albany and Cross Plains locations, with a Chick-Fil-A lunch on the line for the winning class in both towns.
The contest will continue through Monday, Oct. 9, with students competing by grade level at both schools.
The school that collects the highest number of non-perishable foods will be declared the overall winner, with the top class at both schools with the highest number of donations treated to the special lunch.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Students who are needing extra help can attend one of three after-school programs offered at Nancy Smith Elementary and the Albany Jr./Sr. High campus.
All students in grades 7-12 can attend Lion Academy on Tuesday through Thursday this year, while fifth and sixth graders can stay after school on Monday through Thursday for Cub Academy.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Open registration for GED classes continues weekly on Monday and Tuesday nights at the Shackelford County Library, according to local instructor Kenzie Fairchild.
Classes started Monday with three students enrolling; however, students are free to begin the program at any point.
Weekly classes are held on Monday and Tuesday each week from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and will follow the Albany ISD holiday calendar.
By Donnie A. Lucas
It was a banner year at the 37th annual First Impressions pig sale benefiting the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association on Sunday, including the largest number of pigs sold, most buyers, and the highest gross sales.
According to organizer Mike Parsons, a total of 128 head was sold, amounting to $132,700 in sales.
The highest selling individual didn’t set a record but was still a big number at $9,600. That record was set last year with a price of $20,000 paid for the grand champion boar pig. In 2021 the top pig sold for $5,000.
By Sam Waller
A total of 18 participants took part in the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s community garage sale Saturday, Sept. 9.
Chamber manager Brandi Lehew said the event went well.
“I reprinted maps a couple of times Saturday morning,” Lehew said. “It was very busy. I drove around and looked at the sales, and there were a lot of cars at the sale locations.”
Lehew, who organized the event for the first time, said she foresees no changes to the format moving forward.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Two artists will be featured in the Old Jail Art Center’s fall exhibitions, scheduled to open at the local museum with a members’ reception and dinner on Saturday, Sept. 23.
The evening is free to all OJAC members, who are asked to RSVP by next Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Memberships range from $15 for educators and $25 for individuals to $1,500 for “Sustainers.” To obtain a membership, call the Old Jail Art Center at 325-762-2269, email- -kbellah@theojac.org, or visit the museum’s website, www.theojac.org.
Fall Features
By Melinda L. Lucas
Application forms for Albany Chest funds are now available at both local banks and The Albany News, with a deadline of Friday, Sept. 29.
Forms can also be requested by email at news@thealbanynews.net.
Funding requests, which are mandatory to be able to receive Chest monies, will be reviewed at the board’s next meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 4, when a goal will be set.
Letters to previous Chest donors and new prospects will be mailed soon after the Oct. 4 meeting to kick off the 2023 campaign.
By Sam Waller
Five Moran FFA students exhibited heifers last week at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene.
Zech Henderson, Caleb York, Kacenda Thompkins, MaeKayla Kersey, and Landon Herrell all showed in the Other Registered Breeds division.
Herrell placed fourth, York eighth, Kersey ninth, Thompkins 11th, and Henderson 12th.
“It was a very good first show for our show heifer team,” Moran FFA advisor Minnie Denson Bennett said.
End Of Six Weeks
The first six weeks grade period for Moran ISD ends Thursday, Sept. 14 (today).
By Donnie A. Lucas
A ribbon cutting is set for 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Shackelford County Show Barn to give the public and involved officials a look at the recently improved facility.
The ribbon cutting is being sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce immediately following the usual Friday lunch meeting.
The event is open to all residents, including donors, livestock show officials, county officials, anyone who helped with the project, or residents who are interested in seeing the upgrades.
