By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners took final action to proceed with removal of equipment on the county communications tower that is either unused or that the county is no longer being compensated for.

After legal counsel John Montgomery looked over the notice of removal, county judge John Viertel recommended action at Monday’s meeting.

“I have sent communication in three different fashions to WesTex Connect with no response, and I feel like they must be using a different tower,” said Viertel. “We will set a date to clean the tower up.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Kraymer Harbold resigned from his seat on the board of the Shackelford County Hospital District at a July 17 meeting, stating that he feels he can serve the community more efficiently as a part-time paramedic, which he is not allowed to do as a board member.

Harbold, who was appointed to a vacant seat in January and later filed for the unexpired term, is a full-time paramedic and firefighter in another community.

By Sam Waller

Spots are still available for the Albany Masonic Lodge Scholarship Tournament. The three-person scramble will be held Saturday, July 29 at Albany Golf Course.

The field is limited to the first 18 paid teams. All proceeds benefit the Albany Masonic Lodge Wisdom Foundation, which awards college scholarships to high school graduates.

Mason John Tate said the lodge presented $6,000 in scholarships to Albany graduates last May, up from $5,000 presented in 2021 and 2022, which was up from $4,000 in 2020.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Albany City Pool will close for the summer after Sunday, July 30, with normal pool hours until then, according to manager Meg Walser.

Hours are 12:30 to 5:30 pm. through Saturday and 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

The main factor in closing before school starts is availability of lifeguards, most of whom are high school students who will be involved in preseason sports practice next week.

There is just not enough staff to stay open in August, said Walser.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Athletic Booster Club has met its $50,000 fundraising goal to purchase and erect monuments honoring Albany’s three state champion football teams.

Former Booster Club officer Amanda Tabor said an anonymous donation put the fund over the top.

Albany ISD superintendent Jonathan Scott said the work to place the six-foot by six-foot granite monuments outside the entrance to Robert Nail Memorial Stadium will begin soon.

“Our goal is to have the monuments installed by the end of September,” he said, “hopefully sooner.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Moran Masonic Lodge #556 held its officer installation ceremony Saturday, July 22.

The event was hosted by the Clyde Masonic Lodge during a joint ceremony with both Clyde and Cisco Masonic Lodges.

Officers installed for the 2023-2024 year were Worshipful Master John Adams and Senior Warden Bobby Estes.

Masonic Lodge officers serve for a term of one year, with annual installations.

The duties and names of the officers date back to medieval stonemasons’ guilds.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Members of the Ragin’ Red Lion Band began sectional rehearsals for percussion and pit this week, with brass and woodwind sections being added next week in preparation for the 2023 marching season.

Director William Vaughan announced this week that the band will be working on a show entitled “Our World,” written by Luke McMillan.

Vaughan is expecting about 55 members in the band from grades 8-12 this season, with the goal of earning a third sweepstakes award.

By Sam Waller

July has been convention season for Moran FFA students and instructors.

Students attended the 95th annual Texas FFA state convention July 10-14 in Dallas.

This week, Moran superintendent Dr. John Denson and teachers Minnie Denson Bennett and Robert Stanley have been at the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas, also held in Dallas.

At the FFA state convention, students Allen Hebel, Zech Henderson, Alyssa Allred, Ellis Hise, and Cotten Campbell received the Lone Star FFA Degree.

By Melinda L. Lucas

New and ongoing recipients of the Albany ISD Education Foundation scholarships need to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive awards for the fall 2023 semester.

A total of 22 new 2023 graduate recipients need need to bring a class schedule for the fall semester and the award letter received at graduation.

“We’ve only had a few contact us so far,” said AISD administrative assistant Lynsi Musselman. “The sooner we get the information, the quicker we can issue the checks.”

By Sam Waller

It’s almost time for Albany Community Vacation Bible School.

The event, sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance, is for children age 4 through those who have completed sixth grade and scheduled for Sunday-Wednesday, July 30-Aug.. 2. Preschoolers must be 4 years old by Aug. 1.

The theme of this year’s Community VBS is “Twists and Turns,” with children learning about the life of Peter and how he followed Jesus despite the twists and turns of life. The theme verse and prayer is Psalm 25:4 – “Make your ways known to me, teach me your paths.”