By Sam Waller

Nine members of the Shackelford County 4-H Club participated in a variety of events at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The team of Jordan Fikes, Brook and Cayla Green, and Faith and Grace Fry competed in horse judging. Faith Fry was third-high individual in the senior contest with Grace Fry 10th in the junior contest.

The Fry sisters also competed in the Horse Skillathon. Faith placed seventh in the senior division with Grace sixth in the intermediate division.

By Sam Waller

Two Albany FFA students made the sale last week with their barrows at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Callan Edgar finished third in Class 106 Crossbreds.

Tatum Grady was fourth in Class 97 Crossbreds.

Two other locals placed well in the barrow show, which ran Feb. 18-25. Cash Edgar was sixth in Class 76 Crossbreds, while Tye Edgar was penned, making the top 12, in Class 103 Crossbreds.

Also exhibiting barrows were Chelsy Parsons and Paige Price.

By Sam Waller

Little League tryouts have been rescheduled for this weekend following last week’s winter storm.

League organizer Paul Hamilton said tryouts for players ages 8-12 will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at the Little League complex on Griffin Road. Those unable to attend Saturday may try out at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 6.

Hamilton said tryouts are only for players who have not participated in Albany Little League before.

By Sam Waller

Four Moran students earned individual honors Monday, Feb. 28, at the District 13-1A One-Act Play contest at Eula.

Hannah Rogers earned a spot on the All-Star Cast, while Harmony Slaughter was named Outstanding Crew. Alli Scott and Emily Murk received honorable mention on the All-Star Cast.

Moran performed “The Girl in the Mirror” by Bruce Jacoby under the direction of teacher Bryce Hughes. Moran was not among the three schools to advance.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Just over 100 county voters showed up in person last week to vote early in the upcoming Texas primary elections, which is about 100 fewer than two years ago during the 2020 primaries.

Election Day is next Tuesday, March 1, but voters from all precincts can still vote early at the Shackelford County Courthouse in either the Democratic or Republican  primaries through this Friday, Feb. 25.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Friends of the Old Jail Art Center will finally get to celebrate the museum’s 40th anniversary this Saturday with a long-awaited party under the big tent.

The OJAC’s Ruby Jubilee was originally scheduled in the spring of 2020 but the pandemic forced a two-year wait for patrons of Albany’s “Jewel of the Prairie.”

Betsy Senter, who is chairing the celebration’s planning committee, promised “fun raffles, a signature drink called a red slipper, and dueling pianos for entertainment.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Only two of the six local entities located within the county will hold elections on May 7, with the other four entities cancelling elections because there were no contested races.

The filing period for each of the local races ended Friday, Feb. 18, with only the Shackelford County Hospital Board and the Fort Griffin SUD Board drawing more candidates than terms expiring this year.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive COVID-19 cases tested locally held steady over the last week, with 13 positives results from the 44 tests administered.

The three local testing sites reported a combined total of 14 positive test results from the 33 tests administered during the week of Feb. 7-11.

According to the weekly report issued by county judge Bob Skelton, the hospitalized cases in Trauma Service Area D, which includes Abilene and Brownwood hospitals, dropped significantly from 73 to 44 patients at the time of the report on Monday.

By Sam Waller

The Rock Hill School building in southwest Shackelford County will continue as the polling site for Precinct 4 after the county obtained title to the property in January.

Ownership of the one-room, wooden structure – which dates back to at least 1920 – was somewhat murky following multiple school consolidations in the area. Rock Hill was absorbed by Hamby, which later consolidated with Clyde.

By Melinda L. Lucas

One-year contract extensions were approved for principals  Glen Hill at Albany Junior/Senior High School and John Gallagher at Nancy Smith Elementary School, along with similar offers for district business manager Angelyn Faith and director of student services Leigh Lowe, following a closed session at the end of Monday’s regular school board meeting.

Seven percent raises for all four are contingent on the 2022-2023 budget.