By Donnie A. Lucas

The membership drive and ticket sales for the 2023 season of the Fort Griffin Fandangle are well underway, with the annual membership Sampler set for April 15 at Reynolds Bend.

Letters were mailed in January to previous members of the association, and invitations to the Sampler are being mailed daily as new or renewal memberships are received.

Memberships are available at seven levels ranging from Pioneer, open to anyone 65 years or older, to Platinum at $5,000.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Individual and team photos of Albany’s eight Little Dribblers team will be taken on Saturday, Feb. 18 in the lobby of the main gym, starting at 8:15 a.m.

Schedules will be sent home with elementary students on Thursday, as well as given to coaches so they can share with parents.

In order for players not to have to come any earlier than necesssary, only 10 minutes per team is being allowed for the photos, so parents are asked to be on time.

Everyone needs to be present for the team photos even if individuals are not ordered.

By Sam Waller

Moran resident Tate Tabor was arrested Tuesday after his son brought a valentine box to his kindergarten party with commercial fireworks and “fuses.”

Classes at Moran Independent School District were briefly interrupted Tuesday, Feb. 14 when the “suspicious package” was discovered by a teacher between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m.

Tabor was later arrested on charges of “prohibited weapon,” with additional charges pending.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s one-act play cast and crew will attend a workshop Friday, Feb. 17 at Clyde to prepare for district competition, scheduled for for Monday, Feb. 27 at Abilene Wylie.

Moran is performing “Little Women,” adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott, under the direction of teacher Bryce Hughes.

FFA News

Three Moran FFA students exhibited hogs at the San Angelo Stock Show this week.

Cotten Campbell showed a gilt on Sunday, Feb. 12, while Ellis Hise showed a barrow on Tuesday, and Allen Hebel showed a barrow on Thursday (today).

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD recently obtained a floral cooler for students to use in floriculture projects and classes.

“With this, we will be able to make fresh flower arrangements and take certification tests for the Texas State Floral Association,” agriculture teacher Minnie Denson said. “It also has the potential to morph into a business that the students run and gain experience in that aspect. I’m excited to get more flowers and start doing more arrangements.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Study Club is seeking donation of a quilt to be raffled off as a fundraiser later this year.

The Study Club raffles off a quilt each year during its annual Quilt Show, traditionally held during the Fort Griffin Fandangle, with a hand-pieced quilt being raffled to raise funds for scholarships.

The quilt raffle is one of two fundraising projects the Study Club has, along with cookbook sales, to fund scholarships.

The club is also seeking new members to assist with projects, which include operating the Shackelford County Library.

Abilene Teachers FCU is bringing financial literacy education to over 15,820 students and residents in several Texas counties, including students at Albany schools in Shackelford County.

Students at 104 schools and the surrounding communities have free access to Banzai, an award-winning online program and content library that allows users to practice real-world finance from the safety of their homes or classrooms using any internet-enabled device.

At a time when a solid foundation of practical financial knowledge is critical, these resources will make a huge impact on users.

Ryan Mark was named to the Dean’s List for the 2022 fall semester at Austin College. His GPA for the term is within the top 20 percent for all undergraduate students at Austin College.

Mark, a 2022 honor graduate of Albany High School, is the son of Amy and Jeff Price.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Last Saturday’s fair-weather family festival at the Old Jail Art Center seemed to trigger a deluge of parents with their children in tow to enjoy the first nice day after almost a week of being “held captive” indoors.

OJAC staff members are hoping that the stream of visitors continues next week with plans to show the museum a little love when Hearts for Arts Week gets underway on Tuesday.

Showing Love

During the week of Valentine’s, museums all over the country, including the Old Jail, are celebrating Hearts for Arts.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With just over a week remaining in the filing period for several local May 6 elections, only incumbents have signed up for terms on one of the six boards or councils subject to election, and so far, there are no opposed races.

Board member posts and council positions are subject to election by the public for both Albany and Moran school boards and city councils, along with the Shackelford County Hospital District and the Fort Griffin SUD.

Candidates have until Friday, Feb. 17 to have their names placed on the ballots for any of the local elections.