Required voting machine update discussed

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County elected officials continued to work on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, spending a good part of Monday afternoon going through the line items prepared by county treasurer Tammy Brown.

During the three-hour session that morning, the commissioners and other officers watched a demonstration of new voting machines, voted to change copier providers, and finalized the verbiage to advertise for bids to repair a bridge on CR 179 (Caldwell Lane).

Voting Machines

Blood drive set Aug. 5

By Sidney Bartee

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Aug. 5.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center offers ­COVID-19 antibody testing at no charge for donors who successfully donate.

The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals. 

Albany News

Mortgage assistance available

By Sidney Bartee

Cornerstone Community Action Program in Coleman is facilitating a grant, funded by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), to help households impacted by ­COVID-19 pay part or all of their mortgage payments for six consecutive months.

Shackelford County families can apply for the funding, according to information received last week.

Applications for the program are available online or in-person at the Cornerstone Community Action Program, 114 Needham St., Coleman TX 76834.

Albany News

Board okays UIL play for homeschoolers

By Melinda L. Lucas

One new teacher was hired and a resignation accepted during a regular meeting of the Albany ISD board of trustees on Monday, July 26, a week later than usual because of the lack of a quorum on the previous Monday.

The board also spent a good portion of the 2-1/2 hour session discussing a new state bill that allows public school districts to decide if homeschool students can participate in the district’s UIL activities.

Albany News

AISD online registration underway

By Donnie A. Lucas

Online registration for all Albany students opened on Monday, with only about 60 of the anticipated 475 enrollments complete as of Tuesday afternoon.

The school district is using the Ascender Parent Portal for registration and a link can be found by using one of two locations on the school’s website, including clicking on the registration information page on the left side of the home page or accessing the red button labeled “Parents Sources.” Then look for the Ascender link.

End of the Season

By Sidney Bartee

The final day for the swimming season at the Albany city pool is Sunday, Aug. 1.

Pool manager Jennifer Bowman said the pool’s closing coordinates with Albany’s two-a-day schedule.

All lifeguards hired at the pool are high school students, and many participate in sports.

“With the pool closing on Aug. 1, we will stop taking pool party reservations after this date,” Bowman said.

Last year, the pool was only allowed to be at half capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it was back to full capacity this year.

Moran organizing new Junior FFA group

By Jillian Lucas

A new Junior FFA organization is being established in Moran for the 2021-2022 school year.

Moran FFA advisor and agricultural science teacher Minnie Denson will be heading up the program.

“Moran students who are eight years of age and in third grade to sixth grade will be eligible to join the Moran FFA chapter as junior members,” said MISD superintendent John Denson.

Denson also stated that students in grades seventh through 12th are eligible now for “active” membership. 

MISD enrollment packets available after Aug. 2

By Jillian Lucas

Moran ISD enrollment packets will be available after Aug. 2, according to school officials.

All students planning to attend Moran schools in the upcoming year will need to stop by the MISD office to pick up an enrollment packet.

“Meet the Teacher” will be held on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Any students that have not collected a packet before this time will be able to receive one at the event. 

Albany News

Cub cheerleaders can still sign up

By Jillian Lucas

The echoes of chants and cheers will be heard throughout the high school campus as Cubs Cheer Camp is set to begin Monday, July 26. 

Camp will be held at the AHS gym from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 26 to July 28.

Campers who are pre-registered are guaranteed a cheer shirt.

Pre-registration is now closed, but students can still sign up on Monday morning without the assurance of a shirt.

The cost is $35 per participant, with each additional sibling adding $20.

There will be a dress-up theme each day of camp.

Albany News

Girls conditioning continues

By Donnie A. Lucas

While the boys are finishing their summer conditioning program today, the girls program will still offer sessions through next Thursday, July 29.

The girls conditioning and sport specific training picked up last Monday after a two-week break and will continue through next week.

Female athletes finished sport specific sessions for basketball skills in June, but volleyball sessions continued earlier in the month. Only conditioning will be offered next week since the volleyball team camp is scheduled for the afternoons.