By Sidney Bartee

Eight performers are set to hit the stage for CareFest 2022 on Saturday, Aug. 27 at Happy Wife Happy Life Wedding and Events venue.

CareFest is a fundraising event organized by ResourceCare. Proceeds benefit outreach programs.

Tickets are available at www.outhousetickets.com, with prices beginning at $55 for general admission. Preferred limited tickets are $125.

Canopy and VIP tickets have sold out, according to Ragan Riley, who is helping organize the event.

In addition to admission tickets, parking passes and cooler passes are $20.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will resume normal hours of operation Monday, Aug. 22 and begin accepting registrations for the annual community garage sale.

The Chamber office has been closed for vacation since Monday. Aug. 8.

The garage sale is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10. Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said registration will close on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

The Chamber traditionally sponsors the city-wide event on the second Saturday of September.

By Sidney Bartee

The Ragin” Red Band will host a Meet the Band performance on Monday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Robert Nail Memoral Stadium.

All members of the community are invited to the event and be introduced to the band.

Along with introductions, the band will perform the first and second movements of this year’s contest show, titled “Shine” and arranged by Luke McMillan of Abilene, and marching drills by Rodney Gurley of Lubbock ISD.

By Sam Waller

Nearly 150 awards for project completion were presented to Shackelford County 4-H members Sunday, Aug. 14, during the club’s banquet at the Whitney Theatre.

“We had probably a dozen project areas,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “Those ranged from two to 20 kids getting to completion.”

Riley Reames, Faith and Grace Fry, Madailein Beard, and Johnnie Hise were among club members to receive several awards.

“A lot of our seniors completed multiple projects,” Bell said. “Five did record books and got something extra.”

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Kenzie Neve has had a busy and successful spring and summer exhibiting steers across the state.

Neve first took her livestock projects into the show ring in April at the Purple Pursuit Tarleton State University Prospect Show at Stephenville. In Ring A, she came away with Reserve Champion Shorthorn, first place AOC and second place Charolais. In Ring B, she claimed Reserve Champion Shorthorn and Reserve Champion AOC along with second place Charolais.

By Sidney Bartee

With the start of the school year, Albany churches and organizations have already begun youth and children’s services for students, with more activities scheduled to begin in the next few weeks.

Feed Store

Tuesday lunches for juniors and seniors will begin again on Aug. 23 at the Feed Store.

Starting after the first home football game on Aug. 26 are the traditional after-game fellowships.

Fifth quarter begins after the end of home football games and ends at 11:00 p.m.

Friendship Baptist

By Donnie A. Lucas

There were 16 new ­COVID-19 cases reported last week, based on the tests administered at Albany’s two health clinics, an uptick as the school year neared.

The weekly report by county judge Bob Skelton issued Tuesday reported 16 positive test results out of 19 tests given at the two local clinics for the period of Aug. 8-12, compared with nine cases the previous week.

The use of home testing also increased after tests were made more readily available making it unclear as to the actual number of local cases.

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD reported a total enrollment of 97 students for all grades, down slightly from the end of last school year.

Superintendent Dr. John Denson said he expects some fluctuation in the figure as other area districts begin classes.

Principal Jo Hise said she is still receiving calls about taking transfer students.

“We’ve had a really good start to the school year,” Denson said. “The kids were ready to come back, and they’re wanting to learn.”

DEAR Project

By Sidney Bartee

Moran’s annual garage sale is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27, beginning at 7:00 a.m.

Community residents can register for the sale until 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Aug 25 on either the City of Moran or the Moran Buy, Sell, Trade Facebook pages.

“So far I have had nine people sign up,” organizer Michelle Taggart said. “We are cutting off sign-ups on Thursday so I have time to prep and print out the maps and lists.”

Residents can sign up at no cost.

Maps and lists for the sale will be distributed by Taggart at the Sale No. 1 site.

By Melinda L. Lucas

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

During a three-hour session that morning, the commissioners heard from several county employees who asked that funding from the American Rescue Plan Act be used to supplement workers’ pay.