By Lynsi Musselman

With a full week of school in the rear view mirror, hundreds of local children have been shuffled to and from campus by bus, car, bicycle, and on foot.

Texas Department of Public Safety and Albany Independent School District remind drivers to be extra cautious as school zones become more active, and to be aware of school bus safety.

COVID-19 Safety

According to AISD, transportation will be provided during the fall semester as conditions are evaluated and ridership numbers evaluated.

By Lynsi Musselman

The era of COVID-19 has brought schools, students, and parents many challenges, but it has also cleared the path for new ways of learning that are a solution for some.

Albany Independent School District currently has 16 students participating in the remote learning option the first six weeks of school.

AISD director of student services Leigh Lowe reported 14 of those students were at Nancy Smith Elementary School and two students were at the secondary campus.

The Abilene Basketball Chapter (ABC) is actively recruiting new officials for the upcoming 2020-2021 junior high and high school basketball season. 

Training is available to all new ABC chapter members and help for uniforms will be provided by current ABC members.

ABC dues are $35 for new members and $70 for veteran officials. All officials are required to register with the Texas High School Basketball Officials Association (THSBOA) for $50. 

New self-service features on farmers.gov will help farmers and ranchers manage their conservation activities online and request assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

By Lynsi Musselman

Every year Shackelford County seems to have an intense wildfire season, and this summer has been no exception.

With 13 consecutive days of 100 degree temperatures this month, and one day reaching 110 degrees, the threat for wildfires has increased.

Shackelford County Volunteer Fire Department secretary Kristy Brooker reported that within the last week, the department has been called to at least 10 fires.

Brooker added that three were put out by rainfall before the SCVFD could get there.

By Lynsi Musselman

Registration is nearly full for the annual Albany Golf Club’s Labor Day tournament being held on Sept. 5 and 6.

Club officer James Waters said there are only three spots available for the morning tee time.

“All 27 afternoon spots are booked and there are no longer golf rentals available for morning and afternoon tees time,” Waters explained.

He added that the morning tee time at 8:30 a.m. will cap off with 27 teams as well.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany Independent School District sporting events will look a little different this year as the school is required to follow government guidelines due to COVID-era safety precautions.

 Athletic director Ryder Peacock said officials are working continuously to find solutions that are manageable and easy to use.

“The districts are also attempting to work together to provide routines that we can all use, so that each week is not something new,” Peacock explained. “And we’re trying not to over-complicate things.”

By Lynsi Musselman

The 2020-2021 school year for Moran ISD gets underway on Monday, Aug. 24, at 8:00 a.m.

The staff has been busy preparing for students to arrive for face-to-face learning or on the computer for remote instruction. 

Principal Jo Hise reported that current enrollment is 110 with a few families choosing remote learning.

According to superintendent Danny Freeman, the plan is to re-open as normal for in-person students with enhanced sanitation measures, daily health screenings, and personal protective equipment.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany Independent School District 2020-2021 school year began yesterday, Aug. 19 with the tardy bell ringing at 7:55 a.m. on the elementary campus and five minutes later, at 8:00 a.m., for junior high and high school students.

Nancy Smith Elementary started the first day with 276 students enrolled.

Out of the 276 students at the elementary campus, 14 students chose the remote learning from home option being offered by Albany ISD due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

NSES enrolled 283 students in 2019 and 272 in 2018.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany city council met briefly on Tuesday morning to propose a tax rate, discussing a couple of options but agreeing quickly that they did not want to “put any more burden” on local taxpayers than necessary.

City manager Billy Holson stated that he was “comfortable” working with what is now termed the “no-new-revenue’ (NNR) tax rate, previously known as the effective tax rate.

The NNR is based on a rate that would produce the same amount of taxes if applied to the same properties taxed the previous year.