Large crowd expected at CareFest

By Sidney Bartee

Nine artists are set to hit the stage for CareFest 2021 on Aug. 28 at Happy Wife Happy Life wedding and event venue.

The gates will open to the public at 1:00 p.m., and bands will begin to play at 2:00 p.m.

The bands and musicians for this year are Roger Creager, Stoney Larue, Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Dylan Wheeler, Shea Abshier, Randy Brown, 360 Band, Cole Barnhill, and Jeff Martin.

Albany News

Budget proposal delayed

By Melinda L. Lucas

Directors of the Shackelford County Hospital District met Monday with the intention of proposing a budget and tax rate for the 2022 year, but left after almost four hours with plans to work on the numbers again in a couple of weeks.

Board members spent some time working through line items in the district portion of the budget and later reviewed the clinic budget during a separate session, but because of time constraints, they decided to delay action.

Albany News

Commissioners propose budget, tax rate

By Melinda L. Lucas

Following a series of budget workshops over the past month, Shackelford County commissioners met in a regular session on Monday morning, Aug. 16 to propose a deficit budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 and a tax rate that promises to raise “no-new-revenue” (NNR) for the upcoming tax year.

Several parts of the proposed budget were discussed in depth on Monday, including increasing county employee salaries by five percent, accounting for an additional $67,420, not including retirement, Social Security, and Medicare costs.

Albany News

AISD expenditures projected at $6.1M

By Melinda L. Lucas

During their regular session on Aug. 16, Albany ISD’s board of trustees set a date for a special meeting to adopt the 2021-2022 budget and set a tax rate.

The board plans a 7:30 a.m. meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 31, the last day that the budget can be adopted, according to state law.

Budget Projections

Superintendent Jonathan Scott, who met with the board remotely because he has been quarantined, went over the second draft of the budget.

Albany News

Gala tickets selling fast

By Melinda L. Lucas

Tickets for the Oct. 9 Friends of Fort Griffin Gala featuring Larry, Steve, & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers.

The $50 tickets are limited to 300 seats, with response to the announcement two weeks ago even speedier than expected. 

“Half the tickets are already gone,” said Susan Waller, who is coordinating the event for the 17th year. “I just want everyone to know that you’re definitely not going to be able to wait until the last minute to decide. That will be too late.”

Albany News

Number of active cases still rising

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of local residents testing positive for the COVID-19 virus reached 21 over the last two weeks, with a total of 79 tests administered.

The results are the combined totals from both the Shackelford County Hospital Clinic and the Albany ResourceCare Clinic, for the period of Aug. 2 through Aug. 13.

Shackelford County Judge Robert Skelton issued an update on Tuesday for the two-week period, and results for the first two days of this week from the hospital district clinic were also added to the totals.

Albany News

District expects 500+ students

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany ISD is expecting just over 500 students at the start of this school year, about the number the district ended with in May.

Following “Meet the Teacher” sessions at both Nancy Smith Elementary and the Albany Junior/Senior High campuses on Monday evening, local administrators were looking for a total of 501 total students to show up for classes yesterday for the first day of school.

Ombudsmen needed

To address long-standing care problems in long-term facilities that were exacerbated by COVID, the Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteers to serve as advocates for individuals living in nursing and assisted living facilities. 

Ombudsmen educate residents, families, and facility staff and protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents. Services are free and confidential.

Albany News

Man arrested after high speed pursuit

By Melinda L. Lucas

A Shackelford County man was arrested just outside of Cisco after a high speed chase last Thursday, Aug. 5 and is currently being held in the Shackelford County Law Enforcement Center on a $500,000 bond.

Jerry Lee McGough, 50, of Moran was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, as well as with felony evading with a motor vehicle.

According to county sheriff Ed Miller, his office, along with the Texas Ran­gers had been investigating McGough for about a week, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday, Aug. 4.

Moran garage sale set Sept. 2

By Sidney Bartee

Citizens of Moran will hold their annual garage sale on Saturday, Sept. 4, beginning at 7:00 a.m.

The deadline for community members to register a sale is 12:00 noon on Thursday, Sept. 2.

According to community volunteer Michelle Taggart, there is no cost for Moran residents to sign up.

“After community members sign up, I will put numbered signs in their yards, and then pick them up after the sale is over,” Taggart said. 

Maps and lists will be available on the day of the sale at the Moran Community Center.

Albany News
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