By Sam Waller

Teachers and staff at the Moran Independent School District underwent CPR training this week along with other preparations for the start of the school year.

The training was conducted by Deloris Londerholm, part-time school nurse for the district.

“CPR is state mandated,” Moran principal Jo Hise said. “Praise God, we have not had to use it yet.”

Classes begin Monday and the school district has a busy slate of events scheduled for the last few days of summer vacation.

By Sidney Bartee

A meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the Moran Community Center for those interested in perpetuating the Dennis Cemetery.

The goal of the meeting is to create a committee to maintain and oversee the property.

According to volunteer Jana Kitchens, Brad and Maureen McCollum were overseers of the cemetery for many years, and new community members are needed to collect donations and make decisions concerning the property.

By Sam Waller

The field for the Albany Golf Club’s Labor Day tournament has been filled, but organizers are taking names for a waiting list.

“We are all full up,” golf club board member James Waters said, “and I’ve got a couple or three teams that are still on the standby list.’ 

Waters encouraged those who would like to be put on the standby list to to sign up at the clubhouse, where a signup sheet is located, or call him 325-627-3598.

By Sidney Bartee

Board members of the Albany Chest will meet to organize the 2021 fundraising campaign, nominate and elect new directors, and choose officers for the upcoming year during a Sept. 1 meeting 

The meeting will be held at the Feed Store at 5:15 p.m.

Current board chair Amy Kelly said four directors will complete their current terms, with Kelly, Tisha Wilkins, and Mindy Skelton set to rotate off the board and Sara Wilson eligible to serve another term.

By Sam Waller

The 35th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale in Shackelford County has been scheduled for Sept. 12 at the Shackelford County Livestock Show Barn.

The sale benefits all Shackelford County youth who exhibit at the county livestock show.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Bronco Askew, president of the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association, said.

By Sidney Bartee

The Ragin’ Red Band’s Community Night was rescheduled from Aug. 16 to Aug. 23 due to weather this week.

The event will still be held at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium and is set to begin at 8:00 p.m.

The band will perform what they’ve been working on throughout summer rehearsals and director Will Vaughan will introduce all members for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Members of the Band Booster Club will also be present at the event to help raise funds for the band trip to Colorado during spring break.

By Sidney Bartee

As the school year begins, hundreds of children commute to and from the local campuses by school bus, car, bicycle, and on foot.

Drivers should be aware of the increased risk of injury to children that results from speeding or distracted driving, especially when combined with students who may forget to watch for oncoming traffic.

Although the first couple days of classes at both Albany school campuses went very smoothly, school authorities want to put more community focus on school transportation safety.

Flashing Lights

By Melinda L. Lucas

An accident right at the Albany city limits on Highway 6 Monday afternoon sent two local residents to the hospital, where they remained at press time with the possibility of being dismissed on Wednesday.

Adam Viertel, 40, and Cooper Edgar, 16, collided a little before 2:00 p.m., with Viertel headed south, and Edgar, an Albany High School student, turning north to go to football practice.

Both were taken by ambulance to Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County residents applying for FEMA Individual Assistance following February’s winter storm can get help in filing their claims from members of the Albany Lions Club, with a deadline of Monday, Aug. 23. 

Claims can be filed by calling 1-800-621-3362.

“We’ve had some training from FEMA personnel so that we can assist people who have questions about uploading their pictures and documents,” Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton said. “The applicants have to call the FEMA number first and get an account set up.” 

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.