By Kathy Thomson

The City of Moran is still working to complete the paperwork required before they can begin using the $275,000 in HUD Community Development Block Grant funds earmarked for replacing approximately 2,500 of eight inch sewer lines running along Fisher Avenue and Grand Avenue, and as of press time on Tuesday, commodities were scheduled to be available as normal on Friday, April 3. However, COVID-19 concerns have interrupted most other city activities in Moran.

By Melinda L. Lucas

City, school, and county officials are on the front lines of the worldwide coronavirus surge as they carefully but quickly navigate state and federal recommendations to rein in the “beast” before it grows to the proportions that it has in other countries.

In addition to Albany’s school closure for a minimum 14-day period and Moran ISD’s shutdown at least through April 3, local mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery has taken steps to try to protect local citizens, particularly those susceptible to becoming critically ill.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees made a tough decision during a Monday night meeting dominated by coronavirus concerns, eventually voting unanimously to suspend local classes through the end of March.

The board and administrators worked quickly through their regular agenda, including the selection of a new property insurance provider, before adjourning so the emergency part of the session, which had been set for 7:30 p.m., could be convened.

COVID Plan & Action

By Melinda L. Lucas

Coronavirus protocol for both the health clinic and the ambulance service was reviewed during a regular meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s directors on Monday, March 16.

Also during the meeting, the board approved a request by local EMT Colby Herron for tuition assistance as he pursues his training to become a paramedic.

The funding will be formally provided after new amended guidelines are presented at the April meeting.

COVID19 Protocol

By Melinda L. Lucas

School breakfast and lunch for local students during the period that classes are suspended were still up in the air at press time, but Albany ISD administrators were hopeful that the cafeteria staff could begin distributing meals as soon as Thursday morning, March 19.

According to AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott, many school districts are “ready to roll” because the initial guidelines are those used for summer food programs.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany High School students are dealing with numerous schedule changes and cancellations due to the COVIC-19 pandemic including postponement of the District 8-2A academic contest, originally scheduled to take place next Monday, March 23.

“The University Interscholastic League has said we cannot have our district meet until after March 29,” said AHS UIL coordinator Rick Davis. “I have not heard officially when we will have it, but that they were looking at the first week of April.” 

By Kathy Thomson

Members of the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association are hoping to meet sometime before April 15 for a general meeting to evaluate the 2020 show, consider any proposed rule changes, and address any concerns that have been brought to the attention of the Association, but like many activities, it is currently on hold due to coronavirus concerns.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $41,174 from the state this March. The amount is down 40.94 percent from the $69,720 payment received in March of 2019.

Payments to date for the city of Albany are $127,219, down by 26.31 percent from the comparable time last year.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,794 this period, for a 43.88 percent increase from the $1,247 received in March 2019.

Payments to date for Moran are $5,582, up by 25.16 percent from the comparable time in 2019.

By Kathy Thomson

The spread of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus which causes the disease COVID-19, has quickly upended everyday life around the world, with quarantines, school closures, event cancellations, working from home, and empty spaces on store shelves becoming the new normal for many.

Everyone across America has been asked to do their part to try and “blunt the curve” (slow down the rate of new infections) so that health care professionals and hospitals are not overwhelmed beyond capacity.

Guidelines

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany school officials have announced that all school facilities, including the weight room, gyms and the “green room” have been closed to both students and the public through March 31.

Working off of recommendations from the Texas Education Agency, UIL, and CDC guidelines, the closure is part of the attempt to stem the spread of coronavirus.