By Melinda L. Lucas

Three new exhibitions, including one that cele-brates the Old Jail Art Center’s 40 years of collecting, will be open to the public starting next Tuesday, Feb. 25.

OJAC members can attend a preview reception this Saturday, Feb. 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The three collections will be featured at the Old Jail’s 40th anniversary gala next month on March 28.

Permanent Collection

By Kathy Thomson

There are new faces in the Fandangle office starting this month, with Jamie Parsons taking over as office manager and Scarlett Yates heading up the marketing for the 2020 season. 

Fandangle board president Branch Bartee said this week that directors met several times in January in order to determine how best to fill the vacant office positions, announcing their decision in time for Parsons and Yates to both start working during the fist week in February.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A one-year contract extension was approved for Nancy Smith Elementary School principal John Gallagher, along with similar offers for district business manager Angelyn Faith and director of student services Leigh Lowe, following a closed session at the end of Monday’s regular school board meeting.

Three percent raises, although approved in the separate contract motions by Joe Tidwell, Ginny Ivy, and Kelly Head, are contingent on the 2020-2021 budget.

By Kathy Thomson

Text-to-9-1-1 is now available in Shackelford County, according to sheriff Ed Miller.

“The project has been in the works for a while, and it is now up and running as of the first of the year,” said Miller. 

The nationwide project was designed to give 9-1-1 callers the ability to send a text message to reach emergency call takers from a mobile phone or device. Work on the project began in 2014, was rolled out in a few Texas counties in 2017 and 2018, and more counties were added in 2019.

By Kathy Thomson

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $48,901 from the state this February. The amount is down 4.05 percent from the $50,966 payment received in February of 2019.

Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $86,045, down by 16.40 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $102,929 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $2,344 this period, for a 34.88 percent increase from the $1,738 received in February 2019.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County Hospital District administrator Jera Fairley was given a raise, and board members were updated about intensified “drug security” policies during the hospital board’s regular monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 17.

The directors also formally called for an election on May 2 since the filing period ended Friday with five candidates signed up for four positions.

Closed Session

by Kathy Thomson

Tuesday, Feb. 18 was the first day of early voting for the March 3 primary election, with balloting taking place in the foyer on the first floor of the Shackelford County Courthouse.

As of press time on Tuesday afternoon, 22 voters had cast ballots.

Early voting will continue through Friday, Feb. 28. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 21.

The ballots must be returned to the county clerk’s office by return mail before voting closes on March 3.

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Independent School District and the Shackelford County hospital district will both hold elections on May 2, as will the Moran city council. 

The other three local governing bodies – Albany city council, Moran school board, and Fort Griffin SUD board, do not have any contested races and are expected to cancel their elections. 

Fourteen new candidates joined various local races before last week’s Friday cut-off.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city manager Billy Holson proposed a balanced budget of $2,936,850 at Monday’s regular meeting of the city council, and elected officials expect to approve the budget at a March 9 session following the required public hearing.

Carolyn Waller presided over the meeting in the absence of mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery, who was ill.

Budget Proposal

By Melinda L. Lucas

Courthouse security was the main topic of discussion during Monday morning’s meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners and other elected officials.

Precinct 1 commissioner Steve Riley, in light of a recent alleged threat at the local elementary school campus, suggested that elected officials consider taking security steps to protect county employees at the Courthouse.

“It’s a shame we even have to be talking about this, but in this day and time, we have to be cautious,” said Riley.