By Sandy Morris

A raffle and a brisket plate fundraiser are scheduled at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 21 to benefit local resident Kristi Brooker. 

Brooker, who is fighting stage four breast cancer, has been a long-time supporter of the community and continues to serve as a volunteer firefighter. 

The brisket plate fundraiser will be held at the Bank Park and will include brisket, beans, and potato salad.

The cost is a suggested donation of $10 per plate, and all meals will be served ‘to-go’ starting at 11:00 a.m.

By Sandy Morris

Albany junior high and high school held cheerleader tryouts on Friday, March 12 prior to Spring Break.

The 2021-2022 varsity squad will include Kam Browning, Elizabeth Chavez, Savannah Hobbs, Brooke Kayga, Avery Kleiner, Gracie Price, Ella Webb, and Robyn Trail.

The junior varsity cheerleaders will be Ann Davis, Myleigh Leveridge, and Makenna McNeill.

Chey’anne Weaver was selected as mascot for the next school year. 

By Sandy Morris

Classes in the Albany schools will resume on Monday morning, March 22 following a week-long spring break, and AISD students and staff were happy to learn that their upcoming Easter weekend will not be cut short.

AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott announced last week that due to Winter Storm Uri and its state-wide impact, the Texas Education Agency had approved the “Missed School Days Waiver” that his office had applied for last month. 

By Sandy Morris

The sophomore Cross Examination debate team of Leddie Leech and Ella Webb competed in the state meet on Monday, March 15.

The team debated four rounds but did not make the finals held on Tuesday. 

Sponsor Jenny Scott said it was a long day for the girls, but they never quit.

By Melinda L. Lucas

All seven of Shackelford County Hospital District’s directors were present for a long meeting on Monday, March 15, much of which took place in closed session to discuss individual employee evaluations and job descriptions.

A similar closed session about personnel was held March 8.

There was no action either night when the meetings were reopened to the public.

“Probation” Clarification

By Sandy Morris

The annual Fandangle Sampler invitations have gone out in the mail, and Fandangle artistic director Lorna Ayers will begin rehearsals next week.

The annual Fandangle Sampler is being held at Reynolds Bend on the Lambshead Ranch on Saturday, April 17. 

Open Rehearsals

Ayers said rehearsals for the Sampler will begin on Tuesday, March 23 at the Aztec Theater, and she encourages everyone to attend.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With a “kickoff meeting” held last Thursday, community leaders are currently working to expand access of high speed internet in Shackelford and Throckmorton counties, with a special survey open through the end of May.

According to county judge Robert Skelton, he and other organizers are already working to obtain completed residential, business, and agriculture surveys from local residents.

By Sandy Morris

The West Texas Food Bank will once again distribute food boxes to residents in Albany and Moran.

According to Shackleford County Justice of the Peace James Breeden, the distribution will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 18 in front of the JP’s office. 

“These food boxes are available to everyone in the community,” said Breeden. “Nobody will be denied, and there are no restrictions on who qualifies.”

Each person may receive one box of food and two gallons of milk.

By Sandy Morris

The National Wildlife Federation recently sent out letters to mayors of all cities in the path of the Monarch Butterfly migration, and Albany mayor Susan Montgomery was a recipient of one of those letters. 

“The letter asked that we all take the Monarch Mayor Pledge and proclaim the week of March 22 to March 27 as Monarch Awareness Week,” Montgomery said. “The Monarch is near extinction, and by making this pledge, we commit to work toward creating a habitat for the butterfly.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Following a late afternoon meeting with representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton is asking local residents and property owners affected by last month’s winter storm to make sure they have completed a FEMA survey by Sunday, March 21.