By Sandy Morris

Despite the weather, the OJAC is offering a free art activity kit again his week, with children ages four to 12 invited to make a dream ladder toy.

Kits are available from the special activity trunk outside of the museum gate through Sunday, Feb. 21. 

Each week, the OJAC has kits for new types of crafts in the trunk. 

The activities combine visual art with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with motor-skill development, and social studies or language arts themes. 

By Sandy Morris

Two new exhibitions will open to the public at the Old Jail Art Center starting Saturday, Feb. 27 and run through Saturday, May 22.

The museum is open limited hours at present, and no public event is planned because of COVID precautions.

Both exhibitions are available for viewing from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

Penumbra

Billy Hassell’s Penumbra exhibit features large scale paintings offering perspectives and views of animals and nature that are rarely seen or are extinct.

By Sandy Morris

The Shackelford County hospital district will be the only entity holding an election on Saturday, May 1, as other local races were uncontested following the end of a month-long filing period.

Filing ended last Friday afternoon, Feb. 12.

Other local governing bodies, including the Albany and Moran city councils, Albany and Moran school boards, and the Fort Griffin SUD board, do not have any contested races and are expected to cancel their elections. 

Hospital Board

By Melinda L. Lucas

Free COVID rapid tests are still available at the Shackelford County EMS station Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

The tests are free, but county citizens must have a valid drivers license and an email address in order to receive a test. 

For more information or to schedule a test, contact Shackelford County EMS at 325-762-3313.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD superintendent Jonathan Scott announced at the end of last week that Monday’s regular school board meeting had been postponed until Feb. 22.

“With the anticipated winter weather headed our way this weekend and Monday, I have rescheduled the board meeting to the following Monday,” said Scott on Friday.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors met on Tuesday night, Feb. 16 with the primary purpose of approving payment of bills, and that’s about all they had time for, with a nearby house fire interrupting the session.

Board president Jo Ann Estridge said that a special session will need to be called before the next regular meeting scheduled March 15 in order for the directors to take care of several items that were on Tuesday’s agenda.

By Melinda L. Lucas

In addition to dealing with paralyzing cold during the last few days, Albany citizens have been stunned by two devastating house fires that took the life of a local woman and  completely destroyed both homes.

Melvina Irene Fryar was in her family home on Kenshalo Street when fire was reported around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. She graduated from Albany High School in 1969 and had lived in Albany for most of her life.

By Sandy Morris

& Melinda L. Lucas

Old Man Winter blew into Shackelford County with a vengeance Sunday morning with freezing drizzle, snow flurries, temperatures in the teens and low 20s, and a wind chill near zero.

Unfortunately, Sunday’s weather was only the beginning of the winter blast, as the remainder of the week has seen warnings in effect for wind chills falling into the negative 15 and 20 degree range and temperatures staying in the low teens and single digits, dipping down below zero several nights. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

A lengthy discussion on Monday morning to possibly adopt a local policy in connection with Texas Senate Bill 944, which updated laws around public information and retention, was tabled until the next meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Chamber is bringing back the Hereford Ball celebration 100 years after the original ball in 1921, and unfortunately, there are no longer any tickets available.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Whitney Theater.

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said the tickets for the ball, which is a dress-up celebration of Shackelford County’s ranches and history, went fast.