By Sandy Morris
Albany High School students competed in the virtual Haskell Pow Wow, a University Interscholastic League academic invitational meet, on Saturday, Jan. 16, and several Albany students brought home individual medals.
In addition, Albany students placed first in journalism and science as a team.
By Melinda L. Lucas
During a discussion about providing a dedicated restroom for the rental space at the east end of the clinic building, Shackelford County Hospital District directors agreed to consider bids to remodel space that once served as a shower for the ambulance staff before the present EMS station was built.
By Melinda L. Lucas
At the end of Monday night’s meeting, following the routine closed-session evaluation of AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott, a unanimous motion extended Scott’s contract by one more year to January 2024.
The board also proposed a five percent salary increase a salary increase, effective Sept. 1, 2021.
The action, with a motion by Joe Tidwell and Second by Ginny Ivy, came at the end of a 1-1/2 hour closed session, with the meeting adjourning a few minutes later.
By Melinda L. Lucas
With just a little over a week left before the official deadline, a large percentage of the county-wide tax levies will be collected in the next few days.
Taxes assessed during 2020 are officially due next week, on Monday, Feb. 1. With the Jan. 31 due date falling during the weekend, Monday payments made in person will be accepted, as well as those placed in the drop box that day, according to chief appraiser Clayton Snyder at the Shackelford County Appraisal District (SCAD) office.
By Sandy Morris
Even though it looked as if the Albany Community Chest would fall short of its 2020 goal, donations poured in at the end of the year, surpassing the goal of $41,000 and closing out at $52,550.
Albany Chest board members met Wednesday, Jan. 13 and decided to proceed with the board’s original recommendations allocating $42,250 plus an extra $350 to each organization across the board for a total distribution amount of $51,000.
The Albany Chest still has a total of $2,657.59 in emergency funds remaining in reserves.
By Sandy Morris
Shackelford County residents who have noticed missing items or property around their homes or businesses may be able to reclaim their items.
The Albany Police Department was dispatched on Thursday, Jan. 14 to the 700 block of North 9th Street in Albany in reference to theft.
Albany PD officers took a theft of property report from the owner and then began to search for the vehicle identified by the reporting party as possibly being involved in the crime.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Shackelford County taxpayers will save more than $800,000 over the next 11 years after county commissioners finalized new bonds for the Law Enforcement Center during Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Vince Viaille, managing director for Specialized Public Finance, reviewed the bidding process, stating that BNY Mellon Capital Markets submitted the winning bid at a true interest cost of 0.89 percent, resulting in a savings of $842,569 as a result of the refinancing.
By Sandy Morris
The filing period for local board elections is now underway and as of press time on Tuesday, a total of six candidates had turned in their paperwork for various positions that will be decided on May 1.
There is not a fee to run for the local offices, but prospective candidates must file by 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 12 to have their names listed on the ballot.
Albany City Council
By Sandy Morris
After months of preparation, the annual Shackelford County Livestock Show will take place starting Thursday, Jan. 21 and ending Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23 after the premium sale.
Albany and Moran FFA and 4-H exhibitors are expected to show close to 250 entries at the Shackelford County Youth Livestock Show barn this week.
Weigh-In
The livestock show will start on Thursday, Jan. 21 with weigh-in for hogs, lambs, and goats followed by weigh-in for poultry, rabbits, and cattle on Friday, Jan. 22.
By Melinda L. Lucas
As is typical, property tax payments at the Shackelford County Appraisal District accelerated just before the end of the year and have continued to come in steadily even with limited access at the SCAD lobby, according to chief appraiser Clayton Snyder.
“We’ve been busy since the first part of December, and it’s picked up this month,” said Snyder, who added that the front door remains locked because of COVID concerns.
