By Melinda Lucas

A budget of $3,049,455 was proposed for the Shackelford County Hospital District at the end of a special meeting on Friday afternoon, Sept. 4 by the board of directors.

The vote was made on a motion by Chris Beard, seconded by Jo Ann Estridge. 

Some of the biggest jumps came in the areas of back-up pay for ambulance personnel as the board tries to bring wages up to a competitive level and in ambulance equipment as plans are made for the purchase of a cardiac monitor and a new self-lifting stretcher.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany Junior Senior High principal Glenn Hill has adopted ‘Row the Boat’ as the 2020-2021 school year’s ‘never give up’ mantra.

“This year is a year of uncertainty for everyone,” Hill said. “I wanted to use something with the staff and students to help us face any adversity that may come our way.”

By Lynsi Musselman

Shackelford County 4-H Club is starting a horse program, beginning with monthly clinics, according to Shackelford County extension agent Kloey Painter.

“We plan to have a roping clinic, barrels and poles, goat roping and tying, and a polo horse clinic,” Painter said. “There are plans to host some play days and mini rodeos in Shackelford County.”

Painter said there will be a meeting for anyone interested at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m..

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany agriculture students started the show season with the first weekend of the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene.

Market lamb shows and the first cattle judging took place on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5 for Albany participants.

Pepper Martin showed in the junior lamb shows A & B, and Bryce Asher showed in junior lamb show B.

Gracie Price placed third in the open Angus heifer show on Friday and placed fourth in the junior Angus heifer show on Saturday.

By Lynsi Musselman

Friendship Baptist Church will be hosting its  annual three-day revival event this Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10:55 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., on Monday, Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Mary Lee Vinson of Hawley will lead the music, and pastor Kerry Pack from Andrews will be the speaker for all four services of the Homegrown Revival.

Pack is a traveling pastor previously of Cross bar Cowboy Church in Andrews. He is a 1996 graduate of Albany High School.

By Lynsi Musselman

This weekend, on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m., the Shackelford County Youth & Livestock Association members will host the 34th Annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale at the county show barn.

Organizers are expecting 16 consignors from four states to bring 100 pigs for the competition and sale.

Local 4-H and FFA members and their families started working two weeks ago to insure that the facilities are clean and ready for the annual pig sale.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany’s Ministerial Alliance will host a Fifth Quarter fellowship for the second consecutive week on Friday night at The Feed Store.

First Christian Church and The Feed Store are on the calendar to sponsor the group this week.

Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said last week had a great turnout with 115 kids attending.

The fellowship begins immediately after the varsity home football game against Dublin and concludes at 12:00 midnight.

The Feed Store is scheduled to be the location for the next four fifth quarter events.

By Lynsi Musselman

Registration for General Education Development (GED) classes will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14 at the Shackelford County Library.

Instructor Kenzie Fairchild said registrants need to bring an acceptable form of identification.

In order to qualify for the class, a student needs to be 17 years of age or older. Students who are 17 will need a parent’s consent.

The Albany GED class will begin on Monday, Sept. 21, meeting at the library on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the school year. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees passed a budget that is $137,065 short during a special early morning session on Monday, Aug. 31, meeting the required state deadline.

Total expenditures are projected at $6,057,943, while revenues are listed at $5,920,878.

However, AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott said that even though the board approved a deficit budget, school officials hope to break even at the end of the year, with some “worst case scenarios built in” to the expense side and very conservative revenue projections.

By Lynsi Musselman

While a ferocious lightning storm lit up the sky Saturday night, strikes ignited several fires across Shackelford County that lasted well into Monday, with some volunteers working non-stop through a 48-hour stretch.

Shackelford County Rural Volunteer Fire Department secretary Kristy Brooker said that the fire department received three calls all at the same time on Saturday night.