By Lynsi Musselman

Albany’s United Parcel Service (UPS) man, Larry Loveland, has delivered countless packages to residents for over 15 years.

Some might say he is one of the most important visitors to town, next to Santa Claus.

Loveland is depended on by his customers, Monday through Friday, and always “delivers.”

On Monday, Aug. 10, while Loveland was making his way to Albany via Hamby, he made a stop at a house on his route in western Jones County, just north of Fort Phantom Lake.

By Lynsi Musselman

Board members of the Albany Chest will meet to organize the 2020 fundraising campaign, nominate and elect new directors, and choose officers for the upcoming year during a Sept. 2 meeting that will be held at The Feed Store at 5:15 p.m.

Current board chair Amy Kelly said four directors will complete their current terms, with positions held by Robert Dacus, Lacey Anderson, Susan Montgomery, and Susie Beard up for election.

According to the Chest bylaws, directors can serve up to two three-year terms before they cycle off.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Shackelford County Appraisal District’s board of directors passed a proposed budget of $391,745 for 2021, an increase of just 1.1 percent from the current budget, during a meeting held Aug. 14.

Snyder had given preliminary figures to participating taxing entities earlier in the summer so those board and council members could include them as they prepare for the next fiscal year, according to chief appraiser Clayton Snyder.

Budget Details

By Lynsi Musselman

The Old Jail Art Center was notified recently that the museum had received a Humanities Texas Relief Grant.

This summer, Humanities Texas awarded over $1.1 million to 198 Texas nonprofits that suffered financial losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recipients other than the OJAC were other museums, libraries, preservation organizations, and heritage and cultural centers.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Even during unusual times like the current coronavirus pandemic, regular blood donations are needed in order to ensure the continued adequacy of the supply at area hospitals, so Hendrick Regional Blood Center’s bloodmobile is in Albany on Thursday, Aug. 20 for the regularly scheduled Kiwanis Club sponsored blood drive.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

By Lynsi Musselman

Residents who live along or travel Highway 6 in Shackelford County have been anticipating road construction to begin for well over six months.

TxDOT public information officer Tanya Brown reported this week that the long-awaited paving project planned for Highway 6 between Albany and Eastland County will begin this October.

The $12 million project, that includes widening of Battle Creek Bridge, will hopefully be wrapped up by June 2021.

By Lynsi Musselman

Back to school is not just for academics. Church families are also getting  their back-to-school programs underway to educate the spiritual aspect of life.

First Baptist Church 

FBC youth minister Campbell Terry said JAM will kick off Wednesday, Sept. 9, but the youth group starts gathering a couple of weeks before that on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Terry said there will be a small get-together to start the school year, with details still being finalized.

Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church

By Lynsi Musselman

Shackelford County youth between the ages of eight and 18 who are interested in participating in 4-H activities are encouraged to attend a 4-H club meeting on Monday, Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at The Feed Store.

County Agent Kloey Painter, who will serve as the club manager this year, said the kick-off party will be a time to go over events and pass out T-shirts.

The event is designed to be an informal meeting and 4-H membership drive.

By Lynsi Musselman

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released August state sales tax revenue amounts for counties across the state of Texas, including Shackelford County.

The City of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $41,015 from the state this month. The amount is down 2.04 percent from the $41,872 payment received this time last year.

Payments to date for the 2020 year to the City of Albany are $313,393 down by 16.61 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $375,843 had been made.

By Donnie A. Lucas

City officials are strongly urging the use of face coverings such as masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the school year kicks off next week and larger groups of residents will be together again for the first time since March.

For the second week in a row, county judge Robert Skelton reported no new cases in the county, as well as no active cases according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.