By Lynsi Musselman

Every year Shackelford County seems to have an intense wildfire season, and this summer has been no exception.

With 13 consecutive days of 100 degree temperatures this month, and one day reaching 110 degrees, the threat for wildfires has increased.

Shackelford County Volunteer Fire Department secretary Kristy Brooker reported that within the last week, the department has been called to at least 10 fires.

Brooker added that three were put out by rainfall before the SCVFD could get there.

By Lynsi Musselman

Registration is nearly full for the annual Albany Golf Club’s Labor Day tournament being held on Sept. 5 and 6.

Club officer James Waters said there are only three spots available for the morning tee time.

“All 27 afternoon spots are booked and there are no longer golf rentals available for morning and afternoon tees time,” Waters explained.

He added that the morning tee time at 8:30 a.m. will cap off with 27 teams as well.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany Independent School District sporting events will look a little different this year as the school is required to follow government guidelines due to COVID-era safety precautions.

 Athletic director Ryder Peacock said officials are working continuously to find solutions that are manageable and easy to use.

“The districts are also attempting to work together to provide routines that we can all use, so that each week is not something new,” Peacock explained. “And we’re trying not to over-complicate things.”

By Lynsi Musselman

The 2020-2021 school year for Moran ISD gets underway on Monday, Aug. 24, at 8:00 a.m.

The staff has been busy preparing for students to arrive for face-to-face learning or on the computer for remote instruction. 

Principal Jo Hise reported that current enrollment is 110 with a few families choosing remote learning.

According to superintendent Danny Freeman, the plan is to re-open as normal for in-person students with enhanced sanitation measures, daily health screenings, and personal protective equipment.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany Independent School District 2020-2021 school year began yesterday, Aug. 19 with the tardy bell ringing at 7:55 a.m. on the elementary campus and five minutes later, at 8:00 a.m., for junior high and high school students.

Nancy Smith Elementary started the first day with 276 students enrolled.

Out of the 276 students at the elementary campus, 14 students chose the remote learning from home option being offered by Albany ISD due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

NSES enrolled 283 students in 2019 and 272 in 2018.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany city council met briefly on Tuesday morning to propose a tax rate, discussing a couple of options but agreeing quickly that they did not want to “put any more burden” on local taxpayers than necessary.

City manager Billy Holson stated that he was “comfortable” working with what is now termed the “no-new-revenue’ (NNR) tax rate, previously known as the effective tax rate.

The NNR is based on a rate that would produce the same amount of taxes if applied to the same properties taxed the previous year.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners took care of several agenda items before continuing to work on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year at a special session on Monday afternoon, Aug. 17.

Lease agreements for motor graders for both Pct. 2 and Pct. 4 were approved.

Pct. 2 commissioner Ace Reames reported that he had traveled to Oklahoma City to look at a 2019 Caterpillar motor grader, while Cody Jordan of Pct. 4 found a John Deere at Yellowhouse in Abilene.

By Donnie A. Lucas

For the third consecutive week, no positive tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus were reported in the county, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

In a notice on Facebook by county judge Robert Skelton, the latest report made on Wednesday listed no new confirmed cases and no cases still active.

However, the report did report two “probable” cases, which is defined as a person who meets clinical criteria but who tests negative.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD’s board of trustees set a date for a special meeting to adopt the 2020-2021 budget and tax rate during a regular session on Monday, Aug. 17.

The board plans an early morning meeting on Monday, Aug. 31, the last day that the budget can be adopted, according to state law.

Budget Projections

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.