Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department are asking for volunteers to join them this Saturday, starting at 8:00 a.m. to make needed repairs to the VFD roof.

“When the metal roof was installed, they did not put gaskets between the sheets of metal, and they didn’t use enough screws,” said fireman Joel Viertel. “Rain has leaked in and damaged some of the ceiling tiles in the conference room and it is leaking in the bays also. And we can’t put in any insulation until we get the leaks stopped.”

Trunk or treat is scheduled to take place in Moran on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 5:30 p.m. at the Moran Bulldog Activity Center (formerly the Methodist Church). 

The Moran Parent-Teacher Organization will be serving hamburgers and chips.

Participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles, hand out candy or other goodies, and, if possible, set up various games or other activities for the trick or treaters.

This week’s Fifth Quarter fellowship will be held at the Feed Store Friday night. Oct. 26, following the Albany-Cross Plains football game.

The party continues a series of fellowships hosted by local churches after home football games. All Albany junior high and high school students are invited to attend.

Friendship Baptist and First United Methodist Church are hosting this week and will be serving tacos, according to one of the organizers, Annette Harris.

With rain expected to continue through the end of the week and possibly re-enter the picture again as soon as next Wednesday, the Albany area is already far above the October rainfall average of 2.99”, with 7.28” recorded as of press time on Wednesday morning.

The year-to-date total is 29.44 with more than two months to go, compared with an annual average of 28.36”.

In Albany, there has been 12.60” of rainfall since Sept. 1, while unofficial reports from other parts of the county are as high as 18” for the same period.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election starts next Monday, Oct. 22, and continues through Nov. 2.

Early in-person voting will be held on the first floor of the Shackelford County Courthouse Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., according to election clerk Cheri Hawkins. 

Two directors were re-elected to another term, three new board members put in place, and plans made for the 2019 show during the annual membership meeting of the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association held Monday night, Oct. 15.

A new part-time marketing director was also named during the meeting.

Meeting Details

Longtime director Winifred Waller, now retired, made the traditional motion by proxy to perform a show in 2019, which will be the 81st anniversary for the outdoor musical.

Albany ISD trustees continue to work their way through the list of applicants for the post of AISD superintendent with another special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and a closed session at the end of the regular business meeting on Monday, Oct. 15.

No action or discussion about the candidates has been held in open forum, but the board is starting the interview process this week and is expected to announce a lone finalist by the end of November.

The annual Albany Chest campaign is underway, with directors setting a goal of $42,000 for the 2018 campaign. 

Twenty-six different organizations, including two new applicants, submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board.

Local residents are reminded that everyone is not expected to give large amounts. 

Albany residents will soon be seeing red as the annual Red Ribbon anti-drug campaign kicks off next Monday morning.

The annual “Red Ribbon Campaign” has been officially set for Oct. 22-26 at the Albany school district. 

This is the 30th straight year that the event, which is designed to draw as much attention as possible to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse and its prevention, has been conducted locally. 

The national theme for 2018 is “Life Is Your Journey, Travel Drug Free.” 

Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will help educate local school children about fire safety this Friday, Oct. 19.

Local firemen will make a presentation at the Albany elementary campus on Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. to speak with the kindergarten through sixth graders, according to fire chief Kyle Tischler. 

A presentation for the Headstart and pre-K kids will also take place, but was not yet scheduled as of press time.

Ember, the chief’s fire dog, is expected to be on hand to greet the students.