By Kathy Thomson

Once every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau asks every household to fill out the census questionnaire by mail, online, or by phone, and local officials are requesting that everyone in Shackelford County complies.

“It is so important to get the census turned in to keep our numbers accurate,” said mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery. “Please take time to do that.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Local banks are already being flooded with applications for loans available through the recently passed stimulus legislation know as the CARES Act in light of the impact on small businesses due to disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

The legislation was passed relatively quickly and signed into law by President Donald Trump last week, offering a variety of sources of help for small businesses, which by definition includes companies with a workforce of 500 or less.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Taking advantage of the state’s new allowance for virtual public meetings, the Albany ISD board of trustees gathered on Zoom for a special session Monday evening to postpone the May election and to clarify temporary grading guidelines during the ongoing COVID-19 school shutdown.

Earlier in the month, Gov. Greg Abbott took the unprecedented action for a limited time in order to maintain government transparency while reducing face-to-face contact for required public open meetings.

By Lynsi Musselman

Brookshire’s Grocery Company is striving to make a challenging time easier on the Albany community. 

Brookshire’s will be open on Easter Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., an unprecedented change that has not happened in the corporation’s 92 year history. 

This essential local business has also changed the regular store hours to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The first two hours are set aside for senior citizens and first responders. 

By Kathy Thomson

Tomorrow, April 10, is the deadline for local youth livestock exhibitors to clean out their pens at the FFA barn from this year’s show animals and also the deadline to purchase ear tags for some of next year’s livestock shows.

Steer and heifer tag orders for the major shows need to be turned in to Albany ag advisor Chris Beard or Shackelford County extension agent Kloey Painter by April 10.

April 10 is also the deadline to turn in tag orders for swine, lambs, and goats for the State Fair of Texas. 

By Kathy Thomson

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $41,174 from the state this March. The amount is down 40.94 percent from the $69,720 payment received in March of 2019.

Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $127,219, down by 26.31 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $172,649 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,794 this period, for a 43.88 percent increase from the $1,247 received in March 2019.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County followed the City of Albany in declaring a local “state of disaster due to a public health emergency” when county judge Robert Skelton signed documentation last Thursday, March 26.

The City of Moran is required to follow the county-wide guidelines, but Moran city council members are also reportedly poised to file a similar ordinance.

By Donnie A. Lucas

With the announcement made Tuesday that schools across Texas will remain closed until Monday, May 4, local parents and students will continue to receive assignments online or through packets of printed materials.

Both the elementary and secondary campuses have been providing instruction since schools were first shut down three weeks ago, and that will continue until classes resume.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The staff at the Old Jail Art Center say that they are “physical distancing,” not “social distancing” as they continue working to serve area residents during COVID-19 constraints.

The museum is currently closed to the public, with all group gatherings cancelled or on hold.

“We hope to stay connected through a variety of take-home and at-home programs for all ages,” said Erin Whitmore, education director at the museum.

@Home Survival Kits

By Melinda L. Lucas

Several more Albany offices and businesses have locked their doors in the last week, including the walk-in lobby at one local bank, limiting access to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

There are also a few more event cancellations on the growing list below.

The News has not been notified about any other interruptions in the schedule but will include those when reported.

CLOSED UNTIL 

FURTHER NOTICE

•Albany Pet Hospital

•Old Jail Art Center