Officers who will serve during the upcoming year for Moran Masonic Lodge #863 were installed in Clyde earlier this summer.

The Moran organization held its officer installation ceremony in conjunction with the Clyde Masonic Lodge officer installation on Saturday, July 13 at the Clyde Masonic Lodge on Oak Street. 

Masonic Lodge officers include Worshipful Master Harley Wheeler, Senior Warden Chris Robinson, Junior Warden Bob EstesTreasurer C.L. Miller, Secretary John Adams Junior Deacon Frank Davidson, and Tiler Earl McFerrin.

Higher limits are now available for borrowers of USDA’s farm loans, which help agricultural producers purchase farms or cover operating expenses. 

The 2018 Farm Bill increased the amount that producers can borrow through direct and guaranteed loans available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and made changes to other loans, such as microloans and emergency loans.

By Kathy Thomson

Although the 2019-2020 school year is underway for faculty at the Moran Independent School District, students will not begin classes until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 26.

Staff development days are scheduled weekdays from Aug. 8-23, and teachers are undergoing mandatory training, preparing lesson plans, and readying their classrooms for the upcoming semester. 

By Kathy Thomson

The third annual Shifters Car Club Truck Show should entice nostalgia buffs and truck enthusiasts to downtown Albany this Saturday, Aug. 17, to see antique vehicles, hot rod pickups, and classic work trucks lined up side by side for judging and viewing. 

Everyone is welcome to come out, walk around the show for free, view the preserved and restored relics of a former time, and listen to the rumble of engines that relied on two- or four-barrel carburetors to mix the fuel and air mixture into the proper proportions.

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Independent School District 2019-2020 school year began today, Aug. 15, with classes starting at 7:55 a.m. on the elementary campus and five minutes later, at 8:00 a.m., for junior and senior high students.

Nancy Smith Elementary had 283 students registered as of Monday, Aug. 12, compared with 272 at the same time last year and 279 two years ago.

“All of the new students that we know of have registered,” said administrative assistant Stephanie Gleitz. 

AJH/SH Registration

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members approved a recommendation to go with the effective tax rate, which is almost the same as last year’s actual rate, during their regular session on Monday, Aug. 12.

They also approved an increase in water and sewer rates per thousand gallons, effective at the first of 2020.

Tax Rate

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County sheriff Edward Miller explained a new “Jail Navigator” program being proposed by the board of the Betty Hardwick Center during a regular meeting of the county commissioners on Monday, Aug. 12.

Miller also gave an update on an insurance claim from a May lightning strike that caused extensive electronic damage at the Law Enforcement Center.

Jail Navigator

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Chamber of Commerce’s bi-annual party at the Aztec Theater at 7:00 p.m. next Friday, Aug. 23 will feature both a look backwards into local history and will also honor three people who are helping Albany shine brightly toward the future.

The “Home of the Here-ford” sign celebration and recognition party is for all Chamber members and prospective members, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany High agriculture teacher Chris Beard said that Albany students will exhibit steers, heifers, goats, and pigs at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene, which runs Sept. 5-14, and those entries are due today. 

Junior livestock show entries must be submitted through the student’s local FFA instructor or county agent, and Thursday, Aug. 15 is the deadline to register for the fair.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In last week’s Back-to-School special section, the News mistakenly switched two of the photos that went with the new teacher bios. Those two portions of the article are reprinted below. The News apologizes for this error. 

Also, the list of teacher assignments from the school inadvertently left off the name of veteran secondary English instructor Melanie Anderson, who will teach junior high ELA.

Whitney Bennett