Newt Koemel, a 2016 Albany High graduate and a current alternate member of the Texas Tech Meat Judging Team, placed among the top individuals at the Houston Livestock Show competition this month.

Koemel was 13th overall high individual in the B alternate division, eighth high in overall beef, and fourth in beef judging.

“I like judging beef more than pork or lamb, and I had a good day at Houston,” said Koemel. “I appreciate being able to represent the Texas Tech meat team.”

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $69,720 from the state this March. The amount is up 92.72 percent from the $36,175 payment received in March of 2018.

Payments to date for the 2019 year to the city of Albany are $172,649, up by 23.62 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $139,655 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,247 this period, for a 9.79 percent decrease from the $1,382 received in March 2018.

Moran ISD cheerleader tryouts took place shortly before spring break, and members of the high school and junior high cheer teams for the upcoming school year have been announced.

Cheer sponsor for the 2019-2020 school year is elementary teacher Alyson Orsak.

Hannah Rogers is the high school team captain.

Members of the varsity cheer squad are Baylee Orsak, Sondra O’Keefe, Dariann Hawley, Tiffany Wade, Reshaley Schafer, Emily Murk, Harmony Slaughter, and Daphani Crews.

Sage O’Keefe is the varsity mascot.

Shackelford County Hospital District directors learned that a new ambulance approved at the February meeting will cost about $10,000 less than expected.

Longtime ambulance service employee Chad Havens, who oversees general maintenance of the local fleet along with his medical duties, reported at Monday night’s session that he toured the Frazer plant in Houston last week.

The purpose for Havens’ Houston visit was actually to finalize the specifications for the vehicle, which will be a 2019 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel chassis with a customized “box.”

Beginning April 1, Closet Angels’ new hours will be Mondays only from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. according to coordinator Lori Reames. 

In addition to changing hours, organizers are also asking that local residents be on the lookout for anyone taking unauthorized loads of donated clothing and shoes after hours.

New Hours

The facility will no longer be open on Wednesdays. 

Although Albany High School’s One Act Play (OAP) did not advance to bi-district competition this year, five members of the troupe won special accolades at the district contest in Stamford last week, and co-director Jenny Scott complimented the entire group on their performance.

Moran mayor Steve Taggart, city councilman Tyler George, and new employee Kristin Bishop took a Nitrification Action Plan class on Mach 6.

Texas Rural Water Association instructor Quintin Turner presented material that included where to test for nitrification in a water system, what measures to take to decrease the likelihood of nitrification, and what to do if it develops.

“Moran purchases from Fort Griffin, who does all the treating,” said Taggart. “But Moran does have a licensed water works employee that monitors it.”

Moran ISD is closed this week, March 11-15 for spring break, with classes resuming at the usual time on Monday, March 18.

The final school holidays of the year will be for Easter weekend on March 19 and 22, and Memorial Day weekend on May 24 and 27. 

School will release at 12:30 p.m. the last two days of the semester, May 30 and 31. 

High school graduation will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31. 

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany this afternoon, March 14, and Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 

Blood drives in Albany have been sponsored by the Kiwanis Club for over 20 years.

Randall Palmore started playing the steel guitar almost 30 years ago and the acoustic guitar a decade or so before that, and this spring his musical skills are being acknowledged by his peers, who have selected him to be inducted into the Cowtown Society of Western Music’s “Heroes of Western Swing” at the non-profit’s 21st Annual Western Swing Fest on May 4.