The city of Albany received a sales tax allotment of $48,272 from the state in August of 2018, up 12.37 percent from the $42,957 payment received in August of 2017, and received an allotment of $44,955 this September. The September payment is 1.76 percent less than the $45,763 sales tax allotment received from the state during the corresponding month in 2017.

Payments to date for the 2018 year to the city of Albany are $388,741, up by $41 (0.01 percent) compared to $388,700 received at the same time last year.

The City of Moran Volunteer Fire Department is hosting “Fall Fun in the Park” at the Moran City Park this Saturday, Oct. 20, starting at 5:00 p.m.

Free activities include live music by Southern Trail, Trunk or Treat, games, and a bounce house.

“Bring a chair and enjoy a fun night of community fellowship,” said organizer Michelle Taggart. “Come join the fun!”

The caravan celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Texas Forts Trail arrived at Fort Griffin on Thursday morning, with park employee Eric Abercrombie presenting a history of the fort, the Flat, and the Fandangle.

According to Susan Waller of the Friends of Fort Griffin, who was among the greeters at the park, several of the visitors took golf carts out to see the buildings during their 30-minute stay.

Dr. Tim Chandler of Hardin-Simmons University and several of his history students were among those in the caravan, which numbered close to 40.

An enthusiastic but smaller than normal group enjoyed the 15th annual Friends of Fort Griffin Gala Saturday night at the “Flat” on the Collins Creek Ranch.

The Gala, held the second weekend of October each year, is sponsored by Friends of Fort Griffin as a fundraiser. Proceeds are earmarked to restore buildings at Fort Griffin State Historic Site, where the frontier military post was located.

SPOKEN: Ardon B. Judd Jr. Oral History Project opened to the public this Tuesday, and all visitors to the Old Jail Art Center can now view the recorded stories and life histories of several Albany residents anytime the museum is open, according to archivist Molly Sauder. 

An assortment of canvas tarps and tents are being erected at Fort Griffin today in preparation for this weekend’s Living History Days, but heavy rain tomorrow could cause student participation numbers to be lower than normal, according to program specialist Eric Abercrombie.

“We have had additional school districts contact us this week to confirm they are planning to attend,” he said. “But if it is raining hard on Friday, some schools may decided not to come after all.”

Albany native Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Dyess is the focus of “4-4-43,” a documentary produced by historian John D. Lukacs, and directed by Lukacs and Tim Gray, that will be shown at the Aztec Theater on Saturday morning, Oct. 13, during the Ex-Students Association’s 10:00 a.m. business meeting.

The hour-long movie is based upon Lukacs’ book Escape From Davao subtitled the Forgotten Story of the Most Daring Prison Break of the Pacific War.

All those who paid membership dues for the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association are invited to the annual membership meeting set next Monday, Oct. 15.

The traditional event will be held at the Albany Visitors Center starting at 5:30 p.m.

The three-year terms of John Ayers, Shelly Bartee, and Paul Ivy will be up for re-election this year.

Terms of directors Treca Edington and Steve Waller, who were re-elected in 2016, will expire next year.

Local groups and exes are invited to show their school spirit by entering the Albany High School homecoming parade this Friday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 p.m.

“Holidays” is the theme for this year’s parade, and Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and New Year’s Day floats are being fabricated by classes at the secondary school.

The parade is open to everyone; however, those that would like to have an entry in the parade should contact principal Edward Morales at 325-762-3974 to reserve a spot.

All five members of the Albany City Council met in closed session for 45 minutes at the end of Monday’s regular monthly meeting for the annual evaluation of city manager Billy Holson, but there was no action when the session was reopened to the public.

Prior to that, there were only a couple of routine items reviewed on the regular agenda, with the open part of the meeting lasting only about 20 minutes.

Financial Overview