At least one Albany resident has been approached recently by phone scammers, and he is warning other local residents to be on the alert.

Sam Burge said that he and his wife Dimple received a call a couple of weeks ago informing them that their grandson had been arrested and needed money for legal fees. They were asked for credit card information.

“They had a lot of personal information about both us and our grandson,” said Burge. “They knew his name, our names, that he was a Marine, and where he is stationed.” 

Students at the secondary campus recently elected their class officers for Albany Junior/Senior High School’s 2018-2019 school year, and those officers are already busy getting their classmates organized for Homecoming activities and for the upcoming Fall Fest.

Class Officers

New class officers for the seniors are Madison Wilkins – president, Cameron Dacus – vice president, Haley Stewart – secretary, Caroline Masters – treasurer, Kade Everitt – reporter, and Colton Box – parliamentarian.

Local groups and exes are invited to join the parade for the Albany High School homecoming celebration this year. 

Albany Junior/Senior High School will have class floats and a parade on Friday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 p.m.

The parade is open to everyone; however, all individuals, organizations, or class groups that would like to have an entry in the parade need to contact principal Edward Morales at 325-762-3974 to reserve a spot in the lineup.

National Fire Prevention Week will be observed on Oct. 7-13 this year, and local volunteer firefighters are reminding citizens to fly their flags at half staff on Oct. 7.

The VFD is planning to hold fun educational activities in local schools the following week, after all Homecoming activities are over.

“We will be at Nancy Smith Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 19, at 9:00 a.m.,” said fire chief Kyle Tischler. “I am still trying to get a time firmed up to be in Moran.”

The next regular test of the local emergency siren is scheduled for 12:00 noon, on Wednesday, Oct. 10, depending on the weather. 

The regular trial is scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable.

The siren should sound one or more of the three emergency tones during the test. 

SEVERE WEATHER

WARNING

Constant wail

3 minutes

FIRE DANGER

10 seconds up

10 seconds down

2 minutes 

FLOOD DANGER

Albany students will enjoy a break from classes on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8, as teachers and support staff participate in staff development.

The session about reporting data for student progress will be held for all staff in the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria, and will be conducted by Region 14 personnel.

Classes will resume for all AISD students on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the normal 7:55 a.m. time for the start of the school day for both campuses.

The second six weeks period is already underway and ends on Nov. 9.

The meeting of warm, damp air pumped in from the Gulf of Mexico and a slow moving cold front drifting lazily across the Big Country has produced a long-awaited widespread rain event, with totals across the county spanning a wide range from about four inches all the way up to 11 inches. 

Paul Ivy, manager of Collins Creek Ranch in northern Shackelford County, reported better than average precipitation for September.

“We’ve had a little over four inches of rain this month,” he said. “That’s really good news.”

Local organizations who plan to apply for funding from the Albany Chest need to finish and submit their applications by 5:00 p.m. this Friday afternoon, Sept. 28.

Board chair Amy Kelly said Monday that only eight application had been received so far, and she emphasized that all organizations wishing to receive an allocation from the Albany Chest must submit a written request by the deadline.

The truck show originally scheduled to take place in downtown Albany last Saturday, Sept. 22, was postponed until the rainout date – Saturday, Oct. 13.

“We were glad to get the rainlast weekend, but it is hard to reschedule around all of the other fall events,” said organizer Robert Snyder. “We will try and get the word out about the date change on social media and in flyers.”

The rainout date falls on Albany’s Homecoming weekend.

“Maybe that will be good for our numbers,” Syder said. “And it will give the Homecoming crowd another activity they can enjoy.”

Albany city council members adopted the proposed tax rate with no discussion on Thursday, Sept. 20 at a special session scheduled in order to fit in the two required public hearings.

No one from the public attended the hearings on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6, necessary because the proposed tax of 68.77 cents is the same as last year, but 3.3 percent higher than the effective rate of 66.59 cents.

By law, taxpayers must be allowed to comment on or protest anything above the effective rate.