By Melinda L. Lucas

With one required public hearing behind them and the second slated tonight, Albany city council members are expected to pass the proposed tax rate of 68.77 cents during a meeting on Sept. 17 at City Hall, starting at 7:00 p.m.

No one from the public attended the first special meeting on Aug. 30. The second is set for 7:00 p.m. today, Sept. 6.

The proposed tax rate of 68.77 cents is the same as last year, but 3.3 percent higher than the effective tax rate of 66.59 cents.

It is calculated to generate additional revenue of $15,695.

The Battle for the Blade and the World Championship Dove Competition will take place in Albany the last weekend of September, and teams are encouraged to send in the $150 entry fee, fire up the grill, and compete in the International Barbeque Cookers Association sanctioned fourth annual Fort Griffin BBQ Cook-Off.

This is the first year that the local cook-off is part of the IBCA.

Cool and drizzly weather this weekend should be ideal for sorting through unused items in garages, closets, and storage buildings, gathering things that are taking up valuable storage space, and getting them ready to sell to new owners during the Albany Chamber of Commerce annual garage sale on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Registering a sale location only costs $25, and should be done at the Depot during normal Chamber hours, from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 11, Wednesday, Sept. 12, or Thursday, Sept. 13.

The third annual Shifters Truck Show is expected to fill the streets of downtown Albany with a variety of vintage trucks on Saturday, Sept. 22, just over two weeks from today.

“We are looking forward to a great day with friends and checking out some cool rides,” said organizer Robert Snyder. “It is open to all types of trucks, up to and including those manufactured in 1987.”

Registration is $20 per entry, and will take place on the day of the show, from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

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

Albany police chief Mike House will run the test this month. 

“It will be my first time to run the test,” said House. “Kyle (Tischler) will not be available that day, so he has given me instructions on how to operate the siren.”

With the fall stock show season already underway, Shackelford County 4-H, Albany FFA, and Moran FFA students have a workday scheduled this Saturday, Sept. 8, starting at 8:00 a.m. to prepare the local show barn for upcoming events.

The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock show barn, located at 8470 US Highway 283 North, just outside of the Albany city limits, needs to be ready to welcome visitors and over 100 show pigs prospects at the first local event of the year next weekend. 

Visitors to Fort Griffin State Historical Site this Saturday, Sept. 8, can chose to extend their stay until late in the evening to enjoy gazing at stars on one of the darkest nights of the year.

This Saturday the sun will set at 7:54 p.m. and the new moon won’t rise until a scant few minutes before dawn. If the clouds stay at bay, viewing should be ideal for a Stars & Skies of Texas star gazing party.

Stars & Skies

Amy Folsom (c) snips the ceremonial banner during a formal ribbon cutting at the new Stitch Niche business at the corner of Baird and Rose Streets. Several local Chamber of Commerce representatives were on hand for the event held on Friday, Aug. 24.

Pick-up dates for the September distribution of the commodity food program are Sept. 6 and Sept. 7.

Thursday, Sept. 6, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Albany families who have been certified eligible for the September food distribution program can pick up their commodity food Friday, Sept. 7, at the rear door of the Justice of the Peace office (former county jail) from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. 

The annual “Dollars for Bob’s Scholarships” fundraising drive gets underway in a couple of weeks.

Sponsored by the Albany Ex-Students Association, the campaign traditionally starts the week of Robert Nail’s birth date, Sept. 13. This is the 51st anniversary of the first scholarship.

Although the annual goal is always set at a minimum of $1,000, fundraising efforts will hopefully bring more in donations.

With interest rates continuing to be low, and the awards made only from the earnings, contributions are more important now than ever, according to Lucas.