Children from pre-K to sixth grade are invited to grab their megaphones, lace up their cleats, tune up their instruments and come “gear up for life’s big game” at the Albany Ministerial Alliance supported Community Vacation Bible School Game On! taking place next week, July 16-20, at Friendship Baptist Church.

The theme verse for this year is 2 Peter 1:3. His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

Junior high and high school youth still have a couple of days to sign up for the remaining spots at The Feed Store’s lake retreat scheduled to take place the last weekend of July.

Registration is $25, and the signup deadline is Monday, July 16.

“We are trying to limit it to 30 students, but currently we are still accepting applications,” said Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins. “The girls will sleep inside and the boys will be outside, so we are hoping to borrow sleeping bags and tents for them. We will be sure to tag them and return them afterward!”

Albany’s new Academic Booster Club recently announced that it has reached its ambitious $150,000 developmental goal, and the funds are already being put to work with several educators attending special workshops and equipment purchases made for local school programs.

In addition, the need for “building out” a Creative Minds Facility, or “Maker Den” as it will be known at Albany ISD, received generous funding of $200,000 from an anonymous donor.

What It’s All About

Members of the Shackelford County Appraisal District’s board of directors passed a preliminary budget of $371,361 for 2019, an increase of about three percent from the current budget, during a meeting held on June 8.

The budget proposal is being presented this month to all county taxing entities, but will not be adopted until sometime this fall.

It is prepared early in order that participating tax entities can be aware of any additional expenses and include them as they prepare for the next fiscal year, according to assistant chief appraiser Clayton Snyder.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is partnering with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to host the third annual #TXwindmills and #TXwatertowers Virtual Road Trip in July.

The TWDB is on the lookout for two iconic and important Texas water symbols that help define the story of Texas water: windmills and water towers. 

Preparations are beginning for the 15th annual gala planned by the Friends of Fort Griffin for Saturday, Oct. 6.

An open bar with premium brands, a rib eye dinner, silent and live auctions, music, and dancing will all take place at the fundraiser held again this year at Lynne and Clifford Teinert’s Collins Creek Ranch.

Doug Moreland and the Flying Armadillos will provide live music.

A cheer camp for local girls ages three years through sixth grade, originally planned for next week, has been rescheduled due to conflicts with VBS and with the twice yearly refinishing of the high school gym floors.

The First Baptist Church of Moran will host a Vacation Bible School from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m. the week of July 30 through Aug. 4.

The VBS is free for children from four years of age through those entering sixth grade this fall.

“We will serve a hot meal each night at 6:00 p.m.,” said organizer Jo Hise. “Then we will have Bible study, crafts, music, and recreation.”

The VBS theme this year is Game On! 

“We will finish off the week with a tailgate party on Friday, Aug. 4, at 7:00 p.m.” Hise said.

Bible Study

Volleyball two-a-days at Moran ISD are scheduled to start on Aug. 1.

“Dakota Fowler is coaching volleyball this year,” said MISD staff member Jo Hise. “The varsity girls will have their first scrimmage on Aug. 3, in Rotan. And it looks like we will have six middle school girls willing to play, and be able to field a junior high volleyball team this year.”

Football two-a-days at Moran High School are scheduled to start on Aug. 6.