By Sam Waller

Albany FFA members wrapped up participation at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo with steers and another calf scramble winner.

“We are proud of all of our exhibitors and participants in this year’s West Texas Fair,” Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard said.

Kenzie Neve exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Limousin and also claimed the senior showmanship award.

In addition to placing second in her class with the Limousin, Neve placed eighth in AOC.

Kolt Koemel placed fourth with his  Red Angus.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the October distribution of the commodity food program are scheduled next week.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Albany families who have been certified eligible for the October food distribution program can pick up their commodity food on Friday, Oct. 6 at the back door of the Justice of the Peace office from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Postmaster Laura Gilbreath is officially retiring on Sept. 30 after 33 years of service with the U.S. Postal Service.

A reception will be held on Friday, Sept. 29 at the Albany Post Office lobby from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Gilbreath has served the last 10 years as postmaster of the Albany office, She was the postmaster in Moran for the 12 years prior to that. Her last day in the office was Sept. 15.

By Sam Waller

Xi Chi Pi Sorority has limited openings remaining for its fourth annual Scholarship Golf Scramble.

“A couple of teams have dropped out due to scheduling conflicts,” organizer Lauren Peacock said. “So if anyone is wanting in, they need to call ASAP.”

The three-person scramble is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 at Albany Golf Course.

Entry fee is $150 per team, which includes a fish fry following the competition. Tee time is 1:00 p.m.

By Sam Waller

Moran seniors Neveah Huskey and Caleb York were crowned homecoming queen and king Saturday, Sept. 23, as the school district wrapped up a week of activities.

Moran graduates Jan Hagemann Harber and Donnie Connally were named Coming Home Queen and King.

Conally was Moran’s first – and until last year only – recipient of the Texas Lone Star FFA Degree until 2022 graduates Johnnie Hise and Hannah Rogers achieved it. The three were introduced at Friday’s homecoming assembly.

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD held a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Sept. 19 for the new floor in its gym.

The work was conducted by Jelco of Austin as a cost of $79,978, superintendent Dr. John Denson said.

The project took six weeks from the start of work on Aug. 7 until the floor was ready for use last week. The school wasted little time putting the new floor to work as junior high and high school volleyball teams played their first home matches of the season just hours after the ribbon cutting.

By Melinda L. Lucas

In addition to an update about needed projects from Albany superintendent Jonathan Scott, AISD trustees heard the 2022-2023 audit during a Sept. 18 meeting on Monday, but approval is delayed until the October session.

Board members also learned of plans for the immediate future of the girls basketball program and increased substitute bus driver pay.

Audit Report

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Old Jail Art Center will get an up-close look at three new exhibits during a reception on Saturday, Sept. 23, with the galleries then open to the public during regular museum hours.

The OJAC staff has been busy preparing for the weekend’s opening, with both artists on hand earlier in the week to install their pieces.

In addition to viewing the exhibitions, those attending the reception will have a chance to meet the artists.

Fall Features

By Sam Waller

A fundraising drive to provide a new section to the veterans monument located at the Shackelford County Courthouse is kicking off this month.

Organizer Mary Kay O’Connor said a total of $4,135 is needed to provide the addition to the monument, which now lists more than 500 names of Shackelford County veterans.

“Hopefully, people will make donations to the fund,” O’Connor said. “If we need to have a fundraiser like a meal, maybe I can find some help to do that.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The changing of the weather is a reminder that it is time to consider getting vaccinated against illnesses such as the flu.

Vaccinations for this year’s variant of influenza will be available locally as soon as next week for some local residents, and local health care providers are urging the public not to treat the virus lightly.