By Melinda L. Lucas

With just a little over a week left before the official deadline, a large percentage of the county-wide tax levies will be collected in the next few days.

Taxes assessed during 2021 are officially due on Monday, Jan. 31.

Taxpayers have the option of mailing in their payment as well as coming inside. However, if anyone is concerned about COVID exposure, they can use the drop box (to the left of the main door), mail, or go to to the SCAD website (shackelfordcad.com) for online payments.

By Melinda L. Lucas

An abbreviated meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District board was held Monday evening with one director on phone speaker in order to make up a quorum so that bills could be paid and a couple of other time-sensitive decisions made.

Several other items on both the district and clinic agendas were delayed until next month when more members are present.

An election was called for Saturday, May 7, with the two-year terms of Chris Beard, Myra Hise, Janna Ledbetter, and John Peterson expiring this spring.

By Melinda L. Lucas

At the end of Monday night’s meeting, following the routine closed-session evaluation of AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott, a unanimous motion among the five board members present extended Scott’s contract by one more year to January 2025.

A seven percent salary increase was proposed, contingent upon the 2022-2023 budget.

The action came at the end of a two-hour closed session, with the meeting adjourning a few minutes later.

Scott is finishing up his third full year in the AISD superintendent’s office.

New School Nurse

By Sam Waller

A total of 130 FFA and 4-H members from Albany and Moran will exhibit 236 animal entries this weekend at the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show.

“As usual, we’ve got some folks doubling up on their entries,” Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association president Bronco Askew said, “but they’re able to sell only one animal in the auction.”

Entries include 90 Albany FFA members, 23 Moran FFA members and 41 members of the Shackelford County 4-H Club. Some students have dual membership.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A rapid increase in the number of positive COVID-19 test results last week, along with the Shackelford County Health Clinic having to close for a day and a half at the end of the week, led Albany school officials to cancel classes last Friday.

The number of positive test results reached a one-week high last week with 116 positive results from the 235 tests administered locally, according to the weekly update issued by the county judge on Tuesday.

By Sam Waller

Moran Independent School District will have a pair of school holidays next week.

School will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, for Martin Luther King Day and again on Friday, Jan. 21, for the county stock show.

Despite the Jan. 17 holiday, superintendent John Denson said the school board will conduct its regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. Monday at the Moran Events Center.

Moran High School’s tractor tech team will compete at Katy on Saturday.

By Sam Waller

Albany High School’s senior class will sponsor a bake sale Friday, Jan. 14, in the foyer of the gym during the varsity basketball games against Stamford.

The sale is one of three Project Graduation fundraisers going on this month.

Orders are being taken through Jan. 31 for the Project Graduation Valentine sale.

On Jan. 30, chicken spaghetti lunches will be served to go from 11:30 a.m. until sold out at The Feed Store. There is no set charge for the meals, but donations will be accepted.

By Sam Waller

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes will conduct its Weekend of Champions girls camp Jan. 29-30 at Solid Rock Encampment near Eastland. The overnight camp is for girls in grades 8-12.

“It’s going to be a weekend of equipping young ladies with truth, encouragement, and fellowship,” said Betsy Spraberry, who helps with local FCA events. “We’ll have a great speaker and testimonies along with worship and fun activities.”

Spraberry said FCA membership is not a requirement to attend the program.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A pair of Albany sophomores will travel to Big Spring on Friday to prepare for the All-Region Band Concert on Saturday.

Ashley Sanchez and Trinity McBee both earned seats in the All-Region Band during tryouts held in December at Midland Greenwood High School. Sanchez took 17th chair clarinet and McBee placed as 26th chair on the flute.

The pair, who will be accompanied by band director William Vaughan, will rehearse during the day on Friday in Big Spring and again on Saturday morning to prepare for the concert at 3:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany Chest’s board of directors originally planned to meet Wednesday, Jan. 12 to distribute funds collected during the 2021 campaign, but with the number of positive COVID cases rising rapidly, the decision was made on Monday to postpone.

According to board president Jana Kitchens, the directors are tentatively scheduled to meet at the Feed Store on Jan. 26.