By Sam Waller

The Shackelford County Senior Citizens Center has suspended all organized activities for the foreseeable future because of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Among the programs out on hold is a monthly lunch that was held for the first time in December. Others include Tuesday Bible study and Friday Bingo and games.

“We’ll make a decision every week about what we’re going to do regarding activities,” center volunteer Lynne Simon said. “The big one is Bingo on Friday. We just won’t be having that until things settle down.”

By Sam Waller

4-Her Grace Fry quickly found a cause she could get behind after her family moved to Shackelford County.

The 13-year-old donated 10 percent of the proceeds she received last year from the sale of her show ewe to Closet Angels. The choice of charitable cause was unusual in that the ewe was exhibited and sold at the Kleberg-Kenedy County show in South Texas before the family’s move.

Dawn Fry, Grace’s mother, was drawn to the Closet Angels mission, as was Grace.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School students selected class members as royalty for the 2022 Winter Formal, including this year’s Mr. and Miss AHS. 

The Winter Formal is organized each year by the AHS student council, and this year’s gala was held last Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Whitney Theatre. 

COVID concerns caused last year’s Winter Formal to be cancelled.

Albany seniors Ana Balliew and Taren Farmer, who were both nominated by the junior class, were crowned Mr. and Miss AHS during a brief ceremony toward the end of Saturday night’s event.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A presentation originally scheduled for today for students and the public on the use of vaping products and synthetic drugs has been postponed, according to Albany secondary principal Glen Hill.

A group of registered nurses from Lubbock had planned to talk to both students and the public today during a pair of programs for junior high and high school students and the public on the dangers of using illegal and synthetic drugs, including the use of vaping products.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will conduct its annual business meeting on Feb. 4 with two board positions up for election at the Beehive.

“Ramby Anderson and Clayton Snyder’s terms are up, but I feel like they will be nominated again,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said. “The nominating committee will get together and see who they want to nominate.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The filing period for local elections opened Wednesday for several entities such as the school board, city council and hospital board and will continue until Friday, Feb. 18.

The election date set by the state for all local elections is Saturday, May 7.

Candidates have the 30-day filing period to sign up for a spot on one of the local boards or councils.

By Melinda L. Lucas

At Monday’s regular monthly council meeting, city manager Billy Holson went over budget items that needed to be amended before the end of the budget year on March 31, 2022, stating that a big part of the increases on both the expense and revenue sides are due to donations in different areas, including the golf course, parks, the Aztec Theater, and the fire department.

By Melinda L. Lucas

As is typical, property tax payments at the Shackelford County Appraisal District accelerated just before the end of the year and have continued to come in steadily, according to chief appraiser Clayton Snyder.

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 dropbox (left of the main door), mail, or go to to the SCAD website (shackelford cad.com) for online payments. 

By Sam Waller

Final preparations for the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock show are underway with a workday scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Saturday at the show barn.

The 2022 show starts with weigh-in on Thursday, Jan. 20 and runs through the sale on Saturday, Jan. 22.

All exhibitors are encouraged to participate in this weekend’s workday, with cleaning supplies such as window cleaner to be provided.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of local ­COVID-19 cases has snowballed over the last week, with test results increasing four-fold and rising.

According to the weekly update from the county judge’s office, a total of 109 tests were administered last week with 69 positive results – the highest single week total since the start of the pandemic almost two years ago.

Albany ISD nurse Lisa Russell reported a total of 18 cases last Friday, but the number doubled to 36 as of Tuesday.