By Sam Waller

Commencement may be more than four months away, but fundraising for Albany’s 2022 Project Graduation is moving into high gear.

Kenzie Fairchild, one of the parents organizing the event, said the first of three fundraisers scheduled for January started this week.

“On Wednesday, all students elementary through high school received order forms for our Project Graduation Valentine sale,” Fairchild said. “We’ll have Oreo truffles and little gifts like stuffed animals. Those forms will be due Jan. 31 and items will be delivered on Feb. 14.”

By Sam Waller

The Old Jail Art Center has received a pledge from the Charles E. Jacobs Foundation to match up to $100,000 for the museum’s Annual Appeal fundraising effort.

The pledge is quadruple  that made by the foundation the last two years.

“Everything is going really well with the Annual Appeal and we appreciate all the people giving,” Susan Montgomery, OJAC’s membership and development coordinator, said. “And there’s still time to give.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the January distribution of the commodity food program are set for today (Thursday) in Moran and tomorrow for Albany recipients.

The monthly food program will be held from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the Moran City Hall today, and again Friday from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. in Albany at the Justice of the Peace office on the courthouse square.

All current participants were sent an application form for the 2022 program that must be completed and returned in order to be certified as qualifying for the program during the coming year.

By Sam Waller

Planning continues for the Shackelford County livestock show with fundraisers underway and a work day at the county show barn scheduled.

The show will be held Jan 20-22.

Bronco Askew, president of the Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association, said a finance committee meeting on Monday, Jan. 10, is the next step.

“We’re going to try to finalize getting the monies appropriated,” he said. “We’ve sent out fundraising letters, and now everybody’s noses are to the grindstone getting ready.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

At a Dec. 27 meeting, Shackelford County commissioners heard an update from 259th Judicial District chief probation officer Jon Cooke about the possible need for additional funding to pay housing of a local juvenile placed in Hayes County.

Cooke reported that a $25,000 grant had been approved from his region for the juvenile’s continued care, which should be enough support until April 2022. 

Additional funding from Shackelford County may be required later in the year, but the item was tabled for now.

Redistricting Plan

By Donnie A. Lucas

After a week of fewer positive test results just before Christmas, the number of COVID-19 cases rose again last week, according to a report issued by Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton on Monday.

For the week of Dec. 27-31, a total of 52 ­COVID-19 tests were administered at the local testing sites, with 18 positive cases reported.

Only five positive cases were reported for the week of Dec. 20-24 out of the 25 tests administered.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Just a couple of days before Christmas, almost $12,000 was still needed to reach the Albany Community Chest’s 2021 record goal of $46,000.

Then, with last-minute reminder cards in the mail and local residents winding up their year-end giving, the campaign surged, and a report earlier this week showed that contributions had moved well over the 100 percent mark. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

The filing period for local elections to  various entities such as the school board, city council, and hospital board will begin Wednesday, Jan. 19.

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

Candidates will have 30 days to sign up for spots on one of the local boards or councils, with the filing deadline set for Friday, Feb. 18 at 5:00 p.m.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department presented Chief Travis Gardenhire with the 2021 Firefighter of the Year merit award at its annual Christmas party and meeting on Monday, Dec. 6.

The annual award is voted on by department members to honor an individual whom they believe has best met the five following qualifications:

The firefighter must not be on probation.

The firefighter must have shown to be highly active in the department through meetings and fire/emergency calls.

By Sam Waller

The Old Jail Art Center is going straight from its holiday programs into planning its next big event, the Jewel of the Prairie gala fundraiser in February.

Current exhibits will close Jan. 29, the Lunar New Year Family Festival will be Feb. 5, and new exhibits will open Feb. 26 in conjunction with the gala.

The Old Jail hosted a holiday family festival last Saturday and also brought the Peeler-Rose Puppet Shows back to the museum earlier this month.  

After a brief break for the holidays, weekly programs will start back in January.