Members of the Shackelford County community are invited to join the Albany Masonic Lodge and the local Brookshire’s Grocery Store in honoring the first responders of Shackelford County at the 3rd Annual First Responder Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 8:00 a.m.

By Donnie A. LucasThe annual citywide garage sale is set for Saturday, Sept. 11, with about 20 local individuals signed up as of Tuesday.A few more local residents may have signed up for the event, which is sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce, after the press deadline.

By Melinda L. LucasAfter holding the required public hearing prior to their 9:00 a.m. session, Shackelford County commissioners adopted the proposed budget and tax rate at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 7.There was no one from the general public to voice any opposition or comment on the proposals.

By Donnie A. LucasThe number of new COVID-19 cases held fairly steady last week at the Shackelford County Hospital Clinic, with 26 positive results out of the 57 tests given through Friday, Sept. 3.

By Donnie A. LucasOpening week of dove season including Labor Day weekend typically brings droves of hunters to town, but initial reports indicated few hunters because of a lack of local birds.According to local game warden Jake Mort, it has been an usually slow start to the season.

By Donnie A. LucasAn investigative report involving an alleged wastewater violation by a local refining facility has been released by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, with a separate investigation on air quality and pollution still pending.

By Sam WallerStudents, teachers and staff at Moran have settled into a new way of doing things through the first two weeks of the new school year.Principal Jo Hise said the school district is employing block scheduling in the upper grades this year.“The first week went well,” Hise said.

By Sam WallerMoran’s city-wide garage sale is scheduled for Saturday.Sale organizer Michelle Taggart said the event will begin at 7:00 a.m. with no set time to finish.Maps will be available at the Moran Community Center.“I’m still taking names for the sale,” Taggart said.

By Donnie A. LucasAfter-game fellowships following varsity football games will start on Sept. 17 following the Albany’s first home game of the season on Sept. 17.The varsity Lions will play on the road for three Fridays starting this week before opening at home against Haskell on Sept. 12.

By Melinda L. LucasTeam and individual pictures of the junior high football teams will be taken today (Thursday) starting at 3:15 p.m.Those packages, along  with Lady Cubs volleyball, will be ready for pickup in the next couple of weeks.