By Sandy Morris

Shackelford County voters have the opportunity to participate in the local hospital board election this coming Saturday, May 1.

A total of 84 early voters had already cast ballots by the end of the early voting period at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27. 

The hospital board has the only locally contested race in Shackelford County, and all voting is being conducted at the EMS station located at 840 Gregg Street. On Saturday, the polling site will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

By Sandy Morris

The list of honor students in the 2021 Albany High School senior class was released last week, naming Hannah Trail as valedictorian and Sidney Bartee as salutatorian.

Trail, daughter of Justin Trail and Tamara Trail, has a four-year average of 98.74.

The salutatorian, Sidney Bartee, daughter of Traci and Stephen Bartee, has earned an overall average of 98.185.

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School will send three students to the University Interscholastic League state academic meet this Saturday, May 1.

Because of COVID precautions, the event is being held at Abilene Wylie High School rather than in Austin.

Senior Tana Thompson advances in Feature Writing and Headline Writing, senior Hannah Trail will compete in Editorial Writing, and junior Luke Ivy will take part in the Science competition. 

Journalism sponsor Donnie Lucas and science sponsor André Raymond will attend the event with their students.

By Sandy Morris

Shackelford County residents who have not previously been eligible for local home delivery meal service now have an option available to them.

Mom’s Meals is a monthly food delivery service offered through the Area Agency on Aging courtesy of the CARES grant. 

AAA quality assurance specialist Samantha Secrist said the program, which has been funded through the end of September, is not based on income .

By Sandy Morris

Anyone who would like to add a veteran’s name to the Shackelford County veterans memorial marker is asked to contact Mary Kay O’Connor at 325-660-2498 by Monday, May 10 at the latest.

Veterans do not have to be deceased, nor do they have to have served in a war to be included on the memorial marker.

O’Connor hopes to have all names updated on the marker in time for Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.

She will need the veteran’s name the way it will appear on the marker as well as proof of service.

By Brad McBee

This past week, an interesting bird has been migrating through our area and has elected to settled down for a while. 

The Yellow-headed Blackbird winters in Mexico and migrates in the spring north all the way to the upper regions of Canada. They typically breed in marshy freshwater and reedy lakes, where seed and insects are abundant. 

The usual migratory route takes the bird further west through New Mexico and western Texas. This year, large numbers of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds have ended up in Albany.

 By Sandy Morris

Early voting for the May 1 local election is underway and will continue through Tuesday, April 27.

The hospital board has the only locally contested race in Shackelford County, 

Four candidates have filed for the three available at-large seats on the Shackelford County hospital board. 

The ballot lists incumbents Mike Folsom, Jo Ann Estridge, and Leslie Belcher, along with challenger Mary Boland. 

By Sandy Morris

The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association met on Tuesday, April 13 to begin making plans for next year’s county livestock show.

The 2022 SCYLA show will be held Jan. 20-22, 2022, with a Pig Sale scheduled for Sept. 12, 2021.

Directors & Officers

Director Rocky Vinson, who is moving, was replaced on the board by Logan Neve.

Other current directors include Garry Edgar, Mike Folsom, Mike Parsons, J.W. Askew, Cody Leech, John Caldwell, and Jim Owen.

By Sandy Morris

Parents who would like to see if their children qualify for the Head Start program for the 2021-2022 school year can go to the Nancy Smith Elementary School lobby for a second registration day on Tuesday, May 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Head Start is a free, full-day pre-school program for economically disadvantaged children that are three or four years old and who qualify for free meals.

Head Start is also open to students with specified disabilities.

By Sandy Morris

The Nancy Smith Elementary School Scholastic Book Fair kicked off on Monday, April 19.

Sponsored by the PTO, this year’s book fair is being held virtually and will run through Sunday, May 2.

Students will have the opportunity to choose from over 6,000 products, and all items purchased will be shipped directly to the purchaser’s home.

Orders over $25 qualify for free shipping, but books must be purchased to receive this perk.