By Kathy Thomson

The Parent Teacher Organization’s Scholastic “Book Fair Jungle: Elephants, Tigers, and Books, OH MY!” is set to wind down to a close tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 14, at the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria, but purchases can still be made between now and then.

“It was a little slow today, but it usually is on Monday,” said PTO president Ginny Ivy after the first day of the Book Fair. “It typically builds up momentum as the week goes on.”

Albany Independent School District has scheduled a student holiday for Monday, Feb. 17, in honor of Presidents Day. 

Schools at both Albany campuses will release at the normal times on Friday, Feb. 14, and will resume classes at the normal times on Tuesday, Feb. 18, according to superintendent Jonathan Scott.

Presidents Day is not a district holiday, but is scheduled as a staff development day.

Moran ISD will have a school holiday for both students and staff on Monday, Feb. 17.

by Kathy Thomson

Tuesday, Feb. 18 is the first day of early voting for the March 3 primary election, with balloting taking place at the Shackelford County Courthouse, in the lobby area on the first floor, through Friday, Feb. 28. 

Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, closing one hour earlier on Fridays to correspond to normal business hours at the Courthouse. 

“Voting is not open during the lunch hour,” said election clerk Cheri Hawkins. 

By Kathy Thomson

Kim Davis teaches several elementary classes at Moran School, including math, science, and art, and she recently decided to branch out to include music in her art class.

“I had brought my son’s violin to science class when we were discussing sound, so my students could see and hear the strings vibrate,” Davis said. “The kids were enthralled with the instrument, and I realized that they may not have ever had the chance to learn to play music. I decided to see if I could add music, which after all is one of the fine arts, to our art class.”

By Kathy Thomson

Moran Independent School District, along with several other schools in the Big Country area, cancelled classes last Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 5 and 6, due to forecasts of extremely cold and hazardous winter conditions.

Classes resumed on Friday, Feb. 7 with all bus routes and other school operations back to normal.

MISD does not need to “make up” the two days missed last week, because the current schedule includes 76,800 minutes, well above the 75,600 required by the state, according to superintendent Danny Freeman.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Less than a month after the resignation of EMS director Mary Quintero, directors of the Shackelford County Hospital District met in special session early Monday morning, Feb. 3 to review three applications and name a successor.

Tina Ulbrich, who has worked as a paramedic with the local ambulance crew for the past five years, was hired as EMS supervisor, effective immediately, after a 55-minute closed session.

Ulbrich officially began her duties on Tuesday.

By Melinda L. Lucas

February is member appreciation month at the Old Jail Art Center, and several special events have been lined up in the next few weeks that should interest not only current members, but everyone who has an interest in promoting the arts.

The museum staff is showing its love for the OJAC membership all month long, and a gift is available for members who drop by in February.

Administrative assistant Tatum Green will hand out “cups full of goodies” at the front desk.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A “lock-out” at both Albany school campuses on Friday morning, Jan. 31, called by administrators because of parent concerns, lasted less than an hour, and even though local law enforcement picked up an Albany man as a result, it was not thought that students or staff were ever in any danger.

According to Shackelford County sheriff Edward Miller, Lino Martinez was taken into custody a little after 10:00 a.m. on an “emergency detention order for psychiatric services,” and was transported that afternoon to a medical facility.

By Kathy Thomson

The deadline to file for local offices on the May 2 ballot is only one week away, and as of press time on Tuesday, only seven candidates had turned in their paperwork, leaving plenty of opportunities for additional civic-minded locals to volunteer to help lead their community. 

Incumbent Lester Galbreath filed for reelection as councilman for the city of Albany this week and Ragan Riley turned in her paperwork to join the Albany city council.

By Kathy Thomson

Although the Shackelford County stock show is over, the “Majors” are just getting started, and several local youth have recently placed well with their project animals at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth and/or the San Angelo Livestock Show.

Connor Clark’s lamb was chosen as the reserve champion Texas Stars fine wool wether dam at San Angelo over the weekend.

Also placing at the Texas Stars show was Paisley Clark, who took fourth place with her Southdown wether dam.