Members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance decided to do things a little differently for this summer’s community Vacation Bible School, and they want to make sure that parents can plan ahead for the new schedule.

This year the Alliance sponsored VBS will take place later in the summer, on Sunday through Wednesday, Aug. 4-7, and will be held from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. each of those evenings.

Pick-up and drop-off sites will be designated at various sites around town, with transportation provided to help participants get to and from VBS.

Shackelford County elected officials planned a special meeting in order to view and possibly purchase a vehicle to transport clients from the Walker-Sayle Unit in Breckenridge.

County judge Bob Skelton reported that he had located a fairly late-model seven-passenger van for $4,700.

“This will limit us to a six-man workforce, but I personally think that will be all right,” said Skelton.

Jim Stuart has been named executive director of the Abilene Preservation League, the city’s 40-plus year-old historic watch organization, announced James Wagstaff, president of the League’s board of trustees.

Abilene Preservation League is a membership-based advocacy and education resource for historic preservation.

In the position of executive director, Stuart administers and directs program planning, public relations and marketing communications, fundraising, board and membership development, financial management and personnel responsibilities for the organization.

Shackelford County youth were among the exhibitors from across the state of Texas showing barrows and goats at the junior livestock show in Austin recently.

Rodeo Austin is the eighth largest junior livestock show in North America with more than 8,000 entries.

Market goats were judged on Tuesday, March 19, while market barrows were exhibited last Saturday and Sunday. 

Steers are scheduled to be shown on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, followed by heifers on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Newt Koemel, a 2016 Albany High graduate and a current alternate member of the Texas Tech Meat Judging Team, placed among the top individuals at the Houston Livestock Show competition this month.

Koemel was 13th overall high individual in the B alternate division, eighth high in overall beef, and fourth in beef judging.

“I like judging beef more than pork or lamb, and I had a good day at Houston,” said Koemel. “I appreciate being able to represent the Texas Tech meat team.”

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $69,720 from the state this March. The amount is up 92.72 percent from the $36,175 payment received in March of 2018.

Payments to date for the 2019 year to the city of Albany are $172,649, up by 23.62 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $139,655 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,247 this period, for a 9.79 percent decrease from the $1,382 received in March 2018.

Moran ISD cheerleader tryouts took place shortly before spring break, and members of the high school and junior high cheer teams for the upcoming school year have been announced.

Cheer sponsor for the 2019-2020 school year is elementary teacher Alyson Orsak.

Hannah Rogers is the high school team captain.

Members of the varsity cheer squad are Baylee Orsak, Sondra O’Keefe, Dariann Hawley, Tiffany Wade, Reshaley Schafer, Emily Murk, Harmony Slaughter, and Daphani Crews.

Sage O’Keefe is the varsity mascot.

Shackelford County Hospital District directors learned that a new ambulance approved at the February meeting will cost about $10,000 less than expected.

Longtime ambulance service employee Chad Havens, who oversees general maintenance of the local fleet along with his medical duties, reported at Monday night’s session that he toured the Frazer plant in Houston last week.

The purpose for Havens’ Houston visit was actually to finalize the specifications for the vehicle, which will be a 2019 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel chassis with a customized “box.”

Beginning April 1, Closet Angels’ new hours will be Mondays only from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. according to coordinator Lori Reames. 

In addition to changing hours, organizers are also asking that local residents be on the lookout for anyone taking unauthorized loads of donated clothing and shoes after hours.

New Hours

The facility will no longer be open on Wednesdays. 

Although Albany High School’s One Act Play (OAP) did not advance to bi-district competition this year, five members of the troupe won special accolades at the district contest in Stamford last week, and co-director Jenny Scott complimented the entire group on their performance.