By Sam Waller

After weeks of planning, it’s time for the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s community-wide garage sale to be held Saturday, Sept. 9 at locations around town.

Chamber manager Brandi Lehew said she was still fielding inquiries earlier this week as the registration deadline neared.

“We had about 16 as of Tuesday, but I had people call me to say they planned to make it by the office to sign up before the deadline,” Lehew said. “We may get close to 20, which is not too far off of last year.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees passed a budget for the 2023-2024 school year during a special early morning session on Aug. 31, meeting the required state deadline.

They also okayed the proposed tax rate of 73.80 cents cents per $100 valuation, including the state-allowed “five golden pennies.”

Total expenditures budget are projected at $6,906,021, while revenues are listed at $6,605,165, a difference of $300,956.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Several local government entities have set or are in the process of scheduling meetings to approve budgets and/or tax rates, including the following:

•Shackelford County: Sept. 7, budget hearing 9:00 a.m., tax rate hearing 9:30 a.m. – Courthouse

•City of Albany: Sept. 11, regular meeting to approve NNR tax rate 7:00 p.m. – Albany City Hall

•Shackelford County Appraisal District: Sept. 14, budget hearing 7:30 a.m. – SCAD office

By Sam Waller

The 37th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale will christen the renovated Shackelford County Livestock Show Barn with 135 show pigs to be auctioned off

The longest-running livestock sale in the U.S., benefitting youth who participate in the county stock show, is set for Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9-10. At 1:00 p.m. Friday, a ribbon cutting will be held to reopen the renovated show barn.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will host and participate in the third annual “Never Forget” Memorial Walk next Monday morning, Sept. 11 on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001.

The event will again be held at the Shackelford County Courthouse, beginning at exactly 8:46 a.m., which is the time that the first hijacked aircraft struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department held its second “Birds and Burgers” fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 2 during the opening weekend of dove season, serving more meals than last year with virtually no wait.

With 230 hamburgers sold, the volunteers considered it a huge success.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Board members of the Albany Chest will meet at 5:15 pm. next Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Feed Store to elect officers and directors.

Directors include Chris Beard, Mike Bean, Robert Dacus, and Daivis Gallagher, whose terms end this year. All are eligible to serve another term.

Other board members serving currently are chair Jana Kitchens, vice chair Melinda Lucas, secretary Tisha Wilkins, treasurer Kalico Leech, parliamentarian Sara Wilson, Kristie Smith, Tracy Sullivan, and Jenny Scott.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A total of seven Albany High newspaper students have been named to the 2022-23 All-State Journalism Staff awarded by the Interscholastic League Press Conference.

May graduates Leddie Leech, Ashley Richards, and Mayson Garcia each tallied the points required to earn a position on the statewide staff that is recognized by the Interscholastic League Press Conference, the journalism branch of the University Interscholastic League.

Joining them are current juniors Julia Vega and Avery Everitt, as well as seniors Robyn Trail and Sidney Russell.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Enrollment for local GED classes has been set for Monday, Sept. 11 at the Shackelford County Library starting at 5:30 p.m., according to instructor Kenzie Fairchild.

Anyone interested in enrolling in the free classes must bring a photo identification and Social Security card in order to sign up.

Students will be able to register for the class, as well as take locator exams for language arts and math to determine where their skills are.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Parents of students attending Nancy Smith Elementary are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday if they need assistance using the Ascender/Gradebook program or Google Classroom.

The Sept. 12 meeting will start at 5:00 p.m., and those attending will enter through the main front doors to be escorted to the meeting room.

Office staff and teachers will be on hand to show parents how to navigate both programs, principal John Gallagher said.