Three new exhibitions are set to open at the Old Jail Art Center, running Sept. 15 through Feb. 2, 2019.

The Old Jail’s board of trustees is hosting a members opening at the museum this Saturday, Sept. 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., featuring an artists’ reception and dinner.

Texas Moderns: Sam Gummelt

Childhood experiences including sewing with his grandmother, and exposure to the German folk art tradition of painting on the reverse side of glass left a lasting impression on Sam Gummelt and can be seen in his non-objective abstract art. 

Directors of the Albany Chest met on Wednesday, Sept. 5, to organize the 2018 fundraising drive, elect four board members, and vote on officers for the upcoming year.

Organizations should turn in funding requests by Friday, Sept. 28, with an absolute deadline of Oct. 3, when the board’s next meeting is set to evaluate the applications and decide on the 2018 fundraising target.

Last year a goal of $40,000 was set, with $39,170 raised, and $45,000 distributed.

Board Elections

Shackelford County commissioners agreed to make adjustments to the Courthouse clock chimes and added repainting of the fire escapes as a change order during a session on Monday, Sept. 10.

Later in the meeting, the elected officials adopted a budget of $4,184,823 and the proposed tax rate of 61.51 cents, both with no discussion.

They also voted to send an invoice for $25,000 to Callahan County as part of an agreement in a jail billing issue.

Clock Chimes

This Saturday and Sunday, the Shackelford County show barn will host the 32nd Annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale, and organizers are expecting 19 consignors from four states to bring 125 pigs for the competition and sale. 

Local 4-H and FFA members worked to insure that the facility was cleaned up for the Sept. 15-16 event.

“We had a great turnout of kids and their parents for the cleanup day last Saturday,” said Shackelford County agent Michaela Bradford. “With all the help, it only took about an hour.”

The Albany Masonic Lodge hosted a breakfast for the First Responders of Shackelford County on Tuesday, Sept. 11, with 17 volunteers and emergency workers served. 

The date marked the 17th anniversary of the attack by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. 

Peace officers, dispatchers, jailers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel from across Shackelford County gathered at First Christian Church for the event. 

Albany city council members approved a resolution for a required plumbing ordinance, talked about truck traffic on residential streets, and okayed the Atmos rate review mechanism during a brief meeting on Monday, Sept. 10.

The council will meet again in special session on Thursday, Sept. 20 to take action on the proposed tax rate of 68.77 cents, which is the same as last year, but 3.3 percent higher than the effective rate.

Plumbing Ordinance

Boys and girls from kindergarten through fifth grade who are interested in joining Cub Scouts should attend a meeting at the Nancy Smith Ele-mentary School cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20.

Formerly restricted to boys, Boy Scouts of America began allowing girls to join Cub Scouts in June. 

In February 2019, the Boy Scouts program will be called Scouts BSA, and will welcome girls to join. However, boys and girls will be in separate troops.

Representatives of the Lee’s Legion Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will be at the three local school campuses next week to help students celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution.

Registration for the General Education Development (GED) class in Albany took place last Monday, Sept. 10, but the program is still accepting new enrollees, according to local instructor Kenzie Fairchild.

“We will accept new applicants on each Monday,” said Fairchild. “They should be at least 19 years old and must have an ID to register.”

Albany High students interested in attending a ACT test prep workshop to be presented by Chad Cargill in Anson on Oct. 4, need to sign up with Dee Dee Waggoner before the end of school tomorrow, Sept. 14.

The Academic Booster Club will cover the $30 per student fee, and bus transportation and a lunch will be provided.

Cargill raised his own ACT test score from 19 to 32 by taking the test multiple times, learning what was on the test, and how to take it.