By Melinda L. Lucas

Following a series of budget workshops over the past month, Shackelford County commissioners met in a regular session on Monday morning, Aug. 16 to propose a deficit budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 and a tax rate that promises to raise “no-new-revenue” (NNR) for the upcoming tax year.

Several parts of the proposed budget were discussed in depth on Monday, including increasing county employee salaries by five percent, accounting for an additional $67,420, not including retirement, Social Security, and Medicare costs.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Directors of the Shackelford County Hospital District met Monday with the intention of proposing a budget and tax rate for the 2022 year, but left after almost four hours with plans to work on the numbers again in a couple of weeks.

Board members spent some time working through line items in the district portion of the budget and later reviewed the clinic budget during a separate session, but because of time constraints, they decided to delay action.

By Sidney Bartee

Nine artists are set to hit the stage for CareFest 2021 on Aug. 28 at Happy Wife Happy Life wedding and event venue.

The gates will open to the public at 1:00 p.m., and bands will begin to play at 2:00 p.m.

The bands and musicians for this year are Roger Creager, Stoney Larue, Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Dylan Wheeler, Shea Abshier, Randy Brown, 360 Band, Cole Barnhill, and Jeff Martin.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County residents applying for FEMA Individual Assistance following February’s winter storm can get help in filing their claims from members of the Albany Lions Club, with a deadline of Monday, Aug. 23. 

Claims can be filed by calling 1-800-621-3362.

“We’ve had some training from FEMA personnel so that we can assist people who have questions about uploading their pictures and documents,” Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton said. “The applicants have to call the FEMA number first and get an account set up.” 

By Melinda L. Lucas

An accident right at the Albany city limits on Highway 6 Monday afternoon sent two local residents to the hospital, where they remained at press time with the possibility of being dismissed on Wednesday.

Adam Viertel, 40, and Cooper Edgar, 16, collided a little before 2:00 p.m., with Viertel headed south, and Edgar, an Albany High School student, turning north to go to football practice.

Both were taken by ambulance to Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

By Sidney Bartee

As the school year begins, hundreds of children commute to and from the local campuses by school bus, car, bicycle, and on foot.

Drivers should be aware of the increased risk of injury to children that results from speeding or distracted driving, especially when combined with students who may forget to watch for oncoming traffic.

Although the first couple days of classes at both Albany school campuses went very smoothly, school authorities want to put more community focus on school transportation safety.

Flashing Lights

By Sidney Bartee

The Ragin’ Red Band’s Community Night was rescheduled from Aug. 16 to Aug. 23 due to weather this week.

The event will still be held at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium and is set to begin at 8:00 p.m.

The band will perform what they’ve been working on throughout summer rehearsals and director Will Vaughan will introduce all members for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Members of the Band Booster Club will also be present at the event to help raise funds for the band trip to Colorado during spring break.

By Sam Waller

The 35th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale in Shackelford County has been scheduled for Sept. 12 at the Shackelford County Livestock Show Barn.

The sale benefits all Shackelford County youth who exhibit at the county livestock show.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Bronco Askew, president of the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association, said.

By Sidney Bartee

With the start of the school year, several Albany churches and organizations also begin youth services for students to become closer to Jesus.

Feed Store

Tuesday lunches for juniors and seniors will start again on Aug. 24.

The Feed Store will have fifth quarters this year.

Fifth quarter begins after the end of football home games and ends at midnight.

The first home game is on Sept. 17.

Friendship Baptist

By Sidney Bartee

Citizens of Moran will hold their annual garage sale on Saturday, Sept. 4, beginning at 7:00 a.m.

Organizers will have maps and lists of homes participating at the Moran community center on the day of the sale.

The deadline for community members to sign up is by noon Thursday, Sept. 2.

“We have had some responses already,” community volunteer Michelle Taggart said. “We expect a few more people participate.”

There is a post on the city of Moran Facebook page for people to sign up if they want to participate.