By Sandy Morris

Moran Independent School District will dismiss on Friday, March 12 at the regular time for Spring Break.

Spring Break is set for March 15-19, and classes will resume at the normal time on Wednesday, March 22. 

UIL Meet

The UIL District 13-A academic meet will be held in Eula on Thursday, March 24.

Other schools in the district with Moran and Eula are Baird, Cross Plains, May, and Rising Star.

Spring Fling

Neva Hall, age 88 of Roby, passed away, Thursday, March 4, 2021. A private funeral service for family only will be held at Belvieu Cemetery in Rotan. Services have been entrusted to Morehart Mortuary.

Neva Joyce Rogers was born on April 26, 1932 in Jayton, Texas to parents, Leslie Rogers and Lea Honor Kidd Rogers. She was raised in Peacock, Texas, where her family farmed cotton. 

Marie English Johnston, 94, passed away on March 4, 2021, in Ft. Worth, TX. Marie was the last child to be raised in Shackelford County’s Sedwick community. Though she traveled extensively, she spent most of her life in Houston, Austin, and Abilene before moving to Ft. Worth.

Marie was born on Christmas Eve, 1926. She was the oldest daughter of Naomi Criswell English and William Lucas (Bill) English of Sedwick. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

At this time last year, the ­COVID-19 crisis just was beginning to affect Texas, and local school teachers were preparing to teach remotely for “a couple of weeks,” never dreaming that they would not see their students in person for the rest of the school year.

County restaurants, salons, and other businesses shut down as well, and when they reopened after a few months, there were state mandated restrictions and limitations.

By Sandy Morris

The Whitney Theater was the site of the Albany Chamber’s Hereford Ball on Saturday, Feb. 27, 100 years after the original ball in 1921.

Albany Chamber of Commerce director Mary Beth Jones said she and other organizers enjoyed having such a diverse group of people together for the evening.

“It was fabulous seeing all the past, present, and future residents and Shackelford County supporters join together to celebrate our heritage,” said Jones.

By Sandy Morris

The March distribution pickup dates for the commodity food program will be Thursday, March 4 and Friday, March 5.

Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 4. 

Albany families who have been certified as eligible for the February food distribution program may pick up their food on Friday, March 5, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the rear door of the JP office. 

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon next Wednesday, March 10, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.

The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.

The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable, according to local fire chief Kyle Tischler. 

SEVERE WEATHER

By Sandy Morris

As Shackelford County begins to throw off the blankets and move from winter into spring, preparations are being made for severe weather that often accompanies warmer temperatures. 

School Drill

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary School will practice their severe weather preparedness next week.

According to NSES principal John Gallagher, a tornado drill will be held on campus during the day on Tuesday, March 9.

By Sandy Morris

The deadline for writing thank you notes to buyers from the county stock show is Friday, March 26. 

Show participants will need to write their notes and place them in stamped, addressed envelopes so they are ready to mail.  

Notes will need to be verified by bringing them to Albany FFA sponsor and ag instructor Chris Beard who will then mail them. 

Stock show participants are reminded that they must send a thank you note before they will receive their checks.

By Sandy Morris

The Shackelford County Hospital District is the only local entity set to hold an election on Saturday, May 1. 

Four candidates have filed for the three available at-large seats on the Shackelford County hospital board. 

The ballot will list incumbents Mike Folsom, Jo Ann Estridge, and Leslie Belcher, along with challenger Mary Boland. 

Directors on the hospital board serve two-year terms.