By Kathy Thomson The Moran Bulldogs finished preseason scrimmages last Friday in Gustine, started this week by greeting children arriving at the Moran campus for the first day of school on Monday, and are scheduled to open the 2019 football season in Benjamin tomorrow, Aug. 30 with a 7:30 p.m.

By Kathy Thomson With the annual campaign to raise funds for local organizations starting in October, board members of the Albany Chest will meet soon to organize the 2019 fundraising drive and elect new directors. The meeting is set for Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 5:15 p.m. at The Feed Store.

By Kathy Thomson Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce named their first three “Lights of Albany” at the bi-annual party held last Friday, Aug. 23 at the Aztec Theater.  Chosen for the honor this year were the Albany ISD ag students, teachers, and coaches, Jane Hooker, and Lisa Barton.

By Melinda L. Lucas A special meeting was scheduled at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 by the Shackelford County commissioners, who plan to propose a budget and tax rate.

By Melinda L. Lucas Board members of the Shackelford County Appraisal District (CAD) will meet on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 a.m. for a final discussion about the proposed CAD budget for 2019. A copy of the budget can be viewed at the CAD office at 132 Hill St., where the meeting will be held.

By Melinda L. Lucas A Jones County man who had been missing for two weeks was found dead in his car over the weekend just inside the Shackelford County line.

By Kathy Thomson Opening day of dove hunting in Texas is Sunday, Sept. 1, and for the fourth year in a row, hunters across the Lone Star State, including those in the Albany area, will have a 90-day hunting season and 15-bird daily bag limit.

By Kathy Thomson Class officer and student council elections have been held at the secondary campus and names of the winners were posted on Monday. Student council president for the current school year is Gregori Mikeska, with Tana Thompson serving as vice president.

By Kathy Thomson Students, teachers, and support staff will celebrate the first school holiday of the year on Monday, Sept. 2 when the local school district dismisses for Labor Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the normal times of 7:55 a.m.

By Kathy Thomson Registration for General Education Development (GED) classes will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2 at the Shackelford County Library. “You will need to bring an acceptable form of identification,” said local instructor Kenzie Fairchild.