More than one driver traveling from Albany to Breckenridge last week mentioned an unexpected jolt, which was quickly replaced by a six-mile detour.
A collapsing metal culvert, located between O’Neill Drive and the Breckenridge city limits, is being replaced with a concrete culvert, and TxDOT officials are unsure how long the repair will take.
Meanwhile, motorists must travel to the south on FM 2231 and FM 3099 to reach Breckenridge.
The deadline to file for local board seats to be decided May 4 is fast approaching, and five candidates filed their paperwork during the last week.
Amanda Tabor filed for an Albany school board seat, while Dwaine “Dewey” Knight and incumbent Carolyn Waller added their names to the ballot for Albany City Council.
Mike Folsom and incumbent Jo Ann Estridge filed for the Shackelford hospital board.
Candidates must file by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 to have their names on the ballot.
Despite cold and rainy weather since the January start date, city manager Billy Holson reported at Monday’s regular council meeting that water system installation at the newly annexed Clarke Estates development is moving along ahead of schedule.
Also approved during the Feb. 11 session was the purchase of a new skid steer for city operations.
The meeting was conducted by mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery in the absence of Rodney Alexander.
Water Line Progress
Valentine’s Day will soon be history, but local patrons at the Old Jail Art Center still have time to celebrate their love for art this February with four events designed especially for them.
Hearts For The Arts
Visitors at the Old Jail Art Center this week can express their love for art by leaving a paper heart beside one of their favorite pieces on display at the museum in celebration of international Hearts for the Arts week, Feb. 12-16.
Shackelford County commissioners had a lengthy discussion during a Feb. 11 regular session about whether to pursue a contract to use Walker Sayle Unit clients to perform local projects, but eventually decided to table the issue.
The cost of providing transportation for the Breckenridge workers was the biggest concern for commissioners, although there were other questions.
Information about 15-passenger vans, cost of insurance, and options for furnishing porta-potties will be brought to the Feb. 25 session.
Other Business
Sixteen local students showed barrows and steers at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo last week, and among the local winners were two young ladies with first place steers, according to ag teacher Chris Beard.
“We had a good show,” Beard said. “Now we’re on to San Angelo, then San Antonio and Houston.
Ft. Worth Jr. Steers
Hattie Braly won class 1, light weight Angus steers last Thursday, Feb. 7.
Kam Browning showed her American Exotic steer and took first place in the class.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas’ Shackelford and Stephens Counties along with the Lower Clear Fork of the Brazos Soil and Water Conservation District cordially invite the public to attend their FY 2020 Local Working Group (LWG) meeting Feb. 21, at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the INTERBANK location in Breckenridge in the front meeting room.
Family trout-fishing day returns to Fort Griffin State Historic Site from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, with the park’s pond stocked with rainbow trout.
“This is the third and final trout-stocking for the winter,” said Mitch Baird, Fort Griffin’s site manager. “The trout won’t live past the warmer months of the year, so we encourage folks to come out and catch their limit of five trout per day.”
A Fort Griffin staff member will provide instruction and assistance for families who attend, with everyone welcome.
State fishing rules apply.
Multiple Shackelford County emergency units responded after 19-year-old Jordan Carley lost control of her 2002 Chevrolet pickup around 1:35 p.m. Monday in rainy conditions and ended up in the middle of a stock tank off Hwy. 180 a few miles east of Albany.
Carley managed to get out of the truck before it sank and then swam to shore. Other motorists attempted to keep her warm until she was checked out by EMS personnel.
According to sheriff Ed Miller, a rollover had occurred about a mile away a couple of hours earlier.
The Parent Teacher Organization’s Scholastic “Dino-Mite book fair; Stomp, Chomp and Read!” is set to wind down to a close tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 15, at the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria, but purchases can still be made between now and then.
“Things are running smoothly,” said PTO president Ginny Ivy on Tuesday afternoon. “It was kind of slow on Monday, but it picked up on Tuesday, and we expect that to continue.”
Some parents forget about the book fair until they see the signs on Monday, and sales normally pick up after the first day, according to Ivy.
