By Donnie A. Lucas

What is believed to be a record crowd of music festival fans was on hand last Saturday for the fifth annual CareFest benefitting the ResourceCare centers, which serve six area communities.

The event was hosted at Happy Wife, Happy Life Event Center located about four miles west of Albany.

At press time, organizers were still cleaning up following the event and had not crunched the numbers to determine the number of tickets sold or money raised.

By Sam Waller

Registration for the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s Community Garage Sale continued this week with Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones reporting the event has reached 10 participants signed up.

“We’ve got a few more who have called or come in when they’ve had a chance,” Jones said. “People are working around my schedule, and I’m working around their work schedules. I know more people are still talking about coming in and signing up.”

The garage sale is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10. Registration will close on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

By Sam Waller

A hot, dry summer is shaping up to force another below-average dove season in Shackelford County.

Game warden Jacob Mort said conditions have led to a low bird count in the area.

“Driving around the county right now, there’s not a lot of birds,” Mort said. “There are some localized groups in some areas, but across the county, I’m afraid it’s going to be bad.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Directors of the Shackelford County Appraisal District (SCAD) have set a public hearing for the proposed 2023 budget on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 a.m.

Following the hearing, the board of directors is expected to adopt the budget, which tallies $425,791 in expenditures. The proposed figure re­presents a 6.73 percent increase over 2022 budgeted expenses of $398,937.

The public is invited to attend the hearing and the meeting to adopt the measure that will follow.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H will hold its annual kickoff party to start the coming year at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18 at Webb Park.

Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said 4-Hers will be introduced to a variety of projects in which to participate for the coming year.

“We’ll have hot dogs, and all the project leaders will be there to answer questions about the programs,” Bell said. “Some of them will do a little activity or have information to hand out.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department will hold its Burgers & Birds cookout from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at the fire station to celebrate the opening of dove season.

For a $10 donation, donors will receive a fresh-cooked burger, choice of chips, a drink, and a cookie. Meals will be available for dine-in at the Tischler Hall conference room or drive-through in the bays.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Four 2022 graduates have been named to the 2021-2022 All-State Journalism Staff, which is awarded by the Interscholastic League Press Conference.

May graduates Ty Everitt, Susie Cormack, Sarah Cotter, and Luke Ivy each tallied the points required to earn a position on the statewide honorary staff that is recognized by the journalism branch of the University Interscholastic League.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Nancy Smith Elementary School is looking for members of the community who would like to serve as mentors to local students.

The goal of the program is to increase confidence and self-esteem, along with helping students make positive choices through one-on-one support, friendship, and fun, according to school officials.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD students and staff get a day off for the first holiday of the 2022-2023 school year on Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day.

Classes will resume as scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at the normal time of 7:55 a.m. for Nancy Smith Elementary and 8:00 a.m. at Albany Junior/Senior High School.

Classes started at both campuses on Aug. 17, with the first six-week grading period ending on Friday, Sept. 23.

By Sam Waller

Albany churches and organizations have already begun fall youth groups, with children’s ministries about to start.

Albany Church of Christ Youth in Action meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at The Feed Store.

First Baptist Church’s sixth grade group will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays at The Feed Store.

Friendship Baptist

Friendship Baptist will begin regular Wednesday activities on Sept. 7.