By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees heard the 2020-2021 financial review during a meeting on Monday, Sept. 20, but no action was taken.

CPA Cameron Gulley presented the audit for last school year as “pending,” advising that no action be taken until figures are received from the Community Foundation of Abilene regarding Albany ISD’s investments.

Gulley noted that the Foundation account now has close to $5 million, and investment earnings through July were just under $500,000.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners approved this year’s commitment to fund the county-wide contract with AirMedCare and awarded bids for fuel and mowing at their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 20.

They also decided to leave the burn ban in place, taking no action because the current ban doesn’t expire until the end of the month. They will review weather conditions again when they meet in special session on Sept. 30, when the county’s  fiscal year ends.

Air Ambulance

By Melinda L. Lucas

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Sept. 30.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center offers ­COVID-19 antibody testing at no charge for donors.

Those with eligibility questions can call Freddie Sosa at 325-670-2880. Other concerns or questions can be directed to Kelsey Caprio at 325-670-4271. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

Entries for the 2021 homecoming parade set to roll through downtown Albany next Friday, Oct. 1 are be accepted until noon on Friday, Sept. 24, according to the high school office.

Any individual, organization, or class group that would like to be included in the parade should contact Ann Riley at the AHS principal’s office, 325-762-3974, to reserve a spot in the lineup.

Entrants should begin gathering at 4:00 p.m. next Friday in the parking lot in front of the Robert Nail Memorial stadium.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce’s Home of the Hereford Cookoff and Cornhole Tournament will get underway Friday, Oct. 1 with a Karaoke Night at Webb Park following Albany High School’s homecoming football game.

“This will give the exes somewhere to go and sit and visit after the football game,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said. “It will serve as our kickoff to the next day because people cooking will be able to come in and set up Friday afternoon.”

Check-in for the cookoff will be 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to help put up fall decorations in the downtown area and beyond this Saturday, Sept. 25.

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said those wanting to help should arrive by 9:00 a.m. in the downtown block.

“They will see people running around everywhere,” Jones said. “The Chamber decorating committee will take all the decorations and place them by the poles. We welcome anyone to come help hang stuff up and get the town decorated for homecoming.”

Jones said everyone will be put to work.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With very little discussion, directors of the Shackelford County Hospital District okayed the proposed budgets for both the district and the clinic, along with the tax rate, at a meeting on Monday, Sept. 20.

A budget of $2,820,070 was approved during the district portion of Monday’s session, following an earlier clinic session that included approval of a $827,000 budget for fiscal year 2022.

The proposed tax rate of 20.67 cents, which is the no-new-revenue calculation, was adopted on a motion by Mike Folsom.

Clinic Report

By Sam Waller

Moran High School students will be able to earn college credit this year under a program started by Moran ISD superintendent Dr. John Denson in cooperation with Cisco College.

Denson said the class, Advanced Animal Science, fits several needs for the students.

“In addition to a science credit, it counts as an ag class for FFA credit,” said Denson, who is teaching the group. “Cisco will give students a college credit, and it will transfer to another school if they want.”

Denson said all four Moran seniors are enrolled in the class.

By Sam Waller

The 14th annual John Rose & Jim Law Memorial Albany Kiwanis Charity Golf Touurnament and Fajita Fiesta has been scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Albany Golf Course.

The event raises funds for the Albany K Charity Scholarship Fund as well as a number of other local projects.

“We basically fund scholarships every year,” Kiwanian Steve Waller said. “We fund a lot of youth projects like the Quail Brigade and Deer Brigade. We try to help out Ben Richey Boys Ranch, and we contribute to the livestock show.”

By Sam Waller

The 35th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale, which benefits the Shackelford County Youth & Livestock Association, brought in more than $65,000 in sales Sunday, according to Mike Parsons, one of the organizers.

“We averaged $707 on 92 head,” Parsons said. “We had about 260 registered buyers. We anticipate that the Association will make $3,000 to $5,000 off the sale to put in for the kids.”

Parsons said the two-day event drew a good crowd.