By Lynsi Musselman

Registration for General Education Development (GED) classes will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14 at the Shackelford County Library.

Instructor Kenzie Fairchild said registrants need to bring an acceptable form of identification.

In order to qualify for the class, a student needs to be 17 years of age or older. Students who are 17 will need a parent’s consent.

The Albany GED class will begin on Monday, Sept. 21, meeting at the library on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the school year. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees passed a budget that is $137,065 short during a special early morning session on Monday, Aug. 31, meeting the required state deadline.

Total expenditures are projected at $6,057,943, while revenues are listed at $5,920,878.

However, AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott said that even though the board approved a deficit budget, school officials hope to break even at the end of the year, with some “worst case scenarios built in” to the expense side and very conservative revenue projections.

By Lynsi Musselman

While a ferocious lightning storm lit up the sky Saturday night, strikes ignited several fires across Shackelford County that lasted well into Monday, with some volunteers working non-stop through a 48-hour stretch.

Shackelford County Rural Volunteer Fire Department secretary Kristy Brooker said that the fire department received three calls all at the same time on Saturday night.

By Lynsi Musselman

With limited ticket sales due to seating restrictions, the Aztec Theater will host a live concert featuring Shane Smith and the Saints on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 8:30 p.m. 

Singer Shane Smith is a native of Terrell, Texas, but is now based in Austin. 

On Saturday, a trio from the five-member band will perform for the acoustic concert.

Tisha Wilkins with the Aztec board said that the concert will be more intimate than what the band usually plays.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A special meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors is planned for this Friday, Sept. 4, when it is expected that the 2021 budget will be finalized and proposed along with a tax rate.

The minutes of an Aug. 17 session reflected that the budget and rate proposals were made at that time, but directors continued to trim expenses at another two-hour workshop on Aug. 24.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Two positive tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus were listed as still active in the Monday report from the Texas Department of State Health Services, which also reported the total of 22 cases since March.

In a notice on Facebook by county judge Robert Skelton, the latest report posted on Monday reported two previously confirmed positive cases as still active.

The COVID-19 dashboard listed 22 total positive cases last week, with the total number of tests administered reported as 195.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners are expected to propose both a budget and a tax rate at their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 8.

According to county judge Robert Skelton, the proposed tax rate will then be advertised, with the budget hearing more than likely set to coincide with the regular Sept. 28 commissioners meeting.

The proposed budget, which covers a fiscal year from Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021, will also be placed on the county website and will be available in the county clerk’s office for public review.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Board members of the Shackelford County Appraisal District (SCAD) will meet on Tuesday Sept. 8 at 7:30 a.m. to make a final decision about the proposed SCAD budget for 2020.

A copy of the budget can be viewed at the SCAD office at 132 Hill St., where the meeting will be held.

The $391,745 preliminary figure approved by SCAD board members is $4,223 more, about 1.1 percent, than the current budget of $387,522.

By Lynsi Musselman

Residents who would like to participate in the Albany Chamber of Commerce annual city-wide garage sale still have a little over a week to sort through unused items to sell on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The event is traditionally held on the second Saturday in September to coincide with downtown merchants having sales.

Registration to get on the garage sale map has been extended to Tuesday, Sept. 8 for residents who would still like to participate.

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said there are seven sales currently registered.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany Junior Senior High School started up the after-school Lion Academy last week as a chance to give students an extra academic boost.

AJSH principal Glenn Hill said the expectation is to give students an opportunity to get caught up on school work and provide extra help for those who need it.

“I am excited about Lion Academy, and I know it is a great benefit to the students,” Hill explained.

Lion Academy will be open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:45 to 6:45 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.