Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Cory Brown D.P.M. of Albany to the Podiatric Medical Examiners Advisory Board for a term set to expire Feb. 1, 2023. 

The advisory board provides advice and recommendations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on technical matters relevant to the regulation of the practice of podiatry.

Brown, who has lived in Albany with his family for the past nine years, is a podiatrist and partner at Abilene Diagnostic Clinic. 

By Kathy Thomson

Homecoming is this weekend, and although there is not a parade scheduled this year, there are several special events on the calendar for students, former students, and friends of the Moran Independent School District.

High school students painted the downtown streets Wednesday evening.

Dress-up week continues at the school with everyone encouraged to sport some facial hair today for Mustache Day and wear their purple and gold attire on Friday. which is designated as Spirit Day.

By Melinda L. Lucas

After holding two required public hearings in the past few weeks, neither of which recorded any opposition from local residents, Shackelford County commissioners adopted the proposed budget and tax rate at a special meeting on Monday, Sept. 30.

Elected officials also opened and awarded bids for mowing and fuel, as well as acting on a number of other routine items in a fairly long agenda on Monday morning.

Budget, Tax Rate

By Kathy Thomson

Twenty-four Albany FFA Greenhands (members who are enrolled in their first year of high school ag science), adviser Chris Beard, district vice-president Alayna Koemel, and area treasurer Seth Hale all attended the FFA Greenhand Camp held in Abilene at the Taylor County Expo Center last week.

“Seth and the other area officers met in Abilene on Monday to get ready for the two-day event,” said Beard. “Seth put on one of the workshops at the camp, and Alayna helped him.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Several hundred area elementary and middle school students and teachers are expected to attend Living History School Day at Fort Griffin State Historic Site on Friday, Oct. 11 to visit the fort and interact with about 70 reenactors portraying day-to-day life in the real Old West.

Fort Griffin program specialist Eric Abercrombie said that the park staff has already gotten RSVPs from several schools, including Nancy Smith Elementary School in Albany.

By Kathy Thomson

Pick-up dates for the October distribution of the commodity food program this month are Oct. 4 and Oct. 8, reflecting a change in the pickup day for Moran.

Albany families who have been certified eligible for the October food distribution program can pick up their commodity food Friday, Oct. 4, at the rear door of the JP office (the former county jail) from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The Albany schedule remains unchanged.

Local organizations who plan to apply for funding from the Albany Chest need to finish and submit their applications by 5:00 p.m. Friday afternoon, Oct. 4.

Organizations wishing to receive an allocation must submit a written request by the deadline.

Application forms can be obtained at First National Bank, First Financial Bank, and The Albany News, or by requesting an emailed form at news@thealbanynews.net. They can be returned to those same locations.

The weekly noon luncheon for the Albany Chamber of Commerce will take place at the clubhouse at Albany Golf Course this Friday in support of the Kiwanis Club’s annual benefit golf tournament.

Proceeds from the Sept. 27 fajita meal will be used for scholarships.

Tickets are $12.

The Chamber luncheon will move back to Fort Griffin Gen. Mdse. Restaurant on the next Friday, Oct. 4.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County judge Bob Skelton and all four commissioners gathered for the second required tax rate hearing at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, waiting 15 minutes for residents of the county to list any objections they might have to setting the tax rate at 58.91 cents.

However, no one from the public attended the hearing. Elected officials plan to adopt the $4.33 million budget, along with the tax rate, at another meeting next Monday, Sept. 30.

By Kathy Thomson

Steak grilled to perfection, Doug Moreland & the Flying Armadillos filling the fresh night air with boot scootin’ music, auctions, and an open bar are all planned as part of the Friends of Fort Griffin 16th Annual Gala on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the site of the Town of Fort Griffin, on Collins Creek Ranch.

Invitations were mailed out earlier this month, but it is not necessary to receive an invitation to attend.