By Kathy Thomson Members of the Albany Parent Teacher Organization have started planning for the 2019 Fall Festival, and students and parents from all grade levels are encouraged to sign up and help with the annual fundraiser.

By Kathy Thomson Albany junior high seventh grader Kenzie Neve won the overall cattle showmanship belt buckle at the 61st annual Jones County Fair in Anson last Saturday. Neve also placed in both of her steer classes.

By Kathy Thomson Pumpkins, train rides, games, face painting, and other opportunities to make special fall family memories will be offered at Bethel Assembly’s “The Patch” in downtown Albany at the Bank Park next Saturday, Oct. 5.

By Kathy Thomson The monthly star gazing party, Stars and Skies of Texas, will be held at Fort Griffin State Historical Site from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 28.

By Kathy Thomson The 12th Annual Albany Kiwanis Charity/John Rose & Jim Law Memorial Golf Tournament and Fajita Fiesta will take place at the Albany Golf Course this Friday, Sept. 14. Money raised from participants and sponsors will help fund the Albany K Charity Scholarship Fund.

By Melinda L. Lucas Shackelford County conducted the first of two public hearings along with moving through a few other pieces of business on Monday morning, Sept. 16. The hearing was required as part of the county’s plan to set a tax rate of 58.

By Kathy Thomson Fall officially starts next Monday, Sept. 23, and the Albany downtown area will soon be dressed for the autumn season.

By Melinda L. Lucas With very little discussion, directors of the Shackelford County Hospital District okayed the proposed budget and tax rate at meeting on Monday, Sept. 16. A budget of $2,957,259 was approved unanimously on a motion by Janna Ledbetter, with a second by Mike Folsom.

By Kathy Thomson Shackelford County senior adults (50 and up) are invited to attend the Shackelford County Resource Center’s September senior luncheon to be held on Friday, Sept. 20 at the Youth Center beginning at 11:15 a.m.

Sen. Charles Perry will be hosting a town hall meeting in the Albany High School auditorium from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 25. Sen. Perry currently chairs the Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs and is Vice-Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee.