Directors of the Albany Chest met on Wednesday, Sept. 5, to organize the 2018 fundraising drive, elect four board members, and vote on officers for the upcoming year.

Organizations should turn in funding requests by Friday, Sept. 28, with an absolute deadline of Oct. 3, when the board’s next meeting is set to evaluate the applications and decide on the 2018 fundraising target.

Last year a goal of $40,000 was set, with $39,170 raised, and $45,000 distributed.

Board Elections

The Albany Masonic Lodge hosted a breakfast for the First Responders of Shackelford County on Tuesday, Sept. 11, with 17 volunteers and emergency workers served. 

The date marked the 17th anniversary of the attack by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. 

Peace officers, dispatchers, jailers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel from across Shackelford County gathered at First Christian Church for the event. 

Albany city council members approved a resolution for a required plumbing ordinance, talked about truck traffic on residential streets, and okayed the Atmos rate review mechanism during a brief meeting on Monday, Sept. 10.

The council will meet again in special session on Thursday, Sept. 20 to take action on the proposed tax rate of 68.77 cents, which is the same as last year, but 3.3 percent higher than the effective rate.

Plumbing Ordinance

Representatives of the Lee’s Legion Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will be at the three local school campuses next week to help students celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution.

A final push over the last few weeks raised the remaining $3,800 needed for Albany Scouts to qualify for two pledged matching grants, totaling $30,000, toward the proposed $95,000 Scout Hut building. 

The local Scouts had to raise a grand total of $65,000 by last Saturday’s Sept. 1 deadline or lose the promised grant. 

Recent donations of $28,200 had already been added to $33,000 accumulated over several years, but as of a few weeks ago, the fund was still almost $4,000 short of the target.

After months of watching lake levels drop and vegetation shrivel, Shackelford County residents got some significant precipitation this week, with prospects of even more before thunderstorm chances begin dwindling on Sunday.

Rainfall started last Sunday about noon, continued on Monday, then fell over most of the county Tuesday, with some areas receiving two inches or more before press time. 

Albany athletes will soon be running through a new -giant “A”, with members of the Athletic Booster Club currently working to raise a total of $5,400 for the new inflatable.

A football helmet that has been used for Albany Lion games since 2012 has “sprung a leak” and the Boosters decided a few weeks ago that it was not practical to try to repair it.

The newly designed “A” will sport Albany’s custom Lion logo and will be 25 feet tall, according to Logan Neve, who is helping with the fundraising efforts.

Albany athletes will soon be running through a new -giant “A”, with members of the Athletic Booster Club currently working to raise a total of $5,400 for the new inflatable.

A football helmet that has been used for Albany Lion games since 2012 has “sprung a leak” and the Boosters decided a few weeks ago that it was not practical to try to repair it.

The newly designed “A” will sport Albany’s custom Lion logo and will be 25 feet tall, according to Logan Neve, who is helping with the fundraising efforts.

Albany ISD trustees passed a budget that is $755,000 short during a special early morning session on Aug. 31, meeting the required state deadline.

Total expenditures, not including food services, are projected at $6,046,955, while revenues are expected to reach $5,292,291.

The proposed tax rate of $1.04, the maximum allowed, was also approved.

Budget Points

By Melinda L. Lucas

With one required public hearing behind them and the second slated tonight, Albany city council members are expected to pass the proposed tax rate of 68.77 cents during a meeting on Sept. 17 at City Hall, starting at 7:00 p.m.

No one from the public attended the first special meeting on Aug. 30. The second is set for 7:00 p.m. today, Sept. 6.

The proposed tax rate of 68.77 cents is the same as last year, but 3.3 percent higher than the effective tax rate of 66.59 cents.

It is calculated to generate additional revenue of $15,695.