By Donnie A. Lucas

The filing period for March 2022 primary elections officially opened on Saturday, Nov. 13, although the Shackelford County Courthouse will not be open until Monday, Nov. 15 for candidates to obtain the required paperwork.

Several county-wide offices and two precinct commissioners are up for election in 2022, with the deadline for candidates to file set on Monday, Dec. 13. Posts to be elected include county judge, county and district clerk, county treasurer, justice of the peace (county-wide position), and commissioners for Precincts 2 and 4.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County veterans and families are invited to attend a Veterans Day celebration at the high school gym on Thursday (today) beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Several musical presentations are planned by various school groups including the third grade music classes, the Albany Fiddlers, and the high school band.

Almost 100 invitations were sent out to veterans and families inviting them to attend the ceremony that will recognize each veteran or spouse of a deceased veteran that is present.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A sure sign that the holiday season is near, the annual bazaar hosted at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church is set for Saturday after a one-year lapse due to the pandemic.

The event has a storied history originating in 1900, missing fewer than a handful of years due to wars and pandemics.

The longtime tradition unofficially marks the beginning of the holiday season in Albany.

The doors will open at 10:00 a.m. to the Country Store, with the turkey and dressing lunch starting at 11:00 a.m.

By Sam Waller

Moran Independent School District invites the public to a Veterans Day program on Thursday, Nov. 11.

The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Moran High School gymnasium.

A hamburger luncheon will follow the Veterans Day presentation.

To RSVP, call the Moran ISD office at 325-945-3101.

Thanksgiving Lunch

The faculty and staff of Moran ISD also invites community members for the school’s Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Nov. 18.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s Johnnie Hise received the District 7 Gold Star Award on Oct. 25 at the district banquet at the Bill Franklin Center in Coleman.

The Gold Star Award is the highest achievement award given by the Texas 4-H Youth Development program through the county 4-H program. The Texas 4-H Gold Star Award can only be awarded once in a member’s 4-H career.

By Sam Waller

Hunting seasons for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey open Saturday, Nov. 6 and run through Jan. 2, with expectations high for deer and a little lower for turkey.

Game warden Jacob Mort reminds deer and turkey hunters that they need to make sure they have their licenses in their possession when out in the field.

Tags aren’t required for quail season, which began last week.

New Requirement

“If you’re required to tag an animal, including turkeys or deer, you’re required to have your hunting license with you,” he said.

By Sam Waller

Stock show season is drawing close with 4-H and FFA members in Shackelford County getting their animals ready.

Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard said entries for all county and major shows are due Nov. 12. All money is due at the time of entry.

Validation deadlines for swine, chicken and rabbit projects are also looming.

“We’ve already validated all the cattle, sheep, and goats,” Beard said. “And we’ve got all our pig tags in.”

It’s time to fall back! Daylight Savings Time comes to an end on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2:00 a.m. Clocks should be set back an hour at that time.

Most of the United States reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November. 

Before 2006, U.S. Daylight Saving Time ended a few days before Halloween, Oct. 31. To help prevent pedestrian injuries, a new law to extend DST to the first Sunday in November took effect in 2007, with the purpose of providing trick-or-treaters more light.

By Donnie Lucas

The number of positive COVID-19 cases fell last week to the lowest number in weeks, with only five new cases reported.

A total of 19 tests were administered during the period of Oct. 25-29 at the three local testing locations.

Likewise, Lisa Russell, the Albany ISD nurse, said that there was just one positive case reported to her, which was a student at the junior/senior high campus.

The Shackelford County Medical Clinic conducted six tests on Monday with no positive cases for Shackelford County residents.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A large crowd was on hand Saturday at Nancy Smith Elementary for the annual Fall Fest, with organizers calling the event a big success.

Several changes were made this year in an attempt to draw more interest, including larger prizes that were “purchased” with points earned at the various booths.

Exact figures of the success of the project, which is sponsored by the Albany PTO, were not available at deadline time.