By Melinda L. Lucas Shackelford County elected officials continued to work on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, spending a good part of Monday afternoon going through the line items prepared by county treasurer Tammy Brown.

By Sidney Bartee A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Aug. 5. Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

By Sidney Bartee Cornerstone Community Action Program in Coleman is facilitating a grant, funded by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), to help households impacted by ­COVID-19 pay part or all of their mortgage payments for six consecutive months.

By Melinda L. Lucas One new teacher was hired and a resignation accepted during a regular meeting of the Albany ISD board of trustees on Monday, July 26, a week later than usual because of the lack of a quorum on the previous Monday.

By Donnie A. Lucas Online registration for all Albany students opened on Monday, with only about 60 of the anticipated 475 enrollments complete as of Tuesday afternoon.

By Sidney Bartee The final day for the swimming season at the Albany city pool is Sunday, Aug. 1. Pool manager Jennifer Bowman said the pool’s closing coordinates with Albany’s two-a-day schedule. All lifeguards hired at the pool are high school students, and many participate in sports.

By Jillian Lucas A new Junior FFA organization is being established in Moran for the 2021-2022 school year. Moran FFA advisor and agricultural science teacher Minnie Denson will be heading up the program.

By Jillian Lucas Moran ISD enrollment packets will be available after Aug. 2, according to school officials. All students planning to attend Moran schools in the upcoming year will need to stop by the MISD office to pick up an enrollment packet. “Meet the Teacher” will be held on Thursday, Aug.

By Jillian Lucas The echoes of chants and cheers will be heard throughout the high school campus as Cubs Cheer Camp is set to begin Monday, July 26.  Camp will be held at the AHS gym from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 26 to July 28. Campers who are pre-registered are guaranteed a cheer shirt.

By Donnie A. Lucas While the boys are finishing their summer conditioning program today, the girls program will still offer sessions through next Thursday, July 29. The girls conditioning and sport specific training picked up last Monday after a two-week break and will continue through next week.