By Kathy Thomson The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $48,901 from the state this February. The amount is down 4.05 percent from the $50,966 payment received in February of 2019. Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $86,045, down by 16.

By Melinda L. Lucas Shackelford County Hospital District administrator Jera Fairley was given a raise, and board members were updated about intensified “drug security” policies during the hospital board’s regular monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 17.

by Kathy Thomson Tuesday, Feb. 18 was the first day of early voting for the March 3 primary election, with balloting taking place in the foyer on the first floor of the Shackelford County Courthouse. As of press time on Tuesday afternoon, 22 voters had cast ballots.

By Kathy Thomson The Albany Independent School District and the Shackelford County hospital district will both hold elections on May 2, as will the Moran city council.

By Melinda L. Lucas Albany city manager Billy Holson proposed a balanced budget of $2,936,850 at Monday’s regular meeting of the city council, and elected officials expect to approve the budget at a March 9 session following the required public hearing.

By Melinda L. Lucas Courthouse security was the main topic of discussion during Monday morning’s meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners and other elected officials.

By Kathy Thomson With only one day left to file for local offices, as of press time on Tuesday, there was still a shortage of candidates for several of the local boards. The only person to file for an office since press time last week is Shackelford County Hospital Board incumbent Chris Beard.

By Kathy Thomson Several Shackelford County youth, parents, and advisors are in the middle of one of the busiest times of the stock show season, with Fort Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin all underway over the next few weeks.

By Kathy Thomson The Parent Teacher Organization’s Scholastic “Book Fair Jungle: Elephants, Tigers, and Books, OH MY!” is set to wind down to a close tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 14, at the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria, but purchases can still be made between now and then.

Albany Independent School District has scheduled a student holiday for Monday, Feb. 17, in honor of Presidents Day.  Schools at both Albany campuses will release at the normal times on Friday, Feb. 14, and will resume classes at the normal times on Tuesday, Feb.