By Melinda L. Lucas

Several hundred area elementary and middle school students and teachers are expected to attend Living History School Day at Fort Griffin State Historic Site on Friday, Oct. 11 to visit the fort and interact with about 70 reenactors portraying day-to-day life in the real Old West.

Fort Griffin program specialist Eric Abercrombie said that the park staff has already gotten RSVPs from several schools, including Nancy Smith Elementary School in Albany.

By Kathy Thomson

Pick-up dates for the October distribution of the commodity food program this month are Oct. 4 and Oct. 8, reflecting a change in the pickup day for Moran.

Albany families who have been certified eligible for the October food distribution program can pick up their commodity food Friday, Oct. 4, at the rear door of the JP office (the former county jail) from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The Albany schedule remains unchanged.

Local organizations who plan to apply for funding from the Albany Chest need to finish and submit their applications by 5:00 p.m. Friday afternoon, Oct. 4.

Organizations wishing to receive an allocation must submit a written request by the deadline.

Application forms can be obtained at First National Bank, First Financial Bank, and The Albany News, or by requesting an emailed form at news@thealbanynews.net. They can be returned to those same locations.

The weekly noon luncheon for the Albany Chamber of Commerce will take place at the clubhouse at Albany Golf Course this Friday in support of the Kiwanis Club’s annual benefit golf tournament.

Proceeds from the Sept. 27 fajita meal will be used for scholarships.

Tickets are $12.

The Chamber luncheon will move back to Fort Griffin Gen. Mdse. Restaurant on the next Friday, Oct. 4.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County judge Bob Skelton and all four commissioners gathered for the second required tax rate hearing at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, waiting 15 minutes for residents of the county to list any objections they might have to setting the tax rate at 58.91 cents.

However, no one from the public attended the hearing. Elected officials plan to adopt the $4.33 million budget, along with the tax rate, at another meeting next Monday, Sept. 30.

By Kathy Thomson

Steak grilled to perfection, Doug Moreland & the Flying Armadillos filling the fresh night air with boot scootin’ music, auctions, and an open bar are all planned as part of the Friends of Fort Griffin 16th Annual Gala on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the site of the Town of Fort Griffin, on Collins Creek Ranch.

Invitations were mailed out earlier this month, but it is not necessary to receive an invitation to attend. 

By Kathy Thomson

Docents at the Old Jail Art Center went on an overnight trip to Fredericksburg earlier this week, and the group is planning a trip to New Orleans next spring, according to Susan Waller, member of the OJAC travel committee.

“We wanted to go on a one-night trip,” said Waller. “We decided to go to Fredericksburg because everybody loves Fredericksburg; it has such fabulous museums, restaurants, and shopping.”

The recent adventure included 17 docents and guests. 

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. 

This year, instead of handing out the sign-up sheets to class representatives at a scheduled meeting, organizer Malarie Sutton plans to hand deliver forms to each campus.

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.

She took second in Class 3, English steers and second in Class 4, English steers.

Brayden Hawkins was the cattle judge.

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.

Free activities planned by Pastor Luke Spraberry and the members of Bethel Assembly include various games, face painting, pumpkin story time, a petting zoo on Saturday afternoon, a corn pit, and photo booths for fall family pictures.