By Kathy Thomson

The Old Jail Art Center is hosting a Family Festival “Round Up” this Saturday, and everyone is invited to attend the free event and to visit the other exhibits on display at the fine art museum.

Located one block east of the Courthouse, the local museum does not charge admission and is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Fandangle performance nights. 

The Old Jail comprises 17,000 square feet and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. 

By Kathy Thomson

Megan Harbin, the director of family outreach for Methodist Children’s Home in Abilene, will be giving a presentation this Sunday, June 30 during the 11:00 a.m. worship service at First United Methodist Church in Albany.

“There is a need for foster care for children in this area,” Harbin said. “Through MCH we help license foster families with the state so they can work with CPS, and we also have a private foster care option in which CPS is not involved.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Summer reading at the Shackelford County Library will continue throughout the summer instead of ending this week as initially planned.

Members of the Albany Study Club decided to extend the program for local children with a weekly reading time and crafts, but the volunteers are changing the time to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons.

Children from the ages of two to four (with an adult) and kindergarten to fourth grade are encouraged to attend.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Three Shackelford County employees with several decades of county experience were recognized at Monday’s regular commissioners meeting, with plans made for a retirement reception this week.

Gayala Askew, who has worked 29 years in the county tax-assessor’s and voter registration office, and Tempie Wiloth, who retired May 29 after 28 years with the sheriff’s department, were both given plaques by county judge Bob Skelton during the June 24 session.

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Softball Association met Tuesday, June 18 at the county library to select board members and elect officers.

President Beth Roysdon and vice president Amy McDaniel were elected May 28. Remaining officers and board members were chosen last Tuesday. 

Other officers include Brian Holson as treasurer/secretary, and Ricky Lucas as player representative. Teresa Purcell is in charge of the concession stand.

Other board members are Kevin Nowell, Jacey Shack, and Mike Bean.

By Nolan Davis

As the Fourth of July quickly approaches, Shackelford County residents are encouraged to take necessary safety precautions when celebrating and using fireworks.

“People need to pay close attention when they’re using fireworks during the holiday,” said Shackelford County Rural Fire Department chief Brad Henry. “Just be very careful.”

While the county is not under a burn ban or any special fireworks restrictions, people should still be cautious as fireworks can easily cause fires in grassy and wooded areas.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Summer conditioning programs for both boys and girls entering grades 7-12 are well underway at the high school campus.

Head football coach Denney Faith said that about 25 to 30 boys have been attending during the last three weeks, while girls coach M.J. Reneau reported an average of 25 girls attending the sessions for Lady Lions.

The boys are meeting at 7:00 a.m., followed by the girls at 8:00 a.m.

By Kathy Thomson

Around 40 people attended the Shackelford County Range and Pasture Tour on Tuesday, June 25.

“We had lots of great speakers,” said local county extension agent Michaela Bradford. “It was a good educational event.”

The AgriLife sponsored event was the first of a three-part Big Country Beef Cattle Improvement Series and was held at the Trail Ranch.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $46,797 from the state this June. The amount is up 31.38 percent from the $35,618 payment received in June of 2018.

Payments to date for the 2019 year to the city of Albany are $299,589, up by 16.80 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $256,486 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,316 this period for a 2.11 percent increase from the $1,289 received in June 2018.

Special Fandangle activities are on the Old Jail Art Center’s schedule over the next two weeks, starting with a Native American Dance exhibition this Saturday afternoon and ending up a Family Festival “Round Up” on June 29.

Located one block east of the Courthouse, the Old Jail does not charge admission and is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Fandangle performance nights.