The Moran Volunteer Fire Department received $223 in donations at a fill-the-boot fundraiser Saturday, according to assistant fire chief Tyler George.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all that donated, and all those who continue to support our small department,” said member Michelle Taggart. “Anytime we have an event or fundraiser, we have a great turnout and everyone has a great time.”

The money will be used to pay for CPR training and certification for the VFD members, said chief Steve Taggart.

The West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene ran from Sept. 6-15 and several Shackelford County Youth held their own against exhibitors from across the state, including three locals that won blue ribbons in the steer show, and three others that caught animals during the calf scramble on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Results are listed below. 

Junior Steer Show 

Shackelford County 4-H member Johnnie Hise, a freshman at Moran High School, won several ribbons in the youth clothing division of the West Texas Fair and Rodeo this month and, after all the results from the category were tallied, she also won the overall award in youth clothing. 

Alton’s Sewing Machine Co. gives one $200 gift certificate to the youth exhibitor who wins the most points in youth clothing, and Hise earned the special award and recognition this year with the clothing items she had sewn.

The third annual Shifters Car Club Truck Show will entice nostalgia buffs and truck enthusiasts to downtown Albany this Saturday, Sept. 22, to see antique vehicles, hot rod pickups, and classic work trucks lined up side by side for judging and viewing. 

Everyone is welcome to come out, walk around the show for free, view the preserved and restored relics of a former time, and listen to the rumble of engines that relied on two- or four-barrel carburetors to mix the fuel and air mixture into the proper proportions.

Everyone is invited to celebrate the Chinese mid-autumn moon at a free family festival hosted by the Old Jail Art Center on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m.

“Come and enjoy traditional crafts, games, food, and music at this centuries-old Chinese Harvest Festival honoring family, gathering, and gratitude,” said education director Erin Whitmore. “Go on a virtual scavenger hunt for Chinese artifacts, create a moon-drum, add to our community Wish-Lantern, and try a traditional mooncake or dumpling.”

The biography of world champion bull rider Lane Frost is told in 8 Seconds, a 1994 movie that will be shown at the Aztec Theater this Saturday, Sept. 22 for $6 per ticket or as part of the Reel Deal series for season ticket holders.

The Aztec box office will open at 6:00 p.m. and the film is set to start rolling across the big screen of the historic downtown theater at 7:00 p.m.

A quorum of Shackelford County Hospital District directors okayed the proposed budget and tax rate at an abbreviated meeting on Monday, Sept. 17.

Three of the board members waited several minutes until a fourth could arrive in order to be able to take action, then they opted to defer other agenda items until next month so the director could leave to take care of sick family members.

A budget of $2,972,476 was approved unanimously on a motion by Jo Ann Estridge, with a second by Janna Ledbetter.

State Senator Charles Perry and State Representative Mike Lang will host a joint Town Hall meeting for Shackelford County residents next Wednesday, Sept. 26 at the Aztec Theater in downtown Albany.

The hour-long forum from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. will include a question-and-answer time along with a brief address from each elected official about the his legislative agenda, the state budget, and how the legislative process works.

The event is open to the public.

Albany High School senior Madison Wilkins and Moran High School senior Khloe New were named Lions Club co-sweethearts for 2018-19.

“We were looking for young ladies that showed a lot of willingness to work in the community, were good moral citizens, and did well in their class,” said Lions Club president Robert Skelton. “We had several good candidates to choose from.”

Madison Wilkins

Madison Wilkins has attended Albany schools her entire academic career. 

Shackelford County senior adults (50 and up) are invited to attend the Shackelford County Resource Center’s September senior luncheon to be held on Friday, Sept. 21 at the Youth Center beginning at 11:00 a.m.

“The meal time is a little earlier,” said program assistant Ragan Riley. “We changed it to 11:00 a.m. in order to try and accommodate more seniors and volunteers.”

ResourceCare will host the first senior luncheon of the new school year, and the menu for Friday includes BBQ (sliced beef and sausage), potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, and cobbler for desert.