Shirley Williams, age 58 of Albany, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 10 at First Baptist Church of Albany with John Viertel officiating. Interment followed in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Shirley Lee Campbell was born July 24, 1962 in Front Royal, Virginia to Manley Cletus Campbell and Lena Louise Robinson Campbell. After high school, she attended McMurry College where she earned her degree in education. 

Herbert Hawkins, 71 of Albany, passed from this world on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. A graveside service celebrating his life was held Monday, Oct. 12, at the Albany Cemetery Pavilion under the direction of Melton-Kitchens Funeral Home. Jim Cox officiated the service.

Herbert Wayne Hawkins was born on Oct. 24,1948, in Gorman, Texas, to parents Herbert C. Hawkins and Mary (Waters) Hawkins. The family later moved to Albany, Texas, where he graduated from Albany High School in 1967. 

1951-2020

Rebecca Trueheart Brown Rogers Hutcheson died peacefully at home on Oct. 5, 2020, surrounded by her family following a brave battle with cancer. A Texan with deep roots, Rebecca was born Sept. 21, 1951 to Susan Judd and Joseph Chenoweth Brown. Named for her great aunt Rebecca Trueheart Turnbull, Rebecca was faithful to its meaning:  the tie that binds with pure love.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany senior citizen center received new donated cabinets and a range with stove to complete the center’s kitchenette. 

Shackelford County Senior Citizen Activity Center board president Tracy Sullivan said that Jim Nobles built and installed the cabinets, and the Closet Angels organization donated the new stove.

Now that the center has received these needed items, the next greatest need is monetary donations, Sullivan explained.

By Lynsi Musselman

Nancy Smith Elementary School staff and students are acknowledging Dyslexia Awareness Month by wearing red each Thursday in October.

In addition, facts about dyslexia are being shared during morning announcements on Thursday mornings.

October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month and focuses to bring more attention and support to people with one of the most prevalent language-based learning disabilities.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Despite a report late Wednesday morning about the first confirmed coronavirus case at Nancy Smith Elementary School, a spike in local occurrences during the last half of September seemed to be on a downward trend this week. No other information about the newest case was available at press time. 

According to Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton, Tuesday’s list from the Texas Department of State Health Services showed one confirmed active case and two probable active cases, with only three total in isolation.

By Lynsi Musselman

Plans for Fandangle 2021 are soon to be discussed at the upcoming annual membership meeting for the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association.

Fandangle office manager Jamie Parsons said there seems to be a lot of excitement, with members ready to talk about the upcoming season after not having the 2020 show. 

The meeting will be held  at the Albany Visitors Center on  Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:00 p.m.

The Fandangle board of directors whose terms are up for election this year will be Cody Leech and Lanham Martin.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Processing of local tax statements is “on hold” until final information is received from Callahan County’s appraisal district office about property tax rates in the Moran ISD, according to Shackelford chief appraiser Clayton Snyder.

“The new truth in taxation laws have slowed the adoption of tax rates for some units,” said Snyder, “and as of Tuesday, we hadn’t gotten any information from Callahan County for Moran ISD.”

The local CAD’s original plan was to have a file delivered to the printer by Friday.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany stock show participants have been on the road the last few weeks exhibiting in Anson, Dallas, and Waco.

The State Fair of Texas youth stock show joined the Heart O’ Texas livestock show in Waco this year as a result of the pandemic social distancing rules.

Swine

Albany senior Hannah Snyder showed at the State Fair in Dallas on Sunday, Sept. 27 and took home first place in the heavy weight Hampshire class, then went on to claim the title of Champion Hampshire.

Dear Editor:

We lost a good friend this week. Jackie Lynn Mitchell was on the Class A State Championship team that won consecutive crowns in 1960 and 1961. He went to Texas Tech with a freshman scholarship.

Nine years ago, he and his wife Carolyn (Maxwell) moved to Albany. He supported the Albany Lions as a loyal fan. We thank him for the good example he set for us as a good father, husband and friend.

The AHS Classes of 1961 and 1962