By Lynsi Musselman

While churches across the state of Texas and in Albany adjust to ever changing guidelines and restrictions, they continue to prepare for the safest way to be with their congregations both in person and virtually.

First United 

Methodist Church

Pastor Tim Trimble said  the summer plans for UMC are being made week by week.

“Summer activities at church will be curtailed and added depending on how gathering together again progresses,” Trimble said.

Sunday worship remains at 11:00 a.m.

By Lynsi Musselman

The unofficial start of summer 2020 is here and camp planning is underway at First Baptist Church Albany.

Camp JAM will be July 16 to 19 for campers going into eighth through 12th grades.

First Baptist Church youth minister Campbell Terry said the Disciple Now style camp will be Thursday to Saturday.

Terry said spots are limited and the cost of Camp Jam is $50.

FBC also has a pre-teen  lock-in planned for July 24-25. The lock-in is for students going into fifth through seventh grades.

The family of Elgin Ray (Punk) Jones and Mary Belle (Steddum) Jones proudly announce their 70th wedding anniversary.

Punk and Mary Belle were reared in Shackelford County. They met in 1940 when the Jones family moved to Albany, Texas next door to the Steddum family. At that time, Punk was 13 and Mary Belle was nine. 

She promptly told her grandfather that when she grew up, she was going to marry Punk Jones.

Callahan-Shackelford Counties Farm Bureau directors announce that substantial donations have been made to food programs in Callahan and Shackelford counties.

With the cancellation of Farm Bureau youth programs this summer due to the coronavirus, the Cal-Shack board decided to increase the budgeted amount supporting food programs for senior adults with funds that would have gone to youth sponsorships. 

Soon after the decision was made, the state office for Texas Farm Bureau announced plans to match funds being donated to senior citizen food services.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany youth who usually spend much of their summer vacation attending local sports camps will have to wait a little longer to see if the use of school facilities is allowed.

According to athletic director Ryder Peacock, AISD is waiting on state guidance for the use of indoor facilities for youth camps.

The UIL, which regulates student athletics in Texas, recently allowed schools to conduct conditioning and skill specific training for students participating in athletics during the next school year.

By Lynsi Musselman

Moran Independent School District superintendent Danny Freeman and school board member Sug Roller presented diplomas to seven seniors at Friday evening’s commencement exercises.

Graduates and eight family members per student were in attendance at the ceremony.

“We made every effort to practice safe social distancing and make all attendees comfortable,” Freeman said. “Additonal spectators drove up or stood outside the rock wall of the school to watch the seniors.”

By Lynsi Musselman

The Moran City Volunteer Fire Department received a new fire brush truck from the Texas Forest Service on Monday.

Moran currently has one fire engine used to respond to house fires, vehicle crashes, and grass fires that can be reached from the road.

“We have an agreement to respond to any rural area fires within a 10-mile radius and to help Albany if needed,” City of Moran Mayor and Volunteer Fire Chief Steve Taggart said.

By Lynsi Musselman

Shackelford County Youth Livestock Association members met Tuesday, May 26 to discuss plans and elect officers for the 2020-2021 season.

After all members met together, the directors stayed to elect officers. Both meetings had been postponed due to -COVID-19 meeting restrictions.

“Not much changed from this year’s show,” said board president Bronco Askew. “The times and format will be the same as 2020. The only new business is an additional pig sale.”

Rule Changes and Show Dates

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, June 10, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.

The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.

The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable, according to Albany VFD fire chief Kyle Tischler. 

SEVERE WEATHER

By Donnie A. Lucas

In the continuing effort to contain the spread of -COVID-19 coronavirus, the old adage of “no news is good news” definitely applies.

Shackelford County continues to hold the virus at bay with no new tests administered over the last week and only one positive case reported.

According to county judge Robert Skelton, the county continues to hold at 28 tests conducted locally with 28 negative results.