By Kathy Thomson

Tomorrow, April 10, is the deadline for local youth livestock exhibitors to clean out their pens at the FFA barn from this year’s show animals and also the deadline to purchase ear tags for some of next year’s livestock shows.

Steer and heifer tag orders for the major shows need to be turned in to Albany ag advisor Chris Beard or Shackelford County extension agent Kloey Painter by April 10.

April 10 is also the deadline to turn in tag orders for swine, lambs, and goats for the State Fair of Texas. 

By Lynsi Musselman

Rapidly changing world events are having a significant impact on the local level.  

Several events are being cancelled that were postponed just a few weeks ago. 

The Albany Chamber of Commerce has decided to cancel all Chamber events until further notice. Even Chamber board meetings will be held via phone or text. 

By Kathy Thomson

Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter church services are too important to be stopped by a virus, and local pastors have plans to reach not only their own members but anyone willing to listen, to tell them how Christ’s death and resurrection purchased salvation for everyone willing to accept the free gift.

William R. (Bill) Hicks of Windsor, Illinois, formerly of Albany, Texas, passed away peacefully on Jan. 16, 2020. He was 94 years old. 

He was born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois on Dec. 3, 1925. He served in the U.S. Army and earned a Purple Heart for his heroic services. 

By Kathy Thomson

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $41,174 from the state this March. The amount is down 40.94 percent from the $69,720 payment received in March of 2019.

Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $127,219, down by 26.31 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $172,649 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,794 this period, for a 43.88 percent increase from the $1,247 received in March 2019.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County followed the City of Albany in declaring a local “state of disaster due to a public health emergency” when county judge Robert Skelton signed documentation last Thursday, March 26.

The City of Moran is required to follow the county-wide guidelines, but Moran city council members are also reportedly poised to file a similar ordinance.

By Donnie A. Lucas

With the announcement made Tuesday that schools across Texas will remain closed until Monday, May 4, local parents and students will continue to receive assignments online or through packets of printed materials.

Both the elementary and secondary campuses have been providing instruction since schools were first shut down three weeks ago, and that will continue until classes resume.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The staff at the Old Jail Art Center say that they are “physical distancing,” not “social distancing” as they continue working to serve area residents during COVID-19 constraints.

The museum is currently closed to the public, with all group gatherings cancelled or on hold.

“We hope to stay connected through a variety of take-home and at-home programs for all ages,” said Erin Whitmore, education director at the museum.

@Home Survival Kits

By Melinda L. Lucas

Several more Albany offices and businesses have locked their doors in the last week, including the walk-in lobby at one local bank, limiting access to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

There are also a few more event cancellations on the growing list below.

The News has not been notified about any other interruptions in the schedule but will include those when reported.

CLOSED UNTIL 

FURTHER NOTICE

•Albany Pet Hospital

•Old Jail Art Center

By Kathy Thomson

Social distancing, team sports cancelled, and the reality of the “new norm” continuing for at least one more month has most parents trying to figure out how to keep their children from going stir crazy and looking for ways to make the best of a stressful situation.

One delightful activity for Albany children was Sunday’s “Bear Hunt.”

First Baptist member Sherry Viertel borrowed the idea and brought it to Albany.