The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $34,806 from the state this October. The amount is down 38.64 percent from the $56,730 payment received in October of 2018.

Payments to date for the 2019 year to the city of Albany are $448,517, up by 0.68 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $445,471 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,499 this period for a 6.20 percent increase from the $1,411 received in October 2018.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Despite what is expected to be cold weather on Thursday afternoon, crowds of costumed children are expected in the downtown area and in other parts of Albany for what has become a local tradition.

When it was announced that there would be no Trunk or Treat event this year, Chamber of Commerce manager Mary Beth Jones invited other individuals and organizations to join the downtown merchants in their usual Oct. 31 candy distribution.

By Kathy Thomson

Hundreds of costumed children traded in tickets to play games and try to win prizes at the Albany Parent-Teacher Organization’s annual Fall Fest held at Nancy Smith Elementary School last Saturday.

“Everything went really well,” said co-organizer Malarie Sutton. “It was probably the best Fall Fest we’ve had in a long time. Everything ran smoothly, and folks said that they liked the new games and banners.”

The majority of the booths shut down at 8:30 p.m. or a little later, including Bingo and the cafeteria, according to Sutton. 

By Kathy Thomson

Early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 Special Election to adopt or reject the Proposed Constitutional Amendments to the Texas Constitution will end tomorrow, and registered voters who have not already cast their ballots are encouraged to participate in early voting today or tomorrow or to vote on Election Day next Tuesday, Nov. 5.

On Monday afternoon, election clerk Cheri Hawkins said that 42 people had already cast their ballots in person.

Thomas Guy Wilie, “T.G.” of Willow Park and formerly of Albany, passed away Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.

T.G. was born Jan. 27, 1943, to Chloe Dell Ross and A.C. (Pete) Wilie in Bryan, Texas. He spent his first eight years in Walnut Springs, Texas. 

The family moved to Albany, Texas, when T.G. was in third grade where he made life-long friends in the Albany Independent School District. 

By Kathy Thomson

Traditionally, trick or treating takes place on Oct. 31, and participating downtown Albany store owners will once again offer costumed local students and pre-schoolers a safe place to show off their cute outfits and solicit candy donations on Halloween.

According to Chamber of Commerce office manager Mary Beth Jones, downtown merchants will be handing out candy from 3:00 until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31.

By Kathy Thomson

Games of skill and chance, homemade cakes and assorted other scrumptious desserts, freshly prepared chili and beans, prizes, and children and adults dressed up as characters from video games, movies, heroes, mermaids, animals, pirates, cheerleaders, and clowns are all expected to be on hand for the annual Parent-Teacher Organization’s Fall Fest being held at the Nancy Smith Elementary School campus on Saturday, Oct. 26.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The 2018 audit for the Shackelford County Hospital District was approved during the regular Oct. 21 meeting, bringing the entity up to date after the former auditor was unable to complete the two prior years.

Chase Sims of Condley & Company LLC gave a “clean report,” citing no deficiencies and only three minor problems, two of which have already been corrected or partially corrected for the current fiscal year.

By Melinda L. Lucas

After interviewing four candidates in separate interviews last Wednesday afternoon, Shackelford County commissioners voted unanimously to ask the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to offer the job of Shackelford County Extension Agent to Kloey Painter of Alpine.

Michaela Bradford left the post vacant several months ago when she opted to take a teaching position with Albany ISD.

By Kathy Thomson

Twenty-four different organizations have been approved for funding from the Albany Chest, with the 2019 campaign now underway with a $42,000 goal.

In each issue during the next few weeks, a brief look will be taken at two or three of the benefitting organizations in order to give prospective donors an idea of their activities.

Albany 7 on 7

The summer sports program has requested $1,000 from the Community Chest.