By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County conducted the first of two public hearings along with moving through a few other pieces of business on Monday morning, Sept. 16.

The hearing was required as part of the county’s plan to set a tax rate of 58.91 cents per $100 valuation, which is the highest option without a rollback election, even though it’s actually less than the current year’s tax rate of 61.51 cents.

The second public hearing is set for this Friday, Sept. 20 at 9:00 a.m. in the courtroom of the Shackelford County Courthouse.

By Kathy Thomson

Fall officially starts next Monday, Sept. 23, and the Albany downtown area will soon be dressed for the autumn season.

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is heading up the fall decorating project that has attracted a considerable amount of drive-by attention the last few years and is expected to do so again this fall.

“We’ll be decorating downtown for fall  on Saturday, Sept. 21, starting at 8:30 a.m.,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones. “Anybody who wants to help is welcome! We will meet at the Depot.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

With very little discussion, directors of the Shackelford County Hospital District okayed the proposed budget and tax rate at meeting on Monday, Sept. 16.

A budget of $2,957,259 was approved unanimously on a motion by Janna Ledbetter, with a second by Mike Folsom.

The proposed tax rate, which is the effective rate of 18.81 cents, was adopted on a motion by Ledbetter, seconded by Folsom.

The adopted rate is more than two cents less than last year’s rate (20.97 cents) because of slightly higher valuations.

By Kathy Thomson

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. 20 at the Youth Center beginning at 11:15 a.m.

ResourceCare will be hosting the meal this month, according to program assistant Ragan Riley.

Sen. Charles Perry will be hosting a town hall meeting in the Albany High School auditorium from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 25.

Sen. Perry currently chairs the Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs and is Vice-Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. 

He also sits on the Senate Committees for Agriculture, Criminal Justice, Finance, Transportation, and Redistricting.

At the meeting, Sen. Perry will discuss the successes of the 86th Legislative Session, as well as answer questions and listen to feedback.

By Kathy Thomson

Sue Breeden placed first in her class of Pinterest Pinners in the Creative Arts department at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo Sept. 5-14, and her shadowbox featuring hand sewn bead work was also chosen as Best in Show.

“I took lessons in beading from Intuit Indians while I was visiting my daughter in Alaska,” said Breeden. “I love to bead!”

The colorful bead work is of five parrots, and took Breeden at least 100 hours of work, she said.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Albany FFA Chapter has elected its officers for the 2019-2020 school year, and the new chapter leaders plan to attend a Chapter Officer Leadership Training conference in Abilene on Oct. 7.

FFA officers include president Tyler Beard, vice president Brayden Sullivan, secretary Blaine Kayga, treasurer Mady Connally, and reporter Conner Clark. Also serving the chapter this year are sentinel Seth Hale, historian Kamryn Browning, parliamentarian Cade Neve, and chaplain Susie Cormack.

By Kathy Thomson

Open registration for the Albany General Education Development (GED) classes will continue on Monday nights at the Shackelford County Library, according to local instructor Kenzie Fairchild. 

“You will need to bring an acceptable form of identification to register,” Fairchild said. “In order to qualify, one must be at least 17 years of age (with parent’s consent) or older.” 

By Kathy Thomson

Twenty-nine sale sites took part in the 26th Annual Community Wide Garage Sale last Saturday, Sept. 14, and many locations reported that they did really well, while others did not, according to Chamber of Commerce manager Mary Beth Jones.

“Around 75 maps were picked up,” Jones said. “Although I don’t know why some sales didn’t do as well, it does seem like location may have made a difference.”

Jones said from what she heard, sales located on Main Street may have been better attended than those located off of the beaten path.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees heard the district’s 2018-2019 financial review during an hour-long meeting on Monday, Sept. 16, but no action was taken.

CPA Cameron Gulley presented the audit for last school year as “pending,” with the final report due next month.

He advised that no action be taken until figures are received from the Community Foundation of Abilene regarding Albany ISD’s investments.

He did not cite any compliance issues and noted that even though the fund balance has again decreased, the district is in good shape.