By Donnie A. Lucas
Despite picking up just over $10,000 in the last two weeks, the Albany Chest is still short almost $8,200 of the $47,000 goal set for the year.
While technically the fund drive ended on Dec. 31, it has been common for the last few years to not reach the goal until the first or second week in January.
As of Tuesday, a total of $38,807 had been collected, with $8,193 still outstanding in the 2022 campaign.
By Sam Waller
Preparations for the Shackelford Youth and Livestock Show are picking up speed as the 2023 event draws nearer.
Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association president Bronco Askew said fundraising letters have been sent out in advance of the show.
“We’re just in the process of going and doing,” Askew said. “Everything’s on go, and we’re just waiting to get there.”
Askew said money raised by the association is primarily for the benefit of exhibitors with some used for operating expenses if needed.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Pick-up dates for the January distribution of the commodity food program are set for today (Thursday) in Moran and tomorrow for Albany recipients.
The monthly food program will be held from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the Moran City Hall today, and again Friday from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. in Albany at the Justice of the Peace office on the courthouse square.
All current participants were sent an application form for the 2023 program that must be completed and returned in order to be certified as qualifying for the program during the coming year.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Positive cases of both COVID-19 and the influenza were on the rise during the week prior to Christmas but slowed last week.
A total of 16 positive COVID-19 results were reported for the week of Dec. 19-23, along with 22 positive tests for the flu.
According to the final weekly report of 2022 by outgoing county judge Bob Skelton, 16 positives were recorded out of 29 COVID-19 tests administered by the two local health clinics during the week prior to Christmas.
By Sam Waller
More than 110 were served by volunteers from Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church and the rest of the community as part of the annual MMPC Christmas Feast.
Event organizer Tamara Trail said there was only a slight dip from a year ago when approximately 120 meals were served.
“We delivered 67 meals and served about 45 in-house,” Trail said. “That seems to be consistent with the last few years.”
In past years, meals have been delivered to Vittles by Vehicles recipients, first responders and others working on Christmas Day.
By Melinda L. Lucas
The first Chamber luncheon of 2023 is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 6 at the Beehive.
Chamber luncheons are held each Friday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. and are open to anyone who would like to get involved and help with the various Chamber projects throughout the year.
Currently, there is no manager or executive director in the office, but Chamber board members hope that changes in the near future.
According to Megaen Birdwell, several applicants are being interviewed with plans to make a decision in the next few weeks.
By Sam Waller
Fort Griffin State Historic Site has a new look with the completion of work on its playground.
Site manager Mitch Baird said the project took literally decades from conception to completion.
“I have been trying for 20 years to get this new playground,” Baird said. “So far, all the kids who have been down there are really happy with it. I’m happy with it because it’s taken me 20 years to get the playground updated.”
By Sam Waller
Project Graduation is taking a different approach in its fundraising efforts for the Albany High School Class of 2023, but the end goal remains the same.
Organizer Amanda Tabor said the project will not conduct a Valentine sale this year, but earlier efforts have gone well.
“We’ve already done cookie dough sales and had a booth at Fall Fest in October,” she said. “What we have planned next is to do some Sunday meals in January and February.”
By Sam Waller
Shackelford County 4-H is hitting the ground running in 2023 with preparations for the upcoming county livestock show being given high priority.
Steer Weigh-in
Final weigh-in for the county show’s new commercial steer class will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 at Watt Casey’s pens.
“This will give us the steers’ final weights so the kids can put together their record books and get those turned in,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “We’re wrapping it up.”
Record books are due to Bell on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Angelo State University in San Angelo, has announced the students achieving the Dean’s List for the 2022 fall semester, including Ana Balliew of Albany.
To be eligible for the ASU Dean’s List, full-time undergraduate students must maintain a 3.25 or better grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Balliew is majoring in Management at Angelo State. She is the daughter of Candy and Tim Balliew of Albany.
