By Kathy Thomson

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Loraine last Saturday, Aug. 10, in their season opener on the road.

Moran won in straight sets 25-17, 27-25, 25-15.

The varsity girls will travel to Lingleville for 11:00 a.m. match on Saturday, Aug. 17, and then host Rotan in Bulldog gym on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 5:00 p.m.

The girls will face tournament action in Gorman Aug. 22-24 and in Lingleville Aug. 29-31 before finishing pre-district action in Lingleville on Sept. 10.

By Kathy Thomson

The third annual Shifters Car Club Truck Show should entice nostalgia buffs and truck enthusiasts to downtown Albany this Saturday, Aug. 17, to see antique vehicles, hot rod pickups, and classic work trucks lined up side by side for judging and viewing. 

Everyone is welcome to come out, walk around the show for free, view the preserved and restored relics of a former time, and listen to the rumble of engines that relied on two- or four-barrel carburetors to mix the fuel and air mixture into the proper proportions.

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Independent School District 2019-2020 school year began today, Aug. 15, with classes starting at 7:55 a.m. on the elementary campus and five minutes later, at 8:00 a.m., for junior and senior high students.

Nancy Smith Elementary had 283 students registered as of Monday, Aug. 12, compared with 272 at the same time last year and 279 two years ago.

“All of the new students that we know of have registered,” said administrative assistant Stephanie Gleitz. 

AJH/SH Registration

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members approved a recommendation to go with the effective tax rate, which is almost the same as last year’s actual rate, during their regular session on Monday, Aug. 12.

They also approved an increase in water and sewer rates per thousand gallons, effective at the first of 2020.

Tax Rate

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County sheriff Edward Miller explained a new “Jail Navigator” program being proposed by the board of the Betty Hardwick Center during a regular meeting of the county commissioners on Monday, Aug. 12.

Miller also gave an update on an insurance claim from a May lightning strike that caused extensive electronic damage at the Law Enforcement Center.

Jail Navigator

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Chamber of Commerce’s bi-annual party at the Aztec Theater at 7:00 p.m. next Friday, Aug. 23 will feature both a look backwards into local history and will also honor three people who are helping Albany shine brightly toward the future.

The “Home of the Here-ford” sign celebration and recognition party is for all Chamber members and prospective members, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

By Kathy Thomson

The Texas Department of Transportation has several road repair projects underway or in planning stages in Shackelford County, including rehabilitating and widening the roadway on Highway 283 north of town and resurfacing and roadway construction on Highway 6 south.

State Highway 6, where it heads south of Albany toward the county line, was resealed a few years ago, but the stretch of road is in need of more work sooner than many expected.

By Kathy Thomson

School supplies are being accepted at the Kindred at Home health office in Albany during the company’s national campaign drive in August, and Tracy Sullivan recently picked up a donation from the Shackelford County EMS station that included just what the schools are requesting.

The local campuses both put tissue and hand sanitizer at the top of their lists, said Sullivan.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany High agriculture teacher Chris Beard said that Albany students will exhibit steers, heifers, goats, and pigs at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene, which runs Sept. 5-14, and those entries are due today. 

Junior livestock show entries must be submitted through the student’s local FFA instructor or county agent, and Thursday, Aug. 15 is the deadline to register for the fair.

By Kathy Thomson

Ag instructor Chris Beard, on behalf of the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas, presented the Outstanding Chapter Advocate award to the Albany Kiwanis Club and Outstanding Chapter Newspaper award to The Albany News during the Albany ISD’s district breakfast last Wednesday morning.

Publisher Donnie Lucas accepted the newspaper award, and Zach Maberry, Steve Waller, and Robert Dacus were on hand as a members of the Kiwanis Club.