By Sandy Morris

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election will wrap up in Texas and Shackelford County on Friday, Oct. 30, with the General Election Day set for next Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Shackelford County and District Clerk Cheri Hawkins said in-person early voting will continue to be held o n the first floor of the courthouse until Thursday, Oct. 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and through the lunch hour. Then on Friday, Oct. 30, residents have from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to early vote at the courthouse. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Some county residents went without electricity for several hours on Tuesday, and school classes in both Albany and Moran were cancelled because of an early winter storm that dropped enough snow and freezing rain to cause multiple problems.

Tuesday’s electrical outage, thought to be mostly an issue with a circuit breaker at the sub-station, was repaired during the night, but some customers were still without power on Wednesday morning.

By Sandy Morris

Despite the cancellation of the annual Fall Fest due to COVID-19 precautions, local merchants and the Chamber of Commerce are working together to provide an afternoon of fun and food on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Trick or treaters will be able to visit merchants in the downtown block for candy and treats from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Merchants will be set up in front of their respective stores in the downtown area. 

Other groups may set up at the Bank Park. 

By Sandy Morris

Pick-up dates for the November distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6.

Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Nov. 5. 

Albany families who have been certified as eligible for the November food distribution program may pick up their food the following day from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the rear door of the JP office. 

It’s time to fall back! Daylight Savings Time comes to an end on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2:00 a.m. Clocks should be set back an hour at that time.

Most of the United States reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November. In the U.S., each time zone switches at a different time.

A new law to extend DST to the first Sunday in November took effect in 2007, with the purpose of providing trick-or-treaters more light and therefore more safety from traffic accidents.

By Melinda L. Lucas

During Monday’s regular meeting, Shackelford County commissioners opted to refinance motor grader leases for all four precincts with an $11,400 savings over the life of the agreements.

Gordon McCain of First National Bank in Wichita Falls presented proposals for two Caterpillar and two John Deere maintainers, a couple of them new and the other two relatively recent purchases.

By Sandy Walker

Shackelford County hosted a County 4-H Food Show Saturday, Oct. 24 at Friendship Baptist Church. 

Participation was a requirement for any student who plans to participate in the District Food Show on Saturday, Nov. 19. 

Kloey Painter, Shackelford County Extension Agent and 4-H Club coordinator, said that each county is allowed to bring four participants from each age division to compete at the district show. 

By Sandy Morris

The 32nd annual Red Ribbon Week kicked off Monday, Oct. 26, for the Albany Independent School District.

The event, which educates students and the local public about drug and alcohol abuse, is sponsored locally by AISD and the Albany Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol Abuse, with support provided by several other state and local agencies.

The national theme for Red Ribbon Week 2020 is “Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free.”

By Sandy Morris

The Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is selling digital thermometers for $5 to parents, students, and the general public. 

SHAC members purchased these thermometers about a year ago as a fundraiser, and along with including them in first aid packets given to the graduating class as a gift, they have been utilized in other ways. 

According to school nurse Lisa Russell, these thermometers were purchased well before the COVID-19 virus outbreak, but they came in handy this past spring. 

By Sandy Morris

The traditional special assembly to honor local veterans has fallen victim to COVID this year. 

School administrators decided recently that they would cancel the event this year, due to fact that attendees are typically in close proximity. 

All local veterans and their families typically are invited to participate in the assembly, which usually includes music and special readings from the students.