The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 130, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 9, 2005 Page: 1 of 10
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Window dressings
Local merchants and business owners
are dressing up their windows this week
in preparation for next week's influx of
visitors for the 2005 Fandangle.
See story, pg. 2
City champions
The Albany Reds, who won the local
Little League championship, are playing
in the county tournament in Abilene,
along with the second place Indians.
See story, pg. 7
The
Albany Ne
L_
"Oldest Journalistic Venture West of the Brazos
//
Thursday, June 9, 2005, Albany, Texas 76430
10 Paces in 1 Section
Volume Number 130 Number 2 Price 75<t
Tax appraisal notices mailed this week
Several thousand notices
were mailed recently to prop-
erty owners in Shackelford
County, according to chief ap-
praiser Teresa Peacock, notify-
ing them of the appraised val-
ues of business and industrial
personal property, real estate
property and mineral properties.
A number of local taxpayers
have already called or come by
the tax office to ask questions
about increases in their evalua-
tions, the chief appraiser related,
and she expects more inquiries
in the coming weeks.
Any formal protests of the
values listed on the notices must
be filed by July 7, said Peacock.
After that, the values will be
certified and no changes can be
made.
Local Values
Oil and gas values are up
again from last year, based on
the average price for oil and gas
during the year 2004. Values
were considerably higher last
year, after oil and gas prices
began spiraling upward in 2003,
but the trend slowed somewhat
last year. However, the final
valuations will depend entirely
on the outcome of any protests
filed this month, according to
the chief appraiser.
Some categories of real estate
increased in value again this
year because of current market
sales, but overall, the values are
fairly consistent with last year,
said Peacock. All types of real
properties are reviewed each
year, but changes are made only
if sales indicate a higher or lower
market for certain kinds of prop-
erties.
Personal property values
were fairly consistent with last
year.
Rendering Requirement
Peacock stated that there are
still some local business owners
who haven't fulfilled the require-
ment to render their property.
The law, which went into effect
last year, includes a penalty of
10 percent of the total value of
the property if the owner does
not render, adding up to several
thousand dollars in some cases.
"We have even more people
than last year who haven't ren-
dered," said Peacock. "Because
the law is still fairly new, we're
continuing to give business own-
ers every opportunity to comply,
but if they don't take care of it by
July 7, there's nothing we can do
about it. The penalty will be
assessed with their statements
in October."
Business owners who have
not yet rendered should contact
the appraisal office as soon as
possible at 325-762-2207.
Protest Procedures
Most property owners should
receive their appraisal notices
by the end of this week. The
figures should be examined for
accuracy, Peacock said. If they
feel the amounts are correct, no
action has to be taken.
The appraiser explained that
the4aw gives property owners
the right to protest the values
placed on their property, and "if
anyone has a legitimate com-
plaint, we will be glad to listen
and make corrections where
needed," she said. "In some cases,
the problems are just clerical
errors and can be easily cor-
rected."
The tax office employees have
already fielded several calls dur-
ing the last week.
Peacock added that there are
specific procedures which must
be followed to file a formal pro-
test should it be necessary.
There are several areas of
concern, including the value
placed on a property, exemp-
tions that may apply to certain
taxpayers, cancellation of agri-
cultural appraisal, and whether
the property is taxable and by
which local governments.
Fandangle
Time Nears
Free tickets available for June 16 show
With the opening of the 67th annual
Fort Griffin Fandangle just a week away,
office workers are offering free tickets for
the opening performance on Thursday,
June 16.
The outdoor musical portrays the set-
tling of the Clear Fork of the Brazos area,
which started about 150 years ago.
Nightly performances are set for June
16-18 and June 23-25.
Free Tickets
According to the Fandangle's office
manager Susan Waller, ticket sales have
picked up this week since the airing of a
30-minute special about the Fandangle
on KTAB-TV Monday evening, but since
opening night is traditionally the slow-
est in ticket sales, Fandangle officials
have decided to offer free tickets to local
residents for that evening.
"Years ago, they used to give away
tickets for the first night, and we made
the decision to return to that policy," said
Waller. "We're hoping that people who
don't normally see the Fandangle will
decide this is the time to go."
Those who would like to see the June
16 performance should stop by the Fan-
dangle office in the Depot from 9:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays to
select their seats and claim
their tickets, or come to the
ticket booth at Prairie The-
ater on June 16. The seating
will be assigned on a first
come, first served basis. Box
seats will not be included in
the giveaway.
Also, family members of
deployed service men and
women at Dyess Air Force
Base in Abilene have been
invited to attend the show
on Friday, June 17 as a part
of Dyess Appreciation Night.
"We want to show our appre-
ciation to family members
who sacrificed for our coun-
try," said Waller.
She reminded Albany residents who have
asked that tickets be held at the office to
pick them up as soon as possible.
Tickets range in price from $7 to $20,
although the $20 box seats are very limited.
Waller asked that holders of annual box
seats contact her about nights they do not
plan to use their seats.
Refunds for tickets will only be issued
Susan Balliew / Albany News
Fandangle workers,
(top photo) along
with volunteers from
Ben Richey Boys
Ranch, drop the
lighted Fandangle
sign into its tradi-
tional spot on the
Courthouse Square
earlier this week,
while office workers
(lower photo) check
the seating chart for
a phone order.
Opening night for
the 2005 Fandangle
is Thursday, June 16.
Donnie Lucas / Albany News
when tickets are turned back in to the office
at least 24 hours prior to the day of perfor-
mance, provided they can be resold. No
refunds will be given for tickets that can not
be sold again or that are turned in at the
theater the day of the show.
For more information or to order tickets
over the phone, contact the office at 762-
3838.
The Fandangle office is open from 9:00
a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each weekday, and
will also be open the next three Satur-
days from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The "will
call" window at the Prairie Theater will
open on performance nights at 7:30 p.m.
Waller added that she could use more
volunteers to help in the theater ticket
booth and to sell Fandangle souvenirs on
show nights.
The process of protest starts
by simply filling out the protest
form on the back of the valua-
tion notice. Peacock stated that
property owners can make cop-
ies of the form if they wish.
"We really prefer to talk to
you in person, because most
problems can more easily be
taken care of that way. But you
can just mail the protest form
back to us and we'll start look-
ing into it," said the chief ap-
praiser.
Taxpayers can call or meet in
person with Peacock or other
tax office personnel. Informal
meetings will be held through-
out the month of June and dur-
ing the first week of July.
(See Tax appraisals, pg 2)
County residents
urged to fly flags
Local and area residents are being
encouraged to fly United States flags next
Tuesday, June 14 in honor of Flag Day.
Members of the Lee's Legion Chapter
of the American Revolution are encourag-
ing businessmen and home owners to
make a special effort to put their own
flags up on that date.
"Americans seem to be more aware
than ever of national pride, and we expect
to see a lot of flags flying," commented
DAR member Lorene McComas.
In the downtown area, flags will be
provided as usual by the Kiwanis Club.
The United States Flag was "born" on
June 14, 1777 to represent the unity of
the nation. The symbolism of the U.S.
Flag is considered to be a living symbol
representing a living country.
In order to emphasize what the U.S.
Flag stands for, the DAR members
strongly urge that as many flags as pos-
sible be displayed on June 14.
Commodities
available today
Albany and Moran commodities re-
cipients are reminded that food will be
distributed June 9 (today) at the usual
locations in both communities.
The bimonthly giveaway in Albany
will take place from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at
the back of the Albany Youth Center.
Moran beneficiaries can pick up their
foods between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at the
American Legion Hall in Moran.
For more information about the com-
modities program, call the Shackelford
County Courthouse, 762-2232.
Special activities planned at local library
Local children are invited to
participate in several activities
being sponsored this summer by
the Shackelford County Public
Library, including regular "Pop-
corn Theaters" and Fandangle
puppet shows.
Family Story Time and a spe-
cial Fandangle Book Sale are
scheduled later this month.
Popcorn Theater
The library has already
hosted two movie events, with
another one planned for this
Thursday morning, June 9, from
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Disney videos are being
shown, with popcorn and drinks
served to all participants.
Puppet Shows
Members of the Albany Study
Club, who coordinate the library
events, have scheduled special
puppet shows to be performed
each Fandangle performance
day, starting next Thursday,
June 16 at 5:00 p.m.
The original script by Leta
Bell will tell about Fandangle
from a worm's point of view.
"We're hoping to draw visi-
tors and local residents alike to
the library, as well as provide a
cool, safe place for families dur-
ing those hot afternoons," said
Bell.
The puppet shows are ex-
pected to last from 30 to 45 min-
utes.
Book Sale
A collection of old books,
magazines and records will be
sold on Parade Day, June 23
from a tent set up in front of the
library, as well as inside the
building. The sale will be held
from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
In addition to books, there
are a large number of 33-1/3 LP
record albums, most of them still
sealed in their original wrap-
pers.
There are also quite a few Life
magazines, some of which are
very collectible, said Bell.
Family Story Time
Also coming up is a Family
Story Time, slated on Tuesday,
June 28 at 7:30 in the evening.
More information will be pro-
vided later in the month.
The library volunteers hope
to make the story time a regular
event, but participation will de-
termine whether it is repeated.
Reading Program
About 25 local students are
currently participating in the
library's Summer Reading Pro-
gram, according to librarian
Linda Adams.
Readers in fourth grade or
younger get a fountain drink at
Weaver-Oates for every five
books they read, while older stu-
dents are given a drink for each
larger volume they finish.
Children in both groups re-
ceive a pool pass once they com-
plete 10 books, and the two top
readers will be awarded a $25
gift certificate to The Lynch Line
at the end of the summer.
Adams related that there are
already several participants who
have received their pooj passes,
even though school has been out
less than two weeks.
Other Information
Most of the summer programs
at the library are being con-
ducted as a condition of grants
received by the facility earlier in
the year, said Bell.
Susan Balliew / Albany News
Several local children "camp out" on the library floor to
watch a Disney movie during a regular "Popcorn Theater" at
the Shackelford County Public Library. A number of different
(See Library events, pg 2) events have been planned at the facility this month.
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Lucas, Melinda L. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 130, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 9, 2005, newspaper, June 9, 2005; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413043/m1/1/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.