This year, the Old Jail Art Center and the museum community will celebrate the 35th anniversary of this event: more than 30,000 museums in around 100 countries will hold special activities on this occasion.

The Art Carnival celebrates International Museum Day at the Old Jail Art Center on Saturday, May 19. The event will be held in the OJAC courtyard, as well as inside the museum, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The purpose of the festival is twofold: to encourage art creation and also to foster the appreciation of art.

The theme “Museums in a Changing World. New Challenges, New Inspirations” invites museums and their visitors to wonder about the role of museums in our society, in an era of numerous changes.

Outreach coordinator Erin Whitmore reminds local students and all other carnival participants to bring their pennies, as each game will cost one penny. Entrance to the museum and carnival is free.

Several games and activities should interest young participants, including art projects.

Wire mobiles can be created, as well as murals and sidewalk drawings.

In addition to the games and photo opportunities, there will be prizes and snacks for participants.

Games will include a beanbag toss, Chinese ring toss, cakewalk, face painting, Pre-Columbian bucket toss, mural painting, dart painting, sidewalk chalk drawings, and tote bag decoration.

Meanwhile, inside the museum, carnival participants can see two exhibitions of works and view a children’s videos on how to draw.

Refreshments will be available, also at the cost of one penny, during the two-hour Art Carnival.

Visitors won’t want to miss the art videos and mobile making, plus many beautiful pieces of art created by students from both Albany and Moran.

According to Whitmore, ‘Museums in a Changing World’ is recognition that institutions are faced with interpreting, and existing in, a field that is becoming increasingly fluid.

“Each may face a unique set of goals, interests and audiences,” she said. “Saturday we celebrate the Old Jail Art Center as a growing, vibrant part of children and family life.”

By Kathryn Stapp 

Four Albany High School University Interscholastic League academic competitors will take their skills to Austin for the state UIL academic meet at the University of Texas May 21-22.

The first through third place winners at regional competition advance to the state UIL academic meet.

District UIL coordinator Rick Davis said he was very excited to have several students place again this year.

“We didn’t know what to expect this year. We had several experienced competitors graduate last year, but in true Albany fashion the students stepped right up and delivered,” Davis said.

“Three of our four students are in very subjective contests, but apparently the judges like what they see for they have been winning all year long. I just hope they can impress them one more time.”

Senior Lexa Willen is advancing in two events, editorial writing and news writing. Sophomore Madison Jones is also competing in news writing.
Two of the local competitors are making return trips to Austin.

In her third competition at the state meet, Emily Grimshaw, a senior, is advancing in the science competition.

Poetry interpretation competitor Abby Ayers, a senior, will be competing at state for the second time in that event.

By Kathryn Stapp 

Fairly good turnouts were recorded for election day in Albany and Moran last Saturday, May 12.

Three Albany city councilmen were decided by just under 500 voters, while 680 county votes decided the three seats on the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors.

The school elections in Albany and Moran were cancelled with only two incumbent candidates for the two places on the Albany school board, and three for the Moran board.

Albany City Council
Three incumbents retained their seat on the Albany council. Lester Galbreath garnered 151 votes. Bobbie Cauble followed with 138. Don Koch tallied 108, while challenger Lance Thomas earned 93 votes.

Hospital Board
Four candidates were on the ballot for three seats on the Shackelford County Hospital District (SCHD) board.

Incumbents who will remain on the board include Stephen Kayga with 176 votes, Diana Price with 137, Misty Braly with 134 votes and John Ayers with 128. Challenger Frances McAffee received 113 votes.

Moran City Election
Moran council member James Power took 19 votes to retain his seat. Shirley Babin earned a council seat with 15 votes and Alaine Sanders took the final spot with 13 votes.

Incumbent Donovan Boyett and challenger Patricia Martin each had 10 votes.

Albany School Board
Candidates on the Albany school board did not face opposition for their seats. On the AISD board, the two three-year terms will be filled by incumbents Clint Bumguardner and Doug Neece.

Moran School Board
In Moran, three incumbents went unchallenged and will retain their seats. Sug Roller, John Adams and Russell Holland will continue as Moran school trustees.

By Kathryn Stapp 

Terrell is retiring this year, having served as a coach and counselor before taking over the AHS administrative position 11 years ago. He has been with the Albany ISD for a total of 22 years.

He was named Citizen of the Year in March at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Grant Zeller, Feed Store director, will be the keynote speaker, delivering the message at the 7:00 p.m. ceremony. He will be introduced by class president Cody Petree.

A total of 30 local seniors are expected to participate in the service and subsequently receive their diplomas during commencement exercises set for Friday, May 25.

Abby Ayers will lead the invocation at Sunday’s baccalaureate service, with Emily Grimshaw presenting the scripture reading for the evening. Lexa Willen will lead the benediction, and the processional and recessional will be played by Gerald Petree.

Graduation Plans
Commencement exercises for the Class of 2012 will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 25 in the Albany High School gymnasium.

Cody Petree has been named as valedictorian of the class, while Emily Grimshaw is the salutatorian. Both will deliver addresses during the ceremony.
Other honor students are Abby Ayers, Orrin Vinson, Lexa Willen, Mikala Schooler and Michaela Folsom.

A plan to chip seal the county-owned portion of Griffin Road with the help of the City of Albany was formulated during the Tuesday, May 15 session of the Shackelford County Commissioners.

The elected officials voted to borrow up to $28,000 to pay for half of the paving costs, with the city proposing to pay the other half.

The work will reportedly also include a portion of McComas Lane.

A resolution passed approving the loan.

Energy Grant
The commissioners directed County Attorney Colton Johnson to write a demand letter to 7L Energy for $21,000 paid to the company last fall as the county’s match for an energy grant to replace failing windows in the old jail building.

7L Energy has notified the county that a “15% restocking fee” must be paid in order for the funds to be returned.

The county paid its portion of the matching grant in advance so that the contractor could special order metal window units.

However, the project was halted when the Texas Historical Commission did not approve of the metal windows.

The grant must be used for an energy efficiency project by June 30 or the county will lose the award.

Other Business

• Texas Grass Shall Grow was awarded the bid to mow the Lynch and Johnson rural cemeteries.
• Commissioner Stan West reported that ­TxDOT has approved the driveway approach and radius at the new law enforcement center.
• The burn ban was not reenacted.
• The county’s retirement plan assessment for the year 2013 was reviewed and a motion passed to approve the calculated contribution rate of 16.55%.

By Melinda L. Lucas 

Although about half of Monday’s city council session was spent discussing a proposed golf cart ordinance, in the end the council opted to “abandon” the proposal because it “did not reflect their intent.”
The ordinance, written since last month’s meeting by the city’s legal counsel, Lois Rockefeller, basically mirrored the existing state law and did not add any privileges for local golf cart operators.
“Our intent was to let them drive anywhere, but I personally didn’t realize we were doing something against state law,” said councilman Lester Galbreath. “We got hung up on a phrase that we thought allowed us to do that, but we can’t change the state law.”
He added that a municipality can only make the state law more restrictive, not less.
“I think we misled the public at last month’s meeting,” said Robert Snyder. “It wasn’t intentional, but that’s what happened.”
At least one local golf cart owner has since upgraded his vehicle to comply with the law, adding lights, parking brake, etc., based on what the council had decided in April, Snyder pointed out.
Basically, Texas law states that golf carts can be used on city streets only during daylight hours if the operator is driving to or from a golf course.
“Jason (Price) ought to be able to stop anyone if they’re causing a problem and he needs to regulate the situation,” said Snyder. “He does a good job and he can keep on doing what he does now.”
Price suggested that the council could limit the age of golf cart drivers for safety reasons, but ultimately no action was taken except to abandon the proposed ordinance.
Other Business
•Galbreath suggested that the forum time be used for general comments, with citizens allowed to state their opinions at other times during the meeting if their comments were relative to an agenda item.
•Bobbie Cauble delivered a compliment to Price from secondary and elementary principals Tommy and Doyleen Terrell, who were appreciative of his prompt and professional response when called to either campus.
•Josie Robertson requested that the city take more decisive action concerning dog owners who allowed their pets to run loose.
•On the advice of Atmos Enegy representative Mike Schweikhart, the council denied the company’s rate increase request pending a decision by the Railroad Commission.
•A petition passed to start the process of annexing property belonging to Momentum Energy and EZ Feed.

By Melinda L. Lucas 

In March the group traveled to the Abilene Christian University campus to participate in LEO (Leader Enhancement Opportunities) Tests and STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events for Regional Conference.

All AHS participants medalled in their LEOs and Cydnee Lowe advanced to state in her STAR event on nutrition.

Members were eligible for the April 12-15 State Conference in Dallas, where they competed in LEO tests including hospitality, job interview, etiquette and child development.

Lowe again participated in a STAR Event.

At the State Conference, the Albany chapter received an award for having the largest membership increase among 1A schools.

Members also participated in career tours to Dallas Cowboy Stadium, Anatole Hilton and Fossil.

Sheila was preceded in death by her mother Dorothy Huskey Seedig, her father Julius Gus Seedig, a brother, Gary Carl Seedig, a sister Julie Seedig Dennis and a niece Melissa Ann Dennis.

Sheila was born June 29, 1948 in Beaver, Oklahoma to Julius Gus and Dorothy Huskey Seedig. She was a 1965 graduate from Albany High School and graduated from Howard College in 1995 with an Associates Degree. Sheila married Eugene Ernest Richter on August 13, 1966 in Albany. They were married 45 years and were blessed with three children.

Sheila enjoyed sending birthday cards to family members and collecting Precious Moments figurines. She also enjoyed the holidays when all the family was together. Sheila was very proud of the fact that her three children graduated from high school and college. Finally MeeMaw, as she was known, greatly enjoyed every minute with her grandchildren.

Sheila was a member of the Lutheran Church with her last membership being in Sonora at the Hope Lutheran Church.

Sheila is survived by her husband, Eugene Ernest Richter of Corsicana; a daughter, Kathryn Michelle Wilganowski of Bremond; a son, Kevin Eugene Richter of North Richland Hills; a son and daughter-in-law, Adam Kristopher and Kari Ashkraft Richter of Corsicana; a brother, Ray Allen Seedig of Wichita Falls; a niece, Michelle Denise Beeson of Richmond; two granddaughters, Mackenzie Ann Wilganowski of Bremond and Kathryn Grace Richter of Corsicana; and one grandson Kristopher Dale Richter of Corsicana.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society PO Box 22718
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73123-1718.

Online condolences may be made at www.baileyhowardfuneralhome.com.     PD