Jesus called another one of His angels, Norma O’Connor, age 70 of Wichita Falls and formerly of Albany, home to rejoice in celebration on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. 

Funeral Services were held Friday, June 29 at Bethel Assembly in Albany with Derrell Marion officiating. Interment followed in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.

Norma Loraine O’Connor was born Feb. 10, 1948 in Electra, Texas to Leonard O’Connor and Audrey Raines O’Connor. She attended schools in Albany. 

All three Albany Little League All-Star teams played several rounds deep in the District 5 tournament last week, with two of the squads advancing to the final four.

The 12U team made it to the semifinal round in the winners bracket before suffering their first loss to Wylie, 5-4, last Thursday. Wylie moved on to win their division of the tournament.

“We played really well and had a one-run lead going into the bottom of the sixth,” manager Kevin Hill said. “We made some errors on base paths that gave them a couple of outs they didn’t earn.”

By Kathy Thomson

Albany water customers should have received a “2017 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report” by this week showing that locally treated water meets or exceeds all federal drinking water requirements and that there were no quality violations during the year 2017.

Pick-up dates for the July distribution of the commodity food program are July 5 and July 6.

On Thursday, July 5, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Albany families who have been certified eligible for the July food distribution program can pick up their commodity food Friday, July 6, at the rear door of the JP office (the former county jail) from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. 

Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and other local residents gather for a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the Blue Duck Winery after the business officially joined the Chamber recently. The Blue Duck is located across from the Shackelford County Courthouse on the west side of the square.

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany this afternoon, July 5, and Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 

Blood drives in Albany have been sponsored by the Kiwanis Club for over 20 years.

Donors can give whole blood up to six times a year, and each donation can potentially save as many as three lives, according to information from the blood center.

By Kathy Thomson

ResourceCare Summer Day Camp staff is preparing for the upcoming three-week event that starts next Monday, July 9, and there is still room for more children to be included.

According to program coordinator Mindy Ary, the day camp targets students who are otherwise “at loose ends” during the long summer days, and local children from three years old to sixth grade are welcome to attend. 

“We are still accepting registrations,” said program assistant Ragan Riley on Tuesday. “We have 105 children registered right now.”

By Kathy Thomson

The first of four Region 14 teacher workshops hosted by the Old Jail Art Center this summer will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 13. 

Project Archeology

Project Archeology: Investigating Shelter is a supplementary science and social studies curriculum unit for third through fifth grades and is easily adaptable for middle school Texas and U.S. history and science classes, according to OJAC education director Erin Whitmore. 

By Kathy Thomson

Thirty-five children from China and North Korea have spent the last week at Stasney’s Cook Ranch in Albany enjoying some rest and relaxation at a family retreat sponsored by ChinaAid.

The group, including parents, guardians, and ChinaAid staff members arrived on June 26 and were scheduled to leave today. While they visited the area, they attended the Fort Griffin Fandangle, went horseback riding at Camp Able in Buffalo Gap, explored the Abilene Zoo, went to the Old Jail Art Center, learned to fish, and went swimming. 

Several stories of family members persecuted by their governments are shared by ChinaAid staff member Rebecca Isaacs.

Zhang Haitao

Zhang Haitao was 44 when he was taken away by the Xinjiang National Security Bureau on June 26, 2015. 

His bank card, mobile phone, and computer were all taken, leaving his wife, who was three months pregnant, with approximately $126. 

Haitao was initially charged with inciting “ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination,” a charge later changed to “picking quarrels and provoking troubles.”