New and ongoing recipients of Albany ISD Education Foundation scholarships need to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive their benefit for the fall 2018 semester.

“As far as I know, we don’t currently have a specific deadline date set this year,” said secondary campus principal Edward Morales. “But in the past, the students have sent their proof of enrollment to us as soon as possible, so we could release their scholarship funds to them.”

Children from pre-K to sixth grade are invited to grab their megaphones, lace up their cleats, tune up their instruments and come “gear up for life’s big game” at the Albany Ministerial Alliance supported Community Vacation Bible School Game On! taking place next week, July 16-20, at Friendship Baptist Church.

The theme verse for this year is 2 Peter 1:3. His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

Junior high and high school youth still have a couple of days to sign up for the remaining spots at The Feed Store’s lake retreat scheduled to take place the last weekend of July.

Registration is $25, and the signup deadline is Monday, July 16.

“We are trying to limit it to 30 students, but currently we are still accepting applications,” said Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins. “The girls will sleep inside and the boys will be outside, so we are hoping to borrow sleeping bags and tents for them. We will be sure to tag them and return them afterward!”

Lori Reames is hoping to pair gently used back-to-school items with those who need them before the start of the fall semester.

“Closet Angels will be open on July 14 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.,” said Reames. “For all working moms looking for back-to-school clothes, we will also be open on Monday, July 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.” 

There are four new fundraiser racks and a huge selection of new arrivals for shoppers to look through, according to Reames. 

Eileen Brewster, age 63 of Moran, passed away Sunday, July 8, 2018. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 14 at Morehart Mortuary Chapel with Dick Garcia officiating. A visitation will take place in the chapel following the memorial service. Services have been entrusted to Morehart Mortuary.

Eileen Joyce Cole was born April 19, 1955 in Norfolk, Virginia to Jerry Cole and Joyce Halibat Cole. On June 24, 1995, she married Charlie Brewster in Moran. 

She worked as an office manager for Cisco Pump until her retirement in 2014. 

Albany’s new Academic Booster Club recently announced that it has reached its ambitious $150,000 developmental goal, and the funds are already being put to work with several educators attending special workshops and equipment purchases made for local school programs.

In addition, the need for “building out” a Creative Minds Facility, or “Maker Den” as it will be known at Albany ISD, received generous funding of $200,000 from an anonymous donor.

What It’s All About

It has been a number of years since Albany has had graduates play at the NCAA Div. I level in football, and as far as can be determined there hasn’t ever been a D1 baseball player come out of the local high school program, at least as far as local coaches can remember.

But that has changed.

Recent Albany graduates Dax Neece and Brian Hamilton will both be on the roster for D1programs in the fall.

Rockwall High School head coach Damon Wilson (c) explains a strategy to participants in this week’s volleyball team camp at the Albany High School gym. A total of 15 girls, all of whom are entering grades 9-12 this fall, are working with Wilson for two sessions daily during the four-day camp. Volleyball workouts to start the 2018 season will get underway on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Both gyms at the high school will be closed for several days starting Friday, July 13 so that the wood floors can be refinished.

The facilities will be closed to the public during the annual maintenance project, with everyone asked to please not enter either building.

Both gyms will reopen on Thursday, July 19.

“The contractor says it is very important that everyone stay off the floors to allow proper drying time,” superintendent Shane Fields said. 

Members of the Albany Athletic Booster Club met on Monday evening, July 9, to start planning for the upcoming sports seasons and to begin work on one of their biggest fundraiser of the year, the magazine-type 2018 football program that will be sold at all of the home football games.

“We are in the process of getting ads for the program,” said Booster Club advertising coordinator Shawnee Tischler. “Purchasing an ad is a way to show off and support your child, whether they are in athletics or not. It is for any child at the school.”