Billie Joyce Patterson, age 86 of Albany, passed away Thursday, April 18, 2019. Funeral services were held Monday, April 22 at Friendship Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Johnston officiating. Interment followed in Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.

A Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show Association annual meeting took place as scheduled at the Albany High School ag building on Tuesday, April 9, with a follow-up session held this week.

The Albany schools will celebrate the Easter holiday with a 3:00 p.m. dismissal today, a district holiday on Friday, and a student holiday on Monday. Younger students at Nancy Smith Elementary School had Easter egg hunts planned today.

Two Albany High students are headed to the Texas High School Rodeo Association finals in Abilene on June 9-15 after earning their spots at the state show by placing in the top 10 in their events over the combined course of the season and the regional finals held in Graham on April 5-7.

Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian holiday that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and many churches hold special services on that Sunday and during Holy Week, the days leading up to His crucifixion.

Children from Stepping Stones Christian School, Mother’s Day Out, First Love Day Care, Lakey’s Day Care, and Nancy Smith Elementary School’s Head Start and Pre-K classes paraded up the sidewalks of downtown Albany last Friday morning, April 12, to conclude an annual week-long celebration.

Albany’s Cause for Paws helps keep the stray animal population in check by contributing toward the costs of spaying and neutering local dogs and cats. However, the nonprofit is struggling to keep up with the requests for assistance, and they are asking for help themselves.

A visit from the Easter Bunny and the chance to hunt for eggs by the basketful should make for a fun Saturday for local children. The Easter Bunny will make what has become an annual trip to downtown Albany on April 20, visiting in stores and along the street from 11:00 a.m.

The boys and girls track teams both advanced two relays and several individuals to the Region I meet by placing in the top four positions at the area track meet last Wednesday, April 10 in Mertzon.

The Albany High School baseball team picked up a 15-0 win in a no-hitter in Hamlin last week as the Lions prepared for their final round of district games.