5 teachers hired, 2 reassigned

By Melinda L. Lucas

Seven positions were filled with five new hires and two reassignments during Monday’s regular Albany school board meeting.

Also on the agenda was an explanation of recently received STAAR and EOC test scores from district testing coordinator Leigh Lowe. Those results are detailed in a separate article in this issue.

Staff Assignments

Albany News

Funds needed for Day Camp

By Kathy Thomson

ResourceCare summer day camp is scheduled to take place from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on weekdays from July 8 through July 26, and parents who did not register their children during last week’s sign up period need to do so before the camp starts.

“We will no longer be accepting registration forms once camp has started,” said program assistant Ragan Riley. “We have additional paperwork that is being required by the State, and we need to make sure everything is completed 100 percent!”

Albany News

Special activities planned

By Kathy Thomson

The Fort Griffin Fandangle starts tomorrow, and special activities in Albany will begin several hours before the bugler sounds the opening of the Friday and Saturday night shows.

Free activities offered on all four performance days, June 21-22 and 25-29, include a quilt show, tracker organ concert, calliope concert, car museum, movie, longhorns on the Courthouse Square, and exhibits at the Old Jail Art Center. 

TWHS band wins national award

The Woodlands High School Band, under the direction of Joni Viertel Perez, was recently recognized as one of four nationwide recipients of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s 2018 Sudler Shield Award. 

Trophies are awarded each year in two divisions – the Small School Division and the Large School Division. The Woodlands won its award, along with the Carmel High School Band from Carmel, Indiana in the Large School Division.

Albany News

Annual parade to roll Saturday afternoon

By Melinda L. Lucas

The 2019 version of the Fandangle parade is set to take to the streets of downtown Albany at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, and parade organizers are hoping for more entries to come in during the next two days.

Parade chairman John Ayers said he would love to see more of the classic cars and trucks that call Shackelford County home join in for the drive up and down the Main Street drag, but what would really make him happy is more floats.

Ragan Riley and Shannon Leech are also serving as Fandangle Parade co-chairs this year. 

Senior meeting set Monday

By Melinda L. Lucas

Seniors in the Albany High School Class of 2020 and their parents are encouraged to attend a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 24 in the AHS library.

According to secondary counselor Jenny Scott, a variety of information will be discussed, including the time line and procedures for college applications.

“This is a great opportunity to get answers to any questions you may have and prepare for your child’s senior year,” said Scott.

Albany News

Hospital board meets briefly

By Melinda L. Lucas

Four members of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors were able to meet very briefly on Monday evening, June 17 to approve the bills and not much else.

Because of Fandangle practice and other conflicts, only the minimum number of board members were able to meet, and they postponed any other action items besides the finances until the July session.

Vice president Janna Ledbetter conducted the meeting, which was also attended by Jo Ann Estridge, Leslie Belcher, and Mike Folsom.

Albany News

2 students receive scholarships

Two Albany students have been awarded college scholarships from funds held at the Community Foundation of Abilene.

Jillian Guinn is the 2019 recipient of the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame-Nancy and Ted Paup Scholarship.

Jillian Guinn will be attending Texas Tech University to study Communication and Marketing. She is the daughter of Shea and Robbin Guinn. Jillian is the President of the National Honor Society, Assistant Editor of the Lions Roar newspaper and competed in UIL Journalism. 

Albany News

Church of Christ to host rally

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Church of Christ will be the location of an area-wide youth rally next Wednesday, June 26.

“We will have singing, a guest speaker, and a meal,” said minister Sonny McCauley. “We wanted to invite teens from our area to attend as well as those coming from Hawley and Abilene. All teenagers are invited to this free event.”

The youth rally is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. and end around 7:00 p.m.

McCauley is expecting 50 to 75 people to come to the rally and the Mexican Pile On meal.

Albany News

4 students earn GED diplomas

By Kathy Thomson

Michelle Pearce, Michael Turner, Sindia Torres, and Tinajo West completed requirements for their high school equivalency diploma (GED) during the course of this school year and participated in the 41st Adult Education Graduation Ceremony for Taylor County held May 23 in Abilene.

The graduation took place at the Abilene High School auditorium, where 75 Big Country area residents enrolled in the Alta Vista Adult Education GED classes, including four from Albany, walked across the stage to pick up their certificates.

Albany News