By Kathy Thomson

Parents who still need to register their children for the upcoming school year at Nancy Smith Elementary are encouraged to do so either online at reg.albanyisd.net or to come in person to the school office next Wednesday, July 31. 

“Many returning students have already registered, but those who have not can still complete all necessary forms either online, or at Nancy Smith on July 31 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.,” said the new principal John Gallagher. “Students new to the district will need to come in on the 31st.”

By Kathy Thomson

Interviews from all 11 of the people filmed during the first round of SPOKEN: Ardon B. Judd, Jr. Oral History Project are now available for free public viewing at the Stasney Center inside the Old Jail Art Center and online at the OJAC’s Vimeo channel at vimeo.com/user32466522. 

By Kathy Thomson

All residents of Shackelford County are invited to a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) class this Saturday, July 27 at the Moran School District’s activities building, hosted by the City of Moran Volunteer Fire Department.

The class will begin at 10:00 a.m. Registration is $35 per person and can be paid at the door.

“The class is open to anyone needing CPR certification or a refresher,” said Moran VFD secretary/treasurer Michelle Taggart. 

Albany paramedic Tina Ulbrich will teach the four-hour class. 

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany city swimming pool will close for the season in just over two weeks.

“The pool (rentals) went great this year,” said manager Dakota Fowler. “We had parties almost every night.” 

The last day the pool will be open this summer is Sunday, Aug. 11, according to city employee Tiffany Nall. 

Nall added that the city workers have already reserved some booking dates through the end of August and plan to honor those commitments, but they are not accepting any additional bookings.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The first of five free summer camps for students will start next week on Friday, Aug. 2 at the Old Jail Art Center.

Most of the classes are limited to the first 30 participants to sign up, and as of press time, there were spots available in all of the workshops

Online registration is available at theojac.org/summer-workshops. Forms can also be picked up at the museum.

Aug. 2 – Ghana

The first of the 2019 kids camps will feature the cultureof Ghana on Friday, Aug. 2.

By Kathy Thomson

Three different events, including one that is making its initial debut, are planned this Saturday, July 27 at Fort Griffin State Historic Site, and all three are included in the cost of admission to the old cavalry fort.

A Guided Fort Tour will take place from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., and the brand new program, U.S. Cavalry Arms and Texas Frontier Defense, 1850-1880, will be offered as a come-and-go event from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. 

By Kathy Thomson

Three members of the Albany chapter of the Future Farmers of America and sponsor Chris Beard attended the 91st annual Texas FFA State Convention in Fort Worth last week and another local FFA student competed in the State FFA Rodeo that took place during the State Convention.

Seth Hale earned his Lone Star Farmer Degree. 

Roosters on Vacation

My street, South 1st, which runs in front of Albany High School, is usually very quiet in the summer time. 

Well…not this past week.

It seems that several roosters decided to escape their ag pens and take a tour of the neighborhood.

These roosters were not small in size. They were fairly large and had “vocal cords” to match.

For some reason they felt it necessary to perform their “wake up calls” all hours of the day and night. This went on for about four or five days.

By Kathy Thomson

ResourceCare case worker Makenzie Marshall reminded everyone that the annual Adopt-a-Buddy school supply program is underway, and she is hoping to hear from those that can use a little help, as well as those who can provide assistance for local students.

In just three weeks, tardy bells will ring out the start of a new school year, and parents who need a little help providing their child with school supplies can register to be included in the free program.

By Kathy Thomson

The Kiwanis Club of Albany and The Albany News will both be recognized by the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas at the organization’s annual conference next week. 

The VATAT gives an award in each of six categories (Outstanding Chapter Advocate, Outstanding Newspaper, Outstanding School Administrator, Outstanding Radio Station, Outstanding Television Station, and Teacher’s Media) to the top nominees from each of the 12 FFA Areas in Texas.