By Donnie A. Lucas
A positive case of COVID-19 reported to city officials in good faith by an employer on behalf of an employee Tuesday turned out to be premature, leaving the status of the case unclear at press time.
The employee is sheltering in place and not requiring hospitalization, according to the information reported to Albany mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery.
By Donnie A. Lucas
With just over two weeks of instruction remaining, local school officials are preparing for the end of what undoubtably has been the strangest school year in memory.
Both the secondary and elementary campuses will continue to deliver instructional content online or with printed packets that must be picked up once each week.
While both campus principals say that participation in remote learning has been successful, there are still some students who have not participated completely or at all.
Secondary Update
By Kathy Thomson
Even during unusual times like the current coronavirus pandemic, regular blood donations are needed in order to ensure the continued adequacy of the supply at area hospitals, so Hendrick’s bloodmobile is in Albany today for the regularly scheduled Kiwanis Club sponsored blood drive.
Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
By Lynsi Musselman
Home health and community care workers, along with those providing outpatient care, have made adjustments while serving patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
There are several companies and care givers that serve Albany with in-home care to local patients.
With recommendations from the CDC that older adults and those with chronic conditions practice social distancing, home health provides the care needed without the need for seniors and others to leave home.
By Lynsi Musselman
As the state gradually reopens, many local stores are still working to take care of customers in non-traditional ways by offering extra services.
After Gov. Abbott’s announcement Monday, most retailers will be back up and running on Friday, although hair, nail, and massage salons, gyms, and bars remain closed.
By Lynsi Musselman
To contact the Shackelford County Library for online set-up, readers are asked to call Janna Ledbetter at 325-260-3857 or e-mail albanylib@gmail.com.
The library number was printed previously, but the library has decided to remain closed indefinitely even though the governor’s announcement on Monday allows for reopening.
The online library consists of children to adult books in a variety of genres. The books can be located at https://shackelford.biblionix.com.
The Texas A&M Agri-Life Extension Service will hold the West Region Wheat Production Tour on Thursday, May 7.
This will be a virtual event, replacing the Agri-Life Extension District 6 and District 7 live meetings, which had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.
Participants must preregister by May 5. The online event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a cost of $10.
Registration is available at agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/3111.
By Melinda L. Lucas
After the governor announced earlier this week that some businesses can open back up under certain restrictions, there will be fewer stores and offices closed after Friday.
Also, restaurants will be able to reopen their in-house dining facilities at 50 percent capacity on May 1.
Remaining closed until Phase II of the governor’s plan are hair and nail salons, barber shops, gyms, and bars.
By Kathy Thomson
Albany Lions Club member Sandi Conway announced that the club, which has sponsored the local Memorial Day services for the last couple years, has cancelled the event this year.
“It was all organized and a speaker lined up, but with coronavirus it is too uncertain,” said Conway. “The senior adults are the ones who normally come to the service. We just don’t think it’s wise to have it this year.”
This year, Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 25.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The county commissioners court voted Monday to open the doors to the courthouse to the public again, ending a limited access policy that was in force for several weeks due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
The court also specified a number of county-maintained roads to be considered for a proposed speed limit pending a public hearing set for the next regular meeting on Monday, May 11 at 8:30 a.m.
