By Kathy Thomson Once every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau asks every household to fill out the census questionnaire by mail, online, or by phone, and local officials are requesting that everyone in Shackelford County complies.

By Donnie A. Lucas Local banks are already being flooded with applications for loans available through the recently passed stimulus legislation know as the CARES Act in light of the impact on small businesses due to disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

By Melinda L. Lucas Taking advantage of the state’s new allowance for virtual public meetings, the Albany ISD board of trustees gathered on Zoom for a special session Monday evening to postpone the May election and to clarify temporary grading guidelines during the ongoing COVID-19 school shutdown.

By Lynsi Musselman Brookshire’s Grocery Company is striving to make a challenging time easier on the Albany community.  Brookshire’s will be open on Easter Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., an unprecedented change that has not happened in the corporation’s 92 year history.

By Lynsi Musselman Last month, the Old Jail Art Center announced a creative writing contest for teens, with entries due April 13.  Because of restrictions caused by the coronavirus, the contest deadline is being moved back to Saturday, June 27.

By Kathy Thomson Moran City Hall is now closed to the public in an effort to help “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus pandemic.  However, the city’s essential services are still available.

By Kathy Thomson Tomorrow, April 10, is the deadline for local youth livestock exhibitors to clean out their pens at the FFA barn from this year’s show animals and also the deadline to purchase ear tags for some of next year’s livestock shows.

By Lynsi Musselman Rapidly changing world events are having a significant impact on the local level.   Several events are being cancelled that were postponed just a few weeks ago.  The Albany Chamber of Commerce has decided to cancel all Chamber events until further notice.

By Kathy Thomson Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter church services are too important to be stopped by a virus, and local pastors have plans to reach not only their own members but anyone willing to listen, to tell them how Christ’s death and resurrection purchased salvation for...

William R. (Bill) Hicks of Windsor, Illinois, formerly of Albany, Texas, passed away peacefully on Jan. 16, 2020. He was 94 years old.  He was born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois on Dec. 3, 1925. He served in the U.S. Army and earned a Purple Heart for his heroic services.