By Lynsi Musselman

First Baptist Church is bringing camp to Albany this summer, after traditional out-of-town church camps were cancelled due to COVID-19.

Camp JAM will be July 16 to 19 for campers going into eighth through 12th grades.

First Baptist Church youth minister Campbell Terry said the Thursday to Saturday camp will have a Space Jam theme and will be in a Disciple Now style.

By Lynsi Musselman

This past Saturday, Albany seniors finally cele-brated one of life’s major milestones after missing out on all typical senior activities since Spring Break.

The storm clouds cleared just in time for the graduates to receive  their diplomas and step into the next stage of life.

Although in-person graduation was able to take place  after much deliberation, the traditional Project Graduation event had already been cancelled for AHS seniors.

By Donnie A. Lucas

No new tests for -COVID-19 were reported over the last week in Shackelford County, with the total holding at 28 negative tests.

According to a release by county judge Robert Skelton on Tuesday, there are no active cases currently and the one previous positive case already reported has been released from self-isolation after testing negative to a follow-up test.

“Since there has only been one case here, there have not been any big changes for our county since we opened businesses and restaurants at 50 percent in Phase II,” Skelton said.

By Melinda L. Lucas

In a “socially distant” ceremony that looked much different than most Albany graduations in recent years, dozens of local scholarships were presented to members of the Albany High School Class of 2020 during commencement exercises held last Saturday morning, May 23.

The event was held at the Robert Nail Memorial Stadium, planned quickly but thoroughly over a two-week period after school officials decided that the 41 AHS seniors could receive their diplomas in person and still comply with the state’s newest COVID-19 restrictions.

By Lynsi Musselman

Both campers and parents seemed to be happier about their summer prospects after ResourceCare announced the dates for summer Day Camp 2020, after Governor Abbott lifted more restrictions for the state of Texas.

Camp will be held Monday through Friday, July 6 to July 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

ResourceCare program director Mindy Ary said there will be special registration times this year, June 2 to June 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Albany Youth Center.

By Lynsi Musselman

Pick-up dates for the June distribution of the commodity food program, provided by Shackelford County, are June 4 and 5.

Justice of the Peace James Breeden, who handles the program for the county along with Melissa Hobbs, said distribution will be back to one-on-one contact, and there will be help to load food for families.

Breeden also said that, depending on supplies at the Abilene food bank next week, there should be refrigerated/frozen food again and possibly produce.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County Commissioners added another county road to the list of roadways that will soon have speed limits posted, along with taking another step in the process of repaving the parking lot at the Courthouse, during a meeting held Tuesday.

A public hearing was held just before the regular meeting to hear comments on adding CR 157 to the list of roadways that will have posted speed limits that was approved at the May 11 meeting.

By Lynsi Musselman

Throughout the pandemic shutdown, many organizations have been impacted, including Albany clothing ministry Closet Angels.

Donors and shoppers will be able to resume exchanging treasures when Closet Angels reopens, by appointment only, on Monday, June 1.

Closet Angels director Lori Reames said that to start out, shopping by appointment will be available each Monday in June.

“To accommodate more shoppers, there will be a time limit of 30 minutes for each appointment,” Reames said. 

Albany High School graduate Gracie LeMay has been awarded the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame Scholarship offered by Nancy and Ted Paup. 

This scholarship fund is managed by the Community Foundation of Abilene.

The annual award goes to an Albany student who is in the top 25 percent of the class and participated in varsity athletics.

LeMay will attend Texas Tech University in the fall and plans to study Agricultural Business. 

By Lynsi Musselman

Get ready to be counted. 

The U.S. Census Bureau began to drop off 2020 Census questionnaire packets at the front doors of households in the Albany area on Wednesday, May 27. 

U.S. Census Bureau Media Representative for Lubbock Brenda MacDonald explained hand delivering of census materials is done where the majority of households do not receive their mail at their physical address.

The Bureau began the hand delivery operation in March but had to suspend all fieldwork due to the COVID-19 pandemic.