Despite ongoing coronavirus restrictions, blood is still needed, and a blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday afternoon, June 25. 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.

By Lynsi Musselman One meaning of the word fandangle is “ornate or fantastic ornament,” much like the cast and crew is to the Fort Griffin Fandangle.

By Melinda L. Lucas Albany ISD trustees hired a new band director and accepted the resignation of a longtime employee at Monday’s monthly school board meeting.

By Lynsi Musselman Fort Griffin State Historic Site is now open and operational after the -COVID-19 government shutdown, with restrictions for no more than six guests in the building at one time.

By Melinda L. Lucas Dr. Donald Phillips of Aledo was named medical director of the Shackelford County EMS after the board met in closed session Monday, June 15. Phillips replaces Dr. Mitch Moriber of Abilene, who has served as medical director since 2010.

By Lynsi Musselman The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $36,394 from the state this June. The amount is down 22.23 percent from the $46,797 payment received in June 2019. Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $235,443, down by 21.

By Lynsi Musselman Church doors are beginning to open a little wider with Sunday school, camps, and Vacation Bible School starting up in the next few weeks. First Baptist Church Sunday school will officially start back at First Baptist Church on Sunday, Aug. 1. Worship service is at 10:45 a.m.

By Lynsi Musselman Board members for the Shackelford County Senior Citizen Activity Center announced this week that a “soft opening” will take place on Monday, July 6. Board secretary Mary Beth Jones said Tuesday that the opening is dependent on COVID-19 numbers prior to the event.

By Lynsi Musselman Two recent graduates of Albany High School competed in the Texas High School Rodeo Association finals that took place last week in Abilene at the Taylor County Coliseum.

By Lynsi Musselman Moran High School alumna and now Hardin-Simmons University graduate Sydney Ten Cate was recently named the 2019-2020 Academic All-Conference female cross country athlete of the year.