By Lynsi Musselman

The countdown to the first day of school has started, and AISD officials urge parents to register students online by the deadline on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Albany Independent School District director of student services Leigh Lowe said only about 180 students are registered. AISD officials are anticipating 500 altogether.

“We are now asking parents of students new to the district to register online ahead of time so the in-person enrollment process will go quicker for them,” Lowe explained.

By Lynsi Musselman

School is starting in three weeks with extra first-day-of-school challenges and a focus on health.

Precautions are being implemented to protect students, teachers, and staff from illness.

Albany Independent School District nurse Lisa Russell said the school will continue their standard of care that has been given even before the recent pandemic.

“Illnesses and viruses are a part of life, and we have always strived to do our best,” Russell said. “We will continue to keep kids safe and healthy.” 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Band members from eighth through 12th grade will starting meeting for practice next Monday evening, Aug. 3 at 5:00 p.m., according to new band director Will Vaughn.

The musicians will not be able to march until Sept. 7 because of COVID-19 restrictions, so practice time in August will be spent on learning new music.

Vaughn has set rehearsal times for Monday through Friday, Aug. 3-7, with a similar schedule the next week.

By Lynsi Musselman

Monday, Aug. 3 is the deadline for parents to register their children for the annual Adopt-A-Buddy school supply program sponsored by Resource Care.

Applications are available for pickup at the front desk of the Resource Center.

ResourceCare case manager Makenzie Marshall  said the forms should be returned to the same location by the end of the work day on Monday.

The program benefits not just elementary students, but junior high and high school ages can also qualify.

A worship night is planned at the Feed Store on Saturday, Aug. 1, and is open to all local junior high and high school students.

Feed Store youth coordinator Kathryn Hamilton organized the event, which will include a time for praise with a live band from Anson and a brief talk at the end of the evening.

Hamilton, who will be leaving soon for a position in Wisconsin, explained that she wants to leave local youth with the thought, “If they had nothing else, would Jesus be enough?”

For information, call Hamilton at 214-244-6853.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany Ministerial Alliance sponsored Vacation Bible School began this summer’s “Concrete & Cranes” on Sunday, July 26 and wrapped up the annual event on Wednesday, July 29 at the City Pool with a “Family Night” program, hot dog and nacho supper, and swimming.

Over 70 children and 50 workers attended the first two evenings, according to co-organizer Betsy Spraberry.

By Lynsi Musselman

Old Jail Art Center patrons are slowly getting back to visiting the museum in person, but the staff still has many virtual opportunities available for those who like to visit from home.

The OJAC staff is preparing kits  to be mailed to registrants that have signed up for summer camp in August.

The kits will include supplies and materials for campers to participate weekly in the virtual student program.

All summer student programs are provided free of charge for children in the first through sixth grade.

By Lynsi Musselman

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced that the state sales tax revenue for Texas totaled $2.67 billion in June, 6.5 percent less than in June 2019.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $36,935 from the state this July. The amount is up 7.42 percent from the $34,382 payment received this time last year.

Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $272,378, down by 18.44 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $333,971 had been made.

By Donnie A. Lucas

There is a lot more up in the air right now concerning high sports than footballs and volleyballs.

The fate of the fall sports seasons was in limbo awaiting an announcement from the University Scholastic League this week.

The UIL issued new guidelines for the 2020-2021 school year on Tuesday, with Class 1A-4A districts keeping the original schedule of  how and when high school sports will be allowed to proceed due to concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany band director William Vaughn is hard at work preparing the band hall for students to start practice on Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug. 7, and the week of  Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug. 14, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the band hall.

Vaughn explained that the two-week practice will be held in the band hall due to the UIL announcement on Tuesday that all  marching bands delay field formation practice until Sept. 7.