By Melinda L. Lucas
Six more benches have been placed in Albany’s downtown block this week as part of a local graduate’s “Roots and Rest” project, and there are plans to add more in the future.
Seth Hale, a 2020 Albany High School senior, has been working on the venture for over a year, following his selection in May 2019 as one of 10 Ford Leadership Scholars through the Texas FFA.
The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, Aug. 12, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.
The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.
The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable, according to local fire chief Kyle Tischler.
SEVERE WEATHER
Bios of new staff members, along with faculty assignments and school supply lists, are included in the special back-to-school section in this week’s issue.
There are also articles about precautions being taken in light of the pandemic, a new registration program, and vaccination requirements.
See Section C for details.
By Lynsi Musselman
Old Jail Art Center’s virtual camps started this week, with another workshop scheduled for next week.
OJAC education director Erin Whitmore said the Cultural Connections Camp had a great enrollment with several campers from out-of-town and around the state.
There are three spots available for the Things on Strings and Tonkawa Camp next week.
Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales taxes on August 7-9, the state’s annual tax holiday.
School supply items and clothing make up the list of exempt items, which until four years ago had been limited to clothing and backpacks.
Online shopping is also covered.
The law exempts most school supplies, clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend.
By Lynsi Musselman
Keeping healthy during the school year is not a new concern for families but with COVID-19 worries, precautions are being taken even more seriously than usual.
Albany Independent School district administrators and staff have been hard at work all summer preparing to welcome students back to school in a safe environment.
AISD school nurse Lisa Russell said plans are in the works to help make monitoring of students’ health at two campuses more manageable.
By Lynsi Musselman
New students at Albany High School and Albany Junior High school, including all incoming seventh graders, are urged to register online for a time slot to come to campus for a personal face-to-face orientation.
The interactive signup form is posted on the Albany Jr/Sr High School Facebook page, as well as on the district’s website.
The orientation dates are scheduled for Aug. 12, 13, and 14, and will not be the traditional in-person group meeting that has taken place in previous years.
By Lynsi Musselman
Ragin’ Red Band members and the new Albany band director William Vaughn met this week to begin summer practices.
Vaughn said practice will take place mainly in the band hall starting at 5:00 p.m. each night until Aug. 14.
The 28-member band will not be able to start marching practice on the field on Sept. 7, due to UIL restrictions.
“In order to get ready for practice to start this week, a lot of clean-up of the band hall took place,” Vaughn said.
By Lynsi Musselman
Shackelford County residents are reminded to pick up the August distribution of the commodity food program.
Dates to receive the commodities are Thursday, Aug. 6 and Friday, Aug. 7, with no restrictions.
On Thursday, Aug. 6, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
By Lynsi Musselman
With school starting soon, local churches are getting back to Sunday school and other regular church activities suspended during the summer break and COVID-19 restrictions.
Albany United
Methodist Church
Adult and children Sunday school classes got back underway last Sunday.
Breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m. followed by Sunday school at 10:00 a.m. and worship at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 9, UMC will have a baptismal service at the Stasney’s Cook Ranch Headquarters.
