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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.