By Sandy Morris

Several students and teams from Nancy Smith Elementary School and Albany Junior High placed at the district A+ Academics University Interscholastic League meets held during November and December. 

Due to COVID concerns, the competetion looked a little different this year. 

The writing portion of the competition was held in November and entries were submitted via email to be judged. 

The remaining academic contests took place locally with entries being videoed and submitted during the first part of December. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany school board members got their first look on Monday at the required financial rating, along with briefly discussing extending leave for employees that test positive for COVID-19, and hearing an update on the elementary school’s dyslexia and reading comprehension program.

Superintendent Jonathan Scott presented the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) report, indicating that the district scored an A Superior rating on the annual accountability report.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County elected officials and others honored outgoing district attorney Colton Johnson at a special retirement reception Monday afternoon following the regular meeting earlier that day.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors met with clinic providers Travis Wilburn and Claire Ware during a regular monthly meeting, which was moved to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday so that it would be easier for the nurse practitioners (NPs) to attend.

Wilburn and Ware explained the protocols being used at the adjacent clinic in order to keep both staff and patients as safe as possible, with COVID testing being conducted in the mornings.

By Melinda L. Lucas

News readers and advertisers are reminded that there is an early deadline for next week’s edition, with all copy due by noon on Monday, Dec. 21.

The Dec. 24 issue will be published and on stands, as well as in local post office boxes, by Wednesday morning, a day earlier than usual.

The News office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25.

There will not be a paper published during the last week of the year, on Dec. 31.

The office will be closed on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and as usual on Friday.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Lynsi Musselman was appointed to the Albany city council at their regular December meeting on Monday, Dec. 14.

Musselman will fill the remaining months of Carolyn Waller’s term, serving under the appointment until May 2021.

Waller, whose resignation was accepted in November, died last week after a brief illness. She had been a city council member for nine years.

Albany mayor Susan Montgomery expressed condolences to Waller’s family, as well as for the family of city employee David Thompson, who also died last week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Although the official report from the Texas Department of State Health Services does not yet reflect it, Albany experienced its first COVID-related death last week, a man in his 60s, reportedly with no underlying health conditions.

“Any death of a citizen is tragic, but this forces us to see firsthand the severe threat of this virus,” said Albany mayor Susan Montgomery. “We are so saddened by this death of an Albany resident. Once again, please be a good citizen and neighbor and do everything to protect to yourself and others.”  

By Sandy Morris

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, wreath-laying ceremonies are coordinated across the United States, at sea and abroad, to coincide with the main ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, and arrangements have been made for a local ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 11:00 a.m.

The brief ceremony will be held at the pavilion at the Albany Cemetery before the wreaths are placed on the graves. 

By Sandy Morris

What began as a call for erratic driving turned into the detention of 20 undocumented immigrants on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 13.

According to Albany Chief of Police Mike House, the local dispatch received a call of a possible intoxicated driver. 

APD officer Mark Purpura was in the area and according to House, observed the reported truck almost strike another vehicle from behind. 

Purpura initiated a traffic stop for following too close to another vehicle and pulled the truck over in the Prairie Star parking lot. 

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Little Dribblers Association has opened registration to all fifth and sixth grade students for the upcoming basketball season, with information for the younger grades coming later. 

Registration forms have already been sent home with Nancy Smith Elementary School fifth and sixth graders and were due on Wednesday, Dec. 9.  

Forms can be returned to the NSES office or given to Clint Chapman.

Each player will need to return a completed form along with the $35 registration fee.