By Melinda L. Lucas High school commencement is only two months away, and parents of graduating seniors need to attend a planning meeting at The Feed Store on Thursday, April 8 at 6:00 p.m. to organize for the busy weeks ahead for them and their graduates.

By Melinda L. Lucas Albany ISD staff and students will be off both Friday, April 2 and Monday, April 5 for a four-day Easter weekend. Younger students at Nancy Smith Elementary School had Easter egg hunts planned this week, with kindergarten classes visiting the Abilene Zoo on Wednesday.

By Sandy Morris The Albany High School band walked away with a Sweepstakes concert title this week, earning ratings of 1 in concert and 1 in sightreading at the UIL Region 2, East Zone Concert and Sightreading contest held at Abilene Wylie High School on Tuesday, March 30.

By Sandy Morris In less than two months, the senior class of Albany High school will walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.

By Sandy Morris As the school year is beginning to fly by, local FFA and 4-H members are reminded of upcoming deadlines, workshops, and events.

By Sandy Morris The Albany Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual Membership Drive Crawfish Boil at the Albany Golf Course on Thursday, April 15 starting at 6:00 p.m., and Chamber members, along with those who want to join the organization, are encouraged to attend.

By Sandy Morris Due to the Good Friday holiday on April 2, the April distribution pickup dates for the commodity food program have been pushed back one week. Pickup dates are scheduled for Thursday, April 8 and Friday, April 9.

By Sandy Morris The Parent Teacher Organization at Nancy Smith Elementary School will hold the traditional Scholastic Book Fair virtually this year after a year’s absence due to COVID in 2020.  The PTO has set the dates of the book fair from April 19 through May 2.

By Sandy Morris The Albany community garden has been tilled and is ready for planting, according to organizer Ramby Anderson. “We’ve had a little bit of a challenge getting started with the rain this year,” said Anderson.

By Sandy Morris Albany High School senior Tana Thompson qualified for regional in five events and junior Luke Ivy will advance in four events after they and other local students competed in the UIL District 10-2A Academic Spring Meet held at Stamford High School on Wednesday, March 24.