By Sandy Morris

High school graduation is three weeks away, and seniors and their parents are making plans for the celebration, including the traditional Project Graduation party.

Project Graduation is an all-night drug-free and alcohol-free party following commencement exercises and has been an annual tradition in Albany since 1988.

The project was started by the Albany Drug and Alcohol Task Force, and several people, especially Ann Jones, were instrumental in organizing the local event.

By Sandy Morris

Educators at Albany ISD are being provided snacks, meals, and gifts during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3-7, courtesy of the Albany Parent Teacher Organization, parents of local students, Prairie Star, the Albany Masonic Lodge, and local businesses. 

PTO organizer Malarie Sutton said the special treats were small tokens of appreciation for all that AISD employees do for children in the district.

The Masons hosted a breakfast for school district employees on Wednesday, May 5 at the First Christian Church.

By Sandy Morris

Pick-up dates for the May distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7.

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. on Thursday, May 6. 

Albany families who have been certified as eligible for the May food distribution program may pick up their food on Friday, May 7, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the rear door of the JP office. 

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Independent School District band program will hold a spring band concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18 at the Bank Park. 

The concert will feature musicians from the sixth grade through high school.

The sixth grade band will perform contest pieces “The Buglers” and “Star Wars,” according to band director Will Vaughan. 

“We may possibly perform one more song depending on how much we can get done around testing,” Vaughan said.

By Sandy Morris

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of spring activities, contests, and end of year events, the annual prom is a chance for local high school students to dress their best and show off their dance moves.

“A Black Tie Affair” is the theme of this year’s Albany High School prom and will be held from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 at the Whitney Theatre. 

The event is sponsored by the junior class and is free to all juniors and seniors.

By Sandy Morris

The local FFA Plant ID team competed at the state Environmental and Natural Resources competition on Thursday, April 29 at Tarleton State University. 

The team of Ty Everitt, Brodey Jones, and Cade Neve qualified for the event based on points earned throughout the spring, and finished in   20th place in the state.

The Horse Judging and Plant ID teams advanced to the FFA state competition for 120 regional schools on Saturday, April 24 in Lubbock.

By Sandy Morris

With a local event planned on May 31, Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have served our country, and local veterans can be honored by adding their names to the Shackelford County veterans memorial marker.

Local organizer Mary Kay O’Connor said she is still accepting veterans’ names to be added to the monument.

“Veterans do not have to be deceased, nor do they have to have served in a war to be included on the memorial marker,” said O’Connor. 

By Sandy Morris

Three incumbents were returned to the Shackelford County Hospital District board in the only locally contested race, with results posted at the end of the official Election Day on Saturday, May 1.

The race drew less than 10 percent of the 2,167 active registered voters in the county with only 137 ballots cast.

A total of 36 votes were taken during the early voting period, 84 ballots were turned in on election day, and 17 ballots were returned by mail. 

Results

By Sandy Morris

The Prairie Theater was the site of the first official rehearsal for the 2021 Fandangle on Tuesday, May 4. 

Work began on the large group numbers including “Lock, Stock, and Barrel,” “Kissin’ Kin,” “Texas Central,” “Rockin’ Chair,” “Come and Get It,” and “Punchin’ Cows.”

The same group is scheduled to practice on Thursday, May 6 starting at 7:30 p.m.

Fandangle artistic director Lorna Ayers said that everyone who is interested in participating in the show this year should plan to attend the first practices.

By Sandy Morris

With restrictions being lifted statewide, the Old Jail Art Center staff members are preparing for the first members’ in-person event in more than a year,

Back at the end of February, the museum launched two new exhibitions, but the usual in-person gallery opening didn’t happen because of COVID precautions and limited hours of operation.

The OJAC is now planning to host a members’ viewing and reception for featured artists Billy Hassell and Sterling Allen from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 15.