By Sandy Morris

The regular school year has ended, but summer school is just beginning for students who need to catch up on credits or prepare for STARR retesting.

Albany Independent School District has scheduled summer school for June 7-25, Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

According to AJHS principal Glen Hill, secondary students attending classes during this time must do so because they did not receive credit for a class or they did not pass an EOC or STAAR exam.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Study Club sponsored summer reading program at the Shackelford County Library will return this summer after being cancelled last year due to COVID concerns.

According to organizer Janna Ledbetter, the annual story hour will kick off on Monday, June 7. 

“Story hour will be held every Monday during the month of June from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.,” said Ledbetter. “We plan for each week’s story to have a western theme.”

By Sandy Morris

Summer kicked off with the annual Splash Day at the Albany city pool on Tuesday, June 1.

The facility was open free of charge to the general public from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. to start the beginning of the summer.

Albany city pool co-managers this summer are Jennifer Bowman and Dakota Fowler. 

Pool Fees

Daily entrance fees to the pool during normal hours will be $2.50 per person.

A summer pool pass is $75 for an individual and $150 for a family pass for all family members living in the same household.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany High School Class of 2021 participated in Project Graduation on Friday, May 28 after graduation and a reception.

According to organizer Tisha Wilkins, money continued to pour into the event up until the last day.

“We literally had people sending us money in the mail or stopping a parent and making a donation,” she said. “We then had to decide how we were going to use it, which was a great problem to have. There were several last-minute extra door prizes and gifts that were purchased prior to the party.”

By Sandy Morris

Fandangle parade organizers Ragan Riley and Shannon Leech are encouraging local businesses, organizations, and individuals to start planning their 2021 entries. 

This year’s parade is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 in downtown Albany.

Entry forms may be picked up at the Fandangle office. There is no cost to sign up for the parade, and forms can be returned to the office or emailed to Riley at rriley@resource care.org.

By Sandy Morris

Dress rehearsal followed by opening night of the 83rd anniversary edition of the Fort Griffin Fandangle is in just two weeks, and preparations for the annual summer show are underway. 

Organizers and participants are busy preparing for the upcoming performances and expected out-of-town visitors. 

Artistic director Lorna Ayers has requested help from the community to get ready for the show.

“We are needing Rangers or Mules to help bring out the sets,” said Ayers. 

By Sandy Morris

Quilt owners are encouraged to lend one or more of the works of art in their collections to the Albany Study Club for the annual quilt show at the Whitney Theatre so everyone can admire the fabric treasures during the Fandangle season. 

The annual show is free to the public and will be held in the air-conditioned  Whitney Theatre from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on the afternoons of the Fandangle performances on June 18, 19, 25, and 26.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Officials seem to agree that Albany and Shackelford County were just an inch or so away from widespread damage when Monday’s heavy rainfall began to let up late in the afternoon.

As it was, the 4.27 inches that fell in a 24-hour period rapidly filled creeks and swept through low water crossings, leaving behind debris, but not a lot of significant damage.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Dance Theatre Company will present “Once Upon A Time” this Saturday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Albany High School auditorium. 

The performance is free to the public and will include 120 dancers from Albany and five surrounding communities. 

“This year, we will feature seniors Hannah Snyder, Blanton Belcher, Sidney Bartee, Landree Connally, Torie Fuentes, and Addie Beth Denton,” said owner and co-director Betsy Black Parsons. “They will be performing as a group to ‘I Danced with Cinderella’.”

By Sandy Morris

Dozens of local scholarships were presented to members of the Albany High School Class of 2021 during commencement exercises held last Friday, May 28.

There were well over 100 separate awards for the class of 35, with some scholarships split among more than one recipient, amounting to more than $120,000.

The awards were given by about 40 local churches, clubs, organizations, foundations and individuals. 

The 2021 commencement ceremony was held in the Albany High School gymnasium before a crowd of friends and relatives.