By Jillian Lucas

Nine members from the First Baptist Church returned from their annual mission trip in Del Rio this past week.

The team left June 27 and returned July 1.

Albany FBC mission groups have worked with a program called River Ministry in Del Rio for many years.

According to First Baptist Church pastor Jeff Turner, River Ministry has a distribution center where they collect donations and supplies to help local families.

By Sidney Bartee

Community Vacation Bible School will begin Sunday, July 25 and end on Wednesday, July 28.

Volunteers from several local churches are helping with the event, which is sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance and hosted this year by First Baptist Albany.

“Destination Dig” will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with meals and activities provided.

Parents will be able to pick up students at 8:15 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, but everyone is invited to stay and watch a special program on Wednesday.

By Sidney Bartee

The deadline to sign up for the Old Jail Art Center children’s summer workshops is tomorrow, July 9, in order  to have time for materials to be mailed.

This year, workshops are being held virtually for students in first through sixth grade.

The culture of India, a puppet workshop, and the frontier days will be covered by this year’s material. 

Registrants will be mailed a kit with supplies and materials needed for each day of the camp.

By Sandy Morris

The City of Albany received a sales tax allotment of $35,973.14 from the state in June. The amount is down 1.15 percent from the $36,394.22 payment received in June 2020.

Payments to date for the 2021 year to the city of Albany are $230,247.46, down by 2.20 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $235,442.84 had been made.

The City of Moran received a net payment of $2,241.61 this period for a 2.54 percent decrease from the $2,300.18 received in June 2020.

By Jillian Lucas

Albany cheerleaders spent three days together recently in a “home” cheer camp, with several earning All-American honors, and they are now getting ready for an upcoming event for younger girls.

Elementary-age cheerleaders who want to receive a t-shirt for the July 26-28 Cubs Cheer Camp must be pre-registered by next Monday, July 12, according to cheer sponsor Nickie Leveridge.

AHS Home Camp

Albany High School junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders participated in a home cheer camp a few weeks ago at the high school gym.

Shirley Hale, age 78 of Whitney, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2021. Graveside funeral services were held Wednesday, July 7, at the Albany Cemetery. Interment followed under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Shirley Jean Evans was born Dec. 16, 1942 in Abilene, Texas to Malcolm Cecil “Jack” Evans and Clara Belle “Jane” Perkins Evans. She married Marvin Lee Hale in Lubbock, Texas on March 16, 1977 at the home of Justice of the Peace, Pam Gentry. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Albany. 

Marsha Ann Ledbetter Sievers Whitehead, born in Abilene, Texas on April 26, 1948 to Oran Harrell and Nell Jean Ledbetter, passed away on June 29, 2021. Graveside services were held at the Albany Cemetery Thursday, July 1, under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.

Marsha graduated from Albany High School in 1966 and then attended Cisco Junior College where she performed with the Wrangler Belles. 

After college, she worked for Van Operating in Albany for several years. Marsha moved to the Fort Worth metroplex and made her home there for the past 33 years. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Several Albany residents spoke at the Shackelford County commissioners meeting on Monday morning, June 28 concerning the smell emitted by a new rendering plant on the edge of town.

Since Texas Renewables is located adjacent to but just outside the city limits, the citizens approached the county officers about possible action against the company, which reportedly operates a protein conversion facility that “converts animal plasma into a dried protein additive to be used in products such as organic fertilizer and organic pet food.”

By Jillian Lucas

The 83rd anniversary edition of the Fort Griffin Fandangle came to a close this past weekend after its final performance of the year.

Performance Recap

“I thought that this year’s show was very well received,” said director Lorna Ayers. “The audiences were extremely interactive and very involved.”

The Fandangle prides itself on teaching the rich history and culture of Fort Griffin and Albany, according to the director. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County Hospital District board members started the process of hiring a new administrator at a meeting on Monday, June 28 after Jera Fairley opted not to sign a new contract and left the district’s employment about a month ago.

Fairley, who had been with the district in the capacity of administrator for six years, had been given until May 27 to sign a job description that the board first presented to her after a May 5 session in the form of a contract, with an initial signing deadline of May 13.