By Sam WallerChecks for animals sold at this year’s Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show will be distributed April 8, but exhibitors have a checklist of tasks to complete before being paid.Checks will be distributed from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Albany Visitors Center parking lot.

By Sam WallerRehearsals for next month’s Fort Griffin Fandangle Sampler at Rey­nolds Bend will pick up next week with two sessions scheduled.The cast and crew conducted a second rehearsal Tuesday, March 15 at the Aztec Theater. Next week, rehearsals will be held at 7:30 p.m.

By Donnie A. LucasAlbany ISD students and staff are out of school this week for spring break, returning to their classrooms on Monday, March 21.The school will pick up the regular schedule on Monday, with only two more holidays remaining in the 2021-2022 school year.

By Donnie A. LucasThe number of positive COVID-19 cases tested locally has continued to fall over the last two weeks, with just three positive cases last week and four the week before.

By Melinda L. LucasAlbany city council members proposed a budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year starting April 1 and set a date for a public hearing during their regular session on Monday, March 14 at the Aztec Theater.

By Melinda L. LucasShackelford County commissioners got serious about implementing formal regulations for subdivisions in unincorporated portions of the county, setting a date for a public hearing with plans to adopt the proposed regulations immediately after the hearing.

By Sam WallerThe Shackelford County Library recently dedicated a bench outside its main entrance in memory of librarian Carolyn Waller, who died in December 2020.

By Donnie A. LucasShackelford County residents who want to request ballots by mail for the May 7 statewide amendment election and the county-wide hospital district election can now send in their applications.The deadline for requests to be received in the clerk’s office is April 26.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions were able to handle the opposition and the elements last week, going 3-0 at the Albany tournament that was originally planned to be played over three days.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions tennis team won 15 of 19 matches last week in a dual match at Clyde.Coach M.J. Reneau said that the dual meet, played Wednesday, March 9, went extremely well.“It was a way to practice before we took spring break off,” Reneau said.