By Sam Waller

Rehearsals for next month’s Fandangle Sampler at Reynolds Bend have begun with director Lorna Ayers stressing the importance of attendance.

“We don’t have a lot of rehearsal time, so make sure to come to all of the rehearsals,” Ayers said.

The first rehearsal was held Tuesday, March 8. The next rehearsal will be 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, at the Aztec Theater.

“After spring break, we’re going to go to two days a week,” Ayers said. “Rehearsals will be Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we’ll meet outside to the Bank Park area.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

About 30 members of the Albany High School Band traveled to West Cliff, Colorado last week to help prepare for the upcoming concert contest and to have some fun.

Unfortunately, the trip was cut short after several members of the group developed cases of the flu, according to director William Vaughan.

“Everything that we could control went well,” Vaughan said. “The kids behaved well, and all seemed to enjoy the trip, but the flu just hit, and we had to deal with it.”

By Sam Waller

Closet Angels will be closed over spring break, as it typically follows the school closure schedule, but the facility will also be closed on Saturday, March 12, according to director Lori Reames.

The ministry normally opens the second Saturday of each month, but a combination of factors contributed to the decision not to open this weekend, Reames said.

By Sam Waller

The Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Weekend of Champions boys camp drew 94 campers from eighth grade through high school for the Feb. 18-20 gathering at Eastland’s Solid Rock Encampment, including some from Albany.

FCA organizer Paul Johnston of Albany said the program featured speakers and activities geared for teen boys.

“We had a great crowd, and the speakers were great,” Johnston said. “They talked to the kids about character and integrity and what it means to be a Christian young man.”

By Sam Waller

First Baptist Church youth minister Eduardo San Lucas said eight or nine teams are expected to participate in a fundraising volleyball tournament this weekend.

The double-elimination tournament will be held Saturday, March 12, at the Albany High School gym, starting at 9:00 a.m. Awards will be presented for first, second, and third place.

Proceeds will be used to send youth to church camp this summer.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Representatives of local organizations and boards that award scholarships to Albany High School graduates are asked to contact Ann Riley at the AHS office by Monday, March 21 if at all possible.

The office will be closed next week for spring break and will reopen for regular hours on Monday, March 21.

Riley asked that anyone who can’t contact her this week send an email during spring break so she will be able to organize the information when she returns to the office.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Several members of the newly reinstated Albany FCCLA Chapter competed at the Regional Leadership Conference in Waco last week, with all 10 high school and junior high students who attended earning one of the top three places to advance to the state conference in April.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A 4.5-hour meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors on March 1 was conducted mostly in closed session, but there were a few action items during the evening.

Another meeting on Tuesday of this week was also behind closed doors, as the directors reviewed several applications for the district administrator’s position, which has been vacant since last June. No action was taken at the end of the March 8 session.

Employees Talk

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city manager Billy Holson reported last week that city employees, along with workers contracted from Raydon Construction, had located the source of a major leak at the municipal water plant after a search that lasted several days.

“A line that supplies all the water to run the plant was leaking underneath the foundation, and the blueprints that we have weren’t accurate in showing us where the line was,” said Holson. “It took us a while to find the source after water started coming through the floor in several places.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

A morning house fire on Kenshalo Street in northeast Albany last Friday completely destroyed the home of a local family and took most of their possessions.

The fire started in the attic and was reported about 9:00 a.m.

“When we arrived, smoke was pouring out of the attic,” Albany VFD Captain Jeff Hill said. “We tried to make entry several different ways, but the smoke prevented us, along lack of trained personnel on the scene.”

Hill said that only four volunteers were able to respond to the call.