By Donnie A. Lucas

Academic achievement will be recognized during the Albany Junior and Senior High School Academic Banquet on Monday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m.

The annual event is sponsored by Albany ISD, the Feed Store, and the Academic Booster Club.

The theme for the event is “Education is the Most Powerful Weapon to Change the World,” according to organizer Tisha Wilkins.

Ticket sales ended Tuesday for the event, with recognized students being provided a free ticket. All other tickets were $15 each.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The staff of The Lions Roar, the student newspaper for Albany High School, earned a 17th consecutive Star Award along with a Tops in Texas and almost 50 individual honors announced by the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) last weekend.

The annual state-level journalism convention was held in Austin for the first time in two years, although judging was held and awards issued in both 2020 and 2021 despite the pandemic.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Rehearsals for the June performances of the Fort Griffin Fandangle are underway, with various scene practices set for Sunday through Thursday nights until opening night June 17.

“We had a good response at rehearsals last week, but there is still time for people to join us if they don’t wait too long,” artistic director Lorna Ayers said. “There were a ton of kids on Sunday night for the Indian Prairie and square dancing.”

Ayers stressed that all children in the show must be registered in advance using a form at fortgriffin fandangle.org.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany school board accepted five resignations and hired one teacher at their May 9 meeting.

The resignations of four teachers and one staff person were accepted “with regrets” on a motion by Joe Tidwell.

Teachers resigning included Kevin Hill, Andre Raymond, Lauren Peacock, and Robbin Westmoreland. Staff member Shelia Hogan’s resignation was also included.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The spring health fair hosted by Shackelford County ResourceCare returns to the Albany Bank Park on Friday, May 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. after missing last year due to COVID concerns.

The event, for which this is the 18th year, is often held on the Friday closest to Cinco de Mayo, but because of numerous conflicts with school and other events, including test preparations, it was moved to this coming Friday morning.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County passed a resolution to adopt an investment policy after a recommendation by county treasurer Tammy Brown and an explanation by Sam Vaughn of Ameriprise Financial.

Brown also requested that the commissioners adopt a broker list that includes Vaughn so that county funds can be invested in some other way besides CDs, which have paid out very little over the past few years.

Vaughn explained that taxpayer funds would be invested in very conservative instruments with “laddered” maturities every three to six months.

By Donnie A. Lucas

One incumbent and three other candidates from a field of seven were elected to the Shackelford County Hospital Board, along with two statewide constitutional amendments were approved by voters.

Only 202 ballots were cast in the hospital board election, representing about nine percent of the county’s 2,266 registered voters.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Both Albany competitors at the State UIL Academic Meet came home with medals last Friday in journalism events.

This was the first time since May of 2019 that the state meet was held in person at Austin. In 2020, the meet was cancelled altogether due to the shuttering of schools at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 contest was held remotely due to the virus.

By Donnie A. Lucas

For the first time in about a month, three cases of COVID-19 were recorded at the three Albany testing sites last week, with a total of eight tests administered.

At least one of the new cases was reportedly of a student on the secondary campus of Albany ISD.

The three positive tests come on the heels of a quiet month for COVID-19 cases locally. Three of the last four weeks resulted in no new cases, with only one positive reported for the first week of April.

By Melinda L. Lucas

In addition to hearing concerns from a group of local citizens at Monday night’s meeting, council members also discussed detailed plans with this year’s pool managers.

After a review by phone with CPA Cameron Gulley, council members approved the 2020-2021 audit.

Chris Beard, who had been sworn in earlier that day, was welcomed to his first meeting.  Because there were no opposed races for the council terms, the election was cancelled.

Neighborhood Concerns