Old Jail to host family festival

By Melinda L. Lucas

With sunny weather and spring temperatures in the forecast for this Saturday, April 1, families are invited to the Old Jail Art Center to explore the centuries-old spring tradition of Ukrainian Pysanky.

The three-hour come-and-go celebration, geared toward children of all ages, will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., with docents, junior docents, and other volunteers helping with activities.

New owner plans to open restaurant June 1

By Donnie A. Lucas

Renovations are currently underway to transform the former Fort Griffin Restaurant and Beehive Saloon into a home for The Goodnight Steakhouse & Saloon, according to operating partner Michaela Smith.

The iconic “Beehive” closed in January after operating for 40 years in Albany, even prompting a second location in Abilene that is still in operation.

Band earns 2nd straight Sweepstakes

By Donnie A. Lucas

For a second consecutive year, the Albany High School band earned a pair of Division I ratings at the UIL Region 2 East Zone Concert and Sight Reading contest in Abilene on Tuesday, March 28 to earn the coveted Sweepstakes Award for the group.

Albany was given three Division I ratings in both concert and sight reading by the panel of three judges in each contest to clinch the award again this year.

Collision leaves 1 dead, 1 injured

By Melinda L. Lucas

A head-on collision near Lueders in the northwest part of Shackelford County on Tuesday morning about 7:25 a.m. left one man dead and another injured.

Names were not available at press time on Wednesday morning, but it was believed that the driver of a northbound pickup on FM 142 was on his way to work at a rock quarry when he hit a southbound Jeep pulling a trailer that was apparently stopped on a bridge.

Albany News

County road speed limits approved

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners imposed 35 MPH speed limits on several roads near rock quarries in Pct. 4, including 163, 177, 201, 202, and 240 after the required public hearing on March 27.

No one was present from the public to object to the decision, which was proposed by commissioner Cody Jordan at a meeting earlier this month in order to help prevent damage caused by heavy loads.

County judge John Viertel reported that the county might be able to impose fees and/or fines for destruction to county roads.

Albany News

Crawfish boil set April 6

By Donnie A. Lucas

The annual Membership Drive Crawfish Boil for the Albany Chamber of Commerce is set for next Thursday, April 6 in the parking lot in front of the depot.

The event will kick off at 6:00 p.m. with Chamber directors serving up heaps of crawfish boil, as well as fried fish and the trimmings.

“All Chamber members are invited,” Chamber manager Brandi Lehew said. “We hope to see every­one here and bring a friend and let them come see what the Chamber is all about, and maybe they will want to join.”

SCAD tax litigation enters discussion phase

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County chief appraiser Clayton Snyder said this week that some progress is being made in a lawsuit involving a wind farm that has almost $430,000 in outstanding tax assessments that are “owed” to several of the local taxing jurisdictions.

The wind farm corporation had protested the taxes assessed by the Shackelford County Appraisal District (SCAD). The company then sued the district after the district’s Appraisal Review Board ruled against their protest.

Albany News

Easter egg hunt set April 8

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will host their annual Easter egg hunt at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 8 at Webb City Park.

Parents need to note that the time is earlier in the day than most years in the past.

The park will be sectioned off for each individual age group.

All children will need to meet with their parents at the pool parking lot before the hunt begins to find their sections.

This will be the 21st year for the community egg hunt.

Albany News

6 advance to regional UIL

By Melinda L. Lucas

Six Albany High students are advancing to the Region II Academic Meet in April after placing in the top three at the District 10-2A Meet held March 22 in Stamford.

Albany finished the district competition in fifth place at the district meet with 178 points, which also includes points scored in the One Act Play contest held earlier in March.

Exhibitors show at Austin

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Creed Spencer closed out his stock show season in a big way, showing the junior champion lightweight cross barrow at the Star of Texas in Austin.

Spencer was one of several Albany FFA students entered in the final major show of the winter, which concluded its run Saturday, March 24.

Also in the show, Crew Spencer placed third with his barrow.

Slayton Parsons exhibited a ninth place cross.

The Albany students were among nearly two dozen Albany FFA students exhibiting animal projects at major shows this month.