By Donnie A. Lucas

A crowd of over 360 students, parents, and staff attended the annual Academic Banquet on Monday to honor academic excellence of students in a variety of activities including academic UIL events, journalism, band, FFA, one-act play, and FCCLA.

Sponsored by The Feed Store, Albany Academic Booster Club, and Albany ISD, the event recapped the academic and co-curricular successes of the school year.

The group was welcomed by superintendent Jonathan Scott, proceeding to the buffet line for the meal prepared by Joe Allen’s Barbecue of Abilene.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The annual Baccalaureate service for the Albany High School Class of 2023 is set for Sunday, May 21 at 4:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Albany librarian Jenny Scott will be the featured speaker. She will be introduced by class valedictorian Ella Webb.

A total of 32 seniors are expected to participate in the service, which is one of several events that will culminate with graduation on Friday, May 26.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Annexation of Phase II of the Clarke Estates (CEII) development and engine problems with the volunteer fire department’s newly purchased rescue truck were the main items of discussion at Monday’s Albany city council meeting.

During the session, council members started the process of posting bid opportunities for a property exchange and also looked at proposals for pavement and purchase of property around the Albany Volunteer Fire Department building.

Clarke Estates Annexation

By Donnie A. Lucas

The names of 13 veterans who were killed in action have not been added to the list on the veterans stone memorials on the courthouse square, according to Mary Kay O’Connor, who has been researching names of deceased veterans who are not included on the monument.

She is now seeking sponsors for a list of 13 county servicemen killed in action, mostly during World War II, that have never been added to the monument.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Albany City pool will open to the general public on Thursday, June 1 with a one-day-only, free-admittance Splash Day.

Meg Walser, who helped with the operation of the facility last summer, is the pool manager this summer. Her main duty will be to coordinate the lifeguards’ schedule. The city will operate the concession stand this summer, with lifeguards rotating through to make the sales.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Rehearsals are continuing almost daily for the June performances of the Fort Griffin Fandangle, with scene practices being held on Sunday through Thursday evenings at the Prairie Theater.

The dates for the 85th anniversary show are June 16-17 and June 23-24.

“Rehearsals are still going really well,” the show’s director Lorna Ayers said. “There have been some conflicts with the end of the school year activities, but that will also be over next week. We are expecting that everyone will come more consistently.”

By Sam Waller

With just a week to go before the big night, parents of Albany High School seniors are putting the final touches on plans for the annual Project Graduation party.

Organizer Amanda Tabor said Project Graduation has received a wide range of support from the community to assist in preparations, including several gift baskets. Two gift baskets will prove especially useful for when graduates get out on their own, Tabor said.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Teachers and staff at Albany ISD have been on a food adventure this week thanks to the Albany PTO, along with the support of local businesses and individuals.

Staff members on both campuses were provided with a passport for meals from around the world, along with gift bags in celebration of Teacher and Staff Appreciation.

The week-long celebration began on Monday with barbecue catered to both campuses, plus a visit to the Kona Shaved Ice truck.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Three veteran retiring educators will be honored at a special reception on Wednesday, May 24 at Nancy Smith Elementary School.

The come-and-go retirement celebration for Ginger Norton, Roxanne Raymond, and Lillian Wheeler, who between them have 90-plus years in the realm of education, is set for 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the NSES foyer at 741 Griffin Road.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany school bands will wrap up the school year with a spring concert on Thursday, May 18 in the high school auditorium, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the sixth grade band.

The fifth grade band will take the stage at 6:45 p.m., followed by the seventh grade and the high school band at 7:30 p.m.

The concerts will cap the concert seasons for each band. The public is invited to attend and no admission will be charged.

Band director William Vaughan said he will present awards to outstanding musicians in each group.