By Donnie A. Lucas

General admission tickets are still available for the CareFest concert set for Aug. 26 featuring headliners Pat Green and Kevin Fowler, along with five other popular artists.

The fifth annual event will be held at the Happy Life, Happy Wife Weddings and Event venue located just west of Albany on FM 1084.

The price for a general admission ticket increased to $60 per person on Aug. 1 if purchased in advance. The ticket price at the gate will increase to $70 per person.

By Melinda L. Luca

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Aug. 17.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.

By Sam Waller

Local youth kept busy over the summer exhibiting livestock projects at a variety of prospect shows, bringing home some big prizes.

Kenzie Neve had the busiest summer, taking steers to five events.

Colter Edgar had just one very productive outing June 24 at the Eighter From Decatur, exhibiting the champion Yorkshire as well as taking second place in different classes with a Berkshire, Chester, and spotted cross.

By Melinda L. Lucas

This year’s state sales tax holiday is set for Friday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 13.

The law exempts sales tax on qualified items – such as clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks – priced below $100, saving shoppers about eight dollars on every $100 they spend.

Apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax-free are listed on the Comptroller’s website at texastaxholiday.org.

Bios of new staff members, along with faculty assignments and school supply lists, are included in the special back-to-school section in this week’s issue.

There are also articles about vaccination requirements, elementary “meet the teacher” night, and orientation for new junior high and high school students.

See Section C for details.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Old Jail Art Center’s summer camps are wrapping up with the two-day puppet workshop earlier this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by an “Under the Sea” experience on Friday, Aug. 11.

Students in grades 1-3 will spend a “sea-riously fun day” on some  aquatic crafts and games inspired by ocean life from the museum’s collection.

All four of the OJAC in-person sessions were well-attended, according to education director Erin Whitmore.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Just over 70 percent of expected Albany ISD students were registered for the new school year as of Monday, and officials are urging parents to complete the process online or by calling for an appointment at either campus to complete registration.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Certified taxable values for each taxing entity in Shackelford County were announced recently, with an overall increase slowing to 3.2 percent for the county compared to almost eight percent last year.

The total taxable value for the county increased by about $19.5 million from $609,696,295 in 2022 to $629,191,588, according to figures released by the Shackelford County Appraisal District last week.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany ISD teachers and support staff will start the school year on Wednesday, Aug. 9 with staff meetings and training.

Both elementary and secondary teachers and staff will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Feed Store for breakfast, followed by a “Welcome Back” message from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and a district meeting until 11:00 a.m. The break for lunch will start at 11:00 a.m.

Campus meetings will be held in the afternoon on both campuses from 12:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Meet the Teacher will be held at both Nancy Smith Elementary and the junior/senior high campus on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Students entering K-6 will be able to find out their teachers for the coming school year from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Students and parents are urged to meet with teachers at the secondary campus at 6:00 p.m. for an orientation meeting for all grade levels in the high school auditorium.