MembersoftheShackelford County hospital board met with the district’s legal counsel,JohnMontgomery, on Monday night, July 15 to go over the next steps in an ongoing problem of “non-district property on hospital premises,” as well as updates to the employee handbook and the district’s policies and guidelines.

Funds to come from AVFD dedicated account On a split roll call vote, the Albany city council opted to allow the Albany Volunteer Fire Department to use dedicated AVFD funds for a concrete pad on the north side of the station where the bays are located. Fire chief Joel Viertel presented two bids for the work, one from CM3 for $32,210 for a walkway and 8” concrete to the street’s edge and the second from Raydon for $53,050 for 6” concrete in the same area.

The 86th anniversary version of the Ft. Griffin Fandangle is now history.

readers and advertisers are reminded that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of July 8. “We will not have a July 11 issue,” said News editor MelindaLucas.“Hopefully, that won’t be an inconvenience.” Albany print and all online subscribers should get their papers a day earlier this week, with the July 4 issue distributed Wednesday because of the holiday.

By Melinda L. Lucas A 15-minute special meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors on Monday, July 1, ended with the purchase of a new HVAC unitfortheambulancebays that will replace 20-yearold equipment.

Albany water customers should receive a “2023 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report” in the next few days showingthatlocallytreatedwater meets or exceeds all federal drinking water requirements. “All the numbers looked good,” Albany water superintendent Michael Graham said.

Shackelford County 4-H members (at right) use a bucket brigadetype system to put up chairs at the Prairie Theater Sunday afternoon, with bottles of water at the ready to keep them hydrated. A few hours earlier, brothers Luke and Connor Smith (below) stack props in a storeroom, another part of the process of wrapping up one Fandangle season and leaving things ready for the next year.

Old Jail Art Center to get underway July 29 With a Friday, July 19 deadline coming up fast, parents need to get their 6-12 year olds signed up for the OldJailArtCenterchildren’s summer workshops. Allofthecampsareback to being on site this year, with no virtual workshops offered.

RIBBON CUTTING

Texas Department of Transportation’s contractor, Structural Integrity Group,begancleaningand sealing the joints of the US 180 bridge over Hubbard Creek Reservoir June 30. This is a preventative maintenance project to extend the life of the structure.