The All The World’s A Stage theater group entertained large audiences this past weekend with its production of Big Bad, performed on Friday and Saturday. The play featured a full cast of young actors who spent weeks preparing for the show.

Director Cali Rose praised the students for their dedication and effort. “I would like to thank all these hard-working kids and their dedication to this play. They have spent many hours preparing and making this play so entertaining!”

By David H. Waller

Albany resident JD Coffee has been recognized as Project Manager of the Year (General Contractor) at the 2024 Build West Texas Awards, hosted by the West Texas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC).

The Shackelford County Commissioners Court met Monday, March 10, addressing multiple county matters, including reinstating a burn ban and approving the purchase of a new sewage grinder for the Law Enforcement Center (LEC).

Burn Ban Reinstated

By Melinda L. Lucas

Families are invited to celebrate the end of Spring Break with a traditional Eastern holiday at the Old Jail Art Center’s monthly Family Festival this Saturday, March.

The museum will host the event, open to all ages but especially children, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Albany residents and Old Jail Art Center patrons are asked to “save the date” for a March 22 reception honoring Erin Whitmore, the OJAC’s education director for the last 15 years.

Old Jail docents will be hosting the come-and-go event, set for 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., in the Stasney Center for Education at the museum. A special presentation is planned at 2:30 p.m.

Whitmore, credited with expanding the reach of the Old Jail’s virtual and in-school education, is leaving the OJAC later this spring to pursue the “next chapter” of her career.

A DOOR THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT                                                                                                                         (Acts 12:1-17)                               

The Albany Middle School TMSCA team wrapped up regional competition with strong results, securing nine testing opportunities at the upcoming state meet in San Antonio on March 29.

Now in its second year, the program continues to expand, adding 7th and 8th grade competitors this season. Last year, the team consisted only of 6th graders, qualifying in number sense and science with six tests across four students. This year, the team maintained those qualifications and added mathematics, marking continued progress.

State Qualifiers:

By Lynsi Perry Musselman

Tucker Balliew, eighth grade athlete at Wylie West Junior High and son of Kristen and Slone Balliew and Alex and Ross Green, has two first place wins to start the 2025 track season. Slone Balliew and Alex Green are 2007 graduates of Albany Junior Senior High. 

By David H. Waller

Phase one of a planned fire guard project aimed at reducing wildfire risk near Albany is set to begin soon, with work taking place on land on the southwest edge of town near County Road 187 and Highway 180.

By Sam Waller

Albany Junior/Senior High selected three cheer squads at tryouts Friday, March 7 with varsity, junior varsity and junior high units determined for the 2025-26 school year.

The program will be under the direction of girls coaches Lauren Peacock and Ashlyn Bevel who are taking over from Nickie Leveridge.