A group advocating for Albany to become a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn” returned to Monday night’s city council meeting, once again urging local leaders to place the proposed ordinance on the agenda. Despite repeated requests from more than 30 residents and visitors, no action was taken by the council.

Local churches and volunteers are coming together to host this year’s community Vacation Bible School, set for Sunday through Thursday, July 27–31. The event will take place from 5:30 to 8:20 p.m. each evening, with dinner served nightly for all participants.

This year’s VBS will offer age-appropriate programs for both younger and older children. Those who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade will meet at the First Baptist Church campus, while children age 3 and older (as of Sept. 1) will attend VBS at the Feed Store location.

The Beatitudes, Part 2

By Pastor B. Anderson

Text: Matthew 5:6–8

6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Alfred Whitby George passed away on July 9, 2025, at his home in Albany, TX. His memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 23 at 11:00am at the First Christian Church in Albany, followed by burial at the Albany Cemetery. 

Moran Independent School District is ushering in the 2025-2026 school year with new leadership and significant academic expansion, according to MISD superintendent Dr. John Denson.

“We have hired a new principal and our first ever counselor,” Denson said. “With their addition to our staff, we are taking academics to a new level.”

Albany experienced a sudden downpour Thursday night, July 3, when more than five inches of rain fell in roughly two hours, leading to brief flash flooding across town. Though several roads were overtaken by rising water, no serious injuries were reported and property damage remained limited.

Sheriff Ed Miller said Main Street near the train depot saw an unusual amount of water, with rising runoff briefly shutting down the roadway. “Everything was fine until around 8 p.m., then Main Street was underwater,” he said. “We had five inches come down quick.”

Two large bee hives were removed from the Shackelford County Courthouse on Thursday, July 3, after being discovered high under the eaves of the building’s third floor. The removal was conducted by Sadie Grace Farms, a beekeeping company based in Abilene that specializes in humane relocation.

The City of Albany has launched a new website at albany-texas.org, offering residents a centralized hub for city information, services, and communication.

The site includes contact details for city officials, city council meeting agendas and minutes, the full code of ordinances, and a calendar of upcoming city events. Citizens can also use the site to pay utility bills online and find information about city departments, including the Albany Police Department, the city pool, the Aztec Theater, and the Albany Golf Club.

For the third consecutive month, Albany saw above-average rainfall, with June bringing 4.11 inches—well above the town’s historical June average of 3.55 inches, based on records since 2000.

While June’s total wasn’t as dramatic as the downpours recorded in April and May, it continued a pattern of wetter-than-usual weather across Shackelford County. Combined with April’s 6.26 inches and May’s 6.87 inches, the three-month total now stands at more than 17 inches—far surpassing the 20-year seasonal average to this point.

Albany’s 7-on-7 football team advanced to the quarterfinals at the Division III State Tournament in College Station June 26-27, finishing among the top eight teams in the state.

The Lions went 3-0 in pool play Thursday, securing the No. 1 seed in their bracket with a last-second win over Tidehaven. Albany opened with a 24-12 win over Hico, followed by a 32-28 victory over Tidehaven and a 14-7 win against Wolfe City.