By Lynsi Musselman

The Old Jail Art Museum is still temporarily closed, but the facility is not short on virtual activities to educate learners of all ages.

Each Thursday at 3:30 p.m., a five minute “OJAC tiny-tour” will be posted on the OJAC’s website and Facebook page. New tours will post each Thursday until June 25. 

The virtual tour gives a sneak peak from the museum vault and galleries. Visitors also receive insider information from the OJAC’s docents and staff members.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association annual meeting will be held Tuesday, May 26 at 6:00 p.m. in the Albany High School ag classroom.

The SCYLA general meeting will convene first, and once it has been adjourned, the board of directors and officers will meet immediately following.

“The annual SCYLA meeting is to establish rules, elect officers, and discuss potential fundraisers for next year’s show,” said Shackelford County current president Bronco Askew. 

By Lynsi Musselman

Families of current and returning Nancy Smith Elementary students will be asked to go online to register for the 2020-2021 school year as soon as the link is published.

NSES administrative assistant Stephanie Gleitz said the school is working out some kinks before online registration goes live.

“Once we are ready for online registration, we will make an announcement on Bloomz, the school-wide communication program,” she said. “The online registration will be slightly different from last year.”

By Lynsi Musselman

A new backboard for the basketball goal at Chuck Reynolds Park has been purchased, with community volunteers making plans to install it soon.

Sewer Project

The City of Moran has been notified that the grant for the sewer repair has been released.

City employee Theresa King said the contractor hired for the project will now be able to start the work.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany Dance Theatre Company will present “Rise Up” for its 70th Annual Recital on Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Because of continued restrictions and a smaller crowd size, the event will be held at the Whitney Theatre rather than at the high school auditorium as it usually is.

This year’s recital will be for senior dancers only. 

The seniors participating are Larson Garcia, Alayna Koemel, Julia Bowman, and Madelyn Connally.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Feed Store will host a hamburger dinner for the Albany High School  Senior Class of 2020 on Saturday, May 23 from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

The Feed Store will provide seniors with hamburgers, hot dogs, and homemade ice cream for a sundae bar.

Feed Store executive director Tisha Wilkins said all precautions have been taken to provide the seniors with an opportunity to spend time together. 

“We hope to fill the gap for some of the things the seniors are missing out on,” Wilkins said. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

What may well go down as the most unusual school year ever came to an end this week, with students saying their good-byes to teachers from a distance while turning in the final batch of weekly instructional packets.

The nine-week odyssey that started with school closures across the state, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, concluded about as abruptly as it began.

By Lynsi Musselman

While the shift is being made to come back to in-person gatherings, local churches are adjusting their safety protocols and finding ways to continue to reach as many in their congregations as possible.

Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church

MMPC announced last week that they would begin to meet again for Sunday worship at 11:00 a.m.

MMPC will also broadcast just the sermon and the entire Sunday worship service.

By Lynsi Musselman

With the Shackelford County Library still closed, the usual summer reading program will not be offered this year.

Albany Study Club members normally start the reading program the first Tuesday in June. The program is for children ages four to 10 and meets every Tuesday for one month. 

Library committee chairperson Janna Ledbetter said the program is interactive, and several kids and their parents usually attend.

By Lynsi Musselman

With Project Graduation 2020 cancelled due to uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus shutdown, a drawing was held this week to choose recipients for the traditional Task Force scholarships. 

Also, Project Graduation organizers have announced that the money raised for the celebration will now be divided among each senior and handed out at graduation in the form a gift card.