By Kathy Thomson
Like many local residents, Chris Blue has spent a lot of time over the last few weeks sewing face masks for those who need them, and so far, Blue has given masks to several elderly people in Albany, local Brookshire’s and Dollar General employees, West Texas Rehab workers, EMTs and firemen from Abilene, Texas Oncology and Abilene Diagnostic workers, and employees at Resource Care and Walmart in Breckenridge.
By Lynsi Musselman
As the state gradually reopens, many local stores are still working to take care of customers in non-traditional ways by offering extra services.
After Gov. Abbott’s announcement Monday, most retailers will be back up and running on Friday, although hair, nail, and massage salons, gyms, and bars remain closed.
By Lynsi Musselman
To contact the Shackelford County Library for online set-up, readers are asked to call Janna Ledbetter at 325-260-3857 or e-mail albanylib@gmail.com.
The library number was printed previously, but the library has decided to remain closed indefinitely even though the governor’s announcement on Monday allows for reopening.
The online library consists of children to adult books in a variety of genres. The books can be located at https://shackelford.biblionix.com.
By Kathy Thomson
Albany Lions Club member Sandi Conway announced that the club, which has sponsored the local Memorial Day services for the last couple years, has cancelled the event this year.
“It was all organized and a speaker lined up, but with coronavirus it is too uncertain,” said Conway. “The senior adults are the ones who normally come to the service. We just don’t think it’s wise to have it this year.”
This year, Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 25.
Sierra Price Brooks of San Angelo was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Brooks was initiated at Angelo State University.
Brooks is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.
Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.
By Lynsi Musselman
Churches were included in Governor Abbott’s Monday afternoon press conference that gave details about the first phase of reopening the state.
Some Albany churches will begin Sunday to return to in-person services.
Friendship Baptist Church
Pastor Paul Johnston said Friendship Baptist Church will have two worship services this Sunday, one at 9:15 a.m. and the other at 10:55 a.m.
“We recommend that masks be worn for self-protection and the protection of others,” Johnston said.
By Donnie A. Lucas
School officials have been busy planning for the remainder of the school year following Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement last Friday that in-person classes are cancelled for the remainder of the year due to concerns over the Coronavirus COVID-19.
“We have been finalizing plans for the rest of the school year,” superintendent Jonathan Scott said. “There are still some things that are not decided or pending based on what the governor or the commissioner does later on.”
By Lynsi Musselman
The Academic Booster Club Facebook page is spotlighting seniors each day until graduation.
Tisha Wilkins is spearheading the project to recognize the members of Albany High School’s Senior Class of 2020.
“This is something we can do to give our seniors some encouragement,” Wilkins said.
She said that each day a new senior is added to the page, with two seniors included on Tuesdays in order to get them all included by graduation, which is tentatively set for May 22.
By Lynsi Musselman
The School Health Advisor Council, also known as SHAC, has postponed its dance-a-thon until the 2020-2021 school year.
School nurse and SHAC coordinator Lisa Russell said students should keep turning in funds collected to their teachers during weekly packet pick-up. The individual top fundraisers will be named when school reopens next year.
“I am disappointed, but the event will for sure happen, and there will be lots of fun activities,” Russell said.
By Lynsi Musselman
The recent announcement that school will stay closed for the remainder of the school year keeps the virtual classroom evolving.
Local teachers, along with students across the state, continue to face challenges with this new way of learning and finding innovative ways to keep students engaged.
Middle school and high school math teacher Rick Davis said he has two classes that meet through Zoom every day.
Zoom is a cloud-based service with content sharing and conference capabilities.
