By Lynsi Perry

After earning top honors at regionals, Albany sophomore Kylee Bennett will make her state debut at the UIL Academic Meet in Austin next week.Bennett won the gold medal in news writing at the Region II Academic Meet last month to qualify.

Albany High School senior Myleigh Leveridge has signed with Cisco College to join the school’s cheerleading program, becoming the first AHS cheerleader in more than a decade to continue the sport at the collegiate level.

Nancy Smith Elementary School will host its annual field day Friday, May 16, beginning at 8:15 a.m. at the Albany High School track. The event will conclude before early dismissal at noon, due to scheduled baseball playoff games that afternoon.

The Albany ISD band program will present its annual spring concert Thursday, May 15, at 6 p.m. in the Albany High School gymnasium.Director of bands Jessica Watkins said this year’s format will feature three groups – sixth grade, seventh grade, and high school – set up in one large band.

Today marks the 150th anniversary of The Albany News—a milestone few newspapers, especially in small towns, have the privilege of reaching. For a century and a half, this paper has chronicled the lives, stories, struggles, and celebrations of Albany and Shackelford County.

By Melinda L. LucasAfter being rained out in April, the 18th annual Albany Classic Car Show is getting a second shot this Saturday, May 10 – and organizers are ready to roll.Volunteer coordinator Robert Snyder remains optimistic about the rescheduled event.

By Melinda L. LucasAlbany High School juniors, seniors, and their guests stepped into the spotlight Saturday night, May 3, as they gathered at the Whitney Theatre for Prom 2025, themed “Hollywood Nights.

With summer around the corner, preparations for the 87th annual Fort Griffin Fandangle are shifting into gear. Rehearsals for the 2025 production will begin Monday, May 12, welcoming both returning cast members and newcomers ready to join the long-running community tradition.

By David H. WallerAlbany recorded 6.26 inches of rainfall in April, making it the wettest April in nearly a decade and more than doubling the town’s historical average of 2.81 inches for the month. This year’s total is the highest April rainfall since 2016, when 6.