Thirty-six Albany High School seniors will receive their diplomas Friday night, May 22, during commencement exercises scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. The event marks the conclusion of the students’ high school careers and the beginning of their next chapter.

This year’s class is led by valedictorian Woods Peterson and salutatorian Mimi Ivy. Other honor graduates include Allison McDaniel, Ryan Turner, Jaxson Street, Madison Parrott, Hollis Yeates, Cache Clark and Caysn Hargett.

The opening date for the City of Albany swimming pool remains uncertain as city officials continue working through staffing and certification requirements.

Kenisha Lucas of City Hall said this week that the city still does not know when the pool will open and likely will not have more information until after the weekend.

“We will post the opening date on our website as soon as we know something,” Lucas said. “We won’t know until after this weekend, pending certifications.”

The city’s website is albany-texas.org

Shackelford County rancher Rick Hanson was recognized as the Area 5 winner of the Conservation Rancher Award during the Texas Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Area 5 banquet held May 5 in Dublin.

John Tate of Albany, Area 5 state representative for the association, served as emcee for the banquet, which honors conservation efforts across a 54-county region. Smaller counties are combined into shared districts, with Shackelford and Stephens counties forming the Lower Clear Fork Soil and Water Conservation District.

Plans are underway for a local celebration of America’s 250th birthday this summer, with the Albany Chamber of Commerce currently organizing America 250 Jubilee at the Train Depot on Friday, July 3.

The celebration is still in the planning stages, but organizers say it will be set up similarly to the Chamber’s annual crawfish boil, with a come and go format from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Current plans include inflatables for children, Americana-themed games, hot dogs and several contests throughout the day.

Shackelford County voters finalized several local races Saturday, May 2, deciding seats on the Fort Griffin Special Utility District, Shackelford County Hospital District, Albany City Council and an $26 million Albany ISD bond proposal.

In the Fort Griffin Special Utility District race, voters selected three candidates for two-year terms, with incumbents Robert Montgomery, Ted Tidwell and Ben Hale winning reelection.

Albany voters delivered a clear message Saturday, approving the Albany ISD school bond by a wide margin.

Final totals showed 358 votes in favor and 143 against, giving the measure roughly 71 percent approval and marking one of the strongest showings of support for a project of this scale in state history.

For Superintendent Daryl Stuard, the outcome reflected more than just a successful election.

“That just says so much about this community and their support for kids,” Stuard said.

The 19th annual Albany Classic Car Show is set for Saturday, May 9, with organizers preparing for a full day of classic vehicles, vendors and community activities. Volunteer coordinator Robert Snyder said interest remains strong, with participants expected from Albany and surrounding areas.

“We’ve had a good response, and things are lining up well for the show,” Snyder said. “As of today, there is no rain in the forecast for Saturday, so if that holds, we’re looking forward to a good turnout.”

A record crowd gathered this past Saturday for the 40th annual Polo on the Prairie, as the longtime West Texas fundraiser drew an estimated 2,000 attendees for its milestone year.

Event founder Henry Musselman said the 2026 crowd was the largest in the event’s history, continuing a tradition that has grown steadily over four decades. What began as a small gathering in 1987 has now become one of the most recognized fundraising events supporting UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

McCollum performance draws larger crowd

Albany High School has announced honor students for the Class of 2026, with Woods Peterson named valedictorian and Mimi Ivy selected as salutatorian.

Seven other seniors were recognized as honor students, representing the top 25 percent of the class.

Peterson earned a four-year average of 102.71, while Ivy posted a 102 average. Other honor students, in rank order, are Allison McDaniel, Ryan Turner, Jaxson Street, Madison Parrott, Hollis Yeates, Cache Clark and Caysn Hargett.

One of the most accomplished athletes to ever come out of Albany is now part of the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame, as Kami Norton Richey was inducted during last week’s annual banquet in Abilene.

Richey’s career, which began with a dominant run at Albany High School and carried through to national championships at the collegiate level, made her a clear choice for the honor.

“It was definitely a trip back down memory lane,” Richey said. “Coming back to the Big Country and getting to share that with my family was really special.”