As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, it is worth remembering that America began not as a place, but as an idea.

America began with a revolutionary idea: that people could govern themselves.

In 1776, thirteen colonies stood against the most powerful empire in the world and declared that their rights came not from a king, but from God, and that government existed to serve the people. It was a bold idea, one that had rarely been attempted on such a scale.

An accidental gas line strike during fiber optic construction Monday evening, June 29, led to the precautionary evacuation of several Albany homes after elevated gas levels were detected in the city’s sewer system.

According to Albany Volunteer Fire Department Chief Joel Viertel, the incident began around 5:45 p.m. when a contractor installing fiber optic lines struck a gas line. Firefighters responded to the scene, confirmed there was no immediate danger to nearby residents and remained on site until Atmos Energy crews arrived to make repairs.

With final preparations underway, Albany residents are invited to gather at the Depot this Friday, July 3, for the community’s America 250 Jubilee celebration.

Hosted by the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature food, contests, family activities and opportunities to celebrate the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Organizers say the event is designed to bring the community together ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend.

The Old Jail Art Center has received statewide recognition for one of its recent exhibitions, earning the 2026 Exhibition Award from the Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art (CASETA).

The award was announced during CASETA’s annual conference in San Antonio and recognizes the institution that organized and presented the most outstanding exhibition on early Texas art during the previous calendar year.

City officials report early infrastructure work is underway along U.S. Highway 6 as Albany continues preparations for a major residential development project.

Motorists and residents of that area may have noticed increased activity in recent days as contractors began installing water and sewer infrastructure for the subdivision. The project has been in the planning and bidding phase for a couple of years, with engineers overseeing the process.

The Fort Griffin Fandangle opened its 88th season with strong crowds over the weekend, drawing more than 1,500 people to the Prairie Theater for the first two performances of the 2026 production.

Friday night’s opening performance attracted a large audience, while Saturday night’s show was nearly sold out.

Saturday was one of the busiest days of the weekend as visitors filled downtown Albany for the annual Fandangle Parade and other activities before making their way to the Prairie Theater that evening.

The Fort Griffin Fandangle will open its 88th season Friday night at the Prairie Theater, beginning two weekends of performances that annually draw thousands of visitors to Albany.

The first performances of the 2026 production are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 19-20, with the final two shows set for June 26-27.

If you’ve spent any time on Facebook lately, chances are you’ve seen one of Jacob Cleveland’s bee removal videos.

Over the past several weeks, the Albany pest control owner has posted photos and videos showing massive honeycombs hidden under pool decks, inside chimneys and beneath roofs. The posts have attracted plenty of attention, with residents often sharing them and tagging friends who might have a bee problem of their own.

The online exposure has also helped spread the word about Cleveland’s work.

By Kelsey Bell

Shackelford County

Extension Agent

Those of us that work in agriculture and wildlife industries have been watching the Northern advancement of the New World Screwworm since 2023. Unfortunately, it’s now getting way too close for us to be comfortable. As of the writing of this article, 12 cases of NWS have been confirmed in six Texas counties, with the furthest northern case being in Tom Green County, roughly 100 miles from us.

On Saturday night, a sold-out crowd packed Billy Bob’s Texas to watch one of the fastest-rising bands in the country take the stage.

Among them was Albany High School graduate Ty Anderson.

For many Texas musicians, performing at Billy Bob’s is a career milestone. Selling it out is something else entirely.