By Melinda L. Lucas
With a county-wide burn ban in place and the addition of a resolution restricting the sale and use of “bottle rockets,” local emergency responders say any holiday celebrations involving fireworks need to include safety and common sense.
Firefighters warn that dry brush and vegetation, mixed with fireworks, can easily ignite, and there are rules and ordinances that must be followed by everyone setting off fireworks.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Albany water customers should receive a “2021 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report” in the next few days showing that locally treated water meets or exceeds all federal drinking water requirements.
“All the numbers looked as good or better than last year,” said Albany water superintendent Michael Graham.
Report Summary
By Melinda L. Lucas
Most of Monday’s hour-long meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners was spent discussing how to proceed with the project of re-engineering and resurfacing the Courthouse parking lot, and although the item was tabled, commissioners will continue to talk with contractors and are formulating the bid specs to release in the near future.
The elected officials still plan to advertise separately for dirt work and paving so that local contractors will be able to bid on the project and to try to keep the costs lower.
By Donnie A. Lucas
A variety of pets were marched around at the Bank Park Saturday during the annual Fandangle Pet Parade.
Winners were named in four categories, with each receiving $25 in Albany Bucks to be spent at local participating stores.
“We had a good turnout,” coordinator Lacy Cook said. “I think it helps that we moved the parade to the morning last year.”
While the number of participants was down from pre-COVID events, Cook said that she was pleased with the response.
By Sam Waller
Shackelford County 4-H is offering three days of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) camps in July, with a recent decision to lower the age requirement.
Camps for incoming third through sixth graders are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. over three consecutive Tuesdays – July 12, 19 and 26 – at The Feed Store.
Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said the camps offer multiple hands-on learning experiences each day.
By Sam Waller
The Shackelford County Library children’s story hour will extend into July, but in a slightly different format, according to organizer Janna Ledbetter.
Future sessions are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Fridays beginning July 8 and will continue as long as there is sufficient interest, Ledbetter said.
“We are going to keep going,” Ledbetter said this week. “We’ll see how many children will come. As long as we have a response, then we will have continue the program.”
By Donnie A. Lucas
A group of 14 Albany students and sponsors left Monday to travel to San Diego to compete in the FCCLA National Leadership Conference.
The 12 students will attend the conference through Friday to either compete or present projects.
Two Level 2 online teams for ninth and tenth grade students were selected to present their projects at the national conference.
The online teams were picked as the lone presenters in their respective categories from the state of Texas.
By Sam Waller
The Community Vacation Bible School will be held Sunday, July 24, through Wednesday, July 27, with programs for two age groups and workers from several local churches helping with classes.
Students who were in Pre-K through fifth grade during the 2021-22 school year will meet 5:30-8:00 p.m. July 24-27 at First Baptist Church of Albany. Attendees must be 4 years old before Sept. 1.
New this year is the R.O.P.E. program (Rights of Passage Experience) for rising seventh graders. Those sessions will be held 5:45-8:15 p.m. at The Feed Store.
By Sam Waller
A team of volunteers from First Baptist Church of Albany left for Del Rio on Sunday, June 26 to help with a construction project.
The group has traveled to the Del Rio area several times to help work on buildings and churches in surrounding locations.
Team member John Ross Reames said the group had a lengthy job list they were going to try to get accomplished this week.
By Sam Waller
The Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes conducted its summer Leadership Camp recently at Hardin-Simmons University with 14 attendees from Albany taking part.
Local FCA representative Paul Johnston said the camp, which started June 13 and wrapped up June 17, “was a great experience.”
“We had about 180 young people there, 60 of them from my area,” Johnston said. “There were several decisions that were made. The kids had a lot of fun, learned a lot about the Bible, and learned a lot about how to apply it to daily life.”
