By Sam Waller

Albany’s Closet Angels ministry will hold its annual Back To School Bash from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8.

Closet Angels director Lori Reames said the event is open to students of Shackelford County schools and their families.

The ministry will be closed Monday, Aug. 7, in preparation for the sale.

Reames said names for door prizes will be drawn at 6:00 p.m. Customers are asked to enter through the front door and fill out an entry form to be entered for the drawing.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Summer band camp for members of the Ragin’ Red Lion Band will switch from sectionals to full band rehearsals starting Monday, Aug. 7.

Director Will Vaughan announced last week that the band is working on a show entitled “Our World” written by Luke McMillan.

The entire band will meet from 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday next week, with the exception of a 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. practice on Wednesday to allow students to participate in church youth group meetings.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Meet the Teacher will be held at both Nancy Smith Elementary and the junior/senior high campus on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Students entering K-6 will be able to find out their teachers for the coming school year from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Students and parents are urged to meet with teachers at the secondary campus at 6:00 p.m. for an orientation meeting for all grade levels in the high school auditorium.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany ISD teachers and support staff will start the school year on Wednesday, Aug. 9 with staff meetings and training.

Both elementary and secondary teachers and staff will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Feed Store for breakfast, followed by a “Welcome Back” message from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and a district meeting until 11:00 a.m. The break for lunch will start at 11:00 a.m.

Campus meetings will be held in the afternoon on both campuses from 12:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Raises were give to returning teachers who are above the state minimum step 20 salary schedule and increases in several stipends were approved during an AISD school board on Monday, Aug. 17.

Trustees also reviewed the preliminary budget and looked at where the state seems to be heading concerning school funding.

“We just received notice that a deal has been made between the Governor, House, and the Senate on the Property Tax Relief bill,” said AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The fundraising goal for improvements at the Shackelford County Show Barn has basically been met and work is underway at the facility.

The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association announced in early May a fundraising effort to raise $200,000 or more to make overdue updates to the 50-year-old structure, but the goal was raised to $300,000 due to the scope of work.

Mike Parsons, who is heading up the fundraising drive, said this week that collections totaled $277,000, with the remainder pledged but not received.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County chief appraiser Clayton Snyder reported this week that the Appraisal Review Board upheld values set for the Hackberry Wind Farm during recent protest hearings held at the appraisal district office.

The company filed a lawsuit after the review board upheld values in 2022. The wind farm paid just under half of the 2022 taxes as required by state law, but filed a lawsuit disputing the almost $430,000 still owed for last year.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Registration for all Albany ISD students will open online beginning Wednesday, Aug. 2, with in-person registration also available at the high school campus for all grades on Aug. 2-3.

The district is once again using the Ascender Parent Portal for registration, with a link available on the district website. Parents are instructed to access the “Parents Sources” tab, then look for the Ascender Parent Portal.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Ticket prices for the upcoming CareFest on Aug. 26 will increase next Tuesday, Aug. 1 with only general admission tickets still available.

The fifth annual event will feature headliners Pat Green and Kevin Fowler, along with five other notable artists at the Happy Wife, Happy Life Weddings and Event venue just west of Albany.

“There are only general admission tickets left, which will be going up from $50 to $60 per ticket on Aug. 1,” said co-organizer Ragan Riley. “Prices will also go up for parking and cooler passes from $15 to $20.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

The deadline to register for this year’s annual summer camps for kids at the Old Jail Art Center has officially passed, but there are still a few openings, and OJAC education director Erin Whitmore said that late registration will be accepted on Thursday (today) if those places aren’t already filled.

A session for older kids – Re-Create! – will kick things off Wednesday, Aug. 2, with activities planned for grades 4-6.