By Sam Waller

The Albany community is invited to take part in a prayer walk Friday, July 28, in advance of the upcoming school year.

Organizer Mike Bean said that while the main part of the prayer walk will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Albany Junior/Senior High, it should be considered a daylong event that can be held at any school district property, including Nancy Smith Elementary School, secondary campus, baseball field, football practice field and stadium, bus barn, superintendent’s office, tennis courts, and outbuildings.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the August distribution of the commodity food program  provided by Shackelford County are Aug. 3-4.

Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3.

Albany families who have been certified as eligible for the June food distribution program may pick up their food on Friday, Aug. 4 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the rear door of the JP office.

By Sam Waller

Closet Angels has rescheduled its annual Back To School Bash for 5:00-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8.

Closet Angels director Lori Reames said she originally planned to hold the event before the state’s tax-free weekend, but postponed it to avoid conflicting with other local events.

“We have changed things up because most of our help cannot get too hot,” Reames said. “We’re not going to do hot dogs, and we’re going to simplify things. We’re short on help right now.”

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

By Sam Waller

The Albany FFA chapter made a big haul at the 95th annual state convention, held July 10-14 in Dallas.

The convention was held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and hosted more than 15,000 students, industry professionals and agricultural science educators from across the state.

Chapter officers Leddie Leech, Gracie Price, Robyn Trail, Kenzie Neve, and Callan Edgar represented Albany. Leech, Price, and Trail received Lone Star FFA Degrees, while the chapter received a National Chapter Superior Award and Golden Horizon Award.

By Donnie A. Lucas

While numbers were down somewhat this summer due to conflicts, spirits were high as the second and final week of Resource Care’s Day Camp wraps up.

The camp was divided between the week of July 10 and July 24 this year, with the final day set for tomorrow, Friday, July 28.

“Everything has gone great this year,” said Ragan Riley with Resource Care. “We averaged about 80 during the first week of camp, and numbers were a little lower this week.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

The last name on a fairly lengthy list of classroom teachers and coaches has been checked off this week, although a few expected contracts are not yet finalized, according to Albany ISD administrative assistant Lynsi Musselman.

With so many longtime educators retiring this year and others leaving the district, AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott commented that hiring for multiple positions in a post-COVID environment has been challenging.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Ticket are selling fast for the fifth annual CareFest, with only $50 general admission remaining for the one-day music extravaganza headlining Pat Green and Kevin Fowler on Saturday, Aug. 26.

The event will again be held at Happy Life, Happy Wife Weddings and Events Venue on FM 1084. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Several members of the local FCCLA chapter competed at the national conference in Denver, Colorado last week, bringing home silver medals for their efforts.

The Level 2 Parliamentary Procedure team which can include freshmen and sophomore students, earned the silver medal; however, they did not place in the top 10 in the nation. Last year five of seven members competed in the Level I (junior high) division and won first place at the national conference.

Albany News readers and advertisers are reminded that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of July 17.

“We will not have a July 20 issue,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “Hopefully that won’t be an inconvenience or source of confusion for anyone.”

Mail and online subscribers will get their papers at the usual times this week, with the July 13 issue distributed Thursday morning.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A single bid for a “property exchange” was accepted at the Albany city council’s regular meeting on Monday, July 10.

After the required bidding process, a 5.76-acre track owned by Justin Trail south of the airport runway will be “swapped” for 7.39 acres owned by the city behind the water plant. Trail agreed to grant a utility easement.

The council approved the bid.

AVFD Engine

Fire chief Joel Viertel reported that the department’s “second out” truck, a 2002 model has been in Mans-field for three weeks for an inspection.