Classes offered for Head Start, kindergarten

By Sandy Morris

Registration for Head Start classes will continue and a pre-registration process for kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year will get underway at Nancy Smith Elementary School next week on Tuesday, May 4.

Parents or guardians who are unable to attend that day can check on options for registering their child for NSES programs by calling 325-762-3384.

Kindergarten Class

Kindergarten Round-Up will be held at NSES on Tuesday, May 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Albany News

12 4-H members learn about polo

By Sandy Morris

Members of the local 4-H club participated in a Prairie Polo clinic on Saturday, April 24 with 12 in attendance, according to Shackelford County extension agent and 4-H sponsor Kloey Painter.

Louisa Fikes, who coaches a professional polo team, led the clinic and taught the kids how to use the polo equipment.

“It was such a good clinic,” said Painter. “The kids got to practice on the ground with polo mallets and then got to practice on the horses. The members enjoyed this workshop so much that we will definitely do it again.”

Megan Jimenez honored by Abilene ISD

Albany High School graduate Megan Anderson Jimenez was recently honored as the Edwin and Agnes Jennings Teaching Excellence TLC Elementary Teacher of the Year for Abilene Independent School District. 

Jimenez, who currently teaches kindergarten at Johnston Elementary School, is a 2004 graduate of Albany High School. She graduated from McMurry University in 2008 and is in her 13th year of teaching with Abilene ISD. 

Albany News

Crawfish Boil

Volunteer crawfish cook Ken Jones dips a steaming basket of the southern delicacies from a styrofoam container to spread out on the serving tables during last week’s crawfish boil and membership drive dinner hosted by the Albany Chamber of Commerce. Despite cool weather, there was a good turnout for the event.

Fandangle practices to start May 4

By Sandy Morris

Fandangle rehearsals will kick off for the yearly production on Tuesday, May 4 at the Prairie Theater.

Artistic director Lorna Ayers said the show is open to anyone who would like to participate and prospective cast members should plan to attend the first castings.

“Everyone who intends to be in the show needs to be at the first rehearsals,” said Ayers. “A lot of the smaller scenes will be cast from the people who show up at the first practices.”

Albany News

Survey totals come close to target goals

By Melinda L. Lucas

Only a couple more responses are needed before Shackelford County organizers reach the goals they set for a special broadband initiative that began in mid-March, with the intent of expanding access of high speed internet in this area.

A few completed surveys are needed from business owners, but will be welcomed from other groups such as farmer/ranchers, education, healthcare, and governmental entities.

The 10-minute survey is available at www.my connectedcommunity.org/shackelford-county/

Albany News

Hospital seats to be decided May 1

 By Sandy Morris

Shackelford County voters have the opportunity to participate in the local hospital board election this coming Saturday, May 1.

A total of 84 early voters had already cast ballots by the end of the early voting period at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27. 

The hospital board has the only locally contested race in Shackelford County, and all voting is being conducted at the EMS station located at 840 Gregg Street. On Saturday, the polling site will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Albany News

Trail, Bartee named 2021 top students

By Sandy Morris

The list of honor students in the 2021 Albany High School senior class was released last week, naming Hannah Trail as valedictorian and Sidney Bartee as salutatorian.

Trail, daughter of Justin Trail and Tamara Trail, has a four-year average of 98.74.

The salutatorian, Sidney Bartee, daughter of Traci and Stephen Bartee, has earned an overall average of 98.185.

State Qualifiers

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School will send three students to the University Interscholastic League state academic meet this Saturday, May 1.

Because of COVID precautions, the event is being held at Abilene Wylie High School rather than in Austin.

Senior Tana Thompson advances in Feature Writing and Headline Writing, senior Hannah Trail will compete in Editorial Writing, and junior Luke Ivy will take part in the Science competition. 

Journalism sponsor Donnie Lucas and science sponsor André Raymond will attend the event with their students.

Albany News

Mom’s Meals available in county

By Sandy Morris

Shackelford County residents who have not previously been eligible for local home delivery meal service now have an option available to them.

Mom’s Meals is a monthly food delivery service offered through the Area Agency on Aging courtesy of the CARES grant. 

AAA quality assurance specialist Samantha Secrist said the program, which has been funded through the end of September, is not based on income .

Albany News