By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions Club presented club Sweethearts Caitlan Lee of Albany and Johnnie Hise of Moran with scholarships on Thursday, May 12 at the weekly meeting.
“We were able to provide $500 apiece,” Lions Club president Bob Skelton said. “Johnnie’s headed to Texas A&M, and Caitlan is planning to go to TCU.”
As Sweethearts, the duo assisted local Lions a variety of functions.
By Melinda L. Lucas
New exhibitions will open at the Old Jail Art Center with a members’ viewing and dinner reception on Saturday, June 4 and remain on view throughout the summer.
The three exhibits will feature selections from the permanent collection, an installation in the original jail cells, and works on paper from the collections of two families.
Weather permitting, the members’ reception will be held outdoors in the Marshall R. Young Jr. Courtyard, according to OJAC executive director Patrick Kelly.
By Sam Waller
Shackelford County Library’s annual children’s story hour has been scheduled for every Tuesday in June.
Organizer Janna Ledbetter said the program, geared toward preschool and early elementary children, will have a theme of service to the community. Every week will have a speaker such as police officers and firemen.
Story hour will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. each week, including June 7, 14, 21, and 28.
Preschool children must be accompanied by an adult. The program will include crafts and games related to each story.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual spring cleanup day Saturday, June 11.
Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones invites local residents to participate in the project aimed at beautifying Albany. A meal will be provided, Jones said.
The events offers an opportunity for people needing to accumulate volunteer hours to do so.
Volunteers should meet at the Chamber office at 8:30 a.m., Jones said, and she asked that participants bring yard tools and implements such as mowers, weedeaters, rakes, and hoes.
By Melinda L. Lucas
The Albany Dance Theatre Company will present its 72nd Annual Recital on Saturday, June 4.
The performance will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Albany High School auditorium.
Admission is free.
There are three featured seniors in this year’s recital, including Johnnie Hise and Hannah Rogers of Moran. There are no Albany seniors in the high school class.
More than 100 students from Albany, Moran, and several surrounding towns participate in the local dance program.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The annual Baccalaureate service for the Albany High School Class of 2022 is set for Sunday, May 22 at 4:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Former Albany youth minister Spencer Newsom will be the featured speaker. He will be introduced by class valedictorian Luke Ivy.
A total of 34 seniors are expected to participate in the service, which is one of several events that will culminate with graduation next Friday night.
By Donnie A. Lucas
A record crowd of students, parents and staff attended the annual Academic Banquet on Monday to honor academic excellence of students in a variety of activities including academic UIL events, journalism, band, FFA, one-act play, and FCCLA.
A total of 370 attended the event to recap the successes of the school year, which is sponsored by The Feed Store, Albany Academic Booster Club, and Albany ISD.
The group was welcomed by superintendent Jonathan Scott, proceeding to the buffet line for the meal prepared by the Icehouse Restaurant.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Voters will have the chance to go to the polls for a second time this month with the May 24 State Primary Elections Run-off for both the Republican and Democratic parties.
In-person early voting ends on Friday, May 20. All voting is again consolidated at the Shackelford County Courthouse.
Early voters can mark their ballots from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. through May 20. The Courthouse is also open through the lunch hour for early voters.
By Melinda L. Lucas
A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, May 26.
Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.
The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.
Blood center officials said that there is always a need for blood donors of all types. In particular, officials said those who have O+ and O- are needed.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Response to rehearsals for the June performances of the Fort Griffin Fandangle has been great, according to artistic director Lorna Ayers, especially among the younger members of the cast.
“We have had a record number of children showing up for rehearsals which is great,” Ayers said. “But it also presents a problem of having enough adult supervision to make sure the kids all stay safe.”
The director said that the Fandangle has people in place on either side of the stage for the Indian Prairie, which is made is up of mostly children.
