By Melinda L. Lucas

All third through 12th grade students attending public schools in Texas take the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STARR) and End of Course (EOC) tests in the spring.

The testing program is based on state curriculum standards in core subjects including reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.

The tests are designed to measure what students have learned and whether they are ready for the next grade level.

Albany students have been preparing for the 2022 test schedule that gets underway next Tuesday.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Grandparents Week at Nancy Smith Elementary is set for next week, April 4-8, according to principal John Gallagher.

The Parent-Teachers Organization will host the annual Book Fair in the cafeteria on the same days.

The books will be set up on the stage in the cafeteria for students and grandparents to view during student lunch times. The usual assortment of books, games, posters, bookmarks, and other supplies will be available.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany High School band earned a pair of Division I ratings at the UIL Region 2 East Zone Concert and Sight Reading contest in  Abilene Tuesday, also picking up the first-ever Program Sweepstakes for the group.

Albany was given two Division I ratings and a Division II by the concert judges, which averages to a Division I overall on three prepared concert selections.

The group then moved to the sight reading contest, garnering three Division I ratings from the judges.

By Donnie A. Lucas

With the Sampler of this year’s Ft. Griffin Fandangle just over two weeks away, cast and crew members are urged to attend the remaining rehearsals to prepare for the show, which is being held for the first time in 25 years at Reynolds Bend on the Matthews Ranch.

Practices for the sampler, which is a shortened version of this year’s production, began three weeks ago. Rehearsals are scheduled to Thursday (tonight) at the Bank Park and again next Tuesday and Thursday starting at 7:30 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members unanimously approved the proposed budget of $3,475,400 following the required public hearing at a special session on Monday, March 28.

The city’s new fiscal year starts April 1.

There was no one from the public present to discuss the figures.

By Sam Waller

The Landreth Dam bridge reopened to traffic on Saturday, March 26, following the completion of permanent repairs to the historic structure.

Traffic in the eastern part of Shackelford County had been disrupted since late November after an excavator struck the crossbeams of each portal.

Vehicle traffic on the bridge, which crosses Hubbard Creek on FM Road 601, was stopped until temporary repairs were made in January. Then another motorist went through a barricade and struck a piece of equipment, further delaying repairs.

By Melinda L. Lucas

About a dozen citizens attended an advertised public hearing Monday morning regarding proposed subdivision regulations for the unincorporated portions of Shackelford County.

County judge Robert Skelton opened the hearing by stating that commissioners had no underlying intentions in their plan to put the regulations in place.

By Melinda L. Lucas

During the first five minutes of a special called Sunday even­ing meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors, Albany native Brandi Green was selected as the district’s new administrator.

Green was one of seven applicants for the position, which has been vacant since Jera Fairley left in June 2021. She has been the office manager at the district’s health clinic for several years and had assumed many of the administrator’s duties after Fairley’s departure.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County residents who haven’t yet registered to vote have until April 7 to sign up if they want to participate in the special statewide amendment election and the county-wide hospital district election on May 7.

Voter registration applications can be found online at votetexas.gov or filled out in person at the Voter Registration/Tax Assessor-Collector’s office at the Shackelford County Courthouse.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Rehearsals for the Sampler of the 2022 Ft. Griffin Fandangle are set for the next couple of weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Bank Park in downtown Albany, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Director Lorna Ayers is urging people to come to rehearsals since the sampler show is so close.

“We are moving outside starting tonight to the Bank Park to work on blocking,” Ayers said. “We met at first in the Aztec to learn music, but now it’s time to get outside and start staging.”