By Donnie A. Lucas

A group of Albany High School band students will compete in the UIL Solo and Ensemble contest at Wylie High School in Abilene on Saturday.

A total of 13 students have been preparing for the contest, which offers three levels of difficulty. Typically, students play a Class 3 solo their first year of participation, then progress to a Class 1 solo, which is the most difficult.

Along with a piano accompanist, musicians present a prepared selection for a judge from the music list assigned one of the three levels.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany High held an area competition for the Small Schools Academic Challenge last Thursday, advancing three teams to the state meet.

Albany’s three teams took first through third place, moving on to the state meet on Feb. 27 at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton.

This is the first time that Albany has participated in the program sponsored by the Texas Association of Community Schools.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A project that has been delayed several times in the last couple of years may actually be getting closer to a start time, according to a report at Monday’s Shackelford County commissioners meeting.

Commissioners Ace Reames and Lanham Martin met last week with Ramon Morales of Morales Concrete of Graham about his contract to repair the concrete under the CR 179 (Caldwell Lane) bridge.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city manager Billy Holson reviewed his recommended 2022-2023 budget figures with council members at their Monday, Feb. 14 meeting, but no action was taken on the $3.475 million document.

The bottom line is more than the current year’s $3.1M starting budget, but Holson explained salaries for several additional employees are built in the new budget, with hopes of having enough personnel later in the year to complete some street repairs and other capital improvements.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive COVID-19 cases tested locally dropped to its lowest level in weeks, with 14 positives recorded from the 33 tests administered.

Total positive test results dropped from 22 positive cases the week of Jan. 31 through Feb. 4 on tests administered at the three local testing sites.

According to the weekly report issued by county judge Bob Skelton, the hospitalized cases in Trauma Service Area D, which includes Abilene and Brownwood hospitals, also dropped to 73 from 98 patients the prior week.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Gracie Price placed first in her class with her Maine-Anjou heifer at the San Angelo stock show and won senior cattle showmanship exhibiting the same animal.

Price also entered a steer in the show as more than 30 Shackelford County FFA and 4-H members began exhibiting animals at shows in San Angelo and San Antonio.

“The kids did a great job,” Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard said. “This was a busy week. We had folks going back and forth from one show to the other.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Two directors were re-elected to the Albany Chamber of Commerce board at the organization’s annual membership meeting on  Friday, Feb. 11, at Ft. Griffin Gen. Mdse. Restaurant, held a week later than originally scheduled because of bad weather the previous Friday.

Officers for the upcoming year were chosen on the same day.

Ramby Anderson and Clayton Snyder were both elected to serve another three-year term, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

By Donnie A. Lucas

With no contested races as of Tuesday, residents only have two more days to toss their hats into the local political ring for several local elections to be decided May 7.

Only the Albany ISD trustee election had drawn a full slate of candidates as of Tuesday, with one or more positions still lacking candidates on five of six boards or councils with terms expiring for the election.

Without a contested race thus far, all six boards are looking at the possibility of being able to cancel their elections.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Early voting started on Monday for the March 1 primary elections, with about 24 voters showing up at the Courthouse first floor lobby on the first day alone to mark their ballots.

In-person early voting will continue at the Courthouse through Friday, Feb. 25.

The hours for voting are 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. each weekday including Fridays, with the exception of Monday, Feb. 21 when the courthouse will be closed for the national observance of Presidents Day.

By Donnie A. Lucas

After being postponed for a couple of years due to the pandemic, the Old Jail Art Center will finally get to celebrate 40 years of collecting with a gala that will also mark the opening of three new exhibitions for the spring.

The “Jewel of the Prairie” will celebrate its Ruby Jubilee, marking 40 years since opening to the public, with an event postponed from 2020 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Tickets for the fundraising gala are still available for $175 per person. Tables for 10 guests are also still available.