By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany student council is sponsoring a second blood donation drive on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at the high school. Students and community members are urged to participate by signing up for appointments at the high school office.

The drive will be held from 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. in front of the gym.

A check-in table will be set up in the gym foyer.

Students as young as 16 years old can donate if they have a permission form completed by a parent. Older students can sign up on their own.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The annual Albany Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby was held Monday at the Scout Hut, with Jonathan Key taking the overall winner’s spot.

Cubmaster Jacey Shack and Den Leader Dan Key organized the event, along with the assistance of committee chair Teri Lucas.

“All the kids did a great job building their cars,” Shack said. “After the official races, we all had some fun with the adults racing each other, and the Scouts got to challenge an adult to a race.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

A presentation for students, parents, and the public on the dangers  of  using vaping products and synthetic drugs is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 7, according to AHS principal Glen Hill.

The program will be presented to students during an 11:00 a.m. assembly, with a second presentation at 5:30 p.m. for the public and surrounding schools.

By Sam Waller

Albany FFA member Kenzie Neve ended 2021 and got the 2022 stock show season off to a strong start with her placings at two major national shows.

Neve closed out 2021 by finishing second in Class 1 All Other Cross Steers at the Arizona National Livestock Show held Dec. 27-31 in Phoenix. She also won Champion Intermediate Cattle Showman at the Arizona show.

By Melinda L. Lucas

TxDOT bridge engineer Tracy Jones helped Shackelford County commissioners get closer to resolving  the repair of the Caldwell Lane Bridge on CR 179 when he met with them in a special session that included a “field trip” last Wednesday, Jan. 26.

Two different contractors have been hired over the last two years to get the bridge open to traffic again, but neither completed the contract.

Jones reviewed two options, one using concrete and the other utilizing rocks in gabions (wire baskets) to stabilize the structure.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The seventh annual Region 7 American Field Trial Club’s Amateur All Age Championship was held Jan. 28-29 at the Crooked Tree Ranch outside of Albany.

Following the championship, the M.G. Perkins All Age Derby Classic followed with nine dogs entered.

The event serves as a qualifying trial for the ­AFTCA National Amateur Invitational Championship, drawing trainers, owners, and dogs from across the state and beyond.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for a busy stretch, starting with its annual meeting rescheduled for next week on Friday, Feb. 11.

Also on the Chamber schedule are the Albany Stars event and the annual Membership Appreciation Crawfish Boil, as well as plans for an upcoming event in 2023.

Albany Stars

The Chamber’s Albany Stars event has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at the Aztec Theater.

By Donnie A. Lucas

With about two weeks remaining in the filing period for local May 7 elections, a few incumbents have signed up for another term but no challengers have signed up yet.

Board member posts and council positions are subject to election by the public for both Albany and Moran school boards and city councils, along with the Shackelford County Hospital District and the Fort Griffin SUD.

Candidates have until Friday, Feb. 18 to have their names placed on the ballots for any of the local elections.

Albany School Board

By Donnie A. Lucas

With about two weeks remaining in the filing period for local May 7 elections, a few incumbents have signed up for another term but no challengers have signed up yet.

Board member posts and council positions are subject to election by the public for both Albany and Moran school boards and city councils, along with the Shackelford County Hospital District and the Fort Griffin SUD.

Candidates have until Friday, Feb. 18 to have their names placed on the ballots for any of the local elections.

Albany School Board

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon next Wednesday, Feb. 9, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.

The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.