By Donnie A. LucasA 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.

By Donnie A. LucasAlbany 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...

By Melinda L. LucasA 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...

By Melinda L. LucasAlbany 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...

By Donnie A. LucasThe 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...

By Sam WallerAlbany’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...

By Melinda L. LucasTwo 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.

By Donnie A. LucasWith 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...

By Donnie A. LucasEarly 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...

By Donnie A. LucasAfter 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...