By Donnie A. Lucas

A rapid increase in the number of positive COVID-19 test results last week, along with the Shackelford County Health Clinic having to close for a day and a half at the end of the week, led Albany school officials to cancel classes last Friday.

The number of positive test results reached a one-week high last week with 116 positive results from the 235 tests administered locally, according to the weekly update issued by the county judge on Tuesday.

By Sam Waller

Moran Independent School District will have a pair of school holidays next week.

School will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, for Martin Luther King Day and again on Friday, Jan. 21, for the county stock show.

Despite the Jan. 17 holiday, superintendent John Denson said the school board will conduct its regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. Monday at the Moran Events Center.

Moran High School’s tractor tech team will compete at Katy on Saturday.

By Sam Waller

Albany High School’s senior class will sponsor a bake sale Friday, Jan. 14, in the foyer of the gym during the varsity basketball games against Stamford.

The sale is one of three Project Graduation fundraisers going on this month.

Orders are being taken through Jan. 31 for the Project Graduation Valentine sale.

On Jan. 30, chicken spaghetti lunches will be served to go from 11:30 a.m. until sold out at The Feed Store. There is no set charge for the meals, but donations will be accepted.

By Sam Waller

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes will conduct its Weekend of Champions girls camp Jan. 29-30 at Solid Rock Encampment near Eastland. The overnight camp is for girls in grades 8-12.

“It’s going to be a weekend of equipping young ladies with truth, encouragement, and fellowship,” said Betsy Spraberry, who helps with local FCA events. “We’ll have a great speaker and testimonies along with worship and fun activities.”

Spraberry said FCA membership is not a requirement to attend the program.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A pair of Albany sophomores will travel to Big Spring on Friday to prepare for the All-Region Band Concert on Saturday.

Ashley Sanchez and Trinity McBee both earned seats in the All-Region Band during tryouts held in December at Midland Greenwood High School. Sanchez took 17th chair clarinet and McBee placed as 26th chair on the flute.

The pair, who will be accompanied by band director William Vaughan, will rehearse during the day on Friday in Big Spring and again on Saturday morning to prepare for the concert at 3:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany Chest’s board of directors originally planned to meet Wednesday, Jan. 12 to distribute funds collected during the 2021 campaign, but with the number of positive COVID cases rising rapidly, the decision was made on Monday to postpone.

According to board president Jana Kitchens, the directors are tentatively scheduled to meet at the Feed Store on Jan. 26.

By Sam Waller

The Shackelford County Senior Citizens Center has suspended all organized activities for the foreseeable future because of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Among the programs out on hold is a monthly lunch that was held for the first time in December. Others include Tuesday Bible study and Friday Bingo and games.

“We’ll make a decision every week about what we’re going to do regarding activities,” center volunteer Lynne Simon said. “The big one is Bingo on Friday. We just won’t be having that until things settle down.”

By Sam Waller

4-Her Grace Fry quickly found a cause she could get behind after her family moved to Shackelford County.

The 13-year-old donated 10 percent of the proceeds she received last year from the sale of her show ewe to Closet Angels. The choice of charitable cause was unusual in that the ewe was exhibited and sold at the Kleberg-Kenedy County show in South Texas before the family’s move.

Dawn Fry, Grace’s mother, was drawn to the Closet Angels mission, as was Grace.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School students selected class members as royalty for the 2022 Winter Formal, including this year’s Mr. and Miss AHS. 

The Winter Formal is organized each year by the AHS student council, and this year’s gala was held last Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Whitney Theatre. 

COVID concerns caused last year’s Winter Formal to be cancelled.

Albany seniors Ana Balliew and Taren Farmer, who were both nominated by the junior class, were crowned Mr. and Miss AHS during a brief ceremony toward the end of Saturday night’s event.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A presentation originally scheduled for today for students and the public on the use of vaping products and synthetic drugs has been postponed, according to Albany secondary principal Glen Hill.

A group of registered nurses from Lubbock had planned to talk to both students and the public today during a pair of programs for junior high and high school students and the public on the dangers of using illegal and synthetic drugs, including the use of vaping products.