By Lynsi Musselman

Like most planned events for 2020, ResourceCare’s CareFest has met a similar fate with the  cancellation announced this past week.

Festival directors Mindy Ary and Ragan Riley explained that due to circumstances beyond their control, they have made the decision to postpone CareFest until Summer 2021.

“We were running out of days to ‘hope and pray’ that the current restrictions in the state of Texas would improve,” Ary said. “With the uncertainties that lie ahead, we could not continue to move forward.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

A “sold out” event in March 2019 celebrating his 100th birthday was a perfect example of how Albany residents felt about John Matthews. The free tickets to the musical held at the Aztec were gone within a few hours, with a long waiting list in case someone was unlucky enough not to be able to attend.

Matthews, an authentic Old Timer who belonged to the legendary pioneer Shackelford County family, died Saturday at the age of 101.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County Hospital District directors decided to purchase a Lucas 3 chest compression system for the ambulance service at Monday night’s meeting, but opted to continue to look for grants for the more expensive self-lifting Stryker stretcher proposed by EMS director Tina Ulbrich.

The CPR machine, which can be used both on-scene and in-transport, is available temporarily at a reduced price because of a COVID-19 “Disaster Purchasing Program.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees had a better idea about how the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year will look after their Monday night meeting.

Superintendent Jonathan Scott reviewed the plan being developed by local administrators, but stated that it hadn’t been finalized as of Monday.

“We are trying to roll out plans, even though it feels like we’re starting over just about every day,” Scott said. “TEA finally released online instruction guidelines a couple of weeks ago, but we’re still waiting on guidance to get back on campus.”

More than 175 Angelo State University student-athletes, including Levi Britting of Albany, have been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2020 spring semester.

The list is announced at the conclusion of each fall and spring semester with student-athletes qualifying based on grade point average for the current semester. 

To be eligible, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.30 GPA and be on their team’s active roster. 

Britting is the son of Rod and Susan Britting and Kristi Espinosa.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County elected officials learned Monday that the county has been designated to receive over $355,000 in grant money from the state’s County Transportation Infrastructure Fund for local road projects, and commissioners put plans to repave the courthouse parking lot on hold.

County Judge Robert Skelton reported that the grant funding was awarded, but he still has to receive approval for each proposed portion of the work in advance, plus providing a 20 percent funding match.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council member James Waters resigned and Austin Sherwood was appointed to replace him at a special session held on Thursday, July 2.

Waters’ letter of resignation stated that he was giving up his seat “due to family issues.” He had filed for reelection without opposition earlier this year, with his present term scheduled to end in May 2022.

By Lynsi Musselman

Online registration for the 2020-2021 school year is now underway for both campuses in the Albany Independent School District.

Director of student services Leigh Lowe reported that online registration is available district-wide this year. Last year, it was only accessible to parents of elementary students.

With the first day of school beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 19, parents need to go online to get students registered before the deadline coming up in early August.

By Lynsi Musselman

New Albany band director William Vaughn has scheduled 2020-2021 summer band rehearsals for the week of Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug. 7, and the week of Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug. 14.

Practice sessions will be for eighth through 12th grade band members.

Vaughn has not announced a practice time or location as of press time on Tuesday, but the schedule will be posted on the school website and Facebook page as soon as it has been determined.

A meeting of Band Boosters will be scheduled in the near future.

By Melinda L. Lucas

New and ongoing recipients of Albany ISD Education Foundation scholarships need to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive their benefit for the fall 2020 semester.

New 2020 graduate recipients need proof of enrollment and the letter that was in the scholarship envelope they received at graduation.

This is the 11th year for the Foundation scholarships, with an additional $25,000 in awards given this spring.