By Lynsi Musselman

Albany has several local energy companies that employ residents and help keep the area economy healthy. 

Even before the coronavirus, there was a decline in oil prices only made worse by a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

H.R. Stasney & Sons manager Lance Thomas said the current conditions are not good for small west Texas towns. 

“West Texas Intermediate daily price dropped below $20 a barrel last month,” he said. “And oil prices  have not been this low in over 20 years.”

By Lynsi Musselman

Shackelford County has remained at zero for the number of positive -COVID-19 cases, but residents feeling sick can still take precautions set by government restrictions and use a local resource for testing.

Both ResourceCare and the Shackelford County Health Clinic continue to test people with symptoms, including an eighth patient tested earlier this week.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 needs to call ahead to determine how to set up their appointment.

Working in family groups with just a few in attendance at a time, members of Friendship Baptist Church “flowered the cross” outside the sanctuary on Easter Sunday morning.  Even while observing social distancing, Christians found ways to observe the sacred holiday.

By Lynsi Musselman

Wedding season in Texas is typically in full swing by April. 

With a pandemic this year, brides face extra challenges with planning. There are several moving targets involved in getting to the altar, along with additional special events during this time for the bride and groom. 

Sheryl Scott, co-owner of Happy Wife Happy Life Weddings and Events Venue, said they are trying to accommodate all their events in order of booking. They have contacted each bride and are allowing them to pick from a set of open dates. 

By Kathy Thomson

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $30,781 from the state this April. The amount is down 8.29 percent from the $33,565 payment received in April of 2019.

Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $158,000, down by 23.38 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $206,214 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,556 this period, for a 30.38 percent increase from the $1,194 received in April 2019.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany students and parents should receive report cards for the fifth six-weeks starting today for the junior/senior high campus and on Friday for elementary students.

School officials are sending report cards in the mail to parents of secondary students, while elementary report cards will be included with student assignment packets to be picked up on Friday.

By Kathy Thomson

Representatives of local organizations and boards that award scholarships to Albany High School graduates are asked to contact administrative assistant Ann Riley or principal Edward Morales at the AHS office by next Wednesday, April 22, to pick up student application packets.

“I plan to have them sorted and ready to go by the time the paper is out this week,” said Riley. “They all need to be picked up by next Wednesday, April 22.”

By Kathy Thomson

Recently the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture relaxed some of their requirements for schools serving meals to students during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed Albany cafeteria staff to make changes in lunch and breakfast pickup times and requirements.

One change is that the FNS has waived the rule preventing parents and guardians from picking up meals for their children, as long as the district protects accountability and integrity. 

By Lynsi Musselman

Earth Day is April 22, and will present a great opportunity to do something close to home.

Planting milkweed and other native grasses can help promote the migration pattern and save the Monarch butterfly.

In 1995, the iconic Monarch became the state insect of Texas. 

Albany resident and local wildlife educator Tamara Trail is on the board of Texan by Nature, an organization founded in 2011 by former First Lady Laura Bush. 

By Kathy Thomson

The Fort Griffin General Merchandise & Beehive Saloon was featured on the Texas Bucket List TV program, shown across Texas and also in Nevada, North Carolina, and Tennessee last weekend.

The Texas Bucket List is aired in Abilene on KTXS ABC on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. and on KTXS CW on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. 

For those who missed the program last weekend, a short preview was posted to Facebook by the Albany Chamber of Commerce, Fort Griffin General Merchandise & Beehive Saloon, and the Texas Bucket List.