By Sidney Bartee

Members of the Ragin’ Red Band are hosting a Community Night, scheduled for the last evening of summer band rehearsals, Monday, Aug. 16, with a special program beginning at 8:00 p.m. at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The AHS musicians will perform everything they’ve been working on throughout the last couple of weeks, including marching and playing the opener of their 2021 show, warm-ups and drills, and stand tunes.

Band members will be introduced and recognized for their hard work, said band director Will Vaughan.

By Sidney Bartee

The show will go on for CareFest 2021 on Aug. 28.

The event will feature nine well-known musicians and bands.

CareFest will take place at Happy Wife Happy Life Wedding and Event Venue outside of Albany.

The bands and musicians for this year are Roger Creager, Stoney Larue, Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Dylan Wheeler, Shea Abshier, Randy Brown, 360 Band, Cole Barnhill, and Jeff Martin.

The bands will begin to hit the stage at 2:00 p.m.

Three ticket options are available to purchase.

By Sidney Bartee

The United Pentecostal Church’s annual Back to School Bash will be held on Saturday, Aug.21 at the church on Cook Field Road, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

All students from kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to attend the celebration along with their friends and families.

After music and prayer time, a hot dog meal will be served in the Family Life Center.

There will be games and drawings, with several gift cards to be given to different age groups.

School supplies will also be given out to students.

By Sidney Bartee

Several Albany churches traditionally hold special events during the transition from summer to the start of the school year, but due to COVID and other changes, many churches have not been able to hold their usual events.

Wednesday night youth groups will start for many churches in Sept.

Church of Christ

The Church of Christ will begin Wednesday night classes on Sept. 1.

The Youth in Action kids, which is junior high and high school age, will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

By Sidney Bartee

Albany ISD’s annual “Meet the Teacher” night and new student orientation are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 16.

Meet the Teacher

“Meet the Teacher” will begin at 5:00 p.m. for Head Start and pre-K through second grade students, while third through sixth grade will meet at 5:30 p.m.

Teachers will be in their rooms at the stated times.

Parents with students in multiple grade levels should split up and attend separate sessions if they occur at the same time.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany teachers and staff started back to work this week in anticipation of students arriving on Aug. 18, and with the new year comes a new slogan that embodies the theme for the year.

Local school personnel will focus on “The Relentless Pursuit,” a motto that principal Glen Hill selected to promote a way of thinking for teachers, staff and students.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany ISD announced last week that students in all grade levels will be provided free meals for the 2021-2022 school year after being included in a COVID-19 recovery grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

However, parents are being asked to fill out applications in the next few weeks in order to begin next year with free or reduced meals.

Free This Year

By Sam Waller

Members of the local FFA and 4-H organizations are gearing up for the fall exhibition season.

Entry deadlines for the major fall shows are coming up with Shackelford County students planning to exhibit a number of animals.

Deadline for the West Texas Fair and Rodeo, which is scheduled for  Sept. 9-18, has already passed, but students can still make plans for other shows.

Deadline to enter the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, set for Sept. 21-Oct. 17, is Aug. 20.

By Sam Waller

The deadline for Shackelford County residents to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance following February’s winter storm is coming up quickly on Monday, Aug. 23.

Claims can be filed by calling 1-800-621-3362.

“Potential applicants should call the number first to get the account started,” Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton said. “Once they get the account set up, they can upload their pictures and documents on the internet.”

Shackelford County was not added to the list of counties eligible for federal relief until July.

By Sidney Bartee

The Old Jail Art Center virtual camps are continuing this week, with Frontier Fort Kids closing the annual summer events next week.

Last week, students participated in the Cultural Connections Camp centered around India.

Crafts, snacks, activities, games, and gifts were provided to students who participated in the camp.

According to education director Erin Whitmore, the camps went amazingly well this year, with good participation.