By Sidney Bartee

Albany band director William Vaughan has scheduled 2021-2022 summer band rehearsals for students starting July 19 for percussionists.

The band camp is for all eighth through 12th grade band members.

The band will practice marching and playing their UIL marching contest songs and begin work on stand tunes for football games.

Practices will begin on July 19 for percussion only.

Practice for members of the percussion section will begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 5:00 p.m., continuing through Thursday, July 22.

By Sidney Bartee

After cancellation due to COVID last year, Abilene’s Garageband Woodstock will be held this year, with an Albany native participating.

The event will take place at on Saturday, July 24 at the Abilene Convention Center. 

At press time, organizers were still finalizing the list of bands that would be playing at the event.

Former Albany local David Priest, now of Nashville, will perform with his band Full House.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany High School Class of 2020 has a surplus of money in last year’s  class activity fund that is being divided between the 42 seniors from the class.

Class parent Susie Beard said the money can be picked up at the AHS office from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m..

“Students will have to sign that they received the money,” said Beard.
“All money must be picked up before Aug. 1, but the school would like these funds picked up as soon as possible.”

By Jillian Lucas

Albany water customers should have received a “2020 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report” this past week showing that locally treated water meets or exceeds all federal drinking water requirements.

“They were all good this go-around,” said Albany water superintendent David Bales.

Report Summary

By Donnie A. Lucas

Statewide data for the spring 2021 STAAR testing was recently released by the Texas Education Agency, with local scores exceeding state averages in all but one grade level.

Albany scores also exceeded results for Region 14 students in almost every case, However, overall results on every level were lower than the 2019 results due to the disruption in instruction in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Jillian Lucas

ResourceCare’s 23rd year of Summer Day Camp is scheduled to begin next Monday, July 12.

“Everything is set to go,” said one of the directors, Mindy Ary. “We are excited that it is finally time and can’t wait to have fun with all the kids.”

Limited Funding

Although camp begins Monday, donations and sponsors will still be needed.

“We received several donations at the end of last week,” Ary said, “and we are very grateful to all the individuals and businesses that have donated to this cause.”

Albany News readers and advertisers are reminded that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of July 12.

“We will not have a July 15 issue,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “Donnie and I are going to take that week off to spend some time with family and get a little R&R, and hopefully that won’t be an inconvenience or source of confusion for anyone.”

Mail and online subscribers will get their papers at the usual times this week, with the July 8 issue distributed Thursday morning.

By Jillian Lucas

FEMA has officially added Shackelford County to the list of areas eligible for Individual Assistance following February’s winter storm, with storm victims able to apply online or at a special time to be scheduled in the next few weeks.

According to information received on Friday from county judge Robert Skelton, all applications are due by Aug. 23, 2021.

Andrew Brown

earns ASU degree

Angelo State University conferred 888 undergraduate and graduate degrees on 884 graduates, including Andrew Brown of Albany, during the 2021 spring commencement exercises on May 15 at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena in San Angelo, Texas.

Brown, who played soccer at ASU, earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. He is the son of Cory and Heather Brown of Albany.

Abbigale Beard finishes at TSU

By Jillian Lucas

The Moran Masonic Lodge #863 held its officer installation ceremony Saturday, June 26.

The event was hosted by the Clyde Masonic Lodge during a joint ceremony with both Clyde and Cisco Masonic Lodges.

Officers installed for the Moran Lodge for the 2021-2022 year were John Adams – Tiler, Earl McFerrin – Senior Warden, Bobby Estes – Worshipful Master, and John Denson – Secretary.

Masonic Lodge officers serve for a term of one year, with annual installations.