By Donnie A. Lucas

Parents of both returning and new students planning to attend Albany schools are urged to use the online registration portal that opens Monday, July 26.

The school district is using the Ascender Parent Portal for registration and a link can be found on the school’s website under the red button labeled “Parents Sources.” Then look for the Ascender link.

Parents can login to an existing account or create a new account if they do not have one. Follow the instructions provided on the website.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The rendering plant just outside the eastern Albany city limit continued to dominate discussion at the July 12 meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners, although there was action on a couple of other important items.

Progress on ownership of the Rock Hill School property, which has been in question for decades, is closer to being resolved, according to county attorney Rollin Rauschl, and county judge Robert Skelton reported that the county has received the first half of its portion of the American Rescue Plan’s federal funding.

By Jillian Lucas

Albany cheerleaders spent three days together recently in a “home” cheer camp, with several earning All-American honors, and they are now getting ready for an upcoming event for younger girls.

Elementary-age cheerleaders who want to receive a t-shirt for the July 26-28 Cubs Cheer Camp must be pre-registered by next Monday, July 12, according to cheer sponsor Nickie Leveridge.

AHS Home Camp

Albany High School junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders participated in a home cheer camp a few weeks ago at the high school gym.

By Sandy Morris

The City of Albany received a sales tax allotment of $35,973.14 from the state in June. The amount is down 1.15 percent from the $36,394.22 payment received in June 2020.

Payments to date for the 2021 year to the city of Albany are $230,247.46, down by 2.20 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $235,442.84 had been made.

The City of Moran received a net payment of $2,241.61 this period for a 2.54 percent decrease from the $2,300.18 received in June 2020.

By Sidney Bartee

The deadline to sign up for the Old Jail Art Center children’s summer workshops is tomorrow, July 9, in order  to have time for materials to be mailed.

This year, workshops are being held virtually for students in first through sixth grade.

The culture of India, a puppet workshop, and the frontier days will be covered by this year’s material. 

Registrants will be mailed a kit with supplies and materials needed for each day of the camp.

By Sidney Bartee

Community Vacation Bible School will begin Sunday, July 25 and end on Wednesday, July 28.

Volunteers from several local churches are helping with the event, which is sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance and hosted this year by First Baptist Albany.

“Destination Dig” will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with meals and activities provided.

Parents will be able to pick up students at 8:15 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, but everyone is invited to stay and watch a special program on Wednesday.

By Jillian Lucas

The 3rd annual County Line Clear Fork Cook-off and Music Festival  is set to take place Aug. 6-7 in Woodson, with several local grillers already planning to participate.

Proceeds of this event will benefit Shriners Children’s Hospital. 

“We are excited to be able to have the cook-off and festival again this year after missing it last year due to COVID,” said County Line owner Ron Sullivan.

According to Sullivan, about 30 teams are expected to enter the cook-off with roughly 500-plus people in attendance.  

By Assistant Fire Chief Eric Johnson

In preparation for storm season this year, the Albany Volunteer Fire Department, along with a few citizens, received storm spotter training a couple of months ago, and some have already utilized what they learned during recent spring and summer thunderstorms. 

Under the National Weather Service, the SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program is presented each spring in Albany to the local fire departments and first responders. 

By Sidney Bartee

New and ongoing recipients of the Albany ISD Education Foundation scholarships need to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive their awards for the fall 2021 semester. 

A total of 31 new 2021 graduate recipients need proof of enrollment and the letter that was in the scholarship envelope they received at graduation.

This is the 12th year for the Foundation scholarships, with an additional $31,000 in awards given this spring.

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.