By Sidney Bartee

The Old Jail Art Center is hosting a Family Festival “Critter Corral” this Saturday afternoon, with everyone invited to attend the free event and encouraged to visit the other exhibits on display at the museum.

The museum is located one block east of the Courthouse and does not charge admission.

The come-and-go family festival will start at 12:00 p.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.

Museum staff and volunteers will help participants with free crafts, games, refreshments, and music. 

By Jillian Lucas

ResourceCare Summer Day Camp is less than one month away, and sponsorships are still needed to help provide a successful event.

Ragan Riley, one of the camp directors, explained that funding is down this year.

“We still need sponsors and monetary donations,” Riley said. “Other items we could use are spray- on sunscreen and bottled water for those wanting to help with other types of contributions.”

Riley clarified that the food provided at Day Camp is funded through the Summer Food Program grant.

By Jillian Lucas

Pets of all shapes, colors, and sizes are welcome at the annual Fandangle Pet Parade Saturday, June 26  beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The parade will take place at the Bank Park with prizes awarded for Best Dressed, Most Creative, Most Unique Pet, and Best Fandangle Costume.

Pet owners are encouraged to dress pets up in their best wild west attire; however, costumes are not required for entry.

By Sidney Bartee

Special activities continue in Albany throughout Friday and Saturday before the final two performances of the 2021 Fandangle. 

Free activities offered on both June 25 and 26 include a quilt show, tracker organ concert, calliope concert, car museum, movie, longhorns on the Courthouse Square, and exhibits at the Old Jail Art Center. 

The annual Fandangle Pet Parade on Saturday is also free, as is a Family Festival and Critter Corral at the Old Jail Art Center on Saturday. 

Robert Nail Movie

By Melinda L. Lucas

The hiring of several new staff members and acceptance of one resignation came toward the end of the June 21 meeting of the Albany ISD school board.

The trustees also went over the preliminary EOC and STAAR results for 2021 and talked about the spending plan for a federal grant application.

Personnel Changes

Supt. Jonathan Scott reported that he had already offered contracts to three teachers, based on the authority given him by the board at the May meeting.

By Jillian Lucas

The final two performances of the 83rd annual Fort Griffin Fandangle are set to take place this weekend with shows on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26.

Tickets are still available for both shows with limited box seat availability as well. 

The gates to the outdoor Prairie Theater, located one half mile northwest of Albany on FM 1084, will open at 7:00 p.m., with performances starting at 8:30 p.m. both evenings. 

Fandangle Tickets

By Donnie A. Lucas

A new Albany business located adjacent but outside of the city limits has been causing quite a stink with neighboring residents.

Numerous reports and complaints about an odor of decaying animals among other descriptions have been reported by residents on the north and east sides of Albany, and the group believes it is being caused by a new rendering plant.

By Sidney Bartee

Community Vacation Bible School 2021 will begin Sunday evening, July 25 and will continue through Wednesday night  July 28 at First Baptist Church Albany. 

This year’s theme is “Destination Dig,” with the event sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance. 

Parents are encouraged to save the date.

Supper is provided each evening, and a special pool party will follow the closing night.

Children will have recreation activities and a Bible lesson relating to the theme of the camp.

By Sandy Morris

The annual summer reading program sponsored by the Albany Study Club at the Shackelford County Library continues every Monday during the month of June.

Story hour is held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. every Monday and is open from two to four year-olds up to fourth graders.

Children will hear a story, play games, and make crafts related to each week’s title.

Pre-K children must be accompanied by an adult during the hour.

Older children may be dropped off, but must be picked up promptly at 11:00 a.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Although no action was taken, Albany city council members looked at the possibility of raising water rates by $1 per 1,000 gallons, which will be $2 for the minimum charge per month.

City manager Billy Holson presented a chart that showed the average rates in similarly sized cities across the state. In communities 2,000 or less, the average cost per 5,000 gallons is $45.39, whereas Albany charges $30 per 5,000 gallons.

Sewer rates for cities of 2,000 or less show to be an average of $28.50, compared with $18.25 for Albany.