By Melinda L. Lucas

After meeting in closed session, Albany ISD trustees renewed all teacher contracts except for two at the end of the regular meeting on Monday, April 19.

A motion to “accept the contract proposal list as presented by the superintendent,” made by Kelly Head, seconded by Ginny Ivy, passed with a 5-0 vote.

Included in the list are three staff members with “employment agreements.”

Part of the motion covered letters of assurance to the current support staff.

District of Innovation

By Sandy Morris

Despite cooler temperatures, sunshine on Saturday morning drew a good crowd for the 14th annual Albany Classic Car Show.

Organizer Robert Snyder said the show ended up with 55 entries, which is less than usual, but probably worked well considering the weather.

“We typically like to have around 75 to 100 cars in the show,” said Snyder. “Due to all of the rain and street conditions, having more vehicles might have been a problem.”

The event began with the traditional Friday night in-town cruise and was followed by the burnout.

By Sandy Morris

Despite the week of rain and muddy conditions which resulted in a last-minute change of venue, the 2021 Fandangle Sampler was welcomed back by a supportive audience at the Jackson Warehouse on Saturday night.

The Sampler was originally scheduled to return to Rey­nolds Bend, on the Lambshead Ranch after an absence of over 20 years. 

As the week of heavy rains continued, rehearsals were rescheduled, and Fandangle artistic director Lorna Ayers kept a close eye on the forecast.

By Sandy Morris

Local FFA and 4-H members are staying active this spring, but already preparing for stock show season. 

4-H Horse Clinic

The 4-H horse clinic will be held Saturday, April 24 where the focus will be on teaching members the basics of horse polo.

This clinic will be conducted “on-horse” beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Lazy 3 Ranch and horses will be provided.

Ear Tag Deadlines

By Sandy Morris

When Brittany Berry DVM was still at Texas A&M, Dr. Keelan Lewis came and spoke to one of her third year classes.

“I remember thinking I wanted to be like her after I heard her speak to our class,” said Berry. 

The next year, when Berry was starting to look for an opportunity to begin her career as a veterinarian, she heard there was an opening with Dr. Lewis in Olney,  and the rest is now history. 

Berry joined Lewis’s practice, Salt Creek Veterinary Hospital, where she is now a partner.

By Sandy Morris

Blanton Belcher was named as the 2021 Top Hand at the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association Buyer-Seller Reception hels Saturday, April 10 at the Feed Store.

Belcher and Addie Beth Denton were announced as the winners of the annual SCYLA Scholarships in the amount of $500 each. 

“We had a pretty good turnout Saturday night,” said SCYLA president Bronco Askew. “Last year threw us a little off track due to COVID, so we weren’t really sure if we would get to have an event, and if we did, what it would look like.”

By Sandy Morris

Local residents who are looking for an opportunity to volunteer may want to consider Closet Angels, the local clothing ministry.

Organizers of the group are hoping to expand the number of volunteers at the organization in preparation for expected new growth.

Closet Angels director Lori Reames said extra help is needed in several different areas, including social media.

By Sandy Morris

Representatives of local organizations and boards that award scholarships to Albany High School graduates are asked to collect applications from Ann Riley at the AHS office on Friday, April 16.

Riley said seniors were required to turn in their application letters by Wednesday, April 14.

The packets of letters will be organized and ready for representatives of the organizations to pick up by 12:00 noon on Friday, and then the organizations should notify the school concerning their selections by Monday, May 3.

By Sandy Morris

In one week the ResourceCare Community Health Center will hold a Murder Mystery Dinner fundraising event at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22.

The Albany Mainstreet Playhouse Traveling Troupe will perform a “Roaring 20s Murder Mystery Dinner” at the Albany Youth Center, which is being transformed this week into the “Gatsby Speakeasy,” an undercover tavern.

ResourceCare programs assistant Ragan Riley said all attendees are encouraged to wear “Roaring 20s” attire to get into the spirit of the evening.

By Sandy Morris

Fourteen Albany High School students, many of them in multiple events,  will compete in a total of 13 different contests at the Region 2-2A University Interscholastic League academic meet at Grayson College in Denison on Friday and Saturday,  April 16-17. 

“We have several students competing in more than one contest,” said UIL coordinator Rick Davis. “Tana Thompson qualified in five different writing events, and Luke Ivy is in four events.”