By Brad McBee

This past week, an interesting bird has been migrating through our area and has elected to settled down for a while. 

The Yellow-headed Blackbird winters in Mexico and migrates in the spring north all the way to the upper regions of Canada. They typically breed in marshy freshwater and reedy lakes, where seed and insects are abundant. 

The usual migratory route takes the bird further west through New Mexico and western Texas. This year, large numbers of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds have ended up in Albany.

 By Sandy Morris

Early voting for the May 1 local election is underway and will continue through Tuesday, April 27.

The hospital board has the only locally contested race in Shackelford County, 

Four candidates have filed for the three available at-large seats on the Shackelford County hospital board. 

The ballot lists incumbents Mike Folsom, Jo Ann Estridge, and Leslie Belcher, along with challenger Mary Boland. 

By Sandy Morris

The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association met on Tuesday, April 13 to begin making plans for next year’s county livestock show.

The 2022 SCYLA show will be held Jan. 20-22, 2022, with a Pig Sale scheduled for Sept. 12, 2021.

Directors & Officers

Director Rocky Vinson, who is moving, was replaced on the board by Logan Neve.

Other current directors include Garry Edgar, Mike Folsom, Mike Parsons, J.W. Askew, Cody Leech, John Caldwell, and Jim Owen.

By Sandy Morris

Parents who would like to see if their children qualify for the Head Start program for the 2021-2022 school year can go to the Nancy Smith Elementary School lobby for a second registration day on Tuesday, May 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Head Start is a free, full-day pre-school program for economically disadvantaged children that are three or four years old and who qualify for free meals.

Head Start is also open to students with specified disabilities.

By Sandy Morris

The Nancy Smith Elementary School Scholastic Book Fair kicked off on Monday, April 19.

Sponsored by the PTO, this year’s book fair is being held virtually and will run through Sunday, May 2.

Students will have the opportunity to choose from over 6,000 products, and all items purchased will be shipped directly to the purchaser’s home.

Orders over $25 qualify for free shipping, but books must be purchased to receive this perk.

By Sandy Morris

Shackelford County extension agent and 4-H sponsor Kloey Painter said local 4-H members have been busy with competitions and workshops during this busy spring season.

Shooting Sports 

Extravaganza

Three members participated in the 4-H Shooting Sports Extravaganza held in Brownwood on Saturday, April 17.

Landon Kreitler won first place in two different categories – moving targets and air pistol targets.

Also competing were Carly Kreitler and Jace Holmes.

4-H Horse Clinic

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School FFA members have been competing at several district, area, and regional contests over the past two weeks and earning more banners for the club.

Wildlife Contest

The FFA Wildlife judging team competed in the Region 5 contest on Monday, April 12 at Holt River Ranch in Graford.

The team earned first place in district and eighth place in Area 4, which won the members a banner, but didn’t qualify them to advance to the next level.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County Hospital District directors spent much of a three and a half hour meeting on Monday, April 22 in closed session to discuss three different personnel concerns, but no details were given or actions taken when the board opened the meeting to the public.

LUCAS Purchase

During the district portion of the meeting, a motion passed unanimously to purchase a second chest compression unit known as a “LUCAS” for the backup ambulance at a cost of approximately $26,000.

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School senior Tana Thompson will advance in two events to the University Interscholastic League state academic meet to be held at Abilene Wylie High School on Saturday, May 1.

Fellow senior Hannah Trail, and junior Luke Ivy also placed in the top three at the regional level competition held at Grayson College in Denison last weekend, qualifying them for the state level along with Thompson.

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