Splash Day will occur this Saturday, May 25, as the Albany City Pool officially opens up to kick off the summer season.

Those who wish to come to the pool and celebrate the beginning of summer with a swim will be able to do so for free on this special day.

Admittance to the pool during regular hours is $2.50 per person. Individual passes for the whole summer can be purchased at the pool for $75 per person. Family summer passes can be purchased for $150 and allow for all relatives who reside at the same address to have unlimited access to the pool during regular hours.

The annual Father’s Day golf tournament, hosted by the Albany Golf Club, is questionable at this time.

Increased rain during recent weeks has impacted the state of the course, leading to speculation that the two-day event may not take place.

“We do not actually know yet if we will be hosting the tournament,” said club president Randy Walker.

Heavy rainfall can make the course difficult to play on and could possibly damage the turf.

“With all of the rain we’ve had lately, the course is not currently in good condition to play on,” said Walker.

The Albany Softball Association rescheduled its annual officer election meeting.

The meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, May 20, has been postponed until next Tuesday, May 28.

The meeting will be held at the Shackelford County library.

The next few days of school at Moran include several events before classes end on Friday, May 31. 

Athletic physicals will be given at 8:00 a.m. today, May 23.

The annual Spring Fling Festival will be held tonight, May 23, starting at 5:00 p.m. with a spaghetti supper. Booths with various games and activities will be open from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

MISD has scheduled school holidays on both Friday, May 24 and Monday, May 27 for the Memorial Day weekend.

School will release early on Thursday, May 30 and Friday May 31.

May 22 • 5:30 p.m.

 at Albany High School

Abilene Sports Medicine and Orthopedics (ASMO) will be here to give free physicals to all incoming 7-12 graders. 

Please turn in paperwork prior to that date.

All students participating in an extracurricular activity, including cheerleading, must have an annual physical.

Because of the doctors’ schedules, these exams occasionally start late & sometimes must be rescheduled.

The school year is almost over and students at the Moran Independent School District are busy with a host of end-of year activities.

This Week

State mandated STAAR testing took place this week, including math and reading exams for students in third, fourth, sixth, and seventh grades, and science tests for fifth and eighth graders.

Eighth graders are taking the STAAR social studies exam today, May 16.

Senior students are preparing a slide show that will be presented at graduation.

By Melinda L. Lucas

One new teacher was hired and a resignation accepted during a special early morning meeting of the Albany ISD board of trustees on Thursday, May 9.

The session was initially planned to canvass the board election held May 4 that seated two new trustees and one incumbent.

The election figures were approved, confirming that Kelly Head retained his Place 5 seat, while Joe Tidwell will assume Place 6 and Kim Neece Place 7.

The trustees will be sworn in for the regular May 20 meeting.

Teacher/Coach Hired

The annual Baccalaureate service for the Albany High School Class of 2019 will be held Sunday, May 19 at the AHS auditorium.

Spencer Newsom, youth minister at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church, will be the keynote speaker, delivering the message at the 7:00 p.m. ceremony. He will be introduced by valedictorian Caroline Masters.

A total of 28 local seniors are expected to participate in the service and subsequently receive their diplomas during commencement exercises set for Friday, May 24.

The community is invited to the Albany ISD retiree reception in honor of Danita Johnston, Lavelle Vinson, Karen Martin, and Debra Overton to be held next Thursday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. in the foyer of Nancy Smith Elementary School.

Family, friends, colleagues, and community members are all invited to the come and go reception, according to AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott. 

“We wish them the best in their retirement,” said Scott. “They will truly be missed.”

Danita Johnston

The Hendrick Regional Blood Center bloodmobile will be at First Baptist Church on Thursday, May 23 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 

Hendrick Regional Blood Center supplies all of the blood and blood products used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.

“We urge community members to donate blood to help ensure that patients in the hospitals we serve have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs,” said Frances Baker, donor recruiter. “The short amount of time it takes to donate can mean a lifetime to a patient needing a blood transfusion.”