By Donnie A. Lucas

With only one new positive case of the COVID-19 coronavirus reported over the last week, local officials are pleased that the county infection rate has again slowed.

According to a report on Tuesday from the Texas Department of State Health Services, only one new positive case was reported last week, bringing the total number of confirmed to 17 since the pandemic reached the area in March.

The total number of tests administered to county residents was reported as a total of 104.

By Lynsi Musselman

Families and students are anxiously awaiting the first day of school, while staff and administrators are preparing to welcome students back to school either in person or in a virtual classroom.

Registration

Whether they plan to attend physically or remotely, students at both campuses need to be registered for the 2020-2021 school year using the new online -ASCENDER system.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Six more benches have been placed in Albany’s downtown block this week as part of a local graduate’s “Roots and Rest” project, and there are plans to add more in the future.

Seth Hale, a 2020 Albany High School senior, has been working on the venture for over a year, following his selection in May 2019 as one of 10 Ford Leadership Scholars through the Texas FFA.

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, Aug. 12, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.

The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.

The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable, according to local fire chief Kyle Tischler. 

SEVERE WEATHER

Bios of new staff members, along with faculty assignments and school supply lists, are included in the special back-to-school section in this week’s issue.

There are also articles about precautions being taken in light of the pandemic, a new registration program, and vaccination requirements.

See Section C for details.

By Lynsi Musselman

Old Jail Art Center’s virtual camps started this week, with another workshop scheduled for next week.

OJAC education director Erin Whitmore said the Cultural Connections Camp had a great enrollment with several campers from out-of-town and around the state.

There are three spots available for the Things on Strings and Tonkawa Camp next week.

Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales taxes on August 7-9, the state’s annual tax holiday. 

School supply items and clothing make up the list of exempt items, which until four years ago had been limited to clothing and backpacks.

Online shopping is also covered.

The law exempts most school supplies, clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. 

By Lynsi Musselman

Keeping healthy during the school year is not a new concern for families but with COVID-19 worries, precautions are being taken even more seriously than usual.

Albany Independent School district administrators and staff have been hard at work all summer preparing to welcome students back to school in a safe environment.

AISD school nurse Lisa Russell said plans are in the works to help make monitoring of students’ health at two campuses more manageable.

By Lynsi Musselman

New students at Albany High School and Albany Junior High school, including all incoming seventh graders, are urged to register online for a time slot to come to campus for a personal face-to-face orientation.

The interactive signup form is posted on the Albany Jr/Sr High School Facebook page, as well as on the district’s website.

The orientation dates are scheduled for Aug. 12, 13, and 14, and will not be the traditional in-person group meeting that has taken place in previous years.

By Lynsi Musselman

Ragin’ Red Band members and the new Albany band director William Vaughn met this week to begin summer practices.

Vaughn said practice will take place mainly in the band hall starting at 5:00 p.m. each night until Aug. 14.

The 28-member band will not be able to start marching practice on the field on Sept. 7, due to UIL restrictions.

“In order to get ready for practice to start this week, a lot of clean-up of the band hall took place,” Vaughn said.