By Lynsi Musselman

ResourceCare’s 20th annual Summer Day Camp began Monday, July 6, averaging 85 campers, and 55 workers and volunteers each day of the three-week camp.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions and health concerns, organizers and workers have been tasked with creating a checkpoint at drop-off each morning.

ResourceCare camp nurse Judy Patterson said she is taking each camper’s temperature before they come in the youth center each morning, and only campers and staff are allowed inside the building.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Energy industry entrepreneur and Albany ambassador A.V. Jones Jr. died Sunday afternoon, July 12 after struggling with health issues for much of this year. He was 88.

Jones moved to Albany with his parents soon after he was born in June 1932. After graduating from Albany High School and the University of Oklahoma, he formed an oil partnership with his father and brother in Albany, the first of many companies that he either founded, cofounded, or invested in over a period of almost seven decades.

By Lynsi Musselman

Two popular Albany restaurants now are 100 percent smoke free inside their buildings.

The smoke aroma is no longer a part of the dinning experience at The Beehive and The Icehouse restaurants.

Icehouse owner Melissa Williams said the decision to go smoke free came with the implementation of health precautions when the restaurant reopened after the COVID-19 shutdown.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Old Jail Art Center has opened its gates to the public once again as of July 1, with no appointments required, but a couple of other directives in place.

Visitor hours are 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The museum will begin to open on Saturdays as well, starting July 11 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Current exhibits that visitors can view in person are Deborah Butterfield: Three Sorrows, JoAnn Fleischhauer: Disquieted Beauty, and The Ruby Portfolio.

By Kathy Thomson

Registration for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year is underway in Moran, and a special survey is being sent out this week.

Superintendent Danny Freeman said Tuesday that he plans to canvass parents about getting the school year underway in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

By Kathy Thomson

This Saturday is Independence Day, and Albany Volunteer Fire Department chief Kyle Tischler reminded anyone planning to set off fireworks to be safety conscious.

“I’m always excited about July 4, and I enjoy fireworks,” Tischler said. “I just ask folks to be safe about it and make sure to supervise children and use common sense.” 

Firefighters warn that dry brush and vegetation, mixed with fireworks, can easily ignite, and there are rules and ordinances that must be followed by everyone setting off fireworks.

By Kathy Thomson

Several veteran Fandangle cast members traveled to Abilene on Wednesday, June 24 to perform a 20-minute “sampler” for the Abilene Kiwanis Club.

“I was contacted by the president of the Abilene Kiwanis Club, who invited me to come and give a presentation about the Fort Griffin Fandangle,” said marketing director Scarlett Yates. “I told him that I thought I could do one better than that. I contacted Lorna Ayers, and she was able to organize a group that came and performed.”

Former Shackelford County resident Joel Nelson, a Texas cowboy who some say has considerable talent with horses, will be the third recipient of the Ranching Heritage Association Working Cowboy Award during the 43rd Annual National Golden Spur Award dinner at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Overton Hotel in Lubbock.

By Lynsi Musselman

The July 6 “soft opening” of the new Shackelford County Senior Citizen Activity Center at 5 S. Jacobs St. has been postponed until further notice.

Senior Center board president Tracy Sullivan said with the rise of new COVID-19 cases around the state, the board will follow Gov. Abbott’s instructions to put a pause on reopening plans.

“The donated cabinets from the Nobles are still about four weeks out from being installed,” Sullivan said. “The hope is for everything to come together all at the same time.”

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, July 8, 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

WARNING