By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany secondary students and staff will have a new leader when the school year starts, with the hiring of new principal Glen Hill approved by the school board last month.

Hill began working in the office on Monday, June 15 and will keep regular office hours, 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays during the month of July.

The new principal is currently commuting from Knox City where he served as principal the past two years, but he has plans to move his family to Albany within the next week.

By Lynsi Musselman

Many Albany families are looking forward to getting their child’s education back on track, and they are ready for the upcoming school year. 

The first day of classes in Albany is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 19.  

Albany Independent School District director of student services Leigh Lowe said the registration for 2020-2021 is in a holding pattern waiting on Texas Education Agency and Region 14.

Each school district in Texas is required to report to TEA, and the original June 18 deadline was extended due to COVID-19.

By Lynsi Musselman

This summer, Old Jail Art Center children’s programs are going virtual.

OJAC education director Erin Whitmore said that the August camps are usually offered in a one-day workshop format.

“This year, the education department is offering a daily virtual experience to campers,” Whitmore said. “Daily camp videos will post each morning at 10:00 a.m. on our Facebook page, including step-by-step crafts and activities by OJAC educators.”

By Kathy Thomson

ResourceCare summer day camp is scheduled to get underway next Monday, July 6, but with constantly changing guidelines for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, plans were still up in the air at press time this week.

Day Camp organizers learned Tuesday that the city pool, which plays a big role in the three-week camp, is closed until further notice because of a possibility of exposure to COVID-19.

By Kathy Thomson

Early voting for the primary run-off elections is currently underway, and registered Shackelford County voters can cast their ballots at the Courthouse today (July 2), Monday through Friday next week (July 6-10), or on Election Day, Tuesday, July 14.

Mail ballot requests must be received by Shackelford County clerk Cheri Hawkins before the Courthouse closes today at 5:00 p.m.

The Courthouse will be closed on Friday, July 3 for the statewide Independence Day holiday.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Eight new tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus were administered by the county’s two health clinics last week, with one positive result, one negative, and six still pending.

County Judge Robert Skelton stated Monday that the county-wide testing total for last week was 41, with one positive, 34 negatives, and six pending.

One previous positive case of a county resident was reported in April, but the resident has since recovered and the quarantine requirement was completed several weeks ago.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Shackelford County Commissioners Court opted to leave the current county-wide burn ban in force, took the first step in reducing the speed on another county road and voted to move ahead with repaving the courthouse parking lot during a meeting on Monday.

The court also held its first budget workshop, noting several areas that will require changes before the document is adopted prior to the start of the fiscal year on Sept. 1, 2020.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A band director hired by the Albany ISD board of trustees declined to sign a contract, according to information received from AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott after press time last week.

Russell Pettitt met with the board at the regular session on June 15, indicating at that time that he would accept the position, with plans to return the next morning and sign a one-year probationary contract.

By Lynsi Musselman

Organizers of ResourceCare Day Camp 2020 are gearing up for 165 campers, 22 volunteers, and 48 high school and college staff members to arrive Monday, July 6 for the three-week camp ending Friday, July 28.

ResourceCare program director Mindy Ary said donations are still needed for the camp and campers.

Ary added that donated sunscreen is being requested.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany High School baseball parents will host a school approved ‘Long Ball’ fundraiser on Monday, June 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the high school baseball field.

Local baseball mom Tara Chapman said the players started getting pledges last week and will take them until the fundraiser.

“The pledges can be per foot the ball is hit or a flat donation,” Chapman said. “Each player will get five pitches in a row to see how far they can hit the ball.”