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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

By Lynsi Musselman The Albany Athletic Booster Club invites all junior high and high school athlete parents, family members, and interested community residents to attend a meeting on Wednesday, July 1 at the Feed Store at 5:30 p.m.

By Lynsi Musselman Members of Trinity Episcopal Church have resumed on-site and in- person worship services. Sunday, June 14 was the first service since mid-March, according to church member Larry Bell.  Rev. Jim Smart served as preacher and celebrant for Holy Communion last weekend.

By Lynsi Musselman The pick-up date for the July distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, July 2  both in Moran and Albany.

By Lynsi Musselman Parents who need to pre-register their children for Head Start and pre-kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year are encouraged to start the process. New and returning Head Start families need to go to the Region 14 website www.esc14.net/page/cyl_my-headstart%20application.

By Lynsi Musselman Over the past two weeks Shackelford County residents have seen five wildfires light up local pastures. Shackelford County Rural Volunteer Fire Department secretary Kristy Brooker said approximately 2,000 acres have burned since June 9.