By Melinda L. Lucas

Organizers at Closet Angels are planning a Back to School Bash next month on Saturday, Aug. 10, according to coordinator Lori Reames, with food, prizes, and fun along with great back-to-school clothing. 

“There will be drawings for cash and gift cards from local businesses to assist families with back to school clothing, shoes and supplies,” said Reames.

The drawings are exclusively for Shackelford County families. Students must be enrolled in either Albany or Moran schools. 

By Kathy Thomson

ResourceCare’s 19th annual Summer Day Camp began on Monday, July 8, and at least 165 campers are registered to participate over the course of the next three weeks, with at least 40 student workers and volunteers properly trained to help staff members keep an eye on the children. 

Late registrations can not be accepted this year because of changes in the rules governing the grant money that helps ResourceCare pay for some of the food. Anyone not registered before the deadline last Friday, July 5, can not attend the camp this year.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Recent college graduates often want to travel and see the world after years of hitting the books.

Dreams of sun and sand, or backpacking across continents – especially Europe – come to mind. Others may want to join organizations such as the Peace Corps to “take a break” from quickly approaching responsibilities of the “real” world and finding a job.

By Nolan Davis

As the school year rapidly approaches, parents need to make sure that their children are registered and equipped for the coming school year, while school staff members must ensure that the school is ready for all the new students.

Classes at the Albany Independent School District will start this year on Thursday, Aug. 15.

Teachers begin their school year on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and the annual staff breakfast will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

New NSES Students

By Kathy Thomson

ResourceCare summer day camp is scheduled to get underway next week and will take place weekdays from July 8 through July 26.

According to program assistant Ragan Riley, there is one very important change from previous years that parents need to know about.

By Kathy Thomson

The 81st anniversary edition of the Fort Griffin Fandangle officially concluded around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, with the traditional singing of “Prairie Land” by the entire cast, and some of the organizers were already looking forward to next year’s production.

2019 Recap

Although tickets did not sell out for any of the performances this year, according to office manager Lyn Baker, there were not any box seats left on most performance nights.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With two new teachers hired during a special session earlier this week, all vacancies with Albany ISD are now filled, according to superintendent Jonathan Scott.

Five of the seven AISD trustees met for about 30 minutes on Monday evening, July 1, with the sole purpose of reviewing Scott’s recommendations for the last two spots, which were both at the secondary level.

Names familiar to Albany residents were presented to the board.

By Nolan Davis

There will be no Chamber of Commerce lunch this Friday, July 5, since it’s the day after the Independence Day holiday.

“We will start back with the Chamber lunches when we meet at the Ice House on July 12 at 12:00 noon,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

Other regular Chamber of Commerce meetings will also not be taking place during the month.

“There will not be any merchant or board meetings in July,” said Jones, who explained that the organization traditionally takes those events off the calendar in July.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany water customers should have received a “2018 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report” this week showing that locally treated water meets or exceeds all federal drinking water requirements, and that there were no quality violations during the year 2018.

“They were all good this go-around,” said Albany water manager David Bales. 

The report shows a testing violation from 2017, which was corrected almost a year ago.

Lead and Copper

By Nolan Davis

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is still taking idea submissions for the “Burma Shave” type signs that will be put up along all five of the highways leading into Albany in the future.

“See Jane shop,” “Jack hunt and fish,” “Drive carefully,” “Stop wildlife squish,” “In Albany” was one sign series that was previously put up along the side of the road to welcome visitors into Albany.

The Chamber is planning to put three to six signs up per set.