By Kathy Thomson Albany water customers should have received a “2017 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report” by 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 2017.

Pick-up dates for the July distribution of the commodity food program are July 5 and July 6. On Thursday, July 5, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and other local residents gather for a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the Blue Duck Winery after the business officially joined the Chamber recently. The Blue Duck is located across from the Shackelford County Courthouse on the west side of the square.

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany this afternoon, July 5, and Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

By Kathy Thomson ResourceCare Summer Day Camp staff is preparing for the upcoming three-week event that starts next Monday, July 9, and there is still room for more children to be included.

By Kathy Thomson The first of four Region 14 teacher workshops hosted by the Old Jail Art Center this summer will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 13.

By Kathy Thomson Thirty-five children from China and North Korea have spent the last week at Stasney’s Cook Ranch in Albany enjoying some rest and relaxation at a family retreat sponsored by ChinaAid.

Several stories of family members persecuted by their governments are shared by ChinaAid staff member Rebecca Isaacs. Zhang Haitao Zhang Haitao was 44 when he was taken away by the Xinjiang National Security Bureau on June 26, 2015.