Albany ISD administrators finished filling a somewhat lengthy hiring list of teachers and paraprofessionals this week for the upcoming school year. Thedistrictexperienced alargerthanusualamount of turnover of personnel at theendofthe2023-24year, along with the shuffling of duties for some employees and the creation of at least one new position.

Albany High School students entering grades 11 and 12 during the upcoming school year will again have the opportunity to take dual credit courses that earn course credit for both high school and college. The high school offers a total of 43 hours of dual credit classes through partnerships through Cisco College and Western Texas College.

Summer band camp started this week for the Ragin’ Red Band with the percussion section including the front ensemble learning new music in preparation for the fall marching season. Brass and woodwind players will join the drum line and pit starting Monday, July 29.

New and ongoing recipients oftheAlbanyISDEducation Foundation scholarships need to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive their awards for the fall 2024 semester. A total of 28 new 2024 graduate recipients need proof of enrollment, which is typically a class schedule for the fall semester, and the award letter that was in the scholarship envelope theyreceivedatgraduation.

All Albany ISD students will be able to eat both breakfast and lunch at school this year free of charge thanks to a new program the district has qualified to participate in. Theschoolwillnowoperate under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) funded by the US Dept.

CareFest, Resource Care’s annual musical event, in its sixth year, is taking place on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Happy Wives, HappyLivesWeddingand Event Venue.

Albanyresidentsshould again note that there is a new time for the next blood drive, which is set for 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The city of Albany’s swimming pool at Webb Park will be open for one more week before closing for the season on Wednesday, July 31. The facility is open from 12:30 p.m.

Shackelford County commissioners voted to extend the county’s burn ban for 45 days at their Monday, July 22 meeting. Under the ban, open flames are not permitted in unincorporated areas of the county.

ResourceCare Summer Day Camp ends Friday after two weeks of fun in the sun, arts and crafts, and several other activities. Monday began with a one-day VBS at Albany Church of Christ where campers studied the story of “Daniel and the Lions Den,” and then constructed their own take-home “Lion.”LaterMondayafternoon, campersweretreated to a movie at the Aztec.