The City of Albany has been approved for $2,969,212 in state funding to move forward with improvements to its water system, according to a March 31 announcement from the Texas Water Development Board.

The funding includes $505,000 in financing and $2,464,212 in principal forgiveness through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, meaning the majority of the funding will not have to be repaid.

City manager Billy Holson said the primary focus of the project will be installing a new line to better connect the city’s water storage system.

Albany’s tennis program delivered a strong showing at the District 10-2A tournament at Rose Park Tennis Center earlier this week, advancing seven athletes in four of the five brackets to the Region II-2A meet set for April 20-21 in North Richland Hills.

Complete results weren’t available at press time and will be reported next week.

Albany claimed the boys district championship title, continuing its recent run of postseason success in one of the area’s most competitive tennis districts.

District 10-2A includes Anson, Stamford, Hawley, Cisco and Albany.

Albany ISD officials took their message directly to the community last week, with 58 residents attending the first town hall meeting on the proposed $26 million school bond held March 25 at the high school auditorium.

The meeting provided the clearest picture yet of both the condition of the district’s current facilities and the growing urgency behind the proposal to construct a new consolidated Pre-K through 12 campus.

Superintendent Daryl Stuard opened the meeting by pointing to a gap between the community’s support for students and the environment they are learning in.

Oncor will host a public meeting in Albany today regarding the proposed Dinosaur–Longshore 765-kilovolt transmission line, following concerns raised by Shackelford County landowners, local officials and recent reporting on the project.

The Technical Conference and Informational Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 2 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Albany Junior/Senior High School.