By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School ag instructor Chris Beard recently earned a 25-year tenure award from the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (ATAT) at the annual summer Professional Development Conference.

Beard received the recognition during the Friday night final session of the five-day event, held July 25-29 in Corpus Christi.

Tenure awards are a  membership benefit given in five-year increments to members who have dedicated themselves to teaching and supporting  agricultural science.

By Donnie A. Lucas

There were several new COVID-19 cases reported last week, based on the tests administered at Albany’s two health clinics.

The weekly report by county judge Bob Skelton issued Tuesday reported nine positive test results out of 15 tests given for the period of Aug. 1-5.

Nine cases were also reported the previous week.

The total number of tests or positives does not include any information about tests administered outside Albany or by use of home tests.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-Hers will celebrate their achievements from 2021-22 with a county banquet at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 at the Whitney Theatre.

Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said she received about 110 RSVPs for the event.

In addition to the meal, attendees will view a slideshow depicting 4-H activities during the past year.

“The slideshow is about 15 minutes long," Bell said. “That tells you we had a lot of things going on.”

The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of project completion awards.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Members of the Ragin’ Red Band will host a Meet the Band performance on Monday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the football stadium to showcase what they have learned during summer band practices, according to director William Vaughan.

Members of the band will be introduced, and a portion of this year’s contest show will be presented to parents and any interested members of the public.

The group will march and play through the show’s introduction, as well as playing the second movement.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Meet the Teacher sessions will be held at both Nancy Smith Elementary School and the junior/senior high campus on Monday, Aug. 15.

Students entering K-3 will be able to find out their teachers for the coming school year from 5:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., followed by students entering grades 4-6 at 5:30 p.m.

Students and parents are urged to meet with teachers in their classrooms at the secondary campus at 6:00 p.m., followed by an orientation meeting for all grade levels at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

By Donnie A. Lucas

There are several positions open for students who qualify for either the Head Start Program or the Pre-K Program at Nancy Smith Elelmentary.

Parents who are interested in having a child participate in either program should contact the school to determine if they qualify.

“As of Monday we had 17 students total enrolled in those two programs,” said Leigh Lowe, director of student services. “There are still 10 to 12 spots available, but you have to qualify to participate.”

The First Baptist Church held a back-to-school pool party on Sunday, Aug. 7, with several baptisms performed.

FBC volunteers have scheduled JAM meetings for students to begin on Wednesday, Sept. 7, with specific times to be announced next week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Old Jail Art Center’s summer camps are wrapping up this week with a Safari outing on Tuesday and a three-day virtual puppet workshop that started on Wednesday morning.

Students in grades 1-3 spent a “wild day” of crafts and games in the on-site Safari camp earlier this week.

The always popular puppet workshop is being conducted online only Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 10-12, but the instructional videos will be available on demand for those who registered for the event.

By Sam Waller

Entry deadlines for major fall stock shows are approaching with Shackelford County students planning to exhibit a number of animals.

Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard has set preliminary deadlines to allow him time to make sure entries are correctly submitted.

Beard is asking that entries for the State Fair of Texas in Dallas and Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo in Waco be in to him by Friday, Aug. 19.

The State Fair of Texas will run Sept. 30-Oct. 23, while the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo is scheduled for Oct. 6-16.

By Sam Waller

Online ticket sales for CareFest continue in advance of the one-day music festival.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 at Happy Wife Happy Life Wedding and Events Venue, is a fundraiser for ResourceCare outreach programs.

“One hundred percent of proceeds go back to our six communities of Albany, Baird, Breckenridge, Clyde, Cross Plains, and Merkel through our outreach programs,” ResourceCare’s Ragan Riley said.