By Sam WallerThe Shackelford County 4-H Club will have seven teams comprising almost  30 members competing on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the District 7 Food Challenge in San Angelo.

By Sam WallerShackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell  will offer a Private Pesticide Applicator Program on Wednesday, Feb. 2.Bell said the training  is specifically for those seeking a Texas Department of Agriculture private applicator license and is not continuing education unit training.

By Sam WallerAlbany’s Cub Scout Pack 255 will hold its annual Pinewood Derby at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24 at the Scout Hut.Scouts from Tiger through Webelos are eligible to compete with cars carved from a standard pine block.

By Sam WallerProject Graduation fundraising hit a bump last week when a planned bake sale was postponed because of illness sweeping through the Albany High School senior class, but other projects are on track, according to organizer Kenzie Fairchild.

By Melinda L. LucaA blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Jan. 27.Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

By Sam WallerGirls from eighth grade through high school can attend the FCA’s Weekend of Champions camp Jan. 29-30 at Solid Rock Encampment near Eastland.A boys’ camp is scheduled there Feb. 18-20.

The Albany Independent School district will be closed on Friday, Jan. 21 to enable students to attend the local stock show.Teachers and staff will have a comp day on Friday.Classes will resume at the normal times on Monday, Jan. 24.The next student holiday at AISD will be on Monday, Feb.

By Donnie A. LucasTwo Albany High Schools students participated in two days of rehearsals for the All-Region Band last week, which culminated in concert performances on Saturday afternoon.

By Donnie A. LucasThe 2022 UIL season for high school will start soon, with a contingent of Albany students entered in a practice meet hosted by Haskell this weekend despite a conflict with the local stock show.

By Sam WallerThe Texas Compulsory Attendance Law which mandates that students attend a minimum number of minutes each semester to receive credit for courses taken, and parents and students are reminded of the importance of school attendance.