By Sidney Bartee Albany ISD’s annual “Meet the Teacher” night and new student orientation are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 16. Meet the Teacher “Meet the Teacher” will begin at 5:00 p.m. for Head Start and pre-K through second grade students, while third through sixth grade will meet at 5:30 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas Albany teachers and staff started back to work this week in anticipation of students arriving on Aug. 18, and with the new year comes a new slogan that embodies the theme for the year.

By Donnie A. Lucas Albany ISD announced last week that students in all grade levels will be provided free meals for the 2021-2022 school year after being included in a COVID-19 recovery grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

By Sam Waller Members of the local FFA and 4-H organizations are gearing up for the fall exhibition season. Entry deadlines for the major fall shows are coming up with Shackelford County students planning to exhibit a number of animals.

By Sam Waller The deadline for Shackelford County residents to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance following February’s winter storm is coming up quickly on Monday, Aug. 23. Claims can be filed by calling 1-800-621-3362.

By Sidney Bartee The Old Jail Art Center virtual camps are continuing this week, with Frontier Fort Kids closing the annual summer events next week. Last week, students participated in the Cultural Connections Camp centered around India.

By Melinda L. Lucas Shackelford County commissioners continued trimming the budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 and got their first look at preliminary tax rate numbers during a meeting held Monday, Aug. 9.

By Sam Waller The Albany Chamber of Commerce will begin taking registration for its annual community garage sale next week and is seeking sponsors for its inaugural Home of the Hereford Cookoff and Cornhole tournament. Registration for the garage sale, which is scheduled for Sept.

By Sam Waller Multiple sightings of a mountain lion in north Albany have been reported on social media by local residents. One sighting was reported the morning of Aug. 4 at a residence near Nancy Smith Elementary School. Another was reported in the back yard of a northside residence on Aug. 7.

By Melinda L. Lucas A special meeting of the Albany city council was set for next Tuesday, Aug. 17 to discuss and propose a tax rate for the upcoming tax year.