By Sandy Morris

Albany UIL students are hoping to get in one more practice meet before the upcoming district UIL meet scheduled in Stamford on Wednesday, March 24.

Holliday High School is hosting a virtual academic meet and has sent out materials to all participating schools including Albany High School participants. 

Originally, the materials were to be received on Friday, Feb. 12 with writing entries due Tuesday, Feb. 16 and the other entries due on Thursday, Feb. 18.

By Sandy Morris

The cast and crew of Albany High School’s One Act Play attended a festival held at Clyde High School on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

OAP director Jenny Scott has announced a public performance of the show at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 1 at the Albany High School auditorium. 

Scott said earlier this week that local students did a great job performing at the Feb. 10 festival, while also getting valuable feedback from the judges.

By Sandy Morris

With many roadways still covered by a combination of snow and ice, Albany ISD officials decided late Wednesday morning to cancel all classes for the rest of the week. Students and staff had already been out of school the first three days of the week.

When school dismissed last Friday, AISD administrators knew the weather could possibly be an issue for when classes were originally set to resume on Tuesday, Feb. 16 after the President’s Day holiday on Monday.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Local residents who buy a vehicle or a trailer can help the Shackelford County budget by requesting that the title transfer be done at the Shackelford County Courthouse, thereby sending a portion of the taxes paid on the vehicle or trailer to county coffers.

Car dealers are supposed to ask buyers where they want the transfer to take place, but a lot do not, according to Belinda Perez, Shackelford County Tax Assessor - Collector Chief Deputy.

By Sandy Morris

Despite the weather, the OJAC is offering a free art activity kit again his week, with children ages four to 12 invited to make a dream ladder toy.

Kits are available from the special activity trunk outside of the museum gate through Sunday, Feb. 21. 

Each week, the OJAC has kits for new types of crafts in the trunk. 

The activities combine visual art with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with motor-skill development, and social studies or language arts themes. 

By Sandy Morris

Two new exhibitions will open to the public at the Old Jail Art Center starting Saturday, Feb. 27 and run through Saturday, May 22.

The museum is open limited hours at present, and no public event is planned because of COVID precautions.

Both exhibitions are available for viewing from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

Penumbra

Billy Hassell’s Penumbra exhibit features large scale paintings offering perspectives and views of animals and nature that are rarely seen or are extinct.

By Sandy Morris

The Shackelford County hospital district will be the only entity holding an election on Saturday, May 1, as other local races were uncontested following the end of a month-long filing period.

Filing ended last Friday afternoon, Feb. 12.

Other local governing bodies, including the Albany and Moran city councils, Albany and Moran school boards, and the Fort Griffin SUD board, do not have any contested races and are expected to cancel their elections. 

Hospital Board

By Melinda L. Lucas

Free COVID rapid tests are still available at the Shackelford County EMS station Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

The tests are free, but county citizens must have a valid drivers license and an email address in order to receive a test. 

For more information or to schedule a test, contact Shackelford County EMS at 325-762-3313.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD superintendent Jonathan Scott announced at the end of last week that Monday’s regular school board meeting had been postponed until Feb. 22.

“With the anticipated winter weather headed our way this weekend and Monday, I have rescheduled the board meeting to the following Monday,” said Scott on Friday.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors met on Tuesday night, Feb. 16 with the primary purpose of approving payment of bills, and that’s about all they had time for, with a nearby house fire interrupting the session.

Board president Jo Ann Estridge said that a special session will need to be called before the next regular meeting scheduled March 15 in order for the directors to take care of several items that were on Tuesday’s agenda.