By Sandy Morris

Open registration for the next series of General Education Development (GED) classes in Albany is now taking place, according to local instructor Kenzie Fairchild.

“Open enrollment will be available on Monday nights,” said Fairchild. 

The Albany GED class meets at the county library on Mondays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. throughout the school year, following the AISD holiday schedule. 

By Sandy Morris

Now that the holidays are over, local churches are gearing up weekly programs for the spring semester.

Friendship Baptist

Friendship Baptist Church started its children’s and youth programs back up on Wednesday, Jan. 13.  

The children meet each Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the youth meet from 6:00 to 8:00 p. m.

First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church members also kicked off activities for children and youth on Wednesday, Jan. 13. 

By Sandy Morris

While winter seems to have officially hit the Big Country area and the post-holiday COVID surge continues, many people are finding themselves in need of basic items of clothing and furniture.  

Albany is fortunate to have Closet Angels and Neighbors in Need to help  local residents when they need a helping hand.  

Unfortunately, both of these organizations and their volunteers also are affected by the weather and COVID. 

By Sandy Morris

As AISD students have begun their second semester of the 2020-2021 school year, students and parents are being reminded of the importance of school attendance due to the Texas Compulsory Attendance Law which mandates that students attend a minimum number of minutes each semester to receive credit for courses taken. 

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Independent School District will be closed on Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. 

Classes will resume at the usual times on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

AISD also will have a student holiday on Friday, Jan. 22, to enable students to attend the local stock show. 

Teachers and staff will have a comp day that day. 

The next student holiday at AISD will be on Monday, Feb. 15 with a staff development day scheduled for faculty members. 

By Sandy Morris

Plans are in place for the Hereford Ball set for Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Whitney Theater, with Chamber of Commerce members given first opportunity to buy tickets. 

“All advertising tables are sold for the Hereford Ball,” said Jones. “Invitations to Chamber members will go out next. If all tables are filled, then the event will not be open to non-Chamber members.”

Chamber members will have until Monday, Feb. 15 to purchase tickets. Any that are left will be available to the public. 

By Sandy Morris

Filing has now opened to any local residents who want to run for the various city council, hospital district, or school board positions in the Saturday, May 1 election.

Filing is underway as of Wednesday and will close in one month on Friday, Feb. 12 at 5:00 p.m. There is no filing fee.

Albany City Council

Four city council positions expire this cycle, but only because there have been two members appointed in the last year, who both must file for election if they wish to continue to serve. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members awarded the administrative contract related to a Community Development Block Grant application to Public Management of Cleveland during a regular monthly meeting on Monday night, Jan. 11.

Albany grant coordinator Carrie Holson stated that a three-person committee had reviewed the two applicants and was recommending Public Management over Jet Development. The motion by Austin Sherwood passed unanimously.

By Sandy Morris

Old Man Winter made his presence known this past weekend when he blew into the area on Sunday, Jan. 10 and dumped as much as eight inches of snow in some parts of the Big Country.

The official report from the Albany weather observer recorded four includes, although many county residents noted as much as twice that depth.  

The single-day snowfall record in Albany was 12 inches more than 125 years ago, on Jan. 27, 1895, according to Hector Guerrero with the National Weather Service in San Angelo.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The much-anticipated coronavirus vaccine has still not made its way to Albany, but some Shackelford County citizens are finding a path to outside sources.