By Lynsi Musselman

Albany ISD superintendent Jonathan Scott said Homecoming 2020 plans are “a go” and preparations are already underway.

The homecoming game is planned for Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m. against the Meridian Tigers, with the homecoming parade set to progress down Main Street before the game at 5:00 p.m.

The parade theme this year is ‘Through the Decades,’ with the senior class choosing the 1970s and the junior class decorating their float to represent the 1960s.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Local organizations who plan to apply for funding from the Albany Chest need to finish and submit their applications by 5:00 p.m. Friday afternoon, Oct. 2.

Board vice chair Melinda Lucas said Monday that only a few applications had been received so far, and she emphasized that all organizations wishing to receive an allocation from the Albany Chest must submit a written request by the deadline.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Shackelford County 4-H horse program gets started with the first 2020 horse clinic on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

The clinic will be held at the county show barn.

Shackelford County Extension Agent Kloey Painter said the clinic will be a great overall introduction to horses.

“We will go over horse safety, basic horsemanship, and leading horses on a halter, Painter explained.

She said the plan is to have monthly clinics.

Albany residents are invited to help display cut cane and fall leaves down Main Street this Saturday, Sept. 26 at 9:00 a.m.

Albany Chamber of Commerce treasurer Lisa Barton encouraged volunteers to help make the town look like fall.

“During these uncertain times, it is nice to take pride in Albany and brighten the season,” Barton said.

By Lynsi Musselman

Teri Lucas, Cub Scout leader for Albany, will hold a meeting for current Scout members and any youth that would like to sign up to be a Cub Scout at 6:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at the Scout building.

Children from kindergarten through fifth grade who are interested in joining the Cub Scouts are elgible to join and encouraged to attend the Monday meeting.

Annual popcorn sales will get underway soon, and Lucas will make a website available for online purchases.

By Lynsi Musselman

Members of the National Honor Society have met to elect officers to lead their organization over the next nine months.

Hannah Trail will serve as president, with Tana Thompson elected as vice president, Blanton Belcher as secretary, Morgan Garcia as treasurer, and Jackson Chapman as reporter.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany Independent School District will deliver electronic report cards only, starting with the end of this upcoming six weeks on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The online report cards will be made available through the Ascender Parent Portal program using the primary parent’s account.

AISD director of student services Leigh Lowe said this change will be new to everyone this first six weeks, and there will be a learning curve.

Lowe added the time of day when the grades will be available online will vary.

By Lynsi Musselman

ASPIRE  will get underway at Nancy Smith Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 28 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

ASPIRE, standing for Active Student Participation Inspires Real Engagement, is for third and fourth grade students and is held weekly Monday through Wednesday.

Nickie Leveridge will be running the ASPIRE program this year.

Funding is provided by the United Way of Abilene through Resource Care, Albany Community Chest, and other local fundraising efforts.

Cub Academy

By Lynsi Musselman

This Sunday, Sept. 27 at 5:00 p.m., members of the Ministerial Alliance invite Albany residents to an all-community prayer event at the Feed Store. 

Ministerial Alliance president Jeff Turner said there will be a national call to prayer in Washington D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 26, and the Ministerial Alliance felt led to host one for the community of Albany.

“This is a no frills event, just prayer,” Turner said.

He added that all are welcome and every effort will be made to social distance.

By Lynsi Musselman

FBC will host a lunch and auction after church on Sunday, Sept. 27.

There will be a silent auction of items that were collected by local youth during Camp Jam in July. The items will be displayed and available for bidding while lunch is served in the fellowship hall.

All proceeds collected from the silent auction go to benefit First Baptist Church Aspermont.

FBC Aspermont’s church building, along with everything inside, was destroyed after it caught fire in June.