By Lynsi Musselman

In a year of unpredictability, Albany school officials have had to stay on their toes each step of the way this school year and Homecoming 2020 with all the festivities is no exception.

Albany Independent School District superintendant Jonathan Scott said the district is evaluating events and planning precautions for homecoming activities, but the plan is to move forward and go until we cannot go anymore.

Details for homecoming activities, other than the game, are still being discussed and will be announced later.

By Lynsi Musselman

The 30th annual See You at the Pole is planned for Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Nancy Smith Elementary School and at Albany Junior Senior High.

 See You at the Pole, a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event, is a global movement of prayer where students meet at the flag pole before school on the fourth Wednesday in September.

 Students gather to lift up friends, families, teachers, the school, and the nation in prayer, as well as to share the Gospel with non-Christian friends on campus.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Ministerial Alliance of Albany president Jeff Turner invites Albany and area residents to an all-community prayer event at the Feed Store on Sunday, Sept. 27, starting at 5:00 p.m.

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

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

Several Albany pastors will help lead lead the prayer time, asking for emphasis in different areas.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany FFA Chapter has elected its officers for the 2020-2021 school year.

FFA officers include president Jackson Chapman, vice president Cade Neve, secretary Blanton Belcher, treasurer Addie Denton, and reporter Susie Cormack. 

Also serving the Albany High School chapter this year are sentinel Kam Browning, historian Gracie Price, parliamentarian William Webb, and chaplain Leddie Leech.

By Lynsi Musselman

National Voter Registration Day is Monday, Sept. 22.

Your Vote Matters campaign volunteer deputy registrar Amy Kelly said this day is a push to get as many Shackelford County residents registered to vote as possible.

She said residents who still need to register have until Monday, Oct. 5 to turn in their forms to the Courthouse.

Belinda Perez with the Shackelford County tax office and voter registar office said residents can turn in and check their voter registration in her office on the first floor of the courthouse.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany Chamber of Commerce and Beverly Rogers, captain of Team Albany, have joined other Big Country residents in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.

The Chamber has organized “Giving a Boot to Alzheimer’s, Cruise for a Cure,” to help Rogers along with Randy Hayes, who will drive up and down Main Street in Albany on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The “cruise night” coincides with the 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Abilene.

By Lynsi Musselman

Open registration for the Albany General Education Development (GED) classes will continue on Monday nights at the Shackelford County Library, according to local instructor Kenzie Fairchild. 

“You will need to bring an acceptable form of identification to register,” Fairchild said. “In order to qualify, one must be at least 17 years of age (with parent’s consent) or older.” 

By Lynsi Musselman

The 13th Annual Albany Kiwanis Charity/John Rose & Jim Law Memorial Golf Tournament and Fajita Fiesta will take place at the Albany Golf Course on Friday, Oct. 2.

Individuals and businesses can help sponsor the Albany K Charity Scholarship Fund.

The four-person scramble is $50 per golfer, with the fee to include a Fajita Fiesta meal provided by   Albany Kiwanis Club members on Friday before the start of the tournament.

The luncheon starts at 11:00 a.m., and tickets are $15 for those not entered in the tournament.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Just before press time late Tuesday afternoon, Albany ISD reported its third COVID case, with two high school students and one secondary staff member on the lab-confirmed list.

The first AISD case was verified a week before, with another announced on Saturday morning and the third on Tuesday.

By Lynsi Musselman

Fall is less than a week away, and fall decorations are about to appear on Main Street, as they have for a number of years.

Albany Chamber of Commerce officer Lisa Barton said everyone in town and those passing through seem to appreciate the traditional fall decor.

“Because others enjoy looking at them, we enjoy putting them up each year,” said Barton.

Everyone in the community is invited to pitch in and help display the cut cane and fall leaves down Main Street on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 9:00 a.m.