By Lynsi Musselman

Shackelford County residents have the opportunity to back-to-school shop at Closet Angels, but there will be no “Back to School Bash” this year.

Closet Angels coordinator Lori Reames explained that the organization doesnot want to encourage a large gathering while there are still active cases of COVID-19.

Shopping is first come first serve with a limit of 10 shoppers at a time, and a 30-minute time limit if there is a line.

Reames said shoppers are asked to enter through the front door and sign in. 

With the Texas economy slowly awakening from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7-9.

The law exempts sales tax on qualified items –such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks – priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The date of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.

By Lynsi Musselman

The countdown to the first day of school has started, and AISD officials urge parents to register students online by the deadline on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Albany Independent School District director of student services Leigh Lowe said only about 180 students are registered. AISD officials are anticipating 500 altogether.

“We are now asking parents of students new to the district to register online ahead of time so the in-person enrollment process will go quicker for them,” Lowe explained.

By Lynsi Musselman

School is starting in three weeks with extra first-day-of-school challenges and a focus on health.

Precautions are being implemented to protect students, teachers, and staff from illness.

Albany Independent School District nurse Lisa Russell said the school will continue their standard of care that has been given even before the recent pandemic.

“Illnesses and viruses are a part of life, and we have always strived to do our best,” Russell said. “We will continue to keep kids safe and healthy.” 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Band members from eighth through 12th grade will starting meeting for practice next Monday evening, Aug. 3 at 5:00 p.m., according to new band director Will Vaughn.

The musicians will not be able to march until Sept. 7 because of COVID-19 restrictions, so practice time in August will be spent on learning new music.

Vaughn has set rehearsal times for Monday through Friday, Aug. 3-7, with a similar schedule the next week.

By Lynsi Musselman

Old Jail Art Center patrons are slowly getting back to visiting the museum in person, but the staff still has many virtual opportunities available for those who like to visit from home.

The OJAC staff is preparing kits  to be mailed to registrants that have signed up for summer camp in August.

The kits will include supplies and materials for campers to participate weekly in the virtual student program.

All summer student programs are provided free of charge for children in the first through sixth grade.

By Lynsi Musselman

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced that the state sales tax revenue for Texas totaled $2.67 billion in June, 6.5 percent less than in June 2019.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $36,935 from the state this July. The amount is up 7.42 percent from the $34,382 payment received this time last year.

Payments to date for the 2020 year to the city of Albany are $272,378, down by 18.44 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $333,971 had been made.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany band director William Vaughn is hard at work preparing the band hall for students to start practice on Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug. 7, and the week of  Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug. 14, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the band hall.

Vaughn explained that the two-week practice will be held in the band hall due to the UIL announcement on Tuesday that all  marching bands delay field formation practice until Sept. 7.

By Lynsi Musselman

“Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar” and other cheers will be heard  from Albany Bank Park when the Albany Cubs Cheer Camp 2020 gets underway next week.

Camp will be held Monday, July 27 through Wednesday, July 29, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Parents of girls three years old through sixth grade can register their daughters starting now through the first day of camp.

Junior high, junior varsity, and varsity cheerleaders will instruct the campers on basic cheerleading skills and dance routines.

By Lynsi Musselman

Salt Creek Veterinary Hospital recently purchased Albany Pet Hospital, and the staff has already started tending to both large and small animals in town.

Dr. Keelan Lewis purchased the practice, and Dr. Brittany Berry will head up the veterinary hospital in Albany.

The practice includes two other locations in Seymour and Olney, as well as a clinic in Graham called Countryside Veterinary Hospital.