By Lynsi Musselman Pick-up dates for the August distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, Aug. 6 and Friday, Aug. 7, with no restrictions.

By Melinda L. Lucas Albany High School volleyball players, cheerleaders, and football participants will have team and individual photos taken over the next couple of weeks.

By Lynsi Musselman The recent reported threats of the Asian Giant Hornet, also known as the murder hornet, coming to the United States, have left many people wondering if 2020 is a bad dream. The AGH is a predaceous hornet native to Asia, typically found in Japan and South Korea.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.