By Lynsi Musselman
With clear summer nights in the forecast for the coming weekend, the crescent moon and bright Venus will appear luminous in the sky at Fort Griffin State Historical Site.
The popular once-a-month “star party” at the fort has been cancelled for Saturday, July 18, due to COVID-19 restrictions, but astro-photographers are welcome to take advantage of this weekend’s view of the night sky.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Starting with this issue, The Albany News print version will not be on newsstands until early Thursday morning.
The paper is now being printed in Lubbock as a result of decisions made by the parent company of the Abilene Reporter-News.
By Lynsi Musselman
Albany Cubs Cheer Camp 2020 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.
Camp will be located at the Albany Bank Park this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Cheerleading sponsor Audrey Faith said the Bank Park seemed to be the next best place after the gym, where the camp traditionally is held.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Several new local positive cases of COVID-19 were reported over the past two weeks, with the total increasing to nine for Shackelford County.
The county is now using data provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services rather than relying solely on the tests administered by the two local health clinics.
The DSHS COVID-19 Dashboard was showing a total of 62 tests administered as of Wednesday, with nine positives.
By Lynsi Musselman
ResourceCare’s 20th annual Summer Day Camp began Monday, July 6, averaging 85 campers, and 55 workers and volunteers each day of the three-week camp.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions and health concerns, organizers and workers have been tasked with creating a checkpoint at drop-off each morning.
ResourceCare camp nurse Judy Patterson said she is taking each camper’s temperature before they come in the youth center each morning, and only campers and staff are allowed inside the building.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Energy industry entrepreneur and Albany ambassador A.V. Jones Jr. died Sunday afternoon, July 12 after struggling with health issues for much of this year. He was 88.
Jones moved to Albany with his parents soon after he was born in June 1932. After graduating from Albany High School and the University of Oklahoma, he formed an oil partnership with his father and brother in Albany, the first of many companies that he either founded, cofounded, or invested in over a period of almost seven decades.
By Lynsi Musselman
Two popular Albany restaurants now are 100 percent smoke free inside their buildings.
The smoke aroma is no longer a part of the dinning experience at The Beehive and The Icehouse restaurants.
Icehouse owner Melissa Williams said the decision to go smoke free came with the implementation of health precautions when the restaurant reopened after the COVID-19 shutdown.
By Lynsi Musselman
The Old Jail Art Center has opened its gates to the public once again as of July 1, with no appointments required, but a couple of other directives in place.
Visitor hours are 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The museum will begin to open on Saturdays as well, starting July 11 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Current exhibits that visitors can view in person are Deborah Butterfield: Three Sorrows, JoAnn Fleischhauer: Disquieted Beauty, and The Ruby Portfolio.
By Kathy Thomson
Registration for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year is underway in Moran, and a special survey is being sent out this week.
Superintendent Danny Freeman said Tuesday that he plans to canvass parents about getting the school year underway in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
By Kathy Thomson
This Saturday is Independence Day, and Albany Volunteer Fire Department chief Kyle Tischler reminded anyone planning to set off fireworks to be safety conscious.
“I’m always excited about July 4, and I enjoy fireworks,” Tischler said. “I just ask folks to be safe about it and make sure to supervise children and use common sense.”
Firefighters warn that dry brush and vegetation, mixed with fireworks, can easily ignite, and there are rules and ordinances that must be followed by everyone setting off fireworks.
