Albany junior Addison Asher medaled in two journalism events at the state UIL academic meet last Friday after qualifying for the state level in three events.

Asher brought home a silver medal for news writing, as well as a fourth place in feature writing. She also competed in headline writing. This was her first trip to the state meet.

“It was amazing that Addi qualified in three events, but to then medal was fantastic,” said journalism sponsor Donnie Lucas. “She worked hard preparing for state, and it paid off.”

Video footage posted on Facebook last week by Albany 2012 graduate Josh Hudman showing multiple waterfalls cascading 15 or more feet down a rock embankment to plunge into a deep pool of water surrounded by lush green foliage was, to the surprise of many, actually filmed last Thursday, May 2, near the spillway at McCarty Lake. 

The destination vacation worthy scene is on privately owned land only a few miles southwest of Albany.

“See Jane shop,” “Jack hunt and fish,” “drive carefully,” “stop wildlife squish,” “in Albany” was one series of “Burma Shave” type signs that stretched along the roadside, welcomed visitors as they drove toward town, and the local Chamber of Commerce is planning to put up similar styled signs on all five of the highways leading into Albany in the near future.

The first “round” of 11 recorded interviews in the Ardon B. Judd, Jr. Oral History Project have been completed, and eight of them so far are available to watch on the Old Jail Art Center’s website, theojac.org.

The project was established to record the stories and life histories of the people of Albany and the surrounding region in memory of longtime OJAC board member Ardon Judd.

All 11 short films are available for view in the museum’s Stasney Center.

There is still time for local ladies and girls to register for a Victorian tea party, complete with the making of spring hats at the Old Jail Art Center this Saturday, May 11.

The education department of the museum is also hosting its regular Third Thursday Studio next week on May 16, with a sign-up deadline of Monday, May 13.

Tea Party

OJAC’s Mother’s Day Victorian Tea Party is planned at the museum from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Mothers, aunts, grandmothers, daughter, granddaughters, and nieces are invited to share the event with a loved one.

Sunday evening, May 12, the Prairie Theater is expected to fill with the sounds of dance music, children’s laughter, and instructions from the caller when rehearsals for the 2019 Fandangle summer shows begins at 7:00 p.m. with Square Dancers and Little Wrangler, followed by Yoledae at 7:45 p.m., and Huppi Hi at 8:30 p.m.

“Square Dance is for children from pre-K through sixth grade,” said artistic director Lorna Ayers. “The new dance for junior high students, Yoledae, is for seventh and eighth grade students; while Huppi Hi is for ninth to 12 graders.”  

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have served our country, and anyone who wants to honor a local veteran by adding their name to the Shackelford County veterans memorial marker should contact Mary Kay O’Connor at 325-660-2498 by tomorrow, May 10.

O’Connor is hopeful that if the names are turned in by Friday, the monument can have the new names engraved before the Memorial Day celebration on May 27. 

Veterans do not have to be deceased, nor do they have to have served in a war to be included on the memorial marker.

With competition stiffer than ever, Albany’s student newspaper staff collected one of only four Gold Star awards given at the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) annual spring convention held at the University of Texas campus in Austin last weekend.

Fifteen students who have been putting together the 2018-2019 Albany High School newspaper, The Lions Roar, earned more than three dozen individual achievement awards and helped the student paper win the “Gold Star Award” and receive a Print Newspaper Distinguished Merit Award for the fourth year in a row.

Albany High School seniors will be very busy during the next two weeks, with several activities planned during the time leading up to graduation.

Pictures should have already been turned in to class parent Tisha Wilkins for the senior slide show, including one baby picture, one elementary or junior high photo, and one senior picture from each senior. 

“If for some reason they have not yet been turned in, they need to be turned in to me as soon as possible,” said Wilkins.

Educators at Albany ISD were provided snacks, meals, and gifts during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, courtesy of the Albany Parent Teacher Organization, parents of local students, Brookshire’s, and the Albany Masons. 

“I think that it’s important to recognize the work the teachers do all year,” said PTO president Ginny Ivy. “We want to show our appreciation for all that they do for us and the students.”

The PTO arranged for Prairie Star to provide breakfast to school staff members on Tuesday.