Albany FFA had to dodge Hurricane Beryl, but the chapter brought home numerous awards from the 96th Texas FFA State Convention. The convention was held Monday-Friday, July 8-12 in Houston.

Albany’s Alli McDaniel has long desired to become a doctor, aspiring to become a surgeon. McDaniel got a look at what it will take to achieve that goal last month when she attended the Congress ofFutureMedicalLeaders, held June 26-28 at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, Massachusetts.

ShackelfordCounty4-H member Madailein Beard placed second in the Senior Horse Division of the District 7 record book contest. Judging was conducted earlier this month in San Angelo with results announced last week.

The 86th anniversary version of the Ft. Griffin Fandangle is now history.

readers and advertisers are reminded that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of July 8. “We will not have a July 11 issue,” said News editor MelindaLucas.“Hopefully, that won’t be an inconvenience.” Albany print and all online subscribers should get their papers a day earlier this week, with the July 4 issue distributed Wednesday because of the holiday.

By Melinda L. Lucas A 15-minute special meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors on Monday, July 1, ended with the purchase of a new HVAC unitfortheambulancebays that will replace 20-yearold equipment.

Albany water customers should receive a “2023 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report” in the next few days showingthatlocallytreatedwater meets or exceeds all federal drinking water requirements. “All the numbers looked good,” Albany water superintendent Michael Graham said.

Shackelford County 4-H members (at right) use a bucket brigadetype system to put up chairs at the Prairie Theater Sunday afternoon, with bottles of water at the ready to keep them hydrated. A few hours earlier, brothers Luke and Connor Smith (below) stack props in a storeroom, another part of the process of wrapping up one Fandangle season and leaving things ready for the next year.

Old Jail Art Center to get underway July 29 With a Friday, July 19 deadline coming up fast, parents need to get their 6-12 year olds signed up for the OldJailArtCenterchildren’s summer workshops. Allofthecampsareback to being on site this year, with no virtual workshops offered.

RIBBON CUTTING