The number of recently confirmed cases of influenza have increased at both of the two health clinics in Albany, reflecting a trend seen across Texas and the nation.

Local FFA and 4-H exhibitors are expected to weigh in a total of 261 chickens, rabbits, goats, lambs, and pigs at the Shackelford County Youth Livestock Show barn Thursday afternoon (today), and the first class in the 2019 county livestock show will enter the arena at 7:00 p.m. tonight, Jan. 31.

Clint Chapman and Stephen Kayga threw their hats into the ring for Place 7 on the Albany school board this week, joining Dinty Bowman and Jerry (Mike) Bean who both filed for the Place 7 trustee spot last week.

Shackelford County commissioners got an update on the county’s new official website and discussed a possible contract with the Walker-Sayle Unit in Breckenridge during a regular meeting on Monday morning, Jan. 28.

Time is running out to purchase special gifts and/or handmade Oreo© truffles from Project Graduation’s Valentine’s Day fundraiser. “Orders for Valentine gifts need to be turned in by Thursday, Jan. 31, so we can get everything here before Valentine’s Day,” organizer Tisha Wilkins said.

Three of the local girls and boys fifth and sixth grade basketball teams will play games this Saturday, Feb. 2, in Clyde, but the boys sixth grade team will not play this weekend because of scheduling conflicts. “We only have six players, even when everyone is healthy,” said coach Campbell Terry.

Delivery of The Albany News through the mail and at news racks is returning to Thursday mornings this week after printing presses at the Abilene Reporter-News are now back up and running.

Albany High School students selected eight class members as royalty for the 2019 Winter Formal, including this year’s Mr. and Miss AHS.  The Winter Formal is organized each year by the AHS student council, and was held Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Whitney Theatre.

In conjunction with Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, which was observed on Jan. 20, several local church congregations are participating in the annual Baby Bottle Boomerang to help raise funds for The Open Door Ministry based in Cisco and servicing area communities including Albany.

Albany Sports Center sent two cheer teams and one individual performer to compete at the American Spirit Championship 2019 West Texas Express Nationals at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center on Sunday, Jan.