By Sam Waller

Fans of Albany Lions and Lady Lions athletics will get to meet members of fall sports teams for football, volleyball, and cross country Monday, Aug. 8 at the Albany Athletic Booster Club’s Ice Cream Supper at the Bank Park.

Food will be served at 6:30 p.m. with player introductions starting at 7:00 p.m.

“Folks need to bring their own chairs,” Booster Club member Amanda Tabor said. “We’re not going to have the tables set up. It’ll be more picnic style so people can stand and move around.”

By Sam Waller

Houses for Healing is constructing a tiny house to serve Shackelford County residents who need a place to stay while receiving medical care in Abilene.

Houses for Healing, founded by Brian and Karen Massey, is a ministry to engage the body of Christ in caring for the sick, taking in the stranger and loving one’s neighbor.

“Just like Jesus said to do,” Brian Massey said.

By Sam Waller

Four Moran faculty members took part this week in a workshop on self care for educators.

Moran teachers Gay Williams, Carly Henson, Betty Galvan, and Anita Wheat attended the program presented by the Region 14 Education Service Center on Monday, July 25 at Southern Hills Church in Abilene. Dr. Tina H. Boogren of Denver instructed educators from several school districts on how to better take care of themselves.

By Sam Waller

The Albany City Pool will close for the summer after Sunday, July 31, but will remain available for parties already booked, according to manager Meghan Walser.

“We will have normal pool hours until then,” Walser said. “We do have private parties scheduled for Aug. 7 and Aug. 17.”

Walser said the main factor in the closure is availability of lifeguards, most of whom are high school students who will be involved in preseason sports practice next week.

Thomas Matthew Belcher, 53, was born to Stiles Dwaine Belcher and Gladys (Sue) Diller Belcher in Albany, Texas, on March 21, 1969, the youngest of three children. He died at home on Diller Flat on July 24, 2022, after a long battle with what started as throat cancer.

Jerome McNair (Jerry)Fullinwider, loving husband, father, grandfather, passionate entrepreneur, musician, and man of faith passed away peacefully on July 21, 2022, at the age of 93. He is now with his Lord in Heaven, and his family is abundantly grateful for his long life, which truly was a life well-lived.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A fire reported after midnight on Tuesday completely destroyed several mobile homes on property thought to be that of Johnny Novian or members of his family.

Albany Volunteer Fire Chief Travis Gardenhire said that a call came in about 12:30 a.m. from Allsup’s, apparently after someone reported seeing the fire south of the Village Apartments. When firefighters arrived, three unoccupied trailers were “fully involved,” according to Gardenhire.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Former DPS officer and current county constable Xaiver Perez was offered a 187-day one-year employment agreement for a new position as Director of School Safety and Operations at the end of a July 18 board meeting as Albany ISD trustees continue to make strides toward more rigorous security policies.

AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott said at press time that details with Perez’s employment are ongoing, but “from all indications, we feel that this is going to work out.”

By Sam Waller

ResourceCare’s Day Camp was brought to an early end as a wave of ­COVID-19 cases last week forced the cancellation of the program’s second week.

“We had a great week, but unfortunately ­COVID hit,” ResourceCare’s Ragan Riley said. “The second week was going to be a rotation of Vacation Bible School at different churches, but we didn’t want to take kids around the community.”

Riley said a contributing factor was having a number of helpers going out of town this week for church camp.

By Donnie A. Lucas

While the dog days of summer usually span from July 3 until Aug. 11, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, the period of oppressive summer heat got a big head start this year.

Some individual daily high temperature records have been set so far in June and July, but surprisingly major records for Albany have yet to be broken.

The hottest temperature recorded in the 100+ years since records have been kept is 115 degrees set on June 27, 1972. The highest yet this year is 109 degrees reached Monday.