By Sidney Bartee

New and ongoing recipients of the Albany ISD Education Foundation scholarships need to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive their awards for the fall 2021 semester. 

A total of 31 new 2021 graduate recipients need proof of enrollment and the letter that was in the scholarship envelope they received at graduation.

This is the 12th year for the Foundation scholarships, with an additional $31,000 in awards given this spring.

By Assistant Fire Chief Eric Johnson

In preparation for storm season this year, the Albany Volunteer Fire Department, along with a few citizens, received storm spotter training a couple of months ago, and some have already utilized what they learned during recent spring and summer thunderstorms. 

Under the National Weather Service, the SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program is presented each spring in Albany to the local fire departments and first responders. 

By Jillian Lucas

The 3rd annual County Line Clear Fork Cook-off and Music Festival  is set to take place Aug. 6-7 in Woodson, with several local grillers already planning to participate.

Proceeds of this event will benefit Shriners Children’s Hospital. 

“We are excited to be able to have the cook-off and festival again this year after missing it last year due to COVID,” said County Line owner Ron Sullivan.

According to Sullivan, about 30 teams are expected to enter the cook-off with roughly 500-plus people in attendance.  

By Jillian Lucas

Nine members from the First Baptist Church returned from their annual mission trip in Del Rio this past week.

The team left June 27 and returned July 1.

Albany FBC mission groups have worked with a program called River Ministry in Del Rio for many years.

According to First Baptist Church pastor Jeff Turner, River Ministry has a distribution center where they collect donations and supplies to help local families.

By Sidney Bartee

Community Vacation Bible School will begin Sunday, July 25 and end on Wednesday, July 28.

Volunteers from several local churches are helping with the event, which is sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance and hosted this year by First Baptist Albany.

“Destination Dig” will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with meals and activities provided.

Parents will be able to pick up students at 8:15 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, but everyone is invited to stay and watch a special program on Wednesday.

By Sidney Bartee

The deadline to sign up for the Old Jail Art Center children’s summer workshops is tomorrow, July 9, in order  to have time for materials to be mailed.

This year, workshops are being held virtually for students in first through sixth grade.

The culture of India, a puppet workshop, and the frontier days will be covered by this year’s material. 

Registrants will be mailed a kit with supplies and materials needed for each day of the camp.

By Sandy Morris

The City of Albany received a sales tax allotment of $35,973.14 from the state in June. The amount is down 1.15 percent from the $36,394.22 payment received in June 2020.

Payments to date for the 2021 year to the city of Albany are $230,247.46, down by 2.20 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $235,442.84 had been made.

The City of Moran received a net payment of $2,241.61 this period for a 2.54 percent decrease from the $2,300.18 received in June 2020.

By Jillian Lucas

Albany cheerleaders spent three days together recently in a “home” cheer camp, with several earning All-American honors, and they are now getting ready for an upcoming event for younger girls.

Elementary-age cheerleaders who want to receive a t-shirt for the July 26-28 Cubs Cheer Camp must be pre-registered by next Monday, July 12, according to cheer sponsor Nickie Leveridge.

AHS Home Camp

Albany High School junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders participated in a home cheer camp a few weeks ago at the high school gym.

Shirley Hale, age 78 of Whitney, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2021. Graveside funeral services were held Wednesday, July 7, at the Albany Cemetery. Interment followed under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Shirley Jean Evans was born Dec. 16, 1942 in Abilene, Texas to Malcolm Cecil “Jack” Evans and Clara Belle “Jane” Perkins Evans. She married Marvin Lee Hale in Lubbock, Texas on March 16, 1977 at the home of Justice of the Peace, Pam Gentry. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Albany. 

Marsha Ann Ledbetter Sievers Whitehead, born in Abilene, Texas on April 26, 1948 to Oran Harrell and Nell Jean Ledbetter, passed away on June 29, 2021. Graveside services were held at the Albany Cemetery Thursday, July 1, under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.

Marsha graduated from Albany High School in 1966 and then attended Cisco Junior College where she performed with the Wrangler Belles. 

After college, she worked for Van Operating in Albany for several years. Marsha moved to the Fort Worth metroplex and made her home there for the past 33 years.