By Melinda L. Lucas
Albany native Justin Rodriguez died in a one-vehicle rollover six miles south of Albany on Hwy. 6 last Thursday night, April 20.
A 911 call from the first motorist on the scene was recorded at 8:46 p.m. Initially, it was believed that there was a passenger, but a second call to the dispatcher clarified that Rodriguez was the only one involved in the accident.
Pick-up dates for the May distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, May 4 and Friday, May 5.
Families in Moran should pick up their food at Moran City Hall 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, while Albany recipients can pick up on Friday, May 5, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the JP office.
By Melinda L. Lucas
“Sight For All,” a free preliminary vision screening event in Albany is set for this Saturday, April 29 in Friendship Baptist Church’s Activity Building.
Sponsored by the Albany Lions Club, the four-hour clinic is open to ages 2 and older from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and checks participants for need of glasses, lazy eye, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Rehearsals for the summer production of the Fort Griffin Fandangle will start on May 7 with the children’s numbers and continue almost nightly throughout the rest of the month and during June.
General rehearsals for major scenes will also begin the week of May 8, with practice held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, according to the schedule.
The performance dates for the show this year are June 16-17 and June 23-24, with the annual parade set for Saturday, June 17.
By Sam Waller
Deadline for horse validation in advance of the Shackelford County Horse Show is Monday, May 1.
The inaugural show, which gained approval from the Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association earlier this month, is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 6 at the Fikes Arena on FM 601.
Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said the validation process is all online at texasyouthlivestock.com/horse-validation.
By Sam Waller
The garden work day at the Ben Richey Boys Ranch Albany location has been tentatively rescheduled for Wednesday, May 3, weather permitting.
Weekend showers delayed the event from the original April 23 date.
Organizer Alicia Burton said the goal is to provide the Boys Ranch with a steady supply of fresh fruits and vegetables.
“They get a lot of food from the Food Bank in Abilene, but it is typically hardest for them to get fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis,” she said.
By Donnie A. Lucas
With teacher and staff appreciation week just a couple of weeks away, two local organizations have opted to honor school personnel a week early.
The annual Ben Richey Boys Ranch dinner for teachers and staff is set for Tuesday, May 2 at the pavilion at the ranch. The event, which is open to all AISD employees, will beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Staff members are urged to sign up in the teachers’ workroom at either campus in order to get a head count of those attending.
By Sam Waller
Project Graduation fundraising efforts are winding down as commencement ceremonies are now less than a month away.
The 33 members of the Albany High School Class of 2023 will graduate Friday, May 26. The Project Graduation party will follow.
“We’re still selling raffle tickets for the PS5, and we have completed sending out our donation letters,” Project Graduation organizer Amanda Tabor said. “If anyone else would like to donate the AHS Project Graduation, the mailing address is P.O. Box 2901, Albany, Texas 76430.”
By Melinda L. Lucas
Organizations planning to award scholarships at the 2023 Albany High School graduation exercises on Friday, May 26 are asked to report their scholarship amounts and recipients by Wednesday, May 10.
Ann Riley at the AHS office is organizing the scholarship announcement and distribution, handing out the seniors’ application letters to committee representatives this week.
Parents of Albany High School graduating seniors are reminded to gather baby pictures for The Albany News’ upcoming graduation section.
Pictures are due by the end of next week, on Thursday, May 4, if possible.
Parents need to select a clear, sharp baby picture of their graduate, preferably a face and shoulders close-up under age three or four.
High resolution images for the graduation special section can be emailed to news@thealbanynews.net or photos can be brought by the News office to be scanned and returned immediately.
