By Kathy Thomson The Albany Chamber of Commerce annual garage sale will take place on Sept. 14, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones. The signup fee to register a garage sale, be included on the map, and receive a sign is $25.

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon next Wednesday, Aug. 14, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.

By Sidney Bartee Members of the Ragin’ Red Band started their summer practices on Monday, Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. Practice will continue through this week at 6:30 p.m., but rehearsal times for Aug. 12-16 have not yet been planned.

By Melinda L. Lucas New students at Albany High School and Albany Junior High School, including all incoming seventh graders, are urged to attend a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13 starting at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria/snack bar, which is located in the junior high building.

By Kathy Thomson Staff members from the Kindred Home Health office in Albany are gathering school supplies in conjunction with the company’s 15th Annual Food Drive.

By Kathy Thomson The Albany Ministerial Alliance sponsored Vacation Bible School began this summer’s “Wild” and “Amazing Encounters with Jesus” on Sunday, Aug. 3  and wrapped up the annual event on Wednesday, Aug.

By Kathy Thomson Local minister Sonny McCauley recently returned from a mission trip to Central America. “On July 20-28, I had the opportunity to travel to Honduras with a dental mission trip,” McCauley said.

By Melinda L. Lucas Evangelist Tom Fuller, founder of the John Wesley Adventure, will preach at First United Methodist Church in Albany this Sunday morning, Aug. 11, according to local pastor Tim Trimble. Fuller has been General Evangelist for the United Methodist Church since 2006.

The United Pentecostal Church’s annual Back to School Bash will be held this coming Sunday, Aug. 11 at the church on Cook Field Road, beginning at 6:00 p.m. All students, from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade, are invited to the celebration, along with their friends and families.

Shane McAuliffe (l), host of “The Texas Bucket List,” finds out from chef Ali Esfandiary (c) what’s so special about Fort Griffin Gen. Mdse. Restaurant for an upcoming episode. The syndicated show airs on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. on KTXS.