Plans to open the city pool are inching forward as the City of Albany continues to work through staffing issues.
City officials now plan to host Splash Day on Tuesday, June 2 from 6 to 8 p.m., replacing next week’s Family Night. The free event traditionally signals the annual opening of the facility for the summer.
The Albany Dance Theatre will present its 76th annual recital Saturday, May 30, at 7 p.m. in the Albany High School auditorium, continuing a decades-long community tradition featuring dancers from Albany, Moran and surrounding areas.
This year’s production theme is “A Night at the Movies” and will showcase more than 100 performers, ages 3 through 18. Senior dancers performing in their final recital are Mimi Ivy and Hope McBee.
Members of the Albany High School Class of 2026 were awarded dozens of scholarships during commencement exercises held last Friday, May 22.
There were 131 separate awards for the class of 36 seniors, with some scholarships split among more than one recipient, amounting to $158,830 given for the first year of college or trade school and almost $349,000 if the recipients qualify for the scholarships and stay in school over a four-year period.
The awards were given by about 50 local churches, clubs, organizations, foundations, and individuals.
Despite weather delays and a last-minute move indoors, the 2026 Nancy Smith Elementary Field Day was a success May 20 with strong community support and participation from students, staff and volunteers.
Physical education instructor and coach Ashlyn Bevel said the annual event drew an “incredible turnout,” with parents volunteering throughout the day to help activities run smoothly.
Rain early Wednesday forced organizers to quickly reorganize several events and stations before competition began.
Golfers at the Albany Golf Club are finally getting to see the full results of the club’s greens renovation project.
As of this past week, all nine greens are back open and in play after months of construction and temporary greens. The project rebuilt greens on holes 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9, while holes 3, 5, and 7 had already been renovated last year.
The course has steadily returned to normal over the last several weeks, and members say the greens are already rolling well heading into the summer season.
Thirty-six Albany High School seniors will receive their diplomas Friday night, May 22, during commencement exercises scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. The event marks the conclusion of the students’ high school careers and the beginning of their next chapter.
This year’s class is led by valedictorian Woods Peterson and salutatorian Mimi Ivy. Other honor graduates include Allison McDaniel, Ryan Turner, Jaxson Street, Madison Parrott, Hollis Yeates, Cache Clark and Caysn Hargett.
The opening date for the City of Albany swimming pool remains uncertain as city officials continue working through staffing and certification requirements.
Kenisha Lucas of City Hall said this week that the city still does not know when the pool will open and likely will not have more information until after the weekend.
“We will post the opening date on our website as soon as we know something,” Lucas said. “We won’t know until after this weekend, pending certifications.”
The city’s website is albany-texas.org
Shackelford County rancher Rick Hanson was recognized as the Area 5 winner of the Conservation Rancher Award during the Texas Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Area 5 banquet held May 5 in Dublin.
John Tate of Albany, Area 5 state representative for the association, served as emcee for the banquet, which honors conservation efforts across a 54-county region. Smaller counties are combined into shared districts, with Shackelford and Stephens counties forming the Lower Clear Fork Soil and Water Conservation District.
Albany High School athletes wrapped up the 2026 UIL Class 2A state track and field meet with three solid performances against some of the top competitors in Texas, highlighted by a bronze-medal finish from senior pole vaulter Breylon Billington.
Competing Friday, May 15, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Billington placed third in the pole vault, freshman Jakobi Roberson competed in the triple jump and senior Chance Stewart ran in the 800-meter run.
The Albany Lions saw their season come to an end Thursday with a 3-1 loss to Ropes in a one-game regional semifinal playoff at Ira Athletic Complex.
The defeat ended a postseason run that saw Albany advance to the third round of the playoffs and finish the year one game shy of the regional finals.
Coach David Fairchild said afterward that the loss was especially difficult because of how well Albany played.
