By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School recently announced honor students for the 2025 senior class, with Avery Everitt named valedictorian and Holden Sanchez salutatorian.

Nine other seniors were named as honor students as part of the top 25 percent of the class, which has 45 members.

Everitt, the daughter of Mark and Jennifer Everitt, has a four-year overall grade average of 104.078.

Sanchez has an overall GPA of 102.282. He is the son of Matthew and Heidi Sanchez.

By Melinda L. Lucas

An Albany High student qualified to advance to the UIL State Academic Meet in Austin after placing in the top three at the Region 2 Academic Meet in Denison last Friday.

A total of 10 local students advanced to the regional academic meet, which was held April 25-26 in Denison, with several placing in the top six and receiving medals.

Sophomore Kylee Bennett was the gold medalist in the News Writing contest to earn a return trip to the state meet.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Organizers are backed up and ready for a second attempt at the 18th annual Albany Classic Car Show Saturday, May 10 after the original April 19 date was rained out.

Volunteer Robert Snyder is hopeful that next Saturday will dawn as the kind of day that classic car owners will enjoy getting their vehicles out into.

The Shackelford County Commissioners Court met Monday morning, April 28, with a agenda that included discussions on the county show barn, a permit approval for a wastewater project, and routine reports.

No action was taken regarding a burn ban after commissioners agreed conditions did not warrant one.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Around 200 voters cast ballots during early voting being held this week in the Albany Independent School District trustee and Shackelford County Hospital District elections, and others will have the chance to vote on the regular election day this Saturday. May 3.

Early voting ended at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The total number of early voters was not available because of press deadlines.

Texas singer-songwriter Paul Cauthen will return to Albany next month, headlining a concert at the Aztec Theater on Friday, May 30. The show marks Cauthen’s third performance at the Aztec since 2023 and follows an unscheduled acoustic set he performed earlier this month at Goodnight Steakhouse and Saloon.

Shackelford County 4-H member Grace Fry was the top presenter in the Equine Educational Presentation contest held last week in San Angelo.

The blue ribbon achievement at the District Roundup earned the local competitor a trip to the state contest, which will be held in June in College Station.

This is Fry’s second year to advance to the state level. Last year, a team consisting of Grace Fry, her sister Faith Fry, and Madailein Beard won the 4-H horse judging contest at the state competition.

Certified Estimates of Value were released to the Shackelford County tax units May 1 as required by state law, according to interim Shackelford County chief appraiser Richard Petree.  

“Overall estimates have increased by 8.75%, mostly driven by local housing increases,” Petree said. “The desire for homes in the area remains high, and the values of better quality homes have risen well over sales prices of $100 per square foot of living area.”

Avery Everitt, daughter of Mark and Jennifer Everitt of Albany, was one of 13 students to receive the President’s Outstanding Student Award at a banquet Monday at the Cisco College campus. 

Avery was nominated for the award by her Dual Credit Teacher, Dr. Linda Spetter, after which a judging committee selected her as the top student in English. 

She received a certificate and a medal at the ceremony. Her mother, Mrs. Everitt, attended the banquet. 

The countdown to the 87th anniversary of the Fort Griffin Fandangle has begun, with rehearsals for the 2025 show scheduled to start Monday, May 12, at the Prairie Theater.

Anyone interested in participating is welcome to be part of the cast, and no prior experience is required. Rehearsals will be held three nights a week during May, with different parts of the show rotating each evening.

Beginning June 9, the schedule will shift to four nights a week to allow time for full cast run-throughs and final preparations.