By Sandy Morris

Members of the Albany High School Band took a trip last week to prepare for contest and to have some fun.

AHS band director Will Vaughan said the group went to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine on Thursday, March 4 and Friday, March 5 and had fun in the water both days.

By Sandy Morris

Although Albany High School’s One Act Play did not advance to the next round of competition, three members of the cast and crew won special awards at the district contest held last Wednesday in Haskell.  

“The Love of Oranges” members who were recognized were Cydney Nelson – All-Star Cast, Chey’anne Weaver – Honorable Mention All-Star Cast, and Presley Green – Technical Crew Award. 

OAP director Jenny Scott was very proud of the students and their performance at the district competition.

By Sandy Morris

Next week, while the majority of Albany Independent School District students are enjoying Spring Break, the Cross Examination Debate team of Leddie Leech and Ella Webb will compete in the state Cross-X meet starting at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, March 15.

All preliminary rounds will take place on Monday with the elimination rounds starting at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday. 

By Sandy Morris

Albany eighth graders Jake and Abi Hale recently competed in the Junior Commercial Steer Feeding and Management Contest at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The purpose of the contest is to encourage more 4-H and FFA members to participate in a practical beef production program. 

The event heavily emphasizes feeding and management of financial costs, and exhibitors are expected to have a firm understanding of the economics associated with the beef cattle industry. 

By Sandy Morris

Albany FFA judging teams are working hard to get ready for upcoming Career Development Event (CDE) contests this month.

Local teams will compete in farm business management, horse judging, vet tech science, range and pasture, livestock, and wildlife.

Wildlife Contest

The Albany FFA Wildlife team competed at the Anson Invitational contest on Monday, March 1.

AHS placed seventh out of 22 teams in the competition to kick off the spring CDE season.

By Sandy Morris

With Fandangle memberships rolling in and Sampler invitations going  out in the mail, Fandangle artistic director Lorna Ayers is ready to get started on rehearsals. 

The annual Fandangle Sampler, scheduled for Saturday, April 17, is moving back to Reynolds Bend on the Lambshead Ranch after an absence of more than 20 years. 

Rehearsals

Ayers said rehearsals for the Sampler will begin on Tuesday, March 23 at the Aztec Theater.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners extended the winter storm 2021 disaster declaration, voted to allow use of the Courthouse Square for a community event in December 2021, and adopted a resolution that should comply with Texas Senate Bill 944, all during a regular meeting on Monday, March 8.

Although Shackelford County has not yet been approved as a disaster area after last month’s devastating winter storm, county judge Robert Skelton said that extending his initial disaster declaration could help with obtaining funding.

By Sandy Morris

Just in time for spring sports and other warm weather outdoor activities, Daylight Saving Time (DST) returns this Sunday, March 14, at 2:00 a.m.

Most of the United States officially begins DST every year on the second Sunday in March, and changes back to standard time on the first Sunday in November.

Local residents are reminded to set their clocks forward one hour before they go to bed on Saturday night.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Financial figures for both the past and present were major topics during the Albany city council’s meeting on Monday, when a $3.01 million budget was adopted for fiscal year 2021-2022, and the audit was approved for 2020-2021.

The required public hearing time was allowed at the beginning of the meeting, but no one from the public had any comments.

By Sandy Morris

The Shackelford County Community Resource Center recently received word from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of an ongoing grant award of more than $3.5 million.

The $3,561,569 grant is the “standard” amount that has been awarded annually to the Resource Center and divided among the six community clinics operated by the Albany-based non-profit.

SCRC executive director and project director Meagan Marshall said the DHHS grant isn’t new but is a continuation of funding that the organization has been receiving since 2005.