By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees had a better idea about how the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year will look after their Monday night meeting.

Superintendent Jonathan Scott reviewed the plan being developed by local administrators, but stated that it hadn’t been finalized as of Monday.

“We are trying to roll out plans, even though it feels like we’re starting over just about every day,” Scott said. “TEA finally released online instruction guidelines a couple of weeks ago, but we’re still waiting on guidance to get back on campus.”

More than 175 Angelo State University student-athletes, including Levi Britting of Albany, have been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2020 spring semester.

The list is announced at the conclusion of each fall and spring semester with student-athletes qualifying based on grade point average for the current semester. 

To be eligible, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.30 GPA and be on their team’s active roster. 

Britting is the son of Rod and Susan Britting and Kristi Espinosa.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County elected officials learned Monday that the county has been designated to receive over $355,000 in grant money from the state’s County Transportation Infrastructure Fund for local road projects, and commissioners put plans to repave the courthouse parking lot on hold.

County Judge Robert Skelton reported that the grant funding was awarded, but he still has to receive approval for each proposed portion of the work in advance, plus providing a 20 percent funding match.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council member James Waters resigned and Austin Sherwood was appointed to replace him at a special session held on Thursday, July 2.

Waters’ letter of resignation stated that he was giving up his seat “due to family issues.” He had filed for reelection without opposition earlier this year, with his present term scheduled to end in May 2022.

By Lynsi Musselman

Online registration for the 2020-2021 school year is now underway for both campuses in the Albany Independent School District.

Director of student services Leigh Lowe reported that online registration is available district-wide this year. Last year, it was only accessible to parents of elementary students.

With the first day of school beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 19, parents need to go online to get students registered before the deadline coming up in early August.

By Lynsi Musselman

New Albany band director William Vaughn has scheduled 2020-2021 summer band rehearsals for the week of Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug. 7, and the week of Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug. 14.

Practice sessions will be for eighth through 12th grade band members.

Vaughn has not announced a practice time or location as of press time on Tuesday, but the schedule will be posted on the school website and Facebook page as soon as it has been determined.

A meeting of Band Boosters will be scheduled in the near future.

By Melinda L. Lucas

New and ongoing recipients of Albany ISD Education Foundation scholarships need to provide proof of enrollment in order to receive their benefit for the fall 2020 semester.

New 2020 graduate recipients need proof of enrollment and the letter that was in the scholarship envelope they received at graduation.

This is the 11th year for the Foundation scholarships, with an additional $25,000 in awards given this spring.

By Lynsi Musselman

The reopening of the Shackelford County Library continues with the transition to regular hours of Monday through Thursday 12:00 to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The library was open on Mondays in June and is still limited to four patrons at a time. 

Gloves will be provided, and a face covering from home will be required to be worn while readers are inside the building.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Monday, July 20 deadline is approaching quickly for the Old Jail Art Center’s virtual summer camps.

Education director Erin Whitmore said camp slots are still available for families to register for the August camps and receive their free mailed camp kit.

“Daily camp videos will post each morning at 10:00 a.m. on our Facebook page, including step-by-step crafts and activities by OJAC educators,” Whitmore said.

By Lynsi Musselman

With clear summer nights in the forecast for the coming weekend, the crescent moon and bright Venus will appear luminous in the sky at Fort Griffin State Historical Site. 

The popular once-a-month “star party” at the fort has been cancelled for Saturday, July 18, due to COVID-19 restrictions, but astro-photographers are welcome to take advantage of this weekend’s view of the night sky.