By Sam Waller

Five youth and four adults from Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church have spent this week in Belize as part of a mission team.

Local teens Cambree Clegg, Melanie Figueroa, Maci Hatchett, Gatlin Wills, and Porter Wills were joined by MMPC youth minister Becky Wills, and other sponsors Sandy Ingalls and Paul and Debbie Hamilton for the weeklong trip to the Central American nation.

A total of 16 people made up the mission team, according to Courtney Clegg, mother of Cambree. The group departed Friday, July 7.

By Sam Waller

Preregistration is continuing for Albany Community Vacation Bible.

The event, sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance, is for children age 4 through those who have completed sixth grade and is scheduled for Sunday-Wednesday, July 30-Aug. 2. Preschoolers must be 4 years old by Aug. 1.

Preregistration may be done by scanning a QR code included on promotional posters and in an ad in this week’s Albany News. Organizer Betsy Spraberry said there is no registration deadline, but preregistration will help organizers prepare adequately.

By Donnie L. Lucas

The first-week Summer Day Camp sponsored by ResourceCare began Monday, July 10 at the Albany Youth Center, with almost 140 campers enrolled, but about 80 attending.

This year the program is split between July 10-14 and July 24-28 to accommodate a number of the high school age workers to attend church camps.

A total of 138 campers ages 3 through the sixth grade are enrolled, with 40 high school staffers signed up to work the event, along with 10 junior high volunteers.

By Sam Waller

Albany Golf Course will host two fundraising tournaments later this month sponsored by the Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association and the Albany Masonic Lodge.

The Youth and Livestock Association will host a three-person scramble on Saturday-Sunday, July 22-23, with proceeds going toward the renovation of the Shackelford County livestock barn.

Entry fee is $125 per person and includes a meal Saturday evening. Matt Stapp will perform during the meal.

By Sam Waller

Preseason practice for Albany High School football and volleyball programs will begin Monday, July 31.

Prospective athletes for both sports have been provided letters outlining two-a-day practices, as well as forms that must be filled out and signed by both students and parents by the opening day of practices.

By Sam Waller

Fundraising for the Albany football monument fund has reached $35,000 toward the goal of $50,000, according to Albany Athletic Booster Club president Cari Heatly.

The amount represents an increase of about $800 in the last three weeks, when the Booster Club concluded a raffle for a football autographed by all members of the Albany Lions’ 2022 Class 2A Division II state championship team. Heatly said there are no further fundraisers planned at this time, but the Booster Club will continue to accept donations.

By Donnie L. Lucas

The first of a two-week Summer Day Camp sponsored by ResourceCare is set to begin Monday, July 10 at the Albany Youth Center.

This year the program is split between July 10-14 and July 24-28 to accommodate a number of the high school age workers to attend church camps.

A total of 128 campers ages 3 through the sixth grade are enrolled, with 31 high school staffers signed up to work the event, along with eight junior high volunteers.

The drop off time is from 8:30 a.m. until 8:50 a.m. each day at the back door of the Youth Center.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Chamber of Commerce members are reminded that there will be no Friday luncheon this week because the Icehouse Restaurant is closed for its annual week of vacation.

Chamber manager Brandi Lehew said that Chamber lunches will begin again on July 14 at the Icehouse.

For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at 325-762-2525.

For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce office at 325-762-2525.

By Sam Waller

Albany Volunteer Fire Department is continuing its fundraising effort to upgrade facilities and equipment, not the least of which is this week’s delivery of a brand new 2022 Dodge Ram 5500 rescue truck.

Purchase of the truck was approved in March by Albany city council members, who also approved $45,000 of the cost to be taken from the “restricted fund” that is designated for fire department use with council approval. The rest was expected to come from donations.

Albany News readers and advertisers are asked to be aware that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of July 17.

“There will not be an edition on Thursday, July 20,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “We hope we’re giving everyone, especially those who might need legal notices or other time-sensitive information, ample notice that we’re going to take that week off so that our staff can spend time with their families.”

The News office will be open for the usual hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday of that week.