By Melinda L. LucasFriendship Baptist Church is planning to mark the new school year with a kick-off event for their children’s ministry.According to one of the coordinators, Tanya Petree, Friendship will host a back-to-school bash on Wednesday, Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. LucasBoard members of the Albany Chest will meet to organize the 2022 fund­raising campaign, nominate and elect new directors, and choose officers for the upcoming year during an Aug. 31 meetingThe meeting will be held at the Feed Store at 5:15 p.m.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Volunteer Fire Department has two fundraising projects in the works, including the return of its Burgers & Birds cookout.The event is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at the fire station to celebrate the opening of dove season.

By Sam WallerAlbany’s Riley Reames enjoyed being part of the Texas Brigade program so much last year that she signed up for one of the other camps this year.

By Sam WallerThe Moran Independent School District received a grade of C from the Texas Education Agency, holding steady from the last ratings handed out in 2019.The TEA assesses grades of A through F for accountability for districts and campuses throughout the state.

By Donnie A. LucasThe Texas Education Agency issued grades on Friday as part of the Texas A-F accountability ratings for districts and campuses in the state, with Albany ISD receiving a B.

By Donnie A. LucasAlbany ISD was again expecting just over 500 students with the start of the new school year Wednesday (yesterday), indicating that beginning enrollment has been steady for the past three years.

By Melinda L. LucasDuring a regular session on Monday, Aug. 15, Albany ISD’s board of trustees set a date for a special meeting to adopt the 2022-2023 budget and tax rate, planning an early morning meeting on Aug. 31, the last day that the budget can be adopted according to state law.

By Melinda L. LucasProgress has been reported in solving a series of car burglaries that occurred earlier this month, and the same thieves have apparently hit several other communities, according to Shackelford County deputy Jason Price, who is investigating along with police chief Mike House.

By Melinda L. LucasAn Albany woman was killed last Saturday afternoon in a single vehicle roll-over on U.S. Hwy. 283 11 miles north of Albany.According to a preliminary report by DPS media communications officer Sgt.