By Sam Waller

Two prayer initiatives have begun in advance of the new school year.

Albany PTO president Malarie Sutton started 33 Days of Prayer for Albany in mid-July with each day dedicated to praying for a different group – students, faculty and staff – within the school district.

“We would love everyone to join us in prayer and continue to pray all throughout the school year,” Sutton posted on Facebook.

Sutton said in her post that she borrowed the idea from Jim Ned schools.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Meet the Teacher will be held at both Nancy Smith Elementary School and the junior/senior high campus on Monday, Aug. 15.

Students entering K-3 will be able to find out their teacher for the coming school year from 5:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., followed by students entering grades 4-6 at 5:30 p.m.

Students and parents are urged to meet with teachers at the secondary campus at 6:00 p.m., followed by an orientation meeting for all grade levels at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

By Sam Waller

Moran faculty and staff have spent this week conducting inservice programs in preparation for the upcoming school year.

Inservice began Monday, Aug. 1 and will conclude Friday, Aug. 5.

The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 8 at Moran, which is employing a four-day class week this year.

Superintendent Dr. John Denson said inservice has dealt with a number of issues facing schools.

By Sam Waller

Low numbers are a fact of life at Moran, and it’s having an impact on the first week of preseason practice for fall sports.

The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs both began with less than the expected complement of athletes, which could cause some delays.

The football team began practice Monday, Aug. 1 with just four players in attendance. Coach John Hughes expects to field a team, but the first scrimmage date may be in jeopardy.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Fun and facts about Greece will kick off the Old Jail Art Center’s annual summer camps for kids next Wednesday, Aug. 3, with three spots open for students in grades 1-6.

There are also two openings for the Aug. 9 safari camp for grades 1-3.

Participants need to be registered for the remaining places for the on-site events by this Friday, July 29, according to OJAC education director Erin Whitmore.

By Donnie A. Lucas

School safety has come to the forefront in Albany and across the state over the summer due to a directive issued by the governor to the Texas Education Agency following a mass shooting at Uvalde ISD in May that left 19 students and two teachers dead.

Albany school officials have spent a considerable amount of time this summer conducting a targeted safety audit that largely focuses on access to school buildings.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A couple of big budget projects, both delayed for several years, moved up a few steps during Monday’s Shackelford County commissioners meeting, with significant progress reported on the Caldwell Lane Bridge, as well as a “partial bid” accepted to rebuild the deteriorating Courthouse parking lot.

In addition, the audit for the year ending September 2021 was accepted, and commissioners agreed that the Courthouse would be closed this Friday, July 29 for work on the “chiller.”

Caldwell Lane Bridge

By Sam Waller

Three performers with Albany roots will be part of the lineup for this year’s CareFest lineup, and through this Sunday, July 31, tickets are available at a discount, with VIP tickets already sold out.

The music festival, a fundraiser for Resource Care outreach programs, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 at Happy Wife Happy Life Wedding and Events Venue.

“A huge thank you goes out to our sponsors who make this possible,” ResourceCare’s Ragan Riley said. “We are looking forward to our most successful CareFest yet.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

An Albany blood drive is set for today, July 28.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park the bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.

The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.

Blood center officials said that there is always a need for blood donors of all types. In particular, officials said those who have O+ and O- are needed.

By Sam Waller

After two false starts, Shackelford County 4-H held a STEM camp session Tuesday, July 26 at The Feed Store.

Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said 12 students attended the session for science, technology, engineering, and math.

Sessions scheduled for the previous two weeks had to be cancelled because of low registration, staffing issues, and COVID-19 concerns.

Bell said efforts to add another session before the start of school did not work out.