By Sam Waller

Fort Griffin State Historic Site drew a larger than expected crowd last Friday for the School Day portion of its Living History Days.

Assistant site manager Eric Abercrombie said about 650 school children attended Friday’s program with teachers and parents adding to the crowd.

“I think we exceeded expectations on Friday,” Abercrombie said. “We had the 600 we were anticipating, plus quite a few more than that. A lot of home-school families and a couple of private schools came that we didn’t have on our list.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The annual Albany Chest campaign is off and running, with directors setting a 2021 goal of $46,000. 

Twenty-six different organizations submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board during a meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 7. 

“The goal of the Albany Chest is to enhance the lives of local citizens with the funding that is given to us,” said board president Jana Kitchens. “We do our best to place the money where it will benefit the most individuals across the broadest range of our population.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Local testing facilities reported 19 positive cases of ­COVID-19 for the week of Oct. 4-8, just one more than the prior week.

According to an update from county judge Bob Skelton, the positive cases were reported by the Shackelford County Health Clinic (SCHC), Resource Care Community Health Center, and the Shackelford County EMS Station. The number of tests administered was not released, but positive results totalled 19 for the week.

SCHC was open on Monday during the Columbus Day holiday, reporting four tests with two positive results.

By Sam Waller

The 14th annual John Rose & Jim Law Memorial Albany Kiwanis Charity Golf Tournament and Fajita Fiesta is expected  to have a full field for its makeup date of Friday,  Oct. 15.

Kiwanian Zach Maberry said 12 teams are entered with none withdrawing after the event was postponed last week.

The tournament raises funds for the Albany K Charity Scholarship Fund as well as a number of other local projects.

The Fajita Fiesta is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. with the four-person scramble having a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Golf Club will conduct its annual membership meeting Saturday at the municipal golf course with the opening round of the club championship to tee off right after.

A brisket lunch is scheduled for noon Saturday with the meeting to start by 12:30 p.m.

Golf Club board member James Waters said two board positions will be voted on at the meeting.

“Both incumbent board members, Charles Barrett and Bucky Nail, have agreed to run again,” Waters said. “Once we get in the meeting, members can also nominate other people who want to run.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany High School seniors Bryce Asher and Ansleigh Garcia were crowned 2021 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime last Friday night of the Albany vs. Olney game.

Three sets of Coming Home Kings and Queens for 1969-1971 were also presented on the field, along with other homecoming court nominees, princes and princesses, sweethearts and beaus.

Asher and Garcia were nominated by the sophomore class, with six other seniors nominated by the other three classes at AHS.

By Sam Waller

Trinity Lutheran Church will hold its annual Mission Festival at 4:30 p.m. Sunday with a hamburger and hot dog meal to follow outdoors.

“This year, there will be an added celebration for the great amount of repair work and painting we were able to complete on our building this year,” pastor Tom Chandler said.

Chandler said the success of the work was driven home recently when a graduate student doing research on mid-20th century architecture stopped at the church and began asking questions and taking photos.

By Sam Waller

Neighbors in Need will conduct a fundraising sale of items at its facility on Oct. 23.

Lori Reames said the sale will help clear space at the facility.

The sale is scheduled for 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

“Everything is 25 cents an item unless otherwise marked,” Reames said. “The funds will go to our general fund, which could be used for heaters and air conditioners or our new building.”

Bethel Assembly’s annual “The Patch” cele­bration is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Bank Park after being postponed last week because of wet conditions.

“Everything will be the same as originally planned,” event organizer Betsy Spraberry said. “You can’t outguess the weather, and we didn’t want to miss out on things if it rained.”

The event will get underway at 10:00 a.m. Saturday with a pumpkin market. Sales will continue until 2:00 p.m. or until the pumpkins sell out.

By Sam Waller

The Albany High School FFA chapter has elected officers for the school year and is in the process of charting the course of its projects.

“We installed officers a couple of weeks ago,” Albany FFA sponsor Chris Beard said. “We’re having a meeting to figure out goals for both our fundraisers and our chapter as a whole.”

Leddie Leech will serve as president with Gracie Price as vice president. Kam Browning was elected secretary, Susie Cormack was named treasurer, and Cole Chapman is the reporter.