By Donnie A. Lucas

Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election and three local races that were postponed earlier in the year due to COVID-19 coronavirus concerns has been brisk with just over 30 percent of all registered voters in the county casting ballots.

Early voting opened on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and as of Tuesday, Oct. 20, a total of 649 ballots had been cast, in addition to 109 mail ballots that have been returned, representing a county total of over 750 voters thus far.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany High School seniors Wesley Estridge and Torie Fuentes were crowned 2020 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime last Friday night in the Albany Lions’ 61-0 win over the Ranger Bulldogs.

Estridge and Fuentes were both nominated by the senior class for the homecoming honors, with six other seniors selected as candidates by the other three classes at AHS.

The pair was chosen by the entire student body during an election held last week after each class picked a senior boy and girl to serve as nominees.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD administrators reviewed updates about the district’s Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP), as well as looking at possible changes in remote learning during a board meeting on Monday, Oct. 19.

AISD director of student services Leigh Lowe reported that the Targeted Improvement Plan, required by TEA because of last year’s overall “D” grade, had been ready to put into operation for last spring’s testing, but when schools went to remote learning because of -COVID, and STAAR tests were suspended, the requirement was extended another year.

By Melinda L. Lucas

All Shackelford County 4-H and FFA youth who plan to exhibit lambs, goats, or heifers at the county show or any other shows this school year need to get their animals validated next week.

Lambs and goats can be validated at the ag barn starting at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26.

Local ag teacher Chris Beard and county agent Kloey Painter are also planning to validate at owners’ pens if needed.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Two directors were re-elected to another term and plans made for the 2021 show during the annual membership meeting of the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association held Tuesday night, Oct. 13.

Lanham Martin and Cody Leech will continue as directors.

Branch Bartee will serve another term as president of the association, with Leech staying on as vice president and Lauren Willen as secretary.

Pam Davis, who was appointed to the board in January 2020 after the resignation of Cori Bezner, is treasurer.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Closet Angels and Neighbors In Need are joining forces this weekend to host fundraisers benefitting Kristi Brooker as she continues her fight against breast cancer.  

According to Lori Reames, both ministries will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday, Oct. 24, and all proceeds will go to help with the cost of traveling to and from Brooker’s treatments.  

By Donnie A. Lucas

With the annual Fall Fest becoming a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, local merchants and the Chamber of Commerce are banding together to offer an afternoon of fun and food on Saturday, Oct. 31 in the downtown area.

Merchants will be handing out trick-or-treat candy from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in front of stores along the downtown block. Other booths by special groups such as churches may also be set up in the Bank Park, although details had not been set at press time.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The 2020 Red Ribbon Campaign to educate students and the general public about drug and alcohol abuse is set for next week, Oct. 26-30, with events at both local school campuses.

This is the 32nd year that Albany ISD and the Albany Task Force on Drug and Alcohol Abuse has sponsored the week-long campaign that is held in conjunction with the national effort.

The theme for 2020 is “Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free.”

By Lynsi Musselman

The Albany High School student council will sponsor a Hendrick Regional Blood Center blood drive at the secondary campus on Monday, Oct. 26 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

The AHS student council plans to sponsor two blood drives this year, one in the fall and one in the spring. 

Students who are 17 and older, or 16 with a parent’s consent, and weighing at least 120 pounds are eligible to donate.

The annual Trick or Treat for Change sponsored by the Albany student council has been cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus, according to secondary principal Glen Hill.

“We didn’t think it would be a good idea at this point to pack kids in cars and send them out around the community to go door-to-door to collect money,” he said. “We are currently considering other projects that we can do safely to make up for the fund drive.”