By Lynsi Musselman
Albany Independent School District enrollment totals after the first week of school are sitting at 509, about a dozen less than this time last year.
AISD director of students services Leigh Lowe said 281 students are at Nancy Smith Elementary School and 228 are at Albany Junior/Senior High.
AJSH principal Glenn Hill said some students have withdrawn and some have enrolled this past week, keeping the number about the same.
By Lynsi Musselman
& Donnie A. Lucas
Albany and Texas high school football fans are probably more than ready to see the Friday night lights on across the state.
With COVID-19 concerns and most counties in the state experiencing stricter guidelines, residents are left wondering what the in-person viewing experience will look like this year at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.
The good news for home games this season is that no admission will be charged as part of the effort to limit contact to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
By Melinda L. Lucas
With the annual campaign to raise funds for local organizations starting in October, board members of the Albany Chest will meet next week to organize the 2020 fundraising drive and elect new directors.
The meeting is set for Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 5:15 p.m. at The Feed Store.
“We will be accepting nominations for positions on the board,” said chairman Amy Kelly.
Four of the 12 director positions come up for election each year, and Chest by-laws allow directors to serve two terms before they cycle off.
By Lynsi Musselman
A special account was opened to help city of Albany resident Doris Pearce Westray after she was involved in a single-car accident last week at the bottom of Six Mile Hill.
Contributions to help with Westray’s medical expenses can be left with any teller at First National Bank Albany/Breckenridge or at First Financial Bank.
Westray is currently at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where she was careflighted on Aug. 19.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Last week’s “probable case” positive test for the COVID-19 coronavirus was confirmed, along with an additional one, in the latest report by the Texas Department of State Health Services, bringing the total number of cases to 22 since March.
In a notice on Facebook by county judge Robert Skelton, the latest report on Wednesday morning listed two new confirmed cases, which will remain active at least until Sept. 3.
By Lynsi Musselman
Almost every direction outside of town seems to have road construction.
This includes Highway 180 East to Breckenridge, which has been under construction since May.
The $8.3 million project that began in May includes 12 miles of roadway between the east city limits of Albany and Stephens County line.
Contractor JH Strain & Sons are removing existing asphalt, making repairs to the base as needed, and repaving.
By Lynsi Musselman
The Old Jail Art Center has been closed this week and will reopen again on Saturday, Aug. 29.
OJAC executive director Patrick Kelly said the closure makes it easier for the staff to take down spring and summer exhibits and get ready to install new ones for viewing starting on Sept. 12.
Pieces in a collection by by Jo Ann Fleischhauer, as well as those from “The Ruby Portfolio,” celebrating the museum’s 40th anniversary, have been displayed since February.
By Melinda L. Lucas
A special meeting to adopt the 2020-2021 budget and tax rate for the Albany Independent School District is set for 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, the last day that the budget can be adopted, according to state law.
Albany ISD board members looked over the 2020-2021 budget during their most recent regular meeting on Aug. 17.
Expenditures for the upcoming school year are projected to be $6,390,959, compared to the actual expenses so far of just under $5.7 million.
Revenue for the year is expected to be $5,985,756.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Shackelford County commissioners and other elected officials met Monday, Aug. 24 to go through several routine agenda items, including the approval of a long list of minutes from previous sessions.
At the end of the meeting, the court continued to work on the budget for the news fiscal year that starts Sept. 1. There was no action, as they intend to make some more adjustments at a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 31 before proposing the budget and tax rate.
Other Business
By Lynsi Musselman
The Albany Chamber of Commerce annual garage sale is just over two weeks away, on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Registration to get on the garage sale map began Aug. 24 and continues until Sept. 1 for residents who would like to participate.
Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said the registration fee to be included on the map and receive a paper sign is $10 this year.
“Once registration has been paid in full, a sign will be printed with the name and address of the participant,” Jones explained.
