By Melinda L. Lucas Financial figures for both the upcoming year and last year were significant topics during the Albany city council’s meeting on Monday, when a $2.94 million budget was adopted for fiscal year 2020-2021, and the audit was approved for 2019-2020.

By Melinda L. Lucas With a March 17 reser-vation deadline quickly approaching, local residents are being encouraged to secure their places at the Old Jail Art Center’s upcoming 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas Shackelford County commissioners voted unanimously to change IT vendors after reviewing three bids opened at a previous meeting. Sealed bids were received from Computer Transition Services Inc. (CTSI), Tolar Systems, and Goldsmith Solutions on Feb.

By Kathy Thomson Albany FFA members competed in the livestock and in the horse contest at Parker County/Weatherford College CDEs last Thursday, March 5.

By Kathy Thomson Albany High School’s one act play (OAP) will advance to bi-district competition, and six members of the troupe won special accolades at the district contest in Stamford on Thursday, March 5. The bi-district OAP contest will also be held in Stamford on Wednesday, March 25.

By Kathy Thomson Students tried out for the chance to become Albany school cheerleaders on Friday, March 6, before spring break. “We had three judges from McMurry University, and their scores counted for 50 percent,” said cheer sponsor Lindsey Vaughn.

By Kathy Thomson The Leon Bosque Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. awarded grant money to the Albany Senior Citizens Activity Center last week.

By Kathy Thomson For several years, various residents of the Big Country area have traveled to Uganda over spring break on a Christian mission trip, and Albany High School junior Tana Thompson planned to go again this year.

By Melinda L. Lucas Incumbent commissioner Steve Riley kept his seat in Shackelford County’s precinct 1, fending off challenger Bobby Williams in Tuesday’s Republican primary election. Riley garnered 39 percent of the 212 ballots cast in precinct 1, where there are 543 registered voters.

By Kathy Thomson Seats on three local boards will be determined by voters on Election Day, those who cast early ballots, and those who return mail in  ballots for the May 2 races, including one with a list of candidates which was revised again this week.