The Albany News is preparing to release its Spring/Summer Visitor Guide at the end of this month, continuing the fresh look introduced with last fall’s complete redesign.

The updated format, which shifted the guide to more of a magazine-style publication, was well received by readers and local businesses alike. With a clean layout, expanded features and a strong focus on highlighting Albany’s shops, restaurants, events and attractions, the redesigned guide quickly became a go-to resource for both residents and visitors.

Last week marked 100 years since a moment that forever changed the course of Shackelford County history.

On Feb. 18, 1926, an oil well drilled on the Cook Ranch five miles northwest  of Albany erupted with a gusher that would soon become known around the world. What followed was not only an economic transformation that reshaped Albany and the surrounding region, but a legacy that would extend far beyond oil production — one that continues to impact lives today.

What began as a routine Shackelford County Commissioners Court meeting Monday morning quickly shifted into an extended and increasingly uneasy discussion about the Frontier data center projects and their growing effects on residents, infrastructure, and public safety.

The Aztec Sessions concert series will continue this week as Texas country favorites Micky & The Motorcars take the stage at the Aztec Theater on Friday, Feb. 27.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m.

Formed in 2002 by brothers Micky and Gary Braun, the band has become a longtime fixture in the Texas country and Red Dirt music scene. Originally from Idaho, the group later relocated to Austin, where they built a strong following through years of touring and recording.

Local ranchers and businesses came together this week to support livestock producers in Oklahoma whose grazing land has been destroyed by widespread wildfires across the region.

The fires, which began earlier this month in the Oklahoma Panhandle, have burned more than 300,000 acres and prompted evacuations, emergency declarations, and damage to ranchland across several counties. The largest blaze, known as the Ranger Road Fire, alone scorched more than 280,000 acres across Beaver and Harper counties.

The Albany Lions will face a challenging road in the 2026 football season, as the official schedule released this week features a strong non-district lineup and a district that coaches say may be among the toughest in Class 2A.

The Lions will open preseason play with scrimmages at Henrietta on Aug. 14 and at home against Early on Aug. 20 before beginning regular-season action later in August. The non-district schedule includes home games against Hawley, Anson and Coleman, along with road trips to DeLeon and Coleman.

Construction activity continues to expand at the Frontier data center project in Shackelford County, bringing both economic activity and growing pains to the area.

The large-scale development, located southwest of Albany, represents a $25 billion investment by Vantage Data Centers and is part of a broader technology expansion tied to Oracle and OpenAI.

The Albany City Council approved a major infrastructure project tied to the city’s newest residential development during its regular meeting Thursday, Feb. 12, at City Hall

Council members unanimously accepted a bid totaling about $540,000 for Phase 1 & 2 construction of a sewer line serving the Highway 6 subdivision, clearing the way for continued progress on the new neighborhood.

The Albany ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved plans Monday to replace the visitor-side bleachers at the Albany football field, citing safety concerns, building code issues and lack of accessibility with the existing structure.

Superintendent Daryl Stuard told trustees the current visitor bleachers are several decades old and are in deteriorating condition. He said multiple contractors advised that the bleachers do not meet current building codes and are not ADA compliant, and that bringing them up to standard would cost nearly as much as full replacement.

As Albany ISD prepares for a May bond election, questions have surfaced regarding whether Shackelford County could use revenue from the new data center project to help fund construction of a new school campus.