An investment advisor  spent almost an hour with the Shackelford County Hospital Board during the regular meeting on Monday, July 16.

Later, during the clinic session, the directors learned that the Shackelford County Health Clinic’s “Quality Scores” have resulted in an increase of Medicare payments to the clinic.

Hospital district administrator Jera Fairley reported the news that based on 2017 quality indicators, the clinic payment for Medicare patients will increase by 0.65 percent.

The Albany Chamber of Commerce office will be closed from Monday, July 23 until Monday, Aug. 6, but Chamber organizers already have a back-to-school bash planned for Thursday, Aug. 9.

“We are renting the pool from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for all local students from fifth grade through 12th,” said Chamber office manager Mary Beth Jones. 

The pool party is especially geared toward youth who are old enough they can be dropped off to swim, while the parents take care of shopping needs.

Parents of eighth grade and high school band members are asked to attend the first Band Boosters meeting of the 2018-2019 school year, set for Thursday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Albany High School band hall.

Local band director John Stockdale said Tuesday that Penelope Prater has volunteered to chair the booster organization, as well as organize the football concession stand for the band.

Summer vacation for Albany students will end in just under a month, when the 2018-19 school year starts on Thursday, August 16, at 7:55 a.m., and officials at Nancy Smith Elementary School have requested that parents of returning students go online and register their children for the upcoming year if they have not already done so.

“Several still need to complete the online registration,” said principal Jonathan Scott. “We will have computers available to anyone needing to complete the registration process during new student registration on Aug. 1.”

Seven members of the Albany chapter of the Future Farmers of America and their sponsor were among more than 12,000 FFA members and guests that attended the 90th Texas FFA State Convention held on July 9-13 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, and another three members from Albany competed in the 2018 Texas FFA Rodeo.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $39,028 from the state this July. The amount is up 0.61 percent from the $38,789 payment received in July of 2017.

Payments to date for the 2018 year to the city of Albany are $295,514, down by 1.48 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $299,979 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $4,293 this period, for a 273.53 percent increase from the $1,149 received in July 2017.

Aspiring young artists entering first through 12th grades can attend various art camps at the Old Jail Art Center this summer and learn about recycling, Italy, puppets, and/or creating artwork from various media. 

All classes, including supplies, are free, but space is limited, so early registration is encouraged and is already underway for all the classes.

Italy

On Friday, Aug. 3, up to 30 participants in first through sixth grades will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to focus on the music, food, and art of Italy. 

Rylie Scott of Albany, Texas, will have help attending Texas A&M University this fall, thanks to her selection as a Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar. 

Scott is among 36 students selected to receive a scholarship from the foundation this year. A 2018 graduate of Albany High School, she will major in biomedical engineering.

In high school, Scott earned a 3.98 GPA and was active in campus organizations. She was a captain on the varsity volleyball team, editor of the high school newspaper, and vice president of the student council. 

The Albany Ministerial Alliance’s supported Community Vacation Bible School theme this year of Game On! has been a big hit if attendance numbers are any indication, with 160 children participating on Monday and 155 on Tuesday.

“We have a lot of kids!” Tisha Wilkins said. “We’ve had between 100 and 110 from Day Camp, plus 40 to 50 drop-ins that were not in the ResourceCare program.”

The Feed Store youth played volleyball and kickball at City Park on Tuesday, July 17, and they plan to get together later this week for another evening of exercise and fellowship. 

Youth ministers Levi and Ashlee Herron have asked youth that plan to go to the Skatin’ Night on Friday, July 20, to sign up in advance so that transportation can be arranged.

Cost is $8 per person, and the group will leave The Feed Store at 6:15 p.m. tomorrow.

The following weekend, July 27-29, is the Feed Store Lake Retreat at Hubbard Creek Lake.