In two months, high school seniors will march across the stage, receive their diplomas, and walk into the next chapter of their lives, one that will no longer include seeing all of the same classmates, many of whom they’ve known since kindergarten and have gone to school with every day. 

Before they say goodbye and head off to college or a career, it has become tradition for Albany seniors to gather together on the evening of graduation for the drug and alcohol free all-night party known as Project Graduation.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $69,720 from the state this March. The amount is up 92.72 percent from the $36,175 payment received in March of 2018.

Payments to date for the 2019 year to the city of Albany are $172,649, up by 23.62 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $139,655 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,247 this period, for a 9.79 percent decrease from the $1,382 received in March 2018.

Moran ISD cheerleader tryouts took place shortly before spring break, and members of the high school and junior high cheer teams for the upcoming school year have been announced.

Cheer sponsor for the 2019-2020 school year is elementary teacher Alyson Orsak.

Hannah Rogers is the high school team captain.

Members of the varsity cheer squad are Baylee Orsak, Sondra O’Keefe, Dariann Hawley, Tiffany Wade, Reshaley Schafer, Emily Murk, Harmony Slaughter, and Daphani Crews.

Sage O’Keefe is the varsity mascot.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany tracksters faced a large field of athletes, many from much larger districts, at the Hamlin Piper Relays last Saturday to bring home a few medals and valuable experience.

The high school track teams will compete at the Eastland meet today, with the field events starting at 3:30 p.m. and the running at 5:30 p.m.

Both squads were operating at less than full strength at Hamlin due to spring break, but the coaches said that advances were made.

Shackelford County Hospital District directors learned that a new ambulance approved at the February meeting will cost about $10,000 less than expected.

Longtime ambulance service employee Chad Havens, who oversees general maintenance of the local fleet along with his medical duties, reported at Monday night’s session that he toured the Frazer plant in Houston last week.

The purpose for Havens’ Houston visit was actually to finalize the specifications for the vehicle, which will be a 2019 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel chassis with a customized “box.”

I hope all of you had a nice spring break last week. At least we got a few days of pretty weather. I know all the parents were glad to see the sunshine.

I took a short trip to Aledo to visit my closest grandchildren – Alex, Henry, Ben, and Anna. 

Henry and Ben both had birthdays. I got each boy a new game.I bought PIZZA MONOPOLY and a new game called PICTORIA. 

They were games they didn’t already have. I had checked the weather forecast and noticed that we might be stuck in the house for awhile.

Winners from Abilene, Anson, Stamford, and Wylie were announced by the Old Jail Art Center’s Junior Docents at the opening reception of the museum’s 14th annual Student Art Show, “Talking Back 2019,” on Saturday, March 9.

Edward Ezagui of Abilene High School was presented with the award for “Best in Show.” 

The piece entered by Eden Suley of Wylie High School was judged as “Most Creative.”

According to the calendar, spring arrived yesterday, March 20, and Tommy Sullivan spent part of this week getting the Albany Community Garden ready for planting.

This is the fourth year that the area has been made available for limited public use, thanks to Chamber president Ramby Anderson who has given permission for the community to use the old foundation area.

The city of Albany supplied fill dirt at the start of the project, and volunteers like Sullivan and Anderson have prepared the garden for planting.

Fandangle practices began this week, and the next scheduled rehearsal will be at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 25, at the Aztec Theater.

“I want to invite new people to Albany to experience Fandangle and invite Fandangle veterans to return,” said artistic director Lorna Ayers. “You will not be disappointed. This year’s show is going to be extra special, so I encourage everyone to not miss out.”

Ayers’ script this year will highlight the Matthews and Reynolds families, including John Matthews who, at 100 years old, is still a cast member and plays “The Old Timer.” 

Albany school board members discussed some budget fears that may become hard realities over the next few years unless state legislators make major changes in school funding.

Trustees talked at length about what they will soon face.