Rain gauges across Shackelford County measured well above average rainfall during 2018, and that trend is continuing in 2019.
Residents reporting totals to the -USDA-Service Center office showed anywhere from 34 inches to over 40 inches of rainfall in various parts of the county during 2018, even though there were several months when less than 25 percent of the expected normal was reported.
Albany ISD will release at 3:00 p.m. today, May 9, and students have a holiday tomorrow, May 10.
Friday, May 10 is designated as a staff comp day, and it is the last student holiday before the school year ends on May 22.
Teachers will still report for work days on May 23 and 24.
High school commencement will close out the school year and takes place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24.
In February, the Alzheimer’s Association – North Central Texas Chapter launched meetings for a new caregiver support group in Abilene.
The Memories Matter group meets the last Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lyndale Abilene – Memory Care, located at 6568 Central Park Boulevard. The next meeting is set for May 30.
Will Galbreath, age 49, of Fisk, died Monday, April 29, 2019, at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.
Graveside service was held Saturday, May 4, 2019, at the Brown Ranch Cemetery Pavilion with Rev. Jim Kitchens, pastor of Gouldbusk and Trinity United Methodist Church, officiating. Inurnment was in the Brown Ranch Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home, Coleman.
County voters have the opportunity to cast ballots in three separate elections this Saturday, May 4, with contested races being decided for the Albany Independent School District board of trustees, Albany city council, and Fort Griffin Special Utility District (SUD).
A total of 200 early voters had already been to Albany City Hall by the end of the early voting period at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday to mark their choices in both city and school races.
About 45 showed up for early voting at the SUD office.
Polling Sites, Hours
Although bank robber Lacey Anderson and her accomplices Megaen Birdwell, wagon driver Cody Leech, and sheriff Shannon Leech made off with a huge haul of phoney bills stolen from the bank during the first annual Albany Chamber of Commerce Wild West Day last Saturday, their counterfeit treasure could not compare with the pride beaming from the eyes of Maggie Spraberry, who baked the winning pie using her great-grandmother Bess Hobbs’ recipe.
Albany native Kirstin Hilliard won the top spot at the crooner contest, earning $400 in CareFest tickets and $200 cash.
Albany High School junior Addison Asher is headed to the UIL state academic meet at the University of Texas campus in Austin this weekend, along with sponsors Donnie Lucas and Jenny Scott.
A sendoff is planned Thursday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. as the group passes through the downtown area.
Asher is advancing in three events after taking first in headline writing and third in both news writing and feature writing at the Regional 1-2A meet in Odessa last month.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Albany will host a Regional Networking Luncheon of the Texas Midwest Community Network on Thursday, May 2 at the Feed Store.
Kathy Keane, Executive Director of the TMCN, sent an invitation to area members, asking them to “Enjoy a step back in history as we learn about the Stasney-Cook Ranch.”
The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon next Wednesday, May 8, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.
The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.
The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable.
SEVERE WEATHER
WARNING
Constant wail
3 minutes
Spring will be celebrated by families this Saturday at the Old Jail Art Center as the staff hosts a family festival featuring crafts, games, food, and music inspired by May Day traditions.
The Mayfest will start at 12:00 noon, and participants are invited to come and go until 3:00 p.m.
“Mayfests have been celebrated throughout Europe each spring for centuries as communities come together to enjoy nature and warmer weather,” said education coordinator Molly Merck, “but this is the Old Jail’s first Mayfest.”
She encouraged whole families to join in the fun.
