Anyone who would like to add a veteran’s name to the Shackelford County veterans memorial marker is asked to contact Mary Kay O’Connor at 325-660-2498 by Friday, May 10 at the latest.

Veterans do not have to be deceased, nor do they have to have served in a war to be included on the memorial marker.

O’Connor hopes to have all names updated on the marker in time for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27.

She will need the veteran’s name the way it will appear on the marker, as well as proof of service. 

The cost of engraving each name is currently $65.

A special reception honoring retiring Albany ISD board members Betsy Parsons and Pam Davis is being planned by AISD administrators and staff members for this Sunday, April 28.

The come-and-go event is set for 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Aztec Theater’s reception room.

“This is an opportunity for our community to express appreciation for the years of service to the students of AISD that Betsy and Pam have provided,” said superintendent Jonathan Scott. “We appreciate their commitment to making AISD a great place to learn and grow.” 

The annual Fandangle membership Sampler, presented at Collins Creek Ranch at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, was a big success, according to artistic director Lorna Ayers. 

“The weather was beautiful,” Ayers said. “The turnout was great. And the show was fantastic!”

Association president Lanham Martin agreed.

“We had a really good turnout,” Martin said. “The show went smooth, and it was a great night. I think everyone had a good time, and I know that all of the seven or eight briskets that Cody Leech and Lesley Jones prepared all got eaten.”

The Fort Griffin Special Utility District (FGSUD) is in the process of conducting its first contested board election in more than a decade, with early voting already underway, and the actual election day set for May 4, the same day as elections for the Albany city council and school board.

Two three-year terms on the seven-member board are expiring with two candidates for each seat.

Incumbent Kenneth Hill of Albany is being challenged by Donald (Don) Stutsman of Moran.

The Albany Student Council will be hosting a blood drive at Albany High School next Monday, and seniors who donate blood for the second time this year will be eligible to wear a red honor cord at graduation.

The Hendrick Regional Bloodmobile will be at the high school from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 29, and although the drive is geared toward students and teachers, community members are also welcome, according to principal Edward Morales.

According to recent news broadcasts, O positive blood is in especially short supply.

Parents who need to register their child in the Head Start program for the 2019-20 school year should go to the Nancy Smith Elementary School, room 107, on Monday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Head Start is a free, full-day, pre-school program for economically disadvantaged children that are three or four years old and who qualify for free meals.

Head Start is also open to students with specified disabilities.

Parents of current returning students in Head Start must recertify their child and complete a new registration packet.

Academic excellence will be recognized at the Albany High School Academic Banquet sponsored by Albany ISD, the Feed Store, and the AJSH Academic Booster Club on Monday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m., with a theme of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.”

The annual banquet is held in the main gym in honor of students who displayed outstanding scholarly achievement during the school year. 

The menu will be fajitas, rice, beans, chips, hot salsa, and chocolate cake, according to Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins.

The public is invited to come by the First Christian Church prayer Labyrinth, located on South Pecan Street across from the Old Jail Art Center, at noon next Thursday, May 2, to join the Albany Ministerial Alliance and millions of people across the nation in prayer for the United States.

“It will be a time of prayer, and we will sing a couple of hymns,” said Alliance president Brad McBee.

Prayer by the people, for the nation, has been a part of America since it began. 

Participants in JAM, the “Jesus And Me” children’s ministry at First Baptist Church, presented their end-of-the-year program on Wednesday night, April 24, and will meet next week for the final time this school year.

The annual family night at Webb City Park is set for Wednesday, May 1, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Families of JAM participants are invited for food and games.

Fourteen local third to sixth graders and 11 junior high students from the Albany Church of Christ, along with their team leaders and many parents, attended the North Texas Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) Convention at the Downtown Hyatt Regency in Dallas last weekend, April 19-20.

Both the elementary and the junior high groups participated in chorus, drama, and puppet team events. 

Youth from the Albany Church of Christ have participated in LTC for the last 12 years.