Area churches will once again host the successful and popular after-game fellowships following each of the Albany Lions’ home football games for 2018, according to Brad McBee, president of the Albany Ministerial Alliance.

The first “Fifth Quarter” event of the season will be held Friday, Aug. 31 at The Feed Store and will be hosted by Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Chick-fil-A, desserts, and drinks will be served at tomorrow’s event, according to MMPC minister Anthony Ceder.

First Baptist Church members have often traveled for hours, driving or flying out of state or even out of the country on mission projects, but this fall they have chosen to work on a project much closer to home, just a few blocks east of the sanctuary.

Tricia and J.R. Reyes’ uninsured home burned to the ground in July, and the new structure that they moved in to replace the house is a small storage building that will need a lot of work to become a comfortable home, so Lori Schooler and the FBC mission team decided to help out.

Kids Club Activities at First United Methodist Church are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

The Kids Club is designed for fourth through seventh graders, and offers them fun activities, snacks, and the opportunity to learn the Word.

The church van is used to transport participating children from the elementary school to the church each Wednesday afternoon in time for the 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. program.

“They will let us know if the bus needs to go by the junior high and pick up students there,” said church secretary Margaret Butler. 

Financial adviser Stephanie Davis (c) snips the ceremonial banner during a formal ribbon cutting at the new Team Financial Strategies office at 140 Hill Street in Albany. Several Chamber of Commerce representatives were on hand for the event held last Friday afternoon.

Jane Elizabeth Burroughs, 86, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018 of complications arising from a long battle with vascular dementia. 

Jane was born at home on Jan. 29, 1932 in Moran, Texas to Fletcher and Etoile Bratton as the first of three daughters. Jane attended school in Moran, Texas. She married Luther Duane Latimer early in life and proceeded to have five children. Jane and L.D. owned the “Kermit Drive-In” restaurant for several years before they divorced, and she relocated to Odessa with their children in the mid 60s. 

The Lion football team was put to the test last Thursday during a scrimmage in Anson, with the varsity’s first team coming up short against the Tigers.

The varsity will open the regular season at home Friday, hosting the Colorado City Wolves at Robert Nail Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The visitors are moving up to Class 3A Div. II this year and typically provide a competitive start to the season.

The Lady Lion volleyball team won both games during pool play at the Dublin Tournament last week, earning a spot in the championship bracket only to face a pair of powerhouses on Saturday.

Albany hosted Clyde on Tuesday, falling in three games to the Class 3A Lady Bulldogs 15-25, 20-25, 18-25. 

The local girls are sitting at 4-8 for the season.

Albany runners will compete in the first cross country meet of the season next Tuesday, Sept. 4 in Eula.

Both the junior high and high school runners will attend the meet, which starts at 4:00 p.m.

Coach Tate Thompson reported a total of 13 junior high runners will participate, along with four high school athletes.

The high school team has been working out since Aug. 1, while the junior high students started on the first day of school, Aug. 16.

Season tickets are now on sale at the Albany High School principal’s office for the 2018 football season, featuring stadium seating at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The Lions are hosting five home varsity games this year. The season opener against Colorado City is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Aug. 31, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

The field is almost set for the annual Labor Day Golf Tournament sponsored by the Albany Golf Club, and those who still want to join in the competition should get their entry in quickly before all spots are gone.

“We are just about full,” said organizer James Waters on Monday afternoon. “But golfers should still call, because there may still be a spot or two available!”