Membership letters for the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association will be mailed out tomorrow, March 1, according to marketing director Rebecca Bridges.

The mailing of the traditional white envelopes with the green Fandangle label is considered the official start of the annual membership drive for the Fort Griffin Fandangle.

“The levels will stay the same as last year, but we’ve added a lot of benefits for members, businesses, and sponsorships,” said Bridges. “We have created some new sponsorship opportunities. And the sampler will be really fun!”

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $50,966 from the state this February. The amount is down 15.20 percent from the $60,108 payment received in February of 2018.

Payments to date for the 2019 year to the city of Albany are $102,929, down by 0.53 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $103,480 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,738 this period, for a 46.26 percent increase from the $1,188 received in February 2018.

The National Weather Service (NWS) encourages all residents, businesses and schools across West Central Texas to practice a tornado drill on Wednesday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. or at a time that is more convenient. 

More tornadoes strike Texas than any other state, and the San Angelo office has designated March 3-9 as the official opening of severe weather awareness season.

School Drills

The Lion basketball team played even for three of four quarters against Sundown Friday, but couldn’t make up for a 10-point spread in the second that signaled the end of the season with a 53-41 loss in the Region I area playoff at Colorado City.

Albany defeated Christoval 46-43 for a bi-district win earlier in the week at Bangs, advancing on to the area round of the Class 2A playoffs, finishing out the season with a 13-6 record.

Patsy Jenkins, 84, died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at an Abilene care facility. Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the First Baptist Church in Albany. Burial was Tuesday at the Terrace Cemetery in Post, Texas. Services were under the direction of Bailey-Howard Funeral Home in Clyde.

Patsy was born Feb. 5, 1935, in Winnsboro, Texas, to Morris Zeigler and Icie (Mills) Reid. She was a 1950 graduate of Post High School. She spent many years as a home sitter as an aide to the elderly. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Albany.

Sixteen Albany students are travelling to Stamford for an academic invitational practice meet this Saturday, Feb. 23, and according to UIL coordinator Rick Davis, they could bring home several ribbons even though scheduling conflicts limited the number of students who could participate.

The Methodist Women’s group invites everyone in the community to enjoy lunch at First United Methodist’s annual fundraising Mexican pile-on dinner this coming Sunday, Feb. 24.

The meal consists of seasoned ground beef, tortilla chips, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, and additional trimmings. Desserts and drinks will also be served. 

The free-will donation meal will be available for either dine in or carry out, starting at 11:30 a.m. 

Proceeds raised by the meal will go to missions and to the Methodist Women’s scholarship fund. 

Jaymie Rae Gintert and Lawrence Mason McDonald were united in marriage on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 at the Springs Event Venue in Angleton, Texas. 

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Gintert of Pearland, Texas. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. (Pete) McDonald of Rosharon, Texas. 

Mason’s grandparents were Bud and Elva (Daniell) Dillingham. Mason’s mother is the former Beverly Dillingham, 15th grandchild of Mollie Dillingham. Mason is one of 35 great-grandchildren of Ben and Mollie Dillingham. 

The Fandangle board of directors, including newly elected member Henry Musselman, met on Feb. 12, and plans for this year’s production are underway, although rehearsals will not begin until after spring break.

“I didn’t want to start practicing, and then be off for a week,” said artistic director Lorna Ayers. “We will have our first practice the Tuesday after spring break, March 19, at the Aztec. This will be for the full cast, everyone except the rolling stock.” 

Membership letters will be mailed on March 1.

The regular dominos crowd, plus a few extras, helped Louise Shelton (front, c) cele-brate her 103rd birthday with a few brisk games of “42” last Friday afternoon at the local library. Shelton is a frequent winner and attends the games almost every week.