NAP available to producers

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced that higher levels of coverage will be offered through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), a popular safety net program, beginning April 8. 

The 2018 Farm Bill also increased service fees and made other changes to the program, including service fee waivers for qualified military veterans interested in obtaining NAP coverage. 

Albany News

Pesticide training deadline nears

The Texas A&M Agri-Life Extension Service in Callahan and Shackelford Counties are partnering together to conduct a private pesticide applicator training session on Monday, May 13 in Baird, with a deadline of this Friday.

The training will be at the Callahan County extension office at 100 West 4th Street, Suite 201.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the training will start at 6:00 p.m., but participants must pre-register by Friday, May 3, according to Shackelford County extension agent Michaela Bradford.

Albany News

Shackelford Co. runners help HSU win conference

The Hardin Simmons Cowgirls recently won the American Southwest Conference Track and Field Championship thanks in a large part to Shackelford County graduates Baley Green and Sydney Ten Cate.

HSU senior Sydney Ten Cate graduated from Moran, while college freshman Baley Green is from Albany. 

Ten Cate garnered 30 points at the meet, and Baley earned 13 points on her own and another eight as part of the mile relay team. Between the two they helped tally 51 points toward the HSU team winning total of 224.83.

Sydney Ten Cate

Fire damages Brownwood home

A house fire in Brownwood at 6:30 a.m. on the morning of April 18 caused major damage to the home of Albany alumnus Aidalu Delgado Price, and although the family is fine and has a temporary place to live, the home was uninsured.

According to Brownwood fire marshal Buddy Preston, the cause of the fire was an overheated plug on a window air conditioner unit.

Bobby Price was at work at the time of the fire, and Aidalu Price was on her way to work at the Brownwood school district.

Albany News

Commodities to be distributed

Pick-up dates for the May distribution of the commodity food program are May 2 and 3.

On Thursday, May 2, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Albany families who have been certified eligible for the April food distribution program can pick up their commodity food Friday, May 3, at the rear door of the JP office (the former county jail) from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. 

Albany News

Park admission at Fort Griffin free on Sunday

The Texas Historical Commission announced that everyone is invited to visit the THC Historic Sites, including Fort Griffin, free of charge this Sunday, May 5, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The free day includes all of the organization’s sites, unless they are currently closed for renovations or restorations. 

The free day is in celebration of National Preservation Month and Texas Travel and Tourism Week.

THC sites include military strongholds, house museums, plantations, and American Indian settlements.

Albany News

Beehive featured by Country Reporter

The latest episode of “Texas Country Reporter” features the local Beehive restaurant and owner Ali Esfandiary, along with Cactus Book Shop owner Felton Cochran, Buffalo soldier painter Bob Snead, and the show’s host Bob Phillips. 

Episode 1652 aired on Abilene’s KTXS (channel 12) at 6:30 p.m. last Saturday and is scheduled to be broadcast on RFD TV at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, repeated at 12:00 a.m. early on the morning of Saturday, May 4, and rerun another time at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 5. 

Lions face Cross Plains at bi-district

The Lion baseball team clawed their way back to second place in District 8-2A with a 4-1 win over the Haskell Indians last week in Hermleigh. The game was orginally scheduled in Albany but was moved due to weather conditions.

The Lions are paired against the Cross Plains Buffaloes in the bi-district playoff series set to start Thursday (today) in Eastland at 5:00 p.m. Game 2 is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Friday in Eastland, with the third game 30 minutes afterwards if needed.

Admission will be $3 for adults and $2 for students.

Pole vaulter advances to state

Several members of the Albany track teams competed last week at the Region I-2A meet in Levelland, with senior Caroline Masters advancing for a second year to the state track meet in the pole vault.

While Masters was the lone Albany athlete to advance to Austin, several other individuals and three of the four relay teams made the finals to place at the regional meet.

Seniors receive awards

A recap of Albany High’s athletic success during the 2018-2019 school year was given at the annual All-Sports Banquet on Tuesday, including the announcement of several special memorial awards.

Coaches for each sport also recognized their teams, along with handing out various sport-specific awards.

A total of 10 senior athletes were presented a total of 13 special awards in memory or honor of local citizens that exemplified special qualities.

The banquet was sponsored by the Albany Athletic Booster Club.