By Melinda L. Lucas

Local and area residents are invited to participate in two upcoming events for adults at the Old Jail Art Center.

On Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. is the OJAC’s regular Third Thursday workshop, which this month will feature “needle felting.”

The art form is defined as “a process which uses barbed needles to interlock wool fibers to form a more condensed material.”

Participants, who are invited to “bring a friend and a favorite bottle of wine,” will leave with a felted landscape.

By Kathy Thomson

The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show is just two weeks away, with weigh-in for hogs, lambs, and goats on Thursday, Jan. 23, and classes judged on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-25.

According to organizers, donations are still needed in order to offset show expenses and provide prizes and premiums to the exhibitors.

“We are currently at $17,675,” said SCYLA treasurer Molly Cauble on Tuesday, Jan. 7. “All donations go toward the expenses of the stock show, such as ribbons, belt buckles, supplies, and premium money.”

By Kathy Thomson

Twenty-eight local youth and five adult leaders traveled to Taos, New Mexico during the Albany Youth Ministry Winter Ski Trip and Christian Adventure last week. 

This year, the group left Albany early on Wednesday, Jan. 1, checked in at Snakedance Condos at the base of Taos Ski Valley later that same afternoon, and skied on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, before returning home on Sunday, Jan. 5.

“We had a great ski trip and a great week with the kids,” said Feed Store director Kathryn Hamilton. 

By Kathy Thomson

KTAB weatherman Sam Nichols was the guest lecturer at one of the Albany Lions Club weekly meeting in December, but he wasn’t there to talk about the weather.

Nichols, who retired from a very successful career as a basketball coach, including 12 years as the head women’s basketball coach at McMurry University, where his team made four NCAA post-season appearances including making it to the “Sweet 16” in 2007, wasn’t really there to talk about basketball either.

Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce gather on the porch of Albany Wellness & Provisions for the grand opening celebration a little over a month ago. Owner Michaela Smith is planning an open house this weekend with events scheduled throughout the day on Saturday, Jan. 11.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The varsity Lion basketball team went 2-2 at the local tournament held last week and also hosted a game Tuesday against the Abilene Hawks.

The Lions picked up a very close 37-36 win over the Hawks at home. Details of the game will be reported next week.

Albany will also host JV and varsity games on Friday against Graford starting at 5:00 p.m. with the JV. The varsity will follow at 6:30 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lions split their final two district warm-up games last week in preparation to opening the District 8-2A race in Cross Plains on Friday.

The Lady Lions are set to travel to Cross Plains tomorrow for both JV and varsity games starting at 5:00 p.m.

Girls head coach Tate Thompson said that this is the first JV game to be scheduled in over a month due to injuries.

The varsity game will follow the JV district opener at 6:30 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The youth fifth and sixth grade basketball teams will play their first games of the season on Saturday, Jan. 11, with three of the four Albany teams competing here, and the fifth grade boys playing in Hawley.

The local tournament will involve both the Albany High School main gym and the practice gym.

Games will take place every hour from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with two matches scheduled for each of the area teams playing in Albany this Saturday. 

By Kathy Thomson

Signup is underway for Little Dribblers basketball and local boys and girls from eight years old through fourth grade are invited to join.

“Players must be at least eight years of age on Jan. 1,” said organizer Clint Chapman.

Parents need to complete, sign, and return the registration form along with the $30 entry fee to either the Nancy Smith Elementary School office or to Chapman by Wednesday, Jan. 22.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The eighth grade Cubs and Lady Cubs will travel to Cross Plains on Thursday (today) for games tipping off at 5:00 p.m.

The junior high teams have been idle since Dec. 16 prior to the Christmas break.

Only the two eighth grade teams will face off against Cross Plains since the Buffs only have one junior high team each for boys and girls.