By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lion softball team is off to a strong start, winning three of the first four games.

Albany will play in the Stephenville tournament on Thursday through Saturday, playing two games each day.

Albany will play South Hills at 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a 5:45 p.m. bout versus Krum. On Friday, the team will face Godley at 9:00 a.m. and Midway JV at 2:15 p.m., followed by a Saturday morning game at 9:00 a.m. against Eastland. Bracket play will be played later in the day based on the results of the first five rounds.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany siblings Newt and Alayna Koemel have both developed a passion for meat, not just eating it, but spending hours in cold lockers learning about meat science, competing on meat judging teams, and pursing a college degree and future career in the field.

Newt recently placed as the fifth alternate on the Texas Tech meat judging team that won the National Championship in Dakota City, Nebraska.

By Kathy Thomson

Boys and girls on Albany Little Dribblers teams played their third set of games last weekend on Saturday, Feb. 22, and will finish out their year this Saturday, Feb. 29.

Three girls teams and four boys teams are each playing two games every Saturday throughout the season.

The final set of matches will take place this Saturday, Feb. 29, starting at 8:30 a.m. with a match between the boys’ Red and Black teams. The first game of the day for the girls will be at 9:30 a.m. between Purple and Red.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany junior Wesley Estridge placed first in the super heavy weight class at the Greenwood Invitational powerlifting meet on Saturday, Feb. 22, with a total lift of 1570 pounds.

The Albany junior has secured a spot at the regional meet, which will be held March 14 in Sundown.

At Greenwood, Estridge had a 700 pound lift in the squat, bench pressed 405 pounds, and had a dead lift of 465 pounds. 

His win carried Albany to an eighth place team finish, even though Estridge was the only one on the team.

By Kathy Thomson

The National Weather Service (NWS), with the help of local organizations, conducts SkyWarn classes each spring all over the nation, including two scheduled in area towns over the next few days.

This Saturday, Feb. 29, a SkyWarn class will meet in Hart Auditorium in the Onstead-Packer building at Abilene Christian University from 9:00-11:30 a.m. 

A SkyWarn class will also be offered on Monday, March 2, in Breckenridge.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The 2020 baseball season will open this week with the Albany JV Tournament, set for Thursday through Saturday.

The varsity Lions are on the calendar to open the season March 5-7 at the Hamlin tournament.

Currently, four JV teams are signed up for this week’s tournament in Albany, including Hamlin, Early, Cisco, and Albany.

“Each team will have one game each day for a total of three,” baseball coach David Fairchild said.

By Kathy Thomson

Students at the Moran Independent School District are celebrating national FFA week, Feb. 22-29 with different themes each day.

“Monday was camo day, and Tuesday was dress as a farmer,” said administrative assistant Jeanne TenCate. “This Wednesday was ‘bring a stuffed farm animal to school’.”

Thursday’s theme was dress like a cowboy. 

On Friday, Feb. 28, students are encouraged to wear the FFA colors, blue and gold. 

Danny Hebel, age 61 of Albany, passed away Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Friendship Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Johnston officiating. Interment followed in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Danny Lynn Hebel was born May 3, 1958 in Knox City, Texas to parents Robert Allen Hebel and Lola Bea Hawley Hebel. He grew up and attended schools in Albany. Danny was a self-proclaimed Jack-of-all-trades, working as a rancher, a cook and in the oilfield. 

Dr. Weldon Ernest Viertel of Tyler, TX was born Dec. 4, 1930 in Stamford, TX to the late Max E. Viertel and Alice Byrd Viertel. He passed away on Feb. 18, 2020 at the age of 89.

Funeral services were held at The Woods Baptist Church in Tyler on Saturday, Feb. 22 with Rev. Charles Dodson and Rev. Pike Wisner officiating. Burial was in Mason Cemetery in Arp, TX.

Weldon was the husband of Jo Barnett Viertel for six years following a 58-year marriage to the late Joyce Garrett Viertel. 

Thelma Burge

Thelma Irene Burge, 98, of Albany TX was called home and embraced by her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. She was born on Feb. 19, 1922 in Quinlan, TX and was the daughter of James and Ethel Henrise, Jr. She married Floyd Cecil Burge in 1938 and the two made Albany their home.

Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Albany Cemetery. The service will be directed by Baum-Carlock Bumgardner Funeral Home, with Chuck Sheppard officiating.