By Melinda L. Lucas

Local and area residents are invited to participate in the Old Jail Art Center’s Third Thursday workshop, set for 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19.  

Adults 21 and over can “bring a friend and a favorite bottle of wine and create polymer clay jewelry,” said educational director Erin Whitmore. “The class will be taught by an experienced art educator in a fun and laid-back workshop environment.” 

Registration is $15 for OJAC members and $20 for non-members. The fee includes all needed supplies.

All Shackelford County senior adults (60 and up) are invited to attend the Shackelford County Resource Center’s March senior luncheon to be held on Friday, March 13 at the Albany Youth Center beginning at 11:15 a.m.

Members of First Methodist Church are hosting this month, according to program assistant Ragan Riley.

The menu for the March luncheon is chicken pot pie, salad, corn on the cob, and roasted potatoes, with a “St. Patrick’s Day” theme.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany High School’s one act play (OAP) will advance to bi-district competition, and six members of the troupe won special accolades at the district contest in Stamford on Thursday, March 5.

The bi-district OAP contest will also be held in Stamford on Wednesday, March 25.

Receiving the honor of All-Star Cast was B.J.Morris for his performance as Major-General Sir Richard Hannay, the hero in The 39 Steps.

Tana Thompson, Brooks Neece, and Jackson Chapman were chosen for Honorable Mention All Star Cast. 

By Kathy Thomson

Students tried out for the chance to become Albany school cheerleaders on Friday, March 6, before spring break.

“We had three judges from McMurry University, and their scores counted for 50 percent,” said cheer sponsor Lindsey Vaughn. “Albany teacher evaluations counted for 30 percent, and the student body votes made up the other 20 percent of the totals that were used to make the selections.” 

According to Vaughn, Albany will not have a head cheerleader next year.

Levi Britting of Albany was named to the All-Lone-Star Conference Men’s All-Academic Team for the 2019-20 indoor track and field season.

Britting is a member of the Angelo State University track team. He is the son of Rod and Susan Britting and Kristi Espinosa.

By Kathy Thomson

The Leon Bosque Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. awarded grant money to the Albany Senior Citizens Activity Center last week.

On behalf of the Leon Bosque RC&D, Shackelford County board member John Tate presented a check for $500 to Senior Center representative Tracy Sullivan on Friday, March 6.

“There’s still so much we need,” said Sullivan, “but this money will probably go for tables and chairs.”

Sullivan said that for the most part, the interior of the building is empty.

By Kathy Thomson

For several years, various residents of the Big Country area have traveled to Uganda over spring break on a Christian mission trip, and Albany High School junior Tana Thompson planned to go again this year.

All of that changed when Thomas Aly, former youth minister at Abany’s First Baptist Church and founder of Live Missions, cancelled the trip due to concerns about COVID-19.

By Kathy Thomson

Fandangle rehearsals start next week, and everyone who wants to be in this year’s sampler or in the summer show, veteran or first-timer, is encouraged to come to the rehearsal and join their neighbors in the uniquely Albany activity.

“We invite anyone new to Fandangle or those who have been contemplating returning to Fandangle to come join us on Monday, March 16 for rehearsal,” said artistic director Lorna Ayers. “Horsemen and wagons can plan on joining us for rehearsals at Collins Creek beginning April 20.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

After a rocky start due to a loss in Anson last week, the Lady Lion softball team turned things around to win the championship game at the Clifton tournament despite being the smallest school entered.

The softball team was off this week for spring break, but is scheduled to be back in action next Friday in Snyder with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch.

Albany opened last week with an 11-8 loss in Anson, but came back to win four of five games in Clifton for the championship.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion baseball team is off to a strong start, winning all three games at the Hamlin tournament last week and picking up a victory in Eastland to post an undefeated 5-0 record so far for the season.

Albany will play in the Lloyd Burton Memorial Tournament in Brock Thursday and Friday, opening with a 12:00 noon game against Covenant and a 2:00 p.m. bout versus Grandview.

The Lions will return on Friday for a 4:00 p.m. game against West, followed by a 6:00 p.m. pairing with DeLeon.