By Donnie A. Lucas
The 2020 football playoff season was supposed to start this week for the Albany Lions with a bi-district bout against the Chico Dragons, but the game became the latest victim of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, school officials in Chico decided to forfeit the game due to COVID-19 cases within their program, leaving Albany with the bi-district title without even stepping foot on the field.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The JV football team wrapped up the 2020 season with another shutout, beating the visiting Wylie sophomore JV 28-0 last Thursday at Robert Nail Stadium.
The Lions finished the season with a 7-1 record, playing several games against larger schools because of cancellations due to the coronavirus.
“This was a good win for our JV coming off a tough loss the week before,” coach David Fairchild said. “We faced a good defensive front, and I was pleased with our offensive line.”
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Cubs and Lady Cubs will start the 2020-2021 basketball season on Monday, Nov. 16 with a full set of games.
The seventh and eighth grade girls will host Abilene Christian School starting at 5:30 p.m., while the boys will make the trip to Abilene Christian with the same tip-off.
The junior high teams will be in action again on Monday, Nov. 23 with the girls traveling to Cisco and the boys staying home to host the Loboes.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Lady Lions basketball teams opened the season last Friday in Hermleigh, dropping the game 51-24.
Albany was scheduled to be back on the local court on Saturday against Huckabay, but the game was been cancelled because of the volleyball playoffs, according to coach Tate Thompson.
The Lady Lions are also on the schedule to host Rule on Tuesday, Nov. 17 starting at 5:00 p.m.
Currently, the Lady Lions are able to put a combined team on the floor since several players are still involved in volleyball.
By Sandy Morris
The canned food drive hosted by the Moran junior and senior classes is winding down this week.
According to Moran ISD principal Jo Hise, the food drive has had a wonderful start.
“Last week, we collected 288 cans,” said Hise.
The third grade leads the contest with 105 cans.
Canned goods can be delivered to the school through the end of the week and will be delivered to local needy families.
Toys For Tots
By Sandy Morris
It is a busy time of year for local 4-H and FFA members.
Many stock shows have opened up their registrations, and validations have started.
Both groups also are participating in fundraisers or food drives.
4-H Food Drive
The Shackelford County 4-H will be holding a food drive on Monday, Nov. 16 from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.
The group will be set up in the courthouse parking lot collecting food items for the Resource Center.
By Melinda L. Lucas
After a longer than expected delay, thousands of tax statements should be mailed next week to Shackelford County land, property, and business owners.
According to Shackelford County Appraisal District (SCAD) chief appraiser Clayton Snyder, the statements normally go out by the second week of October, but are about a month later than usual for reasons that have nothing to do with the local staff.
By Sandy Morris
When local hero, William Edwin Dyess, was tragically lost in a plane crash in 1943, arrangements were made for a military trumpet player to play “Taps” at the service.
Fast forward 77 years and the lone trumpet player, along with his fellow World War II Army Air Force Band members, is about to have a posthumous album released of their original recordings.
Richard Burt was the lead trumpet player of the 746th Army Air Force band stationed in the Philippines during WWII.
By Melinda L. Lucas
A lengthy discussion about what to do with $25,000 in CARES Act funding and an update about the city’s rolloff program for abandoned houses took a good part of Monday night’s Albany city council meeting on Nov. 9.
The resignation of Carolyn Waller, who has served on the council for the past nine years, was accepted “with regrets” and appreciation was expressed by mayor Susan Montgomery for Waller’s dedication to the community of Albany.
Waller is stepping down because of health reasons.
House Demolition
Jimmy Brooks, Sr., age 72 of Moran, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 19 at Moran Cemetery Pavilion. Interment will follow under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.
Jimmy T. Brooks was born Feb. 16, 1948 in Cisco, Texas to parents Jim Tom Brooks and Ray Nell Williams Brooks. He grew up in Moran and was very active in FFA, stock shows, and all sports for the Moran Bulldogs.
