By Donnie A. Lucas

Registration for Albany Little League teams, including T-ball, Coach Pitch, Little League Majors and Minors, Intermediate and Junior League, started this week and will continue through Feb. 8.

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary had forms sent home on Wednesday, with the deadline to return registration forms by the Feb. 8 deadline.

Students attending Albany Junior High will be able to pick up forms in the school office. Completed paperwork needs to be returned to the school by Feb. 8.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Two of the four youth basketball teams didn’t play last Saturday due to conflicts with the local stock show.

The final Saturday tournament is set this week on Jan. 30 with both the fifth and sixth grade boys playing at Hawley High School. The sixth grade team will play at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., while the fifth graders are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.

The fifth grade girls will play at Eula High School this week at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. The sixth graders are playing at Jim Ned High School at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

By Sandy Morris

The Moran High School varsity girls basketball team hosted Rising Star on Tuesday, Jan. 19 in district play.

The Lady Bulldogs lost the contest 19-12.

Hannah Rogers was the leading scorer with six points, followed by Emily Murk and Dariann Hawley with three points each. 

The Lady Bulldogs were home against May on Friday, Jan. 22. The team lost the contest 73-15.

Hannah Noble led the scoring with eight points followed by Dariann Hawley with four points, and Alli Scott with three points. 

By Sandy Morris

Twenty-twenty will be remembered for many unusual things, but Shackelford County weather isn’t going to fall into that category.

According to Hector Guerrero with the National Weather Service out of San Angelo, local weather was not the big story of 2020.

“Overall, the weather just wasn’t that horrible last year,” said Guerrero.

Shackelford County saw snow on Jan. 11 with 2.0 inches and again on Feb. 6 with another 2.3 inches. 

By Sandy Morris

The Big Country chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted the first event in their annual Weekend of Champions this past Saturday, Jan. 23. 

This year the Weekend of Champions camps were designed to be a one-day only event with the girls gathering at the Solid Rock Christian Camp in Eastland. 

FCA Big Country East representative Paul Johnston said the day was an amazing experience.

“It was wonderful to see the way the girls bonded,” said Johnston. “They really listened to the speakers and asked great questions.”

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School athlete Wesley Estridge is off to a strong start in powerlifting this season. 

Estridge traveled to Brownwood on Thursday, Jan. 21 to compete in his second powerlifting competition of the year. 

Estridge had a successful meet, placing first individually in the competition and hitting his all-time best in deadlift.

The Albany senior squatted 650 pounds, benched 385 pounds, and dead-lifted 500 pounds for a total of 1,535 points.

By Sandy Morris

The post-holiday coronavirus surge is still affecting many people and local businesses and organizations, including Closet Angels and Neighbors in Need. 

Both organizations are available to help local residents when they need a helping hand, but hours and procedures have been changed for the safety of shoppers and volunteers.

Closet Angels’ director Lori Reames said that they had hoped to reopen for donations this past Monday, Jan. 25.

By Sandy Morris

Thirteen pointers and one English Setter were entered in the sixth annual Region 7 American Field Trial Clubs of America (AFTCA) Amateur All-Age Championship and the M.G. Perkins Amateur All-Age Derby Classic held on Friday, Jan. 22.

Trainers, owners, and highly skilled hunting dogs from across Texas and surrounding states traveled to the Crooked Tree Ranch in Shackelford County for the regional championship that is a qualifying trial for the AFTCA National Amateur Invitational Championship.

By Sandy Morris

A high school worship night has been scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10th The Feed Store. 

Executive director Tisha Wilkins invites all high school students to attend. 

“We will have more information as we get closer to the date, but we’d like the kids to get it on their calendars,” said Wilkins. 

For more information or to help with the worship night, contact Wilkins at 325-660-7443. 

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By Sandy Morris

The 2021 Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association county livestock show and sale was held at the county show barn last weekend, Jan. 22-23, and according to association president Bronco Askew, the show overall went very well.

“We had a great show,” said Askew. “We don’t have complete totals yet, but I feel this year was better than average.”

Askew felt that the show organizers also did a good job of addressing any COVID concerns.