By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors met on Tuesday night, Feb. 16 with the primary purpose of approving payment of bills, and that’s about all they had time for, with a nearby house fire interrupting the session.

Board president Jo Ann Estridge said that a special session will need to be called before the next regular meeting scheduled March 15 in order for the directors to take care of several items that were on Tuesday’s agenda.

By Melinda L. Lucas

In addition to dealing with paralyzing cold during the last few days, Albany citizens have been stunned by two devastating house fires that took the life of a local woman and  completely destroyed both homes.

Melvina Irene Fryar was in her family home on Kenshalo Street when fire was reported around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. She graduated from Albany High School in 1969 and had lived in Albany for most of her life.

By Sandy Morris

& Melinda L. Lucas

Old Man Winter blew into Shackelford County with a vengeance Sunday morning with freezing drizzle, snow flurries, temperatures in the teens and low 20s, and a wind chill near zero.

Unfortunately, Sunday’s weather was only the beginning of the winter blast, as the remainder of the week has seen warnings in effect for wind chills falling into the negative 15 and 20 degree range and temperatures staying in the low teens and single digits, dipping down below zero several nights. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

A lengthy discussion on Monday morning to possibly adopt a local policy in connection with Texas Senate Bill 944, which updated laws around public information and retention, was tabled until the next meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Chamber is bringing back the Hereford Ball celebration 100 years after the original ball in 1921, and unfortunately, there are no longer any tickets available.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Whitney Theater.

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said the tickets for the ball, which is a dress-up celebration of Shackelford County’s ranches and history, went fast. 

By Sandy Morris

The Moran varsity girls and boys basketball teams both traveled to Eula on Tuesday, Feb. 2 and Rising Star on Friday, Feb. 5 for district play. 

Lady Bulldog 

Basketball

The Lady Bulldogs lost their contest with Eula 60-20.

Leading scorer for the game was Hannah Noble with six points, Dariann Hawley with five points, Johnnie Hise with four points, Hannah Rogers with three points, and Alli Scott with two points. 

Rising Star

Patrick Henry (kneeling) exhibited his heavy weight cross barrow to a 10th place finish in the recent “Alternative” show in Fort Worth. Chloé Anderson also participated in the event, which drew a large number of exhibitors.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: David Waller, a 2007 graduate of Albany High School, is the Director of Stadium & Football Operations for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. At the end of November, he and other members of the staff found themselves scrambling after the unexpected announcement that the Rose Bowl would be held in Texas.]

By David Hooks Waller

By Sandy Morris

The Albany United Methodist Church has announced its upcoming Ash Wednesday service. 

The service will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. 

First Methodist pastor Tim Trimble said the service will be delivered via livestream from Seedbed.com and is entitled A Night with New Room, Ash Wednesday. 

By Sandy Morris

Area churches are participating in the Open Door Pregnancy and Family Resource Center current fundraiser.

Baby Bottle Boomerang is an annual fundraiser during which baby bottles are distributed to area residents to be filled with coins, bills, or checks which will be donated to the Open Door.

Breckenridge Open Door center director Marlina Cowan said there are about 24 churches in the area participating in this year’s fundraiser.