Parents of Albany High School graduating seniors are reminded to gather baby pictures for The Albany News’ upcoming graduation section.

Pictures are due by the end of next week, on Thursday, May 6, if possible.

Parents need to select a clear, sharp baby picture of their graduate, preferably a face and shoulders close-up under age three or four.

High resolution images for the graduation special section can be emailed to news@thealbanynews.net or photos can be brought by the News office to be scanned and returned immediately.

By Sandy Morris

The public is invited to come to the Bank Park at 8:00 a.m. next Thursday, May 6, to join the Albany Ministerial Alliance and millions of people across the nation in prayer for the United States.

“Our goal is to pray,” said Alliance president Jeff Turner. “We will gather and have a time for anyone who would like to pray to have the opportunity to pray for our city, state, and country.”

Prayer by the people, for the nation, has been a part of America since it began. 

By Sandy Morris

Several members of Matthews Memorial Presbyterian church joined other gardening enthusiasts at the Ben Richey Boys Ranch Albany campus  this past Sunday to help  the boys get their garden started. 

One of the organizers, Alicia Burton, said the annual project is sponsored by the Sallie Matthews Circle at the church and that the entire church gets involved.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany sixth grade band attended the Clyde Beginner Band Festival on Saturday, April 24 and earned straight division 1 ratings for their performance of “The Buglers” by Edmondson and “Star Wars” by Williams, arranged by Strommen. 

Albany band director Will Vaughan was very pleased with his musicians both on and off of the stage. 

By Sandy Morris

First Baptist Church Children’s Ministry will host a hamburger lunch fundraiser at the FBC Fellowship Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 2.

The brown bag lunch will be ‘grab and go’ and will include a hamburger, chips, drink, and dessert.

Donations will be accepted for the meal and all proceeds will help send Albany third through sixth graders to summer camp. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lion softball team ended the regular season on Tuesday with a 11-6 loss to the Cisco Lady Loboes, sending Albany into the playoffs as the runner-up in the 2A bracket for Region I.

The two teams were tied in the standings going into the bout at the local ballpark, with the winner advancing in the top spot in the playoffs.

The Lady Lions will face the Anson Lady Tigers, the third place team from District 7-2A, in a best-of-three series if field conditions and weather permits.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Several Albany athletes placed at the Region II Track and Field Meet last week in Springtown, with two Lions advancing to the state meet in jumping events.

Sophomore Cole Chapman won the boys high jump, clearing 6-02 on his final attempt to move from fourth to first place.

Junior Luke Ivy will also be competing in Austin at the state meet in the triple jump with a distance of 43-10.25.

Photo packages for local Little League and t-ball participants will be ready for pickup on Monday, May 3.

The softball pictures that are being taken today (April 29) and the coach pitch teams scheduled for Saturday, May 1 will probably be ready by Monday, May 10, according to Melinda Lucas of The Albany News. 

Lucas said that she will watch the weather and get word to the coaches about any changes.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School junior Sarah Cotter claimed a spot at the state tennis tournament by blazing her way through the regional meet earlier this week, held at the Richland Tennis Center in North Richland Hills.

Details from the April 26-27 meet were not available at press time on Tuesday evening, but several other AHS players also played well, with the boys doubles and mixed doubles teams advancing to Round 2, and the girls doubles team to Round 3 along with Albany’s other girls singles player.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A four-member team of underclassmen, including three freshmen and one sophomore, finished in the top half of all Region 2 golf teams, finishing eighth out of 16 teams at the regional golf tournament held last Wednesday and Thursday in Ferris.

London Fuentes, Ayden Balliew, Houston Heatly, and Lute Wheeler recorded a two-day total of 743.