By Sandy Morris

Eight Albany High School seniors will be competing in the upcoming Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star games over the weekend.

Parker Henry, Cade Neve, Jackson Chapman, and William Webb will represent Albany on the FCA North baseball team.

The North team will face the South at Nathan Donsky Field in San Angelo at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 11.

Alli Hill and Torie Fuentes will represent Albany on the FCA North volleyball team and will play  at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 12 at Wylie High School.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Members of the Albany High School varsity Lion baseball team were awarded a number of positions on the District 8-2A All-District team, including four of the top superlative honors.

Albany was undefeated in district play with a perfect 10-0 record, advancing to the fourth round of the playoffs before falling to New Deal in the regional semifinal.

Senior Cade Neve was voted as the district MVP, while Jackson Chapman, also a  senior, was named the Offensive MVP.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Reds Little League 12U team, or majors, played to the final round of the County Tournament of District 5, winning the Rural Community County title and playing Abilene Dixie for the overall championship last week.

The Reds got a bye in the first round and then picked up three straight wins to advance to the championship game.

By Sandy Morris

Dress rehearsal followed by opening night of the 83rd anniversary edition of the Fort Griffin Fandangle takes place in one week, and the entire cast and crew are rehearsing almost every night.

Local businesses, organizers, and participants are busy preparing for the upcoming activities, performances, and expected out-of-town visitors. 

Artistic director Lorna Ayers has emphasized the importance of showing up for every practice.

By Sandy Morris

The farmers market in Albany will once again be available to local producers to set up and sell homegrown products on Saturdays at the city-owned lot next to King & Robertson Insurance Agency.

In the past, the area has been recognizable by a tent placed on Main Street next to the insurance agency, but the last couple of tents have been damaged by the wind and have not been replaced. 

Local vendors are welcome to bring their own tables and tents when selling their wares on Saturday mornings or at other times. 

By Sandy Morris

Standing water and recent heavy rainfall have created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes but have also prevented the city from being able to spray to remove the pesky insects. 

Albany water plant supervisor Michael Graham said recent weather conditions have kept city crews from fogging the town.

“The humidity has been too high for us to spray for mosquitoes,” said Graham. “Humidity will latch onto the spray and drop it down to the ground, and it won’t do any good.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

In 1962, when Shirley Welch Caldwell first moved with her husband Clifton to Shackelford County, where his family had deep roots, there was little evidence of the importance her presence would eventually have on the community and even on the entire state.

By Sandy Morris

With a little over one week away, Fandangle parade organizers Ragan Riley and Shannon Leech are encouraging local businesses, organizations, and individuals to submit their 2021 entries. 

This year’s 83rd anniversary parade is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 in downtown Albany, with cash prizes to be given in several categories.

Entries

By Sandy Morris

Various activities will  take place in Albany during the last two Fridays and Saturdays in June to coincide with the annual influx of visitors coming to town for the Fort Griffin Fandangle. 

Free events offered on all four of those days include a quilt show, tracker organ concert, calliope concert, car museum, viewing the Picket House, longhorns on the Courthouse Square, a film at the Aztec Theater, and exhibits at the Old Jail Art Center. 

By Sandy Morris

The staff at the Old Jail Art Center has three new exhibits scheduled to begin in June, as well as a couple of other upcoming events during the Fandangle season. 

The first two new exhibitions are set to open with a members’ viewing and reception at the OJAC on June 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Debuting at the opening will be Linda Blackburn: Borrowed Trouble and Michael O’Brien: Prairieland Portraits. Both exhibits will remain on display through Aug. 21.