By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions were handed their biggest challenge of the season last Thursday by the Olney Cubs in their Class 2A Division II area playoff at Graham.The Lions responded with a strong second half to pull away for a 32-10 victory over a team it pummeled 55-6 seven weeks earlier.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions junior varsity boys basketball team tipped off its season Saturday with a 34-4 home victory over Roby.The game was the only one at the high school level last week for Albany after the Lady Lions pulled out of their tournament.

By Melinda L. LucasTickets for Friday’s regional semifinal football playoff against Muenster, to be played at 2:00 p.m.  in Springtown’s Porcupine Stadium, must be purchased online by going to springtownisd.net/Page/12001 or following the link on the Albany Athletic Booster Club’s Facebook page.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lady Lions got their basketball season off to a belated start Monday with a 52-21 loss to Ballinger.The Lady Lions were originally scheduled to host Guthrie, but coach Tate Thompson said his team gained more by taking on the Class 3A Lady Bearcats.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Junior High Lady Cubs Red team suffered a 39-21 loss to Cisco on Monday in its first home game of the season.Braylee Clark and Amber Miramontes each scored six points to lead the team in scoring, while Mimi Ivy added four points.

By Sam WallerThe Moran FFA meat judging team recently finished 10th  at a contest  at Texas Tech.Moran had the best finish among teams from the Big Country District and was second among Area IV teams behind Seymour.

By Sam WallerMoran’s Johnnie Hise’s sewing ability resulted in a blue ribbon at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in September, and the product of that effort will soon be making an appearance at public events in Strawn.

James Vernon Martin was born Nov. 22, 1931, near the community of Duffau, Texas, in the southeast part of Erath County to Lanham Martin and Anna Jones Martin.James grew up on the Overton Ranch which is a division of the Lambshead Ranch near Albany, TX.

By Melinda L. LucasThere was no public comment at a special hearing last Friday morning, and Shackelford County commissioners moved forward with the process of redistricting the precincts in order to “equalize” populations within the four areas.Since there was more than a 10% deviation between Pcts.

By Sam WallerThe Aztec Theater will take a break from its renovation project Saturday night so that local performers can host Troubadour – Songs of the Singer-Songwriter.The program will start at 7:00 p.m. Pam Davis will narrate.Admission is $15 per person.