By Sam Waller

Nearly 70 players have registered to participate in Albany Little Dribblers, showing significant growth in the girls division.

League organizer Joe Tidwell said 42 girls and 24 boys are registered for the program, which is open to boys and girls age eight through fourth grade.

The number of girls signed up led to the formation of six teams, leaving Tidwell to figure out a workable schedule.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s youth basketball teams have faced scheduling issues through the first three weeks of their season, but competition is ongoing.

Teams of fifth and sixth graders have played two weekends, but games on Saturday, Jan. 15 were cancelled and likely will not be made up, according to league organizers.

Albany’s sixth grade girls team, which has just six players, has yet to play a game because of illness.

The sixth grade boys and fifth grade boys and girls have each played two weekends.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The annual Pinewood Derby competition for local Cub Scouts has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 31 at the Scout Hut.

Originally set for this past Monday, the event was moved to next week due to a schedule conflict.

Several Scouts are expected to participate in the event.

Check-in will begin at 5:30 p.m. with races starting at 6:00 p.m.

For more information about the derby, contact Cubmaster Jacey Shack at 325-762-0006.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs picked up their second District 13-1A victory last week to split two home games.

The Lady Bulldogs lost 68-26 to Eula on Tuesday, Jan. 18, but held off Rising Star 42-38 on Friday, Jan. 21.

Meanwhile, the Moran boys team lost 86-30 to Eula, then fell agonizingly short in a 47-45 loss to Rising Star.

The Bulldogs played at Cross Plains on Monday, Jan. 24 in a game postponed from Friday, Jan. 14. Results were not available at press time and will be reported next week.

Judith Dorine Wood, 80, of Albany passed away peacefully Jan. 23, 2022 in Anson surrounded by her loving family. Judy was born May 24, 1941 in Benton, IL to parents George Leonard “Cocky” and Joan Wood. The family moved to Texas when she was five years old, and she often said “she got to Texas as quick as she could!”

Claude Lanier Campbell of San Angelo passed away on Jan. 18, 2022, at the age of 82.

He was born on March 30, 1939, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Mervyn “Mutt” Campbell and Pauline (Winters) Campbell. Raised in South Texas, he graduated from Calallen High School in 1957, where he was a sports star, participating in basketball, baseball, and golf, achieving state-level honors in the latter.

By Sam Waller

The Shackelford County 4-H Club will have seven teams comprising almost  30 members competing on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the District 7 Food Challenge in San Angelo.

The district food show is one of three events on the club calendar to wrap up January following this week’s county livestock show.

Also on the schedule are the first meeting for Shotgun, led by Aaron Hinshaw, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, and a dog care clinic on Thursday, Jan. 28, at Lively Dog House.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The 2022 UIL season for high school will start soon, with a contingent of Albany students entered in a practice meet hosted by Haskell this weekend despite a conflict with the local stock show.

However, because the host school has been closed all week due to COVID cases, the meet could be postponed until Jan. 29, according to UIL director Rick Davis.

Albany will also attend a second practice meet in Stamford on Feb. 26, followed by the district meet on March 24 in Hawley.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A rapid increase in the number of positive COVID-19 test results last week, along with the Shackelford County Health Clinic having to close for a day and a half at the end of the week, led Albany school officials to cancel classes last Friday.

The number of positive test results reached a one-week high last week with 116 positive results from the 235 tests administered locally, according to the weekly update issued by the county judge on Tuesday.

By Sam Waller

A total of 130 FFA and 4-H members from Albany and Moran will exhibit 236 animal entries this weekend at the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show.

“As usual, we’ve got some folks doubling up on their entries,” Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association president Bronco Askew said, “but they’re able to sell only one animal in the auction.”

Entries include 90 Albany FFA members, 23 Moran FFA members and 41 members of the Shackelford County 4-H Club. Some students have dual membership.