By Sam WallerTwo Albany FFA students made the sale last week with their barrows at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.Callan Edgar finished third in Class 106 Crossbreds.Tatum Grady was fourth in Class 97 Crossbreds.Two other locals placed well in the barrow show, which ran Feb. 18-25.

By Sam WallerNine members of the Shackelford County 4-H Club participated in a variety of events at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.The team of Jordan Fikes, Brook and Cayla Green, and Faith and Grace Fry competed in horse judging.

By Melinda L. LucasNancy Smith Elementary School students are observing the nationally celebrated Read Across America this week, with several community “readers” returning to campus on Wednesday after a year’s absence due to COVID.

By Sam WallerEntry deadline for an upcoming volleyball tournament sponsored by First Baptist Church’s youth group is Sunday, March 6.Entry fee is $16 per person. Teams must have a team name and designate a team captain.

By Sam WallerSeveral local churches are planning special events in the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, starting with Ash Wednesday services on March 2 of this week, as well as the Jesus of Nazareth Catholic Church’s annual fish fry this Friday evening.

By Donnie A. LucasOne of the Albany teams competing at the state championship for the Small Schools Academic Challenge took second place and earned a total of $3,250 in scholarship money.

By Donnie A. Lucas The cast and crew of the Albany High School One-Act Play will present a public performance next Tuesday in the high school auditorium in preparation for the district contest set for the following day, Wednesday, March 9, in Haskell.The local performance is set for 6:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. LucasThe March distribution pickup dates for the commodity food program will be Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4.Families in Moran should pick up their food at Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 3.

By Sam WallerThe second round of repairs to the Landreth Dam bridge has not yet started, and the bridge across Hubbard Creek on FM 601 remained open as of press time on Tuesday night, Shackelford County Precinct 2 commissioner Ace Reames said.

By Donnie A. LucasThe number of positive COVID-19 cases tested locally dropped to five last week out of the 15 tests administered.The decrease in the number of tests was possibly impacted by local clinics being closed due to weather for two of the five days.