By Sam Waller

First Baptist Church of Moran will host The Calling – Come & See Revival over three nights, Saturday-Monday, May 14-16 in Moran, with everyone invited.

The old-fashioned tent revival will feature music and a message beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night.

The revival is the culmination of a vision Chris Leonard of FBC Moran believes God gave him.

Pastor Tim Trimble of Albany Methodist Church and Deacon Royal Anspach of FBC Moran also had a vision for Moran.

By Sam Waller

Moran schools began end-of-course STAAR testing this week with students in third through 10th grades.

Testing began Tuesday, May 3 with freshmen tested in English, and continued on Wednesday with biology.

Upcoming tests include freshmen in U.S. history and eighth graders in science and history,

“Once we get testing done, we’ll have a week of school left,” principal Jo Hise said. “The last days of testing will be May 18-19. Then there will be a week of field trips, awards banquets, field days, and a few more fun things like that.”

By Sam Waller

Moran’s Alli Scott earned a return to state three times over last week at the Region II-1A track meet, qualifying in three events.

Scott, a junior, qualified for state last year in the 100 hurdles. At the regional meet, held Friday-Saturday, April 29-30 at San Angelo, she won the 300 hurdles and finished second in both the 100 hurdles and high jump.

“It took everything I had to qualify in three events,” she said. “I’m really happy to be where I am now.”

By Sam Waller

When the 2022 Albany Lions golf team tees it up at the state tournament next week, it will be continuing a legacy that dates back more than 60 years.

From 1959 through 1969, the Lions qualified for state 10 times in 11 years. The Lions won the team title in 1967, and Ross Balliew won the medalist title in 1968.

Albany went to state three consecutive years from 1992-94, twice losing playoffs after tying for third.

By Sam Waller

Player, coaches, and parents from Albany Little League took a break from competition Tuesday, May 3 to attend the Abilene Christian-Texas Tech game at ACU’s Crutcher Scott Field, helping make up a record crowd.

League organizer Paul Hamilton said the trip drew near-unanimous response with a travel party of more than 130 departing from Nancy Smith Elementary School. Albany ISD provided a bus to help transport those attending the game, which Tech won 16-12.

By Sam Waller

The ladies of the Albany High School classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 showed that football isn’t purely a male domain Sunday, May 1, with an entertaining Powder Puff game at Nail Stadium.

Sarah Cotter scored two touchdowns in the final minutes to help the Pink team, composed of seniors and sophomores, to a  76-71 victory over the Purple, made up of juniors and freshmen.

The event was sponsored by The Feed Store Student Council and was a success on several levels, Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said, including the avoidance of injury.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions advanced to the second round of the Class 2A softball playoff by sweeping their bi-district series against Hawley.

On Thursday, April 28, the Lady Lions won the first game 14-6, then completed the sweep Saturday, April 30 with a 7-6 victory. Both games were played at Abilene Cooper.

Albany (12-13-1) will face Ozona in the area round. Game 1 will be played at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6 at Lake View High School in San Angelo. Game 2 is set to start at 4:00 p.m. Monday in Stanton, with a third game to follow if needed.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions baseball team tuned up for the playoffs with a 13-3 senior night victory over Hawley in five innings on Tuesday, April 26 at home.

Before the game, seniors Luke Ivy and Cooper Fairchild were honored in a senior night ceremony.

By Sam Waller

Five Albany track and field athletes earned the right to compete for a state championship at last week’s Region II-2A meet.

Albany has had a state qualifier every year since at least 1985, which is as far back as UIL archives go.

The regional meet was held Friday-Saturday, April 29-30 at Springtown.

The Class 2A state meet will be Friday, May 13, at Myers Stadium in Austin.

Donegal Racing’s Mo Donegal has not only qualified for the Kentucky Derby, the three-year-old – owned by several partners including the Picquet family, of Albany, Texas – is quickly gaining plaudits as a favorite to capture the first jewel in this year’s Triple Crown.