By Sidney Bartee

The 36th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale is set Sept. 10-11 at the Shackelford County Livestock Show Barn.

The longest-running livestock sale in the U.S. benefits Shackelford County youth who participate at the county stock show.

Shackelford County Youth & Livestock Association board member Mike Parsons said the sale will have 110 animals from 21 breeders available.

The sale provides animals for agriculture projects to FFA and 4-H members.

By Sam Waller

The Feed Store is cele­brating the 10th anniversary of its grand opening on Thursday, Aug. 25 (today) but has already begun a full slate of fall programs.

“We will have some acknowledgment throughout the month,” Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said.

This year’s programs began Tuesday, Aug. 23, with the first Tuesday Lunch for Albany High School juniors and seniors.

By Sam Waller

The Feed Store’s Fifth Quarter fellowship following home football games returns for another season Friday, Aug. 26 following the Albany Lions’ game against Lubbock Trinity Christian.

This week’s youth gathering will be hosted by Albany Church of Christ, Maranatha Fellowship, Jesus of Nazareth Catholic Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church.

Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said Friday’s event will be separated like last year with high school students meeting at the fieldhouse parking lot, while junior high students meet at The Feed Store.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Friendship Baptist Church is planning to mark the new school year with a kick-off event for their children’s ministry.

According to one of the coordinators, Tanya Petree, Friendship will host a back-to-school bash on Wednesday, Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., when local parents can bring their children four years and up to register for Friendship Kids and enjoy hot dogs and a s’mores treat.

“We will also have a water slide, so be sure your kids dress appropriately,” said Petree.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Board members of the Albany Chest will meet to organize the 2022 fund­raising campaign, nominate and elect new directors, and choose officers for the upcoming year during an Aug. 31 meeting

The meeting will be held at the Feed Store at 5:15 p.m.

Four of the 12 directors will complete their current terms, including board chair Jana Kitchens, Melinda Lucas, Clint Chapman, and Austin Sherwood.

Chapman and Sherwood will rotate off the board, with Kitchens and Lucas eligible to serve another term.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department has two fundraising projects in the works, including the return of its Burgers & Birds cookout.

The event is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at the fire station to celebrate the opening of dove season.

“We’ve done it in the past, and we got away from it because we didn’t have enough people in the event if we were dispatched out on a fire,” volunteer firefighter Alison Gardenhire said. “Our numbers are back up to where we can do the fundraiser even if we get called out.”

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Riley Reames enjoyed being part of the Texas Brigade program so much last year that she signed up for one of the other camps this year.

After attending the Ranch Brigade camp at Santa Anna in 2021, Reames attended the Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade camp June 10-14 at Wood Ranch at Rising Star.

“We were there for five days and did so much,” Reames said. “It was a lot packed into a little amount of time.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions showed big-play capability in their second preseason scrimmage, but they also had issues that will require improvement.

The Lions outscored Early two touchdowns to one on Thursday, Aug. 18 in their final tuneup before the regular season at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. All three scores came during the controlled portion of the scrimmage on plays covering 70 yards.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady ­Lions capped off a 2-0 week Friday, Aug. 19 with a four-set victory against Eastland at home.

After sweeping Olney 25-14, 25-12, 25-15 on Tuesday, Aug. 16 the Lady Lions defeated Eastland 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19 on Friday.

Albany (6-4) lost to Bryson 24-26, 19-25, 25-18, 24-26  on Tuesday, Aug. 23 to wrap up its season-opening homestand. Details will be reported next week.

By Sidney Bartee

Football season tickets are now available for 2022.

The first game of the season is at home this Friday, Aug. 26 against Lubbock Trinity, followed by two away games in Dublin and Seymour and then two home games against Hawley and Comanche. District home games are Oct. 14 against Cross Plains, which is also homecoming, and Nov.4 against TLC.

Single varsity game tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets for junior high and junior varsity games are $4 for adults and $2 for students.