By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions and Lady Lions cross country teams have picked up the pace in preparing for their first meet of the season.Training became a bit more intense as coach Ginger Norton has finalized her schedule, adding a meet a week earlier than originally planned.

Junior high and high school cheer squads (top photo) combine for a three-basket toss at the beginning of Monday night’s traditional Ice Cream Supper sponsored by the Albany Athletic Booster Club.

By Sam WallerMore than three weeks before the event, the Albany Golf Club’s annual Labor Day tournament has a full field, club president Randy Walker announced on Tuesday.Walker said a waiting list for alternate entries will be compiled in case any teams withdraw.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lady Lions volleyball team looked to up their game as the regular season got underway this week.The Lady Lions opened the season Tuesday, Aug. 9 at home against Breckenridge, winning the first match but eventually losing a very close game. Details will be reported next week.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions football team got its first taste of contact this week and will close out the second week of preseason with its first taste of competition.The Lions will scrimmage the Coleman Bluecats Friday, Aug. 12 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

By Sam WallerDistribution of school supplies through ResourceCare’s Adopt-A-Buddy program will take place Thursday, Aug. 11 (today), and Friday, Aug. 12.Supplies will be distributed from  9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days at the Youth Center.

By Sam WallerOnline ticket sales for CareFest continue in advance of the one-day music festival.The event, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 at Happy Wife Happy Life Wedding and Events Venue, is a fundraiser for ResourceCare outreach programs.

By Sam WallerEntry deadlines for major fall stock shows are approaching with Shackelford County students planning to exhibit a number of animals.Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard has set preliminary deadlines to allow him time to make sure entries are correctly submitted.

By Melinda L. LucasThe Old Jail Art Center’s summer camps are wrapping up this week with a Safari outing on Tuesday and a three-day virtual puppet workshop that started on Wednesday morning.Students in grades 1-3 spent a “wild day” of crafts and games in the on-site Safari camp earlier this week.

The First Baptist Church held a back-to-school pool party on Sunday, Aug. 7, with several baptisms performed.FBC volunteers have scheduled JAM meetings for students to begin on Wednesday, Sept. 7, with specific times to be announced next week.