By Sam Waller

Two Albany athletes earned all-state baseball honors just in time for one to start the next sports season and a new school year.

First baseman Zane Waggoner and outfielder Cooper Fairchild were named to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A All-State Baseball Team announced Tuesday, July 26.

“Both of them are very well deserving of that,” Lions baseball coach David Fairchild said. “It’s a big honor that tops off Cooper’s senior year and high school career, and a bright future for Zane coming in as a junior.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team has some holes to fill after advancing to the Region II-2A tournament last year, but there are also some key pieces in place to build around for 2022.

After four days of practice, the Lady Lions will scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 6. On Friday, the varsity will take on Benjamin at 11:00 a.m. and Breckenridge at noon in the Albany gym.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions football program enters every season with high expectations. This year, the Lions have a target on their backs.

Albany is the preseason No. 1 team in Class 2A Division II as selected by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine after reaching the state semifinals in 2021. It is a distinction Lions head coach Denney Faith refuses to worry about.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Meet the Teacher will be held at both Nancy Smith Elementary School and the junior/senior high campus on Monday, Aug. 15.

Students entering K-3 will be able to find out their teacher for the coming school year from 5:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., followed by students entering grades 4-6 at 5:30 p.m.

Students and parents are urged to meet with teachers at the secondary campus at 6:00 p.m., followed by an orientation meeting for all grade levels at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

By Sam Waller

Two prayer initiatives have begun in advance of the new school year.

Albany PTO president Malarie Sutton started 33 Days of Prayer for Albany in mid-July with each day dedicated to praying for a different group – students, faculty and staff – within the school district.

“We would love everyone to join us in prayer and continue to pray all throughout the school year,” Sutton posted on Facebook.

Sutton said in her post that she borrowed the idea from Jim Ned schools.

By Sam Waller

The Feed Store is gearing up for another school year with several programs returning to the schedule.

“We’re still finalizing some plans,” Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said. “We are working on kicking off our Tuesday lunches again that first Tuesday of the school year (Aug. 23).”

Also back will be the Fifth Quarter youth gatherings following home football games. That program is being tweaked just a bit this year, Wilkins said.

By Sam Waller

Rev. Bob Heidecker has assumed the duties as pastor of Albany Methodist Church, taking over for Tim Trimble.

Heidecker, who has spent 43 years in the ministry, comes to Albany from Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Amarillo. His first sermon in Albany was Sunday, July 3.

“I’d been praying about some place to be minister of a church and also be closer to family,” Heidecker said. “Albany is about four hours closer to our children.”

By Sam Waller

Members of the Methodist church in Albany voted overwhelmingly last week to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.

Lance Thomas, president of the church’s board of trustees, said 32 church members voted Tuesday, July 26, with 94 percent favoring disaffiliation.

“This process has been going on for about 20 years, but in the last two or three general conferences, it’s kind of come to a head,” Thomas said. “It’s about how people see the Word of God."

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany ISD teachers and support staff will start the school year on Tuesday, Aug. 9 with staff meetings and training.

The secondary teachers and staff, which includes personnel assigned to grades 7-12, will meet at at the Feed Store from 8:30 a.m. until noon, while the elementary staff will gather at the cafeteria on the Nancy Smith Ele­mentary campus during the same time period.

All AISD employees will then meet at 12:00 noon at the elementary cafeteria for a staff luncheon provided by the district.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Parents who are interested in having a child participate in either the Head Start or the Pre-K Program should attend one of the two remaining in-person registration days to determine if they qualify.

There are still spots available for both the Head-Start and Pre-K programs offered at Nancy Smith Elementary School.

“We would rather have those parents come during the in-person registration days, but if they can’t do that, they can come to the grade school during regular office hours,” principal John Gallagher said.