By Sam WallerDrought conditions brought on by a La Niña weather system were the major weather story in Shackelford County in 2022, and it doesn’t appear conditions are going to change in early 2023.

By Sam WallerAlbany’s Haily Cox will get to continue her softball career at the next level after signing a letter of intent with Cisco College in December.“I love having the chance to keep playing the sport I grew up playing,” Cox said. “It’s a great opportunity for me.

By Sam WallerAlbany Youth Basketball fifth and sixth grade teams tip off their 2023 season Saturday, Jan. 7, with games at Hawley and Jim Ned.Organizer Lauren Peacock said more than 40 players have signed up for the program this year.“We have 10 to 11 kids on each team,” she said.

By Sam WallerAlbany’s Little Dribblers basketball season is gearing up for its 2023 season with player registration getting underway next week.Organizer Joe Tidwell said registration forms should be available at Nancy Smith Elementary School when classes resume next Tuesday, Jan. 10.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lions basketball team entered the 2023 portion of the schedule with a 3-2 record after getting the season off to a belated start because of the football team’s state-championship run.The Lions tipped off their season with a 44-37 loss to Haskell on Tuesday, Dec.

By Sam WallerThree members of the Albany Lady Lions volleyball team were recognized for their efforts in 2022 by bigcountrypreps.com.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lady Lions look to build on momentum gained from their holiday tournament as they resumed District 10-2A play with a win on Tuesday.After going 2-2 and earning the top spot in the bronze bracket at the May tournament, played Tuesday-Thursday, Dec.

By Sam WallerAlbany’s Kenzie Neve brought home an armful of awards from the Arizona National Livestock Show, held Dec. 27-31 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix.Neve, an Albany High School sophomore, claimed the grand champion intermediate cattle showman prize for the second year in a row.

By Donnie A. LucasSeating is already limited for the first performance of a new concert series hosted by Albany Live at the Aztec Theater set for Saturday, Jan. 14.Fewer than 50 general admission tickets are available for the Paul Cauthen concert on Saturday, Jan. 14 at $75 per seat.

Julia Bowman and Taylor Scott  were recognized by Midwestern State University Honor Rolls for the Fall 2022 semester.Julia Bowman, majoring in Radiologic Technology, was named on the President’s Honor roll. This list includes students who complete 12 hours with no grade lower than A (4.0).