By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions went 3-3 in their second tournament outing of the season Friday-Saturday, Feb. 24-25, reaching the consolation finals at the San Angelo tournament.

The Lady Lions (5-6-1)play their final tournament this weekend at Clifton. The tourney features a round-robin format with teams seeded for a final game.

On Thursday, March 2 (today), Albany plays Clifton and Moody. On Friday, March 3, Albany will face Hico, Comanche, and Belton. Teams will be matched based on their records from the first five games for a game on Saturday, March 4.

By Sam Waller

Albany tennis players claimed titles in two draws Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Hawley Invitational.

The tournament was played at Rose Park Tennis Center in Abilene.

The Albany netters returned to Rose Park Tuesday for a three-team meet with Hawley and Abilene Christian. Results will be reported next week.

At the Hawley tournament, Sidney Russell won the girls title, while Jaci Chapman and Abi Hale won girls doubles.

The girls doubles team of Caroline Chapman and Chloe Daugherty finished third after losing in the semifinals.

By Sam Waller

Albany track and field athletes came away with three gold medals Thursday, Feb. 23 in varsity divisions at the Breckenridge relays meet.

Albany junior high teams competed at Breckenridge on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Results will be reported next week.

The high school teams are competing Thursday, March 2 (today) at the Bangs Invitational.

At Breckenridge, Kiana Roberson won both girls throwing events, putting the shot 36 feet, 6½ inches and hurling the discus 110-8½.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Briley Tabor and Kiana Roberson were named to the All-District 10-2A girls basketball team after a vote by district coaches.

Both were first-team selections. Tabor, a three year starter, was the lone senior on the Albany roster. Roberson, a junior, repeated after earning second-team honors last year.

By Sam Waller

Every member of the Albany Lions varsity boys basketball team received mention on the All-District 10-2A team, which was released this week.

The team was selected by vote of district coaches.

“We were very well represented, having two guys get superlative awards,” Lions coach Ryder Peacock said. “I think the other coaches in our district recognized that these guys got started so late. For them to play as well as they did from the very first tipoff, that recognition means a lot.”

By Sam Waller

For the second year in a row, the Albany Lions were eliminated from the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs in the area round, falling 49-42 to Itasca on Friday, Feb. 24, at Dublin.

The Lions advanced with a 54-53 overtime victory against Seymour in bi-district, played Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Graham.

Albany finished the season 14-6 after tying Cisco for second place in District 10-2A despite starting the season six weeks late because of football.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The camera system approved two weeks ago by the Shackelford County commissioners for the Law Enforcement Center has been installed, it was reported Monday at the most recent meeting.

County judge John Viertel said that since the last session, Big Country Surveillance of Hawley had gotten the system operational in the juvenile interview room, where a camera is now required by the state, as well as in the room where DWIs are processed.

The quote for a little under $3,500 is expected to be the final price, Viertel said.

By Melinda L. Lucas

As expected, tax collections for local entities were down considerably as of the Jan. 31 deadline for 2022 taxes, according to chief appraiser Clayton Snyder at the Shackelford County Central Appraisal District (CAD) office.

Even counting the eligible payments coming in for the first couple of weeks in February, the collection rate for all six entities was 81.48 percent, compared with over 90 percent for most years at the same time.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the March distribution of the commodities will be Thursday, March 2 in Moran and Friday, March 3 in Albany.

Distribution will be at Moran City Hall on Thursday and at the rear door of the JP office on Friday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. on both days.

Judge James Breeden said families who have not returned applications for the 2023 program must turn in paperwork before they receive commodities.

“They can bring the application with them and turn it in or fill one out on site, but we have to have one,” said Breeden.

By Melinda L. Lucas

As Shackelford County begins to throw off the blankets and move from winter into spring, preparations are being made for severe weather that often accompanies warmer temperatures.

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary School will practice their severe weather preparedness this week, according the NSES principal John Gallaher.

“We will complete our tornado and additional weather-related school safety drills this week,” he said on Tuesday.