By Sam Waller

The Local Exchange will be closed until further notice due to the heat, according to director Lori Reames.

Reames said the facility has no air conditioning to combat the triple-digit temperatures blanketing the area, and staff will be taking vacation.

Reames said the ministry could have occasional openings in July if the heat abates.

“We may put the flag out once in a while if it’s cool and do an impromptu opening,” she said. “If we get too full, we might post some pictures of things that need to move.”

By Sam Waller

Albany’s run in the Division III 7-on-7 State Tournament came to an end Friday, June 23 with a 27-19 loss to Daingerfield in the second round of championship bracket play.

The Lions went 3-2 at the tournament, which was played Thursday-Friday, June 22-23 at College Station’s Veterans Park. It marked the first time that Albany has won a game in the championship bracket.

“I thought we competed really well,” Albany coach Kevin Hill said.

Albany was making its fifth appearance in the state tournament, following trips in 2015-16, 2019, and 2021.

By Sam Waller

Seven players from the Albany Lions baseball team were recognized for their achievements on the field this season with inclusion on the All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team.

Junior Tyler Chapman was selected as a starting infielder on the first team with senior Coy Lefevre tabbed as a reserve infielder.

On the second team, senior Cole Chapman was named to the starting rotation with junior Cole Read listed in the bullpen and junior Zane Waggoner picked as a starting infielder.

By Sam Waller

The girls portion of Albany Junior/Senior High’s summer conditioning program concluded this week and will resume Monday, July 17 following a two-week break.

The program is open to all incoming seventh through 12th graders who plan to participate in interscholastic sports.

Albany volleyball coach M.J. Reneau, who oversees the girls program, said Lady Lions and Lady Cubs athletes are welcome to continue working out on their own during the hiatus.

By Sam Waller

Volunteers from First Baptist Church of Albany are once again donating their time and labor as part of an annual mission trip to Del Rio.

The six-member team of Sue Brown of Breckenridge and local residents Ricky Davis, Shane Fields, Nan Herrell, John Ross Reames, and Kyle Viertel departed Sunday, June 25 to again assist with a construction project.

Viertel said this year’s task is to finish out a bathroom that is being added to a house.

By Melinda L. Lucas

No action was taken other than approving the minutes and bills during a brief meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors on Monday, March 20.

The session was closed for half of the 40-minute time frame to discuss “EMS personnel,” but no motions were made when the meeting was reopened to the public.

EMS and clinic reports were heard during the meeting but required no action.

After Albany’s emergency siren went off on two consecutive days earlier this month, Volunteer Fire Chief Joel Viertel felt it would be a good time to remind local citizens of what the signals mean.

The severe weather warning, which consists of a constant wail three minutes in duration, sounded about 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 when there was a thunderstorm in the area that warranted the warning.

There was golf ball size hail in the northern parts of town and smaller hail in other locations, but the storm blew through quickly with no significant damage reported.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A variety of pets were marched around at the Bank Park Saturday during the annual Fandangle Pet Parade.

Winners were named in four categories, with each receiving $25 in Albany Bucks to be spent at local participating stores.

“We had a good turnout,” coordinator Laci Cook said. “We had several entries and a bigger than usual crowd who came out to watch.”

Cook said that she was   pleased with the response.

“We were so glad that people came out, and we are hoping for more entries next year,” she said.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County Library’s annual children’s story hour wrapped up its June schedule Tuesday, June 27.

The program will shift to 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  on Wednesdays starting July 5 and continue as long as attendance warrants, organizer Janna Ledbetter said.

The program is designed to give children access to reading material during the summer and familiarize them with the local library. Preschool children must be accompanied by an adult. The program includes crafts and games related to each story.

By Sam Waller

The second installment of the Big Country Beef Cattle Improvement Series will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29 (today), at Double Deuces Event Venue in Clyde.

The topic for the program, hosted by the Callahan County extension service, is Stock Pond and Water Management.

“The main idea is how managing those water resources ties into a beef cattle operation,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “Obviously, in this area we’re prone to drought.”