By Melinda L. Lucas

The Albany High School tennis team got its final tune-up prior to the district tournament with a partial lineup involved in practice games Monday, April 14 against Abilene High School JV players.

The local athletes will report next Monday and Tuesday, April 21-22 for the district tournament at Abilene’s Rose Park Tennis Center.

Coach M.J. Reneau said scores were not recorded at Monday’s matches, nor at the Vernon quad meet on April 8.

By Melinda L. Lucas

When Moran students were on campus last Friday, April 11, some of the older classes were given instruction in CPR and first aid by school nurse Deloris Londerholm.

According to principal Jo Hise, the district had to deviate from its normal four-day week to make up a weather day.

STAAR testing is on the MISD calendar for next week, but elementary students will also get a fun break when they go to the Hardin-Simmons University’s Western Heritage Days on Thursday, April 24.

By David H. Waller

With the passing of Val Kilmer—who may have delivered the greatest Western character in movie history with his portrayal of Doc Holliday—I’ve found myself reflecting on two of the most iconic Westerns of the early 1990s: Tombstone and Wyatt Earp. It’s always struck me as unusual that these two movies, covering much of the same ground, were released just months apart.

By David H. Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Membership Crawfish Boil and Fish Fry next Thursday, April 17, with the event set to begin at 6:00 p.m. in the front parking lot of the Chamber building.

This year’s dinner will feature a full spread, including boiled crawfish and shrimp, fried fish, and all the fixings. Homemade onion rings will once again be served by the Happy Grill food truck.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Another annual Albany Classic Car Show is gearing up for Saturday, April 19 in downtown Albany, with the public urged to come view dozens of vintage cars and trucks from around the Big Country.

Organizer and car enthusiast Robert Snyder said he is hoping for a good turnout.

By David H. Waller

To nearly a full crowd at the Aztec Theater, Neal McCoy took the stage in Albany for the first time in nearly 30 years—and it was well worth the wait. The last time he played here was at the Polo on the Prairie, and somehow, he remembered it like it was yesterday.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Local business owners need to file renditions by next Tuesday April 15, according to Shackelford CAD County chief appraiser Richard Petree.

Business taxpayers are required by the state to render by April 15, but Petree explained that he is allowed to grant a 30-day extension to May 15 if those requests are received in writing by April 15, with a possible second 15-day extension.

Email is considered a written request, he added.

By David H. Waller

We have a winner. After weeks of games and hours of pretending to understand college basketball, The Albany News Bracket Challenge has officially crowned a champion: Shelby Coffee.

Shelby came out swinging with a strong bracket—boldly picking three of the four No. 1 seeds to reach the Final Four. A true visionary. Of course, it just so happens that this was the first time since 2008 that all four No. 1 seeds actually did make it to the Final Four, but we’re not here to nitpick. Luck? Strategy? 

Guest Writer

Matthew Howard

By Melinda L. Lucas

A total of 25 Albany FCCLA members will compete in the FCCLA State Conference in Dallas this weekend, including all three parliamentary procedure teams plus a two-person team, all of whom qualified for state after placing in the regional conference held last month.