A prolonged Arctic cold front brought dangerous winter weather to Shackelford County last week, leading to school closures, schedule changes and icy travel conditions across Albany and Moran.
Albany ISD announced an early release at noon on Friday, Jan. 23, ahead of the arrival of the winter storm. Classes and all school activities were canceled the following Monday as ice and freezing temperatures moved into the area.
The Albany Lions wrapped up the first half of district play with a 60–42 win over Hawley on Jan. 20, finishing the opening round a perfect 6–0.
Coach Ryder Peacock said the win was a physical one, as expected when the two teams meet, and credited his players for controlling the boards and staying composed against Hawley’s deliberate, ball-control approach.
The Albany Lady Lions pulled off a major upset last Tuesday, defeating Hawley 37-27 in a district matchup.
The Albany girls had their district open date Friday, Jan. 23, which allowed them to avoid a weather-related cancellation.
The Lady Lions’ game against Stamford was postponed from Tuesday night until Wednesday because of possible bad weather. Details will be reported next week.
“The King of Compassion”
More than 100 Shackelford County youth showcased their livestock projects last week as the 2026 Shackelford County Livestock Show concluded with a solid premium sale and add-on contributions still coming in.
A total of 116 students from the Albany and Moran FFA chapters and Shackelford County 4-H entered 219 animal projects. Each exhibitor was eligible to sell one project in Saturday’s premium sale. The annual show is presented by the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association (SCYLA).
The Albany Lions continued a strong run through district play last week, earning back to back wins with a road victory at Cisco followed by a home win over Anson.
Albany opened the week with an 83 to 64 win at Cisco on Tuesday, Jan. 13, in what was one of the most anticipated district games of the season. The matchup featured two teams expected to be in the district title conversation, and head coach Ryder Peacock said his team responded well to the challenge.
The Albany Lady Lions faced a challenging test last week in district play, when they traveled to Cisco on Tuesday, Jan. 13 to face the state’s No. 3-ranked team.
Albany fell 88-21, but head coach Ashlyn Bevel said the team showed positive development despite the loss.
The Lady Lions opened the second half of District 7-2A play by hosting Hawley on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
They came away with a 37-27 win, with details to be published next week.
What began as a crowded local leaderboard ended with a single winner after the final whistle of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Five participants finished the bracket challenge tied after the first round, quarterfinals and semifinal games. Points were awarded for correctly picking the winner of each game, setting up a tight race heading into the title matchup.
Albany ISD will decide next month whether to call a $26 million school bond election, following months of work by the district’s Long Range Facility Planning Committee, which members say has revealed that the district’s facilities are no longer safe, functional, or financially sustainable.
The committee presented its findings to the school board during the Jan. 12 meeting, and trustees are expected to vote at the February meeting on whether to place the bond on the May ballot.
The 2026 Shackelford County Livestock Show is set for Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 15-17, at the county show barn.
Annually the largest single extracurricular activity in the County, this year’s show has 120 students from Albany and Moran FFA chapters as well as Shackelford County 4-H entering approximately 232 animal projects. Each student will be allowed to sell one project in the premium sale, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday.
