Last week marked 100 years since a moment that forever changed the course of Shackelford County history.

On Feb. 18, 1926, an oil well drilled on the Cook Ranch five miles northwest  of Albany erupted with a gusher that would soon become known around the world. What followed was not only an economic transformation that reshaped Albany and the surrounding region, but a legacy that would extend far beyond oil production — one that continues to impact lives today.

What began as a routine Shackelford County Commissioners Court meeting Monday morning quickly shifted into an extended and increasingly uneasy discussion about the Frontier data center projects and their growing effects on residents, infrastructure, and public safety.

The Aztec Sessions concert series will continue this week as Texas country favorites Micky & The Motorcars take the stage at the Aztec Theater on Friday, Feb. 27.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m.

Formed in 2002 by brothers Micky and Gary Braun, the band has become a longtime fixture in the Texas country and Red Dirt music scene. Originally from Idaho, the group later relocated to Austin, where they built a strong following through years of touring and recording.

Local ranchers and businesses came together this week to support livestock producers in Oklahoma whose grazing land has been destroyed by widespread wildfires across the region.

The fires, which began earlier this month in the Oklahoma Panhandle, have burned more than 300,000 acres and prompted evacuations, emergency declarations, and damage to ranchland across several counties. The largest blaze, known as the Ranger Road Fire, alone scorched more than 280,000 acres across Beaver and Harper counties.

The Albany Lions were pushed to the limit Monday night but responded when it mattered most, defeating Seymour 66-61 in overtime in a hard-fought playoff game at Graham.

The contest marked Albany’s first overtime game of the season and turned into a defensive struggle for much of the night, with both teams battling through stretches where offense was difficult to find.

The Albany Lions will face a challenging road in the 2026 football season, as the official schedule released this week features a strong non-district lineup and a district that coaches say may be among the toughest in Class 2A.

The Lions will open preseason play with scrimmages at Henrietta on Aug. 14 and at home against Early on Aug. 20 before beginning regular-season action later in August. The non-district schedule includes home games against Hawley, Anson and Coleman, along with road trips to DeLeon and Coleman.

The Necessity of

Spiritual Growth

In every area of life, healthy things grow. Children grow. Trees grow. Businesses grow. Muscles grow when exercised. Growth is a sign of life. When something stops growing, it begins to decline. The same is true spiritually. A living faith must be a growing faith.

Spiritual growth is not optional for the believer; it is essential.

Construction activity continues to expand at the Frontier data center project in Shackelford County, bringing both economic activity and growing pains to the area.

The large-scale development, located southwest of Albany, represents a $25 billion investment by Vantage Data Centers and is part of a broader technology expansion tied to Oracle and OpenAI.

The Albany City Council approved a major infrastructure project tied to the city’s newest residential development during its regular meeting Thursday, Feb. 12, at City Hall

Council members unanimously accepted a bid totaling about $540,000 for Phase 1 & 2 construction of a sewer line serving the Highway 6 subdivision, clearing the way for continued progress on the new neighborhood.

The Albany Lions completed a historic regular season last week, finishing with a perfect 22-0 record and capturing the district championship for the first time since 2017.

Albany picked up a 47-36 road win over Anson on Feb. 10 before closing out district play with a decisive 59-33 victory at Hawley three days later.

Head coach Ryder Peacock said the Anson game showed the team’s ability to win even when shots were not falling.