Five graduating seniors and two coaches from Albany and Moran will participate in the 27th annual Big Country FCA All-Star Festival, set for June 2-6 in Abilene and Brownwood.

The summer event will bring together 340 athletes representing 89 Big Country area schools. The festival features the region’s top student-athletes competing in six sports — football, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and cheer.

Moran cheerleader Rayni Vinson will cheer at several events during the festival.

Larry Bell

Larry was born in Beaumont,Texas to Leon and Aline (Van Riper) Bell on July 19, 1935.

What gives you pleasure? I ask because there is an old and persisting point of view that pleasure is the fundamental motivator of human behavior. We can date this assumption back to the third century BC philosopher Epicurus who famously said: “Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.” More recently, the 18th century English philosopher Jeremy Bentham opined: “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.” We are impelled to avoid pain and seek pleasure.

By David H. Waller

Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training last week, which always feels like the unofficial signal that winter is winding down. For me, it also brings back a lot of memories, because baseball has quietly shaped much of my life and career.

For many Texans, Robert Duvall never felt like a distant movie star. Through his role as Augustus “Gus” McCrae in Lonesome Dove, he felt more like family. For me, losing Gus at the end of that story was painful enough, and now with Duvall’s passing, it feels like losing him all over again.

In honor of Larry, we are republishing one of his beloved columns from January 3, 2003, a story that reflects the humor and storytelling that made his writing so special to our community.

This is the story of a Noble(s) adventure. It is a true story. No names have been changed to protect the innocent…or the guilty.

The Albany ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved plans Monday to replace the visitor-side bleachers at the Albany football field, citing safety concerns, building code issues and lack of accessibility with the existing structure.

Superintendent Daryl Stuard told trustees the current visitor bleachers are several decades old and are in deteriorating condition. He said multiple contractors advised that the bleachers do not meet current building codes and are not ADA compliant, and that bringing them up to standard would cost nearly as much as full replacement.

As Albany ISD prepares for a May bond election, questions have surfaced regarding whether Shackelford County could use revenue from the new data center project to help fund construction of a new school campus.

The Albany Lions locked up the District 10-2A championship Friday night with a hard-fought 63–57 win over Cisco, closing out the title on senior night in an Albany gym that felt more like a playoff venue than a regular-season stop.

From the opening tip, the night carried a different energy. Fans packed both sides of the gym, student sections stood shoulder-to-shoulder, and Cisco supporters filled the visitor’s end, creating a loud, constant roar that never let up. The intensity only grew as the game unfolded, with every possession drawing a reaction from the crowd.