Albany took center stage this past weekend when The Daytripper—the popular PBS travel series hosted by Chet Garner—featured the community in its latest episode. Filmed during the Fort Griffin Fandangle in June, the show premiered statewide on PBS over the weekend and debuted on YouTube Monday evening.
The 39th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale shattered previous records Sunday, Sept. 7, with gross sales topping $158,300 and an average of $1,251 per head, according to longtime organizer Mike Parsons.
“This was a record-breaking sale in every way,” Parsons said. “The Association will realize more than $24,000 from the proceeds, which will go directly to support the youth of Shackelford County.”
Landon Balliew, a 2025 Albany High School graduate with a heart for missions, recently returned from his second trip to Guatemala – one of several mission efforts he’s participated in over the last few years.
A member of First Baptist Church Albany and current intern with East-West Ministries International in Dallas, Balliew has served on mission teams to multiple destinations, but says his latest trip sharing the Gospel with the Achi people was unlike anything he’s ever experienced.
CareFest, the annual summer music and fundraising event, is set to return Friday, Aug. 16, at Happy Wife Happy Life Weddings & Events, bringing a full evening of live music, local food trucks, and community celebration.
Organizers say ticket sales are higher than ever at this stage, with limited VIP tickets still available online. As in years past, parking remains the biggest factor determining attendance capacity. Attendees are encouraged to carpool when possible to help ease congestion.
What a captivating headline it was — “Bungling Burglars Botch Bank Job.” The Fort Worth Star-Telegram ran that title in 1964, recounting a crime that unfolded in Moran. The break-in at the Moran National Bank, which took place in the early hours of February 7, 1964, remains one of the most fascinating burglaries in this area’s history.
Local churches and volunteers are coming together to host this year’s community Vacation Bible School, set for Sunday through Thursday, July 27–31. The event will take place from 5:30 to 8:20 p.m. each evening, with dinner served nightly for all participants.
This year’s VBS will offer age-appropriate programs for both younger and older children. Those who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade will meet at the First Baptist Church campus, while children age 3 and older (as of Sept. 1) will attend VBS at the Feed Store location.
Moran Independent School District is ushering in the 2025-2026 school year with new leadership and significant academic expansion, according to MISD superintendent Dr. John Denson.
“We have hired a new principal and our first ever counselor,” Denson said. “With their addition to our staff, we are taking academics to a new level.”
The Fort Griffin Fandangle opened its 87th season this past weekend to strong attendance, welcoming more than 1,500 guests over the course of its first two shows.
An estimated 600 people filled the stands Friday night for opening night, followed by a crowd of approximately 900 on Saturday. Strong statewide marketing efforts and continued outreach to first-time guests played a key role in the turnout.
Main Street was lined with spectators on Saturday, June 21, as the annual Fort Griffin Fandangle Parade brought a colorful display of floats, riders, and music through downtown Albany. With 45 total entries, this year’s parade was one of the largest in recent memory.
Parade co-chairs John Ayers, Cori Bezner, and Claire Ware coordinated the event and kept everything running smoothly.
Visitors and locals alike will be able to enjoy a variety of activities offered in Albany this weekend prior to the final two performances of the Fort Griffin Fandangle.
Free events will be offered on Friday and Saturday including a quilt show, tracker organ concert, calliope concert, viewing the Picket House, longhorns on the courthouse square, exhibits and crafts kits at the Old Jail Art Center, plus several other activities.
