Albany ISD students, faculty, and staff are scheduled to dismiss for the spring break holiday at 12:00 noon this Friday, March 6.

Prior to the break, cheerleader try-outs will be held Friday morning, with local sixth graders bused over to the Albany High School gym for the competition.

Pre-kindergarten, Head Start, and kindergarten students will be released at 11:30 a.m. , with all other students leaving at noon. 

Spring break will take place during the week of March 9-13. 

Classes will resume at the normal time on Monday, March 16.

By Kathy Thomson

Feed Store youth minister Kathryn Hamilton has invited local high school girls to a “first ever Feed Store High School Girls Retreat.”

The event will take place from Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22 and will be held at Justin and Tamara Trail’s missile base, located just outside of Albany off the Baird highway.

According to Hamilton, the retreat will allow girls to take a pause from the craze of school, sports, and UIL to have fun and focus their eyes on Jesus. 

By Kathy Thomson

Closet Angels will be closed over spring break, according to Closet Angels director Lori Reames.

“We close whenever the Albany schools are closed,” Reames said. 

Closet Angels relies on volunteers, and many of those workers will be out of town during spring break and/or busy spending time with their own children or grandchildren.

The non-profit clothing ministry is next scheduled to be open from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, after spring break. 

By Kathy Thomson

Just in time for spring sports and other warm weather outdoor activities, Daylight Saving Time (DST) returns this Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 a.m.

Most of the United States officially begins DST every year on the second Sunday in March, and changes back to standard time on the first Sunday in November.

Local residents are reminded to set their clocks forward one hour before they go to bed on Saturday night.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany Little Dribblers teams played their fourth and final set of games last weekend on Saturday, Feb. 29. 

League organizer Clint Chapman thanked all the coaches, players, and referees for a great season. 

Chapman added that he is looking for a new coordinator for the Little Dribblers division, which includes local boys and girls in second through fourth grades. 

Anyone willing to take on that project is asked to contact Chapman at 325-338-7570.

By Kathy Thomson

Several community activities are being organized in Moran this spring, offering various opportunities for locals spend time with old friends and cultivate new ones.

Community Garden

A community garden is being organized by Karen Bishop and Teresa King.

“Everybody in town is invited to participate,” said Bishop. “This is for everyone who is willing to put in some effort. I am hoping to get the community working together on the garden.”

Pick-up dates for the March distribution of the commodity food program are March 5 and 6.

On Thursday, March 5, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Albany families can pick up their commodity food Friday, March 6 at the rear door of the JP office from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. 

By Kathy Thomson

Local youth ministers Kathryn Hamilton (The Feed Store) and Spencer Newsom (Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church) have invited all interested parents to come to an informative presentation about social media next Wednesday evening, March 4, at 6:30 p.m. at The Feed Store.

By Kathy Thomson

Albany High School students were the second place journalism team and the second place science team at the Stamford UIL Invitational meet on Saturday, Feb. 22, and Luke Ivy won the chemistry section of the science contest.

“I was very pleased with how the students did,” said local UIL coordinator Rick Davis. “We took 16 students and came home with 17 awards!”

By Kathy Thomson

Juniors Sidney Bartee and Tristan Edgar both competed at the UIL Region 6 East Zone Band Solo and Ensemble competition held at Abilene High on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Bartee earned a Division 1 rating, and Edgar was given a Division 2 rating, with both girs playing Class 1 solos. 

Bartee played Lento by Holmes on the tuba, and Edgar performed Adagio and Allegro by Handel on the alto saxophone.

Both students were accompanied by Sandy Abel on the piano.