By Kathy Thomson

Thirty-two dogs were entered in the Region 7 American Field Trial Clubs of America (AFTCA) Amateur All-Age Championship and the M. G. Perkins Amateur All-Age Derby Classic held at the Crooked Tree Ranch outside of Albany earlier this month, with top dogs selected in two categories.

“Many thanks to Glenn and Tracy Hughes for allowing us the use of this beautiful venue,” said show secretary Mary Ann Gustafson. 

This was the fifth year in a row for the Hughes to host the event. 

By Kathy Thomson

Ten local 4-H members competed at the District 7 Food Challenge at the San Angelo Fair Grounds on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and all three of their teams brought back ribbons from both the district show and the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Food Challenge contest.

“Our junior team placed first in the district,” said Shackelford County agent and 4-H leader Kloey Painter. “Then they also placed first at the entire stock show! It was a big deal, and I was beyond proud of them.”

Tara Cauble, Hattie Braly, and Charli Trail made up the junior team.

By Kathy Thomson

Huffman Heatly, the local winner of the Lower Clear Fork of the Brazos Soil and Water Conservation District 2020 Poster Contest was presented a ribbon and $50 by district representative Sara Head at an informal ceremony on Monday, Jan. 27.

Heatly is a Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth grader. 

This year’s theme is “Where would we BEE without pollinators?” 

A benefit meal of fried catfish and all the fixin’s will be served on Saturday, Feb. 8 at “D.A.’s” in Moran to help with medical expenses for MHS student Baylee Orsak.

Serving will start at 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 8, with a suggested donation of $10 per plate, which includes a drink.

Live music will be provided during the evening.

Orsak, who was diagnosed with type one diabetes when she was seven, has ongoing expenses because of her illness, said Donnie Edgar, who operates D.A.’s along with co-owner Allen Mosher.

D.A.’s is located at 111 Ground Street in Moran.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The resignation of Shackelford County EMS director Mary Quintero was accepted after an hour-long closed session of the hospital district’s board of directors on Monday, Jan. 20.

Although it was not discussed in open session, Quintero submitted her resignation last Wednesday, Jan. 15, according to board president John Ayers,  and she has since apparently accepted another position.

Quintero has managed the local ambulance service since early 2015.

Albany residents interested in birding and bird conservation are invited to attend a meeting on Monday, Jan. 27 at First Christian Church.

The informal meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. in the FCC fellowship hall, according to pastor Brad McBee, who is helping organize the new club.

For information, call McBee at 325-762-6380.

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany High School student body selected eight class members as royalty for Albany High School’s Winter Formal. 

The Winter Formal is organized each year by members of the Albany High School student council, and this year’s gala was held last Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Whitney Theatre.

Three boys and three girls from each of the four classes were nominated by their peers in class meetings held earlier this month, with the winners, one boy and one girl from each class, selected last week.

By Kathy Thomson

Seven Albany High School students will travel to Haskell this Saturday, Jan. 25 for the annual Haskell UIL Pow Wow, an academic practice meet. 

“A lot of our kids are involved in the stock show, but we have seven who will be able to attend, and they will make up 23 individual entries,” said Rick Davis, UIL coordinator. “Our next practice meet is on Feb. 22 in Stamford. I expect a much larger group for that meet.”

More than 150 Angelo State University student-athletes and student-athletic trainers, including Levi Britting of Albany, have earned spots on the Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll for their academic performance during the 2019 fall semester. 

To be eligible for the honor roll, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.3 GPA for the semester.

Levi is the son of Rod and Susan Britting of Albany and Kristi Espinosa.

By Kathy Thomson

Around a dozen local Cub Scouts are expected to compete in the annual Albany Pinewood Derby on Monday, Jan. 28, and the race will feature a couple of firsts for the local Scouts.

Most notably, this will be the first time the Pinewood Derby will take place in the new Scout Hut.

The local Cub Scouts have held the annual event at the Albany Youth Center for the last several years after the previous Scout Hut was closed due to structural problems.