All of the Albany school bands will be performing for the community this Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2:00 p.m. in the high school gym, and band director John Stockdale is hoping that there will be a large audience to appreciate all of the work and practice the students have put into the concert.

“I want to make sure that everyone knows about the concert, and that they realize that it will be in the gym this time, not the auditorium” said Stockdale. “We are hoping to have a good crowd, and we’d really like for them to stay to hear all of the bands if they can.”

Albany High School’s theater troupe performed The Fourth Ward by Amanda Guthrie at a one-act play (OAP) festival in Clyde on Thursday, Feb. 14.

“The festival went well, and we got a lot of good feedback in our critiques,” said co-director Jenny Scott. “There is no placing at festivals. It is really a time to show where your production currently stands and get constructive feedback on what to improve on prior to the district contest.”

Scott said that they have already implemented a few of the suggested changes.

Sixteen local students showed barrows and steers at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo last week, and among the local winners were two young ladies with first place steers, according to ag teacher Chris Beard.

“We had a good show,” Beard said. “Now we’re on to San Angelo, then San Antonio and Houston.

Ft. Worth Jr. Steers

Hattie Braly won class 1, light weight Angus steers last Thursday, Feb. 7.

Kam Browning showed her American Exotic steer and took first place in the class.

The Parent Teacher Organization’s Scholastic “Dino-Mite book fair; Stomp, Chomp and Read!” is set to wind down to a close tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 15, at the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria, but purchases can still be made between now and then.

“Things are running smoothly,” said PTO president Ginny Ivy on Tuesday afternoon. “It was kind of slow on Monday, but it picked up on Tuesday, and we expect that to continue.”

Some parents forget about the book fair until they see the signs on Monday, and sales normally pick up after the first day, according to Ivy.

Team and individual pictures of the seven Little Dribblers teams are scheduled this Saturday, Feb. 16, starting at 9:00 a.m.

The pictures will be taken in the lobby of the main gym.

Photo packets for youth basketball players, which were taken last month, will be ready for pickup next week at The Albany News.

Four Albany seniors are among the 278 top athletes and cheerleaders of the area who make up the 2019 all-star class for Big Country Chevy Dealers Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival, announced Sunday.

Representing Albany High School will be Cameron Dacus on the Red football team, Cutter Edgar on the Blue football team, Joshua Dyer on the North baseball team, and Ryan Hill on the North men’s basketball team.

The football teams are designated by color, red and blue, because they are selected by an actual draft of players.

The Lady Lion softball team took the field for the first game this season on Tuesday, hosting Breckenridge at Webb City Park.

The Albany girls won the opener 7-5, even though several local starters didn’t play due to the basketball playoffs.

Albany will be on the road Friday and Saturday at the Eastland tournament. The Lady Lions are scheduled to play at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Friday, followed by games at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Coach Jimmy Fuentes reports that he has 18 players on the roster so far, with new players showing up just this week.

The community is invited to a band concert on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m. in the high school gym, according to Albany band director John Stockdale.

“This is taking the place of our Christmas concert,” said Stockdale. “Because of football and other conflicts, we couldn’t fit it in until now. And I want to make sure that everyone knows that it will be in the gym this time, not the auditorium.”

The event is free, and everyone is welcome to attend. 

All of the school bands, fifth grade through high school will play at the concert.

By Kathy Thomson

The 2019 Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association county livestock show and sale was held at the county show barn last weekend, Jan. 31 through Feb. 2, and according to Shackelford County extension agent Michaela Bradford, Albany ag instructor Chris Beard, and Moran ag teacher Matthew Hise, the show was a success.

Organizers agreed that everything went went fairly smoothly despite a few technical issues, and participants, along with stock show board members and other volunteers all stepped in to help as needed.

Ragan Riley filed for a seat on the Albany City Council this week, and incumbents Sam Snyder and Alice Branham filed to return to their seats on the Moran school board.

The deadline for others to place their name on the upcoming ballot is only days away. Candidates who wish to run for one of the local offices available on the May 4 local election must file before the close of business on Friday, Feb. 15.