By Sam Waller
Albany’s Kenzie Neve brought home an armful of awards from the Arizona National Livestock Show, held Dec. 27-31 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix.
Neve, an Albany High School sophomore, claimed the grand champion intermediate cattle showman prize for the second year in a row.
“There were something like 80 exhibitors in her division, so that was pretty fun,” Neve’s mother, Leslie, said.
By Sam Waller
Drought conditions brought on by a La Niña weather system were the major weather story in Shackelford County in 2022, and it doesn’t appear conditions are going to change in early 2023.
Meteorologist Mike Castillo of the National Weather Service office in San Angelo said the system caused warmer and drier weather locally last year.
Shackelford County received 17.34 inches of rainfall in 2022, according to data from the NWS co-op station in Albany, 11.58 inches below the annual average of 28.92 inches.
By Sam Waller
Shackelford County hunters can still bag a buck during Texas’ special late white-tailed deer season.
The special late season as well as a youth-only late season runs through Sunday, Jan. 15.
“The special late season allows for the harvest of antlerless or a deer that has at least one unbranched antler, basically a spike on one side,” game warden Jacob Mort said. “The youth season allows youth (16 and younger) to continue with normal harvest.”
By Sam Waller
Moran ISD begins its spring semester Monday, Jan. 9 with a staff-development day before resuming classes Tuesday, Jan. 10.
In order to stay on its four-day week schedule, Moran will hold classes on Friday, Jan. 13. It is the only Friday class day scheduled for the spring semester.
The new semester also sees the start of the fourth six-week grading period. The period ends Thursday, Feb. 16.
Spring break is scheduled for the week of March 13-17. The final day of classes is Thursday, May 25, with graduation on Friday, May 26.
By Donnie L. Lucas
The Albany community received an early Christmas present last week in the form of a state championship football title for Class 2A Div. 2, thanks to the Albany Lions.
While the honor was earned by the team and the coaching staff, it will be enjoyed by the entire community, joining two other such pinnacles of sports excellence – the 1960 and 1961 state titles.
The slogan for the team this season was “Be Remembered.”
The Albany community embraced the team and their quest to make it all the way to the big game and bring home the gold.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Three homes in Albany were recognized for their holiday displays by judges of the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s house decorating contest.
The home of Shirley and Red Alexander was awarded first place with a prize of 100 Albany Bucks.
Second place went to Lynsi and James Musselman, who received 75 Albany Bucks.
Third place and 50 Albany Bucks went to Samantha Isbell.
The Isbell and Alexander homes are repeat winners.
Chamber officer Megaen Birdwell said quite a few homes were included in the judging.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Anyone who doesn’t have plans for lunch on Christmas Day Sunday is invited to attend the annual Christmas Feast set for 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church.
This is the 14th year that the church has provided a meal for the community on Dec. 25.
“It is intended to provide fellowship on Christmas Day for those who may not have family in town for the holidays, or for anyone regardless of the circumstances who would like to come join us,” Tamara Trail, one of the event organizers said.
By Melinda L. Lucas
News readers and advertisers are asked to be aware that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, the week after Christmas.
“There will not be an edition on Thursday, Dec. 29,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “We hope we’ve given everyone ample notice that we’re going to take that week off to spend time with our families.”
All customers are asked to make sure they pick up their laundry and other weekend needs by Thursday afternoon. The office will be closed as usual on Friday.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The graves of over 560 veterans were decorated by family members and other volunteers at the Albany Cemetery last Saturday during the annual Wreaths Across America Day program.
More than 65 volunteers and another 10 to 15 family members of veterans spread out to place the fresh green wreaths with red bows on local graves. This is the third year Albany has participated in the program.
By Donnie A. Lucas
While positive cases of COVID-19 are still being recorded at the two local health clinics, a larger number of flu cases have overshadowed those numbers in recent weeks, with the onset of the holiday season raising concerns.
According to the weekly report by county judge Bob Skelton, only three COVID-19 cases out of 12 tests were reported by the clinics for last week, but there were many more cases of the flu.
