The Albany News was presented with the Outstanding Publication Award for its efforts to promote agriculture science education by the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas during the association’s Professional Development Conference.

The conference was held Monday-Thursday, July 24-28 in Dallas.

Albany High School agriculture teacher Chris Beard, who submitted the nomination to the ATAT, accepted the award on behalf of the publication on Tuesday, July 25 during the Area IV meeting.

By Sam Waller

Fans of Albany Lions and Lady Lions can meet student-athletes Monday, Aug. 7 at the Albany Athletic Booster Club’s annual Ice Cream Supper at the Bank Park.

The evening will begin with the opening of the Spirit Shop at 6:00 p.m. Burgers will be served starting at 6:30 p.m. with football, volleyball, and cross country athletes introduced after that.

In addition, the Albany cheerleaders and participants from Cubs Cheer Camp will perform.

By Sam Waller

Connor Smith put in a busy but productive final week of his summer vacation, taking part in the Coastal Brigade camp and returning home just hours before reporting for the first day of football practice.

Smith, who will be a freshman at Albany High School, received an award for best poster at Coastal Brigade.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Masonic Lodge expects to come close to matching its 2023 scholarship total in 2024 following the Lodge’s Scholarship Golf Tournament, held Saturday, July 29.

“I think we are going to be able to offer five or six $1,000 scholarships,” Lodge member Randall Palmore said “We had 51 participants and a great amount of support from local folks kicking in for hole sponsorships and general donations. We’ll be close to $6,000, and that’s what we gave this year.”

The lodge presented $5,000 in scholarships in 2022 and 2021 after giving four in 2020.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Pictures for varsity and JV football players have been set for this week, with volleyball teams and cheerleaders scheduled next week.

Members of the Albany varsity and junior varsity football teams will be in full pads on Friday, Aug. 4 for team and individual photos to be taken at Robert Nail Stadium.

The Lions and their coaches will gather at 1:30 p.m. after the morning practice.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the August distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, Aug. 3 and Friday, Aug. 4.

On Thursday Aug. 3, certified elgible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Certified eligible Albany families for the August food distribution program can pick up their commodity food on Friday Aug. 4 at the back door of the Justice of the Peace office from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

By Sam Waller

A report of a credit card scam against a local resident has been made to the Shackelford County Sheriff’s Department, which is actively investigating.

Deputy Sheriff Jason Price said such scams typically involve a request for money with the promise of refunding more money, but the refund never comes.

“The scammers will ask people to put money on a card and give them the card number to get money back,” he said. “If anybody tells you to put money on a card or buy a card, it’s a scam.”

Goodnight Steakhouse owner Jason Harlow (r) and chef Terry Chandler (r) hand Mike Bean a donation check for $6,168 for Ben Richey Boys Ranch. The contribution amount is the total from the dollar bills that were taken down from the walls and ceilings at the Beehive.

By Sam Waller

Moran Independent School District is gearing up for the start of another school year with faculty and staff going through in-service this week.

Classes start Monday, Aug. 7. Principal Jo Hise said students must have enrollment packets filled out and turned in before then. The last chance to pick up packets is 5:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 before the start of the Meet the Teachers program.

Four days of in-service training started Tuesday, Aug. 1, with First Financial Bank providing breakfast for school personnel.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is making plans for its annual community garage sale with registration to start later this month.

“We know the garage sale will be in September; we just don’t have an exact date nailed down yet,” Chamber manager Brandi Lehew said. “Plans are being made, and we will have a date soon. People should go ahead and start getting ready and gathering stuff for this year’s garage sale. It’ll be here soon.”