By Melinda L. Lucas

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, June 22.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will be at First Baptist Church from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

The first two dates of the 2023 series were moved to Fridays, but as of June, will go back to Thursdays from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Local Kiwanians urge community members to donate blood to help ensure that patients in area hospitals have a supply of blood ready and waiting when an emergency occurs.

By Sam Waller

Alanna Stephens has long had a passion for creating art.

Now she’s making it pay off.

Stephens’ Yellow Rose Studios, located at 57 S. Main St. in Albany, will hold an open house Saturday, June 17, with the studio open to the public at 11:00 a.m.

During Fandangle season, Stephens plans to be open from 11:00 a.m. until show time on show days, allowing visitors to view her work, which is right across the street from the barbecue meals being served at the Bank Park.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H member Faith Fry finished second with her horse educational presentation at the State 4-H Roundup last week, qualifying for the national competition to be held in Ohio next month.

The Roundup was held Monday-Thursday, June 5-8 at College Station.

Fry gave her presentation on Thursday, a day after competing in horse judging. The team of Fry, Madailein Beard, Jordan Fikes, and Paisley Clark finished 12th overall in the team standings, with a sixth place in “reasons,” seventh in halter, and 14th in performance.

By Sam Waller

The Shackelford County Library’s annual children’s story hour knocked out the first two of its scheduled four programs in the span of five days with children getting the chance to learn about different animals.

On June 9, beekeeper Mark Routon gave a presentation on bees.  Then on Tuesday, June 13, Lori Schooler gave a presentation on chickens.

Story hour will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Tuesdays for the next two weeks. Preschool children must be accompanied by an adult. The program will include crafts and games related to each story.

By Sam Waller

The First Baptist Church youth program is again planning to conduct a fundraising volleyball tournament after an earlier effort fell through in March.

The tournament is scheduled for Saturday, June 24 at the Albany High School gym, with an entry deadline of Thursday, June 22. Proceeds will go to help fund attendance at summer camps for FBC youth.

FBC youth minister Eduardo San Lucas said he is looking for volunteers to assist with the event.

By Melinda L. Lucas

After a return performance by the “Fancy Dancers” at the Old Jail Art Center on Saturday afternoon, a well-known Native American artist will discuss works in the OJAC’s current exhibition, “Cheyenne Ledger Drawings: Stories of Warrior Artists.”

The Focus Lecture by Gordon Yellowman is planned for 3:00 p.m. in the Stasney Center, with the dance exhibition in the Marshall R. Young Courtyard earlier at 2:00 p.m.

Fancy Dancers

By Donnie A. Lucas

Owners of pets of all types are urged to enter the annual Fandangle Pet Parade Saturday, June 24  beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The parade will take place at the Bank Park with prizes awarded for Best Dressed, Most Creative, Most Unique Pet, and Best Fandangle Costume.

Pet owners are encouraged to dress pets up in their best wild west attire.

Early registration is recommended  by looking for the Google form on the Fandangle’s Facebook page. Otherwise, registration will begin at the Bank Park at 9:30 a.m. the morning of the parade.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Parker Henry exceeded his expectations in his first time competing in the USS Strongman National Championships, placing ninth among 24 competitors in the Open Men’s Middleweight class (198 pounds or less).

Henry finished with a total of 65.5 points despite “zeroing out” in one of five events in the meet, held Saturday, June 3, at Hyatt Regency Dallas.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Athletic Booster Club is selling raffle tickets for a custom autographed football commemorating Albany’s 2022 Class 2A Division II state championship.

The raffle is to raise money for the project to place monuments celebrating the school’s three state football titles at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

Tickets are $20 each or five for $100. To purchase tickets, visit the Booster Club’s website (www.albanyathleticboosterclub.com) and click on the link under Featured
Items.

By Sam Waller

The field is filling up for the Albany Golf Club’s Father’s Day Tournament.

Tournament director Shawn Sutton said five openings, all in the morning flight, remained as of Monday, June 12, but said it may be possible to juggle things to allow one or two more teams into the afternoon flight.

The three-person scramble will be played Saturday-Sunday, June 17-18, at the Albany Golf Course. Entry fee is $300 per team, which includes one mulligan per person each day.