By Sam Waller
Albany Little League opened its 2023 season with a barn-burner Monday, March 27 as the Oilers edged the Reds by one run in the last inning.
League organizer Paul Hamilton said he expects the level of competition to remain high throughout the season.
Hamilton said 160 players are participating from T-Ball through Intermediate age groups. With the Major and Minor groups each having four teams, scheduling is much easier this year, he said.
By Sam Waller
Three Moran High School students qualified for UIL academic regional competition based on their results Wednesday, March 22 at the District 13-1A meet at Eula.
Tyler Waddell finished first in Social Studies, with Terra Thompson in Computer Applications and Ellis Hise in Mathematics advancing after placing second.
The Region II-1A meet will be April 21-22 at San Angelo.
Also competing at the district contest were Jayla Bussell, Chase Murk, Connor Hail, Zech Henderson, Caleb York, Daphanie Crews, Samantha Hinkle, and Emily Murk.
By Sam Waller
Albany ISD is moving forward with a plan to purchase monuments honoring the Albany Lions’ three football state championships, with a campaign underway to raise $50,000 for the purchase and installation of six-foot-by-six-foot granite monuments to be placed around the sign which honors the title teams of 1960 and 1961.
Albany won its third crown in December, the school’s first win in five trips to the finals under veteran coach Denney Faith.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions football team has been named recipient of the 2023 Gordon Wood Award by the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
The award will be presented Saturday, May 6 at the Hall’s 2023 induction banquet in Waco.
The Gordon Wood Award is presented to an “especially noteworthy high school football team that displayed good sportsmanship, the ability to overcome challenges, had the support of the community and achieved success on the field.”
By Melinda L. Lucas
The Bank Park should be full of competitors and spectators starting about noon this Sunday, March 26, with a fundraiser event planned in the downtown venue.
AZE’s third annual Scholarship Cornhole Tournament, which includes an amateur just-for-fun bracket in addition to a sanctioned division, is expected to draw a good number of teams from around the area, with the proceeds used for scholarships.
By Melinda L. Lucas
The resignations of several veteran educators were accepted with regrets at the Monday, March 20 meeting of the AISD school board, and one new teacher was offered a contract.
Superintendent Jonathan Scott stated that secondary science teacher Dwayne Norton and PE teacher/coach Ginger Norton would both be retiring at the end of the school year, both of them 30+ year educators, 22 of that with Albany ISD.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Rehearsals for the annual membership Sampler are moving outdoors on Thursday (today) at the Prairie Theater if the weather permits.
Practices were scheduled to move on Monday but were changed back to the Aztec Theater due to the cold weather. Director Lorna Ayers expects to have the remaining rehearsals for the April 15 Sampler outside in order to stage the show.
By Donnie A. Lucas
A community play day has been planned for Saturday, April 8 starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Bank Park as a way to add some fun and “shenanigans” for area residents over the Easter weekend.
The Shackelford County Easter Spring Fling will feature goat roping, rookie breakaway for ages 12 and under, and team roping for all ages.
While having the names of traditional horse riding events, all of these contests will be held on foot.
There will also be a “Duck Cutting” contest for children age five and younger.
By Sam Waller
Albany FFA students face a full spring schedule with four career development events before the end of March.
The first CDE was held March 21 at Cisco College, primarily meant as a practice for other meets, including March 23 at Tarleton State University, March 24 at Angelo State University, and March 28 at Weatherford.
On April 1-2, students Kolt Koemel, Judson Rogers, Briley Tabor, and Donald McCullough will compete in the calf scramble at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.
By Sam Waller
Albany Little League has 160 players on 16 teams with the new season set to start Monday, March 27.
League director Paul Hamilton said he’s looking forward to another successful year for the local program.
“Come out and watch us play,” Hamilton said. “We’ll start play next Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We appreciate people’s support.”
