By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School is sending two senior students to Austin this week to compete in the UIL Academic Meet at the University of Texas.

Sarah Cotter took second in editorial writing at the Region II Meet on April 22 to advance. She will be joined by Susie Cormack, who was third in news writing at the regional level.

The top three places from each of the four regions qualify for state. The top six of the 12 competitors in each category will receive a state medal.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Rehearsals for the 2022 version of the Fort Griffin Fandangle have begun in earnest with a full slate of practices scheduled on each Sunday through Thursday during the month of May.

The first general rehearsal was held Tuesday, with many of the parts assigned for both singing and acting roles. However, director Lorna Ayers stressed that everyone who wants to participate in the show should make all future rehearsals if possible.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s freshman and junior students participated in an aquatic biology field day earlier at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Moran science teacher Matthew Hise said the program provided a general overview of different kinds of environments. The freshman students are taking biology, with the juniors involved in an aquatic science class.

“We  don’t have aquifer water in our area,” Hise said. “It was an experience to see aquatic organisms that are totally different from what we have in our area.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

It wasn’t exactly a case of lighting striking twice, but it was close.

The first time the Albany Lion Band earned a Sweepstakes Award for earning Division I ratings in marching, sight reading, and concert contests was in 1962.

The band that year was in the second year of a new director who had to dip down to the eighth graders, and even a few members from the seventh grade, to have a group large enough to truly compete.

Fast forward to 2022, some 60 years later, when the Lion Band repeated earning the Sweepstakes Award.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Ministerial Alliance is again spearheading local participation in the National Day of Prayer.

The local event will be held at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, May 5 at Bank Park.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.”

The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775. President Abraham Lincoln called for a day of prayer in 1863 during the Civil War.

By Sam Waller

The Feed Store student council will make another attempt at staging its Powder Puff football game after last week’s effort was rained out.

Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said the event is now planned for 2:00 p.m. this coming Sunday, May 1 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

“Everything is the same with the exact same time; we’ve just changed the dates,” Wilkins said. “We were very thankful for the rain we got last Sunday, though.”

Parents of Albany High School graduating seniors are reminded to gather baby pictures for The Albany News’ upcoming graduation section.

Pictures are due by the end of next week, on Thursday, May 5, if possible.

High resolution images for the graduation special section can be emailed to news@thealbanynews.net or photos can be brought by the News office to be scanned and returned immediately.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany Parent Teacher Organization, parents of local students, and several local businesses plan to provide snacks, meals, prizes, and gifts to Albany Independent School District teachers, support staff, and administrators during Teacher Appreciation Week May 2-6.

PTO organizer Malarie Sutton said teachers and staff members will have something special each day of the week, including snacks and gifts.

“This is a way of showing our appreciation for all that our teachers do for our children,” said Sutton.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Organizations planning to award scholarships at the 2022 Albany High School graduation exercises on Friday, May 27 are asked to report their scholarship amounts and recipients by this Friday, April 29.

Ann Riley at the AHS office is organizing the scholarship announcement and distribution, handing out the seniors’ application letters to committee representatives last week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Four Albany high students brought home seven medals and a team plaque from the Region II-2A  Academic Meet in Denison, with two competitors advancing to the state meet.

Seniors Sarah Cotter and Susie Cormack both qualified for the state meet on May 6 in Austin in journalism events.

Cotter took second in Editorial Writing, and Cormack won third in News Writing to advance. The top three places in each event moved on to the state meet.