By Lynsi Perry Musselman

With the extreme high winds Albany and the surrounding area received on Tuesday, March 4, the weather proverb “In like a lion and out like a lamb” seems to be true this March.

According to the National Weather Service out of San Angelo, Albany received wind gusts up to 60 mph for the majority of the day on Tuesday. The wind and dirt that came into the area brought power outages for many homes and businesses, Albany ISD being one of them. 

By David H. Waller

Albany resident JD Coffee has been recognized as Project Manager of the Year (General Contractor) at the 2024 Build West Texas Awards, hosted by the West Texas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC).

The Shackelford County Commissioners Court met Monday, March 10, addressing multiple county matters, including reinstating a burn ban and approving the purchase of a new sewage grinder for the Law Enforcement Center (LEC).

Burn Ban Reinstated

By Melinda L. Lucas

Families are invited to celebrate the end of Spring Break with a traditional Eastern holiday at the Old Jail Art Center’s monthly Family Festival this Saturday, March.

The museum will host the event, open to all ages but especially children, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Albany residents and Old Jail Art Center patrons are asked to “save the date” for a March 22 reception honoring Erin Whitmore, the OJAC’s education director for the last 15 years.

Old Jail docents will be hosting the come-and-go event, set for 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., in the Stasney Center for Education at the museum. A special presentation is planned at 2:30 p.m.

Whitmore, credited with expanding the reach of the Old Jail’s virtual and in-school education, is leaving the OJAC later this spring to pursue the “next chapter” of her career.

By David H. Waller

Phase one of a planned fire guard project aimed at reducing wildfire risk near Albany is set to begin soon, with work taking place on land on the southwest edge of town near County Road 187 and Highway 180.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions softball team endured another weather cancellation last week, but bounced back with two big wins, the latter against Abilene TLCA in the District 8-2A opener.

The Lady Lions (6-1 overall, 1-0 district) played its second district game Tuesday, March 11 against Hawley in their final game of spring break week. Details will be reported next week. Albany resumes its normal schedule Tuesday, March 18 at Haskell.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions baseball team fashioned an undefeated run last week in the Albany Lion Varsity Baseball Tournament, the host team just didn’t get as many wins as it wanted.

The Lions (2-1-3) did not play this week over spring break. Albany returns to action at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 when it visits Haskell in the District 8-2A opener.

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD has had a busy stretch before going on spring break.

Students Sam Stanley, Brylee Stautzenberer and Kielar Carr were inducted into the National Honor Society.

“The core values are Academics, Leadership, Service and Character,” Moran Principal Jo Hise said. “They had to exhibit those qualities in order to be nominated and voted upon. I’m very pleased to have them be a part of that organization.”

By David H. Waller

Last week marked the official start of the 2025 golf season at Albany Golf Club, as the course hosted its first high school tournaments in nearly a decade, with both boys’ and girls’ teams competing last Monday and Wednesday, respectively.  The official start of the golf season last week brought a renewed energy to the course as members looked ahead to what will be a milestone year—the 100th anniversary of the club.