By Sam Waller

Moran students spent the week building up spirit for homecoming weekend with a series of dress-up days.

The week started with the patriotic ’Merica Monday, followed by the Hawaiian-themed Tiki Tuesday and Pajama Day on Wednesday. Thursday (today) is Hippie Day, and Friday is Spirit Day, with students sporting Moran’s school colors of purple and gold.

The weekend will honor classes from 1946 and 1947 (75th anniversary), 1971 and 1972 (50th) and 1996 and 1997 (25th).

By Sam Waller

Spots are still available for the Albany Masonic Lodge Scholarship Golf Tournament, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 at Albany Golf Course.

Entries will be accepted until the start of play.

Entry fee for the four-person scramble is $300 per team. Hole sponsorships are available for $500. A sponsorship combined with a team entry is $700.

Entries are limited to the first 12 paid teams.

Proceeds benefit the Albany Masonic Wisdom Foundation, which awards college scholarships to Albany High School graduates each year.

By Sam Waller

Bucky Nail and Charles Barrett were reelected to three-year terms on the board of directors of the Albany Golf Club.

The elections were held Oct. 9 as part of the club’s annual business meeting and club championship.

Club president Randy Walker said the focus now turns to preparing for 2022.

Six greens at the Albany Golf Course were resodded over the summer because of damage inflicted by last February’s winter storm.

“We have purchased covers to protect them in cold weather,” Walker said. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus dropped a little last week, with 15 positive cases reported by the local testing facilities.

According to an update from Shackelford County Judge Robert Skelton, 38 tests were administered Oct. 11-15, resulting in four fewer positive cases than the week before.

Likewise, the number of cases reported to the state last week by Albany ISD nurse Lisa Russell dwindled to just two, both at the elementary campus.

By Sam Waller

Contests, prizes and themed days will be featured throughout next week as Albany ISD students participate in the 2021 Red Ribbon Campaign.

The campaign educates students and the general public about drug and alcohol abuse. This year’s program will run Oct. 25-29.

Nancy Smith Elementary School will have a poster contest as well as well as dress-up themes for each day.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany graduate Emily Raymond made a stop by her father’s science class at Albany High School on Tuesday prior to embarking on a six-week trip to Great Britain to complete research for her doctoral dissertation.

Raymond, who graduated in the AHS Class of 2009, spoke to the class about the importance of developing educational skills while in high school.

By Sam Waller

First United Methodist Church will “step out of camp” Sunday as it holds Family Day at the Stasney Ranch cookshack.

Starting at 10:00 a.m., the day will be one of singing, testimonies, preaching, and fellowship, Rev. Tim Trimble said.

“The whole church family is invited to be out there,” Trimble said. “It’s just a day for us to sort of get out of the camp, which means to get out of the routine and do something different.”

Trimble said the idea comes from the Book of Exodus and fits in with the church’s 40 Days of Prayer event.

By Sam Waller

Neighbors in Need will conduct a garage sale starting at 8:00 a.m. Saturday.

Lori Reames said the sale is to raise funds to purchase needed items.

“The proceeds will mainly go toward heaters at this time of the year for people who need them,” Reames said. “Everything’s going to be a quarter unless we have it marked at a different price.”

Reames announced a new contact number for Neighbors in Need and Closet Angels. To contact either ministry, call 325-762-0335.

By Sam Waller

Twenty-four students from Albany Junior/Senior High School, four from each grade level, have been selected to serve as student council and senior ambassadors for the Feed Store.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will be presenting fire safety information to local school children this Friday, Oct. 22 as part of it annual fire safety and prevention initiative.

Several AVFD volunteers  plan to be at Nancy Smith Elementary School at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning for a general assembly, then allow students by grade level to “tour” two or three of the department’s vehicles.

Last week was National Fire Safety Week, with a theme of “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!”