By Donnie A. Lucas

After almost 45 years of ownership, Melinda and I are ready to let someone else take over the reins of this 140-year old newspaper – The Albany News.

Before we advertise to the newspaper industry or other possible interested parties statewide, we want to determine if there is interest by someone locally or with local ties who wants to explore this opportunity.

We know this could take awhile, but the time has come for our family to retire and start the process of getting the newspaper in the hands of someone else.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The 2021 homecoming parade is set to roll through downtown on Friday featuring Albany High School and ex-student royalty, followed by special presentation of the homecoming court during the halftime of the Albany vs. Olney homecoming game that kicks off at 7:00 p.m.

The parade is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m., weather permitting, from the staging area in front of the stadium, then wind its way through the downtown area around the courthouse and return through downtown to end back at the stadium.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce has postponed the Home of the Hereford Cookoff and Cornhole Tournament scheduled for this weekend until the weekend of Oct. 23, Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones announced on Tuesday.

Jones said the decision was made because of the threat of rain in the forecast for the weekend.

“I think people have been watching the weather, and we have not had that many enter,” Jones said. “They were waiting until this week to see what the weather was going to do, and the weather is telling us it’s not going to happen.”

By Sam Waller

The field is almost full for the 14th annual John Rose & Jim Law Memorial Albany Kiwanis Charity Golf Tournament and Fajita Fiesta.

Kiwanian Zach Maberry said 10 teams are already signed up for the four-person scramble, which is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 1 at Albany Golf Course.

The event raises funds for the Albany K Charity Scholarship Fund as well as a number of other local projects.

Entry fee is $50 per person, which includes a Fajita Fiesta meal. Golfers may also purchase up to four mulligans at $10 each.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s Johnnie Hise will speak at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Fields of Faith program on Wednesday at Abilene Wylie.

“Paul Johnston nominated Johnnie to speak,” Moran principal Jo Hise said. “They pull up four or five seniors from the area to give their testimony or tell about how FCA has impacted them.”

Johnston serves as an area representative for FCA.

“Fields of Faith is a big youth rally,” he said. There’ll be a lot of kids from a lot of schools, with music, testimonies, and a speaker.”

School Pictures

By Donnie A. Lucas

A fifth quarter fellowship will be held following the Albany vs. Anson football game on Friday, with the junior high and high school students being hosted as separate locations.

Students in grades 9-12 will meet in the back yard of the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church, while the junior high will continue to meet across the street at The Feed Store.

Food and beverages will be provided by the Presbyterian and Lutheran churches this week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Color photo packets taken of junior high and high school football and volleyball players by The Albany News are ready for pickup, along with those of all cheerleaders. 

Junior high football packages arrived last week. 

Only packages that have already been paid or could be charged to an account in good standing were printed. Others can be ordered when paid.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany Parent Teacher Organization have started planning for the 2021 Fall Festival, and students, and parents from all grade levels are encouraged to attend a meeting set for next Thursday, Sept. 30.

PTO members and parents will meet right after the Campus Improvement Committee at 3:30 p.m. at Nancy Smith Elementary School, with plans to present some new ideas and also hear feedback and additional ideas from parents. 

The CIC meeting will start at 3:00 p.m.

By Donnie A, Lucas

After missing out on the biennial “Big Homecoming” in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Albany Ex-Students Association have opted to hold the event this year and recognize three honor classes instead of the usual two classes.

The usual slate of homecoming parade, halftime festivities and the association meeting on Saturday are lined up for Oct. 1 and 2.

By Sam Waller

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions could have unintended consequences for the upcoming flu season.

While it is still too early to gauge the severity of flu this winter, nurse practitioner Claire Ware of Shackelford County Health Clinic said there is the chance for it to be worse than a year ago.