Patrick Henry (kneeling) exhibited his heavy weight cross barrow to a 10th place finish in the recent “Alternative” show in Fort Worth. Chloé Anderson also participated in the event, which drew a large number of exhibitors.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: David Waller, a 2007 graduate of Albany High School, is the Director of Stadium & Football Operations for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. At the end of November, he and other members of the staff found themselves scrambling after the unexpected announcement that the Rose Bowl would be held in Texas.]

By David Hooks Waller

By Sandy Morris

Albany Sports Center took two cheer teams to the Varsity Spirit Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders National Championship in Arlington on Saturday, Feb. 6 and brought home awards in both the show team and elementary team divisions. 

ASC head coach Kourtnee Waters explained that the show team is made up of nine girls ages four to eight and teams in this division are not placed, but receive either an excellent or outstanding award.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Independent School District will be closed on Monday, Feb. 15 with a staff development day scheduled for faculty members. 

Classes will resume at the normal times on Tuesday, Feb. 16. 

Classes will release on Friday, March 12, and this year’s Spring Break for Albany ISD is set for March 15-19. 

Moran ISD

Moran ISD also will be observing the holiday and will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15. Classes will resume at their regular  times on Tuesday. 

City of Albany

By Sandy Morris

A fundraiser has been set up to help Albany High School athlete Wesley Estridge continue to compete at area powerlifiting meets.  

Dark heather gray t-shirts supporting Estridge are being sold for $20 each.

The shirts are short sleeved and have the Albany Lions logo on the front of the shirt with Estridge’s name, sponsors, and
“Train Insane or Remain the Same” on the back. 

The order form is posted on the Albany Athletic Booster Club Facebook page or by contacting Blake or Val Estridge. 

By Sandy Morris

Project Graduation organizers are busy this week preparing all the truffles and gifts sold during their first fundraiser benefitting the annual celebration following graduation. 

Class parent Tisha Wilkins said the order forms rolled in along with requested ingredients, and seniors and their parents have spent the week dipping and decorating the truffles.

“I think this is our biggest Valentine’s fundraiser,” said Wilkins. “We are looking at making and decorating over 2,000 truffles this year.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

A pair of Albany High sophomores brought home the gold from the District 10-2A Cross Examination Debate contest held Monday in Cisco.

Ella Webb and Leddie Leech won the first place plaque for the event, and both girls received individual speaking awards based on points awarded by the judge.

Webb was named the top speaker, followed by Leech in second place.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The 2021-2022 budget and a contract extension for city manager Billy Holson were the main topics of discussion at Monday’s Albany city council meeting, but no action was taken on either item.

Holson plans to present a finalized budget proposal at the March 8 session, and mayor Susan Montgomery expects Holson’s contract to be approved the same night.

Montgomery reported that new furniture and accessories were delivered last week to the new pilots lounge at the Albany airport, funded by the AVJ Foundation.

By Sandy Morris

With only one day left to file for local offices, as of press time on Tuesday, there was still a shortage of candidates for several of the local boards.

All incumbents currently serving on the Albany City Council have filed for re-election including mayor Susan Montgomery and council members Don Taggart, Austin Sherwood, and Lynsi Musselman.

Cory Brown and Kalico Leech have filed for re-election to their seats on the Albany school board.

By Sandy Morris

While many local residents are anxiously waiting for their names to be called for a COVID vaccine, others are looking for convenient places to be tested for the virus.

Shackelford County EMS supervisor Tina Ulbrich announced that the local ambulance service recently received 640 rapid tests to be administered free of charge.

“We received these tests through a special program,” said Ulbrich. “The tests are completely free, and results will be available in 15 minutes.”

Ulbrich said appointments must be made for the tests.