By Sandy Morris

After a string of warm, windy days, local residents began this week to brace themselves for a cold front bringing bone-chilling temperatures to the area.

The National Weather Service out of San Angelo predicted a week starting out with a high near 60 degrees on Monday and spiraling downward the rest of the week.

Shackelford County residents will probably experience the lowest temps of the winter this week with expected lows of near 10 degrees by the weekend. 

By Sandy Morris

Three local 4-H teams competed at the Annual Food Challenge on Wednesday, Jan. 27 in San Angelo. 

The local club took two junior teams and one intermediate team with all three teams placing in the competition.

The intermediate team members of Landon Kreitler, Connor Smith, and Rowdy New placed sixth with an appetizer dish, with Chinese wraps being the key ingredient.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department honored member Jeff Hill with the 2020 Firefighter of the Year merit award at the monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 1.

According to chief Kyle Tischler, the members of the fire department nominate the individual for this award whom they believe has best met the five following qualifications:

The firefighter must not be on probation.

The firefighter must have shown to be highly active in the department through meetings and fire/emergency calls.

By Sandy Morris

Pick-up dates for the February distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 5.

Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4. 

Albany families who have been certified as eligible for the February food distribution program may pick up their food on Friday, Jan. 8, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the rear door of the JP office. 

By Sandy Morris

The Big Country chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted the second event in their annual Weekend of Champions this past Saturday, Jan. 30. 

This year, the Weekend of Champions camps were designed to be one day only with the boys’ event being held at Beltway South in Abilene. 

FCA Big Country East representative Paul Johnston said the day was equally as amazing as the girls’ event the previous weekend on Jan. 23 in Eastland.

“We had a great turnout,” said Johnston. “Lots of positives came out of this gathering.”

By Sandy Morris

Riley Israel will be the featured speaker at the upcoming high school worship night scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10 at The Feed Store. 

Israel grew up in Americus, Georgia, and his parents and grandparents made sure he was at church every time the doors were opened.

Growing up, Israel was very involved in all sports-playing baseball, football, and basketball.  

Baseball was his first love, and his father, Renza Israel, who was a baseball coach, shared his knowledge about the sport with his son over the years. 

By Sandy Morris

The Albany High School One Act Play (OAP) has been cast, and students have been rehearsing since Jan. 11, according to director Jenny Scott.

“The play we chose this year is ‘The Love of Three Oranges,’ by Hillary DePaino,” said Scott. “The setting is a fairy-tale kingdom in the imaginary present.”

The cast and crew will be attending the yearly OAP festival in Clyde on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

District competition is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3 in Haskell at the new performing arts center. 

By Sandy Morris

Project Graduation organizers wrapped up their first fundraiser on Monday, Feb. 1 to prepare for the annual celebration following graduation. 

Order forms for Valentine’s Day Oreo Truffles have been collected, and now the seniors and their parents will get ready to roll up their sleeves and start baking.

“The seniors will help prepare them, and the truffles and other treats will be delivered to the high school and to Nancy Smith Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 12.” said class parent Tisha Wilkins

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon next Wednesday, Feb. 10, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.

The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.

The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable, according to local fire chief Kyle Tischler. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday afternoon, Feb. 11.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center offers ­COVID-19 antibody testing at no charge for donors who successfully donate.

The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.