By Lynsi Musselman

Hurricanes that threatened the Gulf Coast last week took several Albany residents to Sulfur, Louisiana to help in clean-up and relief efforts for those affected by Laura.

First Baptist youth minister Campbell Terry, Paige  Thompson, and Michala Huckabay all traveled south together last week.

“We did not go to the Texas coast like we originally planned, Terry said. “Due to the shift in the storm, we went to Sulfur, Louisiana where we helped serve Houston River Baptist Church and the people of Sulfur.”

By Lynsi Musselman

Pick-up dates for the September distribution of the commodity food program are Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.

On Thursday, Sept. 3, certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Albany families who have been certified eligible for the September food distribution program can pick up their commodity food Friday, Sept. 4, at the rear door of the Justice of the Peace office (the former county jail) from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. 

By Lynsi Musselman

Maybe it is in the water, or maybe it is just coincidence, but the number of residents that are one of a pair of twins is unusually high for a town the size of Albany.

Generationally, Albany has seen several sets of twins grow up and pass through, but this year at Nancy Smith Elementary School 17 children out of 280 are multiples.

Not only are there seven pairs of twins, but there is also a set of triplets, which makes the percentage of multiples at NSES double the national average.

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany’s traditional fifth quarter fellowships will resume after this Friday’s first home game again Colorado City on Aug. 28 at The Feed Store.

Ministerial Alliance president Jeff Turner said the organization’s goal is to provide a safe environment for youth to come together for food and fellowship after home football games.

“We feel that these fellowships give students another option and helps keep them out of trouble,” Turner explained.

After each home game, different churches in the community sponsor the snacks and drinks.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Labor Day Golf Tournament hosted by the Albany Golf Club has filled all tees times with a waiting list in place.

 The tournament held on Sept. 5 and 6 is a two- person scramble format with an entry fee of $160 per team.

The entry fee includes one mulligan per person each day and a meal on Saturday night.

There is a morning tee time on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m.

Teams will be flighted after Saturday’s play.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Texans are living in uncertain times amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has lingered for months and thrown most daily activities for a lurch, but if there’s one thing hunters in the Lone Star State can count on, it’s that fall hunting seasons are almost here, and once again, the overall dove hunting forecast is strong.

Opening day of dove hunting in Texas is Tuesday, Sept. 1, and for the fifth year in a row, hunters across the Lone Star State, including those in the Albany area, will have a 90-day hunting season and 15-bird daily bag limits.

By Lynsi Musselman

Moran Independent School District started its 137th first day of school on Monday, Aug. 24.

MISD superintendent Danny Freeman said the school year started with 118 students this year, up from August 2019.

“This has been a great restart to school, and teachers and students are all excited,” said Freeman.

Classes at MISD begin at 8:00 a.m. and release at 4:00 p.m. daily.

COVID-19 Safety

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany Independent School District enrollment totals after the first week of school are sitting at 509, about a dozen less than this time last year.

AISD director of students services Leigh Lowe said 281 students are at Nancy Smith Elementary School and 228 are at Albany Junior/Senior High.

AJSH principal Glenn Hill said some students have withdrawn and some have enrolled this past week, keeping the number about the same.

By Lynsi Musselman 

& Donnie A. Lucas

Albany and Texas high school football fans are probably more than ready to see the Friday night lights on across the state.

With COVID-19 concerns and most counties in the state experiencing stricter guidelines, residents are left wondering what the in-person viewing experience will look like this year at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The good news for home games this season is that no admission will be charged as part of the effort to limit contact to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With the annual campaign to raise funds for local organizations starting in October, board members of the Albany Chest will meet next week to organize the 2020 fundraising drive and elect new directors.

The meeting is set for Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 5:15 p.m. at The Feed Store.

“We will be accepting nominations for positions on the board,” said chairman Amy Kelly. 

Four of the 12 director positions come up for election each year, and Chest by-laws allow directors to serve two terms before they cycle off.