By Melinda L. Lucas

An Albany blood drive is set for this afternoon, June 22.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park the bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., but local donors are reminded to note the switch back to Thursdays.

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.

The Kiwanis Club blood drives are scheduled roughly every eight weeks throughout the year, with other 2023 events planned Aug. 17, Oct. 12, and Dec. 7.

The students listed on the Dean’s List of Academic Honors at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, are undergraduates who have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.5 out of a perfect 4.0 in all work attempted while enrolled in not less than 12 semester hours.

The university recognized Elia Hebel of Albany, daughter of Rose and Kirk Hebel, for earning the honor for the Spring 2023 semester.

By Sam Waller

Three Shackelford County junior 4-Hers received top prizes in District 7 equine and photography contests.

On Tuesday, June 13, Gage Burton won the Junior Stock Horse championship buckle at the District 7 Horse Show. Later in the week, Rainy Nitschke and Reese Nitschke each received a Best in Class award from the District 7 Photography contest.

A total of 11 club members, four of whom competed in both contests, were rewarded for their efforts a total of 46 times.

Horse Show

By Sam Waller

The Shackelford County Library’s annual children’s story hour has one more Tuesday date left in June before moving to Wednesdays in July.

Program organizer Janna Ledbetter said attendance through the first three weeks of the program warranted adding more dates.

“We will not have special programs in July like we have this month – just story hour and maybe a craft project,” Ledbetter said. “We will continue through July unless attendance drops off.”

By Sam Waller

First Baptist Church is offering Sizzlin’ Summer Sunday Nights at 6:00 p.m. starting this Sunday, June 25 and running through Aug. 6.

The gatherings will be held at the home of Clint and Ginger Bumguardner. The evenings will include a meal and a variety of family fun activities, Ginger Bumguardner said.

“We’ll have one unique game each week besides all the regular stuff,” she said. “And there will be a family devotional time.”

Among activities available are swimming, corn hole, whiffle ball, sand volleyball, and a Slip N Slide.

By Sam Waller

Maranatha Fellowship will host a Night of Prophecy starting at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 25.

Pastor Clint Chapman said McKade Marshall will be the featured speaker.

“We’ll do what we normally do for worship; then I’ll turn it over to him for ministry,” Chapman said. “It’s going to be good. Everyone’s welcome.”

Chapman said the service will last about two hours.

By Sam Waller

For the second year in a row, Albany has finished in the top 10 schools in the Class 2A UIL Lone Star Cup standings.

The Lone Star Cup is awarded annually to six high schools, one in each of the six UIL classifications. Standings are based on schools’ team performances in district and state championships in 29 extracurricular activities. The winning school in each classification receives the UIL Lone Star Cup trophy and a $1,000 scholarship. The award is sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance.

By Sam Waller

The team of West, Villanueva, and Hutchinson won the Championship Flight of the Albany Golf Club’s Fathers Day Scramble.

The three-person scramble, played Saturday-Sunday, June 17-18 at Albany Golf Course, drew a field of 32 teams. After Saturday’s round, the field was split into three flights.

The winning team shot 61-60–121, holding off runners-up Barton, Hughes, Jones (64-59–123) for the title. Three teams – Cook, Holson, Walker (63-63); Thompson, Spencer, Cox (63-63); Lee, Holson, Wheeler (64-62) – tied for third at 126.

By Sam Waller

Students who will be in first through ninth grade this fall still have time to register for the Albany Volleyball Camp.

The camp is scheduled for Monday-Wednesday, June 26-28 at the Albany Junior/Senior High gym.

Cost for the camp is $25 per camper. The fee includes a T-shirt with sizes ranging from youth small to adult extra-large.

By Sam Waller

The calendar may say it’s summer vacation, but students and faculty from Moran are continuing to learn even during the break from classes.

Supt. John Denson spent this week attending the Texas School Safety Conference in San Antonio, while agriculture teacher Minnie Denson Bennett is in Greece as part of a study-abroad program as she pursues a master’s degree.

Earlier this month, students from Moran’s meat judging team and cheer squads attended camps.

Safety Conference