Local ranchers and businesses came together this week to support livestock producers in Oklahoma whose grazing land has been destroyed by widespread wildfires across the region.

The fires, which began earlier this month in the Oklahoma Panhandle, have burned more than 300,000 acres and prompted evacuations, emergency declarations, and damage to ranchland across several counties. The largest blaze, known as the Ranger Road Fire, alone scorched more than 280,000 acres across Beaver and Harper counties.

The Albany Lions were pushed to the limit Monday night but responded when it mattered most, defeating Seymour 66-61 in overtime in a hard-fought playoff game at Graham.

The contest marked Albany’s first overtime game of the season and turned into a defensive struggle for much of the night, with both teams battling through stretches where offense was difficult to find.

The Albany Lions will face a challenging road in the 2026 football season, as the official schedule released this week features a strong non-district lineup and a district that coaches say may be among the toughest in Class 2A.

The Lions will open preseason play with scrimmages at Henrietta on Aug. 14 and at home against Early on Aug. 20 before beginning regular-season action later in August. The non-district schedule includes home games against Hawley, Anson and Coleman, along with road trips to DeLeon and Coleman.

The Necessity of

Spiritual Growth

In every area of life, healthy things grow. Children grow. Trees grow. Businesses grow. Muscles grow when exercised. Growth is a sign of life. When something stops growing, it begins to decline. The same is true spiritually. A living faith must be a growing faith.

Spiritual growth is not optional for the believer; it is essential.