By Donnie A. Lucas

& Sam Waller

The deadline to make reservations for the 19th annual Friends of Fort Griffin Gala is Monday, Oct. 9.

The Gala is set for Saturday, Oct. 14 at Collins Creek Ranch, featuring Aaron McDonnell and the Neon Eagles, and includes a meal and silent auction.

Tickets are currently on sale at $50 per plate and can be purchased by emailing susanftgriffin@aol.com or leaving a message on the group’s Facebook page. Orders can also be sent by text to 325-762-5038.

By Sam Waller

Xi Chi Pi Sorority expects to have a full field for its fourth annual Scholarship Golf Scramble, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 at Albany Golf Course.

“We’re completely full at this point,” organizer Lauren Peacock said. “We even have a couple of extras on a list just in case someone has to drop out at the last second. That’s happened to us in the past, and we want to avoid that this year.”

Peacock said it’s still possible to get into the tournament if teams are forced to withdraw.

By Sam Waller

Entries are still being accepted for the Albany Kiwanis Club’s 16th annual John Rose and Jim Law Memorial Albany Kiwanis Charity Golf Tournament and Fajita Fiesta.

The event, which benefits the Albany K Charity Scholarship Fund, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 20 at Albany Golf Course.

Kiwanian Zach Maberry said eight spots remain for the morning flight, which will tee off at 8:30 a.m., but just one slot is still open for the 1:30 p.m. afternoon flight.

“We are still looking for some sponsors,” Maberry said.

By Sam Waller

The Albany NFL Flag Football League completed its third week of play this week with one team in each age group coming in undefeated.

The league has 101 players split among 12 teams in three age groups. Games are being played Mondays and Tuesdays at the Albany High School baseball field.

Results from Oct. 2-3, will be reported next week.

By Sam Waller

Eight students from Moran’s dual-credit advanced animal science class visited the 6666 Ranch at Guthrie to tour equine facility and breeding program.

Superintendent John Denson said the group was escorted by Eric Van Reet, the ranch’s stallion manager.

“He gave us a thorough tour,” Denson said. “We got to see the stallions they have in service right now and some of the history of the 6666. We got to see their feeding operation and the way they buy feed.”

The tour included a stop at the ranch’s veterinary lab.

By Melinda L. Lucas

After spending the night in southern Shackelford County at the Moran School, about 30 bike riders came through Albany  last Wednesday morning, Sept. 20, representing the Texas Brotherhood Ride.

They were escorted along Hwy. 6 by county deputies, and they stopped briefly at the Courthouse, where they were met by other local first responders.

The Texas Brotherhood Ride, which is made up only of first responders, started their seven-day 550-mile ride on Sept. 18 in Maxwell, south of Austin, finishing the trip in Amarillo.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Downtown Albany will be looking like fall is in the air on Saturday even if the thermometer doesn’t agree, thanks to the efforts of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and local volunteers.

Chamber manager Brandi Lehew reported that she and several volunteers, including two school organizations, have been working on fall decorations this week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The main reason for a mid-week meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital Board was to adopt the budget and tax rate, but directors ended up with several other big items on the Sept. 20 agenda, including the resignation of a board member, appointment of two directors, and raises for clinic staff.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County elected officials worked through a fairly routine agenda in short order on Monday, Sept. 25, with another session set for Friday, Sept. 29 to open bids and award contracts for fuel and mowing.

After reading a letter from District 10 Representative Brian Harrison recommending such action, county commissioners unanimously opted to follow the City of Odessa’s lead and work on a resolution to ban governmental COVID vaccination mandates, instead leaving vaccination to “personal choice.”

Sue Breeden, for the fifth year in a row, brought home a blue ribbon from the West Texas Fair’s creative arts division with her bead work. This year’s theme was taken from the cover of Night Flying Woman: An Ojibway Narrative (Native Voices) by Ignatia Broker. Breeden also entered a pair of first place mukluks made by a friend in Alaska, and a third place quilt pieced by her mother.