By Melinda L. Lucas

The time for a Sunday youth Bible study is changing after the group met for the first time last weekend.

Friendship Baptist Church pastor Paul Johnston, who is leading the sessions, said that there was a good turnout for the Sept. 11 kickoff, but participants told him that other high school students would be able to come if it started an hour later.

The next meeting of “The Word with Coach Johnston” will be at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, with plans to continue weekly throughout the school year.

By Melinda L. Luca

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Sept. 22.

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

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.

Blood center officials said that there is always a need for blood donors of all types. In particular, officials said those who have O+ and O- are needed.

By Sam Waller

The 15th annual John Rose and Jim Law Memorial Albany Kiwanis Charity Golf Tournament and Fajita Fiesta is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14, at Albany Golf Course.

The event benefits the Albany K Charity Scholarship Fund.

Entry fee for the four-person scramble is $50 per player, which includes the Fajita Fiesta. Golfers may purchase up to four mulligans at $10 apiece.

Entry deadline is Friday, Oct. 7.

Kiwanian Zach Maberry said the field for the tournament is almost full.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Application forms for Albany Chest funds are now available at both local banks and The Albany News, with a deadline of Friday, Sept. 30.

Forms can also be requested by email at news@thealbanynews.net.

Funding requests, which are mandatory to be able to receive Chest monies, will be reviewed at the board’s next meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 5, when a goal will be set.

Letters to previous Chest donors and new prospects will be mailed soon after the Oct. 5 meeting to kick off the 2022 campaign.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Volunteers are needed to decorate the downtown area for the fall season on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Anyone wishing to help set up decorations should meet at the Chamber of Commerce office in the depot at 9:00 a.m., according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

The Chamber purchased new fall decorations last year and will provide all the supplies necessary to put up the items that include fall wreaths and garland, along with cane cut by Albany High School ag classes.

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department recently received a grant to purchase a “slip-on unit” that has been installed on a surplus military truck.

The $15,800 grant was made possible through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.

The slip-on unit, or skid, is “self-contained” fire fighting equipment, including a water tank, pump, hose reel, and control panel, and has already been used several times, according to Albany VFD Fire Chief Travis Gardenhire.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Xi Chi Pi Sorority will hold its third annual scholarship golf scramble Saturday, Oct. 1, at Albany Golf Course.

Organizer Lauren Peacock said the event raises funds for scholarships for Albany High School graduates.

“We give scholarships to graduating seniors every year,” Peacock said. “It can be anywhere from two to three scholarships. We always like to give as much as we’re able to, and that wouldn’t be possible without all the support from our community.”

By Sam Waller

Moran is celebrating homecoming this week with four days of activities leading up to the homecoming game against Mullin on Friday, Sept. 16.

“We’ve had dress-up days all this week,” principal Jo Hise said. “We had Meme Monday, Throwback Tuesday, Jersey Wednesday, and Spirit Day for Thursday.”

She added that the cheerleaders are organizing a homecoming dance Friday night following the game.

The homecoming pep rally is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 (today).

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs lost one match on the court last week, then had another wiped out because of circumstances.

Moran faces another light schedule this week, visiting Ranger on Tuesday, Sept. 13 before having the weekend off. Results will be reported next week.

The Lady Bulldogs lost to Woodson 12-25, 16-25, 14-25 on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

“The girls played a lot better,” Moran coach Jo Hise said. “They got their three hits. It was just hard to finish the points, and that’s what hurt us. Otherwise, we looked a lot better than we have been.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees passed a budget for the 2022-2023 school year during a special early morning session on Wednesday, Aug. 31, meeting the required state deadline.

They also okayed the proposed tax rate of 94.41 cents per $100 valuation

After last year’s reprieve in deficit budgeting due to federal COVID relief funding, the district is again dipping into its fund balance, at least on paper, with projected expenses expected to exceed revenues.