By Sam Waller
Last week’s wildfires in Eastland County saw several Shackelford County residents lend a hand in battling the blazes, while more have joined the relief effort this week.
The Albany Volunteer Fire Department sent three firefighters and a truck to Ranger, according to Fire Chief Travis Gardenhire.
“We assisted with the three structure fires in downtown Ranger,” Gardenhire said.
He added that AVFD personnel fought fires until late Thursday night.
By Melinda L. Lucas
EMS supervisor Tina Ulbrich announced at Monday’s meeting of the Shackelford County hospital board that she is resigning to take another position.
Ulbrich, who has been director of the ambulance service for slightly over two years, told SCHD directors that on the previous Friday, she had been “offered a job that is too good to turn down.” She stated that she would be here until the end of March.
By Sam Waller
The Albany FFA team of Coy Lefevre, Ty Everitt, Cole Read, and Laithe Leech placed ninth out of 25 teams on Monday, March 7 at a wildlife judging contest at Anson.
Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard said the contest included segments on biological facts, game laws, safety laws, techniques, plant identification and which animals feed on specific plants, and habitat evaluation.
By Sam Waller
The second phase of repair work on the Landreth Dam bridge has begun, closing the bridge to vehicle traffic for the duration.
Shackelford County Precinct 2 commissioner Ace Reames said work began Monday, March 14. The project is expected to take eight working days, according to a release from the Texas Department of Transportation Abilene District office.
“I haven’t been there to see what the contractor’s doing this week,” Reames said. “I know they closed the bridge Monday, and they were there working Tuesday morning.”
By Melinda L. Lucas
A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, March 24.
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.
By Melinda L. Lucas
In conjunction with the celebration of the Old Jail Art Center’s 40th anniversary celebration a couple of weeks ago was the opening of three new exhibitions, which will continue on display at the local museum through Aug. 20.
Although these particular collections were not the ones originally planned to coincide with the beginning of the museum’s fourth decade, OJAC executive director Patrick Kelly was more than pleased with how it all turned out.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Local residents are invited to join a special scripture-based study for those grieving the death of a family member or friend.
According to Jenny Scott, who is helping facilitate the group, “GriefShare” will get the 13-week study underway on Wednesday, March 23, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Feed Store.
Scott attended a similar study in Abilene and felt that it could help others, too, guiding them to sections of the Bible that are relevant to the emotions and questions they are feeling.
By Sam Waller
Red Sasquatch, a team that included Albany High School volleyball coach M.J. Reneau and players Sarah Cotter and Clara Holson, won the First Baptist Church youth group’s volleyball tournament Saturday, March 12 at the Albany High School gym.
The double-elimination tourney, which raised funds to send FBC youth to summer camps, drew eight teams. Other entries were the Stars, the Tigers, Umizoomi, We Showed Up, Impact, Two Bump Chumps, and One Hit Wonders.
First Baptist youth minister Eduardo San Lucas said the event met its goal.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Three members of the cast and crew of the Albany High School One Act Play received special recognition last week at the district contest held in Haskell.
While the Albany play did not place in the top three to advance to the bi-district contest, senior Brooks Neece was named to the All-Star Cast and senior Avery Kleiner received All-Star Technical Cast. Junior Briley Tabor was given an All-Star Cast Honorable Mention.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Cheerleader tryouts for the 2022-2023 school year were held last Friday, March 11, prior to the early dismissal for spring break.
The varsity high school squad was expanded from eight to 10 members and the JV squad was eliminated for this year.
“We only had six girls sign up for varsity and four for JV, so we just combined them into one squad of 10,” sponsor Nickie Leveridge said. “The tryouts ran very smoothly from what I heard, and the judges from Cisco College did a great job for us.”
