By Kathy Thomson Juniors Sidney Bartee and Tristan Edgar both competed at the UIL Region 6 East Zone Band Solo and Ensemble competition held at Abilene High on Saturday, Feb. 22. Bartee earned a Division 1 rating, and Edgar was given a Division 2 rating, with both girs playing Class 1 solos.

By Kathy Thomson Everyone is invited to attend next Monday’s public performance of The 39 Steps, the one-act play Albany High School students will take to district competition next week. The free production will be given at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, in the AHS auditorium.

By Melinda L. Lucas The Old Jail Art Center will celebrate International Kite Month with a first ever Kites Around the World Family Festival on Saturday, March 7.

By Kathy Thomson Children at Nancy Smith Elementary School will join others around the nation observing Read Across America Day next Monday, March 2. Read Across America Day was inaugurated in 1998 by the National Education Association, and is held every year in early March.

By Kathy Thomson The season of Lent began on Feb. 26, Ash Wednesday, and at least two local churches have special activities during the weeks leading up to Easter, which will be cele-brated on April 12. Trinity Lutheran Church members will host a Lent service at 7:00 p.m.

By Kathy Thomson Albany siblings Newt and Alayna Koemel have both developed a passion for meat, not just eating it, but spending hours in cold lockers learning about meat science, competing on meat judging teams, and pursing a college degree and future career in the field.

By Kathy Thomson Various Shackelford County 4-H and FFA members showed project animals at the San Angelo Stock Show and at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo last week, and local students are still competing with market steers and market barrows at San Antonio this week.

By Kathy Thomson Sixteen Albany students are registered for an academic invitational practice meet at Stamford this Saturday, Feb. 22, but according to UIL coordinator Rick Davis, the actual number who can go and compete may be a few less.

By Kathy Thomson First Baptist Church youth minister Campbell Terry has invited everyone to come to The Feed Store to eat lunch at a summer camp fundraiser this Sunday, Feb. 23 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Meal tickets are $20 each for adults, and are available from campers.

By Kathy Thomson Seven local Little Dribblers teams continued their season, playing two games each in the old Albany High School gym last Saturday, Feb. 15. The next set of matches will take place this Saturday, Feb. 22, starting at 8:30 a.m. with a match between the Boys’ Blue and Grey teams.