The latest episode of “Texas Country Reporter” features the local Beehive restaurant and owner Ali Esfandiary, along with Cactus Book Shop owner Felton Cochran, Buffalo soldier painter Bob Snead, and the show’s host Bob Phillips.

A recap of Albany High’s athletic success during the 2018-2019 school year was given at the annual All-Sports Banquet on Tuesday, including the announcement of several special memorial awards. Coaches for each sport also recognized their teams, along with handing out various sport-specific awards.

Retiring school board members Pam Davis (l) and Betsy Parsons (c) visit with each other and with Sara Head (r) during a well-attended special reception last Sunday afternoon at the Aztec.

First through fifth grade classes at Moran were able to attend Hardin-Simmons University’s 37th annual Western Heritage Day last Thursday, April 25. Western Heritage Day is designed to immerse children of the Big Country in western culture as it might have been in Abilene during the 1800s.

Organizers are busy putting the finishing touches on plans for this Saturday’s Wild West Day in downtown Albany, and they are hoping that the pleasant forecast and the plethora of family friendly activities will attract a big crowd.

The rain that was predicted for this Tuesday arrived in downtown Albany in a fairly dramatic fashion just after 2:00 p.m. that afternoon, when the dark sky opened up, and rain poured down so thick that the opposite side of Main Street was hidden from view for several minutes.

The list of honor students in the 2019 Albany High School senior class was released last week, naming Caroline Masters as valedictorian and Jillian Guinn as salutatorian. Masters, daughter of Tami and Brian Masters, has a four-year average of 96.937.

The annual Fandangle membership Sampler, presented at Collins Creek Ranch at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, was a big success, according to artistic director Lorna Ayers.  “The weather was beautiful,” Ayers said. “The turnout was great. And the show was fantastic!”

The Albany Student Council will be hosting a blood drive at Albany High School next Monday, and seniors who donate blood for the second time this year will be eligible to wear a red honor cord at graduation.

Parents who need to register their child in the Head Start program for the 2019-20 school year should go to the Nancy Smith Elementary School, room 107, on Monday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Head Start is a free, full-day, pre-school program for economically disadvantaged children that...