By Sam WallerDakota Irwin will join Friendship Baptist Church as its new youth minister Wednesday, Sept. 6, as the church holds its Back to School Bash.Irwin, who grew up at Ranger, is a student at Tarleton State University and has a ministry at Solid Rock.

By Sam WallerThe Feed Store will conduct its first Fifth Quarter gathering for local youth following the conclusion of the Albany Lions’ home opener Friday, Sept. 1.The postgame events are sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance and are open to all junior high and high school students.

By Sam WallerFirst Baptist Church will begin its Jesus and Me (JAM) program for children in kindergarten through sixth grade on Wednesday, Sept. 6.Parents can register their children by using a QR code that can be found on Page 2A of this week’s edition of The Albany News.JAM will meet 5:30-7:30 p.

By Donnie A. LucasDirectors of the Shackelford County Appraisal District (SCAD) have set a public hearing for the proposed 2024 budget on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 a.m.

The Albany Chest board will meet at 5:15 p.m. Sept. 13 to organize the 2023 fund-raising campaign, nominate and elect new directors, and choose officers for the upcoming year.Application forms are available at First Financial Bank, First National Bank, and The Albany News.

By Sam WallerFor the second year in a row, the Albany Lions eked out a narrow season-opening victory over the Lubbock Trinity Christian Lions, rallying from a two-touchdown deficit Friday, Aug. 25 to win 22-21.Albany (1-0) makes its 2023 home debut Friday, Sept.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Lady Lions volleyball team closed out tournament play last week by winning the Aspermont tourney for their second title of the season, going 7-0 for the second week in a row.The Lady Lions (17-3) carried a 14-match win streak into their Tuesday, Aug.

By Sam WallerAbout 10 openings – all afternoon tee times – remain for the Albany Golf Club’s annual Labor Day Golf Tournament as of Tuesday, Aug. 29.The two-person scramble is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 2-3 at Albany Golf Course.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Junior High Lady Cubs split a pair of volleyball matches against Hawley on Monday, Aug. 28, at home as the season entered its second week.All three teams – Red, White and Silver – will be in action Thursday, Sept. 7 at Bangs in their first road matches.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Junior High Cubs and Albany Lions JV get their football seasons underway Thursday, Aug. 31 (today) with games at Dublin.The action starts with the seventh grade at 4:30 p.m., followed by the eighth grade at 6:00 p.m. and JV at 7:30 p.m.