By Sam Waller

The past two weeks have seen youth groups from First Baptist Church of Albany enjoy outdoor activities while also strengthening their relationship with Christ as they attended summer church camps.

A total of  19 preteens (fourth through sixth grades) and two adults spent July 11-15 at Camp Copass near Denton.

"Camp Copass was great,” FBC youth minister Eduardo San Lucas said. “We had two salvations, six recommitments, and five wanting to get back to Christ. It was a blessing.”

By Sam Waller

Closet Angels is once again planning a Back-to-School Bash to help families prepare for the start of the upcoming school year.

The event is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1.

Shoppers are encouraged to sign up for the drawings to win cash prizes, gas cards, and Zappos gift cards for shoes.

Everyone with school-age students in Shackelford County is invited to attend.

Director Lori Reames said Closet Angels will be closed until the event due to family issues and to ensure racks are well-stocked.

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD enrollment packets will be available after Monday, Aug. 1, according to school officials.

All students planning to attend Moran school in the 2022-23 school year will need to pick up a packet from the MISD office.

The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 8 at Moran, which is employing a four-day class week this year.

Principal Jo Hise said students from outside the district will need to provide an immunization record, a birth certificate, and a copy of their social security card in order to get a packet.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Moran Masonic Lodge #863 held its officer installation ceremony Saturday, July 16.

The event was hosted by the Clyde Masonic Lodge during a joint ceremony with both Clyde and Cisco Masonic Lodges.

Officers installed for the 2022-2023 year were Worshipful Master Earl McFerrin, Senior Warden Harley Wheeler, Junior Warden John Adams, Secretary John Denson,and Tiler Bobby Estes.

Masonic Lodge officers serve for a term of one year, with annual installations.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Masonic Lodge Scholarship Golf Tournament already has a full field, but is taking names for a waiting list.

The four-person scramble is scheduled to tee off at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at Albany Golf Course.

All proceeds benefit the Albany Masonic Lodge Wisdom Foundation, which awards college scholarships to Albany High School graduates each year.

By Brad McBee

A few months ago, I sat at the labyrinth across from the Old Jail Art Center with my Bible and devotional. It was a beautiful early morning, and I was enjoying the day and my prayer time.

Suddenly I saw a flutter high up in the tree in front of me. I couldn’t quite make out what it was. I knew it was a bird, a small one of some kind, and then I saw the distinguishing mark, and I knew right away what it was.

By Sam Waller

The start of fall sports is drawing near with Albany High School starting football and volleyball preseason practices Monday, Aug. 1.

The summer conditioning program for boys wrapped up this week, while the girls have another week to go after taking a two-week break earlier in July.

Prospective athletes for football and volleyball have been sent letters outlining two-a-day practices, as well as forms that must be filled out and signed by both students and parents by the opening day of practices.

By Sam Waller

The Hubbard Creek Rangers saw their postseason run come to an end Friday, July 15, with their second loss in the Texas West State Tournament.

The Rangers, a combined Intermediate All-Star team of players from Albany an d Breckenridge, went 6-2 during the Little League International Tournament, winning district and sectional championships to advance to the state tourney at Wylie Little League Complex in Abilene.

Albany players on the team were Graham Ceder, Clay Chapman, Colter Edgar, and Aiden Vickers.

By Sam Waller

The Little Cubs Cheer Camp will continue accepting registration until the start of its three-day run on Monday, July 25.

Preregistration has concluded with all campers preregistered receiving a camp T-shirt. But anyone wishing to attend can still do so, Albany cheerleader sponsor and camp organizer Nickie Leveridge said.

“Kids can still come; they just will not get a shirt.” Leveridge said. “We will have cheer items for sale.”

Registration at the camp will be held in the gym foyer. Camp sessions will be conducted in the old gym.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Athletic Booster Club held its kickoff meeting for the 2022-23 school year Sunday, July 17.

Booster Club member Amanda Tabor said boosters were able to achieve almost all of the items on the agenda.

“We got pretty much everyone signed up for something at Ice Cream Supper – a coordinator for the year or for team parents,” Tabor said. “Kristie Smith is heading up our Ice Cream Supper. We had a couple of positions left, but we put a signup genius on our Facebook page for those few jobs, like grillers or somebody to haul ice.”