By Donnie A. Lucas

The cast and crew of the Albany High School One-Act Play will present a public performance next Tuesday in the high school auditorium in preparation for the district contest set for the following day, Wednesday, March 9, in Haskell.

The local performance is set for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, with the curtain going up at 6:00 p.m., according to OAP director Chanel Hayner.

The group is presenting “Tracks,” a drama by Peter Tarsi that is set on a subway platform with a group of people examining their lives as their fate hangs in the balance.

By Donnie A. Lucas

One of the Albany teams competing at the state championship for the Small Schools Academic Challenge took second place and earned a total of $3,250 in scholarship money.

Three Albany teams qualified to compete at the state meet held at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton last Sunday.

The team of Sarah Cotter, Jaylynn Roberts, and Wyatt Beard scored 37 points for second place.

By Sam Waller

Several local churches are planning special events in the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, starting with Ash Wednesday services on March 2 of this week, as well as the Jesus of Nazareth Catholic Church’s annual fish fry this Friday evening.

Catholic Church

The local Catholic congregation will hold its annual Fry-Day Night Lenten Fish Fry on Friday, March 4.

This year, the event will be held at the Resource Care Youth Center at 84 N. Ave. B.

By Sam Waller

Entry deadline for an upcoming volleyball tournament sponsored by First Baptist Church’s youth group is Sunday, March 6.

Entry fee is $16 per person. Teams must have a team name and designate a team captain.

The double-elimination tournament will be held Saturday, March 12, at the Albany High School gym. Awards will be presented for first, second, and third place.

Proceeds will be used to send youth to church camp this summer.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Nancy Smith Elementary School students are observing the nationally celebrated Read Across America this week, with several community “readers” returning to campus on Wednesday after a year’s absence due to COVID.

The National Education Association began Read Across America Day in 1998 in conjunction with the March 2 birthday of children’s author Dr. ­Seuss.

The year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone.

By Sam Waller

Nine members of the Shackelford County 4-H Club participated in a variety of events at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The team of Jordan Fikes, Brook and Cayla Green, and Faith and Grace Fry competed in horse judging. Faith Fry was third-high individual in the senior contest with Grace Fry 10th in the junior contest.

The Fry sisters also competed in the Horse Skillathon. Faith placed seventh in the senior division with Grace sixth in the intermediate division.

By Sam Waller

Two Albany FFA students made the sale last week with their barrows at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Callan Edgar finished third in Class 106 Crossbreds.

Tatum Grady was fourth in Class 97 Crossbreds.

Two other locals placed well in the barrow show, which ran Feb. 18-25. Cash Edgar was sixth in Class 76 Crossbreds, while Tye Edgar was penned, making the top 12, in Class 103 Crossbreds.

Also exhibiting barrows were Chelsy Parsons and Paige Price.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions saw their run in the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs come to an end Friday, Feb. 25 with a 60-64 loss to the Italy Gladiators in an area-round game at Weatherford High School.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady ­Lions resumed play this week after sacrificing last weekend’s tournament at Stephenville to weather.

On Tuesday, March 1 the Lady Lions lost a closely-played game to 4A Stephenville, 5-2, hosting at Webb Park.

Albany is playing in the Clifton tournament this weekend. On Thursday, March 3 (today), Albany plays Maypearl at noon and Gatesville at 1:30 p.m. Games on Friday, March 4 are Clifton at 9:00 a.m. and Glen Rose at 10:30 a.m. The Saturday, March 5 games are McGregor at 9:00 a.m. and Comanche at 10:30 a.m.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions have finalized their football schedules for the 2022 and 2023 football seasons.

Albany will kick off the 2022 season at 6:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at home against Lubbock Trinity Christian.

All other games will start at 7:00 p.m.

“Homecoming is not set yet,” head coach Denney Faith said.

Preseason scrimmages will be played against Coleman on Aug. 12 and Early on Aug. 18.