By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions will have less travel for district football games the next two years following the release of the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment,announced Thursday, Feb. 3.

The Lions will compete in District 6-2A Division II, a six-team league that includes Hamlin, Miles, Roscoe, Abilene Texas Leadership Charter Academy, and Cross Plains. Abilene TLCA will play its first season of 11-man football in 2022.

By Sam Waller

The Albany baseball and softball teams are nearing the start of their seasons with both looking to return to the playoffs.

The Lions baseball team will scrimmage Merkel on Friday, Feb. 18, with the junior varsity hosting a tournament Feb. 24-26.

The varsity schedule begins with the Eastland tournament March 3-5.

Lion coach David Fairchild returns 11 players from the 2021 varsity, which went 22-5-1 and reached the state quarterfinals. The task for the early portion of the season is filling lineup spots left vacant by graduation.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs kept their playoff chances alive last week despite dropping their two District 13-1A girls basketball outings.

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, Moran lost 69-20 at Cross Plains. After being pushed back a day because of weather, the Lady Bulldogs lost 76-11 at Eula on Saturday, Feb. 5.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs are moving south for the next two football seasons following biennial realignment.

Moran was placed in District 14-1A Division II with Paint Rock, Panther Creek, and Rising Star.

The UIL announced alignment Feb. 3 for the next two years for football, volleyball, and basketball.

The new football district has road trips of 83 miles to Panther Creek and 113 miles to Paint Rock.

“Travel is really the only negative,” Bulldogs football coach and athletic director John Hughes said.

Cynthia Ann Alexander Wade, 61, of Moran passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. A memorial service was held Wednesday, Feb. 9 at the Moran Community Center.

Carroll Wayne Hogan Sr., age 89, went to his heavenly home Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Services were held Wednesday, Feb. 9, followed by graveside service at Murray Cemetery in Carbon, Texas. A complete obituary will be published next week.

John Wallace Palm, 86, of Sheridan, Wyoming passed away on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. A graveside service is set for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15 in Albany, Texas, with a reception following at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church.

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Sue Peacock, age 81 of Albany, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. Graveside funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Albany Cemetery with Rev. Dannie Lee officiating. Interment will follow under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.

Sue Hollen Peacock was born June 17, 1940 in Gorman, Texas to her parents Samuel Joseph Fonville and Katherine Thurman Fonville. Sue grew up in Breckenridge, Texas.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Even though it looked as if the Albany Chest would fall short of its 2021 goal, donations poured in at the end of the year, surpassing the goal of $46,000 and closing out at $50,751.

Chest board members met Wednesday, Jan. 26 and decided to distribute all that amount plus a little out of the reserves, allocating $51,050.

The Chest still has a total of $2,556 in emergency funds for needs throughout the year.

Board president Jana Kitchens said the directors were pleasantly surprised at the last minute donations.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Tickets are still on sale for the Chris Knight concert set for Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Aztec Theater, and they will probably be available at the door, according to organizers.

The performance is sponsored by Albany Live, a nonprofit organized last year to bring live musical events to Albany. Knight’s show is the second in an ongoing singer/songwriter series that will continue monthly through July.