By Sam Waller

Moran will have a school holiday on Friday, Jan. 21, so students may participate in the county livestock show.

It will be the second school holiday of the week, following Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 17.

The next school holiday will be Presidents Day on Feb. 21.

Tractor Contest

Moran High School student Caleb York participated in a tractor tech competition Saturday at Katy despite the rest of the Moran team dropping out because of illness, which also caused a boys basketball game to be rescheduled.

By Sam Waller

Girls from eighth grade through high school can attend the FCA’s Weekend of Champions camp Jan. 29-30 at Solid Rock Encampment near Eastland.

A boys’ camp is scheduled there Feb. 18-20.

The girls’ camp is designed to equip young ladies with truth, encouragement, and fellowship, according to Betsy Spraberry, who helps with local FCA events. FCA membership is not a requirement to attend the program.

By Melinda L. Luca

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Jan. 27.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.

Blood center officials said that there is an urgent need of blood donors of all types. In particular, officials said those who have O+ and O- are needed.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions basketball team bounced back from a disappointing loss to record its first home win in emphatic fashion last week.

The Lions lost 48-37 at Anson on Tuesday, Jan. 11 before defeating Stamford 71-29 on Friday, Jan. 14 in District 10-2A play.

Albany (6-4 overall, 3-3 district) hosted Haskell on Tuesday, Jan. 18, to wrap up the first half of the district schedule, winning 54-26. Details will be reported next week.

The Lions have an open date on Friday, Jan. 21, then will be back on the court next Tuesday, Jan. 25 in Hawley.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions lost their two games last week to conclude the first round of the District 10-2A schedule, but coach Tate Thompson said the team had flashes of good play.

The Lady Lions dropped a 66-28 decision at Anson on Tuesday, Jan. 11, before falling 66-15 to Stamford on Friday, Jan. 14 at home. Albany was victimized by hot shooting in both games as Anson hit 13 3-pointers and Stamford made six treys.

By Sam Waller

The Albany junior high basketball teams faced schedule changes that resulted in no games being played since their last outings on Monday, Jan. 10.

The junior high boys teams were forced to withdraw from the Olney Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 15, when that event was rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29. The Cubs are entered in the Breckenridge tournament on that date.

Games scheduled for Monday, Jan. 17 against Hawley were rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20 (tonight) because of the Martin Luther King holiday.

By Sam Waller

Registration is ongoing for the upcoming youth baseball and softball seasons season with information available at Nancy Smith Elementary School.

Albany Little League

Albany Little League organizer Paul Hamilton said the baseball program is shifting to online registration this year, but information on how to register will be available through the school.

The registration deadline for T-Ball, Coach Pitch, Little League Majors and Minors, Intermediate, and Junior leagues will be in mid-February, Hamilton said.

By Sam Waller

Project Graduation fundraising hit a bump last week when a planned bake sale was postponed because of illness sweeping through the Albany High School senior class, but other projects are on track, according to organizer Kenzie Fairchild.

Orders for the Valentine’s Sale will be taken through Jan. 31, Fair­child said, while a chicken spaghetti takeout lunch is still planned for Jan. 30. Lunches will be served to go from 11:30 a.m. until sold out at The Feed Store. There is no set charge for the meals, but donations will be accepted.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Cub Scout Pack 255 will hold its annual Pinewood Derby at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24 at the Scout Hut.

Scouts from Tiger through Webelos are eligible to compete with cars carved from a standard pine block.

“We pick up the kits with the rules inside them from the Abilene Scout office and give them to the kids,” Cubmaster Jacey Shack said. “The kits include instructions on how to build them, what they should weigh and all the other rules. The Cubs show up on race day and have to weigh their cars in.”

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell  will offer a Private Pesticide Applicator Program on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Bell said the training  is specifically for those seeking a Texas Department of Agriculture private applicator license and is not continuing education unit training.