By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams both went 2-1 last weekend at the Lueders-Avoca tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted Rotan on Tuesday while the boys played at Mullin. Results will be reported next week.

Moran wraps up play before the holiday break on Friday with a pair of home games. The girls play Knox City at 6:00 p.m. with the boys taking on Ranger at 7:30 p.m.

Both teams will play in the Gordon tournament Dec. 28-29.

Boys Games

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD will let out for the semester at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17. The school conducted semester tests earlier this week.

A staff development day is set for Monday, Jan. 3, with classes to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Denson said he is planning a lunch for the staff before classes resume.

“We’ll reflect on last semester, see what we can do better, and go on and finish out the year,” he said.

Winter Formal

By Sam Waller

Moran High School seniors Hannah Rogers and Johnnie Hise earned Meat Evaluation Certificates from the American Meat Science Association through the dual-credit advanced animal science class taught by Moran superintendent Dr. John Denson.

Denson said the certificates were awarded for demonstrating competencies in the areas of meat science principles, animal harvesting procedures, carcass and cuts evaluation, USDA beef grading, and retail cut fabrication and identification.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive COVID-19 cases continued to rise over the last week, with a total of 30 positives out of 72 tests administered, according to a report issued by county judge Bob Skelton.

The testing figures are for the week of Dec. 6-10. The total positives were up from 27 the week prior.

There were several more positive tests at the Shackelford County Health Clinic on Monday, but no firm numbers were reported.

By Sam Waller

A grass fire on the Stasney Ranch was contained to 190 acres on Friday, Dec. 10, as firefighters battled windy, dry conditions.

Chief Brad Henry of the Shackelford County Rural Volunteer Fire Department said the cause of the fire was undetermined, but firefighters were able to get it under control quickly despite the wind.

“It wasn’t as bad as some we’ve dealt with,” Henry said.

An October fire burned more than 18,600 acres across four ranches in Shackelford and Throckmorton counties.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Several local candidates for the March 1 primary elections officially completed the filing process on Tuesday, well ahead of the Dec. 13 filing deadline.

Two prospective candidates who picked up the required paperwork had yet to turn in their petitions and applications to get on the ballot for a county post.

Offices up for reelection this cycle include county judge, county and district clerk, county treasurer, justice of the peace, and two county commissioner positions.

The filing period will close at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

By Sam Waller

Twenty-seven winners, including two multiple winners, were announced Tuesday morning in a drawing for 1,500 Albany Bucks conducted by the Albany Chamber of Commerce.

Lucy Carter was drawn three times, winning 150 Albany Bucks, and Sandy Shirley won twice in the drawing held at Vintage Vanilla.

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones posted a video of the drawing on Facebook.

“I’ll also call people to let them know they’ve won,” Jones said.

Drawings on Friday, Dec. 17 will be conducted in three groups of 10 with a short break in between.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive ­COVID-19 test results rose last week to 27, according to a report issued by Shackelford County judge Bob Skelton.

A total of 66 tests were administered at the three local testing sites, with a combined total of 27 positive results during Nov. 29 through the Dec. 3 window. 

The Shackelford County Health Clinic also reported giving an additional 12 positive results on Monday of this week alone.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Ministerial Alliance’s Christmas Basket food drive will receive its first delivery of food items Monday before preparing to deliver the baskets the next weekend.

With 100-plus families and individuals on the list, donations are still needed to cover costs, and volunteers are being sought to help with delivery.

“We’re just in a waiting phase right now,” Ministerial Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins said on Tuesday. “We will sort and bag next week, and the baskets will be delivered Dec. 19.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Lion fans can continue showing their belief in the 2021 Albany football team by joining the community send-off on Thursday (today), Dec. 9, at 12:15 p.m. in the downtown area and along Main Street.

The Lions are headed for Lubbock to battle the Stratford Elks in the semifinals of the UIL 2-A division II football playoffs. The game kicks off at Lowrey Field at 6:00 p.m.