By Donnie A. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the December distribution of the commodity food program is set for Dec. 2 and 3.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, eligible families in Moran can pick up the monthly allotment at the Moran City Hall from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Albany families or individuals who are on the list can pick up commodities at the rear door of the JP office from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Recipients who are unable to pick up their food can send a signed and dated note with someone to pick up their commodities for them.

By Sam Waller

Six Moran players earned spots on the All-District 9-1A Division II football team, which was announced Monday.

The Bulldogs had two players named to the first team with four selected at two positions.

Earning first-team spots were Caleb York at wide receiver and Arren Hawley at punter.

The duo also earned second-team honors with Hawley selected as a utility back and York as a safety.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The walls of the Aztec Theater echoed the sounds of singer-songwriters on Saturday during a musical review of sorts presented by a group of local singers, their first such show in two years.

Skipping last year due to the COVID pandemic, about a dozen local singers and musicians presented selections from a variety of music genres honoring the talents of the “Troubadours – Songs of the Singer-Songwriter.”

The evening of music as attended by around 200 audience members, with proceeds benefitting  AMP (Albany Mainstreet Playhouse).

Trash collection for the City of Albany will run on a slightly different schedule for the week of Thanksgiving.

Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up on Thursday will change to Friday this week. 

Other residential and industrial containers will be picked up on their regular days, except on Thanksgiving.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions were handed their biggest challenge of the season last Thursday by the Olney Cubs in their Class 2A Division II area playoff at Graham.

The Lions responded with a strong second half to pull away for a 32-10 victory over a team it pummeled 55-6 seven weeks earlier.

Regional Playoff

Albany, ranked fourth in the state, gets an even bigger test in the third round, taking on No. 2 Muenster at Porcupine Field in Springtown Friday at 2:00 p.m. The Hornets (12-0) advanced with a 63-24 victory over Seymour.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions junior varsity boys basketball team tipped off its season Saturday with a 34-4 home victory over Roby.

The game was the only one at the high school level last week for Albany after the Lady Lions pulled out of their tournament.

The Lions opened the game with an 11-0 run and were in control the rest of the way.

“It was a starting point, and that’s what we talked about in the locker room before the game,” Albany coach Ryder Peacock said. “The goal was to get up and down the floor, run some transitions.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Tickets for Friday’s regional semifinal football playoff against Muenster, to be played at 2:00 p.m.  in Springtown’s Porcupine Stadium, must be purchased online by going to springtownisd.net/Page/12001 or following the link on the Albany Athletic Booster Club’s Facebook page. 

Passes will be accepted, but no tickets will be sold at the gate, according to Springtown officials.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions got their basketball season off to a belated start Monday with a 52-21 loss to Ballinger.

The Lady Lions were originally scheduled to host Guthrie, but coach Tate Thompson said his team gained more by taking on the Class 3A Lady Bearcats.

“We needed to see our mistakes exposed, and teams like Ballinger are going to show that,” he said. “That gives us an idea of what we need to work on. If we play somebody and are able to get away with mistakes, that’s not helping us get better.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Lady Cubs Red team suffered a 39-21 loss to Cisco on Monday in its first home game of the season.

Braylee Clark and Amber Miramontes each scored six points to lead the team in scoring, while Mimi Ivy added four points. Madison Parrott and Caroline Chapman each had two points and Zayne Lefevre had one.

The Lady Cubs White and Red teams will host Hawley on Monday, Nov. 29. The first game will start at 5:30 p.m.

Eighth Grade Boys

The Cubs eighth grade team went on the road Monday and defeated Cisco 22-15.

By Sam Waller

The Moran FFA meat judging team recently finished 10th  at a contest  at Texas Tech.

Moran had the best finish among teams from the Big Country District and was second among Area IV teams behind Seymour.

Team members were Cotten Campbell, Allen Hebel, Ellis Hise, Johnnie Hise and Hannah Rogers.