By Sandy Morris

Senior athlete Wesley Estridge has worked his way to the top of Region 6, Division 3 Single Heavy Weight Powerlifting, and has advanced to the state meet, set for Saturday, March 27 in Abilene.

A send-off for Estridge will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, with Estridge weighing in that afternoon at the Taylor County Expo Center and competing on Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. 

Tickets are $5 each and are general admission only. Those wishing to attend the meet can purchase tickets at ­taylorcountyexpocenter.com.

By Donnie A. Lucas

After taking a break last week, the Lion baseball team and Lady Lion softball girls both returned to district play this week.

The softball team was 2-0 as spring break started, with district wins over Gorman and Baird.

The girls traveled to Cross Plains Tuesday, winning 13-5. Details will be reported next week.

The team will play in Eula on Friday, March 26, starting at 5:00 p.m., followed by another district bout in Cisco on Tuesday, March 30.

Lions Open District

By Sandy Morris

The Moran varsity track team members competed over Spring Break on Thursday, March 18 at the May Tiger Relays.

The next meet is scheduled for Friday, March 26 at Paint Rock.

Varsity Girls Results

Hannah Noble placed second in the 100 and 200 meter dash.

Alli Scott came in first in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles and second in long jump.

Dariann Hawley was third in the 800 meter run and fifth in high jump.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The junior high district track meet is set for Saturday, March 27, in Hamlin.

All four Albany teams will participate, including seventh and eighth grade boys and girls teams.

Field events for the four divisions will begin at 9:00 a.m., with events rotating among sessions also starting at 9:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Running events will start at 1:00 p.m. on a rolling schedule.

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School  senior Addie Beth Denton signed with the Cisco College Rodeo Team on Monday, March 22.

Denton, who competed in her first rodeo at age three, said it’s always been a goal of hers to rodeo in college.

“My mom was on a college rodeo team in Louisiana, and all three of my older siblings rodeoed in high school,” said Denton. “I knew I wanted to continue to compete after I got out of high school, and I’m excited to get this opportunity.”

At their March meeting, Callahan-Shackelford Farm Bureau directors voted to support local food banks and Project Graduation activities.

The board voted to participate in the “Helping Hands Assistance Program” sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau. To deal with the need caused by the unprecedented weather event last month, county farm bureaus were encouraged to partner with the state organization in contributing to local food banks.  

By Sandy Morris

The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducting its 2020 and 2021 classes at their Hall of Fame Banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 19.

The 2020 banquet was cancelled due to COVID concerns, so those honorees will be included with two new members for 2021.

Class of 2020 members being honored include Lari Dee Guy, who lives in Shackelford County, along with David Bourland (posthumously), Ahmad Brooks, Jerry Don Logan, and C.H. Underwood.  

By Melinda L. Lucas

With new CDC guidelines for coronavirus vaccine distribution and more relaxed statewide COVID restrictions now in effect, Shackelford County residents are hoping that some semblance of “normal” will return in the near future, even as regular spring activities like Fandangle practice and league sports resume.

Both Albany health clinics are reporting fewer positive cases of the coronavirus, although Albany ISD did communicate that there was one lab-confirmed student at the elementary campus in the days leading up to Spring Break.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Following a late afternoon meeting with representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton is asking local residents and property owners affected by last month’s winter storm to make sure they have completed a FEMA survey by Sunday, March 21.

By Sandy Morris

The National Wildlife Federation recently sent out letters to mayors of all cities in the path of the Monarch Butterfly migration, and Albany mayor Susan Montgomery was a recipient of one of those letters. 

“The letter asked that we all take the Monarch Mayor Pledge and proclaim the week of March 22 to March 27 as Monarch Awareness Week,” Montgomery said. “The Monarch is near extinction, and by making this pledge, we commit to work toward creating a habitat for the butterfly.”