By Sandy Morris

Plans are in place for the Hereford Ball set for Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Whitney Theater, with Chamber of Commerce members given first opportunity to buy tickets. 

“All advertising tables are sold for the Hereford Ball,” said Jones. “Invitations to Chamber members will go out next. If all tables are filled, then the event will not be open to non-Chamber members.”

Chamber members will have until Monday, Feb. 15 to purchase tickets. Any that are left will be available to the public. 

By Sandy Morris

Filing has now opened to any local residents who want to run for the various city council, hospital district, or school board positions in the Saturday, May 1 election.

Filing is underway as of Wednesday and will close in one month on Friday, Feb. 12 at 5:00 p.m. There is no filing fee.

Albany City Council

Four city council positions expire this cycle, but only because there have been two members appointed in the last year, who both must file for election if they wish to continue to serve. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members awarded the administrative contract related to a Community Development Block Grant application to Public Management of Cleveland during a regular monthly meeting on Monday night, Jan. 11.

Albany grant coordinator Carrie Holson stated that a three-person committee had reviewed the two applicants and was recommending Public Management over Jet Development. The motion by Austin Sherwood passed unanimously.

By Sandy Morris

Old Man Winter made his presence known this past weekend when he blew into the area on Sunday, Jan. 10 and dumped as much as eight inches of snow in some parts of the Big Country.

The official report from the Albany weather observer recorded four includes, although many county residents noted as much as twice that depth.  

The single-day snowfall record in Albany was 12 inches more than 125 years ago, on Jan. 27, 1895, according to Hector Guerrero with the National Weather Service in San Angelo.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The much-anticipated coronavirus vaccine has still not made its way to Albany, but some Shackelford County citizens are finding a path to outside sources.

By Sandy Morris

The Moran Independent School District resumed classes after the holiday break on Monday, Jan. 4.

The next scheduled holiday for the district is Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 18 followed by Friday, Jan. 22 for the Shackelford County Livestock Show. 

Lady Bulldog 

Basketball

By Sandy Morris

Licensed hunters ages 16 years and younger have opportunities this winter and spring to sharpen their skills and bring home some whitetail and turkey trophies, and adult hunters still have time to harvest wild game. 

Dove season ended Sunday, Jan. 3, but quail season continues until Feb. 28.

The regular season for deer and turkey ended Sunday, Jan. 3, though a special late deer season runs from Jan. 4-17, 2020, and is open to all legal hunters. 

By Sandy Morris

The Big Country chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes typically hosts its annual Weekend of Champions over full weekends each January. 

This year, due to COVID concerns, the Weekend of Champions camps will be one day only events with the Girls Weekend scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Solid Rock Christian Camp in Eastland. 

The Boys Weekend is scheduled for the following Saturday, Jan. 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Beltway South in Abilene. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

The junior high basketball teams will be back in action for the first time since the Christmas break on Thursday.

The Cubs will host Abilene Christian School starting at 5:30 p.m., while the girls will play ACS in Abilene, also beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The junior high teams have been idle since Dec. 14 due to the holidays.

Games for the junior high teams will return to Monday night next week, with the boys on the road to Cisco starting at 5:30 p.m. The girls will play at home hosting Cisco also beginning at 5:30 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Local fifth and sixth graders who signed up for local youth basketball teams have started practicing in preparation for the first tournament on Saturday, Jan. 9.

According to coach and league coordinator Clint Chapman, enough students signed up for the four teams designated for fifth and sixth grade boys and girls.

Albany will host a boys tournament starting at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, with five sixth grade teams and seven fifth grade squads each playing at least two games during the day.