By Sam Waller

Three Shackelford County junior 4-Hers received top prizes in District 7 equine and photography contests.

On Tuesday, June 13, Gage Burton won the Junior Stock Horse championship buckle at the District 7 Horse Show. Later in the week, Rainy Nitschke and Reese Nitschke each received a Best in Class award from the District 7 Photography contest.

A total of 11 club members, four of whom competed in both contests, were rewarded for their efforts a total of 46 times.

Horse Show

By Sam Waller

The Shackelford County Library’s annual children’s story hour has one more Tuesday date left in June before moving to Wednesdays in July.

Program organizer Janna Ledbetter said attendance through the first three weeks of the program warranted adding more dates.

“We will not have special programs in July like we have this month – just story hour and maybe a craft project,” Ledbetter said. “We will continue through July unless attendance drops off.”

By Sam Waller

First Baptist Church is offering Sizzlin’ Summer Sunday Nights at 6:00 p.m. starting this Sunday, June 25 and running through Aug. 6.

The gatherings will be held at the home of Clint and Ginger Bumguardner. The evenings will include a meal and a variety of family fun activities, Ginger Bumguardner said.

“We’ll have one unique game each week besides all the regular stuff,” she said. “And there will be a family devotional time.”

Among activities available are swimming, corn hole, whiffle ball, sand volleyball, and a Slip N Slide.

By Sam Waller

Maranatha Fellowship will host a Night of Prophecy starting at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 25.

Pastor Clint Chapman said McKade Marshall will be the featured speaker.

“We’ll do what we normally do for worship; then I’ll turn it over to him for ministry,” Chapman said. “It’s going to be good. Everyone’s welcome.”

Chapman said the service will last about two hours.

By Sam Waller

The calendar may say it’s summer vacation, but students and faculty from Moran are continuing to learn even during the break from classes.

Supt. John Denson spent this week attending the Texas School Safety Conference in San Antonio, while agriculture teacher Minnie Denson Bennett is in Greece as part of a study-abroad program as she pursues a master’s degree.

Earlier this month, students from Moran’s meat judging team and cheer squads attended camps.

Safety Conference

By Sam Waller

Albany’s summer 7-on-7 program wraps up its short season this week at the Division III State 7-on-7 Tournament.

The 32-team event will be played Thursday, June 22 (today), and Friday, June 23, at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station.

“The importance of this is the kids get to compete together, get new team components working together,” Albany 7-on-7 coach Kevin Hill said. “This will be the core of the group going in the fall. It helps with guys like Chip Chambers joining us as a quarterback and new teammate.”

By Sam Waller

Albany Little League saw one of its all-star teams advance in the 2023 Little League International Tournament as it hosted its final games of the year.

“The season wrapped up really well, and over 160 kids played ball,” Albany Little League organizer Paul Hamilton said. “We got new bathrooms and upgraded other facilities. I want to give a big shout-out to our sign sponsors because we can’t make budget if we don’t have people helping us with signage.”

By Sam Waller

For the second year in a row, Albany has finished in the top 10 schools in the Class 2A UIL Lone Star Cup standings.

The Lone Star Cup is awarded annually to six high schools, one in each of the six UIL classifications. Standings are based on schools’ team performances in district and state championships in 29 extracurricular activities. The winning school in each classification receives the UIL Lone Star Cup trophy and a $1,000 scholarship. The award is sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance.

By Sam Waller

Participation remained strong as Albany Junior/Senior High’s summer conditioning program for prospective athletes entered its second week despite numerous other activities demanding time.

The program is open to all incoming seventh through 12th graders who plan to participate in interscholastic sports.

By Sam Waller

The team of West, Villanueva, and Hutchinson won the Championship Flight of the Albany Golf Club’s Fathers Day Scramble.

The three-person scramble, played Saturday-Sunday, June 17-18 at Albany Golf Course, drew a field of 32 teams. After Saturday’s round, the field was split into three flights.

The winning team shot 61-60–121, holding off runners-up Barton, Hughes, Jones (64-59–123) for the title. Three teams – Cook, Holson, Walker (63-63); Thompson, Spencer, Cox (63-63); Lee, Holson, Wheeler (64-62) – tied for third at 126.