By Sam Waller

Albany’s Kiana Roberson has been named a Texas Girls Coaches Association Track & Field All-Star after earning two medals at the Class 2A state meet.

The TGCA selects a maximum of 24 all-stars from Class 1A-4A and Class 5A-6A. Roberson was among 23 honorees in Class 1A-4A.

Athletes are selected by the TGCA Track Committee, composed of track member coaches of the association, at their annual meeting. Selections are made from nominations submitted by member coaches. Athletes must be juniors to be selected.

The Albany Golf Club (AGC) announced the release of a new logo this week, as members prepare to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2025.

The club, which was established in 1925, decided to update the branding in order to increase visibility and attract new players.

“The Albany Golf Club has been a part of this community since 1925, and we wanted to make sure that our brand accurately reflected who we are and what we stand for as we look towards our centennial year,” said club president Ronnie Anderson. “We are confident that this new logo will help us achieve those goals.”

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Landon Kreit­ler showed his skills Friday-Tuesday, June 3-6 at the Angelo State Cheer and Mascot Camp.

Kreitler, an incoming junior, will serve as mascot for the Albany cheer program starting this fall.

“This was our first time to send a mascot to an away camp, and we weren’t sure what to expect,” Albany cheer sponsor Nickie Leveridge said. “Landon went in with an open mind and a willingness to work hard and was very successful. He did well and brought home several awards for Albany.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions golf team was among three teams honored at a reception Sunday, June 4 by the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame in Abilene.

Also recognized were softball teams from Hermleigh, which won the Class 1A state championship, and Stamford, which reached the Class 2A state tournament. The Lions were feted for finishing third in the Class 2A boys state tournament.

By Sam Waller

Plans have been finalized for Albany Junior/Senior High’s summer conditioning program, which will start Monday, June 12.

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

Summer workouts are subject to UIL regulations.

Boys sessions will be held Monday through Thursday through July 20. Workouts will be from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. each day and include weight lifting, agility drills and conditioning.

By Sam Waller

A total of 30 members from the Albany High School Class of 2023 took part in the Project Graduation party, with 20 staying until the end of the all-night event.

Members of the Albany Lion baseball team left early because of playoff games the next day.

The party, which began at 10:30 p.m. Friday, May, 26 and finished at 5:00 a.m. Saturday, May 27, was held at various locations on the campus of Albany Junior/Senior High School.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lion baseball team’s annual Long Ball fundraiser has been scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 11 at the high school field.

In addition to viewing a little baseball action, attendees can also play trivia for prizes. Refreshments such as lemonade and sweet tea will be available.

Players have been accepting pledges for how far they can hit the ball. Each will hit five fair balls with the longest determining the amount of the donation.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Team GreaseWorm not only completed the Nail Ranch Buffalo Run Adventure Challenge, but did so with no mechanical failures.

The third annual event, a fundraiser for Buffalo Gap’s Camp Able, entailed making a round trip on June 1-3 from Buffalo Gap to Abilene, Kansas, in a vehicle valued at no more than $750 while completing a series of tasks along the way. Team GreaseWorm – Robert Snyder, Craig Winters, Matt Birkla, and Kennith Waters – made the journey in Snyder’s 1965 Ford station wagon despite the fuel gauge not working.

By Sam Waller

That buzz of excitement in the air is for the start of the Shackelford County Library’s annual children’s story hour this Friday, June 9.

The summer reading program starts at 10:00 a.m. Friday at the library with a special presentation by The Bee Man from Stamford.

The rest of the sessions will be held on Tuesdays. Organizer Janna Ledbetter said the first one had to be on a Friday because of scheduling needs.

The theme this summer is animals, with future sessions focusing on chickens, horses and goats.

By Sam Waller

Two Shackelford County 4-H members were cited for their work in the state photography contest this week.

Results were announced Monday, June 5 at the State 4-H Roundup in College Station.

Faith Fry was awarded Blue Ribbon Quality Awards for the Catch-All and Shadow/Silhouette classes. Fry also received Red Ribbon Quality Awards for Elements of Design and Plant Flora, and a White Ribbon Quality Award for Animals (Wildlife).

Riley Reames received a Green Ribbon Quality Award for Animals (Domestic) and a Red Ribbon Quality Award for Landscape.