By Sam Waller

Weather postponed the first attempt to install a vegetable garden at the Ben Richey Boys Ranch Albany location and brought work to a halt during the second try on Wednesday, May 3.

A group of about 40 residents, staff, and volunteers had to take shelter as hail pelted the facility, but the gardening was eventually completed.

“We took a brief break for the hail storm that came in,” organizer Alicia Burton said. “The weather that week was pretty wild.”

But with plenty of help on hand, the work was soon completed once the weather cleared.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County ResourceCare hosted the 19th annual spring health fair at the Albany Bank Park last Friday, May 12.

ResourceCare program director Mindy Ary said children attended from Nancy Smith Elementary School and the Mother’s Day Out program.

“I would say close to 300 kids came through,” said Ary. “The children wiped us out of the prizes, snow cones, and popcorn.”

By Sam Waller

Volunteers are still needed to assist with Nancy Smith Elementary School’s annual track meet and field day. Principal John Gallagher said anyone wanting to help can call the NSES office at 325-762-3384.

The track meet and field day will be held Tuesday, May 23.

“Volunteers can reach out to coach Ginger Norton through the elementary office,” Gallagher said. “I know she has high school students lined up, but there will be plenty of jobs.”

By Sam Waller

Albany juniors Adam Hill and Kiana Roberson had big goals for the Class 2A state track meet, held Friday, May 12, at Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Hill achieved part of his, winning the 300-meter hurdles and finishing a close second in the 110 hurdles.

“I just had to stay with the No. 1 seed in both races and focus on my technique and stuff I’ve been working on all year long,” Hill said.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions were looking at elimination from the Class 2A baseball playoffs and didn’t like what they saw.

The Lions (21-3) rallied to defeat the Eldorado Eagles in three games to win their area series and advance to the regional quarterfinals against Hamilton, which defeated Colorado City 10-0 in a one-game playoff.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A recap of Albany High’s athletic success during the 2022-2023 school year was given at the annual Athletic Banquet on Tuesday, including the announcement of several special memorial awards.

Coaches for each sport also recognized their teams, along with handing out various sport-specific awards.

Eleven senior athletes were presented a total of 13 special awards in memory or honor of local citizens who exemplified special qualities.

The banquet was sponsored by the Albany Athletic Booster Club.

By Sam Waller

Albany golfers will be relying on experience gained last year as they return to the Class 2A boys state golf tournament, to be played Monday-Tuesday, May 22-23 at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin.

By Sam Waller

Moran senior Alli Scott duplicated her medal haul from a year ago at the Class 1A state track meet on Saturday, May 13, claiming gold in the 100-meter hurdles and silver in the 300 hurdles, and setting a 1A meet record in the process.

“I was just thinking it’s my senior year, my last high school track meet,” Scott said. “I’ll never be able to run again, so I just gave it everything I had.”

By Sam Waller

Moran’s Ellis Hise qualified for FFA state competition Monday, May 15, at the Area IV convention in Wichita Falls.

Hise, a sophomore, placed first in the Star Lone Star Farmer agribusiness competition. He also won the Proficiency Award for Ag Services Entrepreneurship.

Hise interviewed with a panel of judges for his proficiency in ag services: entrepreneurship. He advances with his Star Lone Star Farmer in agribusiness to state, where he will interview again in a bid to move on to the finals at the FFA State Convention is July 10-14 in Dallas.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions took the first step in the Class 2A baseball playoffs Friday, May 5, sweeping Miles in a bi-district series played at Sweetwater.

The Lions (19-2) will meet Eldorado (15-5) in the area round on Thursday, May 11 (today), at Liberty Hill. The series winner will play either Hamilton or Colorado City next week in the regional quarterfinals.