By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions softball team opened the spring sports season Tuesday, Feb. 14, with a 4-4 tie with Eastland.

The game was originally scheduled to be played in Albany but was moved to Eastland because of field conditions.

Details will be reported next week.

The Lady Lions are playing in their first tournament Friday-Saturday, Feb. 17-18, also at Eastland. Other tournaments are set for Feb. 23-25 at San Angelo and March 2-4 at Clifton.

Albany’s next home game is 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 against Abilene Cooper at Webb Park.

By Sam Waller

Deadline for player registration for Albany Little League has been extended to Friday, Feb. 24, according to league organizer Paul Hamilton.

Registration forms are available at Nancy Smith Elementary School and Albany Junior/Senior High. Online registration is available at albanytxll.com.

Albany Little League is open to boys and girls to play at the T-ball, Coach Pitch, Minor, Major, Intermediate and Junior levels.

Registration fees are $50 for T-ball and Coach Pitch, $75 for Major and Minor, and $85 for Intermediate and Junior.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs wrapped up the girls basketball season Tuesday, Feb. 7, falling just short in a comeback bid at Baird.

Meanwhile, the Moran boys basketball team entered its final game of the season this week.

The Moran boys closed the season Tuesday, Feb. 14 at home against Rising Star. Senior night activities were held before the game.

Girls Basketball

At Baird, the Lady Bulldogs lost 37-31 despite a big comeback in the second half.

By Sam Waller

Moran resident Tate Tabor was arrested Tuesday after his son brought a valentine box to his kindergarten party with commercial fireworks and “fuses.”

Classes at Moran Independent School District were briefly interrupted Tuesday, Feb. 14 when the “suspicious package” was discovered by a teacher between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m.

Tabor was later arrested on charges of “prohibited weapon,” with additional charges pending.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s one-act play cast and crew will attend a workshop Friday, Feb. 17 at Clyde to prepare for district competition, scheduled for for Monday, Feb. 27 at Abilene Wylie.

Moran is performing “Little Women,” adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott, under the direction of teacher Bryce Hughes.

FFA News

Three Moran FFA students exhibited hogs at the San Angelo Stock Show this week.

Cotten Campbell showed a gilt on Sunday, Feb. 12, while Ellis Hise showed a barrow on Tuesday, and Allen Hebel showed a barrow on Thursday (today).

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD recently obtained a floral cooler for students to use in floriculture projects and classes.

“With this, we will be able to make fresh flower arrangements and take certification tests for the Texas State Floral Association,” agriculture teacher Minnie Denson said. “It also has the potential to morph into a business that the students run and gain experience in that aspect. I’m excited to get more flowers and start doing more arrangements.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Study Club is seeking donation of a quilt to be raffled off as a fundraiser later this year.

The Study Club raffles off a quilt each year during its annual Quilt Show, traditionally held during the Fort Griffin Fandangle, with a hand-pieced quilt being raffled to raise funds for scholarships.

The quilt raffle is one of two fundraising projects the Study Club has, along with cookbook sales, to fund scholarships.

The club is also seeking new members to assist with projects, which include operating the Shackelford County Library.

Abilene Teachers FCU is bringing financial literacy education to over 15,820 students and residents in several Texas counties, including students at Albany schools in Shackelford County.

Students at 104 schools and the surrounding communities have free access to Banzai, an award-winning online program and content library that allows users to practice real-world finance from the safety of their homes or classrooms using any internet-enabled device.

At a time when a solid foundation of practical financial knowledge is critical, these resources will make a huge impact on users.

Ryan Mark was named to the Dean’s List for the 2022 fall semester at Austin College. His GPA for the term is within the top 20 percent for all undergraduate students at Austin College.

Mark, a 2022 honor graduate of Albany High School, is the son of Amy and Jeff Price.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Last Saturday’s fair-weather family festival at the Old Jail Art Center seemed to trigger a deluge of parents with their children in tow to enjoy the first nice day after almost a week of being “held captive” indoors.

OJAC staff members are hoping that the stream of visitors continues next week with plans to show the museum a little love when Hearts for Arts Week gets underway on Tuesday.

Showing Love

During the week of Valentine’s, museums all over the country, including the Old Jail, are celebrating Hearts for Arts.