By Melinda L. Lucas

Even though the Albany Chest fell short of its $47,000 goal by $5,000, the board gave away well over that amount at a brief meeting on Jan. 25.

The 2022 campaign was closed out last week at $42,003, but with reserves in the account, the board ended up allocating just under the goal amount.

When the directors met back in October 2022, they came up with a total of $46,650 for the 25 applicants, with many of the requests trimmed back from the original grand total of $55,078.

By Sam Waller

Four Shackelford County 4-H teams placed in the District 7 Food Challenge, held Wednesday, Jan. 25 at San Angelo.

“The day went great,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “A couple of those teams were all new to this, had never done it before, and they did great.”

The True Grits team of Luke Smith, Ayers Bezner, Truitt Burton, and Gage Burton, coached by Alicia Burton, finished second in side dish.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The election of board members and officers will be the main items of business at the Friday, Feb. 3 luncheon of the Albany Chamber of Commerce.

All Chamber members are invited to attend the annual meeting to fill four places on the board of directors for a three-year term. The meeting will be held at the Icehouse Restaurant at 12:00 noon. The cost of the meal is $12.

By Sam Waller

Project Graduation will offer babysitting services on Saturday, Feb. 11 as a fundraiser for the Albany High School Class of 2023.

Project Graduation organizer Amanda Tabor said care will be provided for children from potty trained to 10 years old from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Youth Center.

“All of our seniors have signed up,” Tabor said. “They will actually be the babysitters for group babysitting, and there will a be  a few of us moms around. Resource Care is donating use of the building.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions are on the cusp of clinching a spot in the boys basketball playoffs after sweeping their District 10-2A games last week against Haskell and Hamlin.

Entering an open date on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Lions (10-3 overall, 6-2 district) were one game away from qualifying and could clinch if both Haskell and Stamford lost earlier in the week.

Albany visits Stamford at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. A win in that game would also assure the Lions a playoff bid.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions suffered through another frustrating week in the District 10-2A girls basketball race with losses to Haskell and Hamlin.

After having the district bye on Tuesday, Jan. 31, Albany (8-18 overall, 1-9 district) visits Stamford at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3.

The Lady Lions make their final home appearance of the season at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, when Anson visits the AHS gym for senior night.

The district schedule is in flux after a winter storm forced postponement of all Tuesday games this week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany junior high basketball teams saw their seasons come to an unexpectedly early end this week with the winter weather afflicting the area playing a large part.

The Cubs and Lady Cubs were to have played Stamford on Monday, Jan. 30 to wrap up the schedule. Those games were postponed to Thursday, Feb. 2 (tonight), as District 10-2A high school games scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 31, were moved up a day in an attempt to beat the oncoming storm.

By Sam Waller

The Albany youth basketball teams wrapped up their regular seasons Saturday, Jan. 28, getting five wins and a tie in games played at Hawley and Merkel.

The teams will take part in postseason tournaments Saturday, Feb. 4, at Eula. All four brackets will have six teams with all teams guaranteed two games.

Sixth Grade Girls

At Merkel, the sixth grade girls split their two games, losing to Eula 25-20 before beating Hawley 21-4.

By Sam Waller

Albany Lions head baseball coach David Fairchild was inducted into the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame at its banquet Saturday, Jan. 28.

Fairchild, a 1987 graduate of Bonham, was inducted for his coaching accomplishments, which include a career record of 437-174-4 and two trips to the state tournament.

After graduating from Texas Tech in 1993, Fairchild began his coaching career at Port Lavaca. He was named head baseball coach at Savoy after a year at Port Lavaca and held the same position at Lockney and Ballinger before coming to Albany in 2003.

By Sam Waller

Three Albany Lions football players were honored for their achievements in the classroom with inclusion on the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Academic All-State team.

Cole Chapman earned second team honors, while Coy Lefevre and Keatin Russell received honorable mention.

More than 4,100 students from across Texas achieved the honor.