By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H is winding down its year with the final meetings scheduled for Sunday, May 21, but summer programs will be starting soon.

The Horse Club and Sewing Club will meet together at 3:00 p.m. at The Feed Store to make tailbags for horses.

That will be followed at 4:00 p.m. by the regular club meeting, during which officer elections will be held for next year.

“That will wrap up our year, but we do have summer activities on the agenda,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said.

By Sam Waller

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 37th annual Polo on the Prairie enjoyed a nearly flawless day Saturday, April 29, raising more than $1 million for cancer research.

The event drew more than 1,300 attendees to the Musselman Brothers’ Lazy 3 Ranch.

“Everything worked beautifully together,” Melinda Musselman said. “We had the weather on our side, which is always the hardest thing to deal with. The weather was beautiful so games could be played outside and enjoyed by everybody.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Study Club is selling raffle tickets for a quilt to raise money for its scholarship fund.

Tickets are $5 apiece and may be purchased at the Shackelford County Library.

“The raffle money goes to raise money for scholarships for high school graduates,” Study Club member Lori Schooler said. “We’ll also take donations.”

The quilt, donated by Lana Britton, is currently on display at the library. In June, it will be included in the Study Club’s Quilt Show at the Whitney Theatre.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Educators and staff at Albany ISD will be recognized next week with daily meals and bundles of gifts in appreciation for their efforts to educate the youth of Albany.

The week-long celebration is hosted by the Albany PTO, with the help of parents and local businesses.

The National Teacher Appreciation Week is actually May 8-12, but the PTO opted to wait until next week in order not to conflict with STAAR testing at both campuses.

By Sam Waller

Albany will have five entries vying for titles Friday, May 12, at the Class 2A state track and field meet.

The competition gets underway at 9:00 a.m. Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin with field events and the 3,200. Other running events will start at 5:00 p.m.

The Class 2A meet will be held in tandem with the Class 5A meet.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Athletic Booster Club will honor the achievements of Lion and Lady Lion teams Tuesday, May 16 at the annual athletic awards banquet.

The school year has seen Albany advance to the postseason in nine sports and state competition in four. And it’s not over yet. The baseball team is playing for an area title this week, and the boys golf team will make its second straight appearance at the state tournament May 22-23.

The banquet will start at 7:00 p.m. at the high school gym. A fajita meal is being catered by the Icehouse.

By Sam Waller

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary School will have a day to run and jump Tuesday, May 23, at the annual track meet and field day.

Principal John Gallagher said the events are being combined into one day this year after being held separately in 2022.

Gallagher said students should report to school as normal before being bused to the high school track at 9:00 a.m.

Gallagher said lunch will be provided at the track with students being bused to Webb Park for the rest of the day following the meal.

By Sam Waller

A co-ed Midnight Slow Pitch Softball Tournament to benefit the Albany Softball Association has been scheduled for Friday-Saturday, June 9-10.

Organizer Malarie Sutton said the event will be the organization’s main fundraiser for the year.

“We don’t have anything else planned for this year,” Sutton said. “We’ve tossed some ideas out, but I think they’ll probably be for next year.”

By Sam Waller

After securing Moran’s first state track gold medal in 50 years last year, Alli Scott is looking to increase the total Saturday, May 13, at the Class 1A state meet.

The Class 1A meet will be held in conjunction with the Class 6A meet at Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Scott, headed to state for the third year in a row, is the defending champion in the 100-meter hurdles. She also claimed silver in the 300 hurdles.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High tennis program earned five medals, including three gold, at its district tournament played Thursday-Friday, May 4-5 at Abilene’s Rose Park Tennis Center.

“I was proud of the way our kids competed,” coach M.J. Reneau said. “Our numbers weren’t as big as they were last year, so we didn’t have as many in events. But the events we did participate in, we medaled.”