Big Country Electric Cooperative is again sponsoring three students to attend the 2019 Government-in-Action Youth Tour. 

The all-expenses-paid, weeklong learning and leadership event will be held in Washington, D.C., in June 2019. Winners receive a scholarship along with trip expenses. 

The contest is open to all area high school students with an application deadline of Jan. 24, 2019. Big Country EC will also donate a $500 grant to the school that has the most students submit videos.

The Lady Bulldogs lost their first basketball game of the season 10-48 to the visiting Rotan Yellowhammers last Saturday, Nov. 10, but coach Dakota Fowler was proud of how her team played, especially since they have not had much opportunity to practice.

“Last Monday was the first day that my girls had a chance to pick up a basketball, and this was our first game,” said Fowler. “Because we made the playoffs in volleyball, and all but two of my girls were on that team, it put us back on practicing basketball.”

Bell ringing, roof leaks, and a “wrap-up” of the year-long Courthouse restoration process took up most of an hour-long commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning, Nov. 13.

The elected officials also decided on a date for an open house to celebrate the completion of the extensive repairs, set for Monday, Nov. 26.

Repair Wrap

Alan Odom of Premier Metalwerks reported that he had scheduled a “water test” that morning for a recent leak in the third floor treasurer’s office, but because of the cold weather on Monday, it had been delayed.

A lunchtime fundraiser for the local Toys for Tots campaign is planned for this Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Youth Center, with help from members of Albany High School’s National Honor Society (NHS), and community members are encouraged to come and enjoy a good meal while helping to provide Christmas presents to disadvantaged local children.

Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty coordinates the program in Albany, which provides gifts for Albany children ages zero to 11, working through the Resource Center. 

The Albany Athletic Booster Club has several activities planned in preparation for Albany’s bi-district playoff game with the Rocksprings Angoras tonight.

The game will be held at San Angelo Stadium, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Thursday Schedule

Beating the spirit drum began yesterday after the 7:30 p.m. pep rally at Bank Park and will continue until shortly before today’s send-off. The cheerleaders took the first shift and other Lion fans kept up the activity all through the night.

A Monday, Nov. 19 deadline has been set for the Nov. 22 edition of The Albany News due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

All news articles and advertising, including classified ads, must be received no later than noon on Monday, Nov. 19. 

The usual copy deadline for the weekly paper is Tuesday at 12:00 noon. It is being moved up a full day in order to adjust the printing and mailing schedule.

Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce have planned a special evening in the downtown area on Saturday, Nov. 24, to celebrate the start of the 2018 Christmas season complete with joyful music, lights, shopping, magic, and Santa Claus, before taking a moment to pause and honor loved ones who already gaze upon the Christ Child face to face. 

Albany city council members met in open session for about 20 minutes on Monday, Nov. 12, then closed the meeting for 45 minutes to go over city manager Billy Holson’s annual evaluation. 

No action was taken when the session was re-opened.

Several other items were approved during the evening.

“A” Board Purchase

The council passed a motion allowing the city’s “A” tax board to purchase 42.09 acres of land from the Clarke Estate developers. The property is frontage on Hwy. 6 and is priced at $4,000 per acre for a total of $168,360.

The United States Postal Service recently awarded Albany postal clerk Suzie Patterson with a 25-year Service Award Pin and letter of appreciation in recognition of her 25 years of government service.

Patterson was already an experienced postal worker when she transferred to the Albany Post Office 14 years ago.

Theater art students from Albany Junior High School will present Robert Nail’s “Antic Spring” in the district one-act play competition taking place in the Albany High auditorium today, Nov. 15.

Because the Lion football team is playing at San Angelo this evening at 6:30 p.m., the local thespians were able to obtain permission to take to the stage at 11:00 a.m., earlier than originally scheduled, so that they can join their peers at the game in San Angelo that night.