By Sam Waller

The calendar has just ticked over to February, but that qualifies as springtime in Texas high school sports.

The Albany Lions and Lady Lions have begun practicing for baseball and softball, while track, tennis, and golf programs are also gearing up. All spring sports teams are scheduled to be in competition by the end of the month.

Softball will start things off at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 against Eastland at Webb Park before spending that weekend at the Eastland tournament.

By Sam Waller

Registration deadline for the Albany Softball Association is Monday, Feb. 6.

Registration forms are available at Nancy Smith Elementary School. Fees are $65 per girl for 8U, 10U, and 12U, but discounts are offered for families with multiple players.

ASA board member Matt Stapp said the league will begin play sometime in March, but they are working to avoid scheduling conflicts with Little Dribblers. Local teams are expected to play Cisco, Eastland, and Breckenridge.

Umpires and sponsors are being sought.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs dropped two district basketball games last week before winter weather jumbled this week’s schedule.

Weather forced postponement of games scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 31 to Thursday, Feb. 2 (tonight). Moran will host May with the girls game tipping off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the boys game. Moran will hold senior night ceremonies for the Lady Bulldogs before the girls game.

On Friday, Feb. 3, the Moran teams will visit Eula. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Moran visits Baird, closing out the girls season.

By Sam Waller

A pancake supper fundraiser to benefit the First Baptist Church youth group is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5 at the church’s Fellowship Hall.

The event will raise money to send youth to summer church camp in July.

Serving will start at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and last until the food is sold out.

There will not be a set price, but donations will be accepted.

Drive-through service will be available.

Additional fundraisers are in the planning stages, according to FBC youth minister Eduardo San Lucas.

By Sam Waller

The girls Weekend of Champions camp sponsored by the Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes is shaping up to be the biggest yet, according to local FCA respresentative Paul Johnston.

Johnston said registration for the girls camp, scheduled Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 4-5, at Eastland’s Solid Rock Camp, was at 135 as of Tuesday, Jan. 31. The total includes 17 girls from Albany.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With about two weeks remaining in the filing period for local May 6 elections, a few incumbents have signed up for another term but no challengers have signed up yet.

As of Tuesday’s press deadline, no one had filed  since those reported in the Jan. 26th edition.

Board member posts and council positions are subject to election by the public for both Albany and Moran school boards and city councils, along with the Shackelford County Hospital District and the Fort Griffin SUD.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany High School Student Council hosted the annual Winter Formal last Saturday, with class royalty presented, including the crowning of Mr. and Miss AHS.

The gala was held at the Whitney Theatre, with music provided by disc jockey Martin Priteo, Jr.

Seniors Ella Webb and Cole Chapman were selected by the student body to serve as this year’s Mr. and Miss AHS.

Other senior nominees for the honor included Brooke Kayga, Gracie Price, Briley Tabor, Coy Lefevre, London Fuentes, and Miles McCloy.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Donald McCullough made the most of a second chance in the calf scramble at the Fort Worth Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 28, catching a calf and getting it across the finish line.

McCullough received a $500 certificate to purchase a registered beef or dairy heifer to be shown at next year’s Fort Worth show.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, McCullough and Judson Rogers competed in the scramble with Rogers catching a calf. McCullough, who was scheduled to show a gilt over the weekend, was offered another try to help fill openings in the Saturday field.

By Sam Waller

Moran Independent School District was one of several area districts to have its schedule affected by the winter storm moving through Shackelford County this week.

Moran superintendent said MISD had early release on Monday, Jan. 30 and cancelled classes on Tuesday, Jan. 31. No decision on Wednesday, Feb. 1, classes had been made at deadline time on Tuesday.

Denson said having more than half the district’s students bused in from outside the district factored into the decision.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Anyone who likes a murder mystery, proms, and bouffant hairdos from the 1980s should love the latest murder mystery dinner theater performance set for Feb. 11.

Hosted by Resource Care in Albany, tickets are on sale  for the third annual who-done-it dinner theater performed by members of the Albany Mainstreet Playhouse at the Whitney Theater.

The fundraiser benefits the local Vittles by Vehicles program that feeds about 40 senior citizens in the area three times per week.