By Sandy Morris

Albany High School senior Tana Thompson qualified for regional in five events and junior Luke Ivy will advance in four events after they and other local students competed in the UIL District 10-2A Academic Spring Meet held at Stamford High School on Wednesday, March 24.

Twelve other AHS competitors will also advance to the regional level.

“I am very pleased and proud of our students,” said AHS UIL coordinator Rick Davis. “We have a total of 14 students who advanced individually or as part of a team and/or placed in multiple contests.”

By Sandy Morris

The chance to hunt for eggs by the basketful should make for a fun Saturday for local children.

Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will host their annual Easter egg hunt at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 at Webb City Park.

The egg hunt is open to all local children and their guests.

The park will be sectioned off for each individual age group and all children will need to meet at the pool entrance before the hunt begins to find the correct section. 

At their March meeting, Callahan-Shackelford Farm Bureau directors voted to support local food banks and Project Graduation activities.

The board voted to participate in the “Helping Hands Assistance Program” sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau. To deal with the need caused by the unprecedented weather event last month, county farm bureaus were encouraged to partner with the state organization in contributing to local food banks.  

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School  senior Addie Beth Denton signed with the Cisco College Rodeo Team on Monday, March 22.

Denton, who competed in her first rodeo at age three, said it’s always been a goal of hers to rodeo in college.

“My mom was on a college rodeo team in Louisiana, and all three of my older siblings rodeoed in high school,” said Denton. “I knew I wanted to continue to compete after I got out of high school, and I’m excited to get this opportunity.”

By Sandy Morris

Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will host their annual Easter egg hunt at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 at the city park.

The park will be sectioned off for each individual age group.

All children will need to meet at the pool entrance before the hunt begins to find their section. 

The groups are ages zero to three, ages four to six, ages seven to nine, and ages 10 and up. 

In addition to candy eggs, gold and silver coins will be provided as prizes courtesy of First National Bank.

By Sandy Morris

Albany FFA andShackelford County 4-H members wrapped up action at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last week with their steer entries.

Kenzie Neve won second place and Kam Browning won sixth place with their shorthorns, and both will participate in the steer sale at NRG Stadium later in the spring on Saturday, May 22.

Hattie Braly earned fifth place with her heavy-weight Angus. 

Gracie Price also competed in Houston.

When Texans see a pillar of smoke rising out of a forest or state park, with Texas A&M Forest Service on the ground, our gut instinct is always the same: wildfire. However, that isn’t always the case.

Prescribed burning has become one of the most efficient and effective tools for land management in the state of Texas, and some of the state’s leading experts in wildland fire management – from Texas A&M Forest Service to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – can’t emphasize its merits enough.

By Sandy Morris

The Parent Teacher Organization at Nancy Smith Elementary School will hold the traditional Scholastic Book Fair beginning Monday, April 12 to Friday, April 16.

PTO members plan to set up the book fair on the cafeteria stage at NSES.

The book fair will be held face to face and offers the usual assortment of books, games, posters, bookmarks, and more. 

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School seniors will be able to begin applying for local scholarships this week.

According to Ann Riley at the AHS office, the scholarship list will be uploaded to the district’s website and distributed to local seniors by Friday, March 26, informing them of the requirements for specific scholarships. 

“Some scholarships have a form the student needs to fill out; others require the student to write a letter,” Riley said.

The seniors must then turn in their application letters by Wednesday, April 14, Riley stated.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany High School  band will compete in the UIL Region 2, East Zone Concert and Sightreading contest in Abilene next week.

The contest will take place at Wylie High School in Abilene over a two-day period, and Albany is scheduled to perform on Tuesday, March 30. 

AHS band director Will Vaughan said the band will take the stage  at 3:30 p.m.

“We will perform three numbers and then sight read a piece that will be given to us there,” said Vaughan.