By Sandy Morris

Licensed hunters ages 16 years and younger have opportunities this winter and spring to sharpen their skills and bring home some whitetail and turkey trophies, and adult hunters still have time to harvest wild game. 

Dove season ended Sunday, Jan. 3, but quail season continues until Feb. 28.

The regular season for deer and turkey ended Sunday, Jan. 3, though a special late deer season runs from Jan. 4-17, 2020, and is open to all legal hunters. 

By Sandy Morris

The Big Country chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes typically hosts its annual Weekend of Champions over full weekends each January. 

This year, due to COVID concerns, the Weekend of Champions camps will be one day only events with the Girls Weekend scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Solid Rock Christian Camp in Eastland. 

The Boys Weekend is scheduled for the following Saturday, Jan. 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Beltway South in Abilene. 

 Taylor Scott of Albany was recognized on the Dean’s Honor Roll at Midwestern State University recognized for the fall 2020 semester. Scott is studying Pre-Radiologic Technology.

A student who completes 12 hours in one semester with a grade point average of 3.50 to 3.74 is included on the list. 

Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, has announced the students achieving the Dean’s List designation for the 2020 fall semester.

To be eligible for the ASU Dean’s List, full-time undergraduate students must maintain a 3.25 or better grade point average.

Students from Albany making the Dean’s List include Kaitlyn Reddin and Kelsey Tollett.

Angelo State University conferred 381 undergraduate and 191 degrees to its fall 2020 graduates that were recognized in a virtual commencement on Dec. 6.

Graduates include Kait­lyn Reddin of Albany, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Registration for Little Dribblers basketball will begin next week, with the deadline set for Wednesday, Jan. 27.

According to organizer Joe Tidwell, the program is open to both boys and girls who are eight years old by Jan. 1 and continues through the fourth grade.

Tidwell said that registration forms will be distributed through the elementary school next week. Completed forms must be signed by a parent and returned to the school office along with the $30 entry fee.

By Sandy Morris

Sixteen local youth, three families, and two adult volunteers traveled to Taos, New Mexico during the Albany Youth Ministry Winter Ski Trip and Christian Adventure last week. 

This year, the group left Albany early on Tuesday, Dec. 29 and checked in at Snakedance Condos at the base of Taos Ski Valley later that same afternoon, and skied and snowboarded on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before returning home on Saturday, Jan. 2.

By Sandy Morris

The Old Jail Art Center found unique ways to continue offering programming to a variety of patrons during the restrictions from COVID during 2020. 

As the year came to a close, the board of trustees and staff reached out to OJAC patrons for contributions through the Annual Fund Appeal that would allow them to continue current offerings in 2021. 

The Appeal is the OJAC’s single most important fundraiser to support operations and programs.

By Sandy Morris

For the 12th year in a row, volunteers from Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church and several others from the community made sure nobody missed the opportunity to enjoy a free holiday meal with all of the trimmings on Christmas Day. 

Even though the volunteers had to deal with the restrictions from COVID, workers were quick to proclaim the meal a success with a total of 120 people being fed. 

One of the organizers, James Breeden, along with his family, has been involved in this mission for the past five years.

By Sandy Morris

With COVID making its mark on several major livestock shows, local students have been preparing themselves and their pigs by attending jackpot shows.

Albany High School senior Carli Edgar brought home a Senior Showmanship award from the Lone­star Classic in Abilene in November.

Edgar placed first in several other categories along with her siblings who also participated in the Lonestar Classic, which is a jackpot show that draws hundreds of pigs from around the state.