Five graduating seniors and two coaches from Albany and Moran will participate in the 27th annual Big Country FCA All-Star Festival, set for June 2-6 in Abilene and Brownwood.

The summer event will bring together 340 athletes representing 89 Big Country area schools. The festival features the region’s top student-athletes competing in six sports — football, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and cheer.

Moran cheerleader Rayni Vinson will cheer at several events during the festival.

Larry Bell

Larry was born in Beaumont,Texas to Leon and Aline (Van Riper) Bell on July 19, 1935.

What gives you pleasure? I ask because there is an old and persisting point of view that pleasure is the fundamental motivator of human behavior. We can date this assumption back to the third century BC philosopher Epicurus who famously said: “Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.” More recently, the 18th century English philosopher Jeremy Bentham opined: “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.” We are impelled to avoid pain and seek pleasure.

By David H. Waller

Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training last week, which always feels like the unofficial signal that winter is winding down. For me, it also brings back a lot of memories, because baseball has quietly shaped much of my life and career.