Albany athlete Hunter Waddell brought home a gold medal after competing in the 2025 Special Olympics Area 14 Bowling Competition in San Angelo.

The event, held November 14-15 at Stadium Lanes in San Angelo, featured teams from across the Area 14 region, including delegations from Abilene, Brownwood and San Angelo. Athletes spent two days competing in multiple divisions.

Waddell competed as part of a four-member team called The Goats. In the championship match, he rolled a solid score of 208 to help secure the gold medal for his team.

The Albany Lions opened the playoffs with a strong showing Thursday night in Graham, powering past Santo 34–18 to secure the Bi-District championship and extend their postseason run.

Albany controlled the pace from the start, stacking up 429 yards of total offense and moving the chains 24 times. The Lions leaned on a balanced attack that kept Santo guessing—154 yards rushing paired with 275 yards through the air.

In Albany, mention of the “Bazaar” means the holidays are near — and this year’s event carries extra significance. Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its first Bazaar this Saturday, Nov. 15, continuing one of the town’s oldest and most beloved community traditions. What began as a small gathering of church women raising funds for local mission work in 1900 has grown into an annual event that continues to bring together friends, families, and neighbors from across the area.

Entries are being sought for the 2025 Lighted Christmas Parade set to roll through downtown Albany on Saturday, Nov. 30 starting at 6:00 p.m.

The annual event is sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce.

Shop Small Town Saturday activities are also planned, with drawings for Albany Bucks at various times both before and after the parade.

Chamber manager Brandi Lehew said that parade entry forms are available online on the Chamber’s Facebook page.