One of the most accomplished athletes to ever come out of Albany is now part of the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame, as Kami Norton Richey was inducted during last week’s annual banquet in Abilene.

Richey’s career, which began with a dominant run at Albany High School and carried through to national championships at the collegiate level, made her a clear choice for the honor.

“It was definitely a trip back down memory lane,” Richey said. “Coming back to the Big Country and getting to share that with my family was really special.”

The Albany Lions closed out district play last week with an 11-4 loss to Hawley, a result that secured the district championship for the Bearcats and left Albany finishing as the runner-up.

The Lions wrapped up district with a 7-3 record and stand at 12-4 overall heading into the postseason. Despite the loss, Albany remains in strong position as it shifts its attention to the playoffs.

A former Albany Lion received a surprise honor recently when a newly improved girls softball field in Sundown was named after him, recognizing years of work in the community and local athletics.

Ron Holson, a 1988 Albany High School graduate, said the recognition was unexpected.

“It caught me completely off guard,” Holson said. “I’m very honored to have received that.”

The U.S. Highway 180 bridge over Hubbard Creek Reservoir will be fully closed to traffic beginning Monday, April 27, as TxDOT crews conduct routine maintenance work on the structure.

According to information released by the Texas Department of Transportation, the closure will allow crews to complete work that could not be safely performed with traffic on the bridge. The project is expected to take approximately one week, though it could be completed in as little as five days if weather conditions remain favorable.