A towering steel cowboy sculpture created in Albany will soon take its place along U.S. Highway 180 in Breckenridge, welcoming travelers into town with a bold display of local pride.

The 36-foot-tall sculpture of a cowboy on a bucking horse was built by Albany-based sculptor Joe Barrington. Though crafted in Shackelford County, the statue is not staying local— it was commissioned by a private Breckenridge citizen and will be installed just outside that city as a new visual landmark.

For the second week in a row, the Albany Lions earned a 21-7 victory over a rival opponent—this time shutting down the Hawley Bearcats in a defensive showcase at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The Lions defense played a pivotal role, recording six sacks, two takeaways, and two defensive scores. A blocked punt led to a special teams touchdown, while Mason McCloy returned an interception for a pick-six, giving Albany a momentum swing that carried throughout the game.

The Albany Lady Lions hosted Class 4A Snyder on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and despite falling in four sets, head coach MJ Reneau said the match offered valuable experience for her team as they prepare for district play.

“I’m taking nothing but positivity away from tonight,” Reneau said. “Snyder challenged us in areas we haven’t been challenged yet—fast middle hits, tough serves. We were missing one of our starters due to illness, and some of our JV girls stepped up and did a tremendous job.”

The 39th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale shattered previous records Sunday, Sept. 7, with gross sales topping $158,300 and an average of $1,251 per head, according to longtime organizer Mike Parsons.

“This was a record-breaking sale in every way,” Parsons said. “The Association will realize more than $24,000 from the proceeds, which will go directly to support the youth of Shackelford County.”