By Donnie A. Lucas

A large group of Albany students and sponsors will travel to San Diego later this month to compete in the FCCLA National Leadership Conference.

The group of 12 students will attend the conference on June 29 through July 1 to either compete or present projects.

Seven junior high students will be participating in the parliamentary procedure contest for the Level 1 division, which includes junior high students. The local group took first at the state conference to earn the trip to nationals.

By Sam Waller

A Shackelford County 4-Her brought home big prizes last week from the Texas 4-H State Roundup in College Station.

Johnnie Hise placed second in the Fashion Show on Tuesday, June 7, while the horse judging team placed ninth overall with team member Faith Fry earning two individual ribbons on Wednesday, June 8.

Hise’s fashion project was a vintage swimsuit ensemble which included a beach robe and wraparound skirt.

“I’m super proud of Johnnie,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “She did an amazing job. I’m so happy for her.”

Albany and Shackelford County had a sizeable contingent this week at the Big Country Fellowship Athletes Leadership Camp at Hardin-Simmons University.

Local FCA representative Paul Johnston had about 200 attendees, 12 of them from Albany.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary School participated in the annual track meet held all day Monday, May 23, with results kept in many of the third through sixth grade competitions.

Third and fourth grade places were reported in the June 9 edition. Continued below are the results from fifth and sixth grade contests.

FIFTH GRADE

Long jump – 1. Hattie Fikes 10-6.5, 1. Tinley Hefner 10-6.5, 3. Hailey Gleitz 9-9, 4. Keeley Britting 9-6, 5. Kynlee Milligan 9-2.5, 6. Mackenzee Roysdon 8-7

By Sam Waller

The field is almost full for the Albany Golf Club’s annual three-person Father’s Day Golf Tournament scheduled Saturday-Sunday, June 18-19 at the Albany Golf Course.

Entry fee is $300 per team. The tournament will have 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. tee times on Saturday. Teams will be flighted after the first round.

For entry information, call Kennith Waters at 325-660-2329.

Albany residents Brenda and Glenn Picquet experienced a thrill of a lifetime this past weekend, as their horse, Mo Donegal, captured first place in the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual spring cleanup day Saturday, June 11 in advance of the Fort Griffin Fandangle.

“This is the time of year when everybody tries to make their yards along Main Street look good,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said.

Jones said volunteers should meet at the Chamber office at 8:30 a.m., and she asked that participants bring yard tools and implements such as mowers, weedeaters, rakes, and hoes.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The call is being sent out this week to local individuals, families, and organizations to help keep the tradition of the annual Fort Griffin Fandangle parade alive and well.

With just over a week remaining before the Saturday, June 18 event, very few entries or sponsors have signed up.

“We don’t have any Fandangle-themed floats so far,” co-chairman Ragan Riley said. “There have been some tractors and horse riding groups sign up, but not much else.”

The parade is scheduled to roll down Main Street at 5:00 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

With dress rehearsal and opening night for the 84th anniversary performances of the Fort Griffin Fandangle a week away, just about everyone involved in the annual outdoor production is rehearsing or preparing on a daily basis.

The show is set to open on Friday, June 17, with additional performances set June 18, June 24, and June 25.

Other local residents and businesses are also preparing to host, feed, or entertain the hundreds of visitors expected in Albany on each show date.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Local businesses and residents are encouraged to join with patriots across the United States next Tuesday, June 14 in the annual cele­bration of Flag Day.

Individuals and business owners who have their own flags are asked to put them up for the day, except in case of inclement weather.

Typically, flags are put out by volunteers on holidays, but it is usually limited to the downtown block.

Flag Day was first observed across the nation in 1877, the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the national symbol.