By Sam Waller

The Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes Weekend of Champions boys camp is set for Friday, Feb. 18, through Sunday, Feb. 20, at Eastland’s Solid Rock Encampment.

FCA organizer Paul Johnston of Albany said the event will follow a similar format to the girls camp held last month.

“There’ll be four or five speakers, all ex-college athletes,” Johnston said. “They’ll be talking about integrity, character, what it means to be Christian young men.”

By Sam Waller

First Baptist Church of Albany will conduct a two-night youth revival Friday, Feb. 18 and Saturday, Feb. 19.

Services will begin at 7:00 p.m. on each of the two nights with dinner following the services.

Christian singer Michala Huckabay and her band will perform each night. FBC pastor Jeff Turner will be the speaker.

Volleyball Tourney

A double-elimination volleyball tournament will be held Saturday, March at the Albany High School gym. Awards will be presented for first, second, and third places.

By Sam Waller

More than 3,000 truffles were sold as part of Project Graduation’s Valentine sale fundraiser, according to organizer Kenzie Fairchild.

“The Valentine sale went very well,” Fairchild said. “So far, all the fundraisers have gone well. We appreciate the community for participating in them and buying from us.”

Seniors and their parents had three workdays at The Feed Store preparing Valentine’s Day gifts, which included items such as stuffed animals. Gifts were delivered on Monday, Feb. 14.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A group of Albany High School band students will compete in the UIL Solo and Ensemble contest at Wylie High School in Abilene on Saturday.

A total of 13 students have been preparing for the contest, which offers three levels of difficulty. Typically, students play a Class 3 solo their first year of participation, then progress to a Class 1 solo, which is the most difficult.

Along with a piano accompanist, musicians present a prepared selection for a judge from the music list assigned one of the three levels.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany High held an area competition for the Small Schools Academic Challenge last Thursday, advancing three teams to the state meet.

Albany’s three teams took first through third place, moving on to the state meet on Feb. 27 at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton.

This is the first time that Albany has participated in the program sponsored by the Texas Association of Community Schools.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A project that has been delayed several times in the last couple of years may actually be getting closer to a start time, according to a report at Monday’s Shackelford County commissioners meeting.

Commissioners Ace Reames and Lanham Martin met last week with Ramon Morales of Morales Concrete of Graham about his contract to repair the concrete under the CR 179 (Caldwell Lane) bridge.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city manager Billy Holson reviewed his recommended 2022-2023 budget figures with council members at their Monday, Feb. 14 meeting, but no action was taken on the $3.475 million document.

The bottom line is more than the current year’s $3.1M starting budget, but Holson explained salaries for several additional employees are built in the new budget, with hopes of having enough personnel later in the year to complete some street repairs and other capital improvements.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive COVID-19 cases tested locally dropped to its lowest level in weeks, with 14 positives recorded from the 33 tests administered.

Total positive test results dropped from 22 positive cases the week of Jan. 31 through Feb. 4 on tests administered at the three local testing sites.

According to the weekly report issued by county judge Bob Skelton, the hospitalized cases in Trauma Service Area D, which includes Abilene and Brownwood hospitals, also dropped to 73 from 98 patients the prior week.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Gracie Price placed first in her class with her Maine-Anjou heifer at the San Angelo stock show and won senior cattle showmanship exhibiting the same animal.

Price also entered a steer in the show as more than 30 Shackelford County FFA and 4-H members began exhibiting animals at shows in San Angelo and San Antonio.

“The kids did a great job,” Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard said. “This was a busy week. We had folks going back and forth from one show to the other.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Two directors were re-elected to the Albany Chamber of Commerce board at the organization’s annual membership meeting on  Friday, Feb. 11, at Ft. Griffin Gen. Mdse. Restaurant, held a week later than originally scheduled because of bad weather the previous Friday.

Officers for the upcoming year were chosen on the same day.

Ramby Anderson and Clayton Snyder were both elected to serve another three-year term, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.