By Sandy Morris

Dress rehearsal followed by opening night of the 83rd anniversary edition of the Fort Griffin Fandangle is in just two weeks, and preparations for the annual summer show are underway. 

Organizers and participants are busy preparing for the upcoming performances and expected out-of-town visitors. 

Artistic director Lorna Ayers has requested help from the community to get ready for the show.

“We are needing Rangers or Mules to help bring out the sets,” said Ayers. 

By Sandy Morris

Quilt owners are encouraged to lend one or more of the works of art in their collections to the Albany Study Club for the annual quilt show at the Whitney Theatre so everyone can admire the fabric treasures during the Fandangle season. 

The annual show is free to the public and will be held in the air-conditioned  Whitney Theatre from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on the afternoons of the Fandangle performances on June 18, 19, 25, and 26.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Officials seem to agree that Albany and Shackelford County were just an inch or so away from widespread damage when Monday’s heavy rainfall began to let up late in the afternoon.

As it was, the 4.27 inches that fell in a 24-hour period rapidly filled creeks and swept through low water crossings, leaving behind debris, but not a lot of significant damage.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Dance Theatre Company will present “Once Upon A Time” this Saturday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Albany High School auditorium. 

The performance is free to the public and will include 120 dancers from Albany and five surrounding communities. 

“This year, we will feature seniors Hannah Snyder, Blanton Belcher, Sidney Bartee, Landree Connally, Torie Fuentes, and Addie Beth Denton,” said owner and co-director Betsy Black Parsons. “They will be performing as a group to ‘I Danced with Cinderella’.”

By Sandy Morris

Dozens of local scholarships were presented to members of the Albany High School Class of 2021 during commencement exercises held last Friday, May 28.

There were well over 100 separate awards for the class of 35, with some scholarships split among more than one recipient, amounting to more than $120,000.

The awards were given by about 40 local churches, clubs, organizations, foundations and individuals. 

The 2021 commencement ceremony was held in the Albany High School gymnasium before a crowd of friends and relatives.

By Sandy Morris

Moran students wrap up the school year this week with an elementary field day Thursday followed by an awards ceremony.

Kindergarten and eighth grade graduations also will be held Thursday.

Eighth grade valedictorian is Ellis Hise and salutatorian is Aydan Moreno.

The last day of school and graduation will be on Friday, May 28. Graduation will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium. 

Fundraiser

By Sandy Morris

Moran Independent School District will present six seniors with high school diplomas on Friday, May 28.

Commencement exercises will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the MISD gymnasium.

Dariann Hawley is the valedictorian for the class, and Corey Miller is the salutatorian.

Other members of the Moran High Class of 2021 are Aspen Box, Corley Hendricks, Sondra O’Keefe, and Tiffany Wade.

The ceremony will begin with the invocation given by Wade, followed by a welcome from retiring superintendent Danny Freeman.

— CHLOE FIELDS:  Chloe Fields has been listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll for the spring semester at Texas Tech University.

This recognition is awarded to those students who have attained a grade point average of 3.5 or better.

She is the daughter of Shane and Melissa Fields of Albany.

— JALEIGH MORALES: Albany High School graduate Jaleigh Morales has been named to the McMurry University Dean’s List for the spring semester with a GPA of 3.95.  

By Sandy Morris

Albany High School seniors are anxiously waiting to cross the stage on Friday night and then celebrate their success at the traditional Project Graduation party later in the evening.

According to chairman Tisha Wilkins, the organizers of this year’s event are almost ready for the party.

“We are on the home stretch,” said Wilkins. “We are working on getting the final things organized, but everything is coming together very well.”

By Sandy Morris

Every year, a crowd of people comes together, not only to enjoy the annual Polo on the Prairie, but to  raise money for MD Anderson in the fight against cancer.

Last year the event was cancelled due to ­COVID concerns, so regular attendees were looking forward to the return of the yearly fundraiser. 

Recent heavy rains caused flooding at the traditional location at the Lazy 3 Ranch, so the main event took place at the Stephens County Airport.