By Donnie A. Lucas The summer conditioning and limited sport-specific training for junior high and high school aged girls started this week and will continue through June and again for two weeks in mid-July.

By Donnie A. Lucas Local students have had the opportunity to attend three separate sports camps over the last two weeks, with a couple more slated for later in July. The annual basketball camp and a new tennis camp were both held this week, with the all-sports camp held the week before.

By Donnie A. Lucas Albany’s 7on7 summer football team won two out of three games in Archer City last Saturday, and local players will have one more shot to qualify for the state tournament.

By Sandy Morris The Moran ISD board of trustees recently approved the hiring of Dr. John Denson as the new superintendent to replace Danny Freeman who is retiring at the end of June. Dr. Denson comes to MISD from Union Hill ISD in Gilmer, Texas and said he is glad to return to West Texas.

By Sandy Morris Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 10. COVID-19 antibody testing is offered at no charge for donors who successfully donate.

By Sandy Morris Moran Independent School District retiring superintendent Danny Freeman, school board president Sug Roller and board vice president Alice Branham presented diplomas to six seniors at commencement exercises on Friday, May 28 at the MISD gymnasium.

By Sandy Morris The annual summer reading program at the Shackelford County Library, sponsored by the Albany Study Club, kicked off on Monday, June 7 after a year’s absence due to COVID concerns. According to organizer Janna Ledbetter, story hour will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Shirley Mae Welch Caldwell, was born June 23, 1935, to Vernon Wade (“V.W.”) and Mable Karr Welch in Blairstown, Missouri where VW was Superintendent of Schools. When she was nine, Shirley and her family moved to Adrian, Missouri with younger sister Ada Ruth, who survives her. 

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.

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.