By Donnie A. Lucas The combined seventh and eighth grade Cubs hosted their final home game last week, sending Santo’s junior high home with a 33-6 loss. The Cubs will combine again this week for the last game of the season in Cross Plains. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lady Lion basketball team will start the season on Saturday in Coleman with scrimmages against the Lady Bluecats and Veribest. The action will start at 9:00 a.m. against Coleman, followed by a 10:00 a.m. tip-off for the scrimmage with Veribest.

By Sandy Morris The last “Fifth Quarter” event of the 2020 season will be held at The Feed Store directly after the Cross Plains game this Friday, Oct. 30. First Baptist Church will host the event for the students and will serve Subway sandwiches.

By Sandy Morris The Moran PTO will sponsor Trunk or Treat on Friday, Oct. 30.  The event will be held from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the front parking lot of the school. Everyone is invited to participate.

By Donnie A. Lucas The JV Lion football team will play in Tuscola Thursday (today) against the Jim Ned JV with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. The JV was originally without a game this week since Cross Plains isn’t fielding a JV team, but the substitute game was arranged by coaches several days ago.

By Donnie A. Lucas Four Albany cross country runners are scheduled to compete in the district meet today in Anson. Originally set for Wednesday, the meet was moved to Thursday (today) because of the weather, and will still be run at the Anson Golf Course.

By Donnie A. Lucas Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election and three local races that were postponed earlier in the year due to COVID-19 coronavirus concerns has been brisk with just over 30 percent of all registered voters in the county casting ballots. Early voting opened on Tuesday, Oct.

By Donnie A. Lucas Albany High School seniors Wesley Estridge and Torie Fuentes were crowned 2020 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime last Friday night in the Albany Lions’ 61-0 win over the Ranger Bulldogs.

By Melinda L. Lucas Albany ISD administrators reviewed updates about the district’s Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP), as well as looking at possible changes in remote learning during a board meeting on Monday, Oct. 19.

By Melinda L. Lucas All Shackelford County 4-H and FFA youth who plan to exhibit lambs, goats, or heifers at the county show or any other shows this school year need to get their animals validated next week. Lambs and goats can be validated at the ag barn starting at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26.