By Kathy Thomson

The Moran basketball season ended this week with the high school boys playing in Ranger on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Results from that game and from the Bulldogs’ match in Strawn on Feb. 11 were not available at press time and will be reported next week.

The boys varsity team lost a close game to Gordon on Friday, Feb. 14, falling 38-36.

Lady Bulldogs

The high school girls played Strawn’s Lady Hounds on Tuesday, Feb. 11. 

By Kathy Thomson

American Heart Association representative Beth Lotter came to Moran to give a presentation to preschool through fifth grade classes on Feb. 12.

“Lotter was here for the kick-off of ‘Kids Heart Challenge’,” said elementary teacher Sabrina Swedlund.  

By Kathy Thomson

The fifth and sixth grade youth basketball teams’ season ending tournaments took place on Saturday,  Feb. 8.

Results from three of the four teams were reported in the Feb. 13 edition of The Albany News, however the sixth grade girls’ scores were not available at press time last week, and are reported below.

Sixth Grade Girls

Albany lost to Jim Ned 28-8 in their first game of the tournament.

The monthly country and western musical will continue this month on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Moran Community Center.

Moran singer-songwriter M.L. “Marty” Clifford coordinates the event, which takes place the fourth Saturday of each month.

Proceeds this month will benefit the fire department and the city park, according to Clifford.

There is no cover charge, but snacks will be available.

For more information, call 325-668-5084 or 254-631-9777.

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Independent School District and the Shackelford County hospital district will both hold elections on May 2, as will the Moran city council. 

The other three local governing bodies – Albany city council, Moran school board, and Fort Griffin SUD board, do not have any contested races and are expected to cancel their elections. 

Fourteen new candidates joined various local races before last week’s Friday cut-off.

Archie Jean Elkin Buchanan, age 95, of Carlsbad, NM went into the arms of Jesus on Feb. 8, 2020 at Abilene Regional Hospital. She was born Aug. 31, 1924, in Tonkawa, OK to Albert Buller and Auttie Belle Wade (Buller). 

As a small child they moved around Texas and Oklahoma during the dust bowl for work. During that time, they added three more daughters to their family and finally settled in Coyle, OK where Archie Jean graduated high school with honors in 1942. She then went on to graduate from Oklahoma University with a degree in social work.

Barbara Palmore, age 80 of Albany, passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. 

Graveside funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Albany Cemetery with Rev. Paul Johnston officiating. Interment will follow under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21 at Morehart Mortuary.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city manager Billy Holson proposed a balanced budget of $2,936,850 at Monday’s regular meeting of the city council, and elected officials expect to approve the budget at a March 9 session following the required public hearing.

Carolyn Waller presided over the meeting in the absence of mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery, who was ill.

Budget Proposal

By Melinda L. Lucas

Courthouse security was the main topic of discussion during Monday morning’s meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners and other elected officials.

Precinct 1 commissioner Steve Riley, in light of a recent alleged threat at the local elementary school campus, suggested that elected officials consider taking security steps to protect county employees at the Courthouse.

“It’s a shame we even have to be talking about this, but in this day and time, we have to be cautious,” said Riley.

By Kathy Thomson

A winter storm moved through the area last week, dropping temperatures, cold rain, sleet, and snow.

On Monday, Feb. 3, the high was 73 degrees, while thermometers struggled to reach 37 degrees just one day later. 

Both Albany and Moran school officials cancelled Wednesday classes even before students were released on Tuesday afternoon due to the forecasts of dangerous driving conditions before morning.