Last week’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored FamilyFest was declared a success by manager Mary Beth Jones, who is already hard at work on a new Chamber-sponsored Wild West Day planned April 27.

“I’m guessing that we had at least 150 people at the golf course,” Jones said. “The food was great, the weather was beautiful, and kids were running around all over the place having fun. We were really excited, especially with folks from out of town who came and joined the Chamber.” 

Jones said that 16 people signed up for memberships at the event.  

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany this afternoon, March 14, and Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 

Blood drives in Albany have been sponsored by the Kiwanis Club for over 20 years.

There will be no Chamber of Commerce luncheon this Friday, March 15 because of Spring Break and other conflicts, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

The regular weekly meal and meeting will resume on Friday, March 22 in the back room of the Icehouse Restaurant, starting at 12:00 noon.

The Moran junior high and high school track teams traveled to Gordon last Thursday, March 7 to begin their 2019 track season, and each of the MISD teams brought back several ribbons from the event. 

“It was a fantastic meet put on by the Gordon community and coaching staff,” said Moran head coach Harley Ethridge. “All of our participants competed proudly and represented the Moran school and community with exhibitions of sportsmanship and excellent determination.”

The Lions’ varsity track team stepped up their level of competition last week with a fourth place finish at the Breckenridge meet, while the varsity girls were still working short-handed.

Both track coaches are looking forward to the Hamlin track meet on Saturday, which starts at 9:00 a.m. Field and running preliminaries will be on the track in the morning, followed by the running finals starting after the lunch break.

The “weather’s turning pretty and fair,” which means spring can’t be far behind, and Fandangle season is just ahead.

Fandangle practice starts next Monday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Aztec Theater.

Everyone who would like to be in the sampler or in the summer show, veteran or first-timer, is encouraged to come to the rehearsal.

Ayers urged all those interested to mark their calendars and make every practice that they can.

“I am looking forward to seeing everyone again,” she added.

The 2019 Grand Champion Junior Market Barrow at the Houston Stock Show will be chosen at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the NRG Center East Arena and Connor Smith’s pig, already selected Champion Poland China Barrow on Sunday, March 10, will be among only nine animals in the ring vying for the honor.

In addition, the Nancy Smith Elementary student is not the only local youth who has qualified for the Houston Stock Show Premium Auction this year. 

By Kathy Thomson

Students tried out for the chance to become Albany school cheerleaders on Friday, March 8, before spring break.

“We performed in front of three judges, both individually for jumps and cheers, and in small groups for dance and chant,” said new head cheerleader Alayna Koemel. “Then we went in front of the entire student body. Each of our teachers was also asked if we were keeping our grades up in our classes.” 

According to cheer sponsor Lindsey Vaughn, Albany will also have a full JV squad this year.

Technology questions and updates, covering everything from unpaid IT invoices to a new lease for copiers, was the emphasis of Monday’s business session of the Shackelford County commissioners.

The elected officials met with IT consultant Sam Goldsmith, who first introduced a proposal from Hilliard Office Solutions to replace all owned and older leased copiers and printers at the Courthouse and LEC with leased equipment, except for the three units leased just last year.

Randall Palmore started playing the steel guitar almost 30 years ago and the acoustic guitar a decade or so before that, and this spring his musical skills are being acknowledged by his peers, who have selected him to be inducted into the Cowtown Society of Western Music’s “Heroes of Western Swing” at the non-profit’s 21st Annual Western Swing Fest on May 4.