By Sam WallerShackelford County FFA and 4-H members are in the final month of getting animals ready for the county stock show, and members of the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association are doing their parts to make the event a success.Members of the association met Dec. 7.

Moran ISD offices and schools are closed for the holiday break.Teachers and staff will return to work on Monday, Jan. 3, with a staff development day.Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 4.School holidays are scheduled for Monday, Jan, 17, and Friday, Jan. 21. The end of the six weeks is Friday, Feb. 11.

By Sam WallerAfter a slow fall dove season, the outlook for the winter season is also disappointing for outdoorsmen, according to game warden Jacob Mort.The winter season opened Dec. 17 and runs through Jan. 2.“Everything as far as hunting migratory birds is below average this year,” Mort said.

By Donnie A. LucasOver 525 Christmas wreaths were placed on the graves of local veterans at the Albany Cemetery last Saturday during the second annual observance of Wreaths Across America Day.

By Sam WallerCub Scout Pack 255 of Albany made a contribution of winter clothing items Monday to the Closet Angels ministry.Closet Angels director Lori Reames said the Pack has made an annual donation for several years.“It couldn’t hit at a better time,” Reames said.

By Sam WallerThe annual Albany Chest campaign is in its final days, and the drive is still almost $12,000 short of the 2021 goal of $46,000 set by the directors.

The Feed Store will be closed through the rest of the year, reopening when school resumes on Tuesday, Jan. 4, according to executive director Tisha Wilkins.“We usually don’t have many activities during school breaks,” she said.

By Sam WallerSeveral Albany churches will conduct special services as part of their Christmas celebrations this weekend.Trinity LutheranTrinity Lutheran Church will have a Christmas Eve Children’s service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24.A Christmas Day worship service will be held at 10:30 a.m.

By Sam WallerThe Albany Ministerial Alliance distributed 119 food packages for its Christmas Basket campaign last Sunday afternoon.Ministerial Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins said there were still three unclaimed baskets at The Feed Store as of Tuesday.

By Donnie A. LucasThe number of positive COVID-19 cases slowed over the last week, with a total of just nine positives out of 23 tests administered, according to a report issued by county judge Bob Skelton.The testing figures are for the week of Dec. 13-17.