By Melinda L. Lucas

The phone number for volunteers to call if they want to help to lay wreaths on local veterans’ graves later this month was incorrect in last week’s paper.

Those who want to participate in the Dec. 18 National Wreaths Across America Day are asked to contact Saundra Nobles at 325-280-7725.

This is the second year that the Albany community has honored veterans buried at the Albany cemetery. Melinda and Henry Musselman have spearheaded the project, with Nobles’ assistance.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the November distribution of the commodity food program are Thursday, Dec. 2 and Friday, Dec. 3.

Certified families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 2. 

Albany families or individuals who are on the list can pick up their commodities at the rear door of the JP office next to the courthouse from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

By Sam Waller

Albany postmaster Laura Gilbreath is encouraging U.S. Postal Service customers to get a jump on mailing packages to ensure deliveries of Christmas presents before Christmas Day.

Gilbreath said the Albany Post Office will maintain its regular hours through Dec. 23.

“We will be closing at noon on Christmas Eve,” she said.

Gilbreath said packages posted by Dec. 17 should arrive at their destination before the holiday.

“After that, we can’t guarantee that packages will get there on time,” she said.

By Sam Waller

Albany Live will present the first concert of its live music series on Wednesday, Dec. 8, with Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis performing a holiday-themed program at the Aztec Theater.

Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the performance to start at 7:30 p.m.

“It should be a great holiday show,” Albany Live president Michaela Smith said. “Bruce and Kelly will be playing some of their music and also some holiday music. We’re really excited to have them for our first show.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

No new candidates started11 the filing process for county posts since last week, with the filing deadline set for Monday, Dec. 13 at 6:00p.m.

County and district Clerk Cheri Hawkins said Tuesday that a couple of the candidates who have taken petitions to have them signed by registered voters in lieu of the filing fee are ready to have the signatures verified.

By Sam Waller

For the second year in a row, the elements were a factor in the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s Small Town Saturday celebration, but this time it didn’t rain on their parade.

Twelve floats participated in the Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday despite damp conditions.

“Considering it was raining all day and misting during the parade, I thought we had a fantastic turnout,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said.

While the parade went off as planned, Jones said some concessions had to be made to the conditions.

By Melinda L. Lucas

While the days of poring over a catalog of Christmas toys are long gone, children are still making lists for Santa.

The Albany News will be printing Santa letters and holiday essays in the Christmas issue to be published on Thursday, Dec. 23. 

Albany and Moran students will be writing letters at school which will be submitted to the News by their teachers. 

Children at other local facilities, such as First Love Day Care, also will be assisted by their instructors in writing their Santa letters.

Albany News publisher Donnie Lucas announced this week that there will not be an edition published on Dec. 30 during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

“We’ve decided to take that week off and be able to enjoy our family more during the holidays,” said Lucas. 

There have only been a few times in 45 years of Lucas ownership that there hasn’t been a weekly paper.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s Johnnie Hise’s sewing ability resulted in a blue ribbon at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in September, and the product of that effort will soon be making an appearance at public events in Strawn.

Susan Hurley of Strawn, formerly of Moran and Albany, purchased material and a sewing pattern in 2019 for a Mrs. Santa costume from Cheryl Whitmore. Whitmore and her husband, Mike, were in the process of moving from Albany to Maine.

By Sam Waller

The Moran FFA meat judging team recently finished 10th  at a contest  at Texas Tech.

Moran had the best finish among teams from the Big Country District and was second among Area IV teams behind Seymour.

Team members were Cotten Campbell, Allen Hebel, Ellis Hise, Johnnie Hise and Hannah Rogers.