By Melinda L. Lucas

Everyone is invited to join in traditional Italian Christmas activities at the Natale family festival at the Old Jail Art Center on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.

“Buon Natale means ‘Merry Christmas’ in Italian,” explained educational coordinator Molly Merck. 

She invited visitors to enjoy traditional Italian sweets like pandoro, panettone, and hot chocolate during the event, which will be held in the Stasney Center for Education.

By Kathy Thomson

The annual Albany Chest campaign is in its final days, and the drive is still $15,880 short of the 2019 goal of $42,000 set by the directors. 

According to Chest treasurer Paige Adair, $26,120 had been deposited as of Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Over 50 percent of the targeted amount was collected during the first three weeks of the campaign,  but less than $2,000 has been given in each of the last three weeks, leaving 38 percent of the goal to be raised in the few short weeks before the end of 2019.

News readers and advertisers are asked to be aware that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of Christmas.

“There will not be an edition on Thursday, Dec. 26,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “We hope we’ve given everyone ample notice that we’re going to take that week off to spend time with our families.”

This is only the second time in 43 years of Lucas ownership that there hasn’t been a weekly paper.

By Kathy Thomson

Shackelford County senior adults (60 and up) are invited to attend the Shackelford County Resource Center’s December senior luncheon to be held on Friday, Dec. 13 at the Youth Center beginning at 11:15 a.m.

The Albany Church of Christ will be hosting the meal this month, according to program assistant Ragan Riley.

The menu for the December luncheon is baked ham, mashed potatoes, pea salad, and cranberries, with a Christmas theme.

Bingo, with prizes for the winners, will be played after the meal.

By Melinda L. Lucas

After a lengthy discussion, Albany volunteer firemen were given permission to spend $30,000 in designated funds for an auxiliary vehicle. The action came during a regular monthly session on Monday night, Dec. 9 at City Hall.

Fire chief Kyle Tischler and assistant chief Travis Gardenhire presented five bids for pre-owned vehicles – four Suburbans and one crew cab pickup with a camper cover – to replace a 1987 Suburban that is no longer reliable.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners approved a bid to repair a bridge on County Road 179 in Precinct 2 during a regular meeting on Monday morning, Dec. 9.

Shahan Concrete of Breckenridge agreed to replace the “cracked skirting” on the Caldwell Lane bridge for a total cost of $12,000. Owner Randy Shahan expects to finish the job by mid-February.

By Kathy Thomson

This year the Albany Chamber of Commerce sponsored a children’s coloring contest for first through sixth grade students at Nancy Smith Elementary School.

Students colored a Christmas scene selected by their teacher from among the options submitted by the Chamber.

“We awarded one $10 gift certificate to the winner from each of the participating grades at the elementary school,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

Winners are listed below:

FIRST GRADE

Lori Warren’s class – Anna Alexander

By Melinda L. Lucas

The public is invited to the Fort Griffin State Historical Site this Saturday to go fishing for rainbow trout in what is expected to be sunny weather, tour the fort, and then stay to view the night sky through the high powered telescopes of several astronomers.

By Kathy Thomson

Members of the AJSH Academic Booster Club have formed a “Rise and Shine” committee to bless, encourage, and uplift the faculty and staff of the Albany Independent School District, and this holiday season they are inviting everyone to assist them in their efforts by “adopting” a local teacher.

“The committee has created a teacher/staff Christmas wish list event,” said co-chair Heather Brown. “This is a great opportunity to encourage the teachers/staff who love, care for, and educate our students each and every day.”

By Kathy Thomson

Albany Junior High seventh grader Will LeMay competed in the Tuf Cooper Jr. World Finals in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Dec. 11. 

He qualified in the 12-and-under tie down event by accumulating points throughout the year at events in Texas and Oklahoma. 

Along the way, LeMay won four saddles and five buckles at the American Junior Rodeo Association’s National Finals where he earned the year-end championships in tie-down roping, ribbon roping, optional roping, and all-around.