The junior high and elementary University Interscholastic League district meet originally planned for Thursday, Dec. 13 in Hawley was rescheduled to eliminate a conflict with the state semifinal football game between Albany and Gruver in Plainview that same day.

Several Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth graders and Albany Junior High students placed in the middle school division of the University Interscholastic League speaking events meet held last Thursday, Dec. 6 in Hawley.

Albany Independent School District will break for the Christmas holidays at noon next Friday, Dec. 21, and early releases on both Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 19 and 20 should help everyone survive the five-day-long week and make it to the anticipated vacation.

Closet Angels will be closed over the Christmas holidays so that volunteers can take a break and spend time with their families, according to director Lori Reames. “If the school is closed, we close as well, so that volunteers can spend time with their kids and grandkids,” said Reames.

The popular annual Mr. Christmas Tree pageant will take place at The Feed Store next Monday evening, Dec. 17, at 7:00 p.m. “The four contestants will have a chance to put up signs and do a little decorating on Sunday after we deliver the Christmas Baskets,” said Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins.

Make-your-own spice sets, fragrant candles, and customized Christmas decorations are among the various choices available for patrons to create at the Old Jail Art Center’s Make & Take holiday gift workshop this year.

Because of the busy holiday schedule, the Shackelford County Resource Center does not host a senior luncheon in December.

Because Christmas falls on Tuesday this year, Republic Services, trash pickup contractor for the City of Albany, will run on a slightly different schedule for the week of Christmas.

The Oil Belt District banquet and district talent contest were held last Monday, Dec. 3 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene and local FFA members were in attendance.

Parents who applied for Toys for Tots should have picked up their kids’ presents at the Youth Center this Wednesday. “We sorted the gifts by families, and had them ready for parents to pick them up,” said Resource Care case worker Makenzie Marshall. “We don’t wrap them.