Several members of the Albany FFA Chapter competed at the Big Country District’s Leadership Development Events on Monday, Nov. 12 at Cisco College.

Seth Hale made up the Albany entry that placed fourth high team in Job Interview.

The team of Aspen Box, Kamryn Browning, and Susan Cormack placed sixth in Radio Broadcasting.

Alayna Koemel competed in Senior Creed Speaking, earning sixth place for the Albany team.

Albany’s Greenhand Quiz team placed 10th in district. The team members were Aspen Box, Tyler Everitt, Clara Holson, and Luke Ivy.

Stock show swine projects need to validated next week, and the Shackelford County validation committee, which includes ag instructor Chris Beard, county extension agent Michaela Bradford, and two local representatives from the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association will be at the Albany High School ag farm on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, Nov. 13 and 14, and will work as a mobile unit, traveling across the county on the afternoons of Tuesday, Nov. 13 and Wednesday, Nov. 14.

An early deadline has been set for the Nov. 22 edition of The Albany News due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

All advertising and news copy must be received no later than noon on Monday, Nov. 19. 

The usual deadline for the weekly paper is Tuesday at 12:00 noon. It is being moved up a day in order to adjust the mailing schedule.

The 1980 romantic drama Urban Cowboy will be shown at the Aztec Theater this Saturday, Nov. 10 as the final movie of the 2018 Aztec Reel Deal movie series for season ticket holders, or for $6 per ticket for those that prefer to pick and choose which movies to attend.

Music, shopping, drawings for Albany Bucks, caroling, hot food, and a lighted parade are just part of the plans for the afternoon and evening of Saturday, Nov. 24 in downtown Albany. 

“Special activities will start with live music downtown at 4:00 p.m.,” said Albany Chamber of Commerce office manager Mary Beth Jones. “If you are willing to sing a Christmas song or two, please call me at 325-762-2525. We are hoping to have a variety of singers.”

Matt Stapp will be on stage from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Chili Supper

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $56,730 from the state this October. The amount is down 15.54 percent from the $67,174 payment received in October of 2017.

Payments to date for the 2018 year to the city of Albany are $445,471, down by 2.28 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $455,873 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,411 this period, for a 17.33 percent increase from the $1,203 received in October 2017.

Friends of Fort Griffin, a local non-profit whose primary purpose is to help preserve and restore the original buildings at Fort Griffin State Historical Site, was recently selected as the recipient of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission 2019 Friends Alliance Award for Stewardship. 

“It was a big surprise to me, and a great honor,” said member Steve Waller. “It is very gratifying to be recognized by the Historical Commission for all that we do.”

Art enthusiasts are invited to the Old Jail Art Center this Saturday evening for a chance to purchase paintings, porcelains, sculptures, stoneware, pottery, etchings, and photographs from among the 69 lots contributed to the museum’s 14th biennial auction. 

Funds raised will benefit the Old Jail’s Acquisitions Fund and the conservation of the permanent collection, according to executive director Patrick Kelly.

Christmas gift ideas are quickly filling store shelves, and ResourceCare employees are hoping that donations will allow them to share holiday presents with all of the local children, teens, and seniors that request their assistance this yuletide season.

Toys for Tots

Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty coordinates the local Toys for Tots campaign, which provides gifts for Albany children ages zero to 11, working through the Resource Center. 

The annual Albany Chest campaign is underway, and donations totalling $13,782 had been deposited into the account by Monday, Nov. 5, leaving $28,218 still needed to reach this year’s goal of $42,000. 

Local residents are reminded that everyone is not expected to give large amounts.