By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H wrapped up 2022 activities with its Christmas party Monday, Dec. 12 at The Feed Store.

Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said 4-Hers conducted a White Elephant gift exchange as well as contributing to a blanket drive being conducted for ResourceCare.

“The gift exchange was super fun,” Bell said. “Some of the kids made things, some brought regifted items. There was lots of laughter and cutting up.”

Bell said 2023 activities will commence Friday, Jan. 6 with a full day of Horse Club programs.

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By Sam Waller

Members of Cub Scout Pack 255 have two community service projects scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17, as well as an ongoing project to send Christmas Cards to nursing home residents in surrounding communities.

The Cub Scouts will start Saturday by helping place wreaths at Albany Cemetery as part of the National Wreaths Across America Day observance.

The Cub Scouts will then go caroling through Albany on Saturday evening.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Local residents and their guests have an opportunity to see a large lighted Christmas village set up to look as much like Albany as possible.

The mother-daughter duo of Cindy and Ashley Parsons have combined their collections on the conference table at H.R. Stasney & Sons office, where Cindy works, using 50 buildings with a large assortment of people, vehicles, and other accessories. Ashley spent a number of hours setting up the display.

By Sam Waller

Albany cowboys Will LeMay and Cort Peterson stepped onto a big stage last week when they competed in the Junior World Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas.

The duo competed in team roping Dec. 5-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Wrangler Arena.

“It was pretty fun going up against some tough competition,” Peterson said. “A lot of the people there were my friends who also qualified. It was great to go and be with them and rope.”

LeMay said the experience was worth the long trip.

“It teaches you how to handle the pressure,” he said.

By Sam Waller

Moran Independent School District will close for the holiday break following classes on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The school district will conduct a staff development day on Monday, Jan. 9 before starting the spring semester on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Classes will be held that Friday, Jan. 13, the last scheduled Friday classes for the school year.

Moran schools will be busy right up to the break, principal Jo Hise said. Two end of course exams were administered this week, while students and staff prepared for holiday programs.

Breakfast With Santa

By Sam Waller

As the end of its fundraising campaign nears, the Albany Chest is still about $20,000 shy of its goal of $47,000 for 2022.

As of Tuesday, Dec. 13, collections stood at $27,423.

“We’re beginning to get concerned,” said Chest vice president Melinda Lucas. “The end of the year and our campaign is less than three weeks away.”

The Albany Chest helps meet the needs of two dozen local organizations. Applicants for funds range from first responders to community resources such as the local library.

Here is a look at some of the 24 applicants.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A new concert series for the spring season hosted by Albany Live at the Aztec Theater was recently announced, with the first performance set for Jan. 14.

Concerts are planned for five out of the first six months of 2023, including a return performance by Paul Cauthen on Saturday, Jan. 14.

“We have already sold all of the reserved seats and have about 80 general admission seats left,” organizer Michaela Smith said.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A project that retiring Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton has been working on was finally realized this week as commissioners and other county workers joined him on the Courthouse Square Tuesday.

The concrete-lined flower beds along the outer sidewalks were cleaned out with the help of two or three pieces of heavy equipment, while dirt and existing plants were removed. New topsoil went in, and by mid-afternoon, the commissioners had broadcast several bags of bluebonnet seeds.

By Donnie A. Lucas

After a four-year absence, the presentation of the Albany Nativity is set for two performances this weekend at the Aztec Theater.

The production, first written and produced in 1939 by Albany playwright Robert Nail, is opening on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m., with a second performance on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2:00 p.m.

As is the tradition, tickets to the performance are free of charge and will be available at the box office starting 45 minutes prior to each show.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Even though the original Dec. 2 deadline has passed, Santa letters will be accepted by The Albany News for a few more days.

Several local teachers have indicated that a large number of children have been out of school with flu, strep throat, and other illnesses during the last couple of weeks, so they are still gathering some letters and essays from their students.

The special section containing Santa letters and short compositions about Christmas, will be published Thursday, Dec. 22.