By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany Academic Booster Club is once again inviting the community to “adopt” a member of the school staff through its Christmas Wish List program.

Sponsored by the “Rise and Shine” committee, the event enables local residents who want to participate to access wish lists that teachers and staff have been asked to make of items they would like to have for their classrooms or offices.

A number of wish lists by staff members from both campuses are posted on a “SignUpGenius.com” account for the public to select gifts for specific teachers.

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. 22.

Albany and Moran students are 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.

By Sam Waller

Local churches are making plans for Christmas services and programs as the holiday draws near.

With Christmas on a Sunday for the first time since 2016, several local congregations are making plans for their celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Plans for many traditional events had not been finalized at press time but will be publicized as information is received.

Trinity Lutheran

Trinity Lutheran began Wednesday Advent Services on Nov. 30 and will continue the special services on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.

By Sam Waller

The Big Country East Fellowship of Christian Athletes is sponsoring a “Praise & Worship Rally” at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at The Feed Store.

Junior high and high school students from Albany, Moran, Baird, Cisco, Breckenridge, Woodson, Throckmorton, and Newcastle are invited.

Organizer Paul Johnston said the event will be similar to the Saw You at the Pole rally held earlier this fall.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chest drew slightly closer to its fundraising goal of $47,000 over the past week.

As of Tuesday, Nov. 29, the fund had collected $16,047.61 for the 2022 campaign, up less than $500 from the last report two weeks ago.

“We’re hoping that this slow-down is just temporary, that donors were just busy during the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Chest board vice president Melinda Lucas. “Please consider giving sometime in the next month. We would really like to give the applicants what they need at the end of the 2022 campaign.”

By Sam Waller

The deadline for providing items to Believe Tree for Teens has been extended to Tuesday, Dec. 13, according to Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins, with the Believe Trees to be placed in churches this weekend.

Wilkins had originally planned to have the trees in place by Nov. 26, but several late applications came in last week.

Gifts should be unwrapped and include gift receipts if possible and the teen number labeled on the bag.

By Sam Waller

With the Albany Lion football playoff game changed to Saturday, Nov. 26, the annual Toys for Tots meal during Small Town Saturday had a smaller than expected crowd but still did good business, Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty said.

Assisted by four Moran National Honor Society students, Beaty again provided chopped barbecue sandwiches before the start of the Lighted Christmas Parade.

“It was not as big a crowd because a lot of people were at the game, which I understand,” Beaty said. “But it wasn’t too bad. We raised a few hundred dollars.”

By Sam Waller

Preparations for the winter stock show season continue with the conclusion of swine validation and entry deadline for major shows on Thursday, Dec. 1 (today).

Albany FFA adviser Chris Beard said the next phase is already underway with rabbit validation and delivery of chickens Friday, Dec. 2.

“We have been validating rabbits for the county show,” Beard said. “We will try to finish that up by Sunday, Dec. 11 so all entries will be final for the county show.”

The Shackelford County Youth & Livestock Show is set for Jan. 26-28.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H is gearing up for a busy December with practice, clinics, and a Christmas party on the schedule

Up first is a mock Food Challenge at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at The Feed Store. The event is to help 4-Hers prepare for the District 7 Food Challenge on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in San Angelo.

By Sam Waller

Applications for the Albany Ministerial Alliance’s Christmas Basket program are down slightly this year, according to Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins.

Wilkins said the Alliance received 92 applications this year, the first time since 2018 the number has been below 100. In 2021, 119 baskets were delivered, the most ever.

The annual food drive strives to provide boxes filled with the ingredients needed for a traditional holiday meal to families in need of assistance.