By Sam Waller

Albany Methodist Church is conducting its annual pie drive to help the Abilene Salvation Army with its Thanksgiving meal.

Local residents can contribute by bringing homemade or purchased pies to the church’s Fellowship Hall by noon on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

“If people want to bring pies and leave them on the table, I’ll take them over to Abilene before Thanksgiving,” church member Lance Thomas said.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Rehearsals continued this week for the 2022 production of “The Nativity,” scheduled for two performances on Dec. 10 and 11 at the Aztec Theater.

Practices for each scene started two weeks ago.

“The sets will start going up on the stage beginning Sunday and continuing next week,” director Lorna Ayers said. “There is only one rehearsal, and it’s on Monday during Thanksgiving week, but we start back in earnest on Monday, Nov. 28.”

Ayers said that is increasingly important for all cast members to participate when their scene is scheduled.

By Sam Waller

Deadline for two holiday programs conducted by the Albany Ministerial Alliance is rapidly approaching.

Applications for the Alliance’s Believe Tree for Teens and Christmas Basket campaigns are due Friday, Nov. 18.

Believe Tree for Teens provides gifts for approximately 40 junior high and high school students in Shackelford County each year.

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

By Donnie A. Lucas

There is still a little time remaining to help a teacher or staff member at Albany Jr./Sr. High strut their stuff next Tuesday with votes by donation in the Turkey Teacher contest.

Donations which turn into votes will be accepted until the end of the school day this Friday, Nov. 18.

Proceeds from the second annual ­FCCLA project will go to provide Christmas gifts for youth identified by Resource Care who are in need of some help during the holiday season.

More than 20 AISD teachers and staff members are participating.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A “Christmas Bag” will be available Dec. 8-9 to Shackelford County families who normally get monthly commodity food, according to county justice of the peace James Breeden, who oversees the program.

Breeden said last week that Albany and Moran recipients were supposed to have gotten a bag of Thanksgiving foods on Nov. 3-4, but he was not able to distribute the products because they were not available.

By Sam Waller

Members of the Albany FFA chapter competed in the Big Country District Leadership Development Event on Monday, Nov. 14 at Cisco.

“The students did a great job representing Albany FFA,” chapter adviser Chris Beard said.

In the Senior Division, Leddie Leech, Robyn Trail, and Gracie Price competed in Radio, while Kenzie Neve, Kolton Koemel, Abi Hale, and Madelynn Daugherty competed in Quiz. Lainey Cash competed in Senior Creed Reading.

By Sam Waller

Having a Thursday game has moved up the schedule for both the Albany Lions and the Albany Athletic Booster Club.

The Lions will take on the Muenster Hornets at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 (tonight) at Graham’s Newton Field in the area round of the Class 2A Division II playoffs.

Because of that, the community pep rally was held Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Bank Park.

Spirit Drum

Beating of the spirit drum began Wednesday following the pep rally.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Photo packages of flag football players that were ordered last month are now available for pickup at The Albany News, open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Packages that weren’t paid or couldn’t be charged to an existing account can still be purchased and ordered.

The cost of the packages for elementary age sports leagues is $20 plus tax.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chest is continuing to accept donations toward its fundraising goal of $47,000 for the 2022 campaign.

As of Tuesday, Nov. 15, the drive had raised $15,648, up more than $1,900 from the previous week.

The Albany Chest helps meet the needs of two dozen local organizations. Applicants for funds range from local service agencies to programs aimed at youth.

Here is a look at some of the 24 applicants.

Albany Softball

By Donnie A. Lucas

Four new COVID-19 cases were reported last week, as the number of local cases rose slightly but continues to remain low based on information provided by Albany’s two health clinics.

The weekly report by county judge Bob Skelton issued Tuesday reported four positive test results out of nine tests administered at the two local clinics for the period of Nov. 7 through Nov. 11.

There was one positive case out of nine tests for the week of Oct. 31 through Nov. 4.