The News will be printing Santa letters and holiday essays in the Christmas issue to be published on Thursday, Dec. 22.

Students at Albany and Moran schools will be writing letters at school, which will be submitted to the News office by their teachers.

Children at several other local facilities, such as First Love Day Care,  will also be assisted by their instructors in writing letters to Santa.

However, parents of any other preschool or home schooled students who would like to submit letters may bring them to the newspaper office by Friday, Dec. 2.

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD will be on Thanksgiving break all next week.

The break begins with the end of classes on Thursday, Nov. 17. Classes will resume Monday, Nov. 28.

Moran held its annual Thanksgiving meal Wednesday, Nov. 16, with parents invited to have lunch with their students.

District Contest

Moran FFA students competed at the Big Country District Leadership Development Event on Monday, Nov. 14 at Cisco.

“It was a great contest,” Moran FFA adviser Minnie Denson said. “I’m extremely proud of these kids.”

Members of the Moran meat judging team stay focused during their first contest of the year. They finished fourth in the team standings, with an individual in the top 10.

By Donnie A. Lucas

All Shackelford County veterans and their guests are invited to join local students for a Veterans Day celebration on Friday, Nov. 11 at the Nancy Smith Elementary cafeteria.

The program will start at 9:00 a.m.

Several patriotic songs will be presented by music students in grades 2-4. according to music teacher Danna Vaughan.

About 100 invitations have been sent to local veterans, but all veterans are urged to attend the celebration even if they did not receive an invitation.

By Melinda L. Lucas

In Albany, mention of the “Bazaar” means the holidays are almost here, and this weekend, members of the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church will once again host the annual event.

The Presbyterian Bazaar has a storied history originating in 1900, missing fewer than a handful of years due to wars and pandemics.

The longtime tradition unofficially marks the beginning of the holiday season in Albany.

The doors will open at 10:00 a.m. to the Country Store, with the turkey and dressing lunch starting at 11:00 a.m.

Country Store

By Melinda L. Lucas

A large turnout of Shackelford County voters, very close to the 2018 record for a midterm election and representing more than 53 percent of registered voters, showed overwhelming support for Republican candidates in state offices.

There was a huge gap in all races, with Republicans earning as much as 90 to 93 percent of the local vote in many areas.

Statewide percentages were much closer in most races.

All county and district candidates ran unopposed, although some had opposition in the March primary.

By Melinda L. Lucas

An early deadline has been set for the Nov. 24 edition of The Albany News due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and print schedule.

All advertising, including classified ads, and news copy must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 21.

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

By Melinda L. Lucas

The final blood drive of the year is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Nov. 17.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.

The center depends on volunteer donors to supply 100 percent of blood used at 17 area hospitals.

Albany Kiwanis Club blood drives are scheduled roughly every eight weeks throughout the year, so the first one of 2023 is expected to take place during the second week of January.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chest is moving steadily toward its fundraising goal of $47,000.

As of Monday, Nov. 7, $13,678 had been raised, more than doubling the total of the week before.

The Albany High School Student Council contributed $1,702.62, the most it has ever raised, through its  Trick or Treat for Change campaign.

The Albany Chest helps meet the needs of two dozen local organizations. Applicants for funds range from youth sports leagues to senior citizens groups.

Here is a look at some of the applicants.

Albany Volunteer

By Donnie A. Lucas

The annual lighted Christmas Parade won’t be led throughout downtown Albany on Saturday, Nov. 26 by Rudolf or any of the other reindeer this year. Instead, officials have announced that “Larry the UPS Guy” will head up the event as the official parade marshal.

The event is an Albany tradition on the Saturday following Thanksgiving and will include drawings afterwards for $2,500 in Albany Bucks.