By Melinda L. Lucas

The start of a new year is a time for celebrating, and local emergency responders remind county residents to make sure that any fireworks used in the festivities are handled safely and legally. 

Dry conditions and high winds have sparked the county commissioners to continue the county burn ban, with several wildfires fought by local and area volunteers in the past month. 

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County FFA and 4-H members are in the final month of getting animals ready for the county stock show, and members of the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association are doing their parts to make the event a success.

Members of the association met Dec. 7. to discuss plans for the show, which is scheduled for Jan. 20-22 at the county show barn.

Moran ISD offices and schools are closed for the holiday break.

Teachers and staff will return to work on Monday, Jan. 3, with a staff development day.

Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

School holidays are scheduled for Monday, Jan, 17, and Friday, Jan. 21. The end of the six weeks is Friday, Feb. 11.

By Sam Waller

After a slow fall dove season, the outlook for the winter season is also disappointing for outdoorsmen, according to game warden Jacob Mort.

The winter season opened Dec. 17 and runs through Jan. 2.

“Everything as far as hunting migratory birds is below average this year,” Mort said. “It’s been pretty sporadic. There was a week or two there during the first part of October that was pretty good, but other than that, it’s just been a below-average year.”

Mort said a number of factors have contributed to the lower bird count.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Over 525 Christmas wreaths were placed on the graves of local veterans at the Albany Cemetery last Saturday during the second annual observance of Wreaths Across America Day.

More than 50 volunteers and another 15 to 20 family members of veterans spread out to place the fresh green wreaths with red bows on local graves. This is the second year Albany has participated in the program.

By Sam Waller

Cub Scout Pack 255 of Albany made a contribution of winter clothing items Monday to the Closet Angels ministry.

Closet Angels director Lori Reames said the Pack has made an annual donation for several years.

“It couldn’t hit at a better time,” Reames said. “This is a super big value to us.”

Reames said this year’s donation included lightweight jackets, winter hats, gloves, and socks.

“They gave us a wide array of winter accessories,” she said. “There was stuff for  everybody – men and women, boys and girls, adults and children.”

By Sam Waller

The annual Albany Chest campaign is in its final days, and the drive is still almost $12,000 short of the 2021 goal of $46,000 set by the directors.

According to Chest treasurer Paige Adair, $34,291 had been deposited as of Tuesday, substantially more than a couple of weeks ago largely because of a generous donation.

The Feed Store will be closed through the rest of the year, reopening when school resumes on Tuesday, Jan. 4, according to executive director Tisha Wilkins.

“We usually don’t have many activities during school breaks,” she said. “We’ll kick off the Tuesday lunches again on the first Tuesday that school’s in session.”

By Sam Waller

Several Albany churches will conduct special services as part of their Christmas celebrations this weekend.

Trinity Lutheran

Trinity Lutheran Church will have a Christmas Eve Children’s service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24.

A Christmas Day worship service will be held at 10:30 a.m.

First Christian

First Christian Church will hold a special Christmas Eve service Friday at 6:00 p.m. with a Texas Country Christmas. 

By Sam Waller

The Albany Ministerial Alliance distributed 119 food packages for its Christmas Basket campaign last Sunday afternoon.

Ministerial Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins said there were still three unclaimed baskets at The Feed Store as of Tuesday.

“Everyone else’s was delivered on Sunday, or they came in to pick them up Monday,” Wilkins said.

The annual program strives to provide a box filled with ingredients needed for a traditional holiday meal to families in need of assistance.