Several Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth graders and Albany Junior High students placed in the middle school division of the University Interscholastic League speaking events meet held last Thursday, Dec. 6 in Hawley. 

Other schools in District 8-2A are Haskell, Hawley, Roscoe, Cross Plains, and Stamford.

The speaking events portion of the UIL district event will be included with this week’s academic meet to determine overall school points. 

Results for those who placed first through sixth in the middle school speaking events are listed below:

Albany Independent School District will break for the Christmas holidays at noon next Friday, Dec. 21, and early releases on both Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 19 and 20 should help everyone survive the five-day-long week and make it to the anticipated vacation.

Next week, holiday celebrations are planned at the elementary school while end of semester tests will be given at the secondary campus.

“Semester exams are currently scheduled for Dec. 19, 20, and 21,” said AJSH principal Edward Morales. “High school students will be allowed to eat in the gym foyer during finals.”

Closet Angels will be closed over the Christmas holidays so that volunteers can take a break and spend time with their families, according to director Lori Reames.

“If the school is closed, we close as well, so that volunteers can spend time with their kids and grandkids,” said Reames. 

The local clothing ministry will be open on Monday, Dec. 17, and Wednesday, Dec. 19, before closing for the holidays. They will be closed until Jan. 7.

Updates are posted on the nonprofit’s Facebook page.

The popular annual Mr. Christmas Tree pageant will take place at The Feed Store next Monday evening, Dec. 17, at 7:00 p.m.

“The four contestants will have a chance to put up signs and do a little decorating on Sunday after we deliver the Christmas Baskets,” said Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins.

No one is allowed to compete more than once, so a selection committee helps to determine the candidates. 

Nominated for the honor this year are senior Derek Isbell, junior Gregori Mikeska, sophomore William Webb, and freshman Monte Cauble.

Make-your-own spice sets, fragrant candles, and customized Christmas decorations are among the various choices available for patrons to create at the Old Jail Art Center’s Make & Take holiday gift workshop this year.

The come and go workshops are open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 15.

“Make a variety of affordable, creative, and modern handmade gifts you would actually want to receive,” said education director Erin Whitmore. “Everyone is invited to attend. Pay only for the projects you make.”

Because of the busy holiday schedule, the Shackelford County Resource Center does not host a senior luncheon in December. 

The next senior luncheon will be held on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Youth Center beginning at 11:00 a.m.

“The theme for January will be ‘Game Night’,” said RC program assistant Ragan Riley. “Everyone is encouraged to wear their game gear. We will be playing different games from the 50s and 60s.”

The event is held eight times a year, the third Friday of every month from September through May, with the exception of December.

Because Christmas falls on Tuesday this year, Republic Services, trash pickup contractor for the City of Albany, will run on a slightly different schedule for the week of Christmas.

Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up on Tuesday, Dec. 25 will change to Wednesday, Dec. 26. Trash service will continue to be one day later than normal through the holiday week for residential and business containers, Dec. 26 - 29. Scheduled large containers will receive service on the normal day from Dec. 26 through the end of the week.

The Oil Belt District banquet and district talent contest were held last Monday, Dec. 3 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene and local FFA members were in attendance.

“We didn’t have many members who were able to go, with all the other activities that are taking place right now,” said FFA advisor Chris Beard. “But Seth Hale, who is a district officer, helped run the meeting, and Alayna Koemel served as the Albany FFA voting delegate.”

Albany was presented with several LDE award banners that were won during the Leadership Development Events this fall.

Parents who applied for Toys for Tots should have picked up their kids’ presents at the Youth Center this Wednesday.

“We sorted the gifts by families, and had them ready for parents to pick them up,” said Resource Care case worker Makenzie Marshall. “We don’t wrap them. We want the parents to be able to see what their kids are getting and for them to wrap the presents themselves.”

Marshall added that anyone who was unable to come by during the designated pick-up time can contact the Resource Center at 325-762-2447 to arrange to get their gifts.

The Albany Lions defeated Hamlin 41-28 in the quarterfinals last week, and the Albany Athletic Booster Club invites local fans to continue showing their belief in the 2018 Lion varsity football team by joining the community send-off this Thursday morning, Dec. 13, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bank Park.

The Lions are headed for Plainview to battle the Gruver Greyhounds in the semifinals of the UIL 2-A division II football playoffs. The game kicks off at Greg Sherwood Field at 6:00 p.m., and the winner of the bout will advance to the state finals.