ByDonnie A. Lucas
Albany residents are invited to get into the holiday spirit on Sunday, Dec. 11 at the annual Christmas concert for the Albany school bands.
The performances will be divided into three sessions, with the high school band, which includes eighth graders, taking the stage at the high school auditorium starting at 4:00 p.m.
The seventh grade will follow with a concert at 4:45 p.m. and the sixth graders will play at 5:30 p.m.
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 Melinda L. Lucas
Pick-up dates for the November distribution of the commodity food program are Thursday, Dec. 8 and Friday, Dec. 9.
In addition to the regular foods, families who pick up next week will receive an extra “Christmas Bag” to make up for the “Thanksgiving Bags” that were scheduled to go out last month.
County justice of the peace James Breeden, who oversees the program, said that products were not available for the usual holiday bags in early November, so he is giving Christmas foods to make up for it.
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.
