Local residents can help the Abilene Salvation Army with Thanksgiving meals by bringing homemade or purchased pies to the First United Methodist fellowship hall by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

FUMC member Lance Thomas said this week that the Salvation Army serves 4,000-6,000 meals a month and is especially busy at Thanksgiving.

“We collected lots of pies a couple of years ago, and they were very grateful,” said Thomas. “I think pies came from every church and many individuals.”

By Kathy Thomson

Once again this year, members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance have organized a Christmas basket drive, and applications for the holiday food boxes are currently available at the Resource Center and at several of the local churches.

Shackelford County residents who wish to be included in the Albany Ministerial Alliance’s annual Christmas basket drive need to turn in their completed applications before Friday, Dec. 6.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Friendship Baptist Church invites everyone to attend their “Harvest Acres” on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The gift and food bazaar will offer baked and craft items for sale. Benches and other larger items will be offered in a silent auction. 

A free-will donation lunch of pulled pork and chips will be served starting at 11:00 a.m., and an evening meal of soups and chili will begin at 5:00 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the community and of all local church congregations are invited to gather Sunday, Nov. 24 for the traditional community-wide Thanksgiving service.

The program is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Albany Church of Christ. 

The community service is sponsored annually by the Albany Ministerial Alliance.

Members of the Alliance will participate in the program, with the message to be delivered by Jeff Turner, pastor of First Baptist Church.

By Kathy Thomson

Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce are getting organized for the upcoming Christmas season with plans that include decorating the downtown area and hosting special events including prize drawings and a lighted parade on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

“We are decorating downtown on Saturday, Nov. 23,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones. “Our annual kick-off to Christmas and lighted Christmas parade will be on Saturday, Nov. 30. We’ll also have prize drawings, music, wine, entertainment, and shopping.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion football team is having to wait another week to attempt to hit the 700-win mark for the program after a surprising 66-20 loss last Friday in Hamlin that broke both a district winning streak and district championship run.

Albany (7-3, 3-1) now advances into the playoffs as the second seed from District 7-2A to face the Miles Bulldogs (7-3, 2-2) on Thursday (tonight) at Brownwood’s Gordon Wood Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students, with the usual passes accepted.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Despite jumping out with a win in the first game, the Lady Lion volleyball team came up short in the area playoff against Miles on Saturday in Eastland.

Albany won the first game 25-14, but then dropped the next three 25-21, 25-16, 25-13, to end the season with an overall record of 21-13.

“The girls showed up ready for Miles,” head volleyball coach M.J. Reneau said. “We started out strong, attacking from every position.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Cubs and Lady Cubs will start the basketball season during the next week, with a couple of squads playing in the Woodson Tournament on Saturday.

The combined boys B team is supposed to play on Saturday in the tournament, along with the seventh grade girls.

The eighth grade girls and both the seventh and eighth grade boys teams will host Cross Plains on Thursday, Nov. 21 starting at 5:30 p.m.

The seventh grade girls are coached by Dakota Fowler this season, while the eighth grade is under Jamie Wilson.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany seventh and eighth grade Cubs ended the season last Thursday with a pair of victories.

The eighth grade team defeated Hamlin’s combined junior high squad 38-15, while the seventh graders shut out Haskell 44-0.

The eighth graders took their opening drive downfield, with Lanxton Viertel capping the series with a 10-yard scoring run. Quarterback Lute Wheeler connected with Cason Fairchild for the two-point play.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The JV Lions finished the football season undefeated with a perfect 10-0 record after shutting out Hamlin last Thursday, 36-0.

Samuel Rosas opened the scoring for the Lions with a 20-yard touchdown run, followed by the two-point run by Caden Price.

London Fuentes capped the next series with a five-yard touchdown reception from Cole Chapman. Barrett Beal caught the two-point pass from Chapman to give the Lions a 16-0 lead.