By Sandy Morris Students at the Albany Independent School District inched closer to their Christmas break with early dismissals at 12:30 p.m. beginning yesterday and continuing today, Thursday, Dec. 17 and Friday, Dec. 18. Students will be off for the Christmas break from Monday, Dec.

By Sandy Morris There are three weeks left in the annual Albany Chest campaign, and although the drive is now more than halfway to the top of the “thermometer,” contributions are badly needed in order to meet the 2020 fundraising goal of $41,000.

By Sandy Morris With the holidays just around the corner, holiday schedules are being announced. City Hall The Albany City Hall will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday.  The city also will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.

Carolyn Guinn Waller, age 68 of Albany, passed away at home on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. A memorial service was held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at the outdoor pavilion of the Albany Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Melton-Kitchens Funeral Home of Breckenridge.

Republic Services, trash pickup contractor for the City of Albany, will run its regular schedule for the week of Christmas. Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 will run as scheduled.

By Sandy Morris The 11th annual Christmas Feast will be held Friday, Dec. 25 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church fellowship hall and ending at 1:30 p.m.  The dinner is still free to the public, and anyone is welcome to receive food.

By Sandy Morris The Albany Chamber of Commerce continues to stay busy promoting the local community and businesses as Christmas draws nearer. Memorial Ornaments Residents are reminded that it isn’t too late to purchase a personalized ornament for the Shackelford County Memorial Tree.

By Sandy Morris With Christmas a week away, local churches have announced their traditional Christmas activities scheduled for the holiday. First Christian  First Christian Church will hold a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight communion service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24.

By Sandy Morris With the help of local volunteers, members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance distributed almost all of the requested Christmas baskets on Sunday, Dec. 13.

By Sandy Morris Local citizens still have time to “adopt” a local teacher from a Christmas tree sponsored by the AJHS Academic Booster Club as the deadline has been extended.