With only about $500 added to the Albany Chest goal during Christmas week, the 2018 campaign is still short more than $9,000.

Board members are hoping that enough additional donations will come in before the official close of the drive on Dec. 31 to enable them to reach the $42,000 goal.

According to Paige Adair at First National Bank, the total for the Chest drive was $32,767 as of Monday.

Only $530 has been given since last week’s report.

Over a dozen volunteers gathered on Christmas Day to prepare about 75 lunches for local residents, during the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church’s 10th annual Christmas Feast.

Christmas meals were cooked, boxed, and delivered by church members to the people on the Vittles by Vehicle list, and take-out plates were provided for other members of the community who called in requests.

This year, first responders at the sheriff’s office and the EMS were also included, as well as employees at Allsup’s Convenience store – the only retail store open on Tuesday.

The city of Albany will receive a sales tax allotment of $47,741 from the state this December. The amount is up 34.52 percent from the $35,488 payment received in December of 2017.

Payments to date for the 2018 year to the city of Albany are $543,476, up by 2.49 percent from the comparable time last year, when payments of $530,235 had been made.

The city of Moran will receive a net payment of $1,277 this period, for a 6.42 percent decrease from the $1,365 received in December 2017.

The usual Chamber of Commerce luncheon has been cancelled for Friday, Dec. 28, due to the New Year’s holidays.

On Friday, Jan. 4, the 12:00 noon meetings move to The Beehive Restaurant.

With New Year’s Day falling on Tuesday, an earlier deadline has been set for the Jan. 3 issue.

All copy and advertising is due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31 rather than noon on Tuesday, in order for the News staff to get the pre-press work done in a timely manner.

Donations are being rounded up for funding the 2019 Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show, set for Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 at the local show barn.

“The stock show is the largest single extracurricular event our youth participate in,” said association president Bronco Askew. “It is important that the show receives the support of the community and surrounding area in order to remain successful.” 

Directors set Jan. 5 as the fundraising deadline.

Even with this week’s rainfall, local emergency responders remind county residents to make sure that any fireworks used in the celebration of the New Year’s Eve holiday are handled safely and legally. 

Dry conditions in the fall sparked the county commissioners to continue the county burn ban at their regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 17, and as of Wednesday morning, it was still in place.

Albany High senior Xavier Carrillo has completed the requirements to achieve his Eagle Scout award and the Life Scout plans to have his court of honor ceremony this winter.

His Scout troop, Abilene Troop 3, had planned their Winter Court of Honor and Christmas Banquet for Saturday, Dec. 8, but postponed the event due to inclement weather.

The board of trustees at the Old Jail Art Center has asked potential donors to consider contributing now, during the museum’s current ongoing Annual Appeal, to double the effect of their generosity.

“An anonymous donor recognizes the importance and successes of the OJAC and has issued a generous challenge,” said executive director Patrick Kelly. “They will match contributions to the OJAC’s Annual Appeal dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000. Accept this challenge and double the impact of your gift!”

This holiday season, TxDOT is focusing on the issue of impaired driving by encouraging people to save a life by making a plan to get home safely before the holiday festivities begin. 

The Plan While You Can impaired driving campaign encourages drivers statewide to plan for a sober ride before enjoying festivities where drinking may occur. 

The campaign will run through Jan. 1, 2019 and coincides with an enforcement period in which DWI patrols will be at increased capacity looking for drunk drivers on Texas roadways.