Rodney Alexander, age 51 of Albany, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. Graveside funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 4 at the Albany Cemetery with Pastor Paul Johnston officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.

By Donnie A. Lucas Donations picked up over the last two weeks to fund the annual Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show but more are needed with the show  set to open in just three weeks on Jan. 23-25.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lady Lions won a pair of games in the week before the Christmas break and have played several matches during the last week as basketball action resumed.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lion basketball teams closed out the fall semester with a set of games in Comanche on Dec. 20, with the varsity falling short while the two JV squads posted victories.

By Donnie A. Lucas Local fifth and sixth graders who signed up for local youth basketball teams have started practicing in preparation for the first tournament of the season on Jan. 11.

By Melinda L. Lucas Over a dozen volunteers gathered on Christmas Day to prepare about 100 lunches for local residents during the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church’s 11th annual Christmas Feast.

By Melinda L. Lucas Students and staff of Albany Junior-Senior High School and Nancy Smith Elementary School will be back in class on Tuesday, Jan. 7 to start the second semester and the fourth sixth weeks of the 2019-2020 school year.  Teachers return for a staff development day at 8:30 a.m.

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany Thursday afternoon, Jan. 2. Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

With last week’s usual Chamber of Commerce luncheon cancelled because of the holidays, the weekly event will be back on the calendar for this Friday, Jan. 3, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones. The 12:00 noon meetings move to The Beehive Restaurant for January and February.

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon next Wednesday, Jan. 8, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.