By Melinda L. Lucas

The official number of active county-wide cases is still under 20, and the county continues to qualify for an exemption from occupancy reductions and other state mandates, even as the Shackelford County Health Clinic (SCHC) staff reports a significant number of recent positive COVID-19 tests. 

By Sandy Morris

Veterans buried in the Albany Cemetery were honored during a wreath-laying ceremony held last Saturday morning, with a large group of volunteers and family members on hand to help place a total of 531 wreaths.

The event was held in conjunction with the National Wreaths Across America Day, in which similar services are coordinated across the United States, at sea, and abroad, to coincide with the main observance at Arlington National Cemetery. 

By Sandy Morris

Christmas is here, and as they have for the past 11 years, volunteers from Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church will make sure that no one in Albany misses out on the chance to enjoy a holiday meal on Christmas Day.

Church members are preparing a traditional dinner of fried turkey, brisket, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and dessert.

One of the organizers, Tamara Trail said the dinner is free to the public, and anyone is welcome, but no dine-in option is available this year.

News readers and advertisers are asked to be aware that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of New Year’s.

“There will not be an edition on Thursday, Dec. 31,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “We hope we’ve given everyone ample notice that we’re going to take that week off to spend time with our families.”

There have only been a few times in the 44 years of Lucas ownership that there hasn’t been a weekly paper.

The News office will close all day on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

By Sandy Morris

There is one week left in 2020, which means there is only one week left to make a donation to the annual Albany Chest campaign. 

Despite last week’s jump to hit the 50 percent mark, contributions are still needed in order to meet the 2020 fundraising goal of $41,000. 

The goal was set by the directors at the start of the campaign after they reviewed the submitted funding requests from 25 organizations. 

The total donated as of Monday, Dec. 21 was $24,750. 

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Chamber of Commerce put the wraps on a successful holiday season this week.

Decorating Contest

A new event sponsored by the Chamber this year was the Holiday House Decorating Contest. 

Local residents who decorated the outside of their homes for the holidays entered their creations in the contest or were nominated by friends or neighbors. 

The Callahan-Shackelford County Farm Bureau Board of Directors voted unanimously to make contributions totaling $7,500 to charitable organizations as 2020 draws to a close.

The Board recognizes the importance of our elderly receiving healthful foods during these challenging economic times. And, for our emergency medical services maintaining equipment and having adequate fuel supplies to serve our citizens in critical situations.

By Sandy Morris

Christmas is here and with the generous help of donors, several local organizations have been able to make sure Christmas is merry and bright for everyone in Shackelford County. 

 Adopt A Senior

The Adopt A Senior program received tremendous support from the community, according to ResourceCare programs assistant Ragan Riley, who said 2020 collections went better than they could have hoped. 

By Sandy Morris

With activities such as the Christmas band concert, elementary parties, and semester finals bringing the first semester to an end, Albany ISD students and staff are now in the midst of a two-week Christmas break.

Students at both campuses will be back in class on Tuesday, Jan. 5 to start the second semester and the fourth sixth weeks of the 2020-2021 school year. 

Teachers return earlier for a staff development day at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4. 

By Sandy Morris

With the help of a good number of volunteers and generous donors, the Christmas meal needs of 116 Albany and Moran families were met when the Albany Ministerial Alliance distributed its annual Christmas food baskets on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Alliance secretary ­Tisha Wilkins said this week that the organization had originally planned for only 94 deliveries because that’s how many applications they had been given on the deadline day.

However, another 22 forms were submitted, bringing the total number of individuals served to 297.