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. 

The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals. 

The Kiwanis Club blood drives are scheduled roughly every eight weeks throughout the year. The next one should be in mid-March.

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.

The tests keep citizens familiar with the three warning sounds, and they are also used to make sure that the siren, computer, software, and radios are working correctly.

The siren should sound one of the three emergency tones at noon on that day, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable, according to local fire chief Kyle Tischler. 

By Kathy Thomson

The 2019 Albany Chest annual campaign officially ended on Tuesday, Dec. 31, with a total of $39,211 raised as of Monday, Dec. 30, according to treasurer Paige Adair.

Although some year-end gifts may arrive in the next week or two, the drive is still short of the 2019 goal of $42,000 by almost $3,000.

The board will meet on Wednesday, Jan.8 to finalize disbursement amounts for the 24 various charities that applied for funds.

By Melinda L. Lucas

One major change is being publicized this week about Christmas events being conducted by local congregations during the week leading up to Christmas.

Rabbi Jason Sobel, a Messianic Jew who has visited and spoken in Albany several times in the past, will give the homily during First Christian Church’s annual candlelight service on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 in the FCC sanctuary.

Christian recording artist Miriam Webster will present special music during the service, which begins at 6:00 p.m. 

By Kathy Thomson

The former Shekinah office building, located catty-corner to the post office and near the Depot, is being re-purposed into a long-awaited senior citizens center, but funding is still needed to complete the transformation.

According to Albany city manager Billy Holson, pledges for the building are still outstanding.

By Kathy Thomson

The annual Albany Chest campaign is nearing the Dec. 31 deadline, and although donations slowed to a crawl in early December, after a recent surge, the drive is now within $7,000 of reaching the goal of $42,000 set by directors for the 2019 campaign.

“Reminder postcards were mailed out last Friday, Dec. 13, to people who have donated to the Albany Chest in the past, but hadn’t yet donated this year,” said 2019 chair Amy Kelly. “Our hope is that these will serve as a quick reminder to include the Albany Chest in their year-end giving.” 

By Kathy Thomson

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department honored member Casey Kimbrough with the 2019 Firefighter of the Year merit award at the annual Christmas party and meeting on Monday, Dec. 16.

According to chief Kyle Tischler, the members of the fire department nominate the individual for this award whom they believe has best met the five following qualifications:

The firefighter must not be on probation.

The firefighter must have shown to be highly active in the department through meetings and fire/emergency calls.

By Kathy Thomson

Members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance make a special effort each year to insure that every family in the local community has enough food to prepare a special meal over the holiday season, and the annual delivery of the Christmas food baskets will take place on Sunday, Dec. 22.

Sixth grade leadership students from Nancy Smith Elementary School will help pack the non-perishable items, picking up the canned goods and other staples at Brookshire’s and then sorting the items into the Christmas food boxes at The Feed Store.

By Kathy Thomson

Members of local Cub Scout Troup 225 recently collected mittens, hats/toboggans, and scarfs to donate to Closet Angels.

“The entire pack was involved in gathering the items,” said new Cubmaster Jacey Shack. “We have 15 Cub Scouts, including both boys and girls, and ranging in age from kindergarten to fifth grade.”

According to the Cubmaster, the Cub Scouts asked friends and family members for donations, and most of the items were brand new.