Beloved artists Dan Peeler and Charlie Rose will present an assortment of Christmas classics performed by puppets on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 4 and 5. 

This is the 33rd year that the puppeteers will perform at the Old Jail Art Center during the holiday season. 

“Bring the whole family and enjoy one of our annual holiday marionette shows with the master puppeteers from Peeler-Rose Productions,” said education director Erin Whitmore. “The event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.” 

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will not hold a weekly luncheon on Friday, Nov. 23 because of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones.

Also, the Shackelford County Library will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23, and senior games on Friday, Nov. 23 are also cancelled due to the holiday.

The next Chamber luncheon will be held at the Icehouse at 12:00 noon on Nov. 30.

For information about the regular Chamber luncheons or other Chamber activities, call Jones at 762-2525.

Signup is underway for local fifth and sixth grade boys and girls that want to play in Albany’s youth basketball league, according to organizer Clint Chapman.

“The deadline to sign up is Friday, Nov. 30,” Chapman said. “It’s a little earlier than it was last year.”

The registration fee is $35, and signup forms were sent home with students earlier this week. The fee and completed paperwork should be returned to the elementary school office or given to Chapman by the Nov. 30 deadline.

The youth flag football Super Bowl games have been rescheduled, and will take place tomorrow (Friday) and Monday, Nov. 16 and 19.

Inclement weather earlier this week postponed the first two sets of games, and the matches set for tonight were delayed because they conflicted with the Albany Lions playoff game in San Angelo this evening.

Second and Third

The second and third grade flag football teams Super Bowl will be Friday, Nov. 16, according to league organizer Anthony Ceder.

Shackelford County senior adults (50 and up) are invited to attend the Shackelford County Resource Center’s November senior luncheon to be held on Friday, Nov. 16 at the Youth Center beginning at 11:00 a.m.

“The theme for November is Thanksgiving,” said RC program assistant Ragan Riley. “Everyone is encouraged to bring a guest to this luncheon.”

The guest can be anyone, of any age, for whom the senior is thankful, according to Riley.

“They can bring a child, grandchild, neighbor, or anyone,” said Riley.

The annual Albany Chest campaign is in full swing with half of the money requested already donated to the charitable fund, but just a short six weeks left to finish the drive. 

Directors set a goal of $42,000 for the 2018 campaign, and this Tuesday morning, treasurer Paige Adair reported that $21,432 had been raised so far. The committee still needs to receive another $20,568 to hit the targeted amount.

Twenty-six different organizations, including two new applicants, submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board.

The Moran Independent School District hosted its annual Veterans Day luncheon at the school auditorium on Monday, Nov. 12.

“We had a small turnout, probably due to the frigid weather,” said superintendent Danny Freeman. “But we were able to display photos of local veterans that were recently donated to the Moran Museum.”

Thanksgiving Meal

Moran ISD’s annual Thanksgiving meal is being served today, Nov. 15.

Family members are invited to come to the school and sit down to eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal with their children.

Congregations at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian, First Baptist Church, and First Christian Church are collecting shoe box gifts for the Samaritan’s Purse annual Operation Christmas Child, and will gladly accept donations for the program from now until Sunday, Nov. 18.

Abilene is the nearest drop-off location, and First Christian pastor Brad McBee will deliver locally collected shoeboxes to First Baptist Church in Abilene on Nov. 19.

“We still have boxes available,” said McBee earlier this week. “It’s a great program. We delivered over 100 boxes last year.”

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-15 have been chosen as performance dates for the biennial Albany Nativity, with preparations already underway. The performances will be at 7:30 p.m.

“The cast has been chosen and notified,” said director Lorna Ayers. “Rehearsals began on Monday and will be twice a week until the week of the show.”

Shackelford County residents who wish to be included in the Albany Ministerial Alliance’s annual Christmas basket drive need to turn in their applications before the Monday, Dec. 3 deadline.

“Application forms will be available at the Resource Center, and at several of the local churches,” said Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins.

The filled-out applications can be turned back in at the same locations.