By Donnie A. Lucas

Shackelford County veterans are invited to join local students for a Veterans Day celebration on next Friday, Nov. 11 at the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria.

The program will start at 9:00 a.m.

Several patriotic songs will be presented by music students in grades 2-4. according to music teacher Danna Vaughan.

School counselor Susie Beard said that she has sent out just over 100 invitations to local veterans, but stressed that all veterans are urged to attend the celebration even if they did not receive an invitation.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Cub Scout Pack 255 Wolf Den has two community service projects underway for retiring unserviceable American flags and providing Thanksgiving baskets for Shackelford County residents.

The Den of second and third graders will conduct a flag retirement ceremony later in November at the Boy Scout hut in Albany. The public is encouraged to bring any flags that are old, torn, have holes, or are faded and need retiring to 432 South Third St. in Albany, where they will be collected until the ceremony.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Shackelford County Courthouse will “go green” next week as part of a special program intended to honor veterans.

Shackelford County judge Robert Skelton said Monday that local officials had been invited, along with 3,069 other counties and cities, by the National Association of Counties and National Association of Veteran Service Officers to join Operation Green Light for Veterans.

Recipes are still being accepted for the upcoming holiday recipe section, according to Albany News editor Melinda Lucas, but time is short.

The deadline is  Friday, Nov. 11, with the special tab to be included with the Nov. 17 paper ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

“I heard from a few people right after I announced it, but I don’t have anywhere close to enough recipes,” said Lucas.

The sooner, the better, said Lucas, since she is already working on the pages.

Recipes can be brought to the News office or emailed to news@thealbanynews.net.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Red Ribbon Week at both Nancy Smith Elementary and the junior/senior high campus wrapped up last week with winners named in contests at both locations.

This is the 34th year that the district has participated in the annual campaign that brings awareness to the dangers of drug and alcohol use.

The campaign is sponsored by Albany ISD and the Albany Task Force on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

NSES Events

Nancy Smith Elementary hosted a week of dress-up days for students, as well as holding a poster contest.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s FCCLA chapter will sell home-cooked meals Sunday, Nov. 6 at The Feed Store to raise funds for chapter members to attend regional, state, and national events.

Meals of ham, scalloped potatoes, salad, rolls, and dessert will be served from 11:30 a.m. until sold out, FCCLA sponsor Jennifer Marshall said. Suggested donation is $10 per meal.

Albany revived its ­FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter last year and had 12 students qualify for national competition in San Diego. This year’s national conference is in Denver.

By Sam Waller

The Feed Store had an almost identical number of participants from a year ago but an unprecedented result for the 24th annual Running Man event Oct. 29.

Three teams – seventh graders, juniors, and seniors – tied for first place with all three returning 100 percent of their runners without any being caught.

Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins said it is believed to be the first time more than one team has scored 100 percent.

“I do not recall more than one,” she said. “That was fun. Everyone was excited about getting back.”

By Sam Waller

First Baptist Church sixth graders received a pumpkin-related message and learned to carve pumpkins during the group’s meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Sixth grade adult leader Courtney Milligan said about 18 children participated as group leader Lori Schooler spoke on how being a Christian is like being a pumpkin.

“I want to thank Lori for putting this together,” Milligan said. “She bought the pumpkins and provided carving kits.”

Chad Overton also serves as an adult leader for the group.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of Matthews Memorial Presbyrerian Church resume one of Albany’s longest-running traditions with their annual bazaar.

This year’s event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 in the MMPC Educational Building.

The bazaar, which is organized by the church’s Sallie Matthews Circle, has been held almost annually for more than a century, with very few exceptions. The most recent interruption was in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Ragin’ Red Band improved their ranking from last year at the UIL Area Marching Contest, placing 15th out of the 25 Class 2A bands that competed last Saturday in Lubbock.

The top 10 bands in the contest were placed in the finals, performing a second time for the judges and hoping to be selected as one of the five bands to advance to the state marching contest in San Antonio next week.