By Sam Waller

Toys for Tots, in conjunction with the Albany High School National Honor society, will again provide barbecue sandwiches during Small Town Saturday on Nov. 27.

Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty, who coordinates the Toys for Tots campaign in Shackelford County, said service will begin a 4:00 p.m. at Bank Park before the start of the Lighted Christmas Parade.

“We did that last year, although there wasn’t a parade,” Beaty said. “When it got cancelled, we just kind of did a grab-bag deal and we did really well.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Three members of the cast and crew of the junior high one-act play, “The Trial of Goldilocks” were recognized last week at the UIL OAP contest in Stamford.

Competing last Thursday, the play did not finish in the top three places at the meet, but individual honors were given to Albany students.

Woods Peterson was named to the All-Star Cast, while Kaisley Bartee received honorable mention All-Star Cast. Huffman Heatly was named to the All-Star Technical Crew.

By Sam Waller

With fewer COVID-19 restrictions this year, Friendship Baptist Church enjoyed increased attendance Saturday for its sixth annual Harvest Acres celebration.

“We actually did it last year, and it went well then,” pastor Paul Johnston said, “but it went a lot better this year because people moved around more. We thank the community for coming and supporting and all the good visits that we had.”

The event raises funds to help those in need within the Albany community, but Johnston said it has other benefits.

By Sam Waller

Six of eight Shackelford County 4-H members came away with ribbons for placing at the District 7 Food Show, held Nov. 17 at the Expo Center in Abilene.

“They all did a great job,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said, “and it was the first time to compete for the two who did not place.”

In the exhibit portion of the competition, Kamryn Graham placed second, with Tara Cauble third, and Charli Trail fourth.

“It’s really quite an undertaking with a 3-5 minute speech and answering interview questions before adults,” Bell said.

By Sam Waller

The Aztec Theater will be home to a new monthly concert series starting in December.

Albany Live, which was formed in October, has scheduled several live performances for its Songwriter Series at the theater, starting up pretty quickly on Wednesday, Dec. 8 with Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.

Albany Live is a nonprofit organization established to support the cultivation of live music events hosted at venues, according to Michaela Smith, the group’s president.

By Sam Waller

Deadlines for two holiday programs overseen by ResourceCare are scheduled for the first week of December. 

Applications for Toys for Tots must be received by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2. 

Gifts for the Adopt A Senior program are due by Friday, Dec. 3.  

Information and applications are available at ResourceCare and other locations.

Toys for Tots

By Donnie A. Lucas

Pick-up dates for the December distribution of the commodity food program is set for Dec. 2 and 3.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, eligible families in Moran can pick up the monthly allotment at the Moran City Hall from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Albany families or individuals who are on the list can pick up commodities at the rear door of the JP office from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Recipients who are unable to pick up their food can send a signed and dated note with someone to pick up their commodities for them.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The walls of the Aztec Theater echoed the sounds of singer-songwriters on Saturday during a musical review of sorts presented by a group of local singers, their first such show in two years.

Skipping last year due to the COVID pandemic, about a dozen local singers and musicians presented selections from a variety of music genres honoring the talents of the “Troubadours – Songs of the Singer-Songwriter.”

The evening of music as attended by around 200 audience members, with proceeds benefitting  AMP (Albany Mainstreet Playhouse).

Trash collection for the City of Albany will run on a slightly different schedule for the week of Thanksgiving.

Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up on Thursday will change to Friday this week. 

Other residential and industrial containers will be picked up on their regular days, except on Thanksgiving.

By Sam Waller

The Moran FFA meat judging team recently finished 10th  at a contest  at Texas Tech.

Moran had the best finish among teams from the Big Country District and was second among Area IV teams behind Seymour.

Team members were Cotten Campbell, Allen Hebel, Ellis Hise, Johnnie Hise and Hannah Rogers.