By Donnie A. Lucas

For a third consecutive year, Albany will honor its veterans at the Albany Cemetery with a Christmas wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Volunteers and family members will gather at 11:00 a.m. at the pavilion in the cemetery for a brief ceremony, then fan out across the cemetery to distribute 560 fresh wreaths on the graves of veterans.

The program is held as part of the National Wreaths Across America Day, with Henry and Melinda Musselman donating the wreaths.

By Donnie A. Lucas

After a four-year absence, the Albany Nativity was presented to the community last weekend during two performances at the Aztec Theater.

There were reportedly about 140 tickets used for the Saturday evening show, while Sunday’s matinee drew a larger crowd that nearly filled the theater’s 275 seats.

“Both shows were so good, and the audience raved about it as they left the theater,” director Lorna Ayers. “I think people loved that the tradition was continued after a break. I was impressed with all the actors and crew.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Everyone in the community is invited to a free showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the historic Aztec Theater in downtown Albany on Saturday, Dec. 17.

The doors will open at 6:00 p.m., with the film to start at 6:30 p.m.

Kellie and Austin Sherwood, with some help from the Aztec of Albany board, have planned the evening with the hope of utilizing what they believe is an Albany jewel.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Old Jail Art Center continues its tradition of celebrating Christmas around the world with a family festival on Saturday, Dec. 17.

“Swedish Jul” will highlight Christmas celebrations in Sweden. Last year, the OJAC featured Mexican holiday celebrations, and other nations have been spotlighted in past years.

The event, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, is the last of several special family festivals held during the year.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Judging for the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s house decorating contest will be held in the next few days, but there is still a little time to enter, according to Chamber board members.

Megaen Birdwell, who is helping organize the competition this year, said that Saturday, Dec. 17 is the last day to enter or nominate someone else.

First place will receive 100 Albany Bucks, with 75 for second and 50 for third. Houses to be judged must include the name of the resident, address, and a phone number in case the judges need more directions.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany band director William Vaughan was surprised during the annual Christmas concert on Sunday with the presentation of a $2,500 donation to the band program by Albany Live.

Organizer Michaela Smith said during the presentation that the initial donation to the school by the new non-profit was for use by Vaughan for the band program. She also said that the group intends to set up a scholarship program for band students in the future.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners, after a lengthy discussion at their Monday, Dec. 12 session, rejected a $12,000 bid for internet security at the county library and approved an ordinance to prohibit after-hours parking at the library.

The question of internet security at the library has been brought up at the last several meetings, but county judge Robert Skelton did not receive the estimated cost from the county’s IT consultant, CTSI, until last week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members heard presentations from two of three bidders for the city’s solid waste business and reviewed all three documents before deciding to stay with Republic Services.

Two representatives from County Waste Service (CWS) were present to go over their prices, along with Joe Spano from Republic Services.

There was also a bid from AEL Green Logistics of Abilene.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Because Christmas Day falls on Sunday, there does not have to be an early deadline this year for the Dec. 22 edition.

However, News readers and advertisers are reminded that there will be no paper published the following week on Dec. 29 during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The News office will be open on Monday through Thursday, Dec. 26-27 of that week, but there will not be a paper.

The office is always closed on Fridays, so it will be closed all day on both Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.

By Donnie A. Lucas

A number of students in grades two through eight competed in the District UIL Academic Meet last week, with students in sixth through traveling to Hamlin and the second through fifth graders competing in Cisco.

The elementary team racked up 270.84 points for fourth place ahead of Anson, Hamlin and Hawley. Cisco and Haskell tied for first place with 397.33 points each, while Stamford was third with 323.83 points. Anson finished in fifth place, Hamlin was sixth with 94 points and Hawley earned 93 points for seventh place.