By Sam Waller

Albany FFA competed in the Big Country District Leadership Development Event on Nov. 15 at Cisco College, winning a Sweepstakes award.

The FFA program received a banner commemorating the achievement Monday at the Area IV FFA banquet at Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

At the district competition, Albany competed in Senior Radio (Leddie Leech, Gracie Price, Robyn Trail), Junior Radio (Kenzie Neve, Madelynn Daugherty, Abi Hale) and Junior Quiz (Jake Hale, Brody Brown, Abi Hale, Kenzie Neve).

The Big Country District includes 23 schools.

By Sam Waller

The Old Jail Art Center has been promoting  Christmas spirit with an artistic flair this month, starting with free marionette shows earlier this week and continuing with the family festival on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Family Festival

“Posadas” will highlight Christmas celebrations in Mexico on Saturday, Dec. 18.

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

By Sam Waller

Toys from the local Toys for Tots campaign may be picked up Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Youth Center.

Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty, who heads the campaign in Shackelford and Stephens counties, works with ResourceCare to provide gifts for Albany children from infants to 11 years old.

Adopt A Senior

Gift baskets for the Adopt-a-Senior program will be delivered with Vittles by Vehicle meals on Dec. 15. Approximately 40 senior citizens were adopted in the program.

Additional Needs

By Sam Waller

The Shackelford County 4-H Club service projects scheduled for next week will take place as planned on Wednesday, Dec. 15.

After that, it depends on the Albany Lions football team.

Local 4-Hers had planned three days of leaf raking to take advantage of early-release days from school.

If the Lions win tonight’s Class 2A Division II state semifinal, they will play in the championship game on Thursday, Dec. 16 in Arlington. Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said that puts the project in limbo.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Lion fans can continue showing their belief in the 2021 Albany football team by joining the community send-off on Thursday (today), Dec. 9, at 12:15 p.m. in the downtown area and along Main Street.

The Lions are headed for Lubbock to battle the Stratford Elks in the semifinals of the UIL 2-A division II football playoffs. The game kicks off at Lowrey Field at 6:00 p.m. 

By Sam Waller

The Albany Ministerial Alliance’s Christmas Basket food drive will receive its first delivery of food items Monday before preparing to deliver the baskets the next weekend.

With 100-plus families and individuals on the list, donations are still needed to cover costs, and volunteers are being sought to help with delivery.

“We’re just in a waiting phase right now,” Ministerial Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins said on Tuesday. “We will sort and bag next week, and the baskets will be delivered Dec. 19.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive ­COVID-19 test results rose last week to 27, according to a report issued by Shackelford County judge Bob Skelton.

A total of 66 tests were administered at the three local testing sites, with a combined total of 27 positive results during Nov. 29 through the Dec. 3 window. 

The Shackelford County Health Clinic also reported giving an additional 12 positive results on Monday of this week alone.

By Sam Waller

Twenty-seven winners, including two multiple winners, were announced Tuesday morning in a drawing for 1,500 Albany Bucks conducted by the Albany Chamber of Commerce.

Lucy Carter was drawn three times, winning 150 Albany Bucks, and Sandy Shirley won twice in the drawing held at Vintage Vanilla.

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones posted a video of the drawing on Facebook.

“I’ll also call people to let them know they’ve won,” Jones said.

Drawings on Friday, Dec. 17 will be conducted in three groups of 10 with a short break in between.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Several local candidates for the March 1 primary elections officially completed the filing process on Tuesday, well ahead of the Dec. 13 filing deadline.

Two prospective candidates who picked up the required paperwork had yet to turn in their petitions and applications to get on the ballot for a county post.

Offices up for reelection this cycle include county judge, county and district clerk, county treasurer, justice of the peace, and two county commissioner positions.

The filing period will close at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Independent School District has welcomed four new faculty members for the 2021-22 school year, including three who are in their first year as full-time teachers.

New faculty members are Minnie Denson, Alyssa Gregg, Kassiah Hudson, and Bryce Hughes.

Minnie Denson

At the high school level, Denson has taken over as agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. Denson graduated in May from Texas A&M–Commerce with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Science and Technology with a teacher certification option.