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

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

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 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

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 Sam Waller

Fifth grade students from Nancy Smith Elementary School took the classroom outside last week at the Camp Grady Spruce Outdoor Education Program.

Accompanying the 29 students were NSES principal John Gallagher and teachers Leslie Neve, Candy Balliew, and William Vaughan.

The group departed on Monday, Nov. 15, and returned Wednesday, Nov. 17, after spending their time learning about a wide range of sciences.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday, Dec. 2.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 until 6:30 p.m.

The blood center depends on volunteer blood donors to supply 100 percent of the blood that is used for patient care at 17 area hospitals. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

After a year’s absence due to the pandemic, longtime puppeteers Dan Peeler and Charlie Rose are returning to The Old Jail Art Center for two days of performances of Christmas classics on Dec. 7 and 8.

This will be the 35th year that the duo have provided holiday joy through puppetry to local youth and adults alike.

Four performances are planned for both days starting at 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 a.m., and at 2:00 p.m. in the Stasney Center for Education at the OJAC.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Thousands of tax statements have been mailed to Shackelford County land, property, and business owners.

Chief appraiser Clayton Snyder at the Shackelford County Central Appraisal District (CAD) office stated that tax rates for all eight county taxing entities were entered and statements finished by the first week of November.

Statement Details

Statement files were uploaded electronically several weeks ago to a mailing company for processing and distribution.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Veterans in the Albany Cemetery will once again be honored during the National Wreaths Across America Day scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18, with local volunteers fanning out across the cemetery to place the fresh evergreen wreaths on 525 graves.

A brief ceremony is planned starting at 11:00 a.m. at the pavilion at the cemetery, followed by volunteers and family members laying the wreaths.