By Sandy Morris

The 11th annual Christmas Feast will be held Friday, Dec. 25 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church fellowship hall and ending at 1:30 p.m. 

The dinner is still free to the public, and anyone is welcome to receive food. However, this year there will be no dine-in option due to COVID concerns

One of the organizers, James Breeden, announced the menu for the feast, which includes a choice of brisket or fried turkey, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and dessert.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Chamber of Commerce continues to stay busy promoting the local community and businesses as Christmas draws nearer.

Memorial Ornaments

Residents are reminded that it isn’t too late to purchase a personalized ornament for the Shackelford County Memorial Tree. 

The cost of each ornament is $5, and the name of the person to be memorialized will be placed on it before the ornament is hung on the Christmas tree. 

By Sandy Morris

With Christmas a week away, local churches have announced their traditional Christmas activities scheduled for the holiday.

First Christian 

First Christian Church will hold a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight communion service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24.

Friendship Baptist

Friendship Baptist Church will hold its Christmas service on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m.

The service will include the Lord’s Supper and a candlelight service.

By Sandy Morris

With the help of local volunteers, members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance distributed almost all of the requested Christmas baskets on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Last week, Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth grade students, Albany High School ag classes, and members of the AHS National Honor Society divided the canned goods and other staples into the bags.

On Sunday afternoon, workers at The Feed Store assembly location added perishable items to finish filling the food baskets. 

By Sandy Morris

Local citizens still have time to “adopt” a local teacher from a Christmas tree sponsored by the AJHS Academic Booster Club as the deadline has been extended.

 “We still have 17 teachers/staff left on the trees who have requested items, but have not been selected,” said Rise and Shine committee member Heather Brown. “This is a great opportunity to encourage the teachers/staff who love, care for, and educate our students each and every day.”

By Sandy Morris

Several students and teams from Nancy Smith Elementary School and Albany Junior High placed at the district A+ Academics University Interscholastic League meets held during November and December. 

Due to COVID concerns, the competetion looked a little different this year. 

The writing portion of the competition was held in November and entries were submitted via email to be judged. 

The remaining academic contests took place locally with entries being videoed and submitted during the first part of December. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany school board members got their first look on Monday at the required financial rating, along with briefly discussing extending leave for employees that test positive for COVID-19, and hearing an update on the elementary school’s dyslexia and reading comprehension program.

Superintendent Jonathan Scott presented the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) report, indicating that the district scored an A Superior rating on the annual accountability report.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County elected officials and others honored outgoing district attorney Colton Johnson at a special retirement reception Monday afternoon following the regular meeting earlier that day.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Shackelford County Hospital District’s board of directors met with clinic providers Travis Wilburn and Claire Ware during a regular monthly meeting, which was moved to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday so that it would be easier for the nurse practitioners (NPs) to attend.

Wilburn and Ware explained the protocols being used at the adjacent clinic in order to keep both staff and patients as safe as possible, with COVID testing being conducted in the mornings.

By Melinda L. Lucas

News readers and advertisers are reminded that there is an early deadline for next week’s edition, with all copy due by noon on Monday, Dec. 21.

The Dec. 24 issue will be published and on stands, as well as in local post office boxes, by Wednesday morning, a day earlier than usual.

The News office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25.

There will not be a paper published during the last week of the year, on Dec. 31.

The office will be closed on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and as usual on Friday.