By Sandy Morris Sixteen local youth, three families, and two adult volunteers traveled to Taos, New Mexico during the Albany Youth Ministry Winter Ski Trip and Christian Adventure last week.

By Sandy Morris The Old Jail Art Center found unique ways to continue offering programming to a variety of patrons during the restrictions from COVID during 2020.

By Sandy Morris For the 12th year in a row, volunteers from Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church and several others from the community made sure nobody missed the opportunity to enjoy a free holiday meal with all of the trimmings on Christmas Day.

By Sandy Morris With COVID making its mark on several major livestock shows, local students have been preparing themselves and their pigs by attending jackpot shows. Albany High School senior Carli Edgar brought home a Senior Showmanship award from the Lone­star Classic in Abilene in November.

By Sandy Morris The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Show is just two weeks away, with weigh-in for hogs, lambs, and goats on Thursday, Jan. 21, and classes judged on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23.

By Sandy Morris Local residents who want to run for the various city council, hospital district, or school board positions in the Saturday, May 1 election may begin filing the required paperwork on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

By Sandy Morris The Albany Chamber of Commerce ended a successful year of promoting the community when the winners of the Holiday House Decorating Contest were announced on Christmas Eve.

By Sandy Morris Pick-up dates for the January distribution of the commodity food program will be Thursday, Jan. 7 and Friday, Jan. 8. Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7.

The City of Albany will test the emergency warning siren at 12:00 noon next Wednesday, Jan. 13, as it does the second Wednesday of every month, depending on the weather.

By Melinda L. Lucas This time last year, local residents were worried about catching the flu.