By Sandy Morris The district-wide canned food drive competition hosted by the Moran junior and senior classes will wrap up on Friday, Dec. 18.  The class with the most donations will be announced after the Christmas break.  All donations will be delivered to local needy families.

Photo packages of local junior high basketball and flag football teams and individuals have been printed and are now available for those who haven’t already claimed them. Parents who paid in advance or who have valid accounts can pick up their packages at The Albany News office.

By Sandy Morris While most hunters in Texas spend dawn and dusk in a deer blind, they are reminded of the second dove season starting this Friday, Dec. 18. Dove season in Texas this year is Sept. 1-Nov. 12, and again Dec. 18-Jan. 3.

By Sandy Morris Students at the Albany Independent School District inched closer to their Christmas break with early dismissals at 12:30 p.m. beginning yesterday and continuing today, Thursday, Dec. 17 and Friday, Dec. 18.

By Sandy Morris There are three weeks left in the annual Albany Chest campaign, and although the drive is now more than halfway to the top of the “thermometer,” contributions are badly needed in order to meet the 2020 fundraising goal of $41,000.

By Sandy Morris With the holidays just around the corner, holiday schedules are being announced. City Hall The Albany City Hall will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday.  The city also will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.

Republic Services, trash pickup contractor for the City of Albany, will run its regular schedule for the week of Christmas. Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 will run as scheduled.

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.

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.

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.