The Oil Belt District banquet and district talent contest were held last Monday, Dec. 3 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene and local FFA members were in attendance.

“We didn’t have many members who were able to go, with all the other activities that are taking place right now,” said FFA advisor Chris Beard. “But Seth Hale, who is a district officer, helped run the meeting, and Alayna Koemel served as the Albany FFA voting delegate.”

Albany was presented with several LDE award banners that were won during the Leadership Development Events this fall.

Parents who applied for Toys for Tots should have picked up their kids’ presents at the Youth Center this Wednesday.

“We sorted the gifts by families, and had them ready for parents to pick them up,” said Resource Care case worker Makenzie Marshall. “We don’t wrap them. We want the parents to be able to see what their kids are getting and for them to wrap the presents themselves.”

Marshall added that anyone who was unable to come by during the designated pick-up time can contact the Resource Center at 325-762-2447 to arrange to get their gifts.

The Albany Lions defeated Hamlin 41-28 in the quarterfinals last week, and the Albany Athletic Booster Club invites local fans to continue showing their belief in the 2018 Lion varsity football team by joining the community send-off this Thursday morning, Dec. 13, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bank Park.

The Lions are headed for Plainview to battle the Gruver Greyhounds in the semifinals of the UIL 2-A division II football playoffs. The game kicks off at Greg Sherwood Field at 6:00 p.m., and the winner of the bout will advance to the state finals. 

The varsity Lady Lions lost two of three games in the Breckenridge Tournament last week last week to go to 8-6 for the season.

Albany was scheduled to host Ranger on Tuesday, but the game was moved back a day due to the sudden death over the weekend of a school coach. Results of the game against the Lady Bulldogs were not available at press time.

Albany will host DeLeon on Friday, with the JV starting the action at 5:00 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 6:00 p.m.

Moran students are expecting a visit from Santa Claus this Friday, Dec. 14, but locals have already given his elves a little help.

“All of the Angels have been picked off of the Angel Tree,” said administrative assistant Jeannie TenCate. 

All Angel Tree gifts should be returned by Dec. 17 so they can be delivered on Dec. 18.

Those still needing that special Christmas gift might want to consider purchasing a copy of the upcoming Moran Bulldog Family Recipe Collection, Class of 2019 Edition. 

Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their December commodity food this Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Delivery to Moran, originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 6, was postponed due to wet weather.

“They called from Albany and said that it was raining, and they couldn’t deliver,” said Moran city manager Jackie Wallace. “I was surprised, because it wasn’t raining in Moran. But about that time we started getting some rain also.”

Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers in Texas have new online options to access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Through USDA’s new streamlined process producers can now register, track and manage their applications for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and 2017 Wildfires Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) on the secure and convenient https://www.farmers.gov/sign-in.

The next regular test of the local emergency siren is scheduled for 12:00 noon, on Wednesday, Dec. 12, depending on the weather. 

The regular trial is scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable.

The siren should sound one or more of the three emergency tones during the test. 

SEVERE WEATHER

WARNING

Constant wail

3 minutes

FIRE DANGER

10 seconds up

10 seconds down

2 minutes 

FLOOD DANGER

Twenty-six of the 29 Albany High seniors qualified to attend the upcoming annual College Pie Party that counselor Dee Dee Waggoner arranges every year to reward students that submit a college application early in their graduating year. 

“Our goal is for students to apply and plan early, so that they get into the colleges of their choice, have early access to financial aid and housing, and can then enjoy all the activities of the last semester of their senior year with the stress of applying behind them,” said Waggoner. 

Twenty-one sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students from the Albany Independent School District are competing at a UIL contest in Stamford on Thursday, Dec. 6, along with youth from Haskell, Hawley, Cross Plains, and Roscoe.

Results from the District 8 UIL Junior High Speech Contest were not available at press time, and will be reported next week.

Elementary and junior high students need to sign up by Friday, Dec. 7, if they wish to compete in the upcoming UIL contest at Hawley on Thursday, Dec. 13.