By Melinda L. Lucas

A large crowd attended a book signing of Heavy Date Over Germany: The Life and Times of B-17 Tail Gunner Ray Perry on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at the Shackelford County Library, including the subject’s son, former Texas governor Rick Perry, who wrote the foreword.

Old Jail Art Center staff member and retired history teacher Jewellee Jordan Kuenstler edited the book, using the late World War II veteran’s letters, photos, and mementos to tell his story of 35 combat missions as a tail gunner.

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will meet as usual this week on Dec. 20 at the Icehouse.

The weekly luncheon has been cancelled for the holidays on Dec. 27.

On Friday, Jan. 3, the 12:00 noon meetings move to the Beehive for the first two months of 2020.

For information about the lunches or other activities, call Mary Beth Jones at 325-762-2525.

The Chamber office will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

By Kathy Thomson

Texas dove hunters have an opportunity to bag the migratory game birds over the Christmas holiday season, starting this Friday, Dec. 20.

Dove season in Texas this year is Sept. 1-Nov. 12, and Dec. 20-Jan. 5. 

Bag limits are still 15-birds per day, including no more than two white-tipped, with a possession limit of three times the daily bag limit.

Legal shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Sunrise in Albany this Friday, Dec. 20 will occur at 7:35 a.m., and sunset at 5:34 p.m. 

By Kathy Thomson

Friday, Dec. 20 is the final day of the third six weeks period, the end of the fall semester, and the beginning of the two-week long Christmas vacation for students attending school in Moran.

Included in the final countdown to the winter holiday have been University Interscholastic League competitions, basketball games, class parties, a visit from Santa, and, of course, end-of-the-semester homework and exams. 

Christmas Break

Will LeMay finished third in the average in the 12 and under tie down roping at the Tuf Cooper Jr. World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada last Wednesday, Dec. 11.

LeMay qualified for the exclusive event by placing in the top 25 in his division at participating rodeos throughout the year. 

Winning third place in the average on three head on Wednesday allowed LeMay to advance as one of only six contestants eligible for the finals, the “Shoot Out” round on Saturday, Dec. 14.

By Kathy Thomson

The start of a new year is a time for celebrating, and local emergency responders remind county residents to make sure that any fireworks used in the revelry are handled safely and legally. 

Dry conditions and high winds this fall sparked the county commissioners to reinstate the county burn ban at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Even when a burn ban is not in effect, the use of fireworks is never allowed inside the city limits of either Albany or Moran. The use of fireworks on county roads is also prohibited.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The filing period for the March primary elections ended Monday evening with one local contested race after Bobby Williams submitted an application and petition on Monday morning for the office of Precinct 1 commissioner.

Incumbent commissioner Steve Riley, who has been elected for the past two four-year terms, filed in mid-November.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Everyone is invited to join in traditional Italian Christmas activities at the Natale family festival at the Old Jail Art Center on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.

“Buon Natale means ‘Merry Christmas’ in Italian,” explained educational coordinator Molly Merck. 

She invited visitors to enjoy traditional Italian sweets like pandoro, panettone, and hot chocolate during the event, which will be held in the Stasney Center for Education.

By Kathy Thomson

The annual Albany Chest campaign is in its final days, and the drive is still $15,880 short of the 2019 goal of $42,000 set by the directors. 

According to Chest treasurer Paige Adair, $26,120 had been deposited as of Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Over 50 percent of the targeted amount was collected during the first three weeks of the campaign,  but less than $2,000 has been given in each of the last three weeks, leaving 38 percent of the goal to be raised in the few short weeks before the end of 2019.

News readers and advertisers are asked to be aware that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, during the week of Christmas.

“There will not be an edition on Thursday, Dec. 26,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “We hope we’ve given everyone ample notice that we’re going to take that week off to spend time with our families.”

This is only the second time in 43 years of Lucas ownership that there hasn’t been a weekly paper.