By Kathy Thomson

Moran elementary and junior high school students recently participated in the District 20 1-A University Interscholastic League elementary academic meet, which took place over several days.

Second through fifth graders are in the elementary division, and their contests took place on Thursday, Dec. 5, in Strawn.

Middle school students from sixth through eighth grade did ready writing at their home campus on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and traveled to Ranger for the rest of the contests on Thursday, Dec. 12. 

Sydney Ten Cate of Moran is graduating from Hardin Simmons University on Friday, Dec. 13 with Cum Laude honors. Her major is Criminal Justice and her minor is Psychology. 

She is the daughter of Steven and Delisa Ten Cate and the granddaughter of Bonnie Ten Cate

Ten Cate graduated from Moran High School in 2015. She was a member of the HSU track team as a long distance runner throughout her college career, earning numerous honors.

By Kathy Thomson

Several events are planned in Moran this Saturday, Dec. 14, including the monthly children’s painting party, the annual Moran Parent Teacher Organization holiday meal, and a bimonthly fundraiser.

Children’s 

Painting Party

The monthly kids painting party will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Moran Community Center.

According to organizer Tiffany Waddell, over two dozen children have been coming to the painting parties. 

By Kathy Thomson

The annual Moran holiday craft fair will take place this Saturday, giving Christmas shoppers a chance to find those special gift items without having to fight their way through busy traffic and crowded stores.

A children’s painting party is set for the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 14, and a chili fundraiser, complete with a live band, will take place that night.

Holiday Craft Fair

By Kathy Thomson

Several activities are crowded into the few remaining weeks of the fall semester at Moran including, of course, exams, but also Christmas activities, a visit from Santa Claus, UIL contests, basketball games, the annual PTO holiday meal, and gathering presents for the Angel Tree. 

UIL Contestants

Junior high students remained in Moran for the University Interscholastic League ready writing competition on Tuesday, Dec. 3. 

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany resident Bobby Williams is expected to challenge incumbent Shackelford County Precinct 1 commissioner Steve Riley after filing paperwork on Monday, Dec. 2.

According to County and District Clerk Cheri Hawkins, Williams filed his campaign treasurer’s form late Monday afternoon and picked up documents with the intention of filing by petition, although it had not been turned in as of press time.

By Kathy Thomson

Theatergoers have one final chance to watch Albany Mainstreet Playhouse’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on Sunday, Dec. 8. 

The 2:30 p.m. matinee at the Aztec Theater will be the last of three performances of the holiday comedy.

“The first two performances were great and very well received by the audience,” said director Lorna Ayers. “We wanted to be sure and have a performance this weekend for those who were unable to come opening weekend due to the holidays.”

Santa letters and holiday essays for the 2019 Christmas issue published by The Albany News should be submitted by the end of this week if possible.

Students in both Albany and Moran schools have been working on letters in their classes, but home school students and preschool children are welcome to bring their letters by the News office.

By Kathy Thomson

The local Toys for Tots program is still accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations at various donations sites around Albany, and a Believe Tree for Teens, containing ornaments with an attached wish tag for older students was placed at five participating churches on Sunday.

All 40 of the senior adults currently signed up for the Vittles By Vehicle program have been adopted, and plans are well underway for Albany Ministerial Alliance’s Basket delivery.

Believe Trees

By Kathy Thomson

Kloey Cargill Painter, a four-year veteran of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, recently transferred locations from the Big Bend area to become the Shackelford County extension agent. 

“It has been an amazing adventure being the county agent for Brewster and Jeff Davis counties, but we are over the moon with excitement (to be moving to Albany),” said Painter. “We will be so much closer to family, we just love this area, and it feels like home.”