By Kathy Thomson Christmas is less than a week away, and with the help of generous donors, several local organizations are working to help make sure that everyone in Shackelford County has a Merry Christmas.

By Melinda L. Lucas Students at the Albany Independent School District will be released for the day at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, and will break for the Christmas holidays at noon this Friday, Dec. 20.

By Kathy Thomson Several students and teams from Nancy Smith Elementary School and Albany Junior High placed at the district A+Academics University Interscholastic League meets held during December.  Writing exams were taken at the regular campuses.

The Hendrick Regional Blood Center bloodmobile will be at First Baptist Church on the first Thursday of the new year, Jan. 2, from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Hendrick Regional Blood Center supplies all of the blood and blood products used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.

By Kathy Thomson The former Shekinah office building, located catty-corner to the post office and near the Depot, is being re-purposed into a long-awaited senior citizens center, but funding is still needed to complete the transformation.

By Kathy Thomson The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association met last Tuesday, Dec. 10, to finalize plans for this year’s stock show, and with a large number of entries expected, the annual fundraising drive has begun.

By Melinda L. Lucas A new board member was sworn in during a very brief meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District directors on Monday, Dec. 16.

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.

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.

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.