An announcement eagerly anticipated for a couple of months by local Chamber officials was made public this week when Albany was named by True West magazine as one of the top 10 “True Western Towns of the Year.”

The nationwide honor recognizes communities that “exemplify the spirit and dedication of the pioneers who built and developed them,” and Albany is in company with such well-known western towns as Dodge City, Kansas and Deadwood, South Dakota, along with the number one town for 2019 – Tombstone, Arizona.

Early deadlines have been set for the Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 papers, as the staff of The Albany News works around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

According to News editor Melinda Lucas, the deadline for the Dec. 27 issue has been moved up to Friday, Dec. 21 at 5:00 p.m. 

Typically, the deadline is at 12:00 noon on Tuesdays, but because Christmas Day falls on Tuesday, the staff plans to start working on that issue earlier in order to be off for a few days.

The office will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. 

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will meet as usual this week and next week on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 at the Icehouse.

The weekly Chamber of Commerce luncheon has been cancelled for the holidays on Dec. 28.

On Friday, Jan. 4, the 12:00 noon meetings move to the Beehive.

For information about the regular Chamber luncheons or other Chamber activities, call Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones at 325-762-2525.

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

Shackelford County employees and elected officials are planning a retirement “celebration” for county judge Ross Montgomery, who is retiring at the end of his current term on Dec. 31.

Montgomery has served as judge for six terms, a total of 24 years.

The reception is set for Monday afternoon, Dec. 17 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the second floor courtroom. 

Other Business

•Commissioners voted during their Dec. 10 session to leave the current burn ban active.

•The county’s Christmas lunch is planned for Friday, Dec. 21 at noon.

During their meeting on Monday, Dec. 10, Albany city council members voted unanimously to accept the low bid from Z.T. Jackson Construction of Breckenridge to install the water system in the newly annexed Clarke Estates development.

The four bids that were submitted were reviewed by the city’s engineering consultant, Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd, with Jackson recommended as the “lowest responsible, responsive bidder” at $118,135. The other bids ranged as high as $215,125.

This close to the Christmas holidays, with Albany in the midst of a strong run in the 2-A state football playoffs, multiple early dismissals due to holidays and football games, and this week’s playoff game located over three hours away on a Thursday evening, Nancy Smith Elementary School principal Jonathan Scott, has had some calls from parents wondering if AISD will really hold classes this Friday, Dec. 14.

“Yes, classes will be at the normal times on Friday,” said Scott, who is also the incoming Albany Independent School District superintendent.

The junior high and elementary University Interscholastic League district meet originally planned for Thursday, Dec. 13 in Hawley was rescheduled to eliminate a conflict with the state semifinal football game between Albany and Gruver in Plainview that same day.

Several Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth graders and Albany Junior High students placed in the middle school division of the University Interscholastic League speaking events meet held last Thursday, Dec. 6 in Hawley. 

Other schools in District 8-2A are Haskell, Hawley, Roscoe, Cross Plains, and Stamford.

The speaking events portion of the UIL district event will be included with this week’s academic meet to determine overall school points. 

Results for those who placed first through sixth in the middle school speaking events are listed below:

Albany Independent School District will break for the Christmas holidays at noon next Friday, Dec. 21, and early releases on both Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 19 and 20 should help everyone survive the five-day-long week and make it to the anticipated vacation.

Next week, holiday celebrations are planned at the elementary school while end of semester tests will be given at the secondary campus.

“Semester exams are currently scheduled for Dec. 19, 20, and 21,” said AJSH principal Edward Morales. “High school students will be allowed to eat in the gym foyer during finals.”

Closet Angels will be closed over the Christmas holidays so that volunteers can take a break and spend time with their families, according to director Lori Reames.

“If the school is closed, we close as well, so that volunteers can spend time with their kids and grandkids,” said Reames. 

The local clothing ministry will be open on Monday, Dec. 17, and Wednesday, Dec. 19, before closing for the holidays. They will be closed until Jan. 7.

Updates are posted on the nonprofit’s Facebook page.