This Sunday, Dec. 2, there will be a Celebration of Remembrance at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church, and everyone is invited to attend and take a few minutes to honor family, friends, and other loved ones who have passed on.

“A highlight of the service includes an opportunity for each person attending to say the name or have the name read of the individual(s) they want to honor,” said organizer Debbie Hamilton. “Then they can light a candle for them. The candle can be taken home after the service.”

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Taylor County will be hosting the 2018 Abilene Area Pecan Show on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 3-4, with the entries on public display from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, and an Awards Program starting at 6:00 p.m. that same evening. 

The show will include a Pecan Nut Division, as well as a Pecan Bake Show Division. Residents of Callahan, Fisher, Jones, Nolan, Shackelford and Taylor Counties are invited to submit their pecans and baked goods for competition and judging.

Friday, Nov. 30 is the last day for fifth and sixth grade girls and boys to sign up to play in the Albany Little Dribblers Association youth basketball league, and both the completed form and the $35 registration fee must be turned in to the Nancy Smith Elementary School office or given to league organizer Clint Chapman by the deadline.

“The deadline is a little earlier than it was last year,” Chapman said. “We are planning to practice throughout the month of December.”

A tournament in Albany on Saturday, Jan. 12 will start the season.

Photo packages of local flag football teams and individuals have been printed and are now available.

Parents who paid in advance or who have valid accounts can pick up their packages at The Albany News office.

Others can be ordered when they are paid.

The December Moran city council meeting has been rescheduled, according to city secretary Jackie Wallace.

The Moran city council normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month, but next month they will meet on Dec. 11, the second Tuesday instead.

“Due to the proximity to Christmas, council members determined that it should be moved up a week,” said Wallace. 

The Moran city council meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Moran City Hall, 340 Fisher Street. 

After weeks of interviews and deliberation, Albany ISD trustees unanimously selected local elementary principal Jonathan Scott as the district’s lone finalist, topping a list of 41 applicants for the post of superintendent.

The action came at the end of a closed session on Monday, Nov. 19, following a series of other closed meetings over the past month, most of them involving lengthy interviews.

According to interim superintendent Doyleen Terrell, the board met with nine of the 39 applicants, calling three back for a second interview.

Donations of $2,825 were made to the Albany Chest last week, bringing the total contributed toward the 2018 campaign goal of $42,000 up to $24,257. 

Twenty-six different organizations, including two new applicants, submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board.

“The Chest continues to be a great way to support our community and the organizations who benefit our community so much,” board vice president Donnie Lucas said. “Even $5, $10, and $20 donations add up and help a lot if everyone who can contributes something.”

Two Shackelford County 4-H members were among the participants at the District 7 4-H Food Show held Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene. 

Johnnie Hise took fourth in the Senior Main Dish category with her Olive Garden Lasagna Re-creation.

Riley Reames competed in the Intermediate Main Dish category with her Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad.

The local Toys for Tots annual campaign got underway last week and members of Albany High School’s National Honor Society joined coordinator Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty to prepare and serve the annual fundraising luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Youth Center.

“We had around $600 contributed at the meal, which is less than what was given last year,” Beaty said. “However, we did have some toys donated at the event. Overall, the meal was a success, since the food was donated by the NHS members and area grocery stores, so everything that was raised can be applied to the program.”

Signup is underway for local fifth and sixth grade boys and girls that want to play in Albany’s youth basketball league, according to organizer Clint Chapman.

“The deadline to sign up is Friday, Nov. 30,” Chapman said. “It’s a little earlier than it was last year.”

The registration fee is $35, and signup forms were sent home with students earlier this week. The fee and completed paperwork should be returned to the elementary school office or given to Chapman by the Nov. 30 deadline.