Because Christmas falls on Tuesday this year, Republic Services, trash pickup contractor for the City of Albany, will run on a slightly different schedule for the week of Christmas.

The Oil Belt District banquet and district talent contest were held last Monday, Dec. 3 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene and local FFA members were in attendance.

Parents who applied for Toys for Tots should have picked up their kids’ presents at the Youth Center this Wednesday. “We sorted the gifts by families, and had them ready for parents to pick them up,” said Resource Care case worker Makenzie Marshall. “We don’t wrap them.

The Albany Lions defeated Hamlin 41-28 in the quarterfinals last week, and the Albany Athletic Booster Club invites local fans to continue showing their belief in the 2018 Lion varsity football team by joining the community send-off this Thursday morning, Dec. 13, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bank Park.

The varsity Lady Lions lost two of three games in the Breckenridge Tournament last week last week to go to 8-6 for the season. Albany was scheduled to host Ranger on Tuesday, but the game was moved back a day due to the sudden death over the weekend of a school coach.

Moran students are expecting a visit from Santa Claus this Friday, Dec. 14, but locals have already given his elves a little help. “All of the Angels have been picked off of the Angel Tree,” said administrative assistant Jeannie TenCate.

Certified eligible families in Moran should pick up their December commodity food this Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Delivery to Moran, originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 6, was postponed due to wet weather.

Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers in Texas have new online options to access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.

The next regular test of the local emergency siren is scheduled for 12:00 noon, on Wednesday, Dec. 12, depending on the weather.  The regular trial is scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month, but the siren is not tested if the weather is questionable.

Twenty-six of the 29 Albany High seniors qualified to attend the upcoming annual College Pie Party that counselor Dee Dee Waggoner arranges every year to reward students that submit a college application early in their graduating year.