By Sandy Morris

The 2020 Believe Tree for Teens applications have been received and have been disbursed among several local churches.

Ministerial Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins said the total number of applications submitted was down this year. 

“We had a total of 43 teen applications,” said Wilkins. “Of those 43, 28 were from Albany and 15 were from Moran.”

Ornaments with the teens’ wish lists can be found at First Methodist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, and the Church of Christ. 

By Sandy Morris

The First United Methodist Women are hosting a chili fundraiser this Sunday, Dec. 6 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.

The chili fundraiser will be take-out orders only with no indoor dining allowed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Offerings of both chili and beans will be frozen when picked up. 

A one-quart bag of chili is $10.50 and a one-quart bag of beans is $1.50. 

Tickets may be purchased from any UMW member.

By Sandy Morris

The deadline to apply for a Christmas basket from the Albany Ministerial Alliance has passed, and now the process of preparing the deliveries begins. 

Applications were due by Dec. 1, but county citizens can still apply. 

“We received a total of 110 applications,” said Ministeral Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins. “ Of those 110 applications, 67 were from Albany and 43 were from Moran. 

While the deadine has passed, Wilkins said families can still apply, but they are not guaranteed to receive a delivery.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Despite ongoing coronavirus restrictions, blood is still needed, and a blood drive is scheduled to take place in Albany next Thursday afternoon, Dec. 10.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center (formerly Meek Blood Center) will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center is now offering COVID-19 antibody testing at no charge for donors who successfully donate.

By Sandy Morris

The Christmas season is typically an extremely busy time of year for the United States Postal Service, and this year already promises to be busier than previous years. 

The Albany Post Office already is handling an increased volume of packages, and they need for customers to continue to pick them up in a timely manner.

By Sandy Morris

The deadline to apply for a $100 Brookshire’s gift card courtesy of the CARES Act is fast approaching. 

At the suggestion of mayor Susan Montgomery, the city council, working in conjunction with city manager Billy Holson and local Brookshire’s store director Curt Manning, established a grocery gift card distribution process. 

“This is a way the city is reaching out to our citizens during the holiday time since this year has been very trying on everyone,” said Montgomery, who encouraged anyone affected by the pandemic to apply.

By Melinda L. Lucas

With what is being referred to as “the second wave” of coronavirus sweeping across the nation, Shackelford County seems to be experiencing its own smaller version of  the surge, even though official numbers reported Tuesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services show only four new cases of COVID-19 and five active cases on the list.

However, Shackelford County Health Clinic has tested 21 positive patients in the past three weeks, according to county judge Robert Skelton.

By Sandy Morris

After much discussion and research, Albany city officials have finalized plans to use the remaining funds of the CARES Act allocation, with $100 grocery gift cards to be distributed to local residents and city employees on Saturday, Dec. 5. 

The city was originally allocated $108,000 through the CARES Act funding, and at their most recent meeting on Nov. 9, council members voted to set aside the last $25,000 to use for public health.

Republic Services, Albany’s trash pickup contractor, will run on a slightly different schedule for the week of Thanksgiving.

Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up on Thursday will change to Friday this week. 

Normal Friday residential service will be on Saturday. Small containers will be picked up on either Friday or Saturday. 

By Sandy Morris

While the days of poring over a catalog of Christmas toys are long gone, children are still making lists for Santa.

The Albany News will be printing Santa letters and holiday essays in the Christmas issue to be published on Thursday, Dec. 24. 

Albany and Moran students will be writing letters at school which will be submitted to the News by their teachers. 

Children at other local facilities, such as First Love Day Care, also will be assisted by their instructors in writing their Santa letters.