By Kathy Thomson
The 2019 Albany Chest annual campaign officially ended on Tuesday, Dec. 31, with a total of $39,211 raised as of Monday, Dec. 30, according to treasurer Paige Adair.
Although some year-end gifts may arrive in the next week or two, the drive is still short of the 2019 goal of $42,000 by almost $3,000.
The board will meet on Wednesday, Jan.8 to finalize disbursement amounts for the 24 various charities that applied for funds.
By Melinda L. Lucas
A solution for the deteriorating Rockhill voting site near Hamby was approved during a regular meeting of the Shackelford County commissioners on Monday, Dec. 23.
Precinct 4 commissioner Cody Jordan presented a $16,800 bid from Hawk Buildings for a 12x20 portable structure on skids that will be installed near the Rockhill School building, where county voting has been held for decades.
The abandoned school, with ownership currently being researched, has become unsuitable for public use.
By Melinda L. Lucas
School safety and security was the topic of a fairly lengthy discussion during the Albany ISD board of trustees’ meeting on Monday, Dec. 16.
Although no action was taken, superintendent Jonathan Scott presented some information about state grants and federal Title IV monies that are available.
By Kathy Thomson
Christmas is less than a week away, and as they have for the past 11 years, volunteers from Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church will make sure that no one in Albany misses out on the chance to enjoy a holiday meal on Christmas Day.
Church members are preparing a traditional dinner of turkey, beef tenderloin, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and dessert.
By Kathy Thomson
This Sunday afternoon, members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance along with volunteers from the community, will deliver the Alliance’s annual Christmas baskets to those in Albany and Moran who have requested home delivery of the food boxes, and those who wish to help spread some holiday cheer are invited to come to The Feed Store and join the gift giving.
“We always welcome extra helpers, and they can either deliver a route, or jump in and assist another group if all of the routes are covered,” said Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins.
With no Albany News scheduled for publication next week, readers and advertisers are reminded that all ads and news articles should be submitted the following week by Monday, Dec. 30 at 12:00 noon for the Jan. 2 issue of the paper.
Typically, the deadline is at 12:00 noon on Tuesdays, but because New Year’s Day falls on Wednesday, the staff plans to finish that issue earlier in order to comply with the print schedule.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Republic Services, trash pickup contractor for the City of Albany, will run on slightly different schedules for the next two weeks.
Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up on Wednesday, Dec. 25 will change to Thursday, Dec. 26.
Trash service will continue to be one day later than normal through the holiday week for both residential and business containers, with Saturday pickup planned for the usual Friday schedule.
The same timetable has been issued for the week of New Year’s.
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.
Food Drive
ResourceCare program assistant Ragan Riley has requested donations of non-perishable food items in time for the upcoming holiday.
“We would like to anyone who is able to do so, to donate non-perishable food items that we can distribute to those in need this Christmas season,” she said.
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.
The district will be closed for the winter break from Monday, Dec. 23 through Friday, Jan. 3.
A staff development day is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 6, and classes will resume at the normal times on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
AJSH
Semester finals are continuing through this Friday at the secondary campus.
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. Speaking events were held in Stamford on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The remaining academic contests took place at Hawley on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
UIL rules group second through fifth graders in the elementary division, and place sixth through eighth grade together in the middle school section.
