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.

The Hendrick Regional Blood Center bloodmobile will be at First Baptist Church on the first Thursday of the new year, Jan. 2, from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Hendrick Regional Blood Center supplies all of the blood and blood products used for patient care at 17 area hospitals.

By Kathy Thomson The former Shekinah office building, located catty-corner to the post office and near the Depot, is being re-purposed into a long-awaited senior citizens center, but funding is still needed to complete the transformation.

By Kathy Thomson The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association met last Tuesday, Dec. 10, to finalize plans for this year’s stock show, and with a large number of entries expected, the annual fundraising drive has begun.

By Melinda L. Lucas A new board member was sworn in during a very brief meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District directors on Monday, Dec. 16.

By Melinda L. Lucas A large crowd attended a book signing of Heavy Date Over Germany: The Life and Times of B-17 Tail Gunner Ray Perry on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at the Shackelford County Library, including the subject’s son, former Texas governor Rick Perry, who wrote the foreword.

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will meet as usual this week on Dec. 20 at the Icehouse. The weekly luncheon has been cancelled for the holidays on Dec. 27. On Friday, Jan. 3, the 12:00 noon meetings move to the Beehive for the first two months of 2020.

By Kathy Thomson Texas dove hunters have an opportunity to bag the migratory game birds over the Christmas holiday season, starting this Friday, Dec. 20. Dove season in Texas this year is Sept. 1-Nov. 12, and Dec. 20-Jan. 5.

By Kathy Thomson Friday, Dec. 20 is the final day of the third six weeks period, the end of the fall semester, and the beginning of the two-week long Christmas vacation for students attending school in Moran.

Will LeMay finished third in the average in the 12 and under tie down roping at the Tuf Cooper Jr. World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada last Wednesday, Dec. 11. LeMay qualified for the exclusive event by placing in the top 25 in his division at participating rodeos throughout the year.