Twenty-one sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students from the Albany Independent School District are competing at a UIL contest in Stamford on Thursday, Dec. 6, along with youth from Haskell, Hawley, Cross Plains, and Roscoe.

The youth of Beltway East Student Ministry hosted its annual Legacy Dinner on Dec. 5 at the Beltway East Student Ministry building.  The invited guests were treated to a full holiday spread including turkey, ham, and the works, according to sponsor Lorna Ayers.

A group of local youth is planning a ski trip to Crested Butte, Colorado and participants are hoping to raise some funds with a Christmas Fiesta dinner.

The adult choir for the Albany Nativity can still use a few more voices, according to choir director Sandy Abel. “We could use some more people,” Abel. “It is not too late! There are not that many pieces to learn, and some of them are carols that most people are familiar with.”

Only three weeks remain before the end of the annual Albany Chest campaign and the amount raised as of Monday, Dec. 3 was $25,107, according to treasurer Paige Adair, leaving the drive still $16,893 short of the $42,000 goal set by the directors for the 2018 campaign.

Albany’s Cause for Paws’ mission is to give an affordable option to pet owners to get their cats and dogs fixed, according to the non-profit’s president Lacey Anderson, but that mission comes at a price.

Members of the local community have worked together to organize a special event and everyone is invited to gather around the big tree in downtown Moran for lighting of the tree and Christmas caroling at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, and then head to the Community Center to visit with Santa and Mrs....

Several activities are crowded into the final two weeks of the fall semester at Moran including, of course, exams, but also classroom Christmas parties, a visit from Santa Claus, UIL contests, basketball games, the annual PTO holiday meal, and gathering presents for the Angel Tree.

The First Baptist Church of Moran’s Kool Kidz will have a Happy Birthday Jesus party on Wednesday, Dec. 12, beginning at 6:30 p.m.   “Each class will do a short program then we will serve refreshments,” said organizer Jo Hise. — —

Weekly printing of The Albany News continues to be a moving target with the usual press at the Abilene Reporter-News (ARN) still out of commission because of a Nov. 15 fire.