By Donnie A. Lucas

Anyone who doesn’t have plans for lunch on Christmas Day Sunday is invited to attend the annual Christmas Feast set for 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church.

This is the 14th year that the church has provided a meal for the community on Dec. 25.

“It is intended to provide fellowship on Christmas Day for those who may not have family in town for the holidays, or for anyone regardless of the circumstances who would like to come join us,” Tamara Trail, one of the event organizers said.

By Melinda L. Lucas

News readers and advertisers are asked to be aware that no newspaper will be published, either in print or online, the week after Christmas.

“There will not be an edition on Thursday, Dec. 29,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. “We hope we’ve given everyone ample notice that we’re going to take that week off to spend time with our families.”

All customers are asked to make sure they pick up their laundry and other weekend needs by Thursday afternoon. The office will be closed as usual on Friday.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The graves of over 560 veterans were decorated by family members and other volunteers at the Albany Cemetery last Saturday during the annual  Wreaths Across America Day program.

More than 65 volunteers and another 10 to 15 family members of veterans spread out to place the fresh green wreaths with red bows on local graves. This is the third year Albany has participated in the program.

By Donnie A. Lucas

While positive cases of COVID-19 are still being recorded at the two local health clinics, a larger number of flu cases have overshadowed those numbers in recent weeks, with the onset of the holiday season raising concerns.

According to the weekly report by county judge Bob Skelton, only three COVID-19 cases out of 12 tests were reported by the clinics for last week, but there were many more cases of the flu.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Discussions at Monday’s meeting of the Albany ISD board of trustees ranged from state championship football rings and stage floor renovation plans to downed telephone poles and semester finals.

The board met for less than a hour, starting with the required public hearing to formally announce the district’s score of 100 or A rating for superior achievement on the annual Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST).

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Shackelford County Hospital District board of directors met for a relatively brief session on Monday, Dec. 19, primarily taking care of approving bills, but also going over a few other items of business.

EMS director Mateo Millan proposed revising the employee handbook to change the wording from “can ask” to “can order” when a supervisor feels that drug screening of an employee is warranted.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The start of a new year is a time for celebrating, and local emergency responders remind county residents to make sure that any fireworks used in the festivities are handled safely and legally.

Although the county commissioners have lifted the county burn ban, at least temporarily, because of recent rainfall, there is still the opportunity for wildfires.

During September, on the late Robert Nail’s birth date, and on through the Albany High School homecoming week, support was sought during the annual fundraising drive for “Dollars for Bob’s Scholarships.”

However, the fundraising effort continues all through the year, and members of the Albany Ex-Students Association are asking Albany graduates and others to rememeber the fund in their end-of-year giving.

By Sam Waller

With the Shackelford Youth and Livestock Show just four weeks away, exhibitors are busy getting their animals ready, while members of the Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association are working to make the event a success.

The 2023 show is scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 19-21.

The association board met Tuesday, Dec. 6 to hash out final details and job assignments for the show. Association president Bronco Askew said there won’t be many changes to the show’s operation.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany students and staff started the Christmas break on Wednesday, gaining a few extra days this year due to some changes in the schedule.

The break started with an early-release on Wednesday, Dec. 22 and will continue until Monday, Jan. 9 for staff members. Students will return for the first day of class on Tuesday, Jan. 10 to start the second semester and the fourth six weeks.

Teachers are going back a day earlier for staff development and to plan for the new semester.