By Sam Waller
Moran basketball teams had a busy week with both boys and girls varsity teams making their first tournament appearances.
The Bulldogs started the week against Strawn Nov. 30 before competing in the Woodson tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs played in the Breckenridge tournament after dealing with schedule changes.
Both boys and girls will play in the Lueders-Avoca tournament this weekend.
Girls Games
Johney Ray Alexander, age 63 Albany, passed away Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 9 at Albany Cemetery.
Johney Ray Alexander was born Sept. 17, 1958 in Albany at the old hospital to William Alfred Alexander and Betty Jean McKee Alexander.
He had a passion for fishing, going to the casino and playing bingo. He also enjoyed hunting, wolves, and eagles.
Johney was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Alexander; and one nephew, James Alexander.
Albany News publisher Donnie Lucas announced this week that there will not be an edition published on Dec. 30 during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
“We’ve decided to take that week off and be able to enjoy our family more during the holidays,” said Lucas.
There have only been a few times in 45 years of Lucas ownership that there hasn’t been a weekly paper.
By Melinda L. Lucas
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. 23.
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.
By Sam Waller
For the second year in a row, the elements were a factor in the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s Small Town Saturday celebration, but this time it didn’t rain on their parade.
Twelve floats participated in the Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday despite damp conditions.
“Considering it was raining all day and misting during the parade, I thought we had a fantastic turnout,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said.
While the parade went off as planned, Jones said some concessions had to be made to the conditions.
By Donnie A. Lucas
No new candidates started11 the filing process for county posts since last week, with the filing deadline set for Monday, Dec. 13 at 6:00p.m.
County and district Clerk Cheri Hawkins said Tuesday that a couple of the candidates who have taken petitions to have them signed by registered voters in lieu of the filing fee are ready to have the signatures verified.
By Sam Waller
Albany Live will present the first concert of its live music series on Wednesday, Dec. 8, with Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis performing a holiday-themed program at the Aztec Theater.
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the performance to start at 7:30 p.m.
“It should be a great holiday show,” Albany Live president Michaela Smith said. “Bruce and Kelly will be playing some of their music and also some holiday music. We’re really excited to have them for our first show.”
By Sam Waller
Albany postmaster Laura Gilbreath is encouraging U.S. Postal Service customers to get a jump on mailing packages to ensure deliveries of Christmas presents before Christmas Day.
Gilbreath said the Albany Post Office will maintain its regular hours through Dec. 23.
“We will be closing at noon on Christmas Eve,” she said.
Gilbreath said packages posted by Dec. 17 should arrive at their destination before the holiday.
“After that, we can’t guarantee that packages will get there on time,” she said.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Pick-up dates for the November distribution of the commodity food program are Thursday, Dec. 2 and Friday, Dec. 3.
Certified families in Moran should pick up their monthly commodity food at the Moran City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 2.
Albany families or individuals who are on the list can pick up their commodities at the rear door of the JP office next to the courthouse from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
By Melinda L. Lucas
The phone number for volunteers to call if they want to help to lay wreaths on local veterans’ graves later this month was incorrect in last week’s paper.
Those who want to participate in the Dec. 18 National Wreaths Across America Day are asked to contact Saundra Nobles at 325-280-7725.
This is the second year that the Albany community has honored veterans buried at the Albany cemetery. Melinda and Henry Musselman have spearheaded the project, with Nobles’ assistance.
