By Sam Waller

ResourceCare collected almost 7,000 cans of food to benefit food banks in Albany and Cross Plains through its Battle of the Schools Food Drive.

“It went better than we could have hoped for,” ResourceCare program assistant Ragan Riley said.

Students collected food throughout the month of October. Results were announced on Friday.

Albany students collected 1,330 cans. Brittani Lefevre’s fourth grade class collected 262 cans, the most of any class at either AISD campus.

By Donnie A. Lucas

An induction ceremony for new members to the Albany chapter of the National Honor Society has been set for Sunday, Nov. 21.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will start at 2:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Officers of the organization will conduct the program, including reviewing the meaning of the four principals of the society and the introduction and pinning of the new members.

A list of new members will be published next week, since the selection process had not been completed at press time this week.

By Sam Waller

Congregations from Albany’s First Christian Church, First Baptist Church, and First United Methodist Church are participating in the Samaritan’s Purse annual Operation Christmas Child.

Members are asked to fill shoeboxes, which are available at each church, with Christmas gifts for  underprivileged children.

“It’s a fun thing to do with your kids or grandkids,” said First Christian pastor Brad McBee, who coordinates the effort locally.

McBee added that the project is not limited to church members.

By Sam Waller

Friendship Baptist Church will hold its fifth annual Harvest Acres bazaar on Nov. 20.

The event has been scheduled for the Saturday before Thanksgiving since its inception. This year’s Harvest Acres will start at 9:00 a.m. at the church’s Activity Center located at 600 Greer Street.

The bazaar will offer various craft items and Christmas decorations, as well as a silent auction. 

Stew and chili will be offered for take-out throughout the event, with donations accepted

By Donnie A. Lucas

With the arrival of cooler temperatures, a special donation drive to collect blankets for senior citizens to be able to stay warm over the winter has reached a little less than half of the goal.

Organized by Albany resident Stephen Gleitz, about 60 new blankets had been collected as of Monday as the last week of the drive started. A goal of 150 blankets was set to be able to cover local senior citizens.

Originally, a deadline of Sunday, Nov. 14 was set, but donations will continue to be accepted next week.

By Melinda L. Lucas

A handmade quilt is being raffled in memory of the late Carolyn Guinn Waller, local educator, librarian, volunteer, city council member, and avid quilter.

The Prairieland Quilters, of which Waller was a member, recently designed a multi-colored queen-sized quilt with appliqued flowers. They are selling raffle tickets to raise funds for a wood and stone memorial bench, similar to the ones placed throughout the downtown area.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Everyone in the community is invited to a night of praise and worship at The Feed Store this Sunday, Nov. 14.

According to Feed Store executive director Tisha Wilkins, a live band featuring Kirk House of Abilene will provide music for about an hour starting at 6:30 p.m.

All ages are welcome, including junior high and high school students, their parents, and members of the community.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Independent School District will hold its Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Nov. 18.

The event is open to all community members.

Meals will cost $3.83 for adults and $3.09 for students.

Pre-K and kindergarten students will start lunch at 11:00 a.m. and will eat in their classrooms. First through fifth grades will start lunch at the same time in the cafeteria, followed by junior high (sixth through eighth grades) at 11:45 a.m. and high school at 12:30 p.m.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Independent School District has been designated a District of Innovation, giving it more local control and flexibility.

Moran ISD superintendent John Denson said the district was notified by the Texas Education Agency Oct. 20 that the district’s application was approved .

“It gives us more opportunities to make our own decisions that will benefit us on the local level,” Denson said.

The superintendent said the district will have more freedom in such areas as setting the school calendar and hiring personnel.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for a festive holiday season with several events on tap.

Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said Albany Bucks tickets, the Lighted Christmas Parade, and memorial ornament sales are once again on the calendar.

Jones said the Chamber is looking for volunteers to help put up holiday decorations through downtown and along Main Street on Nov. 20. Anyone interested in helping is asked to be in the downtown area at 9:00 a.m.

Christmas Parade