By Sandy Morris

Students at the Albany Independent School District inched closer to their Christmas break with early dismissals at 12:30 p.m. beginning yesterday and continuing today, Thursday, Dec. 17 and Friday, Dec. 18.

Students will be off for the Christmas break from Monday, Dec. 21 through Monday, Jan. 4, which is a holiday for students and a staff development day for teachers. 

Both students and staff will return to school on Tuesday, Jan. 5 with classes at AISD resuming at the usual times.

By Sandy Morris

There are three weeks left in the annual Albany Chest campaign, and although the drive is now more than halfway to the top of the “thermometer,” contributions are badly needed in order to meet the 2020 fundraising goal of $41,000. 

The goal was set by the directors at the start of the campaign after they reviewed the submitted funding requests from 25 organizations. 

The total donated as of Tuesday, Dec. 15 was $23,935. 

By Sandy Morris

With the holidays just around the corner, holiday schedules are being announced.

City Hall

The Albany City Hall will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday. 

The city also will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.

Library

The Shackelford County Library will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas and also will be closed on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year’s Eve and Day. 

Carolyn Guinn Waller, age 68 of Albany, passed away at home on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. A memorial service was held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at the outdoor pavilion of the Albany Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Melton-Kitchens Funeral Home of Breckenridge.

Republic Services, trash pickup contractor for the City of Albany, will run its regular schedule for the week of Christmas.

Residential trash containers and business and industrial containers normally picked up Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 will run as scheduled.

Trash pickup also will remain as scheduled on New Year’s Eve with residential, business and industrial containers being picked up  on the regularly scheduled date.

By Sandy Morris

The 11th annual Christmas Feast will be held Friday, Dec. 25 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church fellowship hall and ending at 1:30 p.m. 

The dinner is still free to the public, and anyone is welcome to receive food. However, this year there will be no dine-in option due to COVID concerns

One of the organizers, James Breeden, announced the menu for the feast, which includes a choice of brisket or fried turkey, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and dessert.

By Sandy Morris

The Albany Chamber of Commerce continues to stay busy promoting the local community and businesses as Christmas draws nearer.

Memorial Ornaments

Residents are reminded that it isn’t too late to purchase a personalized ornament for the Shackelford County Memorial Tree. 

The cost of each ornament is $5, and the name of the person to be memorialized will be placed on it before the ornament is hung on the Christmas tree. 

By Sandy Morris

With Christmas a week away, local churches have announced their traditional Christmas activities scheduled for the holiday.

First Christian 

First Christian Church will hold a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight communion service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24.

Friendship Baptist

Friendship Baptist Church will hold its Christmas service on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m.

The service will include the Lord’s Supper and a candlelight service.

By Sandy Morris

With the help of local volunteers, members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance distributed almost all of the requested Christmas baskets on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Last week, Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth grade students, Albany High School ag classes, and members of the AHS National Honor Society divided the canned goods and other staples into the bags.

On Sunday afternoon, workers at The Feed Store assembly location added perishable items to finish filling the food baskets. 

By Sandy Morris

Local citizens still have time to “adopt” a local teacher from a Christmas tree sponsored by the AJHS Academic Booster Club as the deadline has been extended.

 “We still have 17 teachers/staff left on the trees who have requested items, but have not been selected,” said Rise and Shine committee member Heather Brown. “This is a great opportunity to encourage the teachers/staff who love, care for, and educate our students each and every day.”