Albany residents will soon be seeing red as the annual Red Ribbon anti-drug campaign kicks off next Monday morning.

The annual “Red Ribbon Campaign” has been officially set for Oct. 22-26 at the Albany school district. 

This is the 30th straight year that the event, which is designed to draw as much attention as possible to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse and its prevention, has been conducted locally. 

The national theme for 2018 is “Life Is Your Journey, Travel Drug Free.” 

Members of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department will help educate local school children about fire safety this Friday, Oct. 19.

Local firemen will make a presentation at the Albany elementary campus on Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. to speak with the kindergarten through sixth graders, according to fire chief Kyle Tischler. 

A presentation for the Headstart and pre-K kids will also take place, but was not yet scheduled as of press time.

Ember, the chief’s fire dog, is expected to be on hand to greet the students.

The Albany High School Ragin’ Red band will compete at the UIL East Zone Region 6 Marching Contest at Wylie Bulldog Stadium in Abilene on Monday, Oct. 22.

The competition begins at 2:45 p.m., with the Albany group’s performance scheduled for 3:00 p.m. 

The contest program is Rise of the Phoenix, according to AHS band director John Stockdale.

The band director is concerned that the band will not be rated as high as usual.

Levi and Ashlee Herron recently resigned from their positions as youth ministers at The Feed Store, and the local youth ministry is hoping to continue offering as many of the regular events as possible in spite of the vacancy.

“Tuesday lunches are still in full force,” said Feed Store director Tisha Wilkins. “MMPC has us covered this month, and coach (Paul) Johnston, with FCA and Friendship Baptist will be here next month. We are so excited to have a new group join us.”

The annual Trunk or Treat sponsored by the Albany Ministerial Alliance will take place at Nancy Smith Elementary School in conjunction with the PTO Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 27 this year, a change from the traditional Wednesday evening gathering by the Bank Park.

Coordinators’ plans call for Trunk or Treat vehicles to be parked in the grassy area between the elementary school and the bus barn, with Trunk or Treat scheduled to be open from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m.

Closet Angels, a local clothing ministry, is run by volunteers, and once again director Lori Reames has adjusted the hours that the ministry will be open to the public in order to try and best accommodate both shoppers and the work staff.

The facility will now close at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Shopping times on Monday evenings are being added.

Fort Griffin Living History Days took place last weekend and the annual event drew a sizable number of area students on Friday in spite of the soggy ground.

“We were determined to have our annual Living History Days rain or shine this weekend,” said event specialist Eric Abercrombie. “We ended up with over 500 students and teachers on Friday, and just a few sprinkles.” 

Although the historic fort was open to the public on Saturday, Living History was cancelled.

The Albany News’ 13th annual holiday recipe section will be published in just a little less than a month, with favorite recipes being solicited from all ages of current and former Albany and Moran chefs and bakers.

“We’ve had really good response since we started publishing the recipe guides, and we’re looking forward to getting this one underway,” said News editor Melinda Lucas. 

A variety of recipes, from appetizers and beverages to desserts are being requested.

Members of Shifters Car Club checked calendars and the weather forecast, and made the decision to cancel their annual Truck Show this year.

“By the time we could work it in, it would be so late in the year that we decided to cancel it,” said organizer Robert Snyder. “We’ll try to do it again next year, but we may have to move the date.” 

The truck show was rained out twice this year, both on the originally planned date of Saturday, Sept. 22, and on the scheduled rain-out day on Saturday, Oct. 13.

All parents of students attending Albany schools are requested to volunteer and help with the annual Parent-Teacher Organization’s Fall Fest next weekend, and local room mothers are working with coordinator Malarie Sutton to finalize plans for the fundraising event.

The Fall Fest benefits all grades, even through high school, and all parents and teachers are asked to help.