Local residents can help the Abilene Salvation Army with Thanksgiving meals by bringing homemade or purchased pies to the First United Methodist fellowship hall by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

By Kathy Thomson Once again this year, members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance have organized a Christmas basket drive, and applications for the holiday food boxes are currently available at the Resource Center and at several of the local churches.

By Melinda L. Lucas Friendship Baptist Church invites everyone to attend their “Harvest Acres” on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The gift and food bazaar will offer baked and craft items for sale. Benches and other larger items will be offered in a silent auction.

By Melinda L. Lucas Members of the community and of all local church congregations are invited to gather Sunday, Nov. 24 for the traditional community-wide Thanksgiving service. The program is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Albany Church of Christ.

By Kathy Thomson Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce are getting organized for the upcoming Christmas season with plans that include decorating the downtown area and hosting special events including prize drawings and a lighted parade on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lion football team is having to wait another week to attempt to hit the 700-win mark for the program after a surprising 66-20 loss last Friday in Hamlin that broke both a district winning streak and district championship run.

By Donnie A. Lucas Despite jumping out with a win in the first game, the Lady Lion volleyball team came up short in the area playoff against Miles on Saturday in Eastland.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Cubs and Lady Cubs will start the basketball season during the next week, with a couple of squads playing in the Woodson Tournament on Saturday. The combined boys B team is supposed to play on Saturday in the tournament, along with the seventh grade girls.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Albany seventh and eighth grade Cubs ended the season last Thursday with a pair of victories. The eighth grade team defeated Hamlin’s combined junior high squad 38-15, while the seventh graders shut out Haskell 44-0.

By Donnie A. Lucas The JV Lions finished the football season undefeated with a perfect 10-0 record after shutting out Hamlin last Thursday, 36-0. Samuel Rosas opened the scoring for the Lions with a 20-yard touchdown run, followed by the two-point run by Caden Price.