Thegravesofmorethan 600 veterans were decorated by family members and other volunteers at the Albany Cemetery last Saturday during the annual Wreaths Across America Day program. More than 50 volunteers and several family members of veterans fanned out across the cemetery to place fresh green wreaths with red bows on the graves of all identified veterans.

Three Albany homes were declared the winners of the Albany Chamber of Commerce Christmas decorating contest, with each receiving Albany Bucks for their efforts. The Bryce and Tiffany Dye home at 12 Griffin Circle was picked by the judges as the first place winner,receivinganaward of $100 in Albany Bucks.

Because Christmasfalls on Monday this year, government offices will close both that day and the day after for holiday observances. Shackelford County offices will be closed Monday, Dec.

Moran elementary students claimedsixfirst-place finishes, including two team wins, in elementary UIL academic contests. “We were very excited and very pleased with the work the students put in to get those places,” Moran principal Jo Hise said.

The sounds of Christmas will be featured at the annual Albany Christmas Band concert on Sunday starting at 2:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

All kinds of favorite songs – from all kinds of genres – were in the air Saturday night during a musical performance called “I Love That Song!,” presented by a group of local singers to benefit the Aztec Theater and share local talent.

Only about 75 tickets still remain for a performance by Gary P. Nunn slated for Saturday, Nov.

TheChristmasshopping season started this week in Albany with participating merchants handing entry tickets for drawings to be held on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Eleven new members were inducted into the Albany chapter of the National Honor Society last Sunday, Nov. 12 at the high school auditorium.

Nancy Smith Elementary School fifth graders packed a lot of activities into a three-day, two-night field trip last week when they took part in the Camp Grady Spruce Outdoor EducationProgramatPossum Kingdom Lake. Accompanying the 34 students were NSES principal John Gallagher and teachers Leslie Neve, Candy Balliew, and William Vaughan.