Every year during Christmas season, Samaritan’s Purse, a global evangelical Christian ministry, provides “Christmas Shoeboxes” for needy children worldwide. Since 1993, the ministry has collected and delivered over 220 million shoeboxes, to children in over 170 countries.

A first Albion Toy Show was held Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Cardinal Inn Event Center in Albion. The show was organized and staged by Linda, Aaron and Dan Hamling, and they are hoping to make it an annual event in Albion. This year’s show featured 14 exhibitors, with many collectors attending. The show next year will be held Nov. 9.

On Saturday evening, the Petersburg Fire Department and Rescue Unit held their annual awards night and banquet. Among the awards was a special golden axe plaque presented by Fire Chief Baumgartner. Lieutenant Rod Stuhr has faithfully served the department as a fireman for over 30 years, first as a fireman and for many years as a department training officer. He also has served the Rescue Unit as an EMR for many of those years. Other awards presented went to Boomer Baumgartner and Dean Pelster who received gold watches for their 30 years of service to the department. The Stuhr family has a long-time tradition of supporting the Petersburg Fire Department. Shirley Stuhr also spent hours assisting with the bookkeeping duties during Vet’s term as Chief. Holding the axe plaque are (l. to r.) Derek Stuhr, Vet Stuhr-retired Fire Chief, and Rod Stuhr.

Bill Schriver, an active member of the Albion community for more than 50 years, was named the 2024 Living Veteran by local veterans’ organizations at Monday’s Veterans Day ceremony in the Boone Central Gym.