Wednesday around 11:00 am the big yellow Italy school bus from Stafford Elementary drove up to the Italy “DQ”. Lots of smiling faces and hungry pre-k and kindergarten students were ready for lunch. They had just spent the morning at the Italy City Park playing hard and having lots of fun.

Meals on Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties have released their meals menu for May 2010. These meals are subject to change.

Italy — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team lead by their four graduating seniors, Meredith Brummett, Cori Jeffords, Courtney Westbrook and Drew Windham, won their final District game of the season over the Frost Lady Polar Bears on Friday. It’s Playoff time!

I grew up in DeSoto, where I was a member of the graduating class of 1984. During the time I was in high school my family owned property between Italy and Frost, which we would come to on weekends. I moved to Italy in 1992. We built the Italy Daycare in 1986 and my mother was the owner/operator until 1996. I currently live between Italy and Frost.

The Italy City Council hired Scott Perry as the new public works director at a called council meeting Monday evening.

Carolyn Maevers (principal) started the assembly off by asking Stafford students, “Stafford Tigers are what?”, and the students replied, “number one.” Carolyn said, “You are! You are! Now we have started the assembly off right.” As always Ms. Maevers had lots of encouraging words for the Stafford students.

The Royal Ambassadors of Central Baptist Church enjoyed a night of fellowship, fun and friendly competition at the annual R.A. Racers event on April 14, 2010. A total of 18 cars were entered in the race and there were approximately 75 people in attendance to cheer for their favorite car.

Attention: IYAA parents, players, coaches and teachers, their will be no IYAA Softball/Baseball practices allowed until Thursday, April 29 after 5:00 p.m. once TAKS testing has been completed, no exceptions.

The Italy JV baseball team hosted Red Oak Life on Thursday night. This was their fourth game this season. The guys pooled their resources and managed to gain another win. The final score was Italy 13, Life 12.

Friday night was a special night at Davidson Field for the Italy varsity baseball team in more ways than one. Presentations of special guests included the seniors of the varsity team and Loyd Davidson, previous coach of the Italy Gladiator Baseball team for 7 years (1987-1994).

Everyone is invited to attend the Italy High School Band Booster meeting on Monday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. inside the Band Hall. The meeting will look ahead to next year and discuss any improvements that need to be made and set goals for the 2010-2011 school year.

Today, in front of the Uptown Cafe in downtown Italy, the Avalon Baptist Church is having a bake sale to raise money to fund a trip for 24 of their youngsters hoping to go to church camp at the Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment in Brownwood, Texas June 28 thru July 2.

The IYAA Opening Day home games, on April 24, have been cancelled due to muddy fields. Away games will still be played in Whitney only, all other towns have cancelled. Therefore, if you have an Italy team scheduled to play in Whitney today, those games are confirmed.

There will be a called meeting of the Italy City Council on Monday, April 26, 2010 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers of the Italy Municipal Building, 105 Main Street. Interviews of candidates for public works position is the lone agenda item for the meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

During National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties is proud to honor the organization’s dedicated community of volunteers who tackle the task of delivering meals to 700 clients each day, five days a week.

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental “teach-in” held on April 22, 1970. The second graders at Avalon ISD had fun celebrating Earth Day by planting a flower garden, a vegetable garden and getting closer to nature.

With the district race winding down, the Italy Lady Gladiators Softball team had a chance to secure sole possession of 1st place in the division on Tuesday. To make it happen, Italy would have to overpower the Hubbard Lady Jaguars who had already defeated the Lady Gladiators earlier this season, 5-2 in Hubbard.

There was quite the ho-down going on at Stafford Elementary Thursday morning around 8:30 am. Some of the cutest little second grade cow pokes you ever saw were ready and willing to sing their hearts out about their love of Texas and boy howdy, did they sing.

I have lived in Italy since 1971. My family and I live out in the country towards Frost. I attended both Italy ISD campuses, and walked the same halls that my children now walk. I own and operate a successful CDL Truck rental business that serves all of DFW

“We are district champions!” Italy Gladiators yelled in unison. According to head coach Matt Coker, “We are first in our district in I don’t know how long.” The Gladiators battled Frost Polar Bears on Tuesday night for the number one seed and and they accomplished what they started out to do.

Recently, Lady Gladiator head basketball coach Stacy McDonald touched up the 1997 State Champs basketball originally painted by Stevan McKey, a 1994 Italy alumnus, to honor the team after the Italy Gladiators made their dream a reality.

The Davidson Field was very busy Friday night. Besides Stafford Night At the Ballpark, the Italy Gladiator baseball team was hosting a district game against Oak Cliff Faith Family.

Congratulations to Alyssa Richards and Drew Windham who will be competing at the Regional Tennis meet today in Nacogdoches after giving it their all in a softball game last night.

You are not going to believe what was going on at Davidson Field Friday night. There was face painting, bubbles blowing, t-ball hitting, softball toss, line dancing and cotton candy. There was even a hot dog eating contest at home plate after the second inning. It was none other than Stafford Night at the Ballpark.

On Sunday, April 18, 2010, Joshua Milligan, son of Keith and Becky Milligan of Italy, was presented the 2010 Kayrene Uehlinger Scholarship at Central Baptist Church. Ronnie Clanton, a friend and classmate of Uehlinger, presented the scholarship on behalf of the Italy High School Class of 1968.

The Italy Lions Club held their 2nd annual BBQ Cook-off on Saturday, April 17th at the Upchurch baseball fields in Italy. Sponsored by the Lone Star BBQ Society, individuals and teams competed for fun and prizes all in support of the Italy Lions Club.

Tonight the Lady Gladiator Softball team plays in Italy at 7:00pm. They will not have face painters, nor will there be a hot-dog eating contest; but what there will be is a great game against a respected rival, the Hubbard Lady Jaguars. This contest will determine the top spot in the district. It is all on the line tonight. Please come and support your Lady Gladiators as they battle for #1.

Waxahachie — Italy High School’s prom theme was, “Black Tie Affair 2010.” Held at the Waxahachie Country Club on Saturday, couples and friends began arriving around 7:00 p.m. By 7:30 p.m., the prom party was officially hopping.

Thursday night at 7:00 pm the Stafford Elementary’s lunch room was transformed into a live circus scene. Pre-k and kindergarten students were starring in the “Big Top Circus.” Everywhere you looked you saw the cutest little clowns, acrobats, stunt riders, elephants, jugglers, lions, tightrope walkers and we mustn’t forget the ringmaster.

While it was “Stafford Night At The Ballpark” during the Gladiator baseball game back in Italy, it was “Lady Gladiators Night” at the ballpark in Dawson as Italy’s Darlings of the Diamond played softball toss, went slipping and sliding around the bases and participated in the loudest cheer challenge. The team even had a dugout dance contest with Coach Andrea Windham stealing 1st place.

On Monday, April 19 the Italy ISD Board of Trustees will have their regular monthly meeting. The meeting will be held in the Band Hall of the Italy High School campus (300 College) and will begin at 7:00pm. Agenda items include staff resignations, the 2010-2011 school calendar, a budget amendment and the student athlete insurance carrier.

Have an appetite for BBQ? Tomorrow, Saturday, April 17th will be your lucky day. The Italy Lions Club is having their second annual BBQ Cook-off, sponsored by the Lone Star BBQ Society.

What a performance! — The Italy High School Boys and Girls Track Teams competed in nine different events at the Area Track Meet in Alvarado on Wednesday. Italy advanced to Regional in eight of those events and head track coach Stephen Coleman smiled all the way back to Italy in his big yellow bus.

The Ellis County Expo came like a whirlwind, as it always does, and is gone in a flash. However, left standing were winners of all categories and levels. From pigs to shop projects, the students in Ellis County 4-H and FFA came from Ennis, Waxahachie, Palmer, Midlothian, Red Oak, Maypearl, Milford, Ferris, and, of course, Italy.

The Italy Gladiators met up with Waxahachie Advantage at the Waxahachie Athletic Complex on Tuesday night for their second district game. Italy dominated in both offense and defense. Jasenio Anderson pitched 3 innings before the game was called by run rule. The final score was Italy 19, Waxahachie Advantage 1.

Hubbard — With Nike, the Greek God of victory, Hermes, the Roman God of athletes/sport and Victoria, the Roman Goddess of victory, watching from above, the Italy Junior High Lady Gladiators and Gladiators entered the District track meet in conquering fashion.

1 Comment

The Italy High School Varsity and JV Track Teams represented the old gold and white in style by turning in stellar performance during the District Track Meet in Hubbard last Thursday. In fact, Italy’s athletes were doing so well, it didn’t take head track coach Stephen Coleman long to realize the Gladiators would be taking a bus to the Area Meet in Alvarado.

The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team tested their might against the 4A TAPPS Waco Reicher Lady Cougars (25-3) on Monday after the JV Lady Gladiators wrapped up their season against the JV Lady Cougars, both games in Italy.