Italy Head Softball Coach Jennifer Reeves utilized two pitchers, Courtney Westbrook and Megan Richards, to keep Mildred’s hitters off balance in this one. The strategy worked and the Lady Gladiators pulled out another win in front of their home fans on Saturday.

Jessie and Kimberly Zambrano of Bardwell are proud to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Kimberly Nichole Zambrano of Waldo, Arkansas to Tyrel Gregory Nuttall of Waldo, Arkansas, son of Greg and Carol Nuttall of Dierks, Arkansas.

The Italy Gladiator Varsity was visiting Waxahachie Faith Family at the Waxahachie Sports Complex on Friday. This is the second time this season they have faced each other in district play. As the game unfolded, it became evident this Italy baseball club cannot be stopped. By the second inning, the Gladiators were in the lead by 4 and by the final inning, the boys ran over the Eagles 16-0.

Members of Italy High School’s FCCLA (Family Career Community Leaders of America), under the guidance of Ann Hyles who will be retiring after 39 years of service and support to the students of Italy High School, made a strong showing themselves at the Ellis County Youth Expo.

Fourteen students from Italy High School will compete in 16 events at the regional academic UIL competition Saturday, April 24, at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches. Three additional students will attend as alternates in four events.

Results from the Houston Livestock Show™ prove Italy ISD scramble heifer participants are outstanding in their field. Italy’s cowboys and cowgirls rounded up several honors after working many months to earn their places competing among the finest junior livestock competitors in the state.

Carrie McDonnall, modern-day, persecuted Christian missionary, has been invited to speak at Central Baptist Church on Sunday, April 11, at the 10:45 a.m. service. Carrie is also the nationally recognized author of Facing Terror, the true story of how love for the Muslim people cost an American couple the ultimate price for their faith. Carrie will speak about her missionary experiences in Iraq and the personal tragic and devastating results to her, her husband, and to 3 coworkers.

Italy High School is currently in the middle of its first ever Read It Forward: Pass It On literacy project which will end April 30. The goal is to see how many 7-12 grade students, teachers and staff members will read the chosen book First Part Last by Angela Johnson during April.

Members of the Italy FFA, the Ellis County 4-H and the FCCLA entered their lambs, goats, heifers, steers, hogs, desserts, shirts, photos and drawings into the Ellis County Youth Expo Show & Sale with high expectations. By the end of the week long event, expectations were met as Italy’s hard working students left with a trough full off ribbons and even a Grand Champion Buckle to boot!

Gladiator baseball is in full swing now with more than half the district games played. Avalon hosted IHS last Tuesday and the Gladiators were actually challenged this time. The no-score streak ended with this game but Italy is still going strong. The final score was Italy 8 and Avalon 4.

Frost — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team singed the fur on the Lady Polar Bears in Frost on Tuesday. Italy exploded out of the batters box to cook the Bears in 5 innings, 14-0.

The JV baseball team stayed at home this week and hosted Red Oak Life. The Gladiators basically harnessed the Mustangs and put ’em up in the barn. The ending score was Italy 10 and Red Oak 4.

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The Italy Lady Gladiators J.V. Softball Team was just that on Monday against Red Oak, a team. Together, Italy’s J.V. built a 9-0 lead, and together, they held off a Red Oak rally to hold on for an impressive 14-8 victory.

Gladiator Track & Field: Eighteen members of the Italy High School Track Team traveled to Meridian on Saturday, March 27 to compete in one of the biggest 1A meets in the entire state, the Meridian Straight A Relays.

Pictures added Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Italy Park Board will meet Tuesday, April 6, 2010. The meeting will begin at 6:30 in the council chambers at Italy City Hall, 105 W. Main Street. The agenda includes discussion and necessary action regarding the recent easter egg hunt and a course in Bastrop, Texas called “Developing Successful Festivals and Special Events.”

This is your chance to help make a difference! How?
The Italy Lions Club needs people to help judge for the annual BBQ Cook-off. Proceeds will turn around and benefit the community. The club sponsors local charities, eye exam clinics and scholarships. All you have to do is eat!

Cage Matches — The Italy Tennis Team put in one final warm up before competing in district on Monday in Corsicana by hosting a tournament with the Palmer Bulldogs.

Softball — The Lady Gladiators fell prey to the Hubbard Lady Jaguars on Thursday in Hubbard 5-2. A minor setback as far as Coach Jennifer Reeves is concerned as the Lady Gladiators will now head to Frost to challenge the Lady Polar Bears on Tuesday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. Fan support will be mandatory!

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

Monday evening Avalon ISD’s cafeteria was overflowing with hungry children and their parents eating hotdog dinners while anticipating the big Easter Egg Hunt. There also was a surprise guest, the Easter Bunny! He was ready to have his picture taken with all of the children.

Congratulations to the 7th grade band for their superior performance at the 40th Annual Sandy Lake Funfest last Friday, March 26th! Though the band was bested only by Desoto’s McCowan Middle School, who won the best in class award, the Italy 7th graders received unanimous first division ratings from all three judges.

With one of the largest crowds in attendance so far, the Italy Gladiator Baseball team met up with the Frost Polar Bears on Friday night at home for a challenging district game. The teams played 6 innings but when the dust cleared and everyone went home, Italy defeated the Polar Bears 11-0.

This Easter, Central Baptist invites you to experience all the passion, all the drama and all the wonder of the Cross on Sunday, April 4th at 10:45 a.m. Join them as Pastor Todd presents a dramatic presentation of how the greatest love man has ever known came through the greatest instrument of suffering man has ever devised.

The Italy Junior High Track Team received their medals previously earned at the Gateway Track Meet on March 12 from Coach Stephen Coleman on Thursday.

Game On Athletics, owned and operated by Erick & Shelly Thompson, celebrated their Grand Opening on Saturday in downtown Italy. There were hotdogs, beverages and candy for the kids as excited patrons stopped in to admire the selection of shirts and caps.

Not only did Kaytlyn Bales represent Italy at the state powerlifting meet in Corpus Christi, she did it atop the championship podium with a 3rd place finish in her class at the 1A Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association’s State meet.

The funeral service for John V. Isaac, Jr. will be on Monday, March 29 at 11:00 a.m. inside the dome at Italy High School located at 300 S. College Street, Italy, Texas.

There will be a called meeting of the Italy City Council on Monday, March 29, 2010 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers of the Italy Municipal Building, 105 Main Street. The meeting is open to the public.

Pastor Algua R. Isaac, church family and friends gathered at the Union Missionary Baptist Church on Williams Street on Saturday morning to hold a dedication service for their new church. The new site is located on Derrs Chapel Road across from the Trinity Mission Health and Rehab.

The Italy Ministerial Alliance invites all of the Italy Community to the Easter Sunrise Service Sunday, April 4, 2010, 7:00 a.m. The service will take place at the Reeves’ property south of town known as ‘Dripping Springs’.

The Relay for Life team of Central Baptist Church will hold a hamburger and hotdog lunch fundraiser on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at noon. There will be a gift and dessert auction at 12:30.

Thursday night at 6:00 pm lots of families were gathered at Stafford Elementary for the Stafford PTO’s second annual Family Night Bingo event and fundraiser.

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson & Ellis Counties has events planned for its annual “March for Meals” campaign. Today, they hosted area mayors and elected officials for “Mayors For Meals,” as a part of the Campaign. The event included 39 local mayors and elected officials delivering meals in their communities.

To end the month-long “March for Meals” celebration, Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties is hosting its annual benefit, “Remember When…A Fabulous 40’s Fling,” on Saturday, March 27. It will be held at the National Guard Armory located at 618 N. Grand in Waxahachie.

Rev. Tim Thomas would like to invite everyone to join in the upcoming Holy Week/Easter events at the First United Methodist Church of Italy, 124 Harpold Street.

Italy took on Faith Family of Oak Cliff on Tuesday night with such a vengeance there was only one strike out for Italy and the final score was 24-0. Coaches Coker and Ward held the Gladiators back from raising the score even higher.

Charlotte Rosson, age 66, of Milford, passed away Sunday, March 21, 2010 at her home. She was born September 9, 1943 in Waxahachie to Joe F. and Dollie Mae (Potter) Rosson. Charlotte was a member of the Milford Presbyterian Church, where she served as the church treasurer and organist.