During a regularly scheduled meeting of the Ellis County Commissioners’ Court on Monday, March 22, 2010, Jim Sabonis of First Southwest Company presented an analysis of potential savings relating to the county’s outstanding general obligation bonds.
After much discussion the Italy Economic Development Corporation voted to table further action on funding a Community Center project until the next meeting.
The Royal Ambassadors and their leaders from Central Baptist Church in Italy, Texas, are getting ready to pack another “Bucket of Hope” for Haiti earthquake victims. After filling the buckets, the RAs prayed for the people who would receive the food as well as for the safety of those responsible for transporting and delivering them.
You might notice Coach Coker walking on air these days, his feet a few feet off the ground. The reason? The Italy Gladiator Baseball team. Why would that be? The game on Friday night proved to be another no hitter game (ok, that’s three in a row now).
The Italy School Board of Directors approved teacher contracts for 2010-2011 at its monthly meeting held Monday evening.
GAME ON ATHLETICS — Owner Erick Thompson and his family invite you to their Grand Opening Event on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
There will be a regular meeting of the Italy Economic Development Corporation on Monday, March 22 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in the council chambers of the Italy Municipal Building, 105 Main Street. Slated on the agenda is discussion and consideration regarding the EDC funding a Community Center Project
James McAfee of Ennis never wants to see another can of fruit cocktail again. The Meals-on-Wheels client recalled an incident during World War II when he was hunkered down in a fox hole and decided to crawl into the officer’s mess hall and check out what the other half was eating.
On Monday, March 22nd 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 teacher resignations, teacher contract recommendations and renewals and an acknowledgement of donated funds. The superintendent will also report regarding the football field renovations that are currently underway.
The Ellis County District Clerk’s office is hosting a Passport Fair in Waxahachie, Texas on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications.
Looking for ways to save your hard earned money? Join us for a Coupon Swap on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. at The Space, 105 N. Main Street, Milford (beside Milford Cash Grocery).
The IYAA will be passing out end of the season basketball trophies and coaches plaques in front of Game On Athletics during their grand opening on Saturday, March 27, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Meet Game On Athletics owner, Erick Thompson, and have a hotdog!
The Italy Gladiator JV team traveled to Axtell on Tuesday. They picked up their mitts and played a great game. The Gladiators prevented the Longhorns from scoring in the last two innings. However, the Longhorns proved to be more in the defense department and offensively scored 4 runs throughout the game. Final score Axtell 4, Italy 1.
Foiled by an Innocent Maid was an entertaining production put on by the Milford High School. Every year they do better than the last with their one act plays. This year took the prize. You have a mean villain, and yet hilarious at the same time. Don’t forget Faith Hopewell-the innocent maid- from outlandish crying, to hiding the baby in a trunk and then falling in love all at the same time- what drama!
Italy Gladiators were in full swing Monday night as Waxahachie Advantage Academy fought the battle as hard as they could but to no avail. Trevor Patterson picked up the pace and shut the Eagles out, down and all around.
The Planning and Zoning meeting began with roll call. Jimmy Hyles, Frances Kirby Allen and Joan Grabowski were present. After much discussion it was decided to approve the zoning change with a special use permit.
The Italy Athletic Booster Club will meet on Thursday, March 25 at the Italy High School Library. Meeting time is 6:30. Due to recent changes in the relationship with the Italy Athletic Booster Club and the Italy ISD there are major decisions that must be made at this meeting. All those interested in the role that the Italy Booster Club plays in support of the school and the athletes needs to be in attendance of this meeting.
Farmers Branch, Texas — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team competed in the Spring Break Classic in Farmers Branch this past Thursday and Saturday. The only 1A school in the tournament, Italy finished in 3rd Place within the Silver bracket.
Melvin Junior “Pepe” Langley, age 70, of Italy, passed away Saturday evening, March 13, 2010 at Baylor Medical Center, Waxahachie. He was born February 11, 1940 in Centerville, Texas to Johnny C. and Mertie Lee (Bush) Langley. He married Carolyn Fulton in Corsicana on July 2, 1971. He retired from Dart Container in 2005 after 15 years of service.
Friday night was the perfect night to see Italy Baseball at its finest. Not only were the Gladiators great defensively, they had their bats swinging too. Waxahachie Faith Family could not get on base and lost the game 15-0.
There will be a public hearing and regular meeting of the Italy Planning and Zoning Commission today, Monday, March 15, 2010. The meeting will be held at the Italy City Hall Council Chambers at 105 Main Street, Italy. Meeting time is 6:30. Agenda items include a zoning change request of a property on Hwy 34.
Congratulations to Mr. Jesus Perez, Drum Major Jessica Hernandez, assistant Drum Major Molly Haight and the entire Gladiator Regiment Band on winning Sweepstakes for the second year in a row. And the “Beat of Champions” goes on…
A run-off election will be held on April 13, 2010 in three primary election races affecting Ellis County voters.
Brenda Trojacek of Palmer is an adamant believer in giving back to the community. She’s been a volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties for several years and admits she cherishes the opportunity to not only make connections with the clients she’s come to love, but her father, Thomas Tollis serves as her “wing man” once a week.
Dallas Gateway — The Italy Junior High Gladiator Track Team earned 1st place in all four divisions (7th boys, 7th girls, 8th boys & 8th girls) on Thursday at the Dallas Gateway Track Meet. A combination of Gladiator power and speed got the job done.
Ellis County Equine Association invites all local horse enthusiasts to come get ready for spring horse shows at the ECEA Warm-Up Horse Show on March 27, at the Waxahachie Rodeo Arena. The show starts at 9 a.m. with books opening at 8 a.m.
Years of hard work and commitment paid off for 16-year-old Jacqualyn Cawley of Italy during the San Antonio Livestock Show in February when she won a $10,000 scholarship with her heifer Jewls. There were over 160 Beefmasters in her division.
What a way to end the 2010 season of IYAA Basketball! In the first two games on Tuesday, Italy teams earned back-to-back wins over visiting Hillsboro. In the finale, Italy 31 pulled off the upset against, undefeated, Italy 29 in one of the most exciting games in the history of IYAA Sports.
The Italy High School and Junior High have released their “A” and “A/B” Honor Roll lists for the fourth six-weeks of the 2009-2010 school year.
After finishing in 1st Place with a 10-0 record in district play (28-5 overall) and ultimately finishing as regional finalists for the second year in a row, six members of the Italy Gladiator Basketball Team received all-district honors. In addition, Italy Gladiator Basketball head coach Kyle Holley was named “Coach of the Year” in district 15A.
Lots of Stafford Elementary students in the fifth and sixth grades have volunteered to participate in the Math-A-Thon program which is a volunteer based fundraising program for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Italy Park Board will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3, at 10 a.m. at Dunlap Library. Members nailed down final plans Tuesday evening at the board’s monthly meeting.
In a regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday, March 8, Ellis County Commissioners’ unanimously declared this month to be March for Meals Awareness Month in Ellis County.
Kerens — The Lady Gladiators softball team, coached by Jennifer Reeves, Andrea Windham and Tina Richards, continue to crush their competition. In the Kerens Tournament held Friday, March 5 thru Saturday, March 6, the Lady Gladiators dominated to win the championship.
The deadline for inclusion on the Italy City Council election ballot has passed as of yesterday, March 8 at 5:00pm. With three places up for election there were two incumbents that completed their application leaving one seat vacant. Those wishing to have their name as a write-in candidate for the Italy City Council can sign up at Italy City Hall through March 15, 5:00pm.
Friday morning Stafford Elementary was filled with excited proud family members celebrating with the students at their awards assembly. Many proud students were being called to the front to receive their awards for; no “tiger paws” lost, all A’s, all A’s and B’s, all B’s, and all homework completed and handed in.
The construction of the bridge on Couch Street was a hot topic of conversation at the monthly meeting of the Italy City Council Monday evening.
Abilene — After moving past Clyde Eula on Friday 52-51 to claim the regional semi-final championship, the Italy Gladiators (28-5) locked horns with the Bronte Longhorns in the regional final championship game on Saturday.
There was a slight breeze at the IHS softball park on Thursday evening. It may have been a change in the weather or it could have been something new and exciting in the air-the winds of change. Lady Bulldogs fell prey to the JV Lady Gladiator bats, with an ending score of 8-7.
The Italy Park Board will meet Tuesday, March 9, 2010. The meeting will begin at 6:30 in the council chambers at Italy City Hall, 105 W. Main Street. The lone agenda item with be discussion and planning for the annual easter egg hunt.
On Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2nd, everyone at Stafford Elementary took time out to read for thirty minutes. When you entered the school and looked in the classrooms everyone was reading. When I say everyone I mean, everyone in the school. Students, teachers, janitors, cooks everyone just dropped everything they were doing and read for thirty minutes.
Thursday afternoon the fourth graders at Stafford Elementary were dancing up a storm. They were jumping up and down, spinning in circles and doing all kinds of kicks to lively music.
With the season coming to a close, this is just the beginning for IYAA’s basketball players whose careers are just getting started. Due to scheduling conflicts, the IYAA hosted four games on Thursday inside the old Italy gym.
There will be a regular meeting of the Italy City Council tonight, March 8, 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.
Today, 5:00 p.m., marks the deadline for candidates to apply for a place on the ballot for the Italy City Council election to be held in May. There are three seats up for election, only two potential candidates have picked up packets as of 11:30 a.m. Friday morning. Packets are available at City Hall at 101 West Main Street, Italy and must be returned by 5:00 p.m. today, Monday, March 8, 2010.
In our continuing effort to curtail Illegal Dumping in Ellis County, this year we will be offering a free “week-long” clean-up event. Starting Saturday, May 1st and running thru Saturday May 8th, Ellis County residents will be able to dispose of trash, furniture, mattresses, yard debris, and other similar items. We will also be accepting tires and e-waste. Details are still being finalized, so check the Ellis County Official Website www.ellis.tx.us for more information as we get closer to the date!
Earlier in the year, the Italy Ministerial Alliance voted unanimously that the local food pantry be called the William Youngblood Food Pantry. The plaque was ordered and delivered. Officially, the sign hangs above the pantry door for all to see.
Scoring updates of the 4:00pm game:
Abilene — The 8th ranked Italy Gladiators overcame a sluggish first quarter start to defeat the 5th ranked Clyde Eula Pirates 52-51 to claim the regional semi-final championship. Italy will play the 15th ranked Bronte Longhorns Saturday, March 6 at 4:00 inside Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum. The winner will become the regional final champion and earn a trip to the state tournament in Austin.
All month long, in celebration of “March for Meals,” Meals-on-Wheels is honoring the clients they serve, many who are part of the “greatest generation.” Martha Eves of Forreston is just one of many clients Meals-on-Wheels serves who is part of this group that sacrificed so much.
