Abilene — Italy Neotribune will post updates of the regional semi-final game between the Italy Gladiators and the Clyde Eula Pirates being played in Abilene. Game start time is 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday was the grand opening of Italy’s new Chinese restaurant, Keng Wok Chinese. It opened at 10:30 am and it was hopping. So many customers it was over whelming. The parking lot was filled with cars and the restaurant had a line out the door and all the tables were full.

Congratulations to Italy High School Powerlifter Kaytlyn Bales who, for the second year in a row, has qualified to compete at the girl’s state powerlifting meet in Corpus Christi during spring break.

February birthdays were celebrated at Trinity Mission on Friday. There were lots of cupcakes and ice cream and lots of birthdays.

The Italy Gladiators won the Region 1, Division 1, 1A Basketball Conference Regional Quarterfinal Championship game in Midlothian on Monday by defeating the Dallas Gateway Gators 88-68. Italy will play Clyde Eula for the regional semi-final championship in Abilene on Friday night at 8:00 p.m.

Thursday afternoon around 1:00 p.m. Avalon ISD’s Physics department was bustling with fourth graders learning how to build a Jitter Bug. Avalon ISD has a new program called Eagle Science which involves elementary students learning from the upper class students.

Wendell Wolaver is a fourth generation “Italy-ite” born and raised in Italy. He was born in September 1933 in a home right around the corner from where he now resides. He is very proud of his home town and is honored to be Citizen of the Month.

With the IYAA basketball season winding down in week 8, coaches and players tried to leave lasting impressions in their final games. From granny shots and 3-point bombs to fast break layups and precision passes, the IYAA showcased them all on Saturday inside the old Italy gym.

Your 2009-10 Italy Gladiator Yearbook will be a treasured keepsake and a lasting memory of the school year at Italy High School. Order are being taken now thru April 3, 2010.

Chances are you have seen the name Dan Gus around town in recent weeks. If you come into town from I-35, you see his name. If you come into town on Highway 34 from Avalon, you see his name out in front of Mr. Morgan’s home. And if you stop in at the Uptown Café, his name is there in the window.

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties announced today that it will be participating in the national 2010 “March For Meals” campaign beginning March 1. Meals-on-Wheels is holding several events during the month to celebrate “March For Meals.”

Hamilton — The Italy Gladiators (26-4) crossed a dam in Whitney, climbed a mountain in Meridian and then drove straight to the basket in Hamilton before overcoming one final obstacle, the DeLeon Bearcats (19-10), to win the area championship game 85-50.

The IYAA’s week 7 of basketball was packed with thrilling shots, expert ball handling, precision passing and plenty of smiling faces. The players have been working hard in their practices resulting in big moments during the games. Good luck to the players and coaches as the season comes to an end….Finish Strong!

Carey Smith is the Composer-in-Residence with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra in Meridian, Mississippi. He was invited to present “Second Suite for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra”, an original composition, at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark in January. The composition was chosen for recognition in the New Music section of the Annual Conductors Guild Conference.

ITALY—Davidson Field was distinctly cold on Thursday night-in more ways than one. The Italy Gladiators took on the Hubbard Jaguars in a pre-district game and chilled the kitties to the bone.

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

The final opportunities to sign-up for IYAA Baseball/Softball sign-ups will be inside the old Italy gym. All Rosters still need players but there are 4 more scheduled times to sign-up players:

Roger Dale Hall, age 58, of Italy, went to be with our Heavenly Father February 25, 2010. He was born Sept. 1, 1951 in Goodwater, Alabama to Jim W. and Alma Lee (Creel) Hall. He proudly served in the U. S. Army in Vietnam and in the U. S. Navy on the USS John F. Kennedy, receiving honorable discharges from both branches of service.

Floyd Mitchell Yarbrough, age 62, a long time resident of Waxahachie, passed away Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Baylor Medical Center of Waxahachie. He was born May 15, 1947 to G. W. and Francis (McCain) Yarbrough in Waxahachie, Texas. Floyd graduated from Italy High School in 1965 and attended Navarro College.

Tuesday, March 2 is election day. This election includes races on the county, state, and federal levels. The governor’s race highlights the contested statewide races while several U. S. Representatives races are on the ballot. Locally there are several county positions on the ballots. Sample ballots are provided for your convenience.

The Gladiator Basketball Team will travel to Hamilton Friday night to take on the DeLeon Bearcats for the area championship. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Hope to see everyone there!

All nine members of the Italy Lady Gladiators Basketball Team received well deserved recognition for their efforts on the court this season. The team has improved by leaps and bounds and the future for this young squad looks bright indeed.

Hamilton, Texas — The 2009-2010 Italy Lady Gladiators (18-12) Basketball Team ended their playoff run in Hamilton, Texas after losing the area championship to the Mason Cowgirls (23-11) by a score of 45-24 on Friday, February 19, 2010.

Ernest Keith (Sonny) Reynolds, 72, of College Station, passed away Monday, February 22, 2010, at his home.

When you think of Milford, basketball or football comes to mind. In bulldog country, these two sports rank as high as making all A’s on a report card. But now, there’s a new sport in town: Powerlifting.

Only two freshman earned the right to play in the Cen-TX Symphonic Band on Saturday, January 30. Freshman Rachel Strange was one of those.

In their first game Saturday, the Lady Gladiators (6-1-1) pulled out a come from behind win against the 2A Maypearl Lady Panthers, 7-6. Game two saw Palmer come from behind to win 9-7 over Italy in a bottom of the 7th thriller.

On Monday, February 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 and will begin at 7:00pm. Agenda items include monthly financial reports and a budget amendment as well as reviews and contract considerations for the Director of Special Programs, the Principals, and the Athletic Director.

There will be a regular meeting of the Italy Economic Development Corporation on Monday, February 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 a report that will be presented by board member Joyce Hobbs regarding a TEDC Seminar that she attended.

Game, Set and Match — Practicing late into the evening four days a week, the Italy Tennis team finally got a chance to test out their court skills during a practice session with Palmer.

Maulene Cummings Frazier was born on March 6, 1933 in Fayette County, Texas to Mose Cummings and Frances Leonard Cummings. She received her formal education at Stafford School in Italy and graduated from Oaklawn High School in Waxahachie.

Waxahachie, Texas — Two games on Thursday meant two more wins for the Lady Gladiators as they won impressively against 5A Duncanville 7-3 and then 3-0 over 2A Blooming Grove in the afternoon game.

Waxahachie, Texas — At 8:00 a.m. Friday morning, the Lady Gladiators run-ruled the 4A Cleburne Lady Jackets in six innings 16-5 and then out battled the 5A Arlington Lamar Vikings 9-7 in the 4:00 p.m. game during a Softball Tournament at the Waxahachie Sports Complex.

“There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time. I owe him my best.” Joe DiMaggio (April 4, 1951)

Thursday morning at nine o’clock the Stafford gymnasium was rocking with laughter, music and dancing. What was all the commotion about you ask? Well, let me tell you all about it. Champ, Dallas Maverick’s blue horse mascot was in the building!