Italy’s Junior High Girls basketball teams hosted Irving North Hills inside the dome for two games on Monday. The ladies in gold were not very gracious hosts as Italy’s 7th grade girls flattened North Hills 31-5 while Italy’s 8th grade girls held on for a 21-15 victory.

The Italy Economic Development Committee will have a meeting November 17, 2009 in the Italy Council Chambers at 6:30pm. The agenda includes a presentation of the SWOT analysis by EDC Consultant David Miracle.

The IYAA A-Team won their wildcard game at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning against Palmer to claim the 4th seed in the “A” Division’s Playoff standings. The victory marked the first time in IYAA history that all three football divisions (A, B & C-Teams) and their cheerleaders qualified for the playoffs. By days end, the IYAA B & C-Teams advanced to next Saturday’s Superbowl games to be played in Hubbard.

The seven member City of Italy Park Board will meet, Monday, November 16, 2009. The lone agenda item for this meeting is regarding planning for the Italy Christmas Craft Fair, Festival and Parade that is scheduled for Saturday, December 5th.

The Board of Trustees of the Italy ISD will have a meeting on Monday, November 16, 2009. Agenda items include the approval of three budget amendments, voting for Appraisal District Board and consideration of HVAC and roofing proposals.

Coach Stacy McDonald has her team ready for competition. With all the training under their belt, the season has begun. Get ready for the Lady Gladiators! Here they come.

Joe Coffman, age 68, of Italy, passed away at his home Thursday evening, November 12, 2009. He was born July 15, 1941 in Adona, Arkansas to Lawson and Annie (Fischer) Coffman. Joe had lived in Italy for 34 years and been employed with Chaparral Steel for 28 years. He married Janet McNeely on January 15, 1982 in Italy. Joe enjoyed fishing, gardening and country music.

Red, white and blue were the colors of the day on Wednesday. Local veterans were honored at Italy High School with a commemorative program and a reception. Special music, photographs of days gone by and a guest speaker were on the agenda.

Veteran’s Day is an annual American holiday honoring military Veterans and that is exactly what the students at Stafford Elementary were doing Wednesday morning.

The Italy Police Department served as backup to the Texas DPS Highway Patrol during an undercover drug bust when a commercial bus was pulled over near the Tiger Mart off of Hwy. 35 in Italy on Friday, October 30.

The Italy Junior High Boys began their basketball practices this week in preparation for the upcoming 2009-2010 basketball season. Junior High Coaches Kyle Holley, Larry Mayberry and Josh Ward have already started transforming their young grid-iron warriors into graceful hard wood hoopsters.

Couch Street Bridge is being upgraded for the better but estimated completion of the project may take 3 to 6 months. Foul weather and hard rock have slowed the demolition project but a smoother driving surface and a wider bridge will prove it to be worth the wait.

Mt. Zion AME Church, located at 733 Hardeman Street in Italy, is Calling All Senior Citizens to join them for their “Senior Saints High Noon Worship Service.” Each year, Mt. Zion AME Church honors the Senior Saints of our community. Please come and join the fellowship with one another.

On the morning of October 30th, Trinity Mission was filled with all kinds of fun and scary characters. All the pre-k students and kindergarten students were seen having a great time at the Annual Fall Festival.

November 7 was a beautiful, sunny day for the Flying Dollar Ranch in Italy to host their make-up Halloween Schooling Horse Show and Playday, which was postponed due to heavy mud the previous weekend. Twenty-one entrants competed for ribbons and Halloween prizes in halter, English, western, speed and costume events.

With a trip to the Playoffs guaranteed, the Italy Gladiators traveled to Patton Field in Itasca for one last district battle against their old rivals, the Itasca Wampus Cats. Italy’s sideline looked more like a M.A.S.H. unit before halftime as Itasca added insult to injury by taking a 16-8 lead over the Gladiators into halftime.

The Italy Gladiator Junior High and JV football teams capped off their 2009 seasons with home games against the Itasca Wampus Cats. For the 8th Graders, the night marked their final football game as Junior High Gladiators. For the JV, they were just glad to finally play a game before the sophomores move up to the Varsity level next season.

The IYAA Gladiators C-Team and B-Team scrapped with the Rice Bulldogs Saturday in Italy. Both teams were on a mission to finish the regular season as undefeated division champs. Mission’s accomplished!

Today the Italy High School cheerleaders will host a pep rally for the Gladiator football team as they travel to Itasca to take on the Wampus Cats. But this is no everyday pep rally. The radio station 106.9 The Ranch will be at the pep rally to determine if Italy High School is worthy of being awarded a free Casey Donahew Band concert! The students are asking that EVERYONE come to the pep rally today!

On Wednesday, as they do on the first Wednesday of every month, the Central Baptist Church hosted an open luncheon for the community.

This is an exciting time for the seniors at Italy High School. Along with the athletes and cheerleaders, the IHS Regiment Band members were honored as well, on Friday night.

Friday night was an eventful night with seniors being presented, a district football game and generally, excitement all around. A special tribute was given to local #1 Gladiator fan, Bobby Itson. Besides being a big fan of the Italy Gladiators, Itson is also a veteran. He served in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Bobby was a Staff Sargent when he was honorably discharged. He was honored before the game as the American flag was raised by the FFA.

Last week, Italy High School celebrated “Red Ribbon Week.” Each day of the week there was an assigned theme designed to support a greater message: “Don’t use Drugs.”

The Italy Park Board continued its plans for a Second Annual Christmas Parade and Festival Monday evening at its monthly meeting. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, in downtown Italy from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The parade will kick off festivities at 10 a.m.

Under the direction of Coach Craig Bales who is in his second year as head coach, the Italy Gladiators have come full circle. Unlike three seasons ago when Italy didn’t win one game, the winning tradition is being restored in Gladiator country.

Lots of smiles and lots of laughter could be seen and heard on Friday in the halls of Stafford Elementary. The reason for this? – It was the Stafford Elementary’s annual parade of costumes. Some of the cutest little monsters, aliens, witches, goblins, ballerinas, and even a little baker man could be seen parading the halls.

Saturday, October 31st Burk’s Kinder College held their open house leading up to their opening on November 2nd. There were teachers and owner Patricia Burk present to help you take a walk through their beautiful pre-school/day care and give you an enrollment packet.

The IYAA Gladiators pee-wee football teams and cheerleaders hosted the Hubbard Jaguars on Saturday in Italy. Even though it was Halloween, it would be some trick if Hubbard could treat themselves to wins over Italy.

Saturday October 31st was the last day of business for the Italy Donut Shop. Owner Jae Chang Bae will be renting this building to Keng Chen who will be opening a donut shop and a chinese buffet.