DCI Sanitation has delivered new trash cans and recycling bins to the community of Italy. The recycling bins are available at the City Hall and have been available for a couple of months.

Mary Copeland was nominated by her co-workers at Trinity Mission for the Employee of the Month award for the month of August.

It is that time again! Time to be thinking about getting your children ready to go back to school. And of course school supplies will be on your list.

This weeks Gladiator Football Camp gave the best young talent from the area a chance to sharpen their skills under the tutelage of Italy High School Head Football Coach Craig Bales and his staff.

When Steve Varner was ten years old he really wanted to be a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys but instead became a business owner.

FINAL SIGNS-UPS for football and cheerleading will be Saturday, August 1st from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Upchurch Ballfields. All players MUST be present to have their picture taken. County issued birth certificates and registration fees must be submitted at the time of sign-up. Eligible players are 2009-2010 school year Kindergarten to 6th graders.

The sound of laughter mingled with the clip-clop of hooves filled the air on July 25, as the Ellis County Equine Youth Association hosted another successful fundraiser and fun show at the Flying Dollar Ranch in Italy. Youth competed in halter, western, English and speed events to raise money for ECEYA.

Brother Walter Buchanan, pastor of the Italy Church of Christ, announced they will host a revival beginning Sunday, July 26 through Wednesday, July 29, and everyone is invited. “There will be old fashioned singing and fellowship,” Buchanan commented. Visiting author and evangelist, Don Deffenbaugh, will be preaching.

It’s 4th down with 1-yard to go for the winning touchdown, break the huddle with confidence this season knowing you and your teammates have already earned this score with summer workouts and by participating in the Gladiator Football Camp 2009.

On Saturday, July 25th Montgomery’s Waxahachie Marble and Granite will have a complete dispersal of all products and equipment. Everything must be sold.

Meals on Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties have released their meals menu for August 2009. These meals are subject to change.

The George Scott Memorial Park was really “swinging” Monday evening. It was the grand opening of the new city park. Children were seen everywhere swinging on swings, jumping on spring toys and sliding down bright yellow slides. The park is a wonderful addition to our town and everyone was having a good time.

The Greater Milford 1st Annual Texas Music Festival is August 22, 2009. All kinds of fun will be had on this day. There will be lots of good music to be heard by Billy Joe Shaver, Dallahachie Boys, Tucker Peterson, the Shane Howard Band, Ryan Roberts, the Gordon Collier Band, Whiskey Hill, Spivey Crossing and Billy Ewing.

The North Texas Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society stopped at the Milford Depot in Milford on Saturday as they followed the Texas Interurban Railway route from South Dallas to Waco.

When the Ellis County Renegades qualified for the Super Series World Series Tournament in Kerens May 9th, in Desoto May 30th, and again in Kerens June 27th head coach Jason Moore had no idea of the thrills and excitement they were about to undertake. When the Renegades arrived in Colorado Springs, Colorado they wasted no time in establishing themselves as the team to beat.

Upchurch Ballfield – Photo retakes will be available for purchase on July 25, starting at 9:00 am. The IYAA end of the season Baseball/Softball Party will be on August 1, starting at 5:00 pm and Football/Cheerleading Sign-ups will take place during both events as well.

Italy T-ballers stirred up the dust earlier this week in the District Tournament in Hillsboro while two other Italy players teamed with the Whitney Wildcats in the 14 & Under Division.

Trinity Mission of Italy will kick off its Summer Movie Nights on Friday, July 24 at 8:30 PM. Family friendly movies will be shown on a giant inflatable movie screen under the Texas sky through the months of July, August and September.

The Italy Economic Development Corporation will have its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 pm. Agenda items include discussion and consideration of necessary action regarding the review of the sub-committee and transferring the EDC funds from TexStar to a local bank and discussion of the strategic plan process.

The Texas Elite Basketball Team has recently qualified for the Prime Time National Basketball Tournament (9th – 10th grade division) and will be playing next week in the Denton/Lewisville area.

Dairy Queen had a full house Friday morning. It was KBEC Italy Listeners Appreciation Day. KBEC radio was there with their representatives, Lori Mosely, Cookie and Gary Bishop with a live remote.

When I drove up to the park today all I saw was a sea of orange! Twenty employees from the Waxahachie Home Depot, all dressed in orange t-shirts, were putting together equipment, digging holes, spreading gravel, and doing everything possible to get the park ready for it’s grand opening on Monday, July 20th.

Do you need to clean up your BRUSH and TREE LIMBS?
The City of Italy will have a Brush Only Clean Up Day Saturday, July 18 from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

On Monday the George E. Scott Memorial Park was a very busy place. Many people were there preparing for the new park equipment that will be installed on Thursday, July 16. The grand opening of the park is scheduled for Monday, July 20th. Mark your calendar

Trinity Mission has a new administrator, Marie Wood. Marie is no stranger to Trinity Mission. She has worked for Trinity Mission since 1999. From 2005 to 2007 she was the full time administrator.

Milford, Hillsboro and Frost battled it out for 1st place on the final day of the four day District 3 Tournament, hosted by the IYAA in Italy. It was exciting and it was a grind for all the teams. However, after the dust at home plate had settled, it was the Frost Lady Polar Bears that celebrated as Champions.

Day 3 of the IYAA hosted 8 & Under Girls Softball Tournament (Coach pitch) saw area teams continuing to improve their standings in the bracket.

The Italy ISD Board of Trustees will have a called meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. The agenda denotes a Board Training Workshop to be conducted by Ms. Amber Fulton, a school board consultant.

You’re Invited to Studio GO! during Vacation Bible School at McGilead Missionary Baptist Church July 13 through July 16 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The Italy City Council will have a meeting on Monday, July 13. Along with departmental reports, agenda items include discussion and possible action regarding the addition of a stop sign at the corner of Ward Street and Seay Road and two Economic Development Corporation (EDC) items regarding a contract with the Miracle Development Corporation and reimbursement for administrative duties for the EDC. Also, during closed session, the Board will deliberate necessary action regarding compensation to the City Secretary/Administrator for services provided to the EDC.

This weekend, a new program will begin in Waxahachie to help Meals-on-Wheels clients who cannot afford to buy pet food. “For a homebound person, a pet brings company, but not being able to feed that pet can be a source of heartache,” said Tracy Robinson, director of client services.

Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Italy under the direction of Preston E. Dixon, Pastor, will be hosting the Mt. Gilead Men’s Basketball Shoot-Out at the Italy High School Gymnasium July 31 – August 1.

What an exciting night of District Tournament softball! The IYAA is hosting the 8 & Under Girls Softball Division all week long.