Italy’s Varsity Boys competed in their first game of summer league play against the Ferris Yellowjackets on Monday at the Dallas Life campus. The contest was a good challenge for the Italy squad since Ferris is a larger 3A school.

OK, it’s time for some ice cream! That’s what the IHS seniors said on Monday as they gathered at the First United Methodist Church. This is the first of many parties held for the graduates this week.

Tradition as old as graduation itself was apart of this week’s schedule set for the seniors. This year’s Baccalaureate was hosted by the Italy Ministerial Alliance and held at the First United Methodist Church. Rev. Mittie Muse, pastor from Mt. Zion AME Church brought a message of change to the graduates.

Italy Head Football Coach Craig Bales and his Defensive Coordinator/Head Track Coach Robert Sollers, will be representing Italy at the State Track Meet next week. Coach Bales as a Member of the THSCA UIL Advisory Committee and Coach Sollers as a State Track Meet Official for the 27th consecutive year.

The 60th Annual FCCLA & FFA Awards Banquet went off without a hitch Friday night, May 22nd, inside the Gladiators Coliseum. Both groups recognized members for their hardwork during the 2008-2009 school year.

The first Monday of every month is the day scheduled for Food Pantry pick up and deliveries. The pantry is located at 124 Harpold in Italy at the First United Methodist Church and will be open from 5:00pm-8:00pm.

Toby and Samantha Bradley are the proud parents of Gage William Bradley.

As friends and family gathered around the tables at IHS on Thursday night, the local National Honor Society hosted the 20th annual banquet honoring the students in the association followed by the induction ceremony for next year’s officers and new members.

The first graders have been working on their writing skills by writing letters to their friends or family members and learning how to address an envelope. To make it really fun for their students the first grade teachers decided to let them walk to the post office and mail their letters.

On Saturday, May 30 there will be a benefit event at the Ellis County Expo Building on 287 bypass in Waxahachie. Please mark your calendars. The event will include a Washer Tournament, a BBQ Cook-off and will feature live music by several local bands and music artists. This all day event will benefit the 14U Texas Travelers softball team of Ellis County.

The Avalon Elementary Awards banquet was held on Tuesday in the Avalon Dome gym. After the students enjoyed a delicious complementary dinner -hot dogs, chips, cookies, and sweet tea, the awards banquet got started. Superintendent, Mr. David Del Bosque welcomed all excited students, smiling parents and enthusiastic teachers while introducing everyone to Miss Margaret Day, Avalon’s Elementary Principal.

The Italy Athletic Booster Club hosted the Athletic Banquet on Thursday night and honored the Gladiators with a wonderful dinner and awards. President of the Booster Club, Becky Milligan, and Head Football Coach, Craig Bales, welcomed students, faculty, honored guests, family and friends to the event. “This year has not always been a bed of roses. There has been growth and maturation from the first to the last game for everyone. I could not be prouder of these kids,” Bales explained.

I walked into the cafeteria May 14th at Stafford Elementary and for a moment I thought I was in the jungle. Everywhere I looked I saw, bears, tigers, lions, Tucans, alligators, monkeys and many more wild animals. But then I heard these “animals” singing! Whew, I was at the right place. The scary animals turned out to be Stafford Elementary first graders performing their annual play, “In the Jungle”.

Mr. Perez and the IJHS 7th Grade Band, “Sounds Of Victory” and the Italy High School, “Gladiator Regiment Band” took center dome as they played their horns out in front of their families and friends during the spring concert inside Gladiator Coliseum.

A brushfire broke out today at 901 Water Street in Milford around 12:15 PM. The Milford and Italy Fire Departments responded to the call and were busy putting out the fire.

William Nelton Youngblood, age 62, passed away Sunday, May 23, 2009 in Whitney, Texas. The cause of death was accidental drowning. He was born February 21, 1947 to William Henry Youngblood and Martha Cleo (Rogers) Youngblood in Lubbock, Texas. Bill married Mary M. Boyd on July 16, 2007 in Italy, Texas. He served in the Vietnam War and was self employed. Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Italy.

During the Italy Junior High Awards Assembly on Friday morning, Brett Kirton was awarded the Oliphant Cup. The 8th grade recipient is selected every year by the junior high teachers. Criteria includes academics, attitude and citizenship. Kirton is the son of Lyall and Alysa Kirton of Italy.

Saturday evening at 9:00 p.m., the Italy Fire Department responded to an accident involving a car colliding with a runaway horse.

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

Volunteers are the backbone of the Meals-on-Wheels and are a critical part of the organization’s dedication to others. The volunteers may be the only other human connection that the senior citizen or the disabled individual could have that day.

On Thursday morning, the band hall was hustling and bustling with seniors wondering about their future, primarily if they would receive scholarship money. The place was filled with family and friends as honored guests distributed scholarships among several students from Italy High School.

The IHS baseball boys’ season came to a screeching halt on Monday night in Mineral Wells when they fought for the Class 1A Area title against Windthorst, who was ranked 2nd in Class A. They fought a hard battle but at the end of the 7th inning the team that came to the field 25-9 was on top 9-3 moving forward in the playoffs.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a holiday of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. It can also be a day to remember what other members have lost in service to our country.

The boil order that was put into effect in Italy yesterday has now been cancelled. It is no longer necessary to boil the water as the testing results on the water show no harmful bacteria or other microbes.

Four Italy Gladiators travelled to Palestine this past weekend to compete in the Region III Track and Field Meet. After several weeks of delay due to the Swine Flu outbreak, the Gladiators finally had their chance to take their prowess to the arena once again.

Tuesday evening Milford ISD’s cafeteria was filled with proud parents, teachers and students. Everyone was gathered to honor and watch the newest members of the National Honor Society be inducted.

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Timoteo G. Riojas, 93 of Italy, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Trinity Mission in Italy. He was born to the late Celestino and Justa Garza Riojas on January 22, 1916 in Rio Grande City, Texas.

Megann Lewis, daughter of Russ and Kelly Lewis of Italy gave the Vernon College commencement address on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Wilbarger Memorial Auditorium. Lewis was the Valedictorian of the 2007 graduating class of Italy High School. She is the only graduate at Vernon College this year to receive two degrees, an Associates of Arts Degree and Associates of Science Degree.

Due to the water main break that we suffered last night, a boil order has been put into effect in parts of Italy. The streets that are effected are: Cheri, Rhonda, Chad, Hyles, N. Couch (by the cemetery), and Dallas St. If you are in these areas take precautions to clean your water before consuming it.

May 15th, 2009 Avalon Elementary students participated in Field Day. This event was organized by Tony Hernandez and David Morgan. Thank you both for your hard work on making this a great day for the kids. Volunteers from the Avalon National Junior Honor Society were a key part in making the day a success.

Hard rains have bogged down the beginning of the 2009 IYAA baseball/softball seasons. Scheduling has been somewhat sporadic, but now that the sun is getting it’s job done, the baseball and softball players can get their jobs done as well. For a fun evening, bring your family to Upchurch Field to catch a ballgame and grab a few memories.

The Lady Gladiators took on the Meridian Lady Yellow Jackets last night in a Class 1A, Region 2 Quarterfinal matchup. To say that it was a heart stopper is an understatement. This game defined the spirit, the heart and the grit that this team has exemplified all year long.

Ellis County Justice of the Peace Jackie Miller Jr. administered the oath of office to Marty Haight and Cheryl Owen, newly elected members of the Italy Independent School Board of Trustees, Monday evening. Owen won her second term in office and Haight replaces Ricky Boyd.

In a called city council meeting Monday night, Mayor Frank Jackson and DCI Sanitation owner, Dave Ingram, presented $500 scholarships to Rebecca Demoss and Trevor Davis, Italy High School graduating seniors. Applicants were required to write an essay entitled “Going Green”.

On May 14th, 2009 in the Multi-Purpose Center, Avalon Elementary proudly presented a Talent Show. All of the students and teachers worked very hard on their performances and did a wonderful job.

Italy Clean-up Day, in coordination with CSC Disposal, is scheduled for this weekend, May 22-23.

Italy High School Gladiators are proud as they can be with their win against Perrin-Whitt on Thursday night. This means they move to the next level of play offs and perform on the field in Mineral Wells against Windthorst.

What a year! Italy High School’s complex collaboration between students, teachers, coaches, general staff, the Booster Club, administration and School Board members have executed a successful and exciting 2008-2009 school year. And to celebrate their sports accomplishments, the athletic banquet will be held inside the Italy Coliseum (the dome) on May 21 at 7:00 p.m.

The Lady Gladiators defeated the Tolar Lady Rattlesnakes for the Area Championship this past Friday night. Next up is the Regional Quarterfinal against Meridian. This matchup is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at the Whitney High School softball field in Whitney, Texas. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

The Italy ISD Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Agenda items include special recognition of Mr. Ricky Boyd for his service as School Board Trustee, administering of the oath of office for newly elected school board members Cheryl Owen and Marty Haight and election of school board officers.

Today at 2:00 p.m., the gifted and talented students from the Stafford Elementary School made a quick visit to the Monolithic headquarters. The students wanted to personally drop by and thank Monolithic, specifically Tessa South and Gary Clark, for having the kindergarten students over for games and fun times at the Monolithic campus last week during TAKS testing.

Tuesday night around 7:00 pm, faculty, parents, family and special guest, Wanda Scott, gathered at the multi-purpose dome at Italy High School to see honored students receive accolades for their grades. The 26th Annual Academic Banquet was underway.

The Milford Bulldogs Athletic Banquet 2008-2009 was a chance for students, coaches, family, friends and administration to look back on what was an exciting year for Milford Athletics.

Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. Milford ISD presented their Spring Concert by all three of their bands. The cafeteria was filled with proud parents, grandparents and beautiful music.

Carlene Hunt Perryman loves to collect antiques, so much so, that her husband told her if she purchased one more thing for the house she would have to take something out. That sparked the idea of owning her own antique shop.