The 2012 Italy Gladiators receive 21 All-District accolades with Marvin Cox named Most Valuable Player and HFC/AD Hank Hollywood and his staff receiving Head Coach and Coaches of the Year!

The Italy ISD School Board will have their regular monthly meeting on Monday, December 17, 2012. The meeting will be held in the Italy High School Band Hall and will begin at 7:00pm.

Good luck, Gladiators!!!!!! BEAT STAMFORD!!!!!!!!!

Italy High School principal, Lee Joffre has announced plans for a Fan Bus for the Gladiator’s state semi-final game scheduled for Friday, December 14.

Departure time has been moved to 4:30pm.

Christmas is the time for joy, happiness, thankfulness and sharing. Sharing with those that are not as fortune as ourselves. Titus Women are at it again! This is their fourth year to host the Angel Tree located at Milford City Hall. Once again they want to give to others and invite others to do the same thing. What else is Christmas spirit about?

With all eyes on the Gladiators during their playoff run, many area photographers have covered the games and have their pictures available for purchase.

We all know that our little community in Italy, Texas has spirit especially when it comes to our Gladiators. But, our community also has the Christmas Spirit. If you have some free time you should get in your car and take a ride around our beautiful town after the sun has gone down. You will see the most beautiful Christmas scenes lit up all over town.

What a moment! The Italy Gladiators (9-4) upset the Goldthwaite Eagles (7-6) by a score of 14-3 to claim the regional quarterfinal championship in Glen Rose, advancing Italy to the semifinal round against Stamford (12-1).

Enjoy additional images from Italy’s regional quarterfinal championship win over Goldthwaite.

Still standing, the Italy Gladiators upset 9th ranked Goldthwaite 14-3 to claim the regional quarterfinal championship and return to the semifinal round for the fourth time in their school’s history.

Community wide pep rally this Thursday night for the Italy Gladiators immediately following the Holiday Band Concert!

Game time and gate information for the upcoming state semifinal matchup between the Italy Gladiators and the Stamford Bulldogs this coming Friday night in Mineral Wells.

The award-winning Gladiator Regiment Band will be performing their annual Holiday Concert on Thursday, December 13 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the George Scott Gymnasium (old gym) at the Italy High School campus.

The Italy High School cheerleaders will be decorating car windows Thursday evening. The cheerleaders ask that anyone and everyone come by the dome on Thursday (from 5:30-6:30, before the Holiday band concert – OR – at 8:30 right after the pep rally). They will use window markers and draw as much or as little as you would like on your car windows.

During the community pep-rally that was held last Thursday (December 6) there was a highlight video shown to the students and fans in attendance. The video featured recent highlights of the Gladiator Football team, the IHS cheerleaders, the Gladiator Regiment Band, flag core and more. You can get your own copy of this video!

The Italy City Council will have their monthly meeting on Monday, December 10, 2012. Meeting time is slated for 6:00pm and will be held in the Council Chambers of the Italy Municipal Building at 105 West Main Street, Italy. The meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend.

If you think it is just the turkeys that were being celebrated and fussed over in the month of November think again! All the residents at Trinity Mission with November birthdays were also being celebrated in the Thanksgiving month.

Game and gate information regarding the upcoming Italy vs. Goldthwaite playoff matchup to decide the regional quarterfinal championship.

Updated with Glen Rose Stadium parking diagram 12/7/12 11:20am

Several members of the Ellis County Shooting Sports 4-H Club won awards at the Bosque-Hill 4-H Archery Invitational Tournament held on December 1, at the Exhibits Building of the Fairgrounds in Hillsoboro.

New Italy FFA teacher, Blake Godwin, has brought a fresh perspective to the Ag department and it is evident at the old/new Ag Barn on Hwy 667.

For the first time at Trinity Mission they are hosting an Angel Tree for the residents. As you enter the building you see many beautiful Christmas trees, six in all, decorated with pretty lights and gorgeous decorations. You will see a beautiful Christmas tree in the dining room that truly belongs to the residents. The residents hand made all the ornaments, paper chains and even hand strung popcorn garland.

Gladiator quarterback Marvin Cox has been nominated for the Gridiron Legends Player of the Week award, presented by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine on behalf of Cavender’s and Wrangler.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football honors the Italy Gladiators as the Week 13 Army Strong Team of the Week in Class 1A Football.

The holidays have arrived in Italy. The kick off was a community wide Thanksgiving feast held at the Italy High School dome. The whole city was invited to participate in a non-denominational church service, BBQ and all the fixins, activities for the children and fellowship.

Community wide pep rally this Thursday night for the Italy Gladiators! The event is planned for 7:15 p.m. and will be held in the George Scott gymnasium at the IHS campus.

The Italy Gladiators become regional semifinal champions by defeating the 9th ranked Honey Grove Warriors 33-20 to win, “The Battle of Highway 34.”

Italy hands Honey Grove their first loss of the season as the Gladiators advance to the fourth round of the playoffs!

The eighth annual reading marathon was in full swing this week Nov. 26-30 at the Italy High School Library! Students, faculty and staff participated in a week-long event that had someone constantly reading in the “reading parlor” in the library from 8 a.m. Monday morning until school dismissed at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

The Lady Gladiators defeat Faith Family 63-14 and advance to the second round of the annual Italy Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Italy Gladiator Marvin Cox named Central Texas Defensive Player of the Week in 1A Football.

Game time and gate info submitted as the Gladiators prepare for their regional battle with Honey Grove.

The basketballs are aired up and the nets are hung, it’s time for the 2012 Italy Invitational Basketball Tournament as teams dribble in from around the area to meet the challenge.

Mark your calendars! December 1, 2012 is the day that Italy will have a fun hometown event for everyone! The 5th annual Christmas Festival will have a few new twists this year. In addition to the event being centered around the soon to be completed Italy City Pavilion, the Italy Park board has added a Christmas dessert contest as well as a homemade tamale contest—both with cash prizes!

The Italy ISD board of trustees will have a special meeting on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 6:00pm in the Italy High School band hall at 300 College Street, Italy. The primary agenda item slates a hearing to discuss the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the district for the 2011-2012 school year.

They did it! The Italy Gladiators fend off Valley View to claim the area championship!!

Additional coverage from the area championship game between Italy and Valley View.

Italy celebrates an area championship win and now must face a ranked Honey Grove squad for the regional championship.

On Saturday, December 1, the Italy Lions Club will have their annual Breakfast with Santa. The all you can eat pancakes and sausage breakfast will be served at the Boze Community Center in downtown Italy from 7:00 to 10:00am. Come join Santa and the Italy Lions Club for this special holiday event.

Italy — The community is invited to help sendoff the Italy Gladiators into battle against the Valley View Eagles to decide the Area Championship. Everyone is welcome to gather at the Italy High School parking lot before 3:45 p.m. on Friday, November 23, to salute the team bus as it passes. Have your signs and noise makers ready to help cheer on the team as they try to move one step closer toward their ultimate goal!

Trinity Mission was filled with family and friends recently for their annual Thanksgiving Feast. The tables were beautifully set with fall colors. The staff members truly out did themselves this year serving everyone with a smile, making the Thanksgiving Celebration a grand one for all.

The 2012 Italy Gladiator Football district champion/playoff shirts are printed and ready to be delivered. If you ordered shirts, be aware that we are in the process of contacting everyone to distribute the them. Therefore, you may receive a call from us on Thanksgiving day or early Friday but we are hoping to have all the shirts in the stands by game time.

Fellowship 5 sends out a community wide invitation to all for their First Annual Formal Winter Banquet. The elegant evening of dining and entertainment will be held Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 6:30pm to 10:30pm at the Red Oak Civic Center, 200 Lakeview Parkway in Red Oak.