Italy, Texas – 06/10/11: Whether you know it as the American Legion Hall, or the Cargill-Gallman Community Center and Museum, or the Italy Community Center, one of the central focal points of downtown Italy has overseen its last parade, hosted its last community event and will be casting its final shadows as demolition of the structure began early this morning.

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties recently received financial support through a grant from the Banfield Charitable Trust to help feed pets of homebound seniors who receive meals from Meals-on-Wheels.  “Ani-Meals,” which began in 2009, aims to help the needy homebound take care of their companion animals—primarily dogs and cats.

The City of Italy Park Board will have their monthly meeting today, Tuesday, May 7, 2011. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers of the Italy Municipal Building at 105 West Main Street, Italy. Meeting time is 5:30pm. The agenda slates discussions about the Mayor’s easter egg hunt and future projects. 

June 6th through 10th Central Baptist Church will host a NYC themed Vacation Bible School event. Titled “NYC Big Apple Adventure,” this week long VBS program will begin at 9:45am and end at noon each day. In this adventure kids will connect faith and life through Bible stories, motivating music, and games.

Stacy McDonald, the head basketball coach of the Italy Lady Gladiators for the past three seasons, has taken a new head basketball coaching position at 5A Hebron High School in Carrollton.

The IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) is currently accepting Football/Cheerleading sign-ups. Sign-up day is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. inside the old Italy gym.

Milford’s second annual Arts & Crafts Fair will be held this Saturday, June 4th from 9:00am – 5:00pm.Located in the park off of Hwy 77 in Milford, Texas, the fair will have lots of vendors, shopping, crafts for kids, face painting, creative gifts, food and fun for all.  Make plans to attend.

For 12 years, these students thought this day would never arrive. They were impatient, forward thinking, explosive, thoughtful and raring to go. Thus describes the graduate students of Italy High School. On Friday, May 27, forty-one seniors crossed the stage for the last time and turned their tassels to the other side.

There will be a called meeting of the Italy City Council on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 7:00pm. The council will discuss and consider necessary action regarding the plat approval of the Mt. Gilead Baptist church addition. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers of the Italy Municipal Building, 105 Main Street and is open to the public.

City of Italy Mayor, Frank Jackson, proclaims the month of May, “Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month,” in front of Italy City Hall.

Dusty Porterfield will lead a Memorial Day Prayer Service at the Italy Cemetery at noon at the flag pole. The community is invited and encouraged to attend.

Epiphany Mission in Italy, Texas recently received a $37,500 grant from The Catholic Foundation during the 2011 Spring Grant Ceremony. Epiphany Mission was among 17 religious, educational and charitable organizations within the Diocese of Dallas that received more than $897,000 in grants from the Foundation this spring. The grant they received will fund renovations to their church building.

Meals on Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties have released their meals menu for June 2011. These meals are subject to change.

Italy High School has a chapter of National Honor Society that has been in place for many years. This year they inducted new members as the senior members graduate. Also, new officers were installed for the upcoming year on Tuesday night in the school auditorium. Chapter advisor is Tina Richards.

The athletes of Italy High School had a real treat on Monday night at the dome. The Italy Athletic Booster Club hosted the annual athletic banquet with a special speaker and awards to boot. Fan of the year was announced, as well as Gladiator and Lady Gladiator of the Year.

Success is the key word for any graduate. What does success mean to you? Wealth? Fame? Respect? The graduating seniors of Italy High School met at First Baptist Church on Sunday evening for Baccalaureate, a time honored tradition in Italy.

Last Friday, the Gladiator seniors gathered in the dome with family and friends anticipating the scholarship news. Several seniors were recognized and awarded college scholarships.

The recipients of the 2011 15-2A All District Team has been announced and kudos go to some of our Italy Gladiator Varsity Baseball players.

Planning the future gets a little hairy for some. But there are 42 seniors at Italy High School ready to cross the stage and quickly grab that diploma-and rightfully so. However, there are also a few seniors from Italy, Texas that are tripping the light fantastic right now and running into the future as fast as they can, taking a flying leap into it. College grads are incredible.

Reverend Jim Brown will be conducting a memorial ceremony on Sunday, May 29th at 2:00 pm at the Park Presbyterian Church in Italy, Texas (800 South Ward Street, Italy, Texas 972/483-3111) for R. Blinn McClelland and Wilma Zell Morgan McClelland.

The First United Methodist Church of Italy would like to let everyone know that their Sunday morning schedule is changing.

Friday of last week was Field Day at Stafford Elementary. Everywhere you looked out on the field there were smiling faces, students running and jumping and playing games. Teachers were cheering them on and helpers were handing out the gear they needed to participate in various games and obstacles courses.

Dear Parents – If you have a child between the ages of 2 and 12 that would like to participate in the First Annual Summer Fest Bicycle Rodeo (Saturday, June 18), please pre-register via email at [email protected].

Felicia Burkhalter was very excited, happy and surprised to be selected as Employee of the Month. She said, “This is such an honor.”

The Lady Gladiators place 9 players on the 2011 15-2A All-District list including Pitcher Of The Year and Catcher Of The Year.

Summertime is a critical time of the year for Meals-on-Wheels. With the summer heat, there is an even greater need to check on the home-bound disabled and elderly persons in the community. Since summer tends to be a busy time of the year for many with school being out and people being gone on vacation, Meals-on-Wheels needs caring volunteers to help deliver meals during the summer throughout the county.

The recently acclaimed Texas 2A Head Basketball Coach Of The Year, Aidan Callahan, will be conducting his second youth basketball camp in Italy this summer.

The IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) Sports Carnival ran from Thursday, May 12 thru Sunday, May 15 behind the Starship Pegasus dome in Italy. The event was held to raise funds for sports equipment for the Italy Youth Athletic Association.

What does Hawaiian music, flowery shirts, bbq chicken and standing on a rock all have in common? It means First Baptist Church of Italy is hosting a Luau for the local seniors of course. The first of several senior parties have begun. Italy High School graduates take time out of their busy schedule for some last minute fun.

Kolton Smith, a 16 year old cancer survivor, gives back by to the American Cancer Society by auctioning his Texas Rangers baseball bat which was personally signed by, Josh Hamilton.

The Italy Police department and the Italy Masonic Lodge members teamed up to make some children very happy this summer.

The congregation of the Mt. Gilead Mission Baptist Church invites everyone to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of their future place of worship.  The ceremony, at 117 Harris Street, Italy, will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2011, and will begin at noon.

Jenny Graf has learned many lessons, some through diligent study and hard work and others through life experience. Her mother, LaWanna Graf, was the best teacher anyone could have and left her with a legacy of wisdom and life lessons. LaWanna shared that rich legacy with her daughter – one Jenny treasures every day.

Martha Green, 67, passed away at the Ennis Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, May 17, 2011.

The Magic Mirror in Italy, Texas is the place to go if you want the newest trends in hair styles and that “down home country feeling” when you walk in the door. Just tell Heather what you want and she will create a master piece!

Italy Gladiators’ head basketball coach, Aidan Callahan, has been honored recently with the Texas 2A Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Head Basketball Coach of the Year.

The Italy School Board of Trustee meeting was filled with changes Tuesday evening as they swore in new trustees and said farewell to Tommy Morrison, outgoing board member.