The Italy Lady Gladiators began their 2010 volleyball season with enthusiasm last week under the tutelage of their new head volleyball coach Heather Richters and assistant coach Jennifer Reeves. Intense workouts have the Ladies reaching new heights and setting even loftier goals.

The Italy Gladiators went all pads on Friday during both 2-a-day practice sessions. Lineman worked the seven man sled for the first time and and receivers adjusted to catching with the shoulder pads on.

Italy now has a pharmacy and it is located in the lobby at Dr. John Arkusinski’s office. The owner, Martin Dennis, has been a pharmacist since 1992. He now owns three pharmacies and this one in Italy is his third one. The other two are in North Dallas, (one in Plano and one in Lewisville.)

Hunter Morgan loves competition. You might say he thrives on it. Whether it is on the golf course or on a grill at a cook off, he loves to compete.

There will be a called meeting of the Italy ISD School Board Trustees on Monday, August 9, 2010. Agenda items include personnel considerations, 2010 Accountability Ratings and a Budget Workshop. The meeting will begin at 5:00pm and will be held in the Italy ISD Administration Building at 300 South College.

Wednesday at 11:00 AM, KBEC radio was broadcasting live from the Italy Dairy Queen for Italy Appreciation Day. Lots of customers were there, even Mayor Jackson joined in on the celebration.

With the first scrimmage only days away, football fever is at an all time high. Attached are the schedules for the Varsity, Junior Varsity and Junior High Italy Gladiator Football teams. Go Gladiators!

Italy Junior High Volleyball coaches Heather Richter and Tina Richards have released the 2010 schedule for the Junior High Lady Gladiators. The Italy JH Lady Gladiators will take on the Grandview Lady Zebras in the season opener on Monday, September 13 in Italy. We look forward to a great season. Good luck Ladies!

With week one of 2-a-day practices coming to an end, the Italy Gladiators will suit up in full contact armor on Friday.

I went to Trinity Mission and visited Buna Guthrie to do an article for her “100th” birthday (August 5th, 2010.) I was greeted with a hug and so much warmth I never wanted to leave. She told me of her love of Christ and how life had no meaning without him.

The 2010 Italy Gladiators, head coached by athletic director Craig Bales, began their 2-a-day football practices on Monday to kickoff a highly anticipated campaign to reclaim the district championship that has been so close yet so far away.

Ivan Roldan was presented the Italy Lion’s Club Scholarship on Sunday, August 1st at the Lions Club monthly meeting. Mark Souder Sr. (Italy Lions Club vice president) presented Ivan his check with many Lions Club members looking on sharing in his excitement.

The City of Italy Park Board will meet on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. The meeting will be held at the Italy City Council Chambers at 105 Main Street, Italy, Texas and will begin at 6:30pm. The lone agenda item is slated as a discussion and possible action regarding a Summer Fund Raiser.

Members of Italy’s 7th and 8th grade girls volleyball team, coached by Kimberly Nelson, completed a successful summer season which culminated in a chance to compete for the YMCA Tournament Championship in Waxahachie.

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson & Ellis Counties needs additional volunteers to help get noontime meals delivered to the homebound elderly and disabled residents throughout Ellis County. “With the growing needs in our communities, we are in need of new volunteers,” said Whitney Patterson, volunteer coordinator.

Final Football Sign-ups will be held Saturday, July 31 at Upchurch Ballpark from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. during the IYAA Garage Sale. Sign-up forms, county issued birth certificates and a registration fee of $65.00 can be submitted during that time.

Nettie Sue Hollingsworth Jenkins, age 82, of Italy, passed away Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab. She was born June 26, 1928 in Frost, Texas to James Clint and Nettie Ethel (Pevehouse) Hollingsworth. She married Glenn Gilbert Jenkins on March 12, 1946 and was a longtime resident of Italy.

As our gridiron Gladiators take to the field next week for their two-a-days practices our Lady Gladiators will also take to the court for theirs. Coach Richters, the new head coach of the Lady Gladiator Volleyball program, has released the Varsity/JV practice and game schedules for the 2010 volleyball season.

It is time for the July birthday celebration at Trinity Mission once again and this time it is all girls! The July birthday girls are Lona Butler, Emma Davis, Evelyn Hocutt and Francis Davidson.

First Baptist Church of Italy is setting sail for Vacation Bible School fun on the HIGH SEAS! Kids will feel the sea spray on their face as sails snap overhead. They’ll experience the deep rolling waters of God’s love. It’s easily the best time they will have all summer. It’s five solid evenings of activities for the children of Italy. All kids are invited—so, pack up and head to First Baptist Church!!! We are serving supper and fun all week!

The Italy Economic Development Corporation will have their regular monthly meeting on Monday, July 26, 2010. The meeting will be held at the Italy City Council Chambers at 105 Main Street, Italy, Texas and will begin at 7:00pm.

Italy — On Friday and Saturday at the Upchurch Ball Fields in Italy, several teams from around Texas converged on Field 1 to battle for the right to advance in the Texas Teen-Age Baseball/Softball Association’s Boys State Tournament High School Eligible Boys State Baseball Tournament.

The IYAA will be having a fund-raising garage sale and football sign-ups on Saturday, July 31 starting at 8:00 a.m. at the Upchurch Ball Fields in Italy.

Donated items can be dropped off on Wednesday, July 28 between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m at the fields as well.

Meals on Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties have released their meals menu for August 2010. These meals are subject to change.

When I walked into the principal’s office at Stafford Elementary I was coming to interview the new principal. There she sat in her chair, at her desk and was already going to work to be ready for the coming school year. Her name is Tammy Wallis and she comes to us from Red Oak, Texas where she was the assistant principal for the Red Oak Intermediate School for the past two years.

Billy and Mary Copeland were honored as the recipients of “Yard of the Month” for July and after one look at their yard, you know why.

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On Friday and Saturday at the Upchurch Ball Fields in Italy, the IYAA will be hosting High School Eligible (HSE) Boys Pool Play baseball games in a partnership effort with the Hillsboro Sports Association who is hosting the Texas Teen-Age Baseball/Softball Association’s Boys State Tournament.

Under the direction of NCAA certified basketball coach Aaron Itson, the Texas Elite basketball team will once again combine the athletic talents of both Italy and Maypearl and participate in the, NCAA sanctioned, Prime Time National Basketball Tournament (11th – 12th grade division).

After winning the district championship, the Milford Lil’ Dogs trotted out of the park with their mugs held high. This 10 & under coach pitch team earned a place in the State bracket. They may have ponytails but don’t under estimate the power behind that little smile. Matched up with 21 other teams, the little girls donned their softball caps, grabbed their bats and worked up a sweat just like the big girls.

George Roland Green III, a long time resident of Italy, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at his home surrounded by family and friends. Roland was born August 16, 1955 in Cleburne, Texas to the late George R. Green, Jr. and Oneta (Gardner) Green. He graduated from Italy High School in 1974, was a longtime employee at Tyler Refrigeration in Waxahachie and was employed by Dart Container Corp in Waxahachie, at the time of his death. He married Susan Buie on December 8, 1978 in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Coach Keith Wolfe, age 57, of Italy, passed away Sunday, July 18, 2010 at his home. He was born August 2, 1952 in Houston to James Robert and Betty (Harvey) Wolfe. He retired from teaching and coaching after 30 years. He was an avid Rangers fan, loved coaching and was a great Dad.

Having only lived here in Italy for 20 years, I know that I am a newbie. But over my lifetime I have learned a lot. One of the things I think I have learned is a bit about life. Now what I am going to say will offend some — but there is a time for new as well as old.

The Wild Thangs (5th and 6th grade girls), coached by Tracey Carter Bowles of Italy, are among several local teams that participate in youth volleyball at the YMCA in Waxahachie.

Putting their experience of cleaning finely tuned instruments to use, members of the Italy Gladiator Regiment Band held a fund-raising car wash at the Chicken Express restaurant in Waxahachie on Saturday. Now, half the cars in Ellis County sparkle as bright as the IHS Band does when they march on Friday nights.