The South Ellis County Water Supply Corporation has released its 2008 Annual Drinking Water quality Report. This is their annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).

With the help of the Lone Star Cyclists of Grand Prairie, the 24th Annual Tour d’Italia was a success. The cyclists started arriving on Friday night to register for the bike rally held every third Saturday in June. Some of the riders camped on the lawn in front of the Italy High School and in the parking lot, as well.

After arriving to work this morning, it didn’t take Dollar General employees long to realize that the store had been robbed during the night.

Today around 4:30 PM the Milford Fire department was called out to a car fire on I-35 S Highway. Traffic was backed up for miles. Smoke was everywhere. Milford fire fighters were on the scene and had the fire under control.

Have you been by the Italy Cemetery lately? If you have I am sure you have noticed the beautiful flag pole with the United States of America flag waving in the wind. The folks with the Italy Cemetery Association decided it was time for a flag.

Last night at 8:53 PM the Milford Fire Department was called out to a fire on the 500 block of Frank’s Road in Milford. An abandoned mobile home had caught on fire and burned. Italy and Milford fire fighters were out fighting the blazing flames until 1:30 AM.

The Milford Music Festival that will be held on August 22, 2009 has vendor spaces for rent. Spaces available are 10×10 for $25. Each vendor will receive two tickets to the music venue which includes legendary Texas singer songwriter Billy Joe Shaver along with ten other Texas Singer/Songwriters or Groups.

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.

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

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

After 37 years of service to the City of Italy, Fire Chief Donald Chambers is not only hanging up his fire helmet, he is hanging up all the hats he has officially and unofficially worn at one time or another.

We all love watermelon! That’s why I’m glad to inform everyone that the Garza family will have watermelons on sale again this season. Luciano Garza, with the help of his son Leo Garza, rolled into town Thursday with a trailer full of juicy watermelons that the pair transported in from San Manuel, Texas, Yum!

Johnny Hanes of Mertens retired at the end of April with 20 years of service to Ellis County. Hanes began working for Pct. 3 in April of 1989. He said he was hired by Commissioner Del McLane.

Around 5:30 Thursday afternoon the Italy, Forreston and Milford fire departments were all gathered on Clark Street in Italy putting out a small house fire.

Around 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, a grass fire was reported between Avalon and Italy just off Lufkin Road. The Italy Fire Department answered the bell and leveled the blazing fast opponent in the first hour.

After an hour long search on foot, three male suspects were taken into custody outside Italy near Campbell Road. off Hwy 35E. Thanks to ongoing organizational efforts between different rescue departments around the county, Italy citizens can relax and enjoy the rest of a beautiful day.

About 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, Italy Fire and Rescue along with Italy Police units responded to a peculiar motorcycle crash on Hwy 77 outside of Italy, on the way to Forreston.

Italy Police Chief C.V. Johns submits a Press Release regarding early morning drug busts on Thursday, March, 2009.

Community Alert Cancelled – Italy Police Chief C.V. Johns wants Italy residents to know that an arrest has been made regarding the Community Alert posted Jan. 23 at 2:00 p.m. on the Italy Neotribune.

Yesterday, January 30th, mid-morning, traffic was diverted off south bound I-35. A jackknifed semi was the cause of the backed up trail of cars and trucks.

With several family members and friends present in the District Courtroom Monday night, the Ellis County Commissioners recognized Doris Mitchell and the Uptown Café with a resolution of honor.

The weather in Italy has been quite extraordinary this week. One day with 80 degrees and a few days later sleet. This sleet along with freezing rain caused local schools to close and power outages in the area.

Outside the Stuckey’s Tiger Mart around 12:30 p.m. Friday in Italy, paramedics and 1st responders were called to assist a man who allegedly was suffering from an overdose of narcotics.

ALERT – Italy Police Chief C.V. Johns is issuing this alert to area homeowners regarding recent solicitation activities.

Unlucky accident leaves young driver feeling lucky it wasn’t worse. Chambers Creek Bridge was backed up about two hours after a college students terrifying ordeal. The Italy Fire & Police Departments responded along with Helm’s Garage to ensure everyone’s safety.

Saturday was the day in Italy. Locals lined the street as vendors sold their wares and a big parade marched through downtown and all around the city. There hasn’t been a parade or festival in many years but from the looks of things, this won’t be the last.

If you walked down the street down town Italy, Saturday morning, you would have seen this little town bustling with activities and fun. The street was filled with vendors selling their wares such as jewelry, crosses, home baked goodies, Christmas ornaments, and lots more. You could just feel the excitement of Christmas in the air.

As you walk in the front door of David’s Supermarket and turn to your right you will see the world’s largest Christmas stocking. This stocking is filled with color books, crayons, books and lots and lots of candy and toys.

Uptown Cafe was rated as one of the top forty Texas cafes by the Texas Monthly magazine. The “secret restaurant shoppers” from Texas Monthly had visited over three hundred cafes in the state of Texas and selected our own Uptown Cafe.

Monolithic Constructors sometimes burns green waste. Their property is located outside of the city limits. Monday was no exception except the choice to burn that day was probably not a good idea.

On Tuesday, Pablo Jacinto was honored as well as other Veterans in Italy. The community assembled and took a few minutes to honor the ones who gave everything to help keep us free.

Saturday evening the Italy, Milford and Forreston fire departments were called out to a house fire at the corner of Harpold and Park St. in Italy, Texas.

The hearts of the citizens of Italy are compassionate, loving and selfless. This was certainly proven on Saturday night, October 25 at the Donovan Lusk fundraiser. Uptown Italy was bustling with hungry folks enjoying a wonderful dinner at the Up Town Cafe. Then they were seen at Wayne Boze’s community center bidding on terrific items in the Silent Auction in order to raise money for Donovan and his family.

There was a scheduled Chamber of Commerce meeting Monday evening, 8 p.m., at Express Electronics. Some of the concerned citizens of Italy wanted to begin again, to re-establish the Chamber of Commerce for Italy, to help make the community grow.

Bring Mom, Dad, Grandma and the kids to the Annual Monolithic Dome Tour on Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 177 Dome Park Place, right off of Kinfolk Lane in Italy.

Do you remember the game from your childhood when friends asked you a question and before your response, you had to choose between truth or dare? Or, sitting around the fire at night and telling ghost stories? Listening to eery noises or those things that go bump in the night. These are times to be watchful and to take care. You never know what is lurking around the corner and what is real…

The tax rollback election is Saturday, October 11, 2008. What is a rollback election and why should we vote for or against it?

Monday afternoon, September 29 many Milford Volunteer firefighters were gathered at the Milford Fire Department in anticipation of receiving a grant for bunker gear.

If you look in the sky towards McDonald’s, you might see smoke. Not to worry. It is a controlled burn.

Thursday evening was quiet until the fire department and sheriff’s department was called to the domes on Morgan Road. Dome renter, Jimmy Watt, was coming home from work when he heard an alarm from inside his home. He opened the door to see things in the kitchen melted, cabinets burned and soot on everything from a fire that had extinguished itself. “I thought my radio alarm was beeping when I walked up to my door,” Watt said, “but it was the smoke alarm.”

The Pedraza, Hernandez and the Apaz families fled from their homes in Houston on Friday, September 12 to avoid hurricane Ike. Where else would you go to be safe but a Monolithic Dome?

The Italy Historical Preservation Commission and the Italy Youth Baseball, Inc. have also lost their state charters. This is according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website. No record was found for the Italy Youth Athletic Association (IYAA). The IYAA doesn’t seem to be registered with the State of Texas.

Several interested citizens recently attended a meeting held in the Italy City Council chambers for those wanting to learn more about the Italy Chamber of Commerce. Susan Delephimne, chamber director, answered numerous questions regarding the local chamber. It was never disclosed any time during the meeting, however, that the chamber had been Involuntary Dissolved by the Texas Secretary of State.