Next Sunday, April 15th at 3:00 p.m. there will be an Official Texas Historical Marker dedication at the Bethel United Methodist Church in the Community Hall for THE SIMS FAMILY OF ELLIS COUNTY. The actual historical marker will stand next the Shawnee Cattle Trail marker on Pecan Springs Ranch on L.R. Campbell Rd. See the attached for more information.
Just wanted to give the community a heads up about my dome neighbor, Rickey Freeland (pic attached). In the 3 months since he moved to Italy, Rickey has logged over 30 hours cleaning and maintaining Upchurch Field (after games), and he has logged over 50 hours cleaning up the “Secret Garden” dome community behind the laundromat. He has done this simply out of the kindness of his heart, asking for no recognition or compensation.
Zina Guthrie has supported the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life for several years with donations. She is employed by First State Bank of Rice in Italy, so when the bank decided to create a team for the Ennis Relay, she did not hesitate to join.
When someone passes away, the loss is felt by their family and friends. Other times when a person dies, because they are well known and loved throughout Ellis County, the loss is magnified.
Dale Crownover has been thankful all his life for the relationship he had with his parents. Roy and Bernyce Crownover were wonderful parents. They taught him to work hard, be honest and rely on his faith during adverse times. The Crownovers also taught him to give back, be humble and never take anything for granted.
About a year ago, Isaac Garcia, an 8th grade student from Italy ISD, became involved in the Texas Brigades, a state-wide group that promotes wildlife conservation and leadership skills.
2008 Italy High School graduate, Josh Howard will be one of the contestants in the second season of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge on CMT (Country Music Television). The series will air it’s first episode on January 4th, 2015.
Josh’s episode will air February 8, 2015 on the CMT channel at 7pm.
Being a Gladiator is forever and high school was just the beginning for former Italy High School student-athlete and now Naval Electricians Mate 3rd class petty officer Zachary Hernandez who will be in town for a short visit during the Christmas holiday.
The City of Italy honored local resident, Altha McNeely, on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the annual Christmas parade and festival. Altha moved to Italy when she was in the 4th grade. She is a long time member of First Baptist Church.
The family of Geneva Sevier Rosemond cordially invites her friends to help her celebrate her 90th birthday in a special way.
After 36 years dedicating her life to teaching and loving her students Jan Shepard has decided to retire. When asked why she was retiring she replied, “I knew I would know when the time was right to retire and I just knew this year was it. The time I spent teaching was wonderful.”
When Randy Compton graduated from Italy High School in 1972, he had many plans and dreams. He loved to hunt and fish and hang out with his friends. He never dreamed that life’s road would take him where it has brought him to today, fighting cancer for the third time.
A caring young voice provides perspective with Italy ISD undergoing many changes.
Most people in Italy, Texas sit in front of the television and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving Day, but for one Italy High School senior that did not happen this year. Taylor Turner could not watch the parade on television this year because she was in New York City participating in the parade.
Lt. Gregory Pickard, 54, who died in the line-of-duty Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, during a lodge hall fire in Bryan, Texas, will posthumously receive the Star of Texas Award from the office of the Governor.
Reid Jacinto was a “big man on campus” at Italy High School, graduating as valedictorian for the class of 2013. He played sports, was in the National Honor Society, Student Council and was an important part of the Gladiator Regiment Band.
Several community members have come together with the goal of having a “Barry Byers Day.” Our hopes in having this event is #1 to let Barry Byers know how much we ALL appreciate what he does for our children and our community, #2 to have a fun community event that can unite our families with food, etc. and finally, and most importantly, #3, to raise funds to purchase Barry a really nice sports camera, lens, etc.
Victor Carera and his wife Donna have lived in Italy for fifteen years. They are really enjoying the country life and are excited to be here.
Italy resident, Gus Allen, graduated from IHS this year. Parents Leslie and Brian Allen are very proud of their son. Gus didn’t leave empty handed when he left that campus in May. He received several scholarships. The Shelley Nance Memorial Art scholarship, band scholarship and theater scholarship from Navarro College in Corsicana.
When Christina Ward and her husband, Bryan, began to search for a new place to live, they had never heard of Italy. After looking in the northern part of Ellis County, their realtor told them she wanted to show them a house in Italy.
Italy High School is going to miss Mrs. Margie Davis. After teaching our junior high and high school students for 18 years, she is going to be sorely missed. “My end of the hallway won’t be half as exciting without me,” Margie laughingly said.
Thursday evening Italy Boze Community Center was packed with citizens of Italy to thank Frank Jackson for his last 14 years of service as Mayor. City council members, friends and family were there to celebrate Jackson for the work he had done for the city.
These two folks are very humble in receiving the Citizen of the Month recognition. In fact, they thought someone put the sign at the wrong house. They even went so far as to call Mayor Jackson to make sure the sign was in the right yard!
The ‘Citizen of the Month’ for March has lived here his whole life! He loves Italy, loves the people and is right at home in his rocking chair on his front porch waving at all who passes! Yes, I am talking about Joe Tovar.
Italy 5-year-old, Azlin Rose Itson seeks for sponsorship(s) and donations as she represents her home town, her county and the great State of Texas during upcoming national pageants.
After twelve years of service, Lou Martina retires from the City of Italy. I know everyone know who he is! Lou could be seen every morning around 5:30 AM in his red pick up truck in downtown Italy sweeping streets and picking up trash. He loved his job and took it very seriously but always had a smile for those passing by.
Gaines Wolaver, son of the late Carl Wendell (Sally) and Agatha Hall Wolaver, grew up in Italy and graduated from Italy High School in 1958.
Every month Mayor Jackson selects a citizen of Italy, Texas to be honored as the ‘Citizen of the Month’ and this month he chose Tom Little.
Local residents, Sam Nance and Clay Riddle, were recognized at Texas Royal Ambassadors and Challengers Mission Rally this past Saturday, September 15, 2012.
Join “Team Hooker” and donate items to the silent auction or make financial contributions benefiting Andrea Hooker, a heart transplant recipient.
Greg Anderson was born and raised in Italy, Texas and has lived here for forty-four years. He was very shocked when his daughter Brianna called him in Dallas and told him he was Citizen of the Month.
Coach Wayne Rowe, one of the newest members of the Italy High School staff, has been teaching for 15 years and wants to put IHS on his resume. Coming from Scurry Rosser ISD, Rowe teaches English and coaches softball. Eager to begin the school year in Italy, Coach Rowe has plans of preparing the students in and out of the classroom.
Three aspiring young actors from Italy join a cast of 12-year olds and younger in a three show performance of Cinderella and the “Substitute” Fairy Godmother during July.
Joseph Barrett, as a young man, had no plans to become a minister of the gospel. Instead, he was going to be a rock star. God, on the other hand, had other plans for the new pastor at Central Baptist Church in Italy.
Italy grad Megann Mae Lewis Harlow and her husband Andrew Harlow both took time away from their studies at Hardin-Simmons University to bring hope, as well as socks, shoes, basketballs and shirts to the week long Basketball Smiles camp held in Nassau, Bahamas.
Italy Police Officer, Tierra Mooney, is promoted to Sergeant after being with the department almost four years.
For nine years Debra Erwin was a missionary in Africa. You ask how did she come to Italy, Texas? Due to some health challenges Debra had to come back to the states and live with her son who resides in Frost. She realized it was going to take more time than she realized to bring her back to good health so she found a place to rent in Italy and is waiting until she can go back and help the people of Africa again.
Lots of cake and lots of ice cream for everyone at Trinity Mission—the June birthdays were celebrated with with lots of fun.
Patrick Roberts graduated with his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree this past Sunday in Lubbock at the United Spirit Arena, on the campus of Texas Tech University. Patrick was the valedictorian at Italy High School in 2005. He received his Associate Arts degree in Pre-Pharmacy at Navarro College and was accepted into the Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Pharmacy in 2008.
Richard Skifton was awarded a fellowship for graduate students that will pay him fifty-thousand dollars a year to go to school and get his PhD. Richard is married to Ashley Clark a graduate of Italy High School.
When Dan Crownover graduated from Italy High School in 2010, unlike some graduates that were undecided, he knew what path he wanted to travel. He did not, however, realize that path would take him “down under”.
San Antonio, Texas – Texas Brigades is proud to announce that Meagan Hooker, a sixteen year old from Italy, Texas, has been selected as a member of the 2012-2013 W.I.L.D. (Wildlife Intensive Leadership Development) class.
Daniel Nazar, who attended Milford High, recently graduated from Harvard Law School in the top of his class. Daniel, who currently resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will take the bar exam in June and has already been offered a job with a prestigious law firm in New York City. He plans to make New York his home, but has fond memories of the good times in Milford, Texas.
Patty Hernandez (Avalon) and Alice Compton (Italy), creators of Patty’s Perfect Pocket will be on Channel 10 News out of Waco. They will be interviewed about their cell phone pockets that attach to belt loops, and undergarments.
I think everyone knows Brian and Karen Mathiowetz. Karen has lived in Italy for most of her life and Brian has lived here for seventeen years. They are both very active members in this small town community of Italy. They can be spotted at the Uptown cafe, seen at most of the high school ball games and at the nursing home visiting the residents to make them smile and to catch a hug or two. It is no wonder that they were selected as Citizens of the Month.
March Birthdays along with St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated this month at Trinity Mission with lots of green and lots of fun! There were three birthdays this month.
Shelden Kinnison of Italy has earned a place on the President’s Honor Roll for the fall 2011 semester at Texas State Technical College Waco.
Charlotte Morgan has been teaching first grade for about twenty-two years at Stafford Elementary and credits Mr. George Scott (a past Italy ISD superintendent) and her husband John Morgan for her success.
It was very, very cold the night of Dianne Jaynes fundraiser. But the citizens of the small community of Italy, Texas was not going to let a little bad weather bother them and as usual came out in full to support one of their own, Dianne Jaynes and her family.
Lady Gladiator basketball senior, Kaitlyn Rossa, will be trading in her gladiator helmet for a pirate’s hat next fall now that she has verbally committed to Southwestern University located in Georgetown.
