I was hurt when I read the recent comments under the article about Qualifying for State, but then I remembered what my parents had taught me that, “True Champions are made from Adversity.”

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No matter how much we argue, disagree or interrogate each other we still live in the greatest God Blessed nation in the world. If we want it to stay this way we must be willing to ask questions and voice individual opinions without fear of repercussion. We can find answers and, in most cases, compromise together on solutions. We must stand for the Constitution, Liberty and the freedoms that are God given and we are not being selfish but, on the contrary, we are being wise, thinking of the future generations and not our own wants. Notice I said wants not needs.

In Response to two previous letters written by unknown sources, isn’t it wonderful that we live in a country where we can express our first amendment rights (even when spewing venom) and not fear the Gestapo beating your door down. I am going to use my first amendment right by playing the devil’s advocate.

I had not heard much about the upcoming election regarding beer and wine sales in Italy until a couple of weeks ago. Now, that is just about all I am hearing. After much soul searching and some research, I knew how I wanted to vote on all the issues, not just the local beer and wine sales issue. I exercised my right to vote when I voted early.

As most everyone knows by now, one of the items on the ballot for Tuesday, November 3rd, is a vote whether to have beer and wine sales in the stores in the town of Italy.

I would like to say thank you to the staff of Trinity Missions. Their compassion and caring attitudes are unbelievable.

Council voted to raise the water bill tonight by 6 dollars on sewage. Also raised the rates on above minimum usage, or per gallon rates up to 6/1000g for water, and 5/1000g for sewer. Increase of 2 on water to 4000, then 1 dollar/1000; and 3 on sewer/1000.

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The Milford city council will meet in a called meeting on Tues Sept 8, 2009 to vote to increase residential water bills by $25.00 per meter in order to collect money towards paying back to the State of Texas over $300,000 it collected from traffic citations issued on I-35 over several years.

Letter to Joe Grubbs, Ellis County District Attorney, from David South, publisher of the Italy Neotribune, regarding illegal annexations by the City of Italy.

“I wonder if anyone could do a follow up on his exorbitant pay. I wonder if he makes JUST UNDER what max limit is on welfare or disability. I think this is very sad and hope that this type of thing never happens again. He owes that money to the citizens in the form of taxes, water bill, or city employee raises. A decent man would have objected to that kind of pay. I think some investigation into how they came up with that number would turn over some interesting stones.”

I have noticed at least a dozen 5 gallon buckets under the I-35E bridge at Route 34. I am not sure what happen there it looks like someone’s load shifted or there was a wreck. Whatever, we need someone to take responsibility and get this mess cleaned up. I understand it should have been the bucket owners’ responsibility but I am sure he is way down the road by now. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I wish to advise and alert our district patrons and businesses of a fund raising scam currently being attempted by (DBA) “End Zone Sports.”

May 8, 1945 — V-E Day: Victory in Europe is declared by American and Allied Forces

To Rodney Guthrie, Greg Richards, Dennis Perkins, Jr., Mark Souder, Sr. and John Droll:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents of all the Junior High kids who participated in Track this year. It was a great pleasure working with your children, and I am very proud of their success this season.

Arthritis is a serious and sometimes deadly disease. Today, 1 in 5 people suffer from the pain of arthritis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects that by the year 2030, 67 million people in the U.S. or 1 in 4 adults, will live with arthritis.

On behalf of our son, Dylan Haight, we wish to express our sincere thanks to the Italy EMS paramedics and all the emergency responders who took such good care of Dylan after his fall during basketball practice on Thursday.

Italy resident, Brad Muirhead, recently submitted his concerns to the Italy Neotribune regarding the quality of Italy’s water.

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Did you know that Houston does not have zoning. One study by US News and World report said the only difference they could see when they studied cities with zoning and without was it was more expensive to own and/or build in the zoned cities. It is about freedom. If a property is zoned for a park it will not sell for very much in most cities. If it is zoned for homes the value is determined by the buyers of homes. If it is commercial its value will be determined by what the business owner figures it is worth. Rarely will any business want to move into a neighborhood. But there may be a doctor who would like to be closer to his patients. Or a coffee shop might like to have a small neighborhood unit. Can you see the value?

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Italy needs to decide if they want businesses in town or just certain homes. The last P & Z meeting illustrates the point. Today, if a business person wants to open a facility in Italy they have to beg. It looked like that might change in the last P & Z meeting, right up until someone says we must add the phrase with special use permit.

Something happened last week that has impacted my world with mixed emotions. For some reason, only known to God, my friend Beverly Hamilton, left this earth and went to be with Him. I have mixed emotions about her passing. I am sad yet happy.

Another day passed as Beverly’s life on earth ended. I hope her family realizes how much Beverly was admired by many colleagues. They must give her due credit for what she added to this world in such a short time.

Italy’s 4th Annual Basketball Tournament was successfully held December 4-6, 2008.

We want to thank “everyone” but most especially the Italy Fire Department for their valiant efforts and time spent trying to save our house Saturday night.

We would like to express our thanks to everyone for their prayers and calls during Bob Mack’s recent hospital stay. He is at home now and we still need everyone’s prayers. We are thankful for our Italy family.

Sometimes people work much longer than they should because of their age or health concerns. I know it must be hard to make that decision. I have done some soul searching the past few weeks and have had to make a very hard decision that I will share with everyone.

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I attended Gladiator football games 10-15 years ago when my eldest son played football. I have not attended many varsity football games since that time until this year.

[Editor’s Note October 22, 2008 12:37 p.m.
Here is a link to There is Spirit in the Bells, an article from August 22, 2005 that talks about the history of the bells.]

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Now here is a day dedicated just for your sweetie! It is an opportunity for you to so something special for that sweet and special someone in your life. It doesn’t matter who that person is, or what their relationship is to you. They just have to be “sweet” in order to get a little special attention.

My name is Mark Stiles and I have chosen to support the education of the children of the Italy Independent School District by voting “yes” on Saturday October 11, 2008 in the tax rollback election. I take issue with many things in Paul Perry’s remarks concerning school rollback elections that were printed in Wednesday’s paper [Waxahachie Daily Light — Mr. Perry’s letter was published earlier today in the Neotribune]. Unlike Mr. Perry, I choose to send my children to school in Italy. Perhaps if he chose to do the same, Mr. Perry would “clearly see a need” to vote ‘YES’ in this election. I find it disappointing that Mr. Perry is so uninformed of the facts of this election. Reasonably, had he attended either of the two public forums sponsored by the Italy ISD, he would be more knowledgeable of the actual facts; thus, understanding the benefits and need of a successful election to better the education of our children — present and future.

Just in time for the coming recession, your school board wants more of your money. The state legislature has already sent more money to your local school district than ever before. In exchange for providing increased state funding, your local school district is supposed to give you a substantial property tax rate decrease. In an attempt at financial and political judo, many local school districts want to partially restore the old property tax rates, hence the term “rollback,” while keeping increased state funding.

Please vote this Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Wayne Boze building for the Italy ISD rollback election.

Our kids and this community need you to vote yes on the Italy ISD tax rollback. Yes, I said rollback, that may be confusing to some, and the school district has tried to explain it but, some people still find it confusing. I will try to explain it in simple terms.

On behalf of Lions Club International, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all who helped in making this year’s vision clinic a great success.

If anyone or someone in their family has ever heard a doctor say “you have cancer”, they know how important finding a cure for cancer can be. There are so many people in the Italy community that have experienced this first hand. That is why the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life are so important.

Grandparents Day is a family day. Schools, churches, and senior organizations honor grandparents with special events and programs. Grandchildren love to give gifts and cards on this day to their grandparents showing them how much they love them.

A few years ago the Starship Pegasus tried to put an astronomy club together for the people of Italy and other surrounding towns in Ellis County. As we all know it went downhill and the people who were interested were left with nothing. As a fellow amateur astronomer I am currently seeking input on starting a new club here in Italy, Texas.

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