Author Archives: Lynette

Report shows good, bad and ugly of Travis County economy

By JACK CRAVER , Austin Monitor

People in Travis County are enjoying the fruits of a strong national and regional economy. A new analysis shows that rates of poverty, crime and educational outcomes are moving in the right direction.

Between 2012 and 2016, crime dropped by 27 percent. Those living under the federal poverty level decreased from 18 percent to 12 percent. The unemployment rate stands at 3 percent. And, thanks in no small part to the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured rate declined from 21 percent to 14 percent.

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Austin Christian Fellowship hosts Mega Camp Fun

Noodle soccer was a crowd pleasure at the 2018 Austin Christian Fellowship Mega Camp Fun.

Austin Christian Fellowship’s campus in River Place was transformed last week into a shipwreck scene as the church hosted its annual Mega Camp Fun.

The theme was “Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus.” Over 400 kids participated and over 200 student and adult volunteers helped during the June 25-29 event.  

“The big idea was that no matter where we find ourselves in life: lonely, powerless, struggling, Jesus is always there to help us through life’s storms,” said Julie Washington, ACFkids pastor. “Such a great message in today’s world – we don’t have to do this life alone!”

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Viper Special Education Boosters cap off 2nd year

Rising junior Abby Dennis had Down Syndrome and was excited to share her photos at the exhibit at Cups & Cones. Abby’s mom Lisa founded the VHS SPED Booster Club in 2016 in order to better support the school’s special education students and teachers.

Students showcase their photography

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

The Vandegrift High School Special Education Boosters or SPED the first booster club of their kind in Texas    held an exhibit of student photos last month at Cups & Cones in Steiner Ranch.

About 30 photos were on display at the show on June 4 and were hand-selected by the students who took them. The five students were members of a 2017-18 vocational education class at VHS created especially for students with developmental delays and disorders.

“We used photography to teach vocational skills,” explained vocation teacher Ana Caldas. The task especially required the use of, “a lot of social skills… (The students) all know better now to ask anybody if they can take their picture before just snapping.” Continue reading →

TxDOT on 620 N

Bruce Byron, Texas Department of Transportation project manager, spoke at the Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association meeting on June. 18.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Texas Department of Transportation gave a brief update on plans for RM 620 N at the recent Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association meeting: more delineators are coming to Four Points and studies continue on how to expand the road into six lanes.  

Bruce Byron, project manager for TxDOT, spoke at the SRNA meeting on June 18 in Steiner Ranch.

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