Author Archives: Lynette

River Place Rapids wraps season

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

The River Place Rapids swim team wrapped its 2017 season on June 25 with the All Star Invitational Meet at Westwood Country Club with 40 swimmers.

Cannan Ginsburg won second place overall in the boys 7-8 category and won the freestyle event. Other top 3 finishers were: Nicholas Zimmerman’s first in the boys 7-8 breaststroke, Kayla Kovar’s second in the girls 9-10 breaststroke, and Lilah Schumann’s third in the girls 7-8 butterfly.

There were ten all-time Rapids records broken during the season.

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VHS expansion, agriculture barns on proposed bond project list

Dan Troxell

Bond Advisory Committee
presents to LISD Board

By DAN TROXELL
LISD Superintendent

During the June 15 board meeting, the co-chairs of the Bond Advisory Committee presented its recommendations to the Leander ISD Board of Trustees. Their presentation was the culmination of five months and many, many hours of meetings, research, facility tours, conversations and deliberation on the parts of the steering committee and subcommittees. After carefully weighing the long list of identified needs, the BAC ultimately identified $453,860,841 in new facilities, campus additions and land purchases to meet increasing student enrollment; campus safety upgrades; and maintenance upgrades to older buildings.

Co-chairs Victor Villarreal and Shaun Cranston have done an outstanding job leading the BAC through this lengthy and challenging process. Last month, the steering committee was tasked with prioritizing and narrowing the scope of the proposed project lists submitted by the five subcommittees, totaling nearly $1.2 billion. As Villarreal and Cranston reported to the board, while there were a number of worthwhile projects on the list, they agreed to prioritize items that support growth, student safety and maintenance/operations.

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DWI arrests remain constant, crashes are down from last year

Right: These are driving while intoxicated cases reported by Travis County Sheriff’s Office and include a large portion of the Four Points DWI cases so far this year. In addition to these cases, Austin Police Department reported six DWI arrests in 78726 and two in 78730 from Jan. 1 – April 15.

By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News

Officers with the Austin Police Department are ramping up their No Refusal enforcement efforts to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road this summer.

The number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Austin in the first quarter of this year was slightly higher compared to the first quarter of 2016. Between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2017, there were seven fatalities caused by an impaired driver. During the same period in 2016, there were five fatalities caused by an impaired driver.

One positive trend so far this year is that the number of crashes due to DWI is down compared to last year, according to Blake Johnson, operations lieutenant for the Austin Police Department highway enforcement command.

“One trend we’re seeing is both crashes overall and DWI crashes are down, which is a good thing,” Johnson said. “Through the first quarter of the year, DWI crashes were down 23 percent from last year.”

The number of citywide arrests for driving while intoxicated in the first quarter of this year held steady compared to years past.

“DWI arrests are trending about the same,” Johnson said. “(In the first) quarter, they were down 6 percent from last year. Annually, we’re somewhere around the 6,000 mark.”

Between Jan. 1 and April 15, 2017, APD made 1,701 DWI arrests citywide. The three zip codes with the most arrests were 78704 in South Austin with 189, 78701 in downtown with 176 arrests and 78703 in central Austin with 123 arrests.

In the Four Points area, the highest number of DWI arrests made by APD were in the 78726 zip code, which contains the section of RM 620 from Anderson Mill Road to Four Points Drive. In 78726, there were six DWI arrests between Jan. 1 and April 15, 2017. There were 19 DWI arrests total in 2016.

In 78730, there were 2 DWI arrests between Jan. 1 – April 15, 2017. There were six DWIs total in 2016.

Most all of 78732 and part of 78730 are policed by Travis County Sheriff’s Office. TCSO reported eight DWI cases from Jan. 1 through April 15, 2017. There were nine additional DWI cases reported from April 15 – July 2.

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Patriotism shines at local Independence celebrations

River Place and Steiner Ranch hosted their annual parades on Independence Day last week.

Residents show their patriotism and decorated bikes, wagons, strollers, golf carts and the family pet for the two events held July 4.

Steiner’s parade started at 9 a.m. at Towne Square Community Center and River Place’s started at 9:30 a.m. at Sun Tree Park. The River Place MUD and River Place Country Club also hosted the community’s annual Independence Day Barbecue.

Sienna Ceder, Elle Cummings, and Berit Cummings having fun in their decorated golf cart.

The Taylor Family enjoying the Fourth of July after the parade.

The River Place community marching for the Fourth of July.

River Place residents walk as they celebrate the Fourth of July.

Decorated bikes for the festivities at River Place.

Rock climbing, Trampoline Bungee jumping and a soccer dart board to enjoy the day with some outdoor activities.

Serving burgers and water to the people of Steiner.

Evelyn Hinz and her dog enjoy watching the parade.

The community
following the fire truck.

The Steiner Ranch Mountain Bike Team leading the parade.

Steiner residents getting ready to
march in the parade.

The band gets ready to play the National Anthem to start the parade off.

Evi Machnic gets ready for the parade in her festive wagon.