District 6 City Council incumbent Don Zimmerman faced challenger Jimmy Flannigan at a public forum Sept. 21 at Vandegrift. They shared their thoughts on the “Road to Vandegrift” as well as the potential annexation of Steiner Ranch by the city of Austin. Steiner resident Paul O’Brien served as the moderator

The West Austin Chamber of Commerce hosted the Austin City Council District 6 Candidate Forum on Sept. 21 at Vandegrift High School. District 6 candidates Don Zimmerman and Jimmy Flannigan answered many questions from the public and a participant panel. The following are their responses to three of the questions regarding the construction of the Road to Vandegrift and the potential annexation of Steiner Ranch by the city of Austin.

What role can you play in helping us with traffic at 620/2222 and building the road to Vandegrift through the preserve?

Zimmerman: (There) is a road plan from the city of Austin from 1984, that’s about 32 years ago. I still support the city of Austin road plan from 1984. Most of you have probably never seen this. It’s a very interesting road plan. This is what the City has shredded and destroyed so that… roads that were planned 30 years ago were taken off the books. This is why we have such a traffic disaster in the city.

The city, through its own policy, has had a policy of not building roads. They’ve proposed new roads. These roads would’ve helped with fire safety (and) with a lot of the congestion on 620.

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The Vandegrift family is shown at a VHS function. John “Dutch” Vandegrift, (left), was killed Friday night in a crash and Mary Jane suffered injuries. Barrett Vandegrift is on the right.

Mother in stable condition

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Vandegrift High School’s namesake’s father was killed on Friday night in a headon collision in Colorado. His mother is recovering from broken ribs.

John “Dutch” Vandegrift, 72, died in a crash occurred around 7 p.m. on Colorado Highway 172 and Mary Jane Vandegrift, 67, sustained broken ribs, and is currently stable in the hospital.

Formerly of Steiner Ranch, the Vandegrifts of Littleton, Colo., which is nearby Denver, were in the Durango area attending the Colorado Gold Star Parents Weekend for families who have lost a child since 2000 while serving in the military.

Their son and VHS’ namesake, 1st Lt. Matthew Ryan Vandegrift died April 21, 2008 at the age of 28 from injuries he suffered from a makeshift bomb that exploded in Basra, Iraq.

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Kyle McKnight, Williamson County EMT-P and first responder to site of John Holsinger’s recent bicycle accident, visits him in the hospital. Holsinger fell approximately 50 feet off of a bridge in Georgetown on Labor Day.

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

Steiner Ranch resident John Holsinger is recovering from near fatal injuries sustained in a Labor Day bicycle accident in Georgetown where he fell some 50 feet from a bridge.

“His story is nothing short of a miracle,” said Kyle McKnight, an EMT-P with Williamson County EMS and first responder to the scene.

“I have broken hips, a broken femur, wrists, ribs – I’ve had 11 procedures in seven surgeries. Right now, I can’t stand up, I can’t walk,” said Holsinger, a 52-year-old triathlete, recovering at Seton Medical Center Williamson in Round Rock.

On Sept. 5, Holsinger met up with 50 riders from the Bat City Cycling club for a planned 60 mile bike ride through Northwest Austin.

Going approximately 30 mph at mile 16, a cyclist in front of him blew a tire and caused a domino-like crash.

A view of Ronald Reagan Boulevard near the site where John Holsinger fell following a bicycle accident on Labor Day. It is estimated he fell 50 feet.

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Vandegrift vs Westlake
Monroe Stadium
Friday, Sept. 23 – 7:30 p.m.

By SCOTT W. COLEMAN, Four Points News

The Vipers still have a lot of work to do, and things don’t get any easier after a 1-3 non-district campaign to start the season.

All three of those losses were close, and though the Vipers fell behind last Thursday, they were able to rally and put themselves in position to win the game at Harker Heights. Still, the final score is what counts, and despite being close, those three losses will give the Vipers motivation to improve as they move into 25-6A play this week.

The challenge couldn’t be tougher than a face-off against state finalist Westlake, and it might get more difficult still, as rumors are that University of Texas commit Sam Ehlinger could return to action this week to quarterback the Chaps.

Westlake has done well in Ehlinger’s absence, as senior backup Matthew Gense has managed the offense as the Chaps shifted balance toward a rushing attack and Nakia Washington dominated opponents on the ground. The junior running back already has 548 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the season and carried the ball for 214 yards and three touchdowns last week.

If Gense is behind center, the Vipers will likely expect Westlake to continue a ground-heavy gameplan with Gense working the short and mid-ranged passing game. If Ehlinger, however, returns on Friday, the Westlake offense becomes truly three dimensional. The reigning AP Texas high school player of the year is a threat to run at any time, and has the arm strength and accuracy to add a deep-threat passing attack with receivers Andrew Boykin and Cade Green. On the ground, Nakia Washington has already shown the ability to dominate opponents behind a strong offensive line.

Vandegrift saw its offense held back by penalties again last week. Vandegrift’s offensive game plan is predicated on the ability to go uptempo to take advantage of beneficial matchups and to keep defenses on their heels after big plays. Penalties killed the effort to build momentum in last week’s game at Harker Heights. Though the Knight’s defense is solid and has done an impressive job this season, there is little doubt that Westlake’s defense is among the best in the state. Vandegrift will have to make the most of every possession on Friday, and fixing the problem with penalties will be crucial to the Vipers’ chances of success this week.