By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Leander ISD reported that 971 students earned 1,054 Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the 2016 AP Exams. This is a 27-percent increase from the previous year’s AP Scholar distinctions.

Vandegrift High School stood out among all LISD high schools with a total of 349 scholars honored through the AP Program. Cedar Park High School had a total of 226 scholars, Vista Ridge High School had 191, Leander High School had 104, and Rouse High School had a total of 101 scholars.

“Leander ISD is pleased to see a growing number students who are participating in the rigorous AP Program and doing well on these challenging exams,” said Karie Lynn McSpadden, LISD interim superintendent. “We are especially proud of our AP Scholars and all that they’ve accomplished.”

LISD reported that 3,875 students took 6,866 AP Exams in 2016, up from the 3,579 students who took 6,109 exams in 2015. The 12-percent increase in the number of exams and 8-percent increase in the number of individual students testing outpaced the district’s 5.5-percent growth in student enrollment.

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Zimmerman abstains from vote,
Bond includes $30 million in district 6 improvements

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

In a split vote, the Austin City Council voted to place a $720 million mobility bond package – the largest in the city’s history – on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Three council members abstained from the final vote, including Place 6 council member Don Zimmerman. Zimmerman said he abstained for two reasons. The first being that he thought the bond package should’ve been broken up into three different pieces that could be voted on individually.

“The number one comment I’ve received from constituents is, ‘Why are you making us vote on this huge amount of money? Why isn’t there some way you could break it into smaller pieces to give us choices,’” Zimmerman said at the Aug. 18 city council meeting.

Additionally, Zimmerman was upset by the removal of ballot language that would specify the amount of tax increase voters would see. While that language was initially approved by the council at a prior meeting, it was taken out at the recommendation of city legal staff.

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Vandegrift Assistant Principal Tiffany Phelps with her husband Courtney, who died last week unexpectedly at the age of 37.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Vandgrift Assistant Principal Tiffany Phelps and her children, Bryson, 5, and Brooklyn, 23 months, are grieving the death of their husband and father, Courtney, after his unexpected death last week at the age of 37.

Courtney, who was visiting family in San Antonio on Aug. 23, complained he wasn’t feeling well and decided to take a nap. He died in his sleep.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Courtney’s heart was almost twice the size of an average man, which ultimately led to its failure, his obituary stated from Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home.

“It’s quite ironic that the very heart that touched so many people would ultimately take his life,” his obituary went on to state. “Anyone who knew Courtney would describe him as being incredibly kind, generous and loving. Courtney was a great man, large in stature and with an enormous heart, both literally and figuratively.”

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By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

A new wellness service offering intravenously delivered vitamin therapy recently opened in the Medical Tower at Riverplace.

Owned by Adam Metcalf, pharmacist and owner of Hill Country Apothecary, Drip Drop is an IV vitamin bar offering vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids through IV infusion.

IV infusion introduces the specially mixed solutions directly into the client’s bloodstream, unlike oral vitamins that pass through the digestive system. The IV treatments have a 90 percent absorption rate, according to the Drip Drop website.

“A wide variety of individuals benefit from IV vitamin therapy including athletes, parents, general health and wellness enthusiasts, professionals, everyday folks that are engaged in daily activity and want a vitamin boost,” said Shannon Cohen, wellness program coordinator and consultant.

Drip Drop services does not include medical diagnoses or treatments.

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