Steiner resident Kendall Shields, 15, celebrates beating the time needed to qualify to swim in the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials.

Kendall Shields with a banner neighbors had made wishing her luck at the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials being held Jun. 26 – Jul. 3 in Omaha, Neb.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Steiner Ranch resident Kendall Shields, a 15-year-old rising junior at Vandegrift High School, will compete in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials being held in Omaha, Neb. this week.

Shields is attending the event, which runs from Jun. 26 – Jul. 3, with her family and eight other swimmers from her team, the Austin Swim Club out of Westlake. Coach Brendan Hansen, an Olympic medalist and world record holder in swimming, leads the team.

Shields is eligible to attend as a result of exceeding national time standards and will compete against other teens and adults in two events, the 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke. The first and second place winners at the trials will join the Olympic team

“That’s not quite a realistic goal for me this year,” explains Shields. “To put it in perspective, I’d basically have to beat (four-time Olympic gold medalist) Missy Franklin in order to actually go to the Olympics. But just to qualify for the meet and get to race there is just really a big accomplishment.”

That’s not to say she won’t be fierce competition. Shields mom Lisa, not wanting to brag, admits that, “It always feels awkward to say it, but she’s top ten in the country in her event for her age.”

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Last week the Austin City Council endorsed Mayor Steve Adler’s proposal to ask voters for permission to sell $720 million in property-tax-based bonds over the next five years, and parts of the plan include $101 million for projects that would help alleviate traffic congestion in Four Points.
“This (existing) congestion is dire for the community,” said Brian Thompto, local traffic relief advocate. “This is now a critical time for the West Austin – Four Points community to make sure our needs are heard and that the council takes very seriously the funding of improvements along RM 620.”

The transportation plan includes $101 million for “regional mobility improvements” including work on RM 620 and RM 2222, Loop 360, Anderson Mill and Parmer Lane. Many of these “regional” projects are outside of the city core and are included in Council Member Don Zimmerman’s District 6 and Council Member Sheri Gallo’s District 10. Both Zimmerman and Gallo voted for the plan.

Thompto was at the June 23 meeting and gave comments supporting the transportation plan for three minutes around 10:30 p.m. He emphasized the importance of including funding for fixing roadway bottlenecks such as RM 620/RM 2222.

The council vote was taken just after 1:30 a.m. on Friday and resulted in an 8-3 vote.

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Philippe Bochaton, CEO, is making a positive difference as Lakeway Regional Medical Center enters its 4th year of operations. “We want to be the preferred provider for the community where time is of essence,” Bochaton said.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Lakeway Regional Medical Center has never been stronger in the four years since it opened, and much of that is due to the leadership of CEO Philippe Bochaton.

Bochaton believes in getting feedback straight from LRMC patients and their families, and he makes it a habit to spend a small portion of his day visiting patients.

“This morning, I talked with five patients, who were all positive (about their experience at LRMC),” Bochaton said during a recent interview. “We are working really hard to provide a first class experience to our patients.”

LRMC opened April 16, 2012 and is the closest full-service hospital to Four Points located at 100 Medical Parkway in Lakeway. Bochaton took over as CEO in April of 2015 and he is LRMC’s third CEO.

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Vehicle damage have varied since this Circle K at 11000 RM 2222 near River Place Boulevard had unleaded fuel in its diesel tank around May 17. Local drivers share their experiences on what has happened with their vehicles.

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

It’s been a month since a local Circle K gas station accidentally put the wrong fuel type in its diesel tank, and a Steiner Ranch woman says she is still waiting for the company to compensate her for the damage to her vehicle.

“I’m still without my car,” she said. “That’s because they’ve totaled my car, along with two other cars like mine.”

The Four Points Circle K gas station had unleaded fuel in its diesel tank around May 17 and a corporate official at Circle K told the victim that the “delivery company made an error.”

She has heard from other BMW owners and others who drive different vehicles who have had varying degrees of damage because of using the fuel, which Circle K admitted that the wrong fuel was put into the diesel tank by mistake.

A River Place resident put the wrong fuel in his Mercedes Sprinter as did a Hudson Bend resident into his Jeep Grand Cherokee, both had significantly less damage than the Steiner victim.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, filled up her 2013 BMW X5 at the Circle K at 11000 RM 2222 near River Place Boulevard on May 17. Soon after, as she went about her business, she began to notice the car not starting properly. After taking it to the BMW dealership, she was told that there was unleaded fuel in her tank and that the entire fuel system would have to be replaced.

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