By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Leander ISD remains the 12th fastest-growing district in the state of Texas among districts with more than 20,000 students, according to Dr. Stacey Tepera of Population & Survey Analysts, who presented a demographic update to the LISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 15.

The district grew by 831 students over the past year and, as of mid-September, had a total enrollment of 37,042 students. By comparison, Austin ISD lost 833 students over the past year.

“Clearly, it’s the highest-growth district in the Austin area, followed by Hays CISD and Round Rock ISD,” Tepera said. “The district has added almost 4,900 students over the past five years. That’s significant; that’s remarkable.” Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The 100-room Residence Inn hotel in River Place is expected to be finished by May, after more than three years since construction began.

Owned by California-based Pacifica Host Hotels, Pacifica Riverplace LP was expected to have the 100-room hotel finished by the first quarter of 2013. But that did not happen and the project has most recently been stalled for the better part of this past year.

“It has been almost a year, no one has been there,” said Vangie Bocanegra, community manager for River Place with Certified Management of Austin. “The previous contractor had financial problems.”

Construction is to resume this week on the hotel in River Place. The project has been stalled on and off the past several years.

Continue reading →

The top rendering is the addition to be added to the south and the bottom rendering is the addition to the east.

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Austin Baptist Church will break ground on Oct. 25 for a $10.5 million expansion project to add more than 47,000 square feet to existing facilities, plus a 3,500-square-foot outdoor playground.

Dr. David Procter, executive pastor, said the project started this month and has a completion date of next fall.

Facility construction includes two classroom buildings. Specifically, a two-story education building on the east end of the existing structure will have 12 children’s classrooms and an assembly area on the ground floor. The second level includes a dozen adult classrooms.

“The other building, south of the existing structure, will provide space for our largest adult Bible fellowship group. There also will be additional parking for 188 vehicles,” said Procter. Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

After being diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer one year ago, Steiner Ranch resident Alana Weston knows how fortunate she is to be doing so well today.

“It’s truly a miracle because many women in my situation do not have the same outcome,” Weston said.

On Aug. 3, 2014, Weston, an active mom of two, attended a Justin Timberlake concert with friends in New Orleans. By the end of the night, she felt a strange sore spot near her breast but thought it was caused from the underwire of the strapless bra she was wearing.

“I was definitely in the dark and I certainly didn’t realize that someone at 39 with no symptoms could have Stage IV cancer,” said Steiner Ranch resident Alana Weston, who has has battled breast cancer over the past year. Her husband Wade Weston, daughter Loni Weston, 13, and son Lucas Weston, 9, have supported her along the way.

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

The 78730 zip code, which includes River Place, Long Canyon, Westminster Glen and Glenlake, has seen a significant population growth which has far exceeded projections by the City of Austin.

In 2010, the 78730 zip code had a population of 7,022. That number was projected to increase to only 7,091 residents by 2020, according to the Delphi, Trends, and Imagine (DTI) Austin 2040 Population and Employment Forecast. Data from the  U.S. Census Bureau’s 2009-13 American Community Survey, however, shows that the 78730 zip code already has a population of 8,916 residents. Continue reading →