By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

The Steiner Ranch Lake Club is a popular place where Steiner residents enjoy lakeside amenities, but there is a possibility that at the end of the year, residents will no longer have access to the spot.

The Steiner Ranch Lake Club is owned by Taylor Woodrow Communities, Steiner Ranch Ltd., the partnership that developed Steiner Ranch, according to Steiner Ranch HOA Executive Director Scott Selman. Since 1998, the HOA has had a lease agreement with the owner to use the facilities at no charge, other than the cost of maintenance. The original lease term was for 10 years and has been renewed on an annual basis since that time. The current lease is set to expire on Dec. 31.

Taylor is currently working to transition the Steiner community to a homeowner-run board. Because of that, Selman said he was not sure whether or not the lease would be renewed.

“I know (the owners) are working on plans for their departure from Steiner Ranch, and that the long-term status of the Lake Club is something they are working as part of this plan, but at this time, nothing has been determined,” Selman said.

A representative with Taylor Morrison, Taylor Woodrow’s parent, did not respond to a multiple requests for comment over the past month.

The Steiner Ranch Lake Club ​has been a popular place ​for residents to enjoy Lake Austin for the past 16 years. ​Its lease is set to expire at the end of the year and owner, Taylor Woodrow Communities, Steiner Ranch Ltd.,​ has not said if it ​will renew it with the HOA.

Continue reading →

                            Jessica Hollis (1979 – 2014)

Jessica grew up in San Antonio, Texas, graduated from Churchill High School in 1997 where she was a varsity cheerleader. She attended Texas A&M in Corpus Christi and Southwest Texas State studying Marine Biology.

Jessica met her future husband, Ricky Hollis while they were serving as EMTs in San Antonio. They then served together as Paramedics for Calhoun County for 5 years. The couple moved to Austin after being accepted into the Austin Police Academy, and had the distinction of being the 2nd married couple to ever graduate from the Austin Police Academy. Jessica served with the Austin Police Department and the Travis County Parks Department, before being recruited by the Travis County Sheriff’s Department. Ricky has served with the Austin Police Department for 9 years.

Jessica has served with Honor and Distinction for the Travis County Sheriff Office for the last seven years, becoming a Senior Deputy Sheriff. Jessica served as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer and Vice Officer. Jessica loved diving and worked hard to become a member of the prestigious Travis County Dive Team. She had just become a Certified Master Scuba Diver and received the Unit Citation Award for her work with the Dive Team. Jessica and son, Mason shared their love of diving and they were very proud of his recent diving certification. The American Legion nominated Jessica for 2010 “Officer of the Year”. Her Lieutenant eloquently stated, “Jessica was a shining star and would advance far with Travis County”. Although slight in size, she had a vivacious personality. She was loved, respected and admired by family, friends and peers. Anyone who knew Jessica would say she never met a stranger.

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Leander ISD students beat the state and national averages on the ACT college-entrance exam and students at Vandegrift High School beat even the Leander ISD average, according to data recently released from LISD.

For 2014, the average ACT composite score (scale of 1 – 36) for an LISD graduate was 23.6, while the state and national average composite scores were 20.9 and 21.0 respectively. Last year, students at VHS had an average ACT score of 25.3, according to VHS Principal Charlie Little.

Little said the ACT and SAT tests are very good measuring tools of a student’s education because the tests are consistent from state to state.

“It’s a good indicator of a student’s overall educational experience,” Little said. “So having a good score means you offer quality instruction. If you have a high average, it means students are getting a great education in your school.”

Continue reading →

The search for a missing Travis County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy ended Friday, Sept. 19 around 2 p.m. when her body was found in Lake Austin.

Senior Deputy Jessica Hollis was patrolling in Northwest Travis County when her car was swept away in a low water crossing in the 3400 Block of Fritz Hughes Park Road just before 2am on September 18, 2014.

Searchers from the Sheriff’s Office, as well as all the federal, state, and local public safety agencies from across Travis County and Texas Search and Rescue have been searching the area from the low water crossing to Lake Austin. Boats with divers, helicopters, and search and rescue dogs are being used to leave no stone unturned in the search. The terrain has been very difficult to negotiate and made the search slow going.

This afternoon, just before 2pm, Deputy Jessica Hollis was found in Lake Austin, not too far from the mouth of the creek her patrol car was found in. Final arrangements will be announced later.

Hollis was 35 years old and has been a member of TCSO for seven years. She worked patrol, vice and was also a member of the Sheriff’s Underwater Recovery Team or dive.

“Our hearts go out to her family and friends,” said Roger Wade, Travis County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

Board approves region’s first new water supply reservoir in decades,

Adopts changes to Water Management Plan application

The LCRA Board of Directors on Wednesday took historic action to expand and protect the water supply of the lower Colorado River basin.

The Board unanimously:

• Gave final approval to the first new water supply reservoir in the lower Colorado River basin in decades. The 40,000 acre-foot off-channel reservoir near Lane City in Wharton County could be filled several times a year, adding up to 90,000 acre-feet of firm water to the region’s supply.

• Agreed to revise LCRA’s 2012 proposed amendments to the Water Management Plan, which sets out how water from lakes Travis and Buchanan is managed. LCRA staff now will finalize the application, which will go to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for action.

Continue reading →